Patent GB-288327-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to record-controlled statistical machines
IPC: G06V30/224
Filed: 1928-04-05
Abstract: 288,327. British Tabulating Machine Co., Ltd., (Assignees of Tabulating Machine Co.). April 7, 1927, [Convention date]. Statistical apparatus; codetype. - Non-perforated statistical record cards or strips are read by a beam of light which is reflected from the card in a manner dependent upon the shape of the numeral or letter and which acts upon a photoelectric cell such as a potassium cell. There are four points A - - D in each field 20 of the card. Fig. 1, such that each numeral covers a different .combination of one or more of the points. For example, figure " 0 " covers points A and D and exposes points Band C; figure " 7 " exposes A, B and D, and so on. The image 27 of the field of the card is reflected, Figs. 4 and 5 by a source of light 21, and lenses 22, 23 to a plane 24, immediately behind which is a frame 25 carrying four photo-electric cells 26A - - 26D corresponding in position precisely to the grouping of the points A - - D. Thence for the numeral " 0," say, the printed numeral will prevent reflection of light from points A and D but will permit reflection from points B and C. Hence the cells 26B and 26C only will be energized. Thus, for each numeral, a combination of photo-electric cells will be energized corresponding to which of the points A - - D the printed numeral leaves exposed. Fig. 6 shows the method adapted to sorting cards from a magazine 29. The image of the field used of the card at the reading point 30 is reflected to the cells at 25 as in Fig. 4, and the current from the cells affected is amplified at 31 by vacuum tubes before energizing the appropriate magnets 32, the attracted armatures 33 pulling rods 34 to move deflectors 35 so that the card is fed to the correct pocket 38 according to the particular combination of magnets energized. Attracted armatures are latched up by catches 39 on bell crank armatures 40 of magnets 41; at the end of the cycle contacts 42, 43 close to energize magnets 41 and to release armatures 33 and restore the deflectors 35. Contacts 36, 37 close the circuits from the cells in correct relationship to the card-feed. Fig. 7 shows the application of the method to controlling type-bars 68 which print the items and, through associated racks and pinions, actuate counters. The photo-electric cells 26A - - 26D in the frame 25 are connected to amplifying units 31A - - 31D and operate the magnets 32 and rods 46 for the contacts 58A &c. of a laddercircuit translating device as described in Specification 235,568, in which the segments 55 and brushes 57, 57<1> operate magnet 63 and detent 66 to arrest the bar 68 differentially in the 0 - - 9 rotation. there being, of course, circuits &c. as shown in Fig. 7 for each field of the card. Fig. 10 shows a construction in which the amplifiers 31A - - 31D and magnets 32 of Fig. 7 are dispensed with. 72 is a semi-conducting (e.g. agate) roller which constantly rotates with respect to metal strips 73. Normally, these strips are stationary as in Specification 296,120, but when any of the cells 26 are energized by the beam of light reflected from the card there is an electrostatic attraction between the roller 72 and the appropriate strips 73, so that the latter are moved upwards against springs 76 to operate the rods 46. Different amount of light reflected for each numeral. In a second method, Fig. 11, the percentage area of the card field which is covered by the printed numeral is different in each case to the extent indicated by the percentages given in Fig. 11. In this case one photo-electric cell instead of four is used. Figs. 13 and 14 show this method applied to' sorting cards. An image of the card field is formed by lenses 82. 83 at 84 in front of the cell 80, there being a cell for each sorting box 81. These cells are connected to magnets 85 which each have a different number of ampere turns so that, although the numeral' will energize each cell 80 to a different extent, only when it reaches its appropriate box will the amount of light transmitted be sufficient to energize the contact magnet 85 and raise the deflector 87. The armature 86 attached to the deflector 87 is latched up by a hook which is released electromagnetically at the end of the cycle. Fig. 16 shows this method applied to counting and printing mechanism. The cell 94 and amplifier 95 actuate magnets 95<1> of differing numbers of ampere turns; the armatures 96<1> of these magnets raise rods 97-0 - - 97-9 into the path of a lug 102 on a rack 98 carrying type 99 and rack teeth 101 operating a counter 100 only in its counter-clockwise movement. For each numeral the amount of current flowing through the magnets 95<1> will be such that only that rod 97 corresponding to the numeral and the remaining rods to the right will be raised; thus the rack 98 will be arrested differentially in its movement to the right It is not essential to use photo-electric cells or other devices depending upon an optical action for reading the cards. An induction field may be used for analyzing the card, the characters being printed upon the card in ink having metallic characteristics. Then if each printed character has a different quantity of metal printing, the induction field will be modified to a different amount for each character, this differential modifying being used to control the appropriate mechanisms.