Patent GB-801647-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in automatic information transmission
IPC: G06Q10/00
Filed: 1956-12-27
Abstract: 801,647. Statistical apparatus. STROMBERG TIME CORPORATION. Dec. 27, 1956 [Dec. 29, 1955], No. 39312/56. Class 106 (1). [Also in Group XXXVIII] Apparatus for transmitting data in coded form from a plurality of remote transmitting stations to a central receiving station comprises means at each transmitting station for transmitting a " start " signal, means at the receiving station responsive to the start signal for selecting the appropriate transmitting station and for sending a " transmit " signal from the receiving station to the selected transmitting station, means at each transmitting station responsive to a transmit signal for transmitting to the receiving station coded signals from the scanning of data bearing means. As shown in Fig. 1, a number of transmitting units 10 are connected to a receiver unit 11 which is itself connected to a data store 12 controlling a punch 13 adapted to punch the data on a tape 14. This tape may afterwards be used as input to a computer. The transmitters each comprise a scanning section which reads information from selectable, preformed, coded data bearing cards 16, 17, and a control section having manually adjustable controls mounted on the front face of the panel in the form of rotary type variable data switches, a rotary " mode " selector switch and a start button. The receiving unit 11 comprises a switching mechanism having a search stepper section 20, a start section 21 and a code distributer section 22. There is also a time clock scanner 23 and a coder 24 which provide a coded representation of the time at which the transmitted data was received. Sections 22 and 24 feed data through an output unit 25 to the store 12. The scanner section of the transmitter consists of an insulated board 19, Fig. 3, having an array of contacts adapted to be passed over by a brush unit 18 having a brush corresponding to each row of contacts. The board 19 has slots to receive the cards 16, 17 which may be of metal having a data bearing portion of punched paper or plastic. The coded contacts are grouped in data groups as follows: the first three rows are permanently earthed and represent the number of the transmitting unit, the next two represent data such as an increase or decrease of stock due to the transaction recorded and the right-hand five columns are individually connected to the manually set variable data switches 181 to 185, Fig. 2. The " mode " switch 30 has three separate levels 62, 161, 160 each having six positions. Switch 62 determines whether a full or a short scan is made, the brushes 18 in the latter case being caused to traverse only part of the board 19. Switch 160 determines whether the manuallyset data switches are to be energized or not, and switch 161 determines whether the transaction transmitted constitutes an increase of stock, giving a signal on " IN " line 162 or a decrease of stock giving a signal or " OUT " line 164. If the mode switch is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the operation is as follows:- The start button energizes a self-holding relay R-1 which closes contacts 1.2 to connect line 41 to earth. This line is connected to the search stepper section 20 of the receiver 11. As shown in Fig. 4, this connects stepping switch solenoid SS-1 to earth through a rectifier 42 thereby operating the stepping switch which steps through the seven positions until contact 44 reaches the line 41 providing the earth signal (in this case it is the first position). The relay R-4 then picks up and opens contact 4.1 to stop the stepping and the receiver is made unresponsive to start signals from other transmitters. Stepping switch solenoid SS-2 is also energized at the same time as relay R-4 and switch arm 52 steps round contacts 53, 54, 55, 56. The first three contacts provide a coded time signal to be generated and the last contact energizes a relay R-5 which through contact 5.1 applied voltage to line 59 so that relay R-2, Fig. 2, is energized through contact arm 45 and line 60. This is the " transmit " signal referred to above, sent from the receiver to the transmitter. Relay contacts 2.1 then close to energize scanning motor 61 driving the brushes over the board 19. The motor is de-energized by a limit switch LS-2 at the extreme end of the board 19. With mode switch 30 in other positions the scanning motor is stopped by the opening of an intermediate limit switch LS-3 giving a short scan. As soon as the transmission is finished a " transmitting " light L goes out and the transmitter is disconnected from the receiver. The cards 16 and 17 may then be withdrawn. The variable data switches which are operative in the indicated position of the mode switch 30 are connected to earth through arm of switch 160. Each contact of each switch is connected via an individual line shown collectively at 191 to one of the contacts in the five end coloumns of the board 19 and are scanned in turn by the five brushes 18. The brushes 18 are connected by five lines 71-75 to corresponding contacts of five stepping switches 46-50 in the distributer section 22, these switches being driven with the selector switches 44, 45 to select the contacts corresponding to the operative transmitter. The transmitted signals on lines 76-80 being passed by the output unit 25, Fig. 4A to the datastore 12. Time indicating code generator.-A coder 24, Fig. 4A comprises a timing pulse source 101 connected to a stepping switch solenoid SS-3 so as to step the switch to the next position at regular intervals, e.g. each minute. There are six levels 105-110 each having ten contacts. The upper five levels have contact arms 111 connected to the five output lines 76-80 and the lowermost level has a contact connected to the stepping solenoid SS-4 of another stepping switch likewise having six levels, five connected to the lines 76-80 and the sixth to the stepping solenoid SS-5 of a third switch having five levels connected to the five lines 76-80. The first stepping switch having ten contacts indicates the units of minutes, the contacts of each level being connected in a code combination to an input line 53. The second switch indicates the tens of minutes, there being six contacts in each level connected in code combinations to line 54 and the third switch having twenty-four contacts represents the hour of day, combinations of the contacts being connected together and to line 55. These three lines 54, 55, 56 are scanned by the contact arm 52, Fig. 4, which under the influence of stepping switch solenoid SS-2 connects them in turn to earth so that signals are passed in turn from each switch to the lines 76-80.