Patent GB-707283-A (GB)
Title: Transducer for actuating a card-punching machine or the like from a rack computer or the like
IPC: G06C11/08
Filed: 1952-10-23
Abstract: 707,283. Statistical apparatus; calculating-apparatus. LAVILLE, C. Oct. 23, 1952 [Oct. 25, 1951], No. 26679/52. Class 106 (1). [Also in Group VIII] Apparatus for linking the output of a statistical or calculating machine or a data input keyboard 101 similar to a typewriter, to a recording machine such as a card perforating machine 12 comprises a device 106 for transducing the differential setting of mechanical racks into electrical impulses representative of the output data. This comprises a plurality of rows of fixed contacts, a brush adapted to scan the contents of each row, a brush carrier movable with each of the racks to set the associated brush on the data representing contact for each data position of the respective rack, a switch adapted to be closed by the machine when the output data is required and a feeding circuit to feed the information to a recording machine. The output data may be represented by the position of a plurality of racks 15, Fig. 3. Associated with each rack is a follower 21 carying a brush 28 which makes contact with one of the contacts 0-9 over which it passes, according to the position of the rack. A contact 20 is closed by a cam at the appropriate time in a machine cycle in known fashion to complete the circuit. Unwanted zeros are suppressed by a pivoted contact 32, pivoted at 33, associated with each rack and mounted together as shown in Fig. 4. Each contact piece 32 has contact faces at 37 and 36 making contact with a bus-bar 62 and an individual contact 40, and also an upstream contact 39 making contact with the next highest order piece 32 when all are at zero as shown in Fig. 4. When the rack follower 21 is moved away from its zero position the contact piece 32 follows the end 42 of the rack follower until arrested by contact with the bus-bar 62, the contact 40 being arrested by a stop piece 43. Contact with the source of supply is then maintained through the bus-bar 62 and contact is maintained with any similar contact pieces 32 which are in the zero position downstream, but contact is lost with any contact pieces situated upstream by virtue of the shape given to the contact faces 39 and 38. Fig. 6 shows the position when a number 7009 is entered and it will be seen from Fig. 6 that the two zeros following the significant figure 7 are in contact with the bus-bar 62 by virtue of the 7 contact piece whilst the two zeros above the significant figure 7 are not in contact with the bus-bar. In the case of the two zeros which are in contact with the bus-bar, voltage is transferred to two associated contacts 40 and an impulse reaches the zero outlet shown by way of the switch 31. If it is desired that all zeros shall be marked with the appropriate voltage pulse the switch 31 may be moved to its alternative position so that all the zero voltage pulses reach the zero outlet irrespective of whether they are significant figures or not, by way of the contact 28 carried by the rack-follower 21. The contacts 20 which are closed by the cam 19 when a key 2 is depressed complete the circuits from the contact 28 and bus-bar 62 to the battery 5 via lead 30. The electrical impulses are transmitted over the cable 16 to the recording or punch unit 12 and then energize the corresponding electromagnet 108 to actuate the related card punch 109 in accordance with the data setting of the differential racks in the apparatus 101.