Patent GB-339953-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to record-card-controlled statistical machines
Filed: 1929-09-16
Abstract: 339,953. British Tabulating Machine Co., Ltd., and Keen, H. R. Sept. 16, 1929. Printing distinguishing marks; statistical cards; printing totals.-A record-card-controlled statistical machine has means for indicating the absence of a special card (e.g. a balance card) in a batch irrespective of its position in that batch, the reading device reading a special hole (or holes) which denotes that it is a special card. The invention is described as applied to a machine of the kind described in Specification 308,829, having upper brushes 10 and lower brushes 11. When the card-group changes total-taking, resetting, &c. occur automatically or manually in the known manner. The counters C1 - - C6 are used for " Balance brought forward," Balance brought forward (+ or -), " Debit total," " Credit total," " Debit balance," and " Credit balance," respectively. The ordinary cards are punched with an "X" or a " Y " hole in a special column (69) to denote credit or debit respectively, this controlling the distribution of items to the various counters as in Specification 308,829, making use of subtraction operations. An impulse-changing device of the kind described in Specification 288,516 is used to transmit complements to counters C5 and C6. Fig. 2 is a continuation of the circuit diagram, at the lower end of Fig. 1. When a credit card (" X " hole) is read a magnet 28 is energized to attract its armature 31. This moves a bar 32 and pins 33 thereon to the right, Fig. 2, so that contact arms move from contacts 35 to contacts 36 of switches A, B, and C. This distributes the credit items to the proper counters. Normally magnet 54 is de-energized so that at switches E and F contacts 65 close to the right. For a debit card (" Y " hole) magnet 28 is not energized and switches A, B, and C remain as shown. Instead of a " Y " hole, debit may be signified by the absence of a hole. On the special balance card a " Y " hole in a special column (68) indicates " Balance brought forward." When this card is absent the machine prints " N.B." against the group total or it is stopped. The printing mechanism has seven banks of type bars and in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th banks the first bar carries an asterisk type 47 at the " 9 " position for totals and an " N.B." type 48 at the " 1 " position. These type bars for the Debit balance and Credit balance printing banks are normally arrested at " 9 " position to print the asterisk by a circuit 75, 45<a> (and 45<b>), 49, P6 (closed at the " 9 " time on the movement of the total printing shaft), and 175. For " Balance brought forward " control switch 49 is thrown up to close circuit 75, 45<a>, 50, P5 (closed at " 1 " position), and 175. For balance card control, therefore, "N.B." is normally printed-but if a balance card is present magnet 51 is energized, the left contact arm of 50 is thrown to the left and the circuit is thrown back through the asterisk contacts P6. 51 is energized as follows :-When the " Y " hole (column 68) of the balance card is read at the upper brushes the following circuit is closed, 75, L5 (Fig. 2), 10<c>, L6, 52, 53, 54, upper card lever contacts U.C.L. 2, and 175. Magnet 52 sets up a holding circuit through its contacts 55. Magnet 54 attracts its armature 56 and moves the bar 57 to the left, closing contacts 59. These latter close a circuit 75, 60, 59, 61, L11 (closed at " 1 " on the subsequent cycle), 62, 63, 51, signal relay magnet, 106, P7, 175. Magnet 51, as above explained, switches the circuit through 49 from P5 (" N.B.") back to P6 (asterisk). Magnet 62 establishes through its contacts 64 a holding circuit which remains closed until the end of the card-group. In the circuit through 49, the magnets 45<a>, 45b control the differential arresting of the asterisk and " N.B." type bars. A balance card being present, an asterisk is therefore printed at totalling. If the balance card is in the middle of a group, when the balance card is nearly past the lower brushes contacts L10 open, de-energizing magnet 54 and allowing switch arm 57 and switches E, F, to return to the right so that the items from the remaining cards of the group enter the correct counters. Alternatively to the above operations, the machine may be stopped when a balance card is absent. Switch 49 is put to full line position and a switch 109 is closed, Fig. 1. When a balance card is detected, magnets 51 and 106 are energized, but the former has no effect owing to the position of switch 49. Magnet 106 opens normally closed contacts 107, Fig. 1, which are in series with signal relay magnet 97, contacts L12, relay contacts 108 and switch 109. Contacts 108 are operated by a magnet 110 which is energized at a change of card-group. When the first card of a group passes the lower brushes, contacts 108 are open and 107 closed. When the balance card passes the lower brushes, magnet 106 is energized to open contacts 107, which remain open. At the end of the group, magnet 110 closes contacts 108 but contacts 107 are open and hence the circuit of magnet 97 is not completed. During the following reset cycle contacts P7 open to deenergize magnet 106. If there is no balance card, magnet 106 is not energized and contacts 107 are still closed when, at the end of the group, contacts 108 close. Magnet 97 is thereby energized and lowers its armature 118, Fig. 6, a latch 117 thereon releasing a member 115 which is swung by a spring 116 counterclockwise about its shaft 112 so as to display the words " no balance " at a window 111. A lever 114, also rigid with shaft 112, has a lug 120 which normally keeps contacts 102 closed. When member 115 is released, 114, 120 swing with it to allow contacts 102 to open, breaking the circuit of the reset motor and stopping the machine. A thumb-piece 121 is provided on lever 114 for reclosing contacts 102 to restart the machine. Specifications 183,867 and 247,200 also are referred to.