Patent GB-541688-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for registering electrical impulses
Filed: 1940-05-30
Abstract: 541,688. Registering apparatus ; statistical machines. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd. (International Business Machines Corporation). May 30, 1940, No. 9526. [Class 106 (i)] An apparatus for registering a multi-denominational number of electrical impulses comprises a plurality of relay chains, one for each denomination with its members interconnected cyclically so that the chain is endless and two auxiliary contacts closed respectively by relays in two adjacent members of each chain whereby a single impulse constituting a carry may be sent to the chain of next higher denomination. The relay chains may constitute the accumulator of a record card controlled machine. As shown in Fig. 1 a cam contact 10 connects the supply line 11 intermittently to a condenser C which is shunted by a resistance 13 having a value too high to pass sufficient current to actuate a relay. Each relay operates four contacts, for example, relay R1 when energized closes contacts R1a, changes over contacts R1b, opens the contacts R1c and closes its numerical contacts 1. To start a registering operation a key ZK is depressed to complete a circuit momentarily through the relay RO. The contacts ROb change over to maintain a holding circuit through contacts R1c and the contacts ROa and numerical contacts O close. If an impulse is sent it passes through the condenser C, contact ROa and R1b and relay R1 to the line 12. Actuation of this relay changes over contacts R1b to complete its holding circuit and prepare the circuit for the relay R2. The opening of contacts R1c breaks the circuit of relay RO. The numerical contacts 1 are closed thus each relay in succession is operated by each successive impulse. The chain of relays is cyclically connected by the contacts R9a in the circuit of the relay RO and contacts ROc in the circuit of relay R9. Any relay may be de-energized by operating reset key RK. The chain of relays may serve to register the digits set up by a key operated calculating machine by sending impulses corresponding in number to the value of the key depressed. In a modified construction shown in Fig. 4 each relay has two windings one A in the circuit of the condenser C and the other H in a holding circuit so that each relay energized remains energized. Record card controlled machine.- The use of the relay chain as an accumulator for data read from a record card is shown in Figs. 2, 2a. The card reading station has a roller 14 and brushes 15 plug connected through sockets 16, 16a to the relays B1, B2, B3 of the three denominations each having a chain of relays 17 with four terminals 18, 19, 20 and 21 connected in a manner similar to that in Fig. 1. The relays operate contacts B1a, B2a, B3a in holding circuits and contacts B1b, B2b, B3b, B1c, B2c and B3c in the circuits in Fig. 2. When the relays are deenergized contacts B2d and B3d in the higher denomination, the impulse passing through the an emitter 23, cam contacts 22, 24, 25 and 25a and sets of transfer actuating relays H9CR1, HCR1 and CR1. After nine impulses have been transmitted the relay R9 closes its contacts 9CC1 and relay H9CR1 is energized and is held closed, until near the end of the "X" position in the cycle, by the cam contacts 24. At the next impulse contacts 9CC1 open and contacts CC1 close and relay HCR1 is energized to close contacts HCR1a. At the end of the "O" position in the cycle the cam contacts 25a complete the circuit to energize relay CR1 and close contacts CR1a. The contacts CR1a complete the circuit through contacts 25 and relay B2 in the next denomination, the impulse passing through the emitter 23, contacts B2C, and condenser C to add unity to the tens chain of relays. If the tens denomination were standing at nine a subsequent transfer must be effected for which purposes relays 9CR2, 9CR3 and contacts 9CR2b and 9CR3b are provided. With contacts 9CC2 closed and relay H9CR2 energized at the nine position the contacts 9CR2b are closed to energize relay 9CR2. The relay 9CR2 closes contacts 9CR2a in a circuit connecting the windings A of relays B2, B3. When the transfer through the contacts CR1a is effected a parallel circuit is completed through the contacts 9CR2a and contacts CR2c to energize relay B3. A connection 27 connects the relay H9CR1 to the contacts B2d. 9CC2 and relay H9CR2,