Patent GB-541210-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to record controlled statistical machines
Filed: 1940-03-06
Abstract: 541,210. Statistical machines. THOMAS, A. March 6, 1940, No. 4246. [Class 106 (i)] A machine for counting and recording the number of 'tems entered in each of a plurality of classes, on statistical records, e,g. perforated cards, which are arranged in groups each having a common class to which the other classes are related, comprises in combination sensing means for analysing the record, a plurality of unit counters each allocated to a different record position, means for selecting and operating any counter the record position of which is sensed, means for comparing the data in a predetermined field (corresponding to the common class of a group) of one record with the corresponding field of a preceding record, and means for printing the totals standing on the counters when this comparison shows disagreement, i.e. when a change of group occurs. In the machine described, perforated card records are fed to a first pin box in which the group designation is sensed and thence to a second in which the item records are sensed one cycle later, the pins setting corresponding counter-selecting means. When the first card of a new group is sensed, it is passed to the second pin box, the card feeding means is stopped, the counter-actuating means are rendered inoperative and the totals for the preceding group standing on the counters are printed. During printing the setting of the counter-selecting. means made by the first card of the new group is retained, the settings being transferred to the counters after the printing operation. A set-up of the group designation read from the first card of a group is made and retained until the next following printing operation, when it is printed together with the counter totals, after which it is replaced by a new set-up of the designation of the next following group. For this purpose two set-up devices are used, the first being set from the designation reading means and the second to effect the printing, the second being re-set from the first after a printing operation. Means for sorting the cards, controlled by sensing means operating simultaneously with the designation sensing means, are also provided, The machine, a front view of half of which is shown in Fig. 1A, comprises two pin boxes P1, P2 constructed substantially as described in Specification 401,012, each card being sensed in one field in the box P1 to compare its group data with that of the preceding card and then analysed one machine cycle later in the box P2 for operating the units counters which register the class entries. Each box comprises upper and lower pin plates 1, 2, Fig. 3A, in which are mounted the spring-pressed pins 4, and which are vertically reciprocated through vertical rods 8, 9. Figs. 3A and 4, at the front and rear and connecting levers 12, 24 by eccentrics on the pin box drive shaft 19. This shaft is driven through worm gearing from the shaft 473 which is geared to the main shaft 73. The pin boxes are pivotally mounted on stub shafts so that they may be swung upwardly, without interrupting the drive, to expose the cards in them to view, as described in Specification 541,209. The cards are fed from a magazine 33 by a reciprocating picker 34 and feed rolls 32 to the space between fixed pin plates 30 beneath the box P1 and thence'by feed rolls 32a and skid rolls (not shown) between similar plates beneath the box P2. When on lowering of the pin plates 1, 2 a pin enters a hole in the card a corresponding intermediate element 36 suspended from a fixed plate 35 swings into line with it. When the pin plates rise, the pin raises the element 36, the head 37 of which raises a spring pressed transmission rod 41 passing through holes in fixed plates 40. The pin-box P2 is provided with three transmission devices T2 each comprising a frame which can be adjustably secured over any column of the transmission rods 41 and in which are mounted twelve spring-pressed springs 86 so as to be raised by the rods to operate through Bowden cables means controlling the operation of the corresponding units counter, these counters being arranged in three banks of twelve, visible through windows 149, and being duplicated for reasons explained later. Similar transmission devices T1 adjustably secured over the pin box P1 control the operation of the printing and card sorting means. The transmission elements 36 of each pin box pass through slots in a shutter 44, the shutters being moved against the action of springs 46 by bell-crank levers 50, 50a operated by cams on the shaft 19 during the downward movement of the pin boxes to swing the elements 36 clear of the pins 4, thereby re-setting the pin boxes. A card feed stop bar.53, Fig. 3A, for the first pin box is carried between arms 54 and is raised and lowered through linkage 56, 57, 58 by a rock shaft 60 operated by a cam (not shown) on a card feed shaft 64. A similar stop bar for the pin box P2 is similarly operated. The card picker 34 is mounted in a slide 80 reciprocated by arms 78 carried by a shaft 77 rocked by an eccentric 74 on the shaft 64, and may be depressed by arms 82 on a rock shaft 79 to render it inoperative for purposes explained later. Counting units.