Patent GB-156322-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for the operation of a receiver with a plurality of separate receiving elements by a transmitter applicable particularly for statistical or tabulating purposes
Filed: 1919-10-03
Abstract: 156,322. Borel, C. Oct. 3, 1919. Compiling and tabulating statistics mechanically.-Relates to the control of apparatus, such as totalizers for registering the data on perforated census cards, or devices for automatically sorting cards in accordance with the perforations therein, in which a large number of elements at the receiving station is controlled electrically over a small number of wires (or the equivalent pneumatic, hydraulic, or mechanical connections). As applied to registering data from perforated cards electrically, each set of receiving-apparatus 74, 75, 76, 77, Fig. 7, comprises one hundred counters, one of which is selected and operated by energizing one of ten magnets 78 controlling vertical members, and one of ten magnets 79 controlling horizontal members. The magnets 78, 79 of each set of apparatus 74, 77 are connected in parallel to the contacts of relay selectors or distributors 84, 85, respectively, the four magnets 81, 82 of which are connected by wires 87 to contacts 49, &c. controlled by the perforated cards. The particular set of apparatus 74 - - 77 to be actuated is selected by magnets 93 which are connected to the contacts of a relay selector 83, the magnets of which are connected to contacts 43 - - 46 controlled by the cards. The principle on which the invention operates is explained with reference to a signalling system in which a receiver B, Fig. 1, having sixteen indicators a<1> - - a<16>, is controlled over five wires by a transmitter A having fifteen transmitting switches x<2> - - x<16> and a switch j directly controlling the indicator a'. The indicators a<1> - - a<16> are selectively operated by the operation of one horizontal rcd 5<1> - - 5<4> and one vertical rod 6<1> - - 6<4> These rods are controlled by magnets d<1> - - d<4>, e<1> - - e<4>, the circuits of which are completed by relays p<1>, p<2>, q', q<2> connected to the line wires v, w, z, 1. The transmitter A comprises similar crossing rods t<1> &c., u<1> &c., and the operation of any switch x<2> - - x<16> moves these bars so as to earth one, or both. or neither of the wires w, y and one, both or neither of the wires z, 1, thereby energizing one or more of the relays p', p<2>, q<1>, q<2>, which prepare circuits for one of the magnets d, and one of the magnets e, which are energized over the common return lead k when the switch j is subsequently closed at the transmitter. One method by which the crossing-bars actuate the indicators is shown in Fig. 4, in which slotted bars 70 pivoted to the vertical rods cooperate with pins 71 on the horizontal rods. As shown, the right-hand vertical rod and the lower horizontal rod are operated to display a signal on the spindle 3. Other constructions are described. The common return lead k, Fig. 1, may be omitted, the circuit of the magnets d, e being completed, after the relays p<1>, p<2>, q<1>, q<2>, have been energized, by a timed switch under control of a relay in series with each of the relays p<1>, p<2>, q<1>, q<2>. When the invention is applied for preparing statistical results from census returns, which are recorded on cards as perforations, each class or category of the return may have one or more lines allotted to it, and there may be four perforatable points in each line. Thus, the perforation of no point or of one or more of these four points may indicate sixteen different entries of which ten only are used. In a class of 999 categories (shown by three lines with four points in each) the units, tens, and hundreds digits are indicated by the three lines of perforations. The arrangement shown in Fig. 7 enables a combined record of, say, age and social status to be obtained from the perforated cards. The category of age embraces 100 groups 1 to 100, and that of social status four groups, single, married, widowed, and divorced. Four counting-mechanism boards 74 - - 77, each with 100 counting mechanisms are thus provided. The transmitting contacts may be divided into groups of four, connected by separate cables to the groups of four, connected by separate cables to the groups of relays 81, 82, 83, the outgoing circuits of which are connected by separate cables. Instead of arranging the selecting magnets on a two-co-ordinate basis, they may be arranged on a three-co-ordinate or cubical basis. The invention may also be used to sort perforated cards into pigeon holes, