Patent GB-519380-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to multi-column selectors for use in record-card controlled machines
Filed: 1938-09-21
Abstract: 519,380. Record - card - controlled statistical machines. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd. Sept. 21, 1938, No. 27571. Convention date, Sept. 22, 1937. [Class 106 (i)] Sorting cards.-The invention relates to multi-column selectors of the kind comprising commutators of which each commutator corresponds to a card column, has a segment for each hole-position in the column, and has a brush wiping over the segments synchronously with the card reading and has manual means for rendering the segments electrically alive or dead. According to the invention a selector of the above kind, for use in a statistical machine of the type-in which the cards are read electrically whilst moving, is characterized in that the commutator brushes 36 are rotatable and the segments 45 stationary, in that each segment has a pair of normally closed contacts 45a, 46a, one permanently connected to the segment and the' other to the machine wiring, and in that the pairs of contacts for each commutator are in a line along. which is movable a manually settable member A capable of maintaining open any one pair of contacts in that line. The invention is illustrated as applied to a horizontal electric sorter substantially the same as that set forth in Specification 242654, [CLass 106 (i) ], cards being fed from magazine 11 past a normal sorting brush NSB to blades 16 controlled by the sorting magnet SM. For the present arrangement the brush NSB is replaced by ten brushes-SB<SP>1</SP>... SB<SP>10</SP>, Fig. 9, mounted in a multiple brush holder as shown in Specification 445,477. The commutator shaft 20, Fig. 1, rotates once for two card cycles and carries, insulated therefrom, a brush assembly with a pair of brushes 36 for each of ten commutators. An eleventh brush pair coacts with a curved contact strip 42. Each commutator consists of a curved member 44, moulded from plastic material, in which are buried twelve radial segments 45 which have upper contact ends 45a. Fig. 3, and lower end surfaces which are wiped by the brushes 36. Normally touching each contact 45a is a spring contact 46a. For each curved row of twelve contact pairs there is a manual member A having a stud 50 which according to the setting of the member, separates any one pair of contacts at one time. A similar member N for each commutator may be set to open a pair of contacts 46a, 51a. The contacts 45a (and 51a) are integrally connected to the segments 45 (and 51), and the contacts 46a are integral with an arcuate contact' strip 46. Fig. 5 one for each commutator which is connected through contact 51. Fig. 9, with the machine wiring. The mouldings 44 are shaped as shown in Fig. 3 to give channels 47 along which the members A and N are guided. To facilitate positioning of members A and N and to hold them yieldingly in their correct positions, the spring contacts 46a are W-shaped to provide cam surfaces 46b separated by notches 46c which coact with the ends of the studs 50. For any commutator, therefore, the member N may be moved to the " off " position where its pin separates the contact 51 from the corresponding contact 46a and disconnects the strip 46 for that commutator. The muli-column selector may be used for multi-column selection to segregate cards having predetermined control numbers or alphabetical data from the remaining cards of a batch. The action in sorting a card with control number 4871 is traced with the aid of Fig. 9. For alphabetical use, the combinational settings of members N and A are set out for all the letters of the alphabet.