Patent GB-362770-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to statistical calculating and like machines controlled by mechanical records
Filed: 1930-10-10
Abstract: 362,770. Statistical apparatus. BROUGHAM, L. E., Brillig, Riddlesdown Avenue, Purley, Surrey. Oct. 10, 1930, No. 4643/31. Divided application. [Class 106 (i).] Verifying cards.-Apparatus for verifying the individual records on statistical cards or the like, the records being made in a plurality of complementary stages, for example as described in Specification 363,431, comprises card reading means which register with an incomplete record and cause an indication thereof to be given. Each complete record is preferably of a shape produced by overlapping two consecutively punched circular holes. The record may, instead of a perforation, be made by complementary printing which is read by light means and selenium resistances. An incorrect card when detected is preferably indicated by inserting a coloured card next to the incorrect card. This indication may also be given (1) by stopping the machine ; (2) by removing a portion of the card so that it may function as a stop card in a tabulator as described in Specification 26896/13, [Class 106 (i), Calculating &c.] ; (3) the incorrect cards may be sorted out ; (4) the incorrect card may be specially printed or (5) perforated. The cards may be read whilst they are stationary or moving. The pin box is reciprocated by arm 2 and an eccentric on a shaft 1 which also has a second eccentric which, through members 3 .. 6, actuates the card feed from the magazine A carrying the record cards and a third eccentric actuates arm 7 and members 9, 11, 12, 13 to feed a coloured card from magazine B when arm 7 and rod 9 are locked together, the latter only occurring when an incorrect card is detected. The cards from A and B are fed centrally towards one another in Fig. 1. An arm 15, rigid with arms 17, 15a, is rocked counterclockwise once a cycle by spring 18 under control of cam 14, arm 15a having pivoted to it at 20 a member 19 which has a pin and slot connection 21, 22 with an arm 23 rigid with an arm 25 pivoted at 24. Pivoted to arm 25 is the testing plate 26. Member 19 has a pin 27 normally resting on a fixed piece 28 and also has a lug coacting with a shoulder 31 on a member 30, 33 which is pivoted on pin 8. This pin is on arm 7 and moves in a slot 36 of rod 9 ; 10 being a fixed pin to guide this rod. When spring 18 rocks arms 15, 17, 15a counterclockwise, if the card read is correctly perforated, arm 15 raises member 19 clockwise about pivot 27 and arms 23, 25 move the testing plate 26 to the right, Fig. 1. Hence the lug on member 19 remains down in the path of shoulder 31 so that as arm 7 is moved to the right, member 19 rotates member 30, 33 counterclockwise and lug 34 is held up out of notch 35 in rod 9. The latter remains stationary, pin 8 moving in slot 36 and no coloured card is fed from magazine B. If the card hole is incompletely perforated, i.e. one of the complementary punchings is lacking, plate 26 is held against movement as described below, arm 23 and pin 22 remain stationary, and arm 15a rocks member 19 counterclockwise about pivot 22, so that the lug on member 19 is raised and no longer obstructs shoulder 31. Lug 34 falls into notch 35 and arm 7 is locked to rod 9 by the member 30, 33. Hence as arm 7 moves, rod 9 moves to cause a coloured card to be fed towards the incorrect record card. Each sensing pin 37 has notches 38, 39 and lug 40. If the card 43 is unperforated or correctly (i.e. fully) perforated then notches 38 or 39 respectively are opposite the plate 26 when the card is read so that the plate is allowed to move sidewise under the action of arms 23, 25. If only one of the two complementary punchings of an individual record is present in the card then the head 41 of the pin enters the hole but the shoulder 42 is arrested by the card so that lug 40 obstructs testing plate 26 and a coloured card is fed from magazine B. There may be only one column of reading pins which are mounted on a carriage which is adjusted to read the desired card column. There may also be a plate 26 for each column. If there are as many reading pins as there are hole positions in a card, the invention may be applied to a tabulator as described in Specification 26896/13, the plate controlling a switch to stop the machine when an incorrect card is detected. The pin box may be carried on a carriage moved step by step to read the card columns in succession, the carriage being arrested when the testing plate 26 is obstructed. In another modification this plate 26 may be of comb form so that when reciprocated it rotates the sensing pins. In this case these pins pass through both complete and incomplete record holes, but are obstructed from rotating only if the hole is incomplete. The plate or plates 26 may give the desired indication of incorrect cards by electrical means ; for this the sensing pins are insulated except for the lugs 40 which obstruct the plate 26. Each complete perforation may be a rectangular one, punched in two stages, each individual record being sensed by a wiper consisting of a pair of contact fingers insulated from each other and each adapted to sense a part of the record. If the record is complete a circuit is made through both contact fingers to close a circuit which prevents a signal circuit from being completed. The record, instead of a perforation, may consist of a printed record made in two stages, so that only a record which is complete will present the correct area to the reading light which is reflected from the card to affect a selenium resistance.