Patent GB-654074-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for verifying perforated record cards
IPC: G06K5/00
Filed: 1947-09-23
Abstract: 654,074. Statistical apparatus. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd., and KEEN, H. H. Sept. 23, 1947, No. 25843. [Class 106 (i)] A verifier of the kind in which a record is verified in a step-by-step manner under the control of a keyboard has a card hole sensing means for each index position in a column, at least one key for each sensing means, and for each index position a rod, the rod being positioned at one end by a key or keys and at the other end by the sensing means, the movement of the centre portion of the rod controlling the setting of a switch, all the switches being wired in series so as to form a checking circuit which is broken when the key setting and the holes sensed by the sensing means differ, thereby preventing the machine from racking the card to the next column. The depression of any key 1, Fig. 2B, rocks an associated lever 2 which bears upon a common bail rod 3 and thereby rocks levers 4 clockwise about a pivot 5. Bail plates 6, pivoted to the levers 4 and guided for vertical movement under influence of the latter, have a bail rod 9 fixed between them which co-operates with a series of horizontal rods 10, one for each key 1. Each rod 10 is spring-urged downwardly at its L.H. end and carries a sensing pin 11 guided for vertical movement. The R.H. end of each rod 10 is attached to a downward extension 102 of the key lever 2 ; also each rod carries a bracket 19 which supports a plate 20 comprising metal segments 22, 23 fixed in an insulating block 18. Thus, operation of any key 1, by rocking the levers 4 and lowering the plates 6, urges the sensing pins 11 into engagement with the card 16, and the L.H. end of each rod 10 moves to a low position or an intermediate position according to whether or not its associated sensing pin finds a hole in the card. The R.H. end of each rod 10 remains in its upper position or is moved to a lower position according to whether or not the key associated with the rod is depressed. The plates 20, intermediate the L.H. and R.H. ends of the rods 10 take up positions relative to fixed contacts 26 in accordance with the movements of the rods, and it is arranged that, when one end only of a rod is moved-apart from the movement due to the lowering of the plates 6-the insulating portion 18 of the plate 20 is positioned between the contacts 24 and 25, thus breaking a checking circuit formed by wiring all these contacts in series, Fig. 6. A commutator 42 comprising an insulating portion 46 and a conducting portion 44, 45 moves with the bail levers 4, Fig. 2B, past fixed brushes 47, 48,.49 arranged so that brush 47 always contacts the conducting portion, brush 49 contacts it after a slight downward movement of the bail levers, and brush 48 contacts it just before the bail levers reach their lowest position. This last condition, in the case of verification, completes a circuit from line g, Fig. 6, through brush 47, conducting portion 44, 45, brush 48, closed contacts R1A, the checking circuit formed by the contacts 22, 23, 26, and magnets 27 operating the carriage escapement mechanism to bring the next card column under the sensing pins. Contacts 40 close to complete a circuit through the brush 49 for the escapement magnet thus allowing longer time for operation of the escapement. In the event of non-verification the checking circuit is broken and the escapement mechanism is not operated; only one winding of a differentially wound relay R1 is energized through line 72, whereby contacts R1A are opened, contacts R1B close to establish a holding circuit for relay R1, and contacts R1C close energizing a relay R2. The operator now has one more chance to check the card column by pressing the " cancel " key to open contacts 70, thus de-energizing the relay R1. Relay R3 will now become energized and if the operation of a data key again results in a non- verification condition, a second energization of relay R1 causes a circuit through contacts R1C and transferred contacts R3A to energize a magnet 71 which operates the release key mechanism. In order to draw the operator's attention to an unverified card, a fence 62, Fig. 5, is lifted above card level, being supported by a pawl 57, to render removal of the card difficult. In the case of a fully verified card, however, after contacts 65 have been closed by a lever 64, upon movement of the carriage from the 79th to 80th column position, the completion of the checking circuit, Fig. 6, for the 80th column causes energization of a magnet 61, (see also Fig. 5) which operates to rock the supporting pawl 57 clear, allowing the fence to move down and provide access to the verified card. Upon the return of the carriage a projecting plate 66 cams a lever counterclockwise, rocking an arm 68 and long lever 53 clockwise about a pivot 52 and restoring the fence to the upper position.