Patent GB-794251-A (GB)
Abstract: 794,251. Record controlled printing. POWERS-SAMAS ACCOUNTING MACHINES, Ltd. March 8, 1956 [April 28, 1955], No. 12348/55. Class 100(4) A connection box unit for a record controlled statistical machine having selective printing means, comprises a plurality of sets of fixed imprinting control elements each related to a predetermined imprinting device and with like elements connected in common, and a connection member for each set comprising elements connected together in a predetermined order to co-operate with the control elements to determine which imprinting devices the latter elements will control. The connection members are removable for replacement by other members. Data sensed from a card C is fed into decoder D which co-operates with a, unit CD having a plurality of character defining discs and receives digit-representing impulses from device D1. If the data sensed contains figures to be entered into accumulator R these impulses pass from D1 through D, D1 1 , connection box 11a, D1 2 , to the accumulator. If a permanent record of these figures is to be made simultaneously, or if the data to be imprinted includes alphabetic &c. characters, impulses pass from CD, through CD 1 , D, CD 2 , to a connection box 13-18 and thence to a line CD 3  to the actuating solenoid of a stylus in the imprinting device P. Each stylus reciprocates transversely of a continuously moving record web, the amplitude of the reciprocation defining the width of the character, the rate of movement of the web defining the height of the character, and the impulses from the control solenoid reciprocating the stylus lengthwise to effect a dot pattern to define a character under control of a disc in unit CD. If the imprinting is a reading out operation from the accumulator the impulses from CD pass through CD 4 , CD 5 , read out control switch RC, CD 6 , box 11b, CD 7 , and CD 3  to the stylus solenoids. Each connection box includes a socket 20 which receives a replaceable plug 21. Each socket includes a conductive element for each imprinting position. one hundred in the example described, comprising first and second members 24, 25 insulated from each other, like members in the respective boxes being connected in common to their related line CD 2 , and like contacts 25 be ing connected, through switches 28, to their related line CD 3 . The sequence in which the boxes 11 and 13-18 are rendered operative, one only at a time, is determined by the circuit shown in Fig. 8, box 13 being normally active and the remaining boxes: being rendered active during different sensing cycles by operation in succession of the corresponding interconnected switches 37, 38, 37a, 38a, and 37b, 38b by cams on a program unit, the corresponding solenoid 36 closing the switches 28 of the active box. Each plug 21 has a contact element comprising strips 41, 42 for each element of the socket, strips 41 contacting members 24, and strips 42 contacting the corresponding members 25. The strips are interconnected in a predetermined manner, which is different in the various plugs, by elements 47, and this interconnection, i.e. depending upon the plug chosen, determines the positions at which imprinting will be effected. In the apparatus described boxes 15-18 control the imprinting of a four-line name and address, boxes 13 and 14 control the imprinting of succeeding itemized information, and box 11 controls the imprinting of amounts sensed from a card and the entry of amounts into the account, and, when rendered active by switches 37a, 38a, 37b, 38b, controls the taking respectively of a sub-total or grand-total and the imprinting thereof. Specification 707,736 [Group XV] is referred to.