Patent GB-366141-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to record controlled statistical machines
IPC: G06F7/42
Filed: 1930-11-01
Abstract: 366,141. Statistical machines. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd., Victoria House, Vernon Place, Southampton Row, London.-(Assignees of Maul, M. ; 10, Krausestrasse, Karlshorst, Berlin.) Nov. 1, 1930, No. 32916. Convention date, Nov. 2, 1929. [Class 106 (i).] A record-controlled statistical machine has an accumulator of the kind described in Specifications 224,549 and 314,026, [both in Class 106 (i), Calculating &c.], and comprises means for reading the perforated record in motion and for transmitting an impulse thereby, a set of contacts normally open which are connected to the reading device and are allotted each to a separate digit, a magnet for closing each pair of contacts under control of the card reading, means for looking each pair of closed contacts in closed condition until another magnet is energized, and a commutator operating synchronously with the card-reading to connect simultaneously each pair of contacts to the magnet allotted to the units digit of the sum of the digit of that pair of contacts and the digit of the hole position being read on the card at that moment. The machine, for reading Hollerith record-cards in motion, has an electric two-speed motor and has a card-feed section as in Specification 190,144, [Class 106 (i), Calculating &c.]. Fixed to the drive shaft of this feed section are the adding and subtracting commutator 33, Figs. 10 and 12, and the tens-transfer commutators 34 (addition), and 271 (subtraction) and geared to this drive shaft is a single printing shaft (for item and total printing) carrying the total brushes 292, Fig. 12, of the stationary commutators 37. The item-printing mechanism comprises rising type-bars arrested differentially by electromagnets energized from the card-reading as in Specification 247,200, [Class 106 (i), Calculating &c.], but modified so that when a magnet 101, Fig. 12, is energized (automatically or by a total key T) it engages the printing clutch and allows the same mechanism to be used for total-printing. Counting- apparatus with variable-step movement.-An accumulator for four denominations, Fig. 5, has the units on the right, each denomination consisting of ten magnets 110, each with a pair of contacts 111. When a magnet is energized momentarily, its armature bell crank 112, 113 raises the lower contact of its pair to closed position, this lower contact wiping past a bar 114 pivoted at 115 so that it is locked up. Incidentally this releases any previously locked-up contact. When a reset magnet 122 is energized a bar 121 with lugs 125 moves all bars 114 to open all contacts 111. In case this wiping past should not release the previously locked-up contact, a construction is described for allowing lost motion to ensure release. To start an adding operation the zero contacts 111 must be closed to provide an initial circuit. For this, contacts 126, Figs. 5 and 12, are provided for each denomination and are closed by armature lever 128, 124 when reset magnet 122 is energized and are locked in closed position by bars 114. The tens and hundreds denominations also have contacts 131, 132 for consequent transfer, as described below. Fig. 10 shows one denomination of magnets 110 wired to a cardreading brush 135 and the adding commutator 33. On one side this commutator has discontinuous concentric conducting rings 140 acting with brushes 143 and spiral conductors 141 acting with brushes 142. Each spiral is connected to one of the rings as indicated by the black spots. The radial lines marked 9-0 pass under brushes 142, 143 synchronously with the corresponding hole positions under brush 135. Addition and subtraction.-If, say, a " 3 " card hole is read (zero contacts 111 being closed) a circuit is closed through 135, battery B, 144, " 0 contacts 111, zero brush 143, "0" " ring 140, " 0 " spiral 141, " 3 " brush 141 (since the " 3 " radial line is now under the brushes), a line to " 3 " magnet 110, line 145, 136 and a " 3 " hole in the card. This locks up " 3 " contacts 111 and releases the zero contacts. If now 5, say, is added the circuit is through a " 5 " card hole, 135, B, 144, " 3 " contacts 111, " 3 " brush 143, " 3 " ring 140, " 3 " spiral 141, " 8 " brush 142 (since the " 5 radial line is now under brushes 142) and to the " 8 " magnet 110. Thus the looked-up contacts 111 represent the result of any such addition, this result being printed at total taking by bringing the contacts 111 into circuit with the printing magnets by brushes 292, Fig. 12, synchronously with the rise of the type bars. For subtraction, it is merely necessary that brushes 142, 143 reading the spirals 141 and rings 140 respectively, should be connected to the lower contacts 111 and magnets 110 respectively instead of to the magnets 110 and contacts 111 respectively. This change is effected electromagnetically, as described below for the circuit diagram when a special hole on the card (indicating subtraction) is read. Transfer-mechanism.