Patent GB-126308-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Machines for Automatically Compiling, Recording, and Reckoning Statistics by Means of Shaped or Perforated Cards.
Inventor: LASKER WILLIAM WALTER
Filed: 1919-05-01
Abstract: 126,308. Lasker, W. W. May 1, 1918, [Convention date]. Compiling and tabulating statistics mechanically.-In power-driven machines for compiling, recording, and reckoning statistics, the mechanism for analyzing the perforated record cards comprises a pair of perforated plates between which the cards are successively held and a reciprocatory pin-box in which a plurality of selecting pins are yieldably mounted, so that on the forward movement of the pin-box those pins which pass through perforations actuate mechanism for controlling the adding and printing mechanisms. The selecting pins which pass through perforations on the said movement of the pin-box are adapted to be positively locked to the pin-box by means of bars therein in such a manner that the relative movement of the bars to the pin-box is prevented. Means are also described for stopping the machine when the card magazine is empty or receiving table for cards is full, for permitting the control of any zone of the adding and printing mechanism by any section of the perforated cards. The perforated record cards are placed on guides 18, Fig. 2, and a follower plate 30 presses the cards against a block 21 reciprocated by means of levers 41, 50 and 52 from the cam-shaft 59, so that the cards are passed through a slot and guided between perforated plates 71, 72, Fig. 9. The card is retained by a gate 87 reciprocated by connexions with side supports 90 to allow the card to pass between rollers to a receiving table 115 slidable on a guide-rod 118, and on which the cards are held by a stopplate 124 and roller 125. The selecting-pin box arranged behind the plate 71 has a series of pins 185 and bars 174 corresponding with the perforations of the plate 71 and guide-plates 140 - - 142 therefor, and is reciprocated by the engagement of side members with levers 149, 150, Fig. 2, and a cam on the shaft 59. The pins which pass through the perforations in the card are positively locked by a locking-plate 188, Fig. 9, having slots to permit vertical movement of the bars 174 when the locking-plate is raised, and to hold a notch 177 of any forwardly disposed bar when the plate is lowered. Any bars which remain stationary when the guide-plates and locking-plate move forwardly relatively thereto are brought into a position in which the reduced portion 181 prevents them being locked. The movement of the locking-plate is effected by a pin 192 engaging a cam slot 193 in side plates 194. The locked pins act upon stop-pins 203 and extension pins 210, the former being retained in set position by a latch-plate 216. Through the side supports 90, operated by the levers 50, 52, the terminal pins 270 are acted upon by the stoppins 203 and cause the terminal pins 272, 273 to be projected so as to set, through cables 275, the differential stop-pins of the calculating mechanism as described in Specification 149,286. The guide-plates which carry the terminal pins are detachably mounted on their supporting bars so that a zone of pins 272 may be detached and reattached at a different part of the supporting bar to register with any zone of the pins 273. When the first card of a group has been fed into the machine the latch-plate 216 raises a finger 224 which has been set by a lever 222, associated with the zone of the cards and representing the designation or group, and therebv rocks the lever 296 and moves the ratchet bar 281 from the position shown in Fig. 16 to the position shown in Fig. 18. When the lever 296 is again rocked by the first card of a new group, the lip 286 of the ratchetbar 281 is forced against the terminal pin 312 communicating through a cable 314 with the total-taking mechanism, and through the cable 315 with mechanism to suspend feeding of cards and prevent actuation during taking of a total. Instead of the above-described mechanism for taking totals, total-taking cards may be provided; for this purpose, a pin 365 slidable on the pinbox, Fig. U, is adapted to pass through the perforation in a total card and to act upon a lever 368 to depress a support 370, Fig. 2, until a plunger 371 thereon is opposite a terminal pin 372 of a cable 373 for the total-taking mechanism. The plunger is actuated by a cam on the camshaft 59. The cable 315 when operated releases a latch and permits a projection thereon to engage behind a projection on the lever 49 when the lever is in its forward position. A rearward movement of the lever draws a sliding bar, to which the latch is pivoted rearwardly, whereupon a cam face on the sliding bar rocks a locking pawl so that a shoulder thereon engages behind a pivot point on the lever 50 and holds the lever against reciprocatory movement to prevent feeding of the cards. The latch is raised to release the sliding bar by means of a lever and cam on the shaft 59. The machine is driven bv an electric motor through a suitable clutch mechanism such as described in Specification 149,285, [Class 106 (i), Calculating &c.], in driving relation with the cam shaft 59. When the maximum number of cards has been fed through the machine, the receiving table 115 is sufficiently depressed to operate the cable 448 to release a latch and thereby throw out the clutch. If the card magazine is empty, a block 472, Fig. 7, on a spring-controlled plunger mounted on the block 21 is brought under the head 474 of a lever 475 which is rocked upon the upward movement of the block 21 to operate the cable 479 and thereby effect the declutching of the motor. The motor is stopped by means of the flexible connexion communicating with the said latch lever and the motor-circuit-switch.