Patent GB-738723-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to statistical record card controlled apparatus
IPC: B01J31/40
Filed: 1953-12-08
Abstract: 738,723. Statistical apparatus. SELF WINDING CLOCK CO., Inc. Dec. 8, 1953 [Dec. 31, 1952], No. 34104/53. Class 106 (1). Electronic sensing is provided in apparatus for reading record cards of the type illustrated in Fig. 10 for providing various compilations of data which are recorded by printing means while the cards are scanned in order through the apparatus. The electronic sensing provides by means of a television type camera 51, Fig. 2, electrical impulses corresponding to the data marked on the card which in the example described represents magazine subscription data. In addition, periodic electrical impulses are generated corresponding in number to regions or fields of the card. A series of switches set by the code respond to a combination of periodic and code pulses in order to convert the coded data into electrical and mechanical settings. The switches transmit impulses which may be decoded by means of multi-pole switches with various permutations and combinations. The decoded impulses control the circuit through a date setting switch that has been pre-set according to the classification to be effected by the apparatus so that the code on each card determines its classification. Each of the subscription cards carries code designations, representing the month decade and year. These code markings are scanned by an electronic beam of a video camera at a sensing station and impulses therefrom are transmitted at corresponding intervals to a date code converter. The date code converter comprises a plurality of multi-vibrators connected to fire in sequence and corresponding in number to the number of code regions on the card. The time constants are such that they will all fire within the period it takes the electronic beam to scan the row occupied by the twelve or more regions. The firing of the first of the sequence of multi-vibrators is initiated from a square wave generator which may be the same generator for timing the operation of the sweep generator for the electronic beam of the video camera 51. The output of each multi-vibrator is connected to a grid of a corresponding coincidence gate tube which responds only when simultaneous signals are received from the data and sequence control circuits. The conducting coincidence gate tubes energize corresponding thyratron tubes which in turn energize corresponding relays of a date decoder comprising a sequence of multipole switches. A date setting unit is also provided and which comprises manually set dial switches corresponding to the month decade and year for " expire," " pre-expire," " reject " and similar classifications. When a card bears a date code corresponding to that set up on the setting unit, a circuit is closed to effect classification of the data on that card. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 a conveyer system of known form 34 conveys the record cards from a storage hopper 35 to a sensing station 32 where the card is held for a short time for scanning, e.g 15 seconds, by the video camera 51 after which it is advanced to the copying station 33. A gate is provided at the copying station 33 for restraining the cards in the station for a short period and comprises a bar 37 controlled by a solenoid 38 which is controlled by the card next in sequence by means of a photo-cell 39 of conventional type positioned so that the card will cut off the light from a light source 41 causing the photo-cell to control the solenoid 38 via suitable circuits to lower the gate 36 and enable the cards to advance. Two collecting hoppers 42 and 43 are provided after the copying station 33 for " reject " and subscription cards respectively. A standard video camera 51 is modified by removing the horizontal sweep and blanking circuits and using only the vertical deflection yoke and associated circuits and mounting the camera displaced 90 degrees above its axis so that the electronic beam sweeps horizontally. The beam is then arranged to sweep more than one row of a card by means of a deflection coil 76 connected to preset potentiometers via a movable arm 62 under the control of relay 59. The relay coil 58, Fig. 2, is energized after a period of time by the contact wheel 53 making contact via its wiper arm 55. Immediately relay coil 58 is energized the D.C. potential or deflection coil 76 is changed so that the electronic beam of the camera is deflected downwards to sweep the record data row 25. The sweep circuit of the camera 51 is connected by a lead 81 to a conventional square-wave generator 82 which has a pulse repetition frequency of 60 cycles per second. The output of the camera in the form of pulses in lead 83, Fig. 1, is connected to a pulse amplifier and shaper unit 84. The output of the unit 84 which is a series of square waves of approximately 75 volts is connected by lead 86 to movable contact arm 87 of relay 59. The arm 87 normally engages fixed contact 88 but when relay 59 is energized the arm 87 engages contact 89 instead thus switching the output of the unit 84 from the date code converter 95 to the postal zone converter 96. Date converter unit.