-When a digit (say 6) is added to a denomination, if the new number shown (e.g. 1) is less than the previous number (5) standing in that denomination then a tens-transfer is necessary ; if the new number is higher then no transfer has been reached. Two return circuits are provided for the magnets 110, one for transfer (154, Figs. 7 and 12) and one for no-transfer (156). Figs. 6 and 7 show the transfer commutator 34 for addition. Lines 154, 156 are connected to brushes 153, 155 reading respectively conducting strips 151, 152 on one side of the commutator. On the other side two plates 161 (transfer), 162 (no-transfer) are insulated from one another by a strip 163. Strip 151 is connected electrically to plate 161, and strip 152 to plate 162. Plates 161, 162 are read by brushes 164 connected to the magnets 110. Commutator 34 rotates in synchronism with the card feed and the insulating strip 163 changes the connections serially between brushes 164 and lines 154, 156. If 6, say, is to be added, when the six card hole is read the brushes 153, 155, 164 are in the radial line 6, Fig. 6, and the brushes 164 Nos. 6 .. 9 are on the no-transfer plate 162 while the brushes Nos. 0, 1 .. 5 are on the transfer plate 161. If the number already on the denomination is 0, 1, 2, or 3 the new number will be 6 .. 9 and no transfer is needed-the brushes 164 from the magnets Nos. 6 .. 9 are on plate 162 to no-transfer line 156. If the number already in the denomination is 4 .. 9 the new number will be 0, 1 .. 5 and the connection is to the transfer plate 161. The transfer action for subtraction is the same, the construction of the commutator 271 being modified as shown in Fig. 8. Total-taking.-In the circuit diagram, Figs. 12 and 12a, three denominations 110 are shown -hundreds on Fig. 12, and tens and units at the top and bottom of Fig. 12a respectively. The tabulating motor 25 has a resistance 173 in its field which is shunted to give low printing speed, and is started by key ST; 176 being the card feed clutch magnet and S a stop key. For automatic totals a switch 183 is previously closed so that magnet 101 throws in the printing clutch as above described. Alternatively a key T may be held closed manually. The segments of a stationary commutator 37 at each denomination are wired to the contacts 111 and at a total printing cycle a brush 292 rotates synchronously with the rise of the type bars and energizes a printing magnet 85, through commutator 38, according to which contacts 111 are locked closed, so that the type bar for that denomination is arrested to print the correct number. Immediately after printing, the magnet 122, Figs. 5 and 12, is energized to reset the accumulator 57 this closing zero contacts 111 as above described. R and 193 are the manual and automatic reset switches. When the list-non-list lever of the machine is in listing position, it closes contacts 61, 62 of which the former shunts the resistance 173 to give slow speed. Adding and transfer circuits. Brushes 135 are connected through star cams 195 and lines 199, 198, 196 respectively to lines 1971, 200, 197 of the units, tens and hundreds lower contacts 111. The upper, hundreds contacts 111 in addition to being connected to the total commutator 37 are joined by cable 201 to upper contacts of pairs 204 controlled by magnet 203. Similarly with tens and units, magnets 261, 262. For adding, magnets 203, 261, 262 are deenergized and middle contacts 202 meet upper contacts 204. Contacts 202 are joined by wires 205 to brushes 143 of the adding commutator 33, of which brushes 142 are connected by wires 210 to middle contacts 212 meeting upper contacts 211 which are connected by cable 215 to the magnets 110. A common return line 213 leads to a separate battery B (one for each denomination). The returns for the units and tens are cabled by 226a to the brushes 164 of the transfer commutators 34 (addition) and 271 (subtraction). If a transfer is necessary the circuit will continue through line 154 to magnet 230 (closing contacts 237, Fig. 12a), CF-10, 231, B (tens); for no-transfer the circuit is 156, 232 (opening 237), 231, B. In the units denomination, magnets 234, 235 act similarly. Actual transfer occurs when the X card hole position is read (Fig. 10). At this moment contacts CF-7 close to energize a magnet 240 which shifts contact 245 in the tens or hundreds so that each pair of contacts 111 is connected to the next higher magnet 110 in the same denomination, as shown in Figs. 12 and 12a. This shift also opens the lines 205, 210. At the same time the transfer circuit is completed by contacts CF-8, B (hundreds), 241, 236, 237, CF-8, 242, the closed contact 111 (hundreds), 201, 204, 202, 205, 245, 211, 212, 215, magnet 110 (hundreds), 213. Consequent transfer. If nine is already standing in the tens denomination, a transfer from units to tens will also necessitate a transfer from tens to hundreds. For this, during addition, contacts 131 at the No. 9 contac