Patent GB-522314-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to record card controlled calculating machines
Filed: 1938-12-08
Abstract: 522,314. Record - card controlled statistical machines. BALDWIN, R. E. Dec. 8, 1938. No. 35830. [Class 106 (i)] A grouped-card-controlled machine comprises cyclic means (date disc 370) for successively setting up in sequence all the numbers in a given cycle (days of the month) and for repeating the cycle each time its end is reached, and the cards of each group each bearing a number in the cycle, means for comparing the number read from each card with the date set up, means operating on disagreement to (1) advance the date disc to the next number, (2) arrest the card feed until agreement occurs, (3) take a progressive total, and means which, when the date disc passes automatically from its last to its first number, causes total-taking and grand-totaltaking. Each card group relates to one customer's account and consists of a balance card (punched with date 1) followed by a card (or cards) for each day of the month on which a transaction occurred, these transaction cards being punched each with the appropriate day of the month. Each time the date changes on the transaction cards the correct progressive total (positive or negative) is transferred from the progressive counter to a grand-total counter and when the group changes the progressive and grand-total counters are cleared to give a total and grandtotal. The invention is illustrated in a pin-box machine of the kind set out in Specification 405,666, having an item-sensing pin-box as described in Specification 401,012 and group-change control mechanism as in Specification 271,935 [Class 106 (i)]. Reference numerals below 300 without the suffix a are for parts to be found in Specification 405,666. The printing hammers 301, Fig. 1, are controlled by the mechanism set out in Specification 461,612. The present machine has two direct subtraction, or balance, counters S (not marked) each associated with a grandtotal counter 151 as in Specification 405,666 and capable of adding only. In each algebraic, subtotal counter S, each denomination consists of a pair of constantly meshed register wheels controlled by an abutment member 38 in the known manner as to whether the adding or subtracting wheel of the pair is engaged with the sectors. These sectors (not shown) for each counter S and the sectors 2 for the grand-total counters 151 are connected by links so that when the cardreading sets the sectors 2 through the stop basket 300 the sectors for the counters S are set also. The action of each grand-total counter is controlled by the arms 152 (one shown), carrying the wheels 151, in the known manner. Positive amounts off the cards are entered into one counter S+, Fig. 2, and negative amounts into the other counter S-. Fig. 2 shows the arrangement diagrammatically, the positive sign + indicating credit and the negative sign - debit. From the pin box P connection wires C+ and C- lead to the credit and debit stop baskets 300+ and 300- respectively. After the sectors have been set the algebraic counter wheels are engaged with the sectors which are then restored to transmit the amounts to the counters S; during this time the wheels of the grand-total counters G+ and G-remain out of engagement with their sectors. Credit items are added additively into S+ and subtractively into S- and vice versa for the debit items, the latter being indicated in the cards by debit control holes and the credit amounts by credit control holes. These control holes are read by special pins PD and PC respectively which control the above-mentioned abutments 38. After the cards have been read the balance of the items read will be held in the credit or debit counter S+ or S- respectively according as the balance is + or - and the other counter will hold the complement of the balance. During a total-taking operation the control plate 153, Fig. 1, is moved as set out in Specification 405,666 but after the balance has been transferred from counter S+ or S- to counter G+ or G-, it is then restored to S+ or S- by the mechanism shown in the bottom left corner of Fig. 1, whereby rack 315 controls appropriately the cradle 21 carrying the algebraic counter wheels. Assuming a credit balance it is retained in counter S+ and also tranferred to G+ and printed from type 3 associated with the credit counters. To prevent the complement of the balance, held in counter S-, from being transferred to grand-total counter G- or printed, a link 63 connected to the abutment 38 of abutment 38 for counter S- moves a rod 330 to the right so that the control plate 153 for counter G- is held in midposition, whereby the wheels 151 remain unengaged with their sectors. The same action moves a locking shutter 346 into the path of lugs 347 on the printing hammers 301. The date-control mechanism according to the invention includes a column of twelve sensing pins 355, shown end-on in Fig. 6, mounted on a slidable frame 356 so that the. pin column