Patent GB-345627-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for verifying perforated record cards
IPC: G06K5/00
Filed: 1929-12-24
Abstract: 345,627. Statistical machines. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd., General Buildings, Aldwych, London.-(Assignees of Lorant, R.; 7, Parkstrasse, Dahlem, Berlin.) Dec. 24, 1929, No. 39468. Convention date, Dec. 24, 1928. [Class 106 (i).] Verifying cards ; sorting cards ; printing distinguishing marks.-In a machine for verifying a perforated statistical record-card a set-up is made from the card holes by the card-reading mechanism and this set-up is locked in the machine for subsequent comparison against a correct record, whilst the card is free to leave the reading mechanism. This set-up is preferably compared by means of keyboard-operated verifying mechanism generally similar to that described in Specification 292,486, [Class 106 (i), Calculating &c.]. In addition, data which are common to all the cards may be verified automatically by setting up the correct distribution, locking this set-up in the machine and then comparing the cards against this setup. All correct cards may be sorted from the incorrect. The cards 13 are fed from a magazine 14 by a picker 18 and rollers 22, 23 between plates 11,12 where the card is arrested by a gate 50 actuated by bell crank 50a and cam 50b from a shaft 35 ; which latter is driven one revolution from a motor (through a one-revolution clutch of usual construction) each time a motor key, Fig. 2, is pressed. The card-feeling pins 30, twelve for each card column, are mounted in a pin-box 31 raised and lowered by cams 43, and coact with an equal number of hole-representing members 37. When a pin 30 feels a hole its member 37 is raised against a spring 38 until a lug 40 on it is locked up by a locking-bar 41 pressed sidewise by a spring 52. To reduce resistance and to release previously locked-up members 37, this bar 41 is moved to the left, Fig. 1, by a cam-operated bail 47 as the pinbox commences to rise. When the pin-box falls, the setting is retained in members 37, gate 50 is lowered and rollers 53, 54 feed the card on to a table 60. If there be no card in the reading device a special pin 81 prevents the pins 30 all rising and setting the members 37. This pin 81 controls a lever 86 rotated counterclockwise by spring 88 and having a pin 87 coacting with a recess 89 in a lever 84 having a hooked upper end. If there is a card present the parts remain as in Fig. 1. Otherwise, the pin 81 rises, pin 87 enters the recess and allows spring 83 to rock lever 84 clockwise so that its hooked upper end restrains the pin-box from rising. Lever 84 is linked to a similar lever 85 at the other side of the pin-box. The locked set-up is now compared by the keyboard 100 controlling mechanism including a carriage 127, on rollers 128, which is moved from one card column to the next by a tension device 140, 141, Fig. 3, under the control of escapement pawls 138, 139 co-operating with a ratchet 136. This ratchet is rigid with wheel 135 gearing with a rack 134. The keys 101, through cables 102, actuate levers 151 which coact with a bridge 103 carried by a lever 150. This lever actuates pawl 138 to allow the ratchet 136 to rotate, so that every time a digit key is pressed the carriage escapes to the next column provided the verification is correct. The carriage 127 carries twelve sliders 165, Fig. 4, pulled by springs to the right, the direction in which the carriage moves during verifying. Pivoted to a downward extension on each slider 165 is a verifying lever 167 having a hooked end 176. Normally these ends 176 are raised clear of the hole-representing members 37 by a bail 161, 170, Fig. 3. The levers 167 are then moved to the left beyond the first row of members 37 and bail 161 is raised by link 160 and lever 159 so that the levers 167 move under spring action to the positions of Fig. 4. Only those members 37 will be thus engaged that have been locked up by a hole read. To commence, the no-value key is pressed to allow carriage 127 to escape. The correct key 101 corresponding to the hole which should be in the first card column is then pressed. If only the corresponding member 37 has been set, the key 101 and cable 102 rock their corresponding lever 151 and lower a rod 162 ; this depresses an offset 171 on the held lever 167, depressing the latter and allowing its end 176 to escape from member 37. The carriage is thus fully released and moves to the next column. If another key is depressed and the corresponding lever 167 has been allowed to escape to the right (no hole in the card) with its slide 165, instead of being held by its end 176 whilst slider 165 moves to the right, then the rod 162 misses the offset 171 but a shoulder 182 on it meets a bail 180. This rocks a lever 178 so that a pin 184 on it releases a lever 187, which latter engages the ratchet 136 and prevents escape of the carriage. If a hole other than a correct one is present in the card, a corresponding member 37 will be raised and will still hold its member 176, 167 when the correct key has allowed the carriage to escape. This will hold a slider 165 whilst the carriage is escaping so that a pin 178a on lever 178 will be struck and pawl 187 will be released to arrest the ratchet 136. The pawl 187 is released from the ratchet by rocking a member 190 clockwise, this having a pin-and-slot connection 105, 193 with the pawl. In order to miss certain columns of the hole-representing members 37 (no data in these columns or verification to be automatic as set out below) elements 108 are used. If an element 108 is present a pawl 109 is rocked into the path of elements 108 by a key-operated lever 158 so that a pin 110 depresses a nose 111 rigid with pawl 138, so that the ratchet wheel 136 is released and the carriage moves on a step. Means are provided for selecting the column on the left at which the carriage starts. When the carriage reaches the end of its travel to the right a stop 205 on it engages an adjustable stop 200 on a bar 201 so that the latter is moved to engage a fixed stop 207. At this point a cam 201a on 201 raises a lever 223, Figs. 3 and 6, lifting link 221 and rocking linkage 208 .. 210 so that a deflecting blade 70 is raised to feed the card verifier into the correct-card receptacle. Lever 208 also raises a roller 271 which marks the card as correct. If the card is not verified, the carriage is held and the card is fed eventually over the blade 70 to the incorrect-card receptacle 71. To verify automatically data common to all the cards the hole-representing members 37 have projections 158 .. 160, Fig. 8. By means of these the correct distribution is set up and locked in the machine by the first card or a standard card and the remaining cards compared against it. A locking- bar 324 coacts with each row of projections 158 .. 160 and is pressed by a spring 326. If the column is to be used for automatic verification a corresponding member 353 for that column is raised in a common block 352 attached to control lever 350, actuated by cam 344 and having shoulders 347 cooperating with lugs 345, 346 on a lever 341, also coacting with cam 344. A key 354 coacts with lever 350. When 356 is depressed, 350 is moved to the left and spring 326 can move bar 324 to the right. The " automatic columns" are now read and the appropriate members 37 are raised. 355 is then depressed, 350 moves to the right and 324 is forced to the left to lock the setting in the machine. In its left position lever 350 holds up lug 345 and lever 341. As cam 344 rotates clockwise lever 350 moves to the right, unless a bar 324 prevents it. The lever 350 in its right position holds up lug 346 and lever 341. Should a locking-bar 324 hold lever 350 as shown in Fig. 8 lever 341 will sink as cam 344 rotates and lower a rod 340. This is used to lock the ratchet wheel of the carriage 127 and prevent its further movement If the cards are correctly perforated the proper members 37 will be held raised as each bar 324 unlocks and locks them. If there are any incorrect holes, or holes absent, the bar 324 will be arrested by projections 158 or 160 and the lever 350 will be held so as to release lever 341. Means axe provided to move the bars 41, 324 to unlatching position at appropriate times.