Patent GB-548249-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to record controlled tabulating machines
Filed: 1941-03-11
Abstract: 548,249. Tabulating machines. REMINGTON RAND, Inc. March 11, 1941, No. 3324. Convention date, March 11, 1940. [Class 106 (i)] A record-controlled tabulating machine of the kind comprising in combination a plurality of type carriers, a nought stop for each type carrier, each movable longitudinally to one or other of two positions, in one of which said stop is ineffective, while in the other position said stop is effective to lock its type carrier against movement, and a nought block co-operating with a plurality of said nought stops and serving, when actuated, to move all said nought stops to their effective positions, is characterized by actuating means for said nought block, which means is operated at each machine cycle, an interponent member settable to either of two positions, in one of which it can transmit movement from the actuating means to the nought block, while in the other position said interponent is ineffective, and record controlled means for setting said interponent into one of its two positions against the action of resilient means which tends to maintain said interponent in the other position, whereby the nought stops may be actuated to suppress printing in any desired record reading cycle of the tabulator under control of a record. In the manner described in Specification 555,823 perforated cards are fed from a magazine and analysed by sensing pins to condition type bar stops 225 for leftward movement under the influence of springs 233, the vertical bars 245 of a type bar stop retract mechanism (Fig. 3, not shown) being moved from blocking position by link mechanism controlled by a cam at the same time as type bar 195 is raised by suitable means to be arrested by the engagement of the extended bar stop 225 with a face 228 or shoulder 230 in guide 205. The type corresponding to the perforation pattern on the card is now in printing position, and at the proper time in the cycle printing takes place. Parts are then restored to original positions and numerical data are entered on accumulators if so required. The type bar 195 corresponding to any column can be blocked to prevent printing and/ or accumulating in any particular cycle by operation of a stop 227 below stop bars 225 and controlled by a bell-crank 802. The invention is described in its application to the printing of two lines of an insurance premium notice and its return stub (Figs. 9, 9A, not shown) in which certain parts of the latter are not to be printed. For printing the return stubs, the usual translator is replaced by a removable translator 238, carrying spring-influenced linkage controlling two nought-blocks 10, 20 of predetermined lengths, underlying the ends of the bell-cranks 802. Two cycles are necessary for analysing the card. In the one cycle, the linkage is in normal position with interponent 33 engaging block 20, and when shaft 248 is rocked under the influence of a cam driven from the main shaft, interponent 33 and therefore block 20 are raised to operate the corresponding nought stops 227 to prevent printing of the required part of line B (Figs. 9, 9A, not shown). In the other cycle, an additional control hole in the perforated card is arranged to actuate the core of a Bowden wire 46 which causes interponent 33 to disengage block 20, and interponents 31 to engage block 10 so that when shaft 248 rocks, block 10 is raised to prevent printing of the required part of line A (Figs. 9, 9A, not shown).