Patent GB-540599-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in statistical or like records and record reading devices
IPC: G06K9/00
Filed: 1940-01-31
Abstract: 540,599. Statistical apparatus. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd. Jan. 31, 1940, No. 1939. Convention date, Jan. 31, 1939. [Class 106 (i) ] The invention relates to a statistical record and reading means therefor. The record comprises a sheet on which the characters are recorded by index marks in code spaced along a straight line and consisting of electrically conducting material applied to the sheet of insulating material in the form of a bar or bars extending transversely of the line. The reading means comprises two spaced brushes, means for feeding the record strip past the brushes and a control circuit associated with means to represent the index marks. The record as shown in Fig. 6 comprises a sheet 20 with characters 0-9 composed of electrically conductive material which may be produced in a typewriter employing conductive ink. The configuration of the characters is such that only the horizontal lines or bars, constituting the index marks, will serve to interconnect the reading brushes 22, 23, and each index mark is arranged according to a code. In Fig. 7 the characters are composed only of index mark bar portions. Fig. 10 shows an alternative form of record in different code form with long interconnected scanning brushes 250 and a single double-strand brush 251. In the case of multicolumn record strips each column of characters will co-operate with a corresponding pair of brushes 22, 23. The reading device as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a motor driving shaft 29 that is geared to a feed roller 39. The record sheet 20 is fed over a guide table 40 and between the roller 39 and a pressure roller 41. The reading brushes 22, 23 are carried by an insulating block 52 resiliently mounted on guide members 53a and adjustable by a micrometer head 55. The shaft 29 is also geared to a shaft 58 carrying a ratchet wheel 59, Fig. 3, to co-operate with a pawl 62 on a disc 61 secured to a hollow shaft 60 and forming a one-revolution clutch to drive the shaft 60 under the control of the armature 66 of an electromagnet 76. The shaft 60 carries an insulating block 87 with a contact brush 86 electrically connected to a support plate 88 and adapted to co-operate with insulated contact segments 80 ... 84 of a distributer in succession. The first index mark bar of each character serves to inter-connect the brushes and initiate the operation of the clutch and distributer, a different combination of segments being engaged by the brush 86 when the reading brushes 22, 23 are inter-connected in each character. As shown in the circuit diagram, Fig. 16, when the reading brushes À22, 23 are inter-connected a shunt circuit for a battery 210 is established thereby reducing the grid bias of the thermionic valve 212 and allowing an anode current to pass to the brush 86. The distributer segments 80 ... 84 are connected through relays 80a ... 84a to a line 191. When the brushes 22, 23 are first interconnected the relay 80a is energized to close contacts 80b and complete a circuit through the magnet 76 to initiate operation of the distributer. The relays 81a ... 84a are energized in combination in accordance with the coded characters to close upper contacts 81b &c., and lower contacts 81c &c. to establish a circuit through appropriate storage relays 81d ... 84d. The relays 81d ... 84d co-operate with sets of contacts 81e-k, 82e-h, 83e-k and 84e, f, to establish a selective circuit to operating magnets 145 through contacts 222 that are closed on the energization of a relay 220 by the momentary closure of contacts 219. The contacts 219 are operated prior to the completion of the clutch revolution by a roller 233 on the clutch disc 61. In the embodiment described the operating magnets 145 form part of a machine for punching a record card in accordance with the value of the characters scanned by the reading means. The punching machine is similar to that described in Specification 362,529, [Group VIII]. When operating under control of the record strip the master card mechanism of the machine is inoperative and the contacts 150 are opened to break the circuit of relay 142 thus ensuring closure of contacts 163. A modified form of apparatus is described for dealing with a multi-column record and comprises a multi-column reading device with a pair of contacts for each column of characters and a corresponding distributer mechanism with sets of relays and contacts as described above. The contacts from each column are plug connected to emitter contacts selected as desired in accordance with the width of the card columns which are required to be punched. Specification 318,733, [Class 106 (i)], is referred to.