Patent GB-788518-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to statistical machines
Inventor: PARMENTER RAYMOND OWEN
Filed: 1955-05-26
Abstract: 788,518. Selective punching machines. POWERS - SAMAS ACCOUNTING MACHINES, Ltd. April 23, 1956 [May 26, 1955], No. 15275/55. Class 31 (2). Apparatus for use in a statistical machine for effecting actuation of recording elements arranged in lines, each of which consists of a plurality of the recording elements supported for movement relative to one another to and from normally inactive positions thereof, the apparatus comprising a push-rod for each recording element of a line of recording elements, a swinging support arranged to support the push-rods for lengthwise movement and for stepwise alignment with successive lines of recording elements, selectively-operable operating elements to effect lengthwise movement of the push-rods and permitting swinging movement of the push-rods by the swinging support relative to the operating elements, and means to effect swinging movement of the swinging support. In the apparatus shown, which is for use with a machine for punching record cards, the punches are set by means of pins 1 which are operable by means of a plurality of actuating units, each of which is arranged to effect setting, column-by-column, of set-pins in a plurality of adjoining columns of set-pins. Each set-pin actuating unit comprises a plurality of pushrods 2 supported for lengthwise movement, to and from the inactive position thereof shown in Fig. 1, by a swinging plate 3 pivotally mounted on a fixed stud 4. The end of the plate 3 nearest to the set-pins is connected to a bar 6 which is moved intermittently to the right, so that the rods 2 are positioned successively over the columns of a group of adjoining columns, by means of a rotatable stepped cam 14, Fig. 2 (not shown). Each rod 2 is moved from the normally inactive position thereof by a normally inactive slide 23 supported for lengthwise movement between guide members 24. Each slide 23 has an arcuate lower end 25 which is engaged by the upper end of the rod 2 and each slide is provided with a projecting pin 26 which is located in a slot 27 in a pivotally-mounted link 28 which is movable about its pivot 29 by means of a transmission rod 30 supported by plates 31, 32 for lengthwise movement. The upper end of each rod 30 is abutted by a trigger latching member 33 slidable in guide-plates 34 and spring-urged to the inactive position thereof. The latching member 33 has a notch 37 for engagement by a spring-urged trigger 38 pivotally mounted on a vertically reciprocable operating bar 40. Movement of each trigger is controlled by an armature 44 which is spring- urged to engage a solenoid 43 and includes a camming element 47 which, when the solenoid is energized, moves the trigger about its pivot to engage the notch 37 and thereby effects, through the slide 23, link 28, and rod 30, operation of the corresponding push-rod 2. The push-rods may, if desired, co-operate directly with the punches. Further, the apparatus may be employed to punch a tape fed intermittently by increments equal to the number of columns of a record card from which data is sensed in parallel from adjoining groups of card columns. The recording elements may consist of data-memory elements or of coding or decoding set-bars.