Patent GB-688438-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to a verifying machine
IPC: G06K5/00
Filed: 1951-05-10
Abstract: 688,438. Statistical apparatus. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. May 10, 1951 [May 20, 1950], No. 11008. Class 106 (i). A punched card verifying machine comprises a column of sensing pins, one for each index position in a column, a corresponding set of keys and a mechanical comparison arrangement associated with each index position whereby relative movement between the elements of the comparison arrangement only takes place if there is a discrepancy between the operation of the key and the punched card with consequent movement of electric contacts associated with a testing circuit. Fig. 3 shows one of the sensing pins 13 guided for reciprocal movement in a vertical direction against the card 10. The pin 13 is mounted on its associated supporting bar 16 by means of an overthrow device whereby, if there is no punching in the card at the position shown the pin 13 is arrested but relieved of further upward pressure on the card by the link 14. Associated with each sensing pin is a key operated magnet 30 which is energized when its associated key is depressed and latches a bail 20, 20a, by means of a latch 28. Associated with each bail 20, 20a is a lever 24 bearing a pivot 25 for a lever 23 having a cam face in contact with a raised portion 16a of the sensing pin support 16. Rocking movement of the bail and lever 24 once per machine cycle is imparted by a cam 74 on the shaft 75 and roller 73. If a key is depressed energizing its magnet 30 and there is no corresponding perforation in the card, the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 12, the upward movement of the cam 24 and its lever 23, while the pin 13 and support 16 are arrested by the card 10, resulting in relative movement between the raised portion 16a and the lever 23, which causes the latter to rock about its pivot and changeover the contacts 34, 35, associated with the test circuit. If the card is correctly perforated the raised portion 16a will travel upward in step with the lever 23 and there will be no relative movement between them, consequently the contacts 34, 35 will remain unaffected. Operation.-The contacts 34, 35 are shown in the circuit in Fig. 17b and are wired so that if .they are not operated, i.e. contact 34 remains open, the release mechanism advances the card to the next column position in the reading position between rollers 11, 12 (Fig. 3). If, however, the verifying contacts are operated a first error relay R31 is energized, this relay closes its hold circuit contacts R31h and also R31c, Fig. 17a, which removes a negative bias from the grid of valve T17 causing.it to conduct and energize relay R34 after a short delay period caused by the time taken to charge condenser 144 through resistor 143 in the grid circuit of this valve. Operation of R31 closes contacts R31e to light a warning lamp 144 and sound a buzzer 145. After the delay period relay R34 is energized and contacts R34d and R34g shift to remove the buzzer and hold the warning light. In this condition the operator may depress another key without advancing the card to the next column and the error is accordingly checked again. If on the second attempt the key depressed corresponds to the hole in the card the verify contacts remain in their normal position and when contacts P5 close during the read cycle, relay R4 will be re-energized, and the card will be advanced to the next column position. If on this second attempt the key does not correspond to the punched card the verify contacts will shift and when P5 contacts close relay R34 which is held energized by contacts P7 through this period will direct a circuit from line 133 through contacts P5, contacts R5a, contacts 34 now closed, contacts R34b (shifted) to the pick-up winding of relay R37 and line 132. Relay R37 will close its contacts R37a (Fig. 17b), to provide a hold circuit through re-closed contacts P4 and will also close a pair of contacts R37b to energize relay R5 which through its contacts R5b will hold through contacts P7. In parallel with relay R5 is a notch control magnet 111, (see also Fig. 5). The function of this magnet is to free the punching mechanism during the next cycle so that a small notch is punched above the column in which the error occurred. Relay R5 closes a pair of contacts R5c (Fig. 17a) which completes a circuit directly from line 133, contacts R5c, wire 142, to the grid of valve T7 resulting in the energization of read clutch magnet 83 causing shaft 75 to make one revolution and rod 89 (Figs. 4 and 5) will be drawn down to operate punch 90 to notch the upper edge of the card 10. Checking proceeds column by column until the last column is reached, then if there is no error on the card, solenoid 100 is energized and will bring about an additional cycle for the purpose of making a notch in the right-hand edge of the card. This solenoid shifts an interposed plate so that when the link 89 is moved punch 91 is operated instead of punch 90. If the punch 90 has been operated during the checking of the card upon detection of an error, contacts 119, Figs. 5, 17b, will be latched open preventing the last column notch solenoid from being operated so that a card with an error will not be notched on the right-hand edge. Fig. 10 shows a mechanical interlock which prevents more than one key being depressed at. a time. If an error is detected the first key depressed after the error will not be restored and will mark the position of the error, if the operator runs on, as no further keys can be depressed. Field skipping. A programme card 10P (Fig. 1), is driven in synchronism with the card feeding rollers with the programme card one column in advance of the card at the reading station. A toothed wheel 121, Fig. 3, rides on the surface of the card and is designed so that when a perforation occurs the wheel 121 enters closes programme contacts 147. Two or more adjacent perforations will maintain contacts 147 closed without a break for the duration of the successive perforations. The arrangement is such that each field of the card 10P corresponding to the cards being verified, contains adjacent perforations separated by a gap at the end of the field, the contacts 147 are thus closed for each field and opened between fields. The contacts are normally not effective (Fig. 17a) to influence the escape mechanism. When, however, an error has been found and a notching cycle initiated as explained, the magnet 111 causes notching contacts 148 to close to complete a circuit from line 133 to the grid of valve T4 to energize skip relay R25. This closes contacts R25b, providing a circuit through the programme contacts 147, contacts R25b, R25a, R22, to the grid of valve T3 which becomes conducting and operates the escape magnet 44 in its anode circuit. The contacts 147 remain closed due to the adjacent perforations in the programme card for the remainder of the field and the escape magnet is therefore continuously energized until the next field is reached.