Patent GB-754355-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to statistical record card sensing apparatus
Filed: 1954-05-21
Abstract: 754,355. Statistical apparatus. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. May 21, 1954 [May 25, 1953], No. 14986/54. Class 106 (1). Record cards are sensed whilst at rest by a plurality of pins mounted to register with two perforations. Each sensing pin co-operates with a rotatable commutator having a contact controlled by the sensing pin, the commutator being arranged to supply differentially timed output signals of predetermined relation to the data sensed from the record card. The apparatus is primarily intended for sensing a wellknown twelve-hole 1BM code shown in Fig. 6 and furnishing output signals which may be used to operate a punch to reduce the information to another card in a different code such as the binary code shown in Fig. 7. Cards 29 are fed between plates 52, 53, Fig. 2, and are sensed by pins 78, Fig. 3, smaller than the pins 71 on which they are carried. Pins 71 are each provided with a contact 68 which engages with an associated commutator 69 carried on shafts 67 and designated by a reference numeral representative of the value of the perforation in the card associated therewith. The pins 71 are provided with a collar 76 so that a restoring bail may return all the pins to inactive position against springs 77 when the sensing period is finished. During the sensing period the commutator rotates first in one direction and then in the other, as shown in timing diagram, Fig. 4. Each commutator is mechanically connected to a spur gear 113 mounted on the commutator shaft 67. The spur gears are engaged by reciprocating inclined slides 106, 107, Fig. 1. Each commutator comprises an insulating tube mounted on shaft 67 with contact pieces 69 inserted in the insulating material. The number of these armatures in each tube depends on the code to which the information is to be converted. An electrical circuit is completed by the closing of a contact to provide an output signal for operating the magnets of a punch in known manner. The wiring diagram, Fig. 5, shows diagrammatically the sensing pins and associated commutators for three columns, there being in fact similar arrangements for all columns in the record card. Thus, for example, on reading a " 5 " hole current flows from the + side of the supply through cam contact C1, contact 149 pertaining to the " 5 " contact tube commutator segment 69, contact 68 for column 1 and contact tube " 5 " read hub for column 22, plug wire 200, punch entry hub 153, relay contact R4b, punch magnet PM79 to the - ve side of the supply. With a " 5 " hole in Column 22 a circuit will be completed to punch magnet PM79 at " 4 " time and again at " 1 " time, as shown in the timing chart, and the card in the punch machine will be punched with 4, 1, combination. Provision may be made for class selection prior to the punching operation, for example a perforation may be provided at " 11 " index point position in column 1 of the card being sensed. When contact breaker C1 makes at the " X " cycle point a circuit is made through C1 contact 149, commutator tube 11, contact 68, read hub 1, plug wire 201, C5 and pick-up position of relay R9. When relay R9 is energized content R9b is transferred from position shown in Fig. 5. Information passed in column 23 will now be fed through the class selector to contact R4c and pin 80. Without the class selection the information from column 79 would have been supplied through the class selector and contact R4c and pin 80.