Patent GB-801472-A (GB)
Title: Improved device for translating digital information
IPC: G05B19/04
Filed: 1956-06-08
Abstract: 801,472. Programming for machine-tools. GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. June 8, 1956 [June 9, 1955], No. 17825/56. Class 83 (3). A device for translating information recorded as digital-values on a recording medium, such as punched cards 3, comprises a rotatable member 26, a number of digit stops 31 angularly spaced about the axis of the rotatable member, an information reader 4 having sensing elements for detecting digital values as indicated on the medium, and an actuating means for moving selectively each stop from a retracted position to an operating position in which it stops the rotation of the rotatable member so that its angular displacement from a reference position corresponds to the digital value detected by the sensing element. A director mechanism has a rotary induction device, such as a selsyn 1, 2, for each decimal order of the numerical data on the card 3, except that a single selsyn may be used for the two lowest orders. The selsyns are each connected to counterparts in a positionindicator (not shown) which is mechanically connected to a follow-up control system for moving a machine tool part. The card reader 4 comprises upper and lower pin boxes 6, 7 each of which has a column of pins for each decimal row. Each card is fed to the reader from a stack and inserted between the boxes, thus ejecting the previous card which is transported to a further stack. The pins in the lower box which find a hole are moved upwardly by springs (not shown) and are looked by a cross slide (not shown) which then advances the pins by an additional amount. The upper corresponding pins being similarly advanced are then locked in position, their movements being transmitted through push-wires to pins 31, sliding in discs 22, 23 fixed to a frame (not shown) and surrounding a shaft 11 in a rotor-positioning means 5. The shaft 11 is oscillated through 300 degrees, once for each cycle of the machine or once for each card, by a motor 12 driving through a solenoidoperated one-revolution clutch 13. There is a pair of fixed digital stop discs 22, 23 for each decimal order, and also an arm 24 fixed to the shaft 11 and co-operating with a stop-pin 27 on a lever 26 mounted on a freelv rotatable hub 25. On a forward swing of the shaft 11, the arm 24 carries the lever 26 beyond the zero pin 31. On the return swing, the lever 26 is held by the selected pin 31 while the shaft and the arm 24 return to their rest positions. Through differential gearing 29, 34, 35 and 39, 40, 41, the several control devices 1, 2 are thus set in positions corresponding to the positions of the levers 26, 42. The settings of the control devices 1, 2 are repeated in the position indicator to move the machine-tool part to its recorded position. Movements of the shaft 11 are synchronized with the card-feeding mechanism through a gear 16 rotated by the clutch 13. In a modification, the differential-gearing is eliminated by interconnecting the control devices 1, 2 and 44, Fig. 3, with freely mounted stop discs 20, 21. The stop disc 55 is fixed and the levers 26, 42, 57 are operated through chain gearing 50, but the stop pins 31 are operated in the same way as in Fig. 1. The device may be used in a system as described in Specification 797,451.