Patent GB-397195-A (GB)
Abstract: 397,195. Statistical apparatus ; calculating-apparatus. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd., Victoria House, Vernon Place, Southampton Row, London. Feb. 24, 1932, No. 5448. Convention date, Feb. 25, 1931. [Class 106 (i).] In a statistical or other calculating-machine the usual totalizer pinions are dispensed with and replaced by two sets of relatively movable differential elements one of which is movable under the control of the mechanism for entering an item and the other is controlled in such a manner that its effect is determined by the amount previously entered into the machine one of said elements being provided with or adapted to co-operate with settable members whereby the amount entered is retained. Means are also described for effecting a transfer operation and for taking totals. The invention is shown applied to a statistical machine using Hollerith record-cards. The machine is driven from a constantly rotating shaft 3, Fig. 8, through clutch mechanisms 5, 6 on the card feed shaft 7 and main cam shaft 18 respectively, the clutches being controlled by electromagnets 11, 22, on depression of a start key 23. A card lever 32 closes contacts 33 to shunt the circuit through the normallv closed contacts of a stop key 34 and the card lever or a similar lever closes contacts 40 associated with the brushes 39 of a commutator 38 on the cam shaft 18. When a card passes through the machine a circuit is completed through the wire 41, a card brush 16, contact plate 17, wire 43, corresponding printing magnet 45, contacts 40, commutator 38, wire 46 and wire 26. The printing magnets 45 control the latches 53, Fig. 1, of a differential mechanism comprising a constant excursion bail 51 and sectors 49 carrying denominational type elements 47. The bail 51 is mounted on a shaft 50 adapted to be rocked by geared sectors 67, 69, Fig. 2, and a linkage from a shaft 64 rocked by a cam 62 on the shaft 18. The latches 53 normally engage the bail so as to move with it in a clockwise direction until a magnet 45 is energized whereupon a bell crank 57 is freed to engage a rack bar 56 and through a bell crank 55 withdraws the corresponding latch to arrest the type member. After the type sectors have been set hammers 72 are actuated to effect an impression on the platen 52. The hammers 72 are controlled by a bail 74 operated by a linkage 78, 79 and pawl 77 from the rock shaft 50. In one form of construction the totalizing-mechanism comprises two sets of relatively-movable bars 85, 107, Figs. 1 and 6. Each bar 85 carries a set of ten stops or settable elements 84 with projections co-operating with a latch plate 88 and is connected at one end by a pin and slot to a differential sector 97 having a latch 99 similar to the latch 53 and rocked by a bail 98 on a shaft 68 carrying the driving sector 67. The displacement of the sector and bar 85 is determined by the position of a set stop element 84 which during a movement co-operates with a spring-pressed pawl 106 on a spring-controlled slidable bar 103 whereby a latch 102 is operated to free a pawl 101 and permit of its engagement with a ratchet bar 100 to withdraw the latch 99 and arrest the movement of the sector 97. The bars 107 are attached to corresponding type sectors 49 and each has a pair of plungers 109, 110 adapted to be set in accordance with the item set up on the sector. After setting, an operating plate 111, under the control of a cam on the shaft 18, is depressed to move the plungers 109, 110 one or other of which will project the appropriate stop elements to represent the sum of the items entered. In a modified construction shown in Fig. 9, the type sectors 49 and sectors 97 are operatively connected to the opposite ends of a lever 173 pivoted at its mid-point to a sliding bar 175 the movement of which is proportional to the sum of the movement of the sectors. The latches 102 of the sectors 97 in this arrangement are controlled by electromagnets 172. Each bar 175 is connected by a bell crank 177 to a bar 180 carrying plungers 109, 110 that co-operate with the stop elements 84 arranged in a fixed frame and constituting elements of a contact device. Each stop extends into an insulating sleeve 183 in a contact bore 184 in which is also mounted a spring-controlled ball 185. The stops are electrically connected to earth but in their outward position do not make contact with their respective balls. When a pin is latched in by the plate 88 the corresponding bore 184 is earthed and the appropriate magnet 172 is energized to arrest the sector 97 when an insulated brush 192 linked thereto meets the contact. The circuit is completed, as shown in Fig. 10, from the source 25, through the commutator 37, magnet 172, wire 293, contacts 164a, brush 192, and contacts 184, to earth. Transfer mechanism.-The movement from one denomination to the next higher denomination is effected by moving the proper sector 97 back one step to bring the plunger 109 or 110 over the stop 84 allocated to the next higher digit. For this purpose the locking bars 118 for the latches 99 are slidably mounted on pins 119, Figs. 1 and 5. Each bar 118 has a pair of notches 120, 121, the notch 120 being normally engaged by a spring-controlled locking plunger 122 in a stationary bar 144. A plunger 123 that co-operates with the notch 121 is held out from engagement therewith by a spring 125. Coacting with these plungers is a three-armed lever 126 which is adapted to be rocked by a bail 128 to withdraw the plunger 122 and insert the plunger 123. The rocking movement of the bail is ineffective until a member 129 on a rocking arm 130 is interposed between the bail and an arm of the lever 126. One or more of the members 129 are moved to operative position when the corresponding transfer magnets 133 are energized. The shaft 127 carrying the bail is operatively connected to the main cam shaft 18, as shown in Fig. 2 ; the connecting link 134 also operates a bell crank 135 and toggle mechanism 141, 142 to operate the bar 143 carrying the plungers 123 whereby the proper locking bars 118 are displaced. The energization of the magnets 133 is under the control of contacts 145, 146, 147, Fig. 6, mounted on the bars 107, a stationary contact 159, and insulated contact strips 151, 158 or the bars 85. In any position in which the plunger 109 is above one of the stops 84 the contact 145 will co-operate with a contact plate 149, the strip 151, and a brush 151a which brush is in contact with the strip 158 of the bar 85 of next higher denomination. The circuit is completed at the proper time in the cycle by cam contacts 155, Fig. 8. Successive transfer is assured by bridging the contacts 146, 147 by means of a bar 146a, the contacts co-operating with the strips 151, 158, as shown in Fig. 6. In the modified construction the bars 175 carry a pair of brushes 193, 194 for co-operation with a common contact plate 195 and individual strips 196, 197. When a magnet is energized its armature rocks a lever 130 and pushes up a slide 206 so as to place its projection 207 in front of a bail 208 on the sector arm 204 so that on its movement the three-armed lever 200 is rocked to withdraw one end from the notch in a bar 201 and engage the other end with a notch in a bar 202 and thereby cause a movement of the locking bar 118 and adjust the plunger 109 to the next higher digit. Printing totals.-To take a total a total key 162, Figs. 8 and 10, is depressed to open contacts 28, 44 and close contacts 163, 164, Fig. 8. The start key 23 energizes magnet 22 to cause the cam shaft 18 to operate and the sectors are displaced. When the projected stops displace the bars 103, contacts 165 are closed and the circuit through the magnets 45 are completed to arrest the type sectors in corresponding position, the hammers 72 then effect an impression. After the printing operation a lever 93, Fig. 2, is operated to rock a bail 92 to release the set stop elements 84. In the modified construction depression of the total key 162 opens contacts 164a and closes contacts 164b so as to disconnect the magnets 172 from, and connect the magnet 45 to, the brushes 192 to enable the type sectors 49 to be arrested thereby.