Patent GB-525955-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to record card controlled computing machines
IPC: G06F7/46
Filed: 1938-12-05
Abstract: 525,955. Record-card-controlled statistical machines. JACKSON, L. MELLERSH-. (Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation). Dec. 5, 1938, No. 35398. Addition to 496,994, [Group XVI]. [Class 106 (i)] In a statistical machine the cards are read sucessively to enter predetermined numerical items into accumulators associated with recording devices, and groups A, B, C, Fig, 1, of settable storage devices are provided and arranged between the reading means 59, Fig. 2, and the accumulators D, E, F, Fig. 3, so that one group is set under control of certain cards and another group is set under control of certain other cards, there being a counter allocated to each group of storage devices and the sets of storage devices in each group being rendered effective in successive cycles to transmit the numerical items to the related accumulator. In the apparatus illustrated, the machine is controlled by code cards having three fields, Fig. 7, along the line of travel of the card, which bear the premium due, the interest due on a loan, and dividend payable on the policy. The cards are read electrically bv brushes 59A &c., Fig. 2. In the first cycle, the three factors are read from the first card and entered into a storage device A, Fig. 1, and the premium is transmitted from device A to accumulator D, Fig. 3. In second cycle, the three factors from the second card are likewise entered into storage device B and the second-card premium entered into accumulator E. Also the loan interest on the first card is transmitted from storage device A to accumulator D. In the third cycle, the three factors from the third card are entered into a third storage device C and thence the third card premium is transmitted to a third accumulator F. The loan interest from the second card is also entered into accumulator E and the dividend from the first card is concurrently entered, in complementary form through an inverter VA, Fig. 1, into accumulator D. The latter now holds the nett result of the three factors from the first card and this result is printed in this same, third, cycle by common printing mechanism G, Fig. 6, which is connected in successive cycles to the various accumulators by magnets 35-37, Fig. 8 (not shown), energized from cam 65, Fig. 2, which makes one rotation in three cycles. During the third cycle the storage device A and accumulator D are cleared of the data relating to the first card and during the fourth cycle the fourth card is read, entered into storage device A, premium transmitted to counter D &c. and the nett result of the second card printed and so on. Each storage device A, B, C consists of three vertical banks of five magnets 1-5 (a five-point code is used). Magnets 6, 21, 27 are energized in the appropriate cycles by cams shown in Fig. 2 so that when the three fields of a card are read simultaneously by the counter fingers 59A...59E, 60A...60E, 61A... 61E, Fig. 2, the magnets 1-5 in all three banks are energized according to the card holes read to store the premium, interest, and dividend in the first, second and third bank from the left respectively in device A. Each magnet 1-5 has a second winding to give a holding circuit. In this first cycle, cam 56, Fig. 2, energizes relays 7, 12 and 14, Fig. 1, so that relay 7 closes its contacts 7A-7F to transmit the premium of the first card, which is held in the left hand bank of device A, over lines A1, A2, A4, A6, A8 to solenoids D1, D2, D4, D6, D8 of accumulator D, Fig. 3. All the cams shown in Fig. 2 make one rotation for three machine cycles. In the second cycle, magnet 21, Fig. 1, causes the factors from the second card to go into storage device B and cam 57 energizes relays 8, 10 and 15. Relay 8 closes contacts 8A...8F to transmit the first card interest to counter D and relay 10 closes contacts 10A...10F to transmit the second card premium to counter E. In the third cycle, cams 50 and 58 energize relays 27 and 9, 11, 13. In view of inverter VA, Fig. 1 and Figs. 13, 14 (both not shown), the contacts 9A...9F transmit the complement of the first card dividend to counter D. Contacts 11A...11F transmit the second card interest to counter E and so on. Relay 27 enters the third card factors into storage device C. The inverters VA, VB, VC consist of ladder circuits which give the complement with respect to ten for the units and the complements with respect to nine for the remaining denominations. Each counter D, E, F sets its read out device RD, RE, RF according to the numbers standing on it and the ten lines in cable CD, or CE, or CF, are connected (by energization of the appropriate magnet 35-37, Fig. 8, not shown) through a set of coding circuits T, Fig. 8 (not shown) to the solenoids 75, 176, 177..., Fig. 6, of a printing device as described in the parent case. In the third cycle, the read-out RD is so connected and the nett result of the first card printed, viz. the dividend subtracted from the sum of the premium and the interest. Printing means, Fig. 6. The five hole positions in each card column have singly the values 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 and the printing means has five corresponding solenoids 75, 176, 177, 178, 179, energized as described above, which have cores 75A...79A with varying amounts of travel. Each core 75A &c. is attached to a rod 75B &c. to which are pivoted a pair of slotted links 75C, 75D spaced by a piece 75E which is not attached to the links but is constrained by pins to move left and right, Fig. 6, with the links. The link 75C slides on a pin of a fixed member 182 and the remaining links are interconnected as shown and finally attached to a bar 112 carrying the type 113, whereby according to the combination of solenoids energized the correct differential amount of movement is given to the bar 112 to present the correct type opposite the platen 114. Differential mechanism. Each denomination of the counters D, E, F is actuated by mechanism as just described, Fig. 6, for printing except that the type bar 112 is replaced by a differentially moved rack 38, Fig. 3, which. through wheels 39, 40 connected by a pawl 41, actuates the corresponding read-out device 42, RD. The shaft RSD of the wheels 29 is connected to the wheels 40 by the usual pawl and pick-up groove, Fig. 9 (not shown), for zeroizing purposes.