may be located over any desired card column. Parts shown in Fig. 6 are to be found in Fig. 6, of Specification 271,935 [Class 106 (i)] and are given the same reference numerals as in the prior case plus the suffix a. The " 1 " to " 9 " pins 355 read the holes representing the units digits of the dates punched in the date column of the card while the usual " 0 " " 11 " and " 12 " positions are used for the dates 10, 20, 30 respectively. The balance card preceding each group is punched to represent the date 1 and also has an additional hole in the " 0 " position in another column read by a balance card pin 355b. Each date-reading pin 355 is connected by a Bowden cable 358, Figs. 6 and 8, to a ferrule 361 guided in a plate 362 secured to an axially-slidable shaft 363 and coacting with a bell crank 366, 367 pivoted to a block 368 on a fixed plate 369. The cable sheath is attached to a fixed plate 359. The ends 367 of the nine bellcranks associated with the " 1 " to " 9 " cables 358 coact with the arcuate rib 375, Figs. 8 and 10, of the date disc 370 which is freely rotatable on the shaft 363 and is pressed to the right, Fig. 8, by a spring 371. This disc is slidable on rods 372 projecting from a plate 452, Fig. 11, which rotates with, but cannot slide on, the shaft 363. The plate 362 is guided on rods projecting from fixed plate 369 so that shaft 363 can slide axially but not rotate. If the date sensing pin 355 corresponding to the cable 358 shown in Fig. 8, finds a hole in the card, the pin moves down fully with the pin box frame 356 and the ferrule 361 and plate 362 remain in the relative position shown in Fig. 8. Thus as shaft 363 moves to the right the bellcrank 366, 367 rocks counterclockwise and its arm obstructs the rib 375 so that the date disc is prevented from moving to the right. If the sensing pin does not find a hole the ferrule 361 remains to the left and the bellcrank cannot rock. The date disc 370 then moves freely to the right. The ends of the ten arms 367 are arranged in an arc concentric with the rib 375. The disc 370 has forty teeth and a pawl 377, when actuated, steps the disc on one tooth. Four ribs 375 each extend over nine teeth of the disc and nine arm ends 367, there being a gap of one tooth pitch between adjacent ribs. A " 0 " bellcrank 367b is operated by the cable 358b, Fig. 6, connected to the " balance card pin " 355b. The cards of one or more groups are placed in the magazine in date order for each group, the first card of each group being the balance card dated for the 1st of the month and having the special " 0 " hole. Assuming that a gap 378 of disc 370 is opposite the " 2 bellcrank 367 and a " 3 " date card is in the pin box 356, the " 3 " bellcrank 367 rocks counter clockwise when the shaft 363 moves to the right and obstructs the rib 375. At each machine cycle the shaft 363 and disc 370 are permitted to be moved to the right, Fig. 8, by spring 371 under control of a cam on the main shaft. The inability of the shaft 363 to move to the right is used to (1) stop the card feed, (2) take a progressive total, and (3) advance the date disc 370 one step. In the present instance the total-taking operation will be a blank since it was caused by a change from no-card to the first card, and the disc is stepped so that the gap 378 in question passes from the " 2 " to the " 3 " bellcrank 367. During the next cycle the card dated " 3 " is again read and the " 3 " bellcrank merely rocks into the gap 378. Disc 370 is free to move, card feeding is resumed, and the gap remains opposite No. " 3 " bellcrank. If several cards bear date " 3 " they are sensed in sequence, disc 370 moves freely each time and the items are accumulated on the algebraic counters. If next a card dated " 4 " is read the disc 370 is once more obstructed, total-taking &c. occurs, and the sub-total for the " 3 " cards is transferred to the appropriate grand-total counter. If, say, there are no cards dated " 5 " and " 6," when a " 7 " card is read the progressive total is repeatedly transferred and the disc stepped on until the gap 378 is opposite " 7 " bellcrank 367. The above deals with the units digits of the date. For the tens digits there are three bellcranks 382, 384, 386, Fig. 10, and ribs 387, 388 which act in a similar fashion at the change from " 9 " to " 0." (1) and (2) Card-feed and progressive total-taking control. Freely mounted on a shaft 390, Fig. 12, are two ratchets 391, 392 for controlling the progressive-total-taking and the card-feed respectively. Each ratchet has four teeth over a quarter of its periphery and a finger 393 or 394. Finger 393 is normally away from the end of its coacting Bowden cable 395 by a clearance equal to one tooth of the ratchet. Finger 394 normally abuts its cable 396. Detent 397 is normally over the first tooth of ratchet 391 and detent 398 behind the first tooth of ratchet 392. Beyond plain circular portions 405, 406 the ratchets are cut away at 407 and 408. A common feed pawl 409, Fig. 13, actuates the ratchets. This pawl is recipr