Patent GB-508197-A (GB)
Title: Method of and plant for transferring entries of list form to loose cards
Filed: 1937-09-23
Abstract: 508,197. Statistical apparatus. RITZERFELD, W. Sept. 23, 1937, No. 25831. Convention date, Sept. 30, 1936. [Class 106 (i)] [Also in Group VIII] In accounting - apparatus comprising a reprinting-machine working from mirror-script, a scanning-device, a calculating-machine, and printing and perforating machines for booking entries and their totals in two pairs of debit and credit columns on an account card in legible script and corresponding code perforations, the printing and perforating machines are automatically and positively controlled by the calculating-machine to which the amounts to be calculated are supplied from the account card and from a collective list both sensed or scanned independently by a common apparatus including two sets of scanners, one of which scans the collective list and the other of which scans ' the account card, both sets of scanners being moved towards or away from each other during operation. There are two 'kinds of plant described, one which is mainly electrically-operated, and the other of which is mainly mechanically-operated, manual operations being necessary in both for manipulating and transferring the collective list and the account card. In both cases a collective list (day-book) is prepared by means of a typewriter and per-' forator whereby entries are typed on the obverse side of the list and simultaneously copied in "mirror-script," by means of a carbon sheet, on the reverse side of the list, and perforations are produced in the list corresponding to the amounts entered in legible script. The " mirror-script " copy is then transferred in a " reprinting-machine " on to an account card. Scanning-mechanism then scans the perforations in list and those (if any) of the old totals in the account card, the amounts are transmitted to a calculating- mechanism, and the latter controls a printing and perforating mechanism whereby the new totals are entered in legible script and corresponding code perforations on to the account card. The mechanically-operated plant, shown in Fig. 26, comprises a casing 172 carrying-a guide-plate 173 on which are slidable to the right a number of rails 174, one rail for each digit, all the rails being restored to their rest position by a transverse bar 176. Each rail has a rack 177, shoulders 178, 179, a punch 180, and a type-bar 181. Counting-wheels 182 are, as shown, engaged by a detent 183, but can be lowered into engagement with the racks 177, each wheel being provided with a tons cam 184. Scanners for the collective list are situated in a vertically movable casing 185 in the casing 172, and a similar scanner device 186 operates on the account card 189 lying on a table 190. Punches are mounted in a casing 188, and co-operate with a die 191 on the table 190. The collective list, which is already typed and punched as stated above, is carried by a drum 193 which descends to " reprint" the mirror-script copy on the list on to the account card, the casing 172 with the rest of the mechanism being displaced to allow this descent The casing 172 is moved into operative position, as shown, the casing 186 is lifted to allow the scanners to pass through perforations in the account card corresponding to the last total thereon, and these scanners push upwardly the scanners in an auxiliary casing 187 so that they lie in the paths of the shoulders 178 of the rails 1.74. The transverse bar 176 is moved to the right to allow the rails 174 to move as far as they can according to the disposition of the auxiliary scanners 187. The counting-wheels 182 are now lowered to engage the racks 177, and the bar 176 returned to its initial position whereby the old total on the account card is transferred to the counting-mechanism. Both scanners 185, 186 are now lowered, the former ones pass, where possible through perforations in the collective list corresponding to the amount to be added to the old total on the account card, and move into the path of the shoulders 179 on the rails 174. The counting-wheels are disengaged, and the apparatus operated as previously described to transfer the amount recorded on the list to the counting-mechanism. The printing and perforating of the new total on the account card is now performed. The counting-wheels 182 are not disengaged from the racks after the last operation. The bar 176 moves to the right and the rails 174 follow until the wheels 182 are arrested at zero by tens transfer latches 197. The table 190 is now raised, a roller 192 thereon pressing the account card 189 into contact with the printing-type 181 to print the new total, and the projections 180 on the rails force the punches 188 into the card to make the equivalent code perforations of the new total. The collective list is prepared in a typewriter and perforator of known kind, each of the numeral keys 1 to 0 being pivotally connected to levers' which close the circuit of an electromagnetic system each time a key is struck, this system controlling the perforating-mechanism which forms an extension of the typewriter and operates on an extension of the platen. The perforations are disposed in the manner shown in Fig. 20. The electrically-operated plant comprises a number of separate machines. The reprinting and scanning mechanisms are embodied in one machine, the former being of known type comprising a drum for the collecting list and moistening-device for the account card which rests on a table. A carriage arranged to reciprocate over the table under the control a cam on a rotary cylinder, has two sets of scanners thereon, one set for-the account card and one for the collective list, and these scanners can contact the table and the drum through the perforations in the card and list to complete electric circuits to a counting-mechanism of known kind working in the direct tens transferring system. This mechanism comprises two pieces of apparatus, one for debit and the other for credit. The counting-mechanism is driven from a shaft provided with a pinion in mesh with a .rack on the reciprocating carriage of the scanning-mechanism. The counting-mechanism is electrically connected to the printing and perforating mechanism shown in Fig. 18 wherein entries of the new total in legible script and corresponding code perforations are produced on the account card. The printing is effected by a quadrant shaped type carrier 121 mounted on a shaft 120 carried in vertical slots and urged upwardly by springs 124. The quadrant is set for printing a number by a rod 125 actuated in known manner and controlled from a movable part of the counting-mechanism, such as the toothed racks therein. The downward printing movement of the quadrant is effected by a bell-crank 128 actuated by a rod 127. The punches are in contact with each other but staggered vertically all in the same frame 130, those 131 carrying even numbers being mounted in the upper part and the rest 132 in the lower part. Each punch 131 is actuated by a pivoted lever 135 connected to a link 136 having thereon an armature 137 of an electromagnet 138, and each punch 132 is actuated by a pivoted lever 141 connected to a link 142 having thereon an armature 143 of another electromagnet 144. The electromagnets are energized from a contact plate 147 which is electrically connected with a contact plate on the counting-mechanism, and latches on the links 136, 142 then engage behind members 149 on a frame 150 which has an armature co-operating with a common electromagnet 152. If the latter is then energized, the punches are actuated. A known control mechanism synchronizes the movements of the punches and type quadrant. A matrix 157, which by means of a control device 166, 167 and 168 is moved each time by the length of one hole when changing over from odd to even numbers and vice versa, is actuated by noses 169 provided on the links 136 which rock pivoted levers 170 to which the member 166 is connected, The matrix has a slot into which tongues are slidable transversely from each side thereof to provide matrix holes for even or odd number punches.