Patent GB-867604-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to data recording apparatus
Inventor: BRIGGS PETER GEORGE
IPC: G06F3/00
Filed: 1957-05-10
Abstract: 867,604. Electric digital-data-storage apparatus. INTERNATIONAL COMPUTERS & TABULATORS Ltd. April 14, 1958 [May 10, 1957], No. 14915/57. Class 106 (1). [Also in Group XVI]. Apparatus for recording a number of characters in a succession of operations, comprises a magnetic core matrix store and programming means controlling the serial entry of characters into the store and the simultaneous reading out of groups of characters to recording means. In the magnetic core matrix buffer store shown, each column corresponds to a different character to be printed and each row corresponds to a different printing position. As described, the store is employed in a magnetic or other tape reading and error-detecting system, e.g. as described in Specification 867,603. Characters to be printed are passed in succession from the tape reader 1 via amplifier 2 to decoder 3 which applies a pulse to one of the matrix column lines 16. Storage begins only after a block control circuit 4 passes clock pulses to a scan drive circuit 6, each such pulse stepping on the discharge in a cold cathode counting tube 7 so as to apply a pulse via one of the electrodes 8, plug wire 12 and transformer 13 to one of the matrix row lines 14. This read-in scanning arrangement may comprise a plurality of sequentially operating counting tubes if necessary, the distribution of the characters in the matrix being predetermined by the plug connections. When the discharge reaches the last electrode 8, a " store full " signal removes an error-indicating output signal from error detector 5. The circuit 4 then frees a read-out scanning unit 21 similar to the read-in scanning arrangement which is controlled by pulses from a print control unit 20 so as to step on in synchronism with the rotation of type-wheels 19. The read-out is controlled also by a line selector 24 set by a paper control device 25 so as to select first the characters stored in the lower group of cores and then the characters in the upper group. For the first line, the selector applies a pulse on line 26 which charges capacitors 28. The unit 21 then triggers in turn gasfilled valves 23, one for each column of the matrix. As each valve is triggered, the corresponding capacitor 28 is discharged and a current pulse in a column wire for the selected group resets any of the cores which have been set to represent a character, thus producing an output pulse in the associated row wire which causes a valve 29 to conduct and thus, via plugwire 30, apply a differentially timed pulse to a hammer release mechanism (not shown) for the associated type-wheel. During the second revolution of the type-wheels, no printing is effected but line selector 24 charges up capacitors 33. During the third revolution of the type-wheels, the unit 21 is again operated, and the second line is printed, the differentially timed output pulses from the store being applied to valves 36. When the last line has been printed, a signal from unit 20 causes the discharge in tube 7 to be reset on starting electrode 9 and causes tape drive unit 35 to operate to start a further tape reading cycle. If an error is detected, an ineffective printing cycle is carried out to clear the store, printing being prevented by a signal from unit 5 to inhibiting 31. Various modifications are described. The read-in and read-out scanning arrangements may comprise rings of electronic trigger circuits on electromagnetic devices, e.g. uniselectors. The storage output device may comprise another form of printer, e.g. employing typecarrying members which are differentially stopped and subsequently restored to an orginal position, a card-punching mechanism or a typewriter. The characters may be stored in combination-code form.