Patent GB-826145-A (GB)
Title: Accounting apparatus suitable for use in a data transmission system
Filed: 1956-03-13
Abstract: 826,145. Calculating-machines. BURROUGHS CORPORATION. March 13, 1956 [March 14, 1955], No. 7843/56. Class 106 (1). For transmitting or receiving data, accounting machines having longitudinally movable actuator racks are provided with switches settable in accordance with the positions of the racks, and further means responsive to the setting of such switches for controlling the positioning of the actuators. As disclosed, the invention is applied to the machine described in Specification 709,181 which has a multi-order keyboard 256, Fig. 1, controlling actuator racks 511 geared to type bars 562. The present sensing and control mechanisms are actuated from a cam-shaft 162 geared to the main shaft 126. The electrical signals are in excess-3 binary coded form. Sensing positions of actuators- Loosely connected to each actuator 511 is a slide 26, Fig. 2, movable on rods 38, 40 and carrying four plates 54 formed with projections. Each plate co-operates with a double-pole switch, Fig. 6, having actuating plungers 104, 106 which are engaged by the plate when it is raised as described below, to cause the switch to close one or the other of its contact pairs. The four switches associated with each slide 26 are mounted in an assembly 58, and the projections on the plates 54 are so formed that these switches are set to represent in binary code the differential position of the slide 26 and its actuator 511. The rods 38, 40 are guided vertically in slots 190 in fixed side plates 188 but also pass through cam slots 192 in slides 186. These are normally inoperative, but when it is desired to set up a new amount in the switches 58, solenoids 210 are momentarily energized to release spring-loaded members 194 carried by the slides 186 to couple them with slides 176 reciprocated by cams 166 on the shaft 162. Thus the slides 186 are actuated with the slides 176 and raise the rods 38, 40 and consequently the slides 26 to set up the switches 58. After the slides 186 have been restored, studs in the cams 166 lift the coupling members 194 to enable them to be relatched by the de-energized solenoids 210. Remote control of actuators.-For this purpose each slide 26 coupled to an actuator 511 carries two wide pawls 154, 156 which run along five notched plates and one of which, in any particular operation, drops into an aligned set of notches to arrest the actuator accordingly. The pawls 154, 156 arrest the actuator in even and odd positions respectively. The central plate 84 is fixed and its notches define the differential positions whereas each of the other plates 82 is normally held in a forward position by a corresponding de-energized solenoid 64 but is moved to a rearward position by a spring when the solenoid is momentarily energized. The four solenoids of each order are energized prior to movement of the actuators according to the excess-3 binary code employed and so the four plates 82 assume relative positions such that their notches in the appropriate position are aligned so as to arrest the pawl 154 or 156. The plates 82 are guided on fixed rods 90, 92 but a further rod 98 which passes through them is carried by the slides 176 reciprocated by the cams 166 and this rod 98 restores the plates 82 at the end of the operation. Transmission system.-Two machines may be electrically interconnected in master and slave relationship, Fig. 13, the switches 58 of each being connected to the respective solenoids 64 of the other. A switch 220 on the master may be set for transmission either to or from the master. If set, e.g., to transmit data to the slave, depression of the motor bar 222 will energize the master motor solenoid, the circuit being completed through normally closed contacts controlled by a cam S1 of the slave. At a point in the master cycle, chosen such that the switches 58 of the master will be set prior to the advance of the slave actuators, a cam M2 in the master closes a circuit, including normally closed contacts controlled by a second master cam M1, for the slave motor solenoid to initiate the slave cycle. The contacts controlled by cams M1, M2 are then opened to prevent the premature initiation of further master or slave cycles. A further master cam M3 then closes the circuits for the slave solenoids 64 so that these are operated to release plates 82 in accordance with the settings of the master switches 58. The slave actuators are then advanced and differentially arrested under the control of the plates 82. Each machine has similar camcontrolled switches to control transmissions in either direction.