Patent GB-812093-A (GB)
Title: Automatic booking system
IPC: G06K21/02
Filed: 1956-12-21
Abstract: 812,093. Record-controlled book-keeping systems. STANDARD TELEPHONES & CABLES Ltd. Dec. 21, 1956 [Dec. 23, 1955] No. 39004/56. Class 106 (1). A book-keeping system using magnetic record cards has a magazine for the cards from which the desired card can be selected, sensing means through which the card is automatically passed to sense data on the card, a magnetic recording device for recording new information on the card and means to return the card automatically to the card index. The cards are suspended in the magazine or index 1, Fig. 1, in groups 2 of a hundred cards each. When a card is selected it is conveyed through the apparatus along paths shown by double lines 3. An operator's control station 4 signals a selecting device 5 to select the desired card which then passes a sensing station 6 in which card data is sensed and transmitted to a unit 7 to be processed together with data coming from the control station 4. There may be several control stations such as that shown at 4. Before the unit 7 can operate, a checking device 8 determines that the card from which the data was derived was the wanted card by comparing a designation number on the card with the number set up at the station 4. The card then passes through the recording device 9, where the previous data is erased and replaced by new data derived from the arithmetic unit 7, and through a printing device 10 where the new data is applied to the card in ligible form. The card then returns to the magazine. Card selection.-The cards are magnetically suspended in the magazine by magnetized bars transversely of the cards, the cards having magnetizable riders. When appropriate bars are demagnetized, the desired card will drop. The control station 4 has keys which are operated to de-energize the bars for card selection, a circuit being provided to prevent more than one card being selected at once, by operators at different control stations 4. The selected card is guided by a funnel on to a conveyer belt. Auxiliary data.-This may be set up at the operative control station on a keyboard or it may be fed in by an automatic device similar to a teleprinter. In the first case the data entered may be indicated visually for checking purposes and in the second case the data entered may be printed on a tape for checking. After the data has been checked, the card selection is made and the card passes to the sensing station through which it is fed by rollers. Data from the card passes to an input store 23 and thence it is fed to the arithmetic unit 24 with the auxiliary data and the results are registered in output store 25 ready for transmission to the recording and printing units 9, 10. Recording and printing.-As the card approaches the recording unit 9 it is detected by a photo-cell 26 which initiates the reading out of the contents of the store 25. This data is transferred simultaneously to the recording unit and the printing unit, printing elements being set-up in the latter ready for printing when the card arrives. The recording unit includes a magnetic erasing head removing the old recorded data and a recording head which enters the data as it is read out of store 25. The card is fed through the recording unit by rollers and then returns to the conveyer belt which carries it back to the magazine switches 27 being provided for entering the card in the correct group. Other operations.-Means may be provided whereby a card may be circulated in the system merely for reference. A special key in a control station is pressed for this purpose. The card is then selected as before and passes through the sensing station where its number is checked by the unit 8 as usual and if the card is correct a deflector causes it to pass on to another conveyor which by-passes the recording and printing units. The deflector is automatically restored by passage of the card. The data sensed in the sensing station is exhibited on a visual indicator. The card can be withdrawn from the system by operation of the same deflector, the deflector again being restored by a switch operated by the passage of the card. Provision may also be made by which cards which have become completely filled are withdrawn from the system. If the card is set for printing on its last line, it closes a switch in the printing unit 10 which operates a deflector to displace the card out of the return path to the magazine.