Patent GB-798017-A (GB)
Title: Combined data input machine and data recording device
Filed: 1956-11-29
Abstract: 798,017. Cash registers. NATIONAL CASH REGISTER CO. Nov. 29, 1956 [Dec. 2, 1955], No. 36485/56. Class 106 (1). [Also in Groups XXXVI and XXXVIII] A machine, e.g. a cash register, in which data may be entered by means of keys, is connected electrically to a group of recording members, e.g. punches, through an encoding diode matrix. The input machine may be a cash register in which, as described in Specification 779,005, the differential actuators position corresponding selector switches in accordance with an amount set up and the control keys depressed. These selector switches, CR1a1-CR9a1 for the amount banks and mechanically-connected pairs CRA1 and CRB1 -CRA3 and CRB3 for the control banks, are connected to a " selection board " 304 in the cash register on which the punching programme may be partly set up by means of plugged connections. The remainder of the programme is set up on a second plug-board, called the " programme board " 215 mounted with the diode matrix and a stepping switch in the recorder. The latter comprises a tape punch similar to that described in Specification 779,005 and operating in cycles to punch digits, one at a time, in a " 2 out of 5 " code. The selector switches of the cash register remain set after it has performed a cycle of operation. The punch then operates through a sequence of cycles as determined by the programming boards and under the control of the stepping switch which advances one step for each punching cycle. The stepping switch has four levels corresponding to four alternative programmes, one of these being selected in accordance with the control keys depressed. The particular code to be used in punching digits and symbols is set up in the diode matrix (see Group XXXVI) by inserting plugs containing diodes where required. The matrix which is constructed as a removable unit has two sections-a symbol-encoding section 250 and a digit-encoding section 251. Operation. During a cycle of the cash register, the amount and control selector switches are set in accordance with the previously depressed keys and an operate relay is energized over one of the initial contacts of the stepping switch. This relay causes de-energization of another relay and so prevents a further operation of the cash register until the punching operation has been completed, and also causes an advance of the stepping switch which thereafter advances one step for each punching cycle under the control of contacts opened by operation of the punch. That one of the four levels SSI-SSIV of the stepping switch which is to determine the punching sequence is selected by the three control bank selector switches CRB1- CRB3 and the plugged connections in the selection board 304, which connect an energized lead 315 to one of the four wipers of the stepping switch. The plugged connections may be so arranged that the programme (stepping switch level) selected depends solely on the position of one of the selector switches CRB1-CRB3, or it may depend on particular settings of two or all three of those switches. The circuit extends from the appropriate contact of the selected level of the stepping switch to the corresponding point of the corresponding programme Group I-IV in the uppermost section of the programme board 215 which is plugged, to select what is to be punched at that step, to a point in one of the other sections of that board. The section 219 has twelve groups of points corresponding to the nine amount selector switches CR1a1-CR9a1 and the three control bank switches CRA1-CRA3. Thus, by plugging to one of these points, the digit or symbol represented by the setting of the corresponding switch may be punched. Chosen digits or symbols may be punched irrespective of the setting of the cash register by plugging to appropriate terminals in a section 221 or in a section 220 respectively. The section 219 is connected by a group of leads 371 to the wipers of the selector switches CR1a1-CR9a1 and CRA1-CRA3. If an amount bank has been selected, the circuit extends over one of a group of leads 372, according to the setting of that amount bank switch, via the section 221, to a corresponding row of the digit-encoding diode matric 251 and from there to the appropriate punch selecting magnets PS1-PS5 to cause a punching cycle. If, alternatively, a control bank switch has been selected, the circuit extends to a point in a section 306 of the selection board 304 plugged to a selected one of the points in a section 310 so as to extend the circuit to one of a group of leads 373 connected, via the section 220 of the programme board, to the rows of the symbolencoding diode matrix 250, and from there to the punch-selecting magnets. In this way, the various symbols and digits are punched one at a time until a programme step is reached for which the point in the uppermost section of the programme board 215 is connected to a reset lead 380, at which stage the stepping switch advances to its rest position.