-These are arranged in three banks of twelve, a total counting unit being arranged at the right of each bank, and individual to it, and a grand total unit CGT for the whole machine being arranged at the end of the banks. Each counter comprises an upper and a lower unit which are operated together, means being provided so that either the upper or the lower units may be used for printing the totals, and after each such operation be zeroized, the others retaining their totals and serving as grand total counters. Each counter comprises five denominational counting wheels 95, Fig. 9, having forty teeth, meshing with which are wheels 96. The lowest denominational wheels are operated by pawls 97 pivoted to bell cranks 101 connected by links 103 and operated by slotted arms 105 engaging pins 104 on the links and mounted on a shaft 106 which is rocked by a connection to an eccentric on a counting shaft, which rotates once for every machine cycle. The pawls are normally held from operating the counters by pivoted obstructors 98, but when a pin in the box P2 enters a hole in a card the corresponding Bowden cable 90 rocks a lever 12f which raises a link 126 and moves. the obstructors out of the paths of the pawls,. which advance the counter operating wheels 96 one tooth . Transfer mechanism of the kind described in Specification 360,923 is provided between the wheels 96. Indicating wheels 147 on which the totals are shown are driven through idlers 146. The grand total counter is operated by a pin in the pin box P2 which is raised relatively to the box when a card is present during sensing. The total counters individual to each bank are operated whenever any counter in that bank is advanced by means of a pivoted shutter 480 over which lie the ends of all the control levers 121 and which overlies a control lever for the total counter, which is thus rocked at the same time. as any of the levers 121. Printing mechanism.-Each counter wheel 95 is freely mounted on a boss 130 to which is secured a toothed wheel meshing with a rack on a type bar 132, which is urged upwardly by springs but normally held in its lowest position by a restoring bar 142. When the counter wheel 95 is at zero, the tooth 140 of a spring-pressed pawl 135 in the boss 131 engages one of four equally-spaced recesses 134 in the wheel 95. During counting, the recess moves forward, leaving the tooth behind, and a detent pin 151 on a spring-urged lever 150 rides over the teeth of the wheel 146. When a total is to be printed, a detent lock shaft 153, of which there is one for each bank of counters, is rocked to the position shown, in which it causes a lever 154 to rock linked abutments 158 so that they hold the detents in position to lock the counters: The bar 142 is then raised and each type bar 132 is raised by its springs until arrested at the appropriate digit by the tooth 140 engaging the first recess 134 in its path. Zeroizing.-After printing, the counters are zeroized by the bar 142 again rising, together with a zeroizing bar 176 which drives the type-bars to their extreme upper position, which is one tooth span beyond the " 9 " position, the lock shaft 153 having freed the detents 151. The bosses 130 are thereby rotated through ten steps, and as each pawl 135 reaches the first recess 134 is enters it and rotates the wheel 95 forwardly to the next zero position. On return of the typebar to the zero position, the pawl 135 moves back and enters the next recess 134. The bar 142 is carried by pivoted arms which are raised and lowered by a toggle linkage operated by a shaft driven from a print shaft 162 and at twice its speed. The zeroizing bar is also carried by arms which are latched to those of the bar 142 during the second reciprocation. the latch being rendered inoperative during the first reciprocation by a cam on the shaft 153. Each type hammer 163 is moved by a spring 200 surrounding a rod 193 pivoted to an extension 191 of the hammer, the spring bearing on an adjustable abutment formed by a pivoted arm 195. The hammer is held by a pivoted latch 177, which is swung to release the hammer by a lug 218 on a hammer-restoring bar 182 when the latter is swung clockwise about pivots 181 by a link 184 moved by a hammer operating rock shaft 186. The shaft 186 is rocked by a mutilated gear and toggle-link mechanism from the shaft 162, which also rocks the shaft 153 through a cam and link mechanism. To prevent the printing of zeros to the left of the first significant figure, a spring-urged slide 221 is allowed by a notch 222 in the type bar to move to the right when the bar is in the lowest position, a latch 220 on the slide then engaging a pin 219 on the hammer to prevent operation of the latter. To permit printing of zeros to the right of the f