Patent GB-301804-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to statistical apparatus
IPC: G06K15/04
Filed: 1928-12-03
Abstract: 301,804. Borel, C. Dec. 5, 1927, [Convention date]. Statistical apparatus.-A statistical machine controlled by perforated code cards or strips has mechanical means for preventing printing of zeros to the left of the highest significant figure or to the right of the lowest significant figure to the right of the decimal point. These means are controlled by the translator. Controlling printing of zeros.-The translator, Fig. 1, directly arrests the type carriers 855 differentially through one or other of its bars 831 - - 842, this translator being the same as that of Specification 301,803. In each denomination the locking bar 832 (corresponding to value "0 ") has a pin 859. Fig. 2 engaging a slot 858 in the bar 831 below it. Also the locking bar 831 of each denomination has a pin 861 which engages in a notch 860 in the next lower denomination. If a denomination has no signi. ficant figure the " 0 " bar 832 is released by the latch bars 846 - - 849 and permits the corresponding bar 831 to move also to the left. If in the denomination next above a significant figure occurs, a bar other than 832 is released, so that the bar 831 of that denomination remains stationary and its pin 861 retains the bar 831 of the next lower denomination. Hence in this lower denomination the bar 832 alone is moved and a zero is eventually recorded. If, however, in the denomination next above a zero is also registered, the bars 832 and 831 of this denomination are released and the first bar 831 moves forward to prevent any rising of the type carrier 855. Thus, to the left of the first significant figure, all bars 832 are released and all bars 831 move to the left to prevent printing of ciphers. To print the cipher in the units, however, if there be no significant unit figure, the bars 846 and 847 for the denominational element used for the decimal point have between them a piece 862, Fig. 2. To print the decimal point bars 846 and 847 are always raised together so that the piece 862 is lifted to retain a pin 863 on the bar 831 of the units denomination. Thus printing of the zero in the units is never suppressed. This action also permits printing of ciphers immediately to the right of the decimal point. The record sheet may have perforations read electrically so that when the end of the sheet is reached the ordinary operations of the machine, except the paper feed, are suppressed until the old record sheet has been fed away and the new sheet fed into printing position. In another construction for compiling statistics from code cards or strips as in Specifications 282,664 and 301,803 means are provided for printing the items and also for printing positive and negative items in differemt colours and for detecting the end of the record strip. Each time that an item is entered electrically into the counting apparatus from the perforated strip, or card, a magnet 706, Figs. 1-3, for the corresponding denomination is energized by suitable means a number of times equal to the number of the digit so entered. For example, if three is entered the magnet 706 is energized three times and the pawl 708, Fig. 1, releases the bar 705 three times so that the bar 705 and type members 712 are moved up three steps by chain 711, arm 710, and spring 709, a cross-bar 703 common to all denominations having previously been raised to the dotted line position; since there is a " 0 type member 712 this action raises the " 2 type to the printing line. As each bar 705 rises it closes contacts 717. Later in the machine cycle a special magnet 715 (closing contacts 716, Fig. 3, in series with closed contacts 71.7 and magnets 706) is automatically energized once to bring in all denominations used, the next and correct type (e.g. " 3 ") to the printing line. Later in the cycle the crossbar 703 is lowered to depress the bars 705 to their lowermost positions. For decimal working any appropriate type carrier 705 is employed to print the decimal point under control of a particular combination of perforations on the card. After the correct types have reached printing position hammers 713 are actuated by a spring-moved shaft 719 to effect impression on the record sheet 701. Controlling printing of zeros to the left of the first significant figure is controlled as follows. The denominations to the left of the first figure being at " 0 " the rods 705 are not raised and the contacts 717 for these denominations remain open. The arrangement of circuits in Fig. 3 is such that when the magnet 715 is energized to raise completely the type carriers to exact printing position, as described above, the magnets 706 for the higher denominations remain unenergized and a rod 705 is only raised one step to print " 0" if a higher denomination to its left has been used. The "0" for the units denomination is, however, always printed if there is no significant figure in this denomination. Paper feed. When the magnets 706 are first energized to raise the type carriers the paper band 701 is fed forward a desired number of spaces ready for the printing which is effected shortly afterwards. One of the magnets 706, Fig. 7, is energized the required number of times and raises a bar 721 similar to the bars 705, a rack 723 thereby feeding on a wheel 724, loose on the platen shaft 722 but rigid with a collar 725 and pawl 726. which pawl thereby feeds on the ratchet 727 on the platen 702. Alternatively, the ratchet may be driven on the down stroke of the rod 721. Bi-colour printmg. - The ink ribbon 720 of two different colours may be shifted electromagnetically to print m one colour or another to denote positive or negative items under the control of a special perforation in the perforated band or card.