Patent GB-691668-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to record card sorting machines
Filed: 1952-01-09
Abstract: 691,668. Statistical apparatus. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd., and KEEN, H. H. Jan. 9, 1952, No. 703/52. Class 106 (i). A record card sorting machine having means for sensing a single column of a card is provided with control means operated by a first perforation in the column and card sorting means operable by the sensing of a subsequent perforation, if the control means has been operated. The card is divided in usual manner into twelve index point positions in each column that is " Y," " X " and " 0 " to " 9." The card is fed with " Y " edge leading and the position of the sensing brush 30 is such that when a " Y " hole is sensed the leading edge of the card has just not reached the end of the first deflector blade 38. Accordingly, a " Y " punched card will be deposited in the pocket further from the machine. The spacing of the ends 37 of the adjacent deflector blades is equal to one index point, so that the pockets will correspond to cards punched with " Y," " X " and " 0 " to " 9 " respectively in that order. Normally if a column of a card contains two perforations, then that which is sensed first will determine the destination of the card. The apparatus described enables the card to be sorted by the second perforation, whilst the first perforation determines whether the second perforation shall be effective or not. This method is stated to be advantageous when sorting cards punched with alphabetic data of the type in which the position of a hole in " Y," " X " or " 0 index position determines the letter represented by the numerical punching. For the first sorting step the commutator 13 is set with " Y " and " 1 " to " 9 " segments in the outer position and the " X " and " 0 " segments in the inner position and a switch S2 is set to the position shown in Fig. 2. A main switch S1 is closed and start key contacts 20 are closed. Relays R4 and R5 are energized and relay R5 closes contacts R5a and R5b to bring a sorter driving motor M into circuit across supply lines 11 and 12. Relay R4 closes contacts R4a to provide a shunt circuit across the start key through the card lever contacts 17, pocket stops contacts 18, stop key contacts 19 and contacts R4a as soon as the first card fed from the magazine operates the card lever 29. If the first card is punched in the " Y " position there will be a circuit through the commutator 13, the contact roll 15, the switch S2, contacts R2a and relay R1 when this hole is sensed. Relay R1 closes contacts R1a. When the brush leaves the " Y " hole a relay R2 is energized in series with relay R1 through commutator 14 and contacts R1a. This relay is not energized prior to this because the circuit through the contact roll acts as a low-resistance shunt across it. The card may, for example, have the " 4 " index position punched and when the card reaches this position the circuit will be made through contacts R2a to energize relay R3 and sorting magnet 16. Contacts R3a close to maintain relay R3 and the sorting magnet 16 energized until the commutator 14 breaks the circuit. The energization of the sorting magnet will control the sorter shoot blades to direct the card to the " 4 " pocket. When all the cards have been sorted on the first run, the cards in the reject pocket are returned to the magazine and run through with the commutator 13 now set so that " X " and " 1 " to " 9 " segments are in the outer position and the " Y " and " 0 " segments in the inner position. Relays R1 and R2 will be energized by any card punched with an " X." For the third step, the " 0 " and " 1 " to " 9 " segments of the commutator are set to the outer position and the " Y " and " X segments to the inner position. By setting the switch S2 to the other position the sensing brush is connected to the sorting magnet directly so that the sorter may be used for sorting numerical cards in the usual manner. Specification 242,654, [Class 106 (i)], is referred to.