Patent GB-492667-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to record-card controlled statistical machines
IPC: G06C11/08
Filed: 1937-03-23
Abstract: 492,667. Statistical machines. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd. March 23, 1937, No. 8525. Convention date, March 24, 1936. [Class 106 (i)] A record-card-controlled machine has a counter, card-reading means to enter an amount from a card-field into the counter, total-recording mechanism, means for feeding the card transversely of the columns to bring separate fields successively under the cardreading, and control means, to cause the machine to read, add and record in sequence, which are co-ordinated with the transverse card-feed and are adjustable to vary the sequence at will. The machine includes punching mechanism 4 as set out in Specification 362,529, [Group VIII], magnets 14 being controlled by keys 100 and the card escaping column by column as punching occurs. By use of the usual column skip mechanism the card may move several steps so that the card may be fed from one field to another, relatively to the punches. After passing the punches, the card is read on table 1 by brushes 2 (eight brushes for 8-column fields in the present example) which are reciprocated along the card columns by a carrier 101, lever 46, and cam 45 on a shaft ZW which is driven by a motor 5, when a magnet KM engages the clutch 6. Shaft ZW also drives a counter 3 constructed as described in Specification 414,411, except that the wheels 105 of the reading-out mechanism are carried on nested sleeves 106 bearing type-wheels 35. When a brush 2 reads a hole, a circuit 43, L11, 103, 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 102, 11, 36 energizes the adding magnet 11. For subtraction, a special hole causes the energization of relay VRS which opens contacts 102, closes contacts 104 and brings a magnet 12 into action. Magnets 11 and 12 correspond to magnets 12 and 56 respectively of Specification 414,411. The reading-out commutators are connected on one side to sockets 16 and on the other side to lines 15 of cable 13, and to the contacts of relay VRU which lead to the punch magnets 14. Printing is effected off type-wheels 35 by platen 107 and magnet FDM. In a commutator a segment 22 is provided for each card column and a brush 24 connects the segment with the common segment 25 in step with the movement of the card past a predetermined brush 2. In a second similar commutator 23, 24a, 25a the brush 24a moves to contact with the segment 23 corresponding to the card column under the punches. By means of a relay US, controlled by magnet 26 and double-step relay 27, two predetermined sequences of operations may be performed alternately. After the card has been fed completely through the punching mechanism, the card rack closes contacts 28 to energize relay 27. The latter is of the type in which the first energization closes the relay contacts and the next energization opens them. Contacts 108 will therefore be closed for one card and contacts 109 for the next card. To punch a total on one field of one card and in another field of the next card, sockets 17 are connected to sockets 16, corresponding sockets 18 are connected to the sockets 21 for the columns on which punching is desired on one card, and corresponding sockets 19 are connected to sockets 21 for the columns on which punching is desired on the next card. The punching circuit is 36, 37, 38, 25, 70, 25a, 24a, 23 (for the first column of the punching field), 108 or 109, 17, 16, 105, 15, 13, VRU, 14, 43. As a column is punched, the card escapes one column. The digits punched may also be printed along the top of the card (by magnet KDM) as in U.S.A. Specification 2,013,540. A magnet TM, which actuates the space-key to move the card one step each time it is energized, may be connected from a socket 73 to one or more sockets 17 corresponding to the columns which are to be spaced. The parts 6 and KM (reading and adding), VRS (subtracting), 107 and FDM (printing), and TM (card stepping) are alluded to as operation selectors. Relays AR, LR, PR, OR and DR are called complex-operation selectors, and each corresponds to a different sequence of operations. They may be connected from sockets 30 to sockets 17 whose corresponding sockets 18 and 19 are connected to the sockets 20. Thus, when the particular field is read by brushes 2 the relays AR, LR &c. come into operation in a particular sequence and this sequence may be changed for alternate cards by the relay US and double-step relay 27. The relays AR, LR &c. control cycle-selectors A and B and the latter control the operation selectors KM, VRS, FDM, and TM as indicated by lines 31 ... 34, Fig. 2. The following complex operations may be effected and are described separately viz. (1) printing without adding, (2) adding or subtracting, (no printing), (3) adding or subtracting with printing, (4) adding and total-printing, (5) punching, and (6) counter-resetting. General sequence of operations. The manner in which the various complex-operations are effected in sequence for counting in connection with savings-banks accounts, is as follows it being required to print the amount of the transaction in a bank book, to print the new balance, to punch one card with the old balance, the amount of the transaction and the new balance, and to punch a second card with the new balance ready for the next transaction. Each card has four fields for the account number, the amount of the transaction, the old balance, and the new balance respectively. At a transaction, the operator inserts into the machine a card punched with the account number and the old balance and places the savings-bank book in printing position and the appropriate connections made from sockets 18 and 19 to sockets 20 and 21. The machine is then started and the card is fed till the first field is in reading position. The following sequence of operations then occurs (1) printing without adding, (2) card fed to second (transaction) field, (3) amount of transaction punched by operator using keys 100, (4) card fed and second field read, (5) adding or subtracting with printing, (6) card fed to third field, old balance read and entered into counter and the amount in the counter printed, (7) card fed to fourth new balance field and amount in counter punched in the card without counterresetting. The card now reaches the end of its travel, contacts 28 are closed and relay 27 causes contacts 108 and 109 to be reversed so that the machine is ready for the alternative sequence of operations. A new card having only the account number is placed in the machine and the latter is started. The card is fed until the old balance field is under the punches, the total in the counter is punched in this field, the counter is reset, and the card closes contacts 28 to again reverse contacts 108 and 109.