Patent GB-418067-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to record card controlled statistical apparatus
Filed: 1933-04-18
Abstract: 418,067. Statistical apparatus. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd., Victoria House, Vernon Place, Southampton Row, London. April 18, 1933, No. 11322. Convention date, April 19, 1932. [Class 106 (i).] In record card controlled statistical apparatus comprising in combination a tabulating machine and a card punching machine means are provided for initiating the operation of the punch selecting mechanism when the totalizer of the tabulator has obtained a total of a group of cards. The apparatus is constituted by a tabulator unit as described in Specification 247,200, [Class 106 (i)], and a punching machine as described in Specification 362,529, [Group VIII]. The tabulator is adapted to feed cards pass upper and lower brushes which control the operation of a plurality of counters. One counter is arranged to function as a group-indicator the designation number being entered from the first card ; two of the other counters accumulate balances of credit and debit amounts while a fourth counter may be arranged to accumulate quantity. When a change in designation occurs the group control mechanism operates a connection completing device to render the card punching machine operative ; the designation number is punched on a blank total card and this operation is followed by a punching operation to give the true balance under the control of a selecting device which determines and records the nature of the balance, thereafter the total quantity is recorded. Means associated with the total card ejecting means are provided to initiate a total printing and resetting operation in the tabulator. The totalizer unit, Fig. 7, comprises the usual counter magnets 14, clutch shaft 16 and gears 17 driving the counter wheels 15 and gears 19. Each gear 19 carries a yoke 20 in which is slidably mounted a pair of contact plungers 21 electrically connected and urged outwardly by a looped spring 22, the contacts co-operating with the usual conductor 23 and segments 24. The segments corresponding to the same digit are carried by a conducting bar mounted at its ends in an insulating block. The printing mechanism is identical to that described in Specification 247,200. During total printing operations timed impulses are emitted through the segments 24 in synchronism with the movement of the type bars by cams 53 driven from the total shaft 31, Fig. 6, and co-operating with contacts 56. The means for selecting the proper totalizer for balance printing when subtraction operations are being performed comprises a double-step relay magnet 57, Figs. 11 and 12, having an armature 58 with an arm 60 carrying a pawl 61 engaging a ratchet wheel 63 mounted on a shaft carrying a pair of pentagonal cams 67 co-operating with contacts 68, 68<a>, 69, 69a. The punching machine which is similar to that described in Specification 362,529 has a known form of escapement mechanism as shown in Fig. 16 which is adapted to operate contacts 141. These contacts are also controlled by a skip bar which regulates the movement of the card carriage and controls the operation of other contacts 210. The carriage escapement rack 74 is formed with teeth on its underside and geared to drive a wheel 212 carrying a brush assembly 214 with contacts 215, 216 co-operating with a conducting ring 217 and a ring of contact studs 219 one for each punching position of the carriage so as to connect the denominational orders of the totalizer in turn to the usual punch operating magnets. Circuit arrangements. During adding and listing operations the tabulating machine is driven by a motor TM, Figs. 23 and 24, the circuit of which is completed through the card feed clutch magnet 227, relay 228, upper card lever contacts, contacts of energized relay 230, stop key contacts, and cam contact P3. The relay 230 is energized during the preceding resetting cycle through relay coils 234, 235. The circuit through the motor TM is maintained as long as the group designation data on successive cards corresponds. The lower card reading brushes 213 are connected by the usual plug connections on a plug board 246 and plug sockets 247 to the counter magnets 14 and printing magnets 41. When the designation changes the control magnets 237 of the group control mechanism GC are operated to alter the setting of contacts 238 thereby breaking circuit through the relays 230, 234, 235 to stop the motor. The connection from the plug board 246 to the sockets 247 in the case of the counter which registers the group designation number is through a set of pairs of contacts 251<a>, 251b controlled by a relay 251, Fig. 22. During the first card reading cycle contacts 251<a> are closed and the group number is entered and printed. Towards the end of this cycle the relay 251 is energized through the closure of cam contacts L2 to close the contacts 251<b> which are maintained closed by a holding circuit through cam contacts P4 the latter being