-The converter unit 95, which is similar to unit 96, is shown in detail in Fig. 3, and comprises a line of identical multi-vibrators 125, each comprising a pair of triode tubes 126, 127. Each multi-vibrator 125 is connected to an associated coincidence gate tube 161 preferably a pentode-type tube. The coincidence gate tubes 161 are biased to a non-conducting state and it requires the simultaneous application of a positive pulse from the grid 128 of the associated multi-vibrator, and a positive pulse from the amplifier 84 to cause the gate tube to conduct. The output of each gate tube 161 is taken from the plate 165 via lead 181 to an amplifier inverter 183 which converts the output to a positive pulse which travels via lead 184 to control grid 186 of athyratron tube 187 having a negative bias which is overcome by the positive pulse to cause the thyratron to fire and energize its associated relay 202 and associated terminal 208 on terminal strip 209. The date decoder units is shown in detail in Fig. 4 and comprises three banks of relays 241, 242, 243, each bank having four relays A to D. In relays A, B, C, D of bank 241 determining the month, the relays A, B, C, D of bank 242 determining the decade, and relays A, B, C, D of bank 243 the year. Each relay has a coil 238 one end of which is grounded the other being connected via leads 240 to terminals 1-12 on the strip 212. The arm 244 of the relays are so positioned that any one of twelve circuits may be completed in each bank to the terminals a to l on strip 251. The postal zone decoder 249 is identical to relay bank 241 and its twelve outputs are connected respectively to terminals A to L on terminal strip 257, Fig. 1. Date setting unit.-The twelve terminals a to l on strip 262, Fig. 5, are connected respectively to one side of the twelve coils or relays 268 A to L. Each of the relays 268 A to L, 269 A to J and 271 A to J controls eight sets of movable contact arms 272 a to h, 273 a to h and 274 a to h respectively, the contact arms of each of the three groups of eight sets each being ganged to move in unison upon energization of the associated relays. Associated with each set of contacts 272 a to h, 273 a to hand 274 a to h is a manually operated wafer switch 285 A to H, 286 A to H and 287 A to H respectively. Each wafer switch has a movable contact arm 288 which upon rotation of a knob not shown may selectively engage an associated fixed contact 289 by means of which the desired date to be identified may be set in. Delay signal unit.-The delay signal unit is shown in Fig. 6 and comprises a plurality of memory banks designated 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, each bank having eight relays 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351, 352, 353. The relay 352 of each bank has six movable contact arms 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, co-operating with associated fixed contacts. As shown in Fig. 2, one end of coil 435 of stepping switch 428 is connected to ground and the other end is connected by lead 473 to movable contact arm 474 of relay 475. Coil 478 is connected between ground and a photo-electric cell 479 so that when light source 480 is interrupted by a card at copying station 33 the relay is deenergized. Copying station.-Positioned at 33, Fig. 1, is a second video camera 647 of known type with a raster scan designed to scan the subscription data typewritten or otherwise recorded on the subscription card. The output is taken from the cathode 657 via lead 658 to fixed contact 659 of non-print relay 661, the arm 662 of which engages the fixed contact with the coil 663 of the relay and is connected by lead 664 to terminal 665 on strip 666 of imprinting unit 667. Imprinting unit.-This unit, Fig. 8, comprises a plurality of recorders such as television monitor receivers 679, 681, 682, 693 and 694 of known type. Each receiver is positioned in a light-tight chamber 711 and is biased to be non-conducting state so that no light is projected via the lens 712 on to a light-sensitive strip 713 mounted on spools 714 and 715, Fig. 9. When a movable arm 717 engages the fixed contact 724 the negative bias is overcome and the tube will conduct for an imprinting operation. As the operation of the apparatus continues and the first subscription card is moved away from the copying station by conveyer 34 it will abut against raised cover 45 to be deflected on to the reject hopper if the card bears arm " expire date or with the hopper 43 if of current date.