Patent GB-253134-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in electro-pneumatic machines for the recording and checking of statistics and the like
IPC: G06K5/00
Filed: 1926-06-04
Abstract: 253,134. Trojani, P., and Ascanio, C. d'. June 4, 1925, [Convention date]. Statistical machines.-A statistical machine employing a perforated strip is provided with means (1) for perforating the strip according to a code for the numbers which are set up on a keyboard and (2) for ascertaining whether a particular combination of data is present in any of the individual portions of the strip. Fig. 1 shows the mechanism for one denomination only.-Each key 0 .. 9 has at the end of its stem 0<1> .. 9<1> a spring tongue 11 carrying a small block 10 which, when a key is depressed, locks behind the edge of a hole in a plate 13; a plate 14 having projections 16 being moved when desired by key 18 and bellcrank 20 to release any depressed keys. For each denomination there are four bars 33 slidable in guides 34, 35 and carrying four horizontal rods the free ends 37 of which coact with pins 38 on four bell-cranks 39 coacting with four punches 48. The combination of one or more of four holes is used to denote any number 0 to 9 in a similar manner to the Pierce code. Each stem 0<1> .. 9<1> carries a comb 36 having four recesses coacting with the horizontal arms of the vertical bars 33. The depths of the recesses in the various combs are so arranged that a comb on any particular stem, when the key is depressed, moves only those bars the combination of which represents the number of the key depressed. Thus the appropriate punches 48 are raise'd for each denomination. These punches are raised until the ends 50 of bell-cranks 39 reach an arm 51 linked by 53 with the stem 54 of a key 55, so that when the key 55 is depressed the arm 51 is removed whereby the punches complete their upward movement and perforate a paper strip 45 passing between rollers 46, 47. When the key 55 is depressed to perform punching the stem 54 opens a valve 83 whereby a suction device 63, 64 draws the pieces of paper punched out of the strip into a chamber 80 having a filter net 81. Displaying items. Pins 23 on the key stems coact with an arm 24 pivoted at 25 and having a toothed rack 27 which moves a numeral scale 30 differentially past an observation window 32 according to the amount of angular displacement given to the arm 24 by the key depressed. To detect the presence in the strip of a particular combination of data the following mechanism is provided. Each denomination on the strip is read by four pipes 43 connected to bellows 56 .. 59 which are in turn connected to a common pipe 60 leading to the suction device 63, 64. According as the bellows are inflated or deflated respectively contacts 65, 67 or 65, 68 are closed. These contacts are electrically connected as shown, and are joined to fixed contact brushes which coact with contacts set in insulating projections 69 .. 72 fixed on the horizontal arms of the four bars 33. The first brush for the extension 69 is connected with the spring 65 of the fourth pair of bellows 59 of the next denomination. The number to be identified is set up on the keyboard, moving the appropriate extension 69 .. 72 into operative positions. If the number set up is on the strip 45, when the perforations representing it in the code appear at the pipes 43 the bellows appropriate to the bars 33 moved are operated to close the appropriate circuits in series whereby a magnet 75 is energized to cause a shutter 76 to fall before a window 77. Instead of numerals, letters may be used, in which case there are five bars 33 to each denomination to allow a sufficient number of combinations for all the letters of the alphabet.