opened during the resetting cycle. In parallel with the relay 251 is a second relay 254 which is energized at the same time to close contacts in the circuits of the punch selecting magnets 120. The apparatus is then in readiness to punch this number in the blank total card ; the circuit passes through one of the magnets 120, the corresponding contact segment 24, brush structure 21 and conductor 23 to a wire 257 leading to a plug socket 256 in a plugboard 255 having a plug column for each of the totalizers. These plug sockets are connected by wires to plug sockets 259 in a plug board 258 on the punching machine a plug socket 259 being provided for each punch column of the record card. Each socket is connected by a wire 200 to the corresponding segment 219 of the column selector. The circuit through the magnet 120 proceeds through the brush structure of the selector, ring 217, wire 263, contacts 264 normally closed during adding operations, the skip bar contacts 210, and the carriage escapement contacts 141 to the line 232. The carriage is thereupon moved step by step and the successive denominational digits are punched in the card. The number of columns punched depends on the number of plugs connected and the length of the depending projections 211, Fig. 16, on the skip bar. After this operation the contacts 210, 141 open and the escapement mechanism moves the card to the column selected to receive the highest digit in the total accumulated whereupon the contacts 141 are again closed. If the group control mechanism operates the relay 234 is de-energized to close its contacts 234<a> and the card feed clutch magnet 227 is de-energized to close the contacts 266 thereby providing a shunt circuit around the contacts 210 to complete the circuit through the punch magnets 120 and enable punching to be effected. The selection of which of the two counters, say debit No. 4 or credit No. 5, is to control the punching operation is effected by blade contacts 272, 273 controlled by a relay 276 on a plug board 269 on the punching machine. The plugs 256 of the fourth column on the board 255 are connected by wires to sockets 268 wired to the contacts 272 and the fifth column plugs are connected by wires to sockets 271 wired to the contacts 273. The blade of each of the contacts is wired to a plug 274 and is connected to the corresponding card column plug on the board 258. The balance effecting and selecting operations are similar to those described in Specification 298,476, [Class 106 (i)]. When a debit card with a perforation in the X-hole position passes the upper brushes UB a circuit is completed through plug connections 280, 281, Fig. 24 and cam contacts to energize a holding relay 284 so that when the same card passes the lower brushes a circuit will be completed through other cam contacts and the double-step relay magnet 57. Energization of magnet 57 will open contacts 68<a> and close contacts 69<a> or vice versa to energize magnet 276 and to shift the contacts 272, 273 from one position to the other. If during the entry of a debit item the balance changes sign the highest wheel of the counter will close contacts 27 to complete a second circuit through the magnet 57 whereby the contacts 272, 273 will be shifted again. In this manner totalizers No. 4 and No. 5 are alternatively connected for punch controlling operations whenever a debit card is analyzed and whenever the contacts 27 are closed on a change of sign in totalizer No. 5. To indicate the character of the total punched contacts 272<a> are provided which are closed with the contacts 272 when punching is effected under control of the debit totalizer No. 4. The circuit extends through the X magnet 120 a line 290, contacts 272<a>, a plug socket 274<a>, and a wire to a selected contact 219. After punching the balance the skip bar allows the card carriage to tabulate to a position where the totalizer accumulating "quantity" controls circuits to punch the quantity in a manner similar to that for the designation number totalizer. Mechanism is included in the punching machine for restarting the tabulator as the punched total or summary card is being ejected. Contacts 201, 202, Fig. 22, closed in the last column punching position energize a relay 292 thereby closing its contacts 292<a> to complete the circuit of the eject magnet 192. The magnet 192 closes contacts 293 in the reset motor circuits RM of the tabulating machine. When the card is fully ejected contacts 200 are closed to energize trip magnet 167 which closes contacts in the circuit of motor 150 which operates to return card carriage to initial position. Total printing. This operation is effected from the several totalizers by the cams 53 and contacts 56 timed to close successively as the corresponding type element passes the printing position. Included in the circuits are contacts 299, Fig. 23, closed by magnets 300 energized through a common wire 302 extending to cam contacts P6 closed at the beginning of a total printing cycle. The printing circuits through the totalizers No. 4 an