Patent GB-784712-A (GB)
Title: Device for reading data recorded in a counter or a storage unit
IPC: G06C11/08
Filed: 1954-06-15
Abstract: 784,712. Type-printing telegraphy. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. June 15, 1954 [June 18, 1953], No. 17533/54. Class 40 (3). An arrangement for reading and transferring data registered in one or more counters or storage units in which registration of a digit establishes an electrical connection between a common point and a terminal characteristic of that digit, comprises means adapted to read the various positions of each unit or counter in any preselected sequence to select results registered therein, means for transcribing the results in further storage means and transcription control means utilized to effect the repetition of the sequence of reading operations for each new group of results registered in one or more of the storage units or counters. In the arrangement described the registered data is transcribed in a tape perforated according to the five-unit code. The control tape 1, indicated in Fig. 6, is formed as a loop with central feed holes engaged by a sprocket 32 and passed round the end of one of three semi-cylindrical guides 34 carried by a member 34A adjustably mounted in a support 35. A shaft 11 carrying operating cams cl, c2, c3 is driven from a shaft 10 rotated by a motor 31 by means of a clutch 12 controlled by a magnet 9. The shaft 11 rotates a shaft 18 carrying a cam 19 operating a V-shaped lever 20 carrying a pawl 23 driving a ratchet wheel 24 on the shaft of the sprocket 32. A retaining pawl 26 engages a ratchet 30 on the shaft 29. The operation is initiated by depressing a key 37 which closes a circuit for the magnet 9 over tape-controlled contacts 39 and contacts of a switch 43 which is normally closed, the magnet circuit locking up over contact 9a and effecting step-by-step movement of the tape 1 by the sprocket wheel 32. The tape is stepped until the sequence of holes 46 in combination with a hole 44 in the twelfth position is detected by the brushes 36 associated with the twelve positions on the tape. The simultaneous energization of relays 49, 50, 51 over terminals 52, 53, 54 connected to J1 J2, J3 close contacts 49a, 50a, 51a operating relay 40 which at contact 40a opens the locking circuit of magnet 9 and at contact 40b closes a circuit for relay 45 which at contact 45a closes a holding circuit through winding 45M illuminating a lamp 60 indicating that the control tape is in a position to effect transfer of results set up in the counters. At contact 45b a connection is prepared for the operating magnets 7 of the tape perforator. The digits are registered in the counters U, V, W in one or more of twelve positions by the connection of a common connector member C1 . . .C12 and one of the conductors p0 ... p9 corresponding to the ten digits. The positions to be sensed are selected by terminals U1 . . . U12, V1 . . . V12, W1 . ., W12 connected via sockets J1 . . . J12 to the brushes 36 associated with the twelve positions in which perforations can occur on the tape 1. The controlling perforations 62 for the counter U occur in positions 2, 3 and relays 50, 51 operate when contact C3 closes. At contacts 50d, 51d relay 58 operates to prevent the punches being operated at this stage. At contacts 50c, 51b relay 55 operates and at contact 55a switches over armatures 55a ... 55j so that for subsequent steps of the control tape 1 connections corresponding to the digits in the positions selected by the perforations are passed over corresponding conductors f0 ... f9 to a decoding device 61 which effects selective energization of the five magnets 7 producing the five-unit code appropriate to the digit represented by the incoming conductor f0 ... f9. Since only one of the relays 47 ... 51 can be energized, relay 58 de-energizes and closes contact 58a. For the counter V, control perforations appear in the first and third positions energizing relays 49, 51 operating relay 56 which over armatures 56a . . . 56j connects the digit conductors for the positions selected by the control tape 1. The relay 58 is again operated by the operation of relays 49, 51 in response to the selection pulses to prevent punching of the tape at this stage, but is de-energized when the control tape is stepped and senses the single perforations corresponding to the digits to be transferred to the punched tape. The three perforations 64 followed by perforations in the second and third positions will again select the counter U, and after the five digits of the number n4 have been dealt with, perforations in the first and second positions will select the counter W.