Patent GB-782807-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in translators for index mark combinations
Filed: 1956-03-19
Abstract: 782,807. Typewriters. MAUL, M. March 19, 1956 [April 30, 1955], No. 8553/56. Class 100(4) [Also in Group XIX] In a translator for combinations of index marks on punched record cards of the kind using a contact switch pyramid having a plurality of stages of contacts, the contacts each stage being associated with a particular index mark position and being selectively connectable to one of two contacts in the next stage so that for each combination of index marks a single circuit is established through the contacts, the contact switch pyramid is split into two or more partial pyramids each under the control of half the total index positions, one of the partial pyramids serving to select a group of characters and the other selecting a single character from that group in correspondence with the perforations in the card column. The card Fig. 1a has columns having six index positions, each of which may be perforated. Each column represents a character according to the code shown. In the form described the character is to be printed in a printing machine, Fig. 2 of the kind having a rotating disc 11 the periphery of which carries 64 type letters. The type disc is closely positioned with respect to a print receiving tape 19 .and a hammer 17 is provided on the other side of the tape which is controlled by a solenoid D to strike the tape against the disc at the correct instant so at to print the required character. In practice a type drum is provided having a peripheral row of type for each card column and a hammer is provided for each column. After the information from each card has been printed the tape 19 is advanced in readiness to receive the information of the next card. All data positions of a column may be sensed simultaneously by brushes b1-b6, Fig. 6. Where there are perforations, the corresponding brushes complete circuits to relay coils A-F. Contacts a1, f1 transfer and hold the relays picked. Relays A, B, C have contacts arranged in a partial pyramid as shown in Fig. 5. In the first stage there are four contacts a2-a5 all governed by relay A. In the second stage there are two contacts b2, b3 governed by relay B and in the third stage there is only one, c2, governed by relay C. The eight basic lines to the partial pyramid are connected to groups of commutator contacts corresponding to the 64 type positions of the type drum. The other partial pyramid is made up of contacts belonging to relays D, E, F, corresponding to column positions 4, 5, 6. The stages are similarly arranged, the first having four contacts d2-d5, the second, two contacts e2, e3 and the third, one contact f2. The end contacts f2 and c2 are connected through hammer solenoid D to supply voltage so that when a contact is made between them the corresponding hammer 17 strikes the paper against the type drum. The eight basic lines to the D, E, F, partial pyramid are connected to eight group selector contacts of the commutator. While one end of the arm 12 is moving over one of these contacts the other end passes over eight character selection contacts. The arm is driven synchronously with the rotation of the type drum so that whenever a contact is made through the two partial pyramids and the commutator the hammer causes to be printed the character corresponding to the number of the contact 0-64 through which the commutator makes contact. If the character is " B " there are holes in column positions 1, 3, 4 (see Fig. 1a) so that relays A, C and D are picked up. A circuit is therefore completed in the left hand partial pyramid through contacts f2, e3, d5 (transferred) to group contact 1, and in the right hand pyramid through contacts c2 (transferred) b3 and a4 (trans-- ferred) to interconnected contacts 5, 13, 21, 29, 37, 45, 53 61. A contact is therefore made through the commutator arm when one end is on group contact 1 and the other on character contact 13 The solenoid D is energized at this instant and prints character "B." Instead of reading all column positions simultaneously they may be read in succession by a single brush cooperating with a synchronously moving switch arm having six contacts so as to pick up the relays corresponding to index positions having perforations. Instead of having a single commutator with eight contacts on one side and sixty four on the other there may be two commutators each having eight contacts and one having an arm revolving eight times as fast as the other. The commutator can be common to all calumns of the card. Instead of using two partial pyramids each with three stages, three partial pyramids may be used each having two stages of contacts.