Patent GB-499659-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to perforated record card controlled accounting or statistical machines
Filed: 1937-07-26
Abstract: 499,659. Statistical machines. STEVENS, A. H. (Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen Ges.) July 26, 1937, No. 20610. [Class 106 (i)] In record -card -controlled statistical machines different fields (a field being, for example, a third of a column, Fig. 4) are successively analysed by common analysing means (reading brushes 14 and set-up magnets 29) which successively control the separate units of a first set-up device 36, each such unit subsequently actuating its corresponding section of a second set-up device 73. The first set-up device is under record card control at such time as the second set-up device is controlling the entry-receiving means for the preceding card. In one form of the invention the cards are fed in the direction of the card columns, and in another form in a transverse direction. In the latter form the full card column is shown in Fig. 7 as divided into two fields. Fig. 5 shows a machine adapted for cards having three fields, Fig. 4, each comprising fifteen record columns, the cards being fed in the direction of the card columns by apparatus of the kind described in Specification 235,568, [Class 106 (i)]. Fig. 2 shows the first and second set-up devices 36, 73 for a single record column only, with a unit comprising four magnets 29 associated with a single analysing brush 14 for a single record column. Upon consecutive analysis of the three fields, each group of magnets 29 is shifted as described below so as to act successively upon three different units of the set-up bars 36 which are arranged side by side. The actuated set-up bars 36 are held in the depressed position by pawls 53 and are subsequently further depressed, to actuate the bars 73 of the second set-up device, by the energisation of magnets 67 which draw downwards a bar 57 supporting the pawls 53. The bar 57 is moved to the right by the energization of magnets 72 to release the bars 36. Similarly a bar 78 carrying the holding pawls 77 for the bars 73 is moved to the right upon energization of magnets 82. The bars 73 are provided in known manner with shift contacts 83 in ladder circuits 85 associated with a reading-out commutator 87 connected to an adding and printing magnet 42. During the period between two consecutive setting-up operations, a commutator 90 energizes the magnets 82, 67, 72. During the second setting- up operation analysis of the ladder circuits is effected by the commutator 87, almost the whole machine cycle being available for this purpose, and during the same time the commutator 27 effects in three consecutive steps the control of three adjacent units of set-up bars 36. The means for shifting the casing 140 supporting the magnets 29 relative to the bars 36 comprises a rotating drum 144 operated by an electromagnetically-actuated pawl and having a cam slot engaging a projection 141 on the casing; the magnets being thus shifted to the left in two steps so as to operate successively three adjacent groups of bars 36 and then return to the first set. Selective connection to any one of the registering magnets 42 is obtained by means of a plug board 131. In a modification, Figs. 7 and 8, the record card 111 has, for example, two fields, each having four analysing brushes 114 connected to a set of brushes 116 which are adapted to engage contact strips secured on a conveyer belt 130 carrying two groups of magnets 129 connected to the contact strips. Each magnet is controlled by its corresponding hole position in a record column, and the lower group of magnets traverses the set-up units, operating the same in accordance with the analysis. The two groups of magnets alternately act upon the set-up bars 36. During the endwise analysis of one card the magnets 42 are controlled in accordance with the perforations of the preceding card. In both machines-the magnet 42 operates a holding-member 47 to arrest differentially a rising type bar 44, an accumulator wheel 51 being also provided, as described in Specification 229,660, [Class 106 (i)]. U.S.A. Specifications 2,067,157 and 1,955,819 also are referred to.