Patent GB-273731-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to statistical machines
Filed: 1927-06-30
Abstract: 273,731. British Tabulating Machine Co., Ltd., (Assignees of Bryce, J. TV.). July 1, 1926, [Convention date]. Statistical machines.-In a machine for receiving credit and debit entries and for obtaining a true net balance either positive or negative, separate counters are provided for the credit and debit items represented by perforations on a record-card and additional counters are provided for registering the true positive and negative balances, one of the separate counters receiving the credit amounts and the complements of the debit amounts, and the other the debit amounts and the complements of the credit amounts. Means are provided for listing the items and printing the totals, automatic means being arranged to render the printing means operative with respect to that balance totalizer which registers a true amount. If desired the items need not be listed the balance only being printed and automatic means may be provided to ensure this being effected when a change of group occurs. The machine is of the type described in Specification 247,200. Translating and retaining mechanism. The record-card is fed past two rows of brushes arranged one card-cycle apart and in passing the upper row the amounts punched are read therefrom into a translating device which sets up the complement and in passing the second row the amounts are registered on the proper totalizer and the complement is transmitted to an appropriate totalizer. The translating device which is similar to that described in Specification 271,096 is provided in dual form so that while one section is receiving an item the other is transmitting the complement of the succeeding item. The translating device is attached to the rear of the machine frame which carries the usual cardfeeding section, the totalizer section, and the printing section; it comprises two units 36, Fig. 3 operatively connected to a main operating shaft 44 and supplied with current through contacts 59, 63 the flow of current to the units being controlled by commutators M, N, R, S, Fig. 4, secured to shafts 58, 56. The commutators R, S, alternate the entry of amounts from the upper brushes into one or other unit and the commutators M, N, alternate the transmission of the complements of amounts. The gear wheels 62, which make one-half revolution per card-cycle, are geared to corresponding wheels 67. Each wheel 67 is provided with four cams 70. Figs. 3 and 11, co-operating with arms 82 pivoted on a shaft 84 and each carrying a contact A - - D respectively, of which A and B are shown. Each arm 82 is provided with projections 86, 88, the projections 86 being normally in engagement with slots in arms 76 to which are attached the armatures 74 of an electromagnet 72. When the cams 70 have released one or more armatures and the magnet 72 has been energized the released arms 76 are moved to the left, Fig. 11, and are locked in such position by pawls 90 and the corresponding arm 82, after rotation of the cam 70, is drawn by the spring 94 to its set-up position resting on a stop 96. Resetting of the parts is accomplished by projections 102 on the cams 70 rocking the arms 82 and releasing the pawls 90. Each position from 0 to 9 on the card is represented in the translator by a combination of contacts of one or two released levers 82 which form circuits in conjunction with the contacts on the levers retained in normal position according to the code, Fig. 17. The cards that carry debit amounts are each provided with an identifying perforation. Printing totals. When the machine has finished its adding operations it is ready to print the total; one of the balance totalizers will indicate a true total and the other the complement thereof. In the latter case the highest denomination will exhibit a " 9 " and means are provided to throw the printing mechanism into operative engagement with the other totalizer to effect a printing of the true total. The printing mechanism is of the known kind described in Specification 183,867 wherein a series of stepped cams 130 associated with the totalizer wheels 132 regulates the movement of a set of arms 138 and controls the time of closing of individual contacts 140 of the circuits of the printing mechanism. The step 134 of the cam 130 of the highest denominational wheel is higher than that of the other wheels; this step represents the " 9 " position and the interval required to bring the other arms from that position into engagement with their steps is utilized to cause a switching of the circuits from the totalizer which indicates a complement to the other true balance totalizer. Adding unity to the complement. To obtain the true complement " 1 " must be added in the lowest denomination. This is effected by the energization of an electromagnet 148, Fig. 8, the armature of which is attracted to release a lever 160 from a latch 154 on the armature. The lever 160 carries a pawl 162 engaging the ratchet wheel 164 secured to the units wheel 132 and is adapted to advance said wheel one step after being released by the movement imparted to a restoring bail 166. Circuit connections. The circuits resemble those described in Specification 247,200; a card in passing the upper brushes 112, Fig. 10<a>, permits impulses according to the value to be sent to magnets 72 via the commutator R or through magnets 277, Fig. 3, via the commutator S to set up the complement. If the card is a credit card it will in passing the lower brushes 114 permit (1) the complement to be entered in the debit balance totalizer through the translating device- RM, Fig. 10<c> in which it was set up, (2) the addition of unity through a wire 260, lower contact 248 and magnet 148, Fig. 10<b>, and (3) the amount to be entered in the credit totals and credit balance counters through sockets 180, 186 respectively. A debit card through the identification perforation and a contact 61 operated by a cam X, Figs. 3 and 10<b> permits the energization of a magnet 240 and thereby the reversal of the contacts 242, 244, 246, and 248 so that the debit card in passing the lower brushes will (1) enter the complement on the credit balance totalizerthrough the translating device SN, (2) add unity through energizing magnet 148 by means of upper contact 248 and wire 260, and (3) enter the amount on debit totals and balance totalizers through sockets 148, 188 respectively. After a series of cards have been run through the machine a record sheet showing the total of credits and debits and the net credit or debit is printed as shown in Fig. 16, the start of such printing operation being induced manually or automatically. If the contacts 140 in the highest column of the debit balance totalizer No. 6, Fig. 10<b>, are closed at the commencement of this operation it indicates that the credit balance totalizer No. 5 contains the true number to be printed and a circuit to the printing magnets 328 will be closed through contacts 224 and plugged sockets 216. 218. On the other hand if the highest order contact 140 of totalizer No. 5 is closed the printing magnets 328 for No. 6 totalizer will be operated as the contacts 224 are opened and other contacts 222 are closed by a magnet 306 energized through a circuit from a wire 316 plug 207, and socket 208 of totalizer No. 5. The automatic total printing operation is controlled by a control unit 360, Fig. 10<c> connected to selected sockets 170, 174 and controlling the motor circuit in known manner. Uses of the machine. The complements of the numbers in any system other than the decimal may be obtained by modifying the translating devices and cams, and a record of freight tonnage into or out of a harbour or east and west from a certain station may be produced. The machine thus classifies, lists, and adds items, shows the difference between totals of classes and between gross total and total of a single class, the gross total of the classes, the total of each class and the difference between the class totals.