Patent GB-247200-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to record-card-controlled statistical machines
Filed: 1926-02-04
Abstract: 247,200. British Tabulating Machine Co., Ltd., (Assignees of Daly, G. F., and Page, R. E.). Feb. 5, 1925, [Convention date]. Statistical machines.-A statistical machine adapted to accumulate data at one time and to print items (i.e. to " list ") at a different time is provided with a compound-wound motor the series and shunt windings of which are controlled from the " listing " lever of the machine so that the motor runs at a high speed for tabulating and at a slow speed for listing. The cards pass through the machine in groups and means are provided (1) whereby during tabulating of a group the machine runs at slow speed for the first card cycle only to print the group control number, and (2) for printing the totals at the end of such group in line with the group control number. The invention is described as applied to the machine of Specification 216,142 having the automatic control mechanism of Specification 190,144. In circuit with the series field winding 700, Fig. 24a, of the motor TM is a small resistance 702, and in circuit with the shunt winding 701 is a high resistance 703 which may be shunted by contacts RS-1 and Y-1, of which Y-1 is closed when the listing lever 317, Fig. 16, is in the listing position. With the listing lever in tabulating position, starting key 80 is closed and a quick initial flow of current passes through the series field 700, resistance 702, relay 704 (which immediately closes contacts to shunt the resistance 703), card-feed clutch magnet 55, key 80, and contacts 86 to the other side. of line. The motor TM starts at slow speed and contacts RS-1 are closed by the raising of the type-bar crosshead 306, Figs. 3 and 15, shunting resistance 703. Relay 704 only operates under the high initial current flow at starting when the machine is set for tabulating and the contacts Y-1 are open. As soon as this high current has passed relay 704 opens. At the end of the first card cycle, during which the group control number is printed, contacts RS-1 open, and both shunts being thereby broken, theresistance 703 functions in the shunt field circuit and the motor rotates at the high tabulating speed. When the listing lever 317, Fig. 16, is in listing position the contacts Y-1 are closed at all times, shunting the resistance 703 so that the motor runs every card cycle at the slow listing speed. When the starting key 80 is depressed relay 85 attracts its contacts and shunts for the key are closed by cam contacts T-1 and upper card-lever contacts 63. Under certain conditions a third shunt is formed from post 9 through cam contacts T-1 and lower card-lever contacts 64, and line 705 to a commutator 711. When the card group changes automatic totalprinting, resetting, and restarting take place as in Specification 216,142. The commutator 711 is stationary during ordinary tabulating but rotates once per card cycle during printing only and has a contact segment 710 coacting with a brush 709 and alternate contact and 'insulating segments 713. 712, 712a co-operating with brushes 714, 715. Brush 709 leads to contacts T-4, T-S, brush 715 to contacts T-2, T-3, and brush 714 to line 718, contacts P-2, and the listing circuits. Fig. 24b. During tabulating this commutator 711 is stationary in the position shown, and the brush 709 is connected to contacts T-3, T-3, and the circuit 718 is broken. During listing the circuit 717 is broken at the brush 715, except at the D position of the machine, and the left side of contacts T-2, T-3 from the brush bar 58 is connected to brush 709 through contacts T-4, T-5, which make and break once for each perforation index-point. As in Specification 216,142, there are two extra printing banks 1 and 2, but instead of individual circuit-breakers for the magnets 102a there are brushes 720, 724 and commutators 721 with insulating strips 722 upon which the brushes bear when the commutators are stationary during tabulating. In order to print the group control number or to list in any field of the card the appropriate switch 634 is closed across the contacts NL-1 or NL-2 &c., these non-list contacts NL-1 &c. being closed only at total-printing. To present printing a total of the group numbers the appropriate resetting contacts 128 are opened, this preventing operation of the resetting motor RM. Operating clutches. Printing cam control. The construction and operation of the item and total printing mechanism is substantially as described in Specifications 216,142 and 183,867, but instead of the listing lever 316, Fig. 13, moving the roller 310 into and out of engagement with the listing cam 311 this roller is permanently in engagement and the following clutch mechanism is used. Pivoted to the cam 311 is a spring- actuated member 502 having a lug which engages in a notch 501 in a disc 500, Figs. 6 and 7, rigid with the shaft 294 connected to the main drive shaft. The spring 503 is attached to a member 504 having a nose 505 co-acting with a latch 509 pivoted to a lever 508. This lever 508 is fixed to a shaft 510 and has a shoulder 507 co-acting with a tail 506 on the member 502. Fixed to the shaft 510 is an arm 516 carrying a finger 515, and loose on this shaft is a second arm 517 carrying a finger 514 and an arm 518 having a roller 519 which, during tabulating, rests in a notch 520 in the cam 311 and aligns the notch 501 opposite the lug on the member 502. When the manually-operated listing rod 316 is moved to listing position contacts Y-1 and T-2 are closed and the rod 300 is moved down, Fig. 13, and its wedge-shaped end 513, Figs. 3, 6, and 7, separates the fingers 514, 515, rocking shaft 510, and arm 508 counter-clockwise and allowing the clutch member 502 to engage. During tabulating the arm 508 is in the position of Fig. 7 holding the tail 506. Group control number printing. At totalprinting at the end of a " straight " tabulating operation the resetting clutch magnet 233 is energized, Fig. 4, as in Specification 216,142, and the armature 346, 352 lowers a pin 621 on an arm 622 which, being rigid with the shaft 510, rotates the latter counter clockwise. When the machine restarts it is either set for listing, in which case the group control number is printed with the items or the machine is set for tabulating and the clutch parts assume the position shown in Fig. 3, in which case the listing cam makes one rotation for group control number printing and at the end of the revolution the member 502 is tripped and held by the arm 508, the latch 509 preventing back-kick. Line-spacing mechanism.-Normal line-spacing at listing and extra line-spacing at total-printing are provided for disabling the paper feed as follows. When the listing rod 317 is moved to the right, Fig. 8, for listing, a collar 603 bears upon a lug 604 attached to a member 337b, which coacts with a part 337a, on the L-shaped member 337 thereby disengaging the member 337b, but during tabulating the rod is to the left and the member 337b engages the pawl 337a and prevents the paper-feed between printing of the group number and totals at the start and finish respectively of a group of cards. The group number and totals are thereby printed in line with one another.