Patent GB-818623-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to record-controlled office machines
Filed: 1956-04-24
Abstract: 818,623. Electric digital-data-storage apparatus. DIRKS, G. July 23, 1957 [April 24, 1956], No. 12446/56. Class 106 (1). Data storage apparatus includes an address index having a plurality of storage areas, a data store with a plurality of addressable locations, means for registering a reference number, means for obtaining an address from the index under control of the reference number, and means for recording data in or reading data from the store under control of the address obtained. Obtaining an address.-As described, a fourdecimal-digit reference number is set up on four banks of switches 220/1 ... 220/0, 123/1 ... 123/0, 124/1 ... 124/0 and 125/1 ... 125/0. The first digit setting, by energizing one of ten relays 221/1 ... 221/0, selects one group out of ten groups of heads co-operating with a drum 1, each group comprising six heads arranged in two sub-groups such as 119/1 and 120/1. The second, third and fourth digits of the reference number are set up in multi-cathode counting tubes 126, 127 and 128 which have output channels 129, 130 and 131 connected to comparing devices 155, 156 and 157. One sub-group of three heads (e.g. 119/1) reads reference digits from the drum 1 and sets them up in counting tubes 149, 150 and 151 for comparison with the digits set up in tubes 126, 127 and 128. This action is repeated for succeeding numbers until equality is signalled by the passage of a numberseparating signal derived from a head 118, which passes through a gate 136 and all three comparing devices 155, 156 and 157. This signal opens gates 166, 167 and 168 to allow the address associated with the selected reference number to be read from the drum 1 by the second subgroup of heads (e.g. 120/1) and registered in further counting tubes 176, 177 and 178; it also closes gates 143, 144 and 145 between the first sub-group of heads and the counting tubes 149 150 and 151. Utilizing the address.-The position taken up by the glow in tube 176 in accordance with the value of the first digit of the address selects one of ten relays 179/0 ... 179/1 for energization, and each relay controls a switch leading to a further ten relays from which one is picked by the second counting tube 177. Having thus selected a particular track on the storage drum 2, the third digit registered in tube 178 controls the timing of read out from, or read in to, the selected address on the track. After a datum signal picked up by a head 193 has opened a gate 196, data-position signals picked up by an adjacent head 197 are fed to the counter 178 until, on completing a cycle, an output signal appears on a line 201 which opens a gate 205 to allow data to pass to or from the selected head of the drum store. Checking arrangement.-By a further arrangement similar to the comparison circuits 155, 156, 157 and the registering tubes 149, 150, 151, 126, 127 and 128 (Fig. 3, not shown), the reference number found with the selected data on the drum 2 may be checked against the original reference number applied to the address index drum 1. Instead of magnetic drums, discs or tapes may be used, and the reference number may be picked up from an account sheet or card. The comparing devices or coincidence detectors may be of the type described in Specification 786,039. Specifications 786,033, 786,046, 818,235 and 825,756 [Group XXXV] also are referred to.