Patent GB-776304-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to record card controlled statistical machines
Inventor: BALDWIN RICHARD EVEREST
IPC: B41J2/245
Filed: 1954-12-24
Abstract: 776,304. Printing from coded data. POWERS-SAMAS ACCOUNTING MACHINES, Ltd. Oct. 14, 1955 [Dec. 24, 1954], No. 37336/54. Class 100(4) Data recorded in code, e.g. by perforations or marks, in zonal areas 2, 3 of vertical columns 1 of statistical record cards C, such as that shown in Fig. 1, is sensed at high speed by a device which transmits electric signals representative of the coded data to print the data on the card. In the card shown, the digits 1-9 can be recorded on zone 2 and data-indicating positions A, B, 0 used for recording data other than digits 1-9 in zone 3, either alone or in combination with one of positions of zone 2. The invention is described as applied to a printing interpreter which senses data from cards by pins 32, Fig. 3, arranged in columns, the number -in each column corresponding to the number of data-indicating positions in both zones 2, 3 in a vertical column of the card, decodes it and prints thereon a record of what is sensed. This decoding device may be retained in set sensed condition to permit the same data to be printed on a number of cards fed in succession to it. The cards are fed one at a time from a magazine 4 to a sensing , device shown in Fig. 3 which senses the data thereon during forward movement of the cards. These are then moved to character defining positions at which the characters are decoded and defined on the card by printed styli 5, one for each column sensed. These styli receive continuously lengthwise impulses in the direction normal to the card by moving coil magnets 7 and in a plane parallel to card to impinge against a carbon ribbon or the like as described in Specification 707,736 [Group XV]. The impulses are derived from electric signals transmitted in form of character determining discs 8 on a rotable main shaft 9 motor-driven from a drive shaft 12 through belt 13 and gears 10, 11. From the impression-receiving position, the cards are delivered into one or other of two receivers 14, 15. The sensing device, Fig. 3, comprises rollers 16, 17 driven from shaft 12, the roller 16 comprising alternate insulating and conducting discs clamped by rods 23 and plates of insulating material. A block 25 of insulating material carries L-shaped contacts 26 one for each conducting disc and the spacing of the discs corresponds to the vertical card column to be sensed. Leads 28 are connected to limbs of the contact 26 which are held resiliently against the conducting discs each of which is aligned with a vertical card column 1 to be sensed. The roller 17 has a portion 29 of conducting material supported on insulating sleeves 30 which insulate roller from its shaft 19, and portion 29 is of slightly less diameter than conductive discs forming part of roller 16 so as not to contact the discs. Sensing pins 32 are resiliently mounted around roller 17 to the number of data-indicating positions in both zones 2 and 3 in a vertical column 1 of a card, and of a diameter to pass freely into a card perforation without touching the card. The pins 32 enter the perforations prior to passage of these perforations between rolls 16, 17 and are withdrawn after they have passed. An electrical signal is applied to a lead 28 corresponding to a data-indicating perforation on a card via conductive portion 29 of roller 17. Electric potential is applied to conductive rings 31 on roller portion 29 of roller 17 via lead 38, Fig. 5, and a rotary switch 39 on main shaft 9. Contacts 40, 41 on switch 39 are respectively engaged while data-indicating positions of zones 3, 2 of a card are being sensed. When a perforation is sensed in zone 3, a circuit is made from supply terminal through switch 39, contact 40, a leak 42 common to all card columns to be sensed in zone 3, electromagnet 43, rectifier 44 and appropriate ring of roller 16, to a pin 32 of roller 17 which has passed through data indicating perforation, and. lead 38. When a perforation is sensed in zone 2 of a card column, the coil of an electromagnet 40 is energized through switch 39, contact 41, lead 45, rectifier 47, ring of roller 16, pin 32 or roller 17 which has passed through a data-indicating perforation and lead 38. One of a number of selector members one for each zonal area of each card column sensed is moved by energization of the electromagnets 43, 46. On energization of magnet 43, armature 70, Fig. 4A, moves latch 66 against spring 68 to release pawl' 63 which is moved by spring 65 into path of a sector 48 to engage one of its teeth 49, 50, 51. If no dataindicating perforation is sensed in zone 3 of a card column, sector 48 moves until longer tooth 52 abuts pawl 63 and sector is arrested. A second sector 71 with nine teeth 72, one for each data indicating position of zone 2 of a card and a tenth tooth 73 which projects beyond teeth 72, is controlled by magnet 46. Sectors 71 are freely pivoted on rock shaft 74 and retained in starting- inactive position by a rotary restoring member 75 common to all the' sectors 71 and carried at one end by a latch member 133 and at other end by shaft 74. Link 77, rocks shaft 71 and second restoring member 75 through arm 76. plates 78, roller 80 and cam 81 on shaft 9. The number of teeth on the 1st and 2nd selector members will depend' on code employed to record data on the cards. If a perforation is sensed in zone 2 of a card column, further movement of sector 71 is arrested by pawl 84 normally held inactive by latch 87. Pawl 84 is released on energization of magnet 46 to engage appropriate tooth 72 of sector 71. If no perforation is sensed on the zone, sector 71 will move anticlockwise until tooth 73 engages pawl 84 and arrests further movement of sector 71. Each sector 71 carries four brushes 92 connected to strips 94 upper ends of which are concentric to shaft 74, each brush being arranged to co-operate with a group of ten conductor bars 95 insulated from one another with each bar 95 common to each sector 71 and connected to contact 97 arranged to co-operate with moving contact 98 operation of which is determined by character determining hump 99 on the periphery of disc 8 appropriate to it. Brushes 100 on first sectors 48, on angular movement of a sector, engage one of conductor strips 94. A further brush 101 connected to brush 100 contacts member 102 connected by lead 103 to moving coil magnet 7 controlling stylus associated with sectors 48, 71 which are then returned by restoring members 54, 75 to starting or inactive position. During return of members 54, 75, sectors 48, 71 are engaged thereby, pawls 63, 84 are disengaged from their sectors in preparation for sensing of a succeeding card. If it is desired to paint the sensed data on a succession of following cards, restoring members 54, 75 are prevented from restoring the sectors 48, 71 by a preliminary sensing member 105, Fig. 10 supported on rock shaft 108 and carrying sensing pins 109 and which needs not sense the whole card as it is controlled by a control hole punched in a card in zone 3 which is not used to record data. A lower sensing member comprising a plurality of sector-shaped electrical conductors 111, one for each card column sensed, co-operates with each pair of sensing pins provided for the column; co-operates with the member 105. Just before a card reaches the preliminary sensing device, upper and lower sensing members are rocked to move the sensing pins 109 to permit the leading edge of a card to pass between. A cam 60 is timed in relation to the rate of feeding of the card to ensure that the sensing pins 109 are accurately in register with the A position in zone 3 of the card columns. An electromagnet 129 forms part of a time lag device which ensures that printing of a preceding card has been completed before the return movement of the restoring members 54, 75 is prevented. The preliminary sensing device may be rendered inactive by turning a knob 169, Fig. 8 (not shown) to break the circuit to the electromagnet 129. Means are provided to segregate the cards into the receivers 14, 15 according as to whether they have or have not control holes.