Patent GB-568604-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to record controlled machines adapted to print from stencil cards
IPC: B41L45/00
Filed: 1943-05-10
Abstract: 568,604. Printing processes; addressing machines. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd. May 10, 1943, No. 7416. Convention date, May 12,1942. [Class 100 (ii)] [Also in Group XIX] A machine for comparing and sorting record cards and for printing under the control of record cards comprises means for feeding two sets of cards past two sensing stations, a device for comparing designations sensed at the two stations, a printing device adapted to print stencil matter from cards of the first set on to cards of the second set and means controlled by the comparing device for controlling the printing and feeding mechanisms to effect the printing of stencil matter from a card of the first set on to a card of the second set when the cards have equal designations and for feeding compared cards having unequal designations to a receiving station without causing operation of the printing mechanism. General arrangement. Primary cards (which may be stencils) are fed from a hopper PH, Fig. 2b, by a picker controlled by a primary feed magnet and are passed by feed rolls to be sensed by primary sequence brushes PB1. The primary cards are then fed beneath a second set of brushes PB2, termed primary brushes, and next move between eject rolls 206. Secondary cards (which may be postcards, cheques, &c.) are fed from a hopper SH by a picker controlled by a secondary feed magnet and are passed beneath secondary brushes SB to eject rolls 208. Both primary and secondary cards converge between rolls 219 which feed them to a printing station between an ink roll 712 and a platen 708. After the printing operation, controlled by a magnet PCM (not shown in Fig. 2b) the cards are fed in receiving pockets PRJ (Primary reject), MS (merged sets), SP (split pair), and SRJ (secondary reject). Pockets SP and SRJ are not shown in Fig. 2h. Distribution of the cards to the various pockets is controlled by magnets SRM1, SRM2, PRM, operating guide blades 306, 307, 308. When the primary or secondary hoppers empty, contacts therein close. Other contacts open when any receiving pocket becomes full. The cards will also operate certain card contacts while being fed. Two separate comparing devices, called respectively a " sequence unit " and a " selector unit ", are provided for comparing numbers punched in two cards feeding through the machine or for comparing a number punched in a card being fed with a number previously entered in the comparing units by a " finder " card. Each comparing unit has two sections and different relays are energized according to whether a unit shows a " high ". " equal " or " low " relation between its two sections as the result of the comparison, these relays controlling the printing and other operations of the machine. At the beginning of an operation the comparing units are cleared before a primary or a secondary card. passes any reading brushes. Operation. The machine is set up to perform different operations by connecting various plug sockets by plug wires, the corresponding circuit connections being described in the Specification. The following operations are amongst those described in the Specification :-(1) Feeding primary cards only, the comparing units not being in use. When the cards are placed in the primary hopper, the associated hopper contacts open, the secondary hopper contacts remaining closed. The start key STK (not shown) is depressed and must be held down for three cycles by which time the advancing cards have closed two sets of card contacts and the operation continues automatically until stopped by depression of a stop key, or by opening of the full-pocket contacts or by opening of the card contacts caused by failure of a primary card to feed. When the hopper empties, the machine cannot be restarted unless more cards are inserted by the start key, but the cards in process of feeding are cleared by depressing a run-out key. (2) Feeding secondary cards only. This is a similar operation to (1) but the start key need be held down for two cycles only. (3) Sequence verification of primary cards. This operation may be performed alone or in combination with others. The comparing device called the sequence unit is so plugged in that operation continues so long as the second of two primary cards has, in certain columns, a higher number, or in this case the same number, as the first of the said two cards. If the second card has a lower number the machine stops feeding and an '' error lamp " tights up. The machine is restarted by depressing an " error reset '' key and then the start key. (4) Sequence verification of primary cards to detect two consecutive cards having the same number in certain columns. This is similar to operation (3) above. (5) The primary cards are stencils and the stencil matter from those cards only which have a certain perforation is printed on to secondary cards (plain postcards). The stencils from which it is desired to print have a so-called " X '' hole punched in the '' 11 " position in a convenient column. When such a hole is detected by the corresponding brush PB2, circuits are completed which result in the stencil being stopped in the printing position, in the feeding of a secondary card to the printing position over the stencil card, and in the operation of the printing control magnet. The primary (stencil) card and the printed secondary card are then fed forward again and feeding of primary cards continued until another " X " hole is sensed. Feeding of secondary cards occurs only at each printing operation. (6) Printing from those primary (stencil) cards only which do not have an " X " perforation. (7) Printing from all primary (stencil) cards. (8) Printing from all primary (stencil) cards carrying a predetermined number or from all such cards above or below a predetermined number. The predetermined number is entered on a " finder " card placed at the top of the pile of primary cards. This card has a hole punched in the " X " position. The control number punched in a certain column of the finder card is entered into one section of the selector unit comparing device. The number in the corresponding columns of each subsequent primary card (not having an "X" hole) is compared with this number standing on the selector unit and a secondary card is printed or not in accordance with the result of the comparison and the set-up on the plugboard. A new comparing number may be inserted into the selector unit at any point in the operation by the insertion in the file of primary cards of an " Xc " punched finder card bearing the new number. The comparing number may, alternatively, be entered from a desired column of a balance or other card by suitably arranging the plug connections. (9) Comparing a control number on a secondary card with a control number on a primary (stencil) card and printing from the primary on to the secondary only when the numbers agree (i.e. the cards match). The control numbers from the primary and secondary cards are entered in the respective sections of the selector unit of the comparing device, an equal condition in the unit causing printing to occur and the primary and secondary cards which do not match are fed (without printing) to pockets PRJ and SRJ (not shown) respectively. In the example described the primary cards to pass to pockets MS and SP (not shown) respectively. Primary and secondary cards are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, the secondary cards 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and a square check is performed on the primary cards. Printing occurs between card 1-1, 2-2, the secondary feed stops while primary card 3 is fed towards pocket PRJ, then printing occurs between cards 4-4, the primary feed stops while secondary card 5 is fed towards pocket SRJ. and then printing is effected between cards 6-6. This operation may be modified that either all primary cards and/or all secondary cards are deposited in their respective hoppers MS and SP. (10) Printing from all primary (stencil) cards having control numbers between two limits, The control numbers are perforated in two sets of columns on a finder card having in addition, an " X " perforation. When the finder card is fed through the machine, the upper control number is entered in one section of the required unit and the lower number in one section of the selector unit. A control number on each primary card is then compared with the numbers in the two units and printing is effected when the primary card number lies between the numbers entered in the comparing units. (11) Printing from primary (stencil) cards having either of two control numbers. This operation is similar to (10). Comparing mechanism. This is similar to the mechanism described in Specification 523,652 and is shown diagrammatically in Fig. Id. Two similar comparing devices, a " sequence unit " and a " selector unit ", are provided. Each denomination to each unit has a pair of sectors. One sector from each pair is caused to swing in synchronism with the passage of a card past the brushes and when a hole in a card column is sensed a magnet is energized to rock a pawl to arrest the appropriate sector in a position corresponding to the digit represented by the hole. A number represented on the card is thus entered into one section of the unit. Later, the remaining sectors are likewise positioned under the control of holes in another card. If the two digits in a denomination are the same, both sectors of the pair corresponding to that denomination move to the same extent, and a wiper 421. occupies the central position shown. If the second digit is higher than the first, the second sector moves through a greater angle than the first and the wiper 421 moves to the left to make contact between a block 415 and a strip 412 showing a "high " state. If the second digit is lower than the first, wiper 421 connects block 415 to strip 413, showing a " low " state. Plug sockets PS41 for " equal," PS40 for " high " or PS42 for a " low " state are energized through cam con