Patent GB-519609-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to methods of, and machines for, sorting statistical record-cards
Filed: 1938-09-21
Abstract: 519,609. Record - card - controlled statistical machines. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd. (International Business Machines Corporation). Sept. 21, 1938, No. 12688/39. Divided out of 519,380, under which a Specification was laid open to inspection under Sect. 91 of the Acts, March 23, 1939. [Class 106 (i)] Sorting cards.-A method of sorting a batch of record cards consists in repeatedly sorting the batch, each time on a different column, of a field, commencing with its lowest column, and each sorting operation consisting in sorting the cards having a "1" to "9 " hole in the controlling column, into separate packs according to those holes, sorting the remaining cards into two packs according to whether or not each card has a. " 1" to " 9 " hole in one or more of the columns higher than the controlling column, removing that pack which has no " 1 " to " 9 " hole in said higher columns and reforming the batch from the remaining packs taken in order. In this way, cards which have " O " " holes in the higher columns and have therefore been fully sorted, are removed and may be used in a tabulator while sorting is proceeding on the remaining cards. The machine described includes a multi-column selector 45, 46, 51, N, A, - and Figs: 2-8 (not shown) - which forms the subject-matter of Specification 519,380. The Fig. shows a developed view of the selector, the segments 45 being stationary and the commutator brushes 36 rotating over them. Assuming that the control numbers are punched in a card field of ten columns and it is desired to arrange a batch of the cards in consecutive numerial order, each brush SB1 . . . SB10 is connected to its contact member 51 and to a contact of switch S4. Brushes SB1, SB2 &c., read the units, tens &c. columns respectively. Switch S4 is set as shown to connect SB1 and C1. Switches S2 and S3 are opened, commutator C1 is made 'current conducting for all indexpoints except " 11 " and " 12 " and switch S1 is placed in the dotted position. To sort first on the units column -all the members A are set to open the " O " contact pairs, member N for the units is placed in the " Off " position to open its contacts 46a, 51 and all other members N are placed in the inoperative position where they open their contacts 46a, 51. If the first card is punched " 1 " in the units column and " O "  in all others a circuit Wl, 32, C3, CB, CR, SB1, S4, C1, brush relay R3, sorting magnet SM, and line W2 causes the magnet SM to direct the card to the " 1 " box. No other circuits are established by this card through brushes SB2-SB10 and relays R2, R4 are not energized. All cards punched with one of the numbers " 1" to " 9"  in the units column similarly are sorted to the correct boxes. If a card has " O " in the units column it has a control number of " 10 " or above and requires further sorting. This card is sorted to the " O " box as follows, if the card is punched say, control number 10, a circuit W1, C3, CB, SB2, 51, 46a (for the second commutator down, Fig. 9) 46, " 1 " segment 45, 36, 42, S1, R2, R4, W2 is energized at the " 1 " time. Relay R2 holds itself and relay R4, energized over circuit W1, 31, C2, R2a, R2, R4, W2. Contacts R4a of relay R4 shunt commutator C3 which is not effective at the " O " time. Since the " 9 " hole positions lead, when brush SB1 reads its "O" hole in the units a circuit W1, R4a, CB, CR, SB1, S4, C1, R3, SM, W2 sorts the card with control number 10 into the " O box. The cards in the pockets are manually stacked in the usual way to place them in proper numerical order according to the units denomination and are replaced in the hopper. Switch S4 is moved counter-clockwise one point to connect SB2 and C1 and tens slide N is moved to the " Off " position to separate its contacts 46a, 51. During the second run the cards are sent to the boxes according to the numbers in the tens column but all cards having only a units significant figure are sent to the reject box since the brush SB2 will reach the "O" hole of such a card and relays R2 and R4 are not energized. Contacts R4a are not, therefore, closed and the the card runs through to the reject box. If, on the other hand, any brush SB3 ... SB10 reads a significant hole, relays R2, R4 are energized and the cards are distributed 'to the " O " box as described above for the units column. The cards in the reject box can then ,be used immediately. At each step, switch S4 is advanced one step and the member N just previously operative to sort cards into the " 1 " to " 9 " boxes is moved to the " Off position. Specification 242,654; [Class 106 (i)], is referred to.