Patent GB-391496-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to electro-magnetically controlled mechanism applicable to statistical apparatus
Filed: 1931-10-30
Abstract: 391,496. Electromagnetic latching mechanism, particularly for statistical machines. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd.; Victoria House, Vernon Place, Southampton Row, London.-(Assignees of Ford, E. A.; Scarsdale, New York, U.S.A.) Oct. 30, 1931, No. 30152. Convention date, Nov. 1, 1930. [Class 106 (i).] In electromagnetic latching mechanism for a high speed cyclically operable machine, the usual spring which moves a member 33 to an operative position when this member is electromagnetically (36a, 38) unlatched, is replaced by an electromagnet (36), the member being subsequently restored mechanically by cyclically operable means (cam 49). A machine for sorting perforated statistical record-cards is illustrated, having this latching mechanism embodied therein for controlling the sorting blades 4. The sorting brush 14 is mounted in an arm 25 on a threaded rod 26 and is adjusted to the desired column by a hand crank on one end of the threaded rod. The guide blades 4 at their forward ends 5 lie one above another, the " 9 " blade being lowermost and the others then in the order 8 .. 0, 11, 12, R. Normally all blades are above the card track. A shaft 13, synchronized with the card feed, carries a cam 12 for each blade 4. These cams have high parts 12a, drops 12c and lower portions 12b. As the shaft 13 rotates counterclockwise the blades 4 drop in succession to below the card path as the drops 12c reach the blades. The points 12d of all cams, where parts 12a meet parts 12b are in alignment so that all blades are simultaneously raised again. When a card hole is read by brush 14, all blades 4 still above the card path are locked up so that the card passes between the correct blade to reach its sorting box. The cards are fed from magazine 8 by a picker 24 actuated by an arm 20, which is pivoted at 22 and is controlled by cam 19 and springs 21. Electromagnetic latching mechanism. Resting on each cam 12 is the end of an arm 29, upon which end rests the corresponding blade 4. Arm 29 is pulled down by spring 31 about its pivot 30 and has a shoulder 32 which coacts with a locking member 33 common to all the shoulders Normally, member 33 is in the position of Fig. 2, out of the path of shoulders 32. When brush 14 reads a hole, member 33 is moved to the left, under the shoulders of all blades 4 which are still raised and over the shoulders of all lowered blades, locking all the blades to provide a card channel. Locking member 33 constitutes the armature lever, pivoted at 34, of magnet 36 and is normally latched by the armature 38 of latch magnet 36a. Magnets 36, 36a are in parallel (or series) with brush 14 and are thus energized together, magnet 36a withdrawing latch 38 to allow magnet 36 to move member 33 counterclockwise The action is stated to be much more rapid than if member 33 were spring-actuated. Frame 46 pivoted at 47 is rocked by a light spring 48 to hold member 33 in operative position. On returning, frame 46 positively raises the latch 38. A stop 45 for this latch is provided on member 33. The latter is restored to latched position by a bail 50 actuated by a cam 49 on shaft 13. The above electromagnetic latching mechanism may be applied to other high speed machinery. Specifications 12090/97, [Class 118, Signalling &c.], 159,706, [Class 35, Dynamoelectric generators &c.], and 267,663, [Class 40 (i), Electric signalling systems &c.], are referred to.