Patent GB-750487-A (GB)
Title: Statistical data analysing apparatus for tape records
IPC: G06F17/18
Filed: 1954-03-26
Abstract: 750,487. Statistical apparatus. NATIONAL CASH REGISTER CO. March 26, 1954 [April 16, 1953], No. 8936/54. Class 106 (1). Data analysing apparatus comprises a sensing device for a tape bearing control amount identification, and related amount data which is arranged to travel successively back and forth past the sensing device, analysis control apparatus set with amount identification data and selecting apparatus controlled by the sensing device and by the analysis control device. The apparatus includes an electronic comparison device for comparing amount identification data passed from the sensing device into the selecting apparatus, with amount identification data set in the analysis control apparatus, and a selective device associated with the sensing device and the electronic comparison device and adapted to pass amount data to an electronic amount accumulator when the amount identification data in the sensing device corresponds with that recorded in the analysis control apparatus. The sensing means senses the tape for classification or code numbers and related amounts and is capable of sensing the code number just prior to the sensing of the related amount. A control member in the sensing means is adjusted according to the direction of tape feed to enable the code numbers to be sensed just before their related amounts when the tape is being fed in either direction. Selecting means in the apparatus compares sensed code numbers for the various entries on the tape against a selected code number set up in the apparatus and causes all amounts related to the selected code number to be selected and accumulated in a single pass of the tape, the selecting means and the accumulating means being capable of operating at sufficiently high speeds to enable this to be done. A counter is provided to count the number of entries made during a pass of the tape. The apparatus consists of two inter-connected units 25, 26, Fig. 1, the former containing the sensing means and the latter the summary recorder. The sensing means comprises a light source 18, Fig. 2, the light passing through perforations in the tape 21 to fall on a photo-cell 19 in known manner, and being controlled by a shutter 20. The output of the photo-cell is fed to a suitable pre-amplifier. The accumulator and counter component 32 contains a six-denominational order electron tube accumulator into which amounts can be entered and accumulated to provide a total, and a two denominational electron tube counter which records the number of separate amounts which were related to the classification number and which have been accumulated. The summary recorder 26 (Fig. 1) includes an indicating section 36 and a printing section 37 in which indicator drums and type wheels respectively can be set under control of the selecting means of the master control panel and control chassis 31 according to the classification or code number which was used to control the selection of amounts taken from the tape. The tape, Fig. 6, has a capacity of eleven channels for data and control perforations, channels 2, 3, 4, 5 are assigned to the digit representing perforations for a four denominational code number and channels 7, 8, 9 and 10 are assigned to the digit representing perforations for a four-denominational related amount, channels 1 and 11 contain control perforations. Each code number and related amount together with a control perforation in each of the channels 1 and 11 constitute an entry or a frame of information to be analysed as indicated at 41, separated by spaces 42. In addition there are provided leaders at each end of the tape to permit of reversal of the direction, each leader is perforated in channel 6 adjacent the last entry on the tape with a larger perforation 45 for initiating a reversal of the tape feed. A shutter 60, Fig. 3, is normally urged upwards by a spring 61 to engage a stop on a bracket 59 secured to plate 47 and is connected at its lower end to the armature of a shutter operating solenoid 62. The shutter 60 controls the single sensing means in phasing the sensing of data on the tape so that in either direction of feed the code number will be sensed first, and the amount immediately thereafter, and finally the control perforation which resets the code number chain and initiates the operation of a tens transfer means. Light from a lamp 68, Fig. 7, is directed onto a pair of lenses 70 through an enclosure 71 and through slots 53, 54, Fig. 9, as determined by the shutter 60. A group of light guides 75-1 to 75-11 extend from the shutter to the photo-cells 76-1 to 76-11. The tape feeding means includes an upper reel 80 and a lower reel 81 the tape 40 being fed back and forth between them by suitable driving motors and braking means at a speed of approximately ten feet per second. The sensing of control perforation 45 which precedes the data bearing frames conditions the turn-around controls for operation and the sensing of the reverse control perforation which follows the data bearing frames causes the turn-around controls to become effective to operate a make-before-break switch in the circuits to the drive motor to apply power to the upper drive motor shortly before power is removed from the lower drive motor. For a short time therefore power is applied to both motors which therefore act in opposition and tend to stop the tape feed. Power is then removed from both motors and the brake is applied to the upper shaft. The combination of the momentary application of power to both motors and the application of the brake enables the tape feed to be stopped before the leader 43 is disconnected from the upper reel 80. The back and forth feeding of the tape continues automatically under control of the selecting means until an analysis according to the group of selected code numbers has been made, after which a control will become effec. tive to terminate further feeding of the tape.