Patent GB-905805-A (GB)
Title: Accounting machines
IPC: G06C21/04
Filed: 1960-10-26
Abstract: 905,805. Accounting-machines. NATIONAL CASH REGISTER CO. Oct. 26, 1960 [Oct. 30, 1959], No. 36699/60. Class 106 (1). An accounting-machine has a keyboard for the entry of such data as an account number, means for sensing similar data recorded on an inserted record medium and for causing it to be recorded on a journal sheet, and a device for comparing the key-set and sensed data and for preventing recording of it if there is disagreement. The sensing device controls the setting of two auxiliary differential mechanisms, one of which controls the comparing device and the other the recording mechanism, and a device may be provided for disabling both the comparing device and the recording mechanism at the same time. The invention is applied to the machine described in Specification 852,827 for dealing with banking transactions and in which a magnetic record of the account number, balance and next available printing line contained on the back of a ledger card is read as an inserted ledger card is fed into the machine. New items may then be entered by means of the keyboard and finally the new balance and next available line are magnetically recorded together with the account number as the card is fed out of the machine. In this prior machine, the sensing heads for the account number controlled the setting of an auxiliary differential mechanism for each order and these mechanisms were associated with a device for comparing the account number sensed with that set up on a comparator keyboard 87, Fig. 1. In the present machine, the account number sensing heads control two auxiliary differential mechanisms for each order, one associated with the comparing device as before and one 226, Fig. 6, differentially positioning a stop 227 for a normal differential mechanism 220 alternatively controlled by keys 64. The co-operation between the auxiliary and normal differential mechanism is exactly as described in the prior Specification for the amount banks. The differential mechanism 220 in known manner positions type wheels for printing the account number on the journal sheet 94, Fig. 1, in Balance Pick-up operations. In Item-posting operations, the auxiliary differential mechanisms are ineffective and a reference number may be set up on the keys 64 so as to be printed under the control of the differential mechanisms 220 on the ledger card and journal sheet. On depression of a Disable Comparator button, a solenoid L6, Fig. 7, is energized and is held throughout a subsequent Balance Pick-up Operation. The solenoid rocks a control disc 294 which is one of a number of notched discs sensed by feelers 280 in known manner to determine whether or not the hammer 272 for printing the account number on the journal sheet shall operate. When the solenoid L6 is energized, the hammer 272 is not operated. The solenoid also actuates a switch 310 which energizes a relay so as to render the comparing circuits ineffective. Date printing wheels are set in the present machine by knurled wheels 70, Fig. 1, and a switch controlled by detent arms prevents operation of the machine if the wheels are not properly positioned. Moreover, in the present machine, the tails of the auxiliary differential mechanism pawls co-operate with a notched slide 180, Fig. 6, which controls a switch to block further operation unless all of the pawls have been properly released during a sensing operation. Numerals transfer operation.-The ledger card, Fig. 4, is in fact a combined statement and ledger card and has the same information printed on each half. The machine may be set, by means of a known function switch 100, for a Numerals transfer operation in which balances sensed from the ledger cards may be entered on a numerals card, Fig. 8, half the size of the ledger card. After inserting a ledger card for sensing, the numerals card is placed at the right on the ledger card table and the balance is printed on it together with the date. For this operation, a member 76, Fig. 12, is set to " on " and so positions control discs 393 in the sets of notched discs controlling in known manner the operation of the hammers for the ledger card that those for the left-hand portion are rendered ineffective. The member 76 also actuates switches 400 controlling relays, which cause a manually-settable line-find device to be used to select the printing line on the numerals card. Manually-settable line selection.-In automatic line selection, the two-digit line number is sensed from the ledger card and the two differentially-timed signals obtained control two auxiliary differential mechanisms which, as described in the prior Specification, cause the card table to be positioned at the corresponding line. Manual selection is by means of a knob 75, Fig. 12, fast with a number wheel 410, and a switch spider 420 see also Fig. 17, which moves over a printed-circuit board. The line number is represented in the circuitry by a two-digit radix-six number and when the switch is set, one of seven spider arms 422 rests on a units contact 552 and a longer arm 421 rests on a " sixes " contact 551 or 550. Circuits are thus completed from a source of negative potential 555 to appropriate contacts of units and " sixes " wiper switches SR1101 and SR1102. The wipers of these switches are driven in synchronism with the driving elements of the differential mechanisms and so negative pulses are applied to points 553 and 554 at differential times for the control of the line-selecting auxiliary differential mechanisms as is the case when they are controlled by the magnetic record sensing devices. This manually-settable line selection may be used in operations other than Numeral Transfer operations by depression of a Manual Input button. Specification 905,806 also is referred to.