Patent GB-769580-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to statistical machines
Inventor: LAMBERT DONALD RUDOLF
Filed: 1954-07-22
Abstract: 769,580. Statistical apparatus. POWERS-SAMAS ACCOUNTING MACHINES, Ltd. May 26, 1955 [July 22, 1954], No. 21480/54. Class 106 (1). Apparatus for governing a function, e.g. total-taking, of a record card controlled statistical machine comprises first and second sensing devices SD1, SD2, Fig. 10, positioned so as to sense successive pairs of cards in a series so that upon change in a group indicating signal on the record cards the total taking function is initiated. Each sensing device has electric index contacts 8 corresponding to the index positions of a column of the record card, the contacts 8 of the first sensing device SD1 1 being connected by lines 34 with the corresponding contacts of the second sensing device SD2. The contacts 8 are mounted on leaves 1 which also carry first and second selector contacts 10, on lines 3, 4, one for each of the contacts 8. A switch element connects each contact 8 either with a contact 10 of line 3 or one of line 4 depending upon whether or not a perforation is sensed in that index position on the record card. The lines 3 are connected to an input line 35 and lines 4 are connected through an output line 36 to a relay adapted to cause a total-taking operation. The change in a group indicating signal on the second card causes one of the contacts 8 of one sensing device to be connected by the switch element to line 3 and the corresponding contact of the other sensing device to be .connected to line 4. A pulse applied to line 35 is thereby transmitted through line 36 and selector switch 40 to one of the relays 37-39. The contact carrying leaves 1, Figs. 1, 2 (one for each column of the record card) are arranged in a pack between upper and lower combs. The conducting lines 2 to contacts 8 and lines 3, 4 to contacts 10 are printed on the leaves and connection is made at the other ends by spring contacts 29 to which wires are soldered. The switch elements 16 are vertically slidable between the leaves and have spring contacts 18 adapted to connect contacts 8 with contacts 10 either of line 3 or line 4. The switch elements are displaced upwardly by pins 21 adapted to sense perforations in a record card positioned between rising and falling plates 25, 26. Absence of a perforation in a particular index position causes the pin 21 and switching element in that position to be lifted and connect the corresponding contact 8 with the upper line 3. The switching elements are retained in the upper position by the frictional engagement of the contact springs 18 and are returned by a plate 32 common to'all elements which is moved downwardly in synchronism with the sensing operation. In another form, Fig. 11, the switch elements comprise axially slidable conducting rods 18a having conducting sleeves 18b, 18c separated by an insulating sleeve 18d. According to the position of the switching element contact is made from the rod 18a to one of two contacts 10a, 10b. The rods 18a are connected to corresponding ones in the other sensing device and the contacts 10a are connected together by input lines 35 and contacts 10b are connected together by output lines 36. Specification 769,448 is referred to.