Patent GB-706871-A (GB)
Title: Accounting machines
IPC: G06C27/00
Filed: 1951-11-19
Abstract: 706,871. Accounting-machines. NATIONAL CASH REGISTER CO. Nov. 19, 1951 [Nov. 21, 1950], No. 27088/51. Class 106 (1) A tabular computing device associated with an accounting machine comprises a receptacle for cards bearing lines of data arranged in groups, a face to the receptacle having apertures corresponding to the groups and movable differentially under key control to align each aperture with a selected line in its group, and signalling devices also key controlled to signalize a particular one of the selected lines. The invention is applied to the payroll transaction machine of Specification 605,926 which prepares employees' pay cheques and maintains records of hours, pay and deductions in accordance with amounts entered on the machine keyboard. Regular and overtime hours worked are read by the operator from the employees' time-clock cards placed in a box on top of the machine. For each employee there is also a precalculated table or "pattern card " showing his pay and deductions according to hours worked, and these cards are placed in a second box adjacent the time card box. The cards are ejected successively out of reading position after successive operations, so that related clock and pattern cards appear in succession to be dealt with by the operator. It is to the pattern card box that the invention is applied for the purpose of selecting the line of the pattern card in accordance with the hours worked shown on the clock card and set up by the operator on the hours keys of the machine. The figures for pay and deductions shown at the selected line are then entered on the machine to complete the registering and cheque-printing operation. The mechanism described in Specification 706,900 is applied to the thousand dollar key bank to warn the operator when earnings to date reach 3,000 dollars and prevent deductions then no longer applicable, from being made. Tabular pattern cards.-In the form of card shown in Fig. 2 the amounts shown in successive columns are: hours, basic pay, overtime pay, old age deduction, tax, nett pay with no other deductions and three further net pay values each including alternative special deductions which occur occasionally. Cover strips (see Fig. 6) are adjusted laterally of the face of the pattern card box to obscure those three out of the four righthand columns which do not apply during the week; one of these strips is of red translucent material so that the " no other deductions " column can be read from the card of an employee who does not pay the special deduction being made and which would be blanked out on his card. Except over a limited range included in the main table, fractional hours are dealt with by the supplementary table shown at the foot of the card. In an alternative form of table (not shown), sufficient fractional hours are given to render the supplementary table unnecessary. Pattern card box.-In the form shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the face 185 of the pattern card box 180 has slots 186 through which a line of each group on the foremost pattern card can be read. The face is movable vertically on studs 200 to bring different lines of each group into view, and the selected one of the lines is illuminated by one of a series of lamps 193 adjacent the slots. Normally the face is held in its uppermost position by engagement of a catch 214 with a pin 213 on a controlling arm 212 linked with the face; it is released into any one of four lower positions, defined by three further catches 215, 216 and 217 and the studs 200, by selective energization of four solenoids 224, 230, 236 and 242 arranged to operate the catches. The face is restored to normal by a slotted link 211 when the foremost card is ejected at the conclusion of a machine operation. Selective energization of the solenoids and lamps 193 is under the control of the hours keys of the machine. In a modified form of pattern-card box, the lamps 193 are replaced by hinged shutters normally covering the slots 186 in the face. Catches hold the shutters down against spring action, and solenoids selectively trip the catches to expose the appropriate line of the card. Key selection of pattern-card line; general operatidn.-Selector switches are associated with the three lower orders of the hours keys. Mechanically interconnected wipers 282 (Fig. 10) associate with the units order work over contact sets 276 and 278 to energize the solenoids 224, 230, 236 and 242 according as the 2, 4, 6 and 8 keys are operated Similarly, a wiper 275 associated with the tens order works over a contact set 271 connected to relays 307 one of which, according to the tens key operated, is energized to complete a circuit to the appropriate lamp 193. The tenths selector switch is arranged to energize the solenoids 224 &c. to adjust the lower edge 191 of the face in relation to the 39.5 to 39.9 lines of the pattern card when the " 3 " tens key is operated, otherwise no lamp is illuminated until the operator has depressed a special key to complete the circuit to a lamp over the supplementary table at the foot of the pattern card. A holding circuit for the lamp 193 is taken through parallel contacts 311, 312 which open when cards are ejected from their respective boxes at the conclusion of an operation, so extinguishing the lamp. Operation is initiated, after amounts have been entered, by closure of the register motor start contacts, and by operation of a " net pay " key 66 which energizes relays 347, 356 controlling the card ejector motors 341, 342. The starting circuits for the three motors are broken by a relay 370 which only releases when contacts 311, 312 open simultaneously upon successful discharge of the cards, a warning lamp 372 remaining lit if this does not occur, and it then being necessary to onerate a manual release switch 318 for relay 370 before operation of the machine can be resumed. Excess earnings restriction on deductions.- Old age benefit is charged on total earnings up to 3,000 dollars only, and deduction is prevented when prior earnings have reached that figure. Moreover, a warning lamp is lit to direct the operator to make a partial deduction only when current earnings bring the total up to 3.000 dollars. Operation of the " earnings to date " pickup key closes contacts 330 (Fig. 10). If the thousand dollar differential reaches the " 3 " position, contacts 152 close and complete a circuit prepared by.contacts 330, to a solenoid 340 which locks the old age benefit key against operation. A relay 335 is simultaneouslv energized, locks up by armature 337 to maintain itself and the solenoid 340 energized, and opens contacts 336 to prevent subsequent illumination of the warning lamp 161. If, however, 3,000 dollars is reached after the current week's earnings have been added-in, contacts 332, changed over by operation of a key to print the total, diverts the circuit completed by contacts 152, by way of contacts 336, to the warning lamp 161 to direct the operator to make a partial deduction only.