Patent GB-729488-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to calculating machines controlled by statistical recordcards
Inventor: EDEN REGINALD RAYMOND
Filed: 1952-10-15
Abstract: 729,488. Statistical apparatus. POWERSSAMAS ACCOUNTING MACHINES, Ltd. July 8, 1953 [Oct. 15, 1952], No. 25895/52. Class 106 (1). In a calculating-machine controlled by statistical record cards, apparatus for entering into the machine two factors comprises sensing means to sense one factor from each of two card fields, set-up means to receive and retain the factors, a first factor eliminator and a second factor eliminator each to eliminate one factor, a coupling device normally coupling the eliminators for simultaneous operation, transmission means for each card field, and a pre-sensing unit operating under card control to permit a factor sensed from one card field to be stored in the set-up means until eliminated therefrom under control of the pre-sensing unit and to render ineffective the transmission means for one card field while a corresponding factor remains stored in the set-up means. It also somprises disabling means to render ineffective the transmission means for one card field and a trip means to render the coupling device ineffective. The pre-sensing unit PU comprises frames 1 reciprocable in a vertical direction supporting a pre-sensing pin 2, which when arrested by a card without a punched hole operates Bowden cable 8 by means of the lever 6. The sensing device SD is similar to that described in Specification 401,012 and operates in the manner described therein, together with transmission members TM so that factors sensed from cards by the sensing pins 11 are set up in the set-up means SUM. The .set-up unit is of known type and consists of columns of set-bars 17, one for each column of a card field to be sensed, each column comprising a set-bar for each sensing pin 11 of a column of sensing pins. The factor eliminator 22 is secured to a rocking spindle 26 with an arm 27 connected to a link 28 carrying a cam follower, not shown, co-operating with a cam 29 on a shaft 30 driven from the main shaft 31. The second factor eliminator 23 is freely mounted on the spindle 26 and has fixed thereto an arm 32 from which projects a latching pin 33. Pivoted to the first factor eliminator 22 is an eliminator latch 34 urged downwards by a spring so that the factor eliminator 23 is normally coupled to the factor eliminator 22 for simultaneous movement therewith under control of cam 29. When the set-up means has set therein a multiplicand which is common to a number of successive calculating operations, the eliminator latch 34 is tripped out of engagement with the latch pin 33 so that on operation of cam 29 only the eliminator 22 is operated, thereby actuating only the locking slides 20 for the multiplier field of the set-up means. Operation of the eliminator latch 34 is controlled by the pre-sensing unit P.U. through the sensing pin 2 and Bowden wire 8. The sensing device incorporates a plurality of manually settable sensing latches 36 one for each card column of the multiplicand field each having an overturned portion 37 for engagement in a slot 38 formed in the control slide 14 with which it co-operates. Operation of the rock-shaft 39 is effected by actuator means comprising a cam 45 secured to main shaft 31. The rocking movement of rock-shaft 39 through arm 57, shaft 39 and link 58 guided by plate 59 trips the.eliminator latch 34 to uncouple the second factor eliminator 23 from the first factor eliminator 22. Thus when the detail card sensed by the presensing unit PU is sensed by the sensing device SD the multiplicand section of the sensing device is rendered ineffective and the second factor eliminator 23 is also rendered ineffective so that when cam 29 rocks spindle 26 only the first factor eliminator 22 is operated to eliminate the set-up multiplier from the set-up means SUM, the multiplicand already set-up in the set-up means remaining stored by the set-up means ready for the next operation. To ensure that when no card is presented to the pre-sensing unit PU the multiplicand already set up is not cancelled until the entry of a new master card into the pre-sensing unit, a no card sensing pin 60 is provided which co-operates with the pre-sensing unit to determine when no card is presented to the unit. When the pin 60 detects the absence of a card from the presensing unit link 64 moves downwards so that it is located beneath the out-turned portion 66 of member 67 and cam 75 permits trip arm 74 to return to the position shown under the action of spring 71. The trip arm is beneath the eliminator latch 34 and accordingly on upward movement of frames 1 the link 64 engages the out-turned portion 66 of the trip arm 67 and effects movement of the trip arm towards the eliminator latch 34 so that the latch 34 is raised and disengaged from the latch pin 33, thus uncoupling the second factor eliminator 23 from the first factor eliminator 22 and so rendering the second factor eliminator ineffective and ensuring that the multiplicand set up in the set-up means SUM remains stored there. Specification 401,012 is referred to.