Patent GB-409371-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to record-card controlled calculating machines
IPC: G06F7/46
Filed: 1932-10-31
Abstract: 409,371. Statistical machines. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd., Victoria House, Vernon Place, Southampton Row, London. Oct. 31, 1932, No. 30591. Convention date, Nov. 27,1931. [Class 106 (i).] Adding and subtracting.-Relates to a recordcard-controlled statistical machine of the type in which a plurality of amounts are read off a card and entered into separate registers simultaneously, and having means for computing the amounts and mechanism for punching the result in the card bearing the amounts. According to the invention a machine of this type has an accumulator CS and means for connecting each register C1. C2. in turn to the accumulator so that the amounts are summed, and thereafter connecting the accumulator to the mechanism which punches the result in the card. For subtraction, one or more of the registers may be so connected to the accumulator as to add the complement of the amount in the register. The machine illustrated is an adaptation of the multiplying machine of Specification 398,851, adding mechanism replacing the prior multiplying mechanism. Registers C1, C2 and accumulator CS are all similar to the usual statistical counters controlled by denominational counter magnets. Each card is fed from stack 67, Fig. 1, is read by brushes 77, and passes to position R from whence the device 75 removes it to the tray of the punching mechanism. The latter feeds the card to the left until the first (highest) column of a field, selected to receive the result, is beneath the punches 200 controlled by the punch-selector magnets 204. Whilst the card is passing from brushes 77 to punches 200, the summation of the amounts is effected. Actual punching is effected by punch-actuating magnet 205, Fig. 4 ; the card escaping column by column to the left as the punching proceeds. Finally the card is engaged and swung over, 180‹, into discharge tray 243, by ejector 142. A main shaft, continuously driven by motor M, Fig. 3, drives at five times its own speed a wheel 86, Fig. 1 on a shaft driving the counters C1, C2, C5. Wheels 58, 59 are loose on the main shaft to which they may be coupled by a one revolution clutch-clutch magnet 117, Fig. 3. Wheel 59 is mutilated and when clutched, it drives a wheel 83 (through train 81) on reset shaft 84 one revolution during the first onefifth revolution of wheel 59. Wheel 58 drives the card-feed devices as in the prior Specification. A wheel 88 on the counter shaft drives a wheel 89 (in a one to one ratio) on a shaft 90 carrying the brushes of the emitters 91, 92, 93, so that these brushes rotate synchronously with the adding cycle of accumulator CS. Circuit diagram.-With switch 111, Fig. 3, closed the motor M rotates. Start key 112 is closed, a holding circuit 250, 79 is formed to cut out these key contacts, and the circuit 115, 116, 117 energizes the clutch magnet 117. Contacts 115 are closed if there is no card in position R, Fig. 1, to prevent a card jam. Contacts 116 are closed by device 142, Fig. 1, when a card is ejected and remain closed until the next card reaches the punches 200. Magnet 117 effects the rotation of shaft 84 to reset the counters C1, C2, CS. A card-feed cycle corresponds to three adding cycles ; (1) during the first of the latter a card moves from stack 67 ; (2) during the second the amounts are read concurrently at brushes 77 and entered into counters C1, C2, CS, the entering circuit being from line 110 through contacts F6, F7, 80, a card hole, brush 77, 119 (or 120 or 121), a counter magnet 106 C-1 for register C1 (or 106 C-2, 106 C-S for register C2 or accumulator CS), and contacts 106a to earth. The denominational magnets 106 C-1 enter the amount into register C1. By the plug connections 119, 120, 121 any three fields of the card may be selectively connected to the registers C1, C2, CS; (3) during the third adding cycle the card is transferred by device 75 to the punching machine. Contacts 115 open to de-energize clutch magnet 117 and contacts F3, 135 energize a magnet 175 which couples the card-feed of the punching mechanism to the motor M, whereby the card is fed from position R to punches 200. Adding circuits.-To add the amounts in registers C1, C2 to the amount already in the accumulator CS, the switches 124 and 126 are adjusted on to their A contacts and lines 119 are so connected that the units digit of an amount is entered into the tens denomination of register C1 and so on : the units denomination of the register (right hand end) being unconnected. During the above third adding cycle, contacts F4 close and relay 128 closes contacts 128C. At the same time a circuit is completed to the brush of emitter 93 so that the amount in register C2 is added over lines 127 into the accumulator CS. The reading-out devices comprising commutators 100 are of the kind described in Specification 356,304. Subsequently, contacts F1 close, relay 123 closes contacts 123c, and emitter 91 with commutators 100a .... 100d add the amount in register C1 into the accumulator CS over lines 127. Total-taking.-Punching operation. At the end of the fifth adding cycle, contacts F5, Fig. 4, close and relay PC1 closes its contacts PC1 whilst relay PC3 closes a holding circuit for contacts F2 which close shortly after contacts F5. The card movement in the punching mechanism is controlled by a skip bar as in Specification 398,851. When the card is positioned at punches 200, this skip bar closes contacts 199. Contacts 199 and PC1 thus close a circuit to a circuit changing device 211, in which a brush 214 moved with the card connects contact spots 212 in turn to the common bar 213. Spots 212 are connected by plug connections 216 to the commutators 100 of accumulator CS which are connected in turn to punch selector magnets 204. The brushes of commutators 100 are positioned according to the total on counter CS, so that as the card advances step by step past punches 200, each denomination of counter CS (highest denomination first) is connected in turn by brush 214 to magnets 204, the appropriate one of which selects the punch for actuation by magnet 205. When a magnet 204 is energized it closes contacts 209 to energize magnet 205. Subtracting-circuits. To subtract the amount in register C1 from the total in accumulator CS, the switches 124, 126 are adjusted to their S contacts, and wires 119 are so connected that the digits are entered into the units, tens, and hundreds denomination, but not into the thousands denomination. The circuit through switch 124 now lies through emitter 92. The spot of emitter 91 which is alive at the nine time is connected to the spot in emitter 92 which is alive at the nought time and so on; so that the emitter 92 now transmits to the counter CS, over lines 127, the complement of the amount in register C1. Fugitive one arrangements.-In the units, to get the true complement with respect to ten, the spots " 9," " 8," &c. of the units commutator 100a are connected to the spots " 1," " 2," &c. of the emitter 92. There may be as many registers C1, C2 &c. as desired, and all of them may be adapted for subtraction as well as addition, the gearing of the machine being modified to give the necessary number of adding cycles during a complete cycle of the machine.