Patent GB-359037-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to record-card-controlled statistical printing machines
Filed: 1930-07-17
Abstract: 359,037. Statistical-machines. KEEN, H. H., 27, Norton Road, Letchworth, Hertfordshire, and BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd., Victoria House, Vernon Place, Southampton Row, London. July 17, 1930, No. 21699. [Class 106 (i).] Printing subtotals ; printing totals ; printing distinguishing marks.-In a grouped card machine of the kind. having an " entry control device " which counts the number of lines of items printed on each printed record sheet (or part of a continuous record strip) and stops the machine when the maximum number of lines has been printed, this " entry control device " automatically initiates (at the predetermined maximum) (1) subtotal printing, (2) sheet feeding, (3) resetting of the " entry control device," and (4) a second subtotal printing. Hence if it is necessary to print the items of a group on two record sheets the subtotal is printed at the foot of the first sheet and at the head of the second, accompanied by a distinguishing letter F. A machine of the abovementioned kind is described in Specification 314,086, [Class 100 (iv), Typewriters &c.]. In the present construction of machine a second strip is. used for the item-printing &c. divided by printed headings so that it may later be divided into sheets. The reset motor drives a reset shaft 202, Fig. 4, one revolution during the second half of a total-printing cycle; during the first half-cycle the shaft 202 is idle. Each counter may be reset by a wheel 205 rigid with one member 206 of a reset button clutch, of which the other member 207 is splined to shaft 202 and spring-pressed away from 206. Each clutch is controlled by a magnet 14, Fig. 1, or may be engaged manually. Sheet feed. The item-recording strip passes round a platen on a shaft 209, Figs. 6 and 7, housed in a fixed sleeve 210 on which rotates a single-toothed ratchet disc 211 which carries two pins 213 fixed to a bar 214 splined on shaft 209. Disc 211 rotates with shaft 209 and its tooth 212 coacts with a pawl 216 on a second disc 215 on sleeve 210. Disc 215 is geared by wheels 217 to a wheel 218, Fig. 4, rigid with a driven clutch member 219 loose on shaft 202. The driving member 222 on shaft 202 has members 223 extending through slots 224 in a collar 221 pinned to the shaft. When the sheet feed magnet 20 is energized its armature 227 moves a slide 229 and member 222 so that the pieces 223 engage slots 225 in 219 and drive the latter and therefore platen shaft 209. Secured to wheel 218 is a cam 231 engaging a lever 234 which moves a rod 235 to open contacts 66 and, after an interval, to close contacts 64. Thus as items are listed platen shaft 209 is rotated and tooth 212 moves step by step away from pawl 216. When magnet 20 is energized the pawl 216 is driven from the reset shaft 202 and, after an interval depending upon the number of items listed, picks up tooth 212. Thereafter 216 and 212 move together and feed the paper until pawl 216 has moved through its predetermined path, e.g. a movement equal to 20 line-spacing movements. This carries the sheet onwards after item listing until the end of the sheet is reached. Entry control device. This comprises a shaft 246 carrying a ratchet wheel 241, Figs. 8 and 9, and a disc 242 with holes 243 engaged by a pin 245 on a settable pointer 244. Holes 243 are numbered to indicate the number of lines to be printed and the pointer is adjusted to the appropriate number. Ratchet 241 is driven step by step by pawl 251 on the armature 252 of magnet 11. 253 is a non-return pawl. Pointer 244 is thus moved clockwise from its predetermined position until the pin 245 rocks bell crank 254 to close " anticipatory " contacts 60 at the anti-penultimate entry on the sheet. Two steps later, at the ultimate entry, pin 245 closes contacts 45 through bell crank 255 to initiate subtotal printing and sheet feed. If the antipenultimate entry is from the last card of a group total-printing and resetting occur, accompanied by two line-spacings and pin 245 moves two steps to close contacts 45. Hence a total printed after the anti-penultimate entry will be followed by a subtotal printing which is not required. Contacts 60 anticipate this by combining the two cycles and initiate prematurely the same series of operations as contacts 45 do when total-printing and resetting follow the antipenultimate or penultimate entry on a sheet. Feed pawl 250 has an extension 256 which is engaged by pawl 253 when the latter is removed from the ratchet by lever 259, armature 263, and reset magnet 16. The ratchet is thus freed for resetting by solenoid 100, Fig. 9. Spindle 246 has rigid with it a sleeve 246a with three screws 246b engaging a quick thread 247b on the solenoid core 247 which is prevented from rotation by keyways 247a. As the entry-control ratchet 241 is advanced step by step screws 246b move core 247 to the right. When the ratchet is freed as above from its pawls, energization of solenoid 100 returns core 247 to the left to reset the entry control device. In this position a stop 264 on ratchet 241 meets a fixed stop 265. Magnet 16 and solenoid 100 are connected to contacts 66, Fig. 1, and are thus energized under the control of the reset shaft 202, Fig. 4, after total-printing and sheet-feeding have occurred. The entry control device may also be reset manually by a key-rod 268, Fig. 8, coupled to the armature 263. Printing distinguishing marks.-The counters and printing mechanism are similar to those described in Specification 183,867, [Class 106 (i), Calculating &c.]. Each printing bank has an asterisk typebar 280, Fig. 11, with an asterisk type 281 for totals in the " 9 " position and an " F " type 282 for subtotals (carried forward from one sheet to the next) in the " 1 " position. This type-bar is arrested by a magnet 86 to position the asterisk or " F " type at the printing line, the magnet 86 being under the control of the zero button clutches. Circuit diagram. The automatic group control is of the well-known kind, including a major control circuit 13, 194, 195, L10, 166, 25, 28 (closed by magnet 25), 35, 34, 12 ; an intermediate circuit L11, 166a, 26, 29 (closed by magnet 26), 35, 34 ; and a minor control circuit L12, 166b, 27, 30 (closed by magnet 27), 35, 34. Contacts L10, L11, L12 open momentarily at the end of each card cycle, but if there is no group change, the circuits are maintained by serially-connected contacts 191. The contacts are normally open but are closed at the appropriate time by magnets 190. The machine is illustrated in Fig. 1 as plugged for control on two card columns containing the card group numbers, the two top contacts 191 being in parallel with contacts L10, the remaining contacts being shunted by switches 193 ; and the two top magnets 190 are connected each between an upper brush reading a control column and the corresponding lower brush. The group control is thereby automatic on the two card columns in the known manner. When the group changes, magnets 25, 166 are de-energized and the latter magnet allows its contacts 51 to close so that the sheet feed magnet 20 is energized over line 57 and contacts 271, which are closed by magnet 270 when the group changes ; closure of contacts 51 also energizes, over lines 53, the zero button clutch magnets 14 so that the appropriate counters are reset after totalprinting. Magnets 14 close contacts 71, 88, Fig. 2, to prepare the total-printing circuits. When reset magnet 16 is energized it closes contacts 264 ; contacts 17 are closed, Fig. 8, by a bell crank 267 and a finger 266 on disc 242 when the latter and pointer 244 are returned to initial position. Contacts 264, 17 thus close a circuit 13, reset motor RM, 78, 68, 264, 17, L2, 12. 68 is one winding of a relay magnet 67, 68 and closes contacts 74 (which are then held closed by the other winding 67) to connect line 73 to line 13 so that totals are printed for counters having switches 81 closed. The " counting " magnet 11, Figs. 1 and 8, of the entry control device is energized over a circuit 12, LCLC, 15, L8, 11, 274, 13 ; contacts L8 being closed during listing at the " 8 " time in the cycle so that ratchet 241, Figs. 8 and 9, is fed one tooth each listing cycle. During total-printing the circuit is through P5 and magnet 11 receives two impulses, first through upper, and then through lower, contacts P5. The interactions of the circuits are traced for several specific examples of different groupings of the cards. Specification 308,829, [Class 106 (i), Calculating &c.], also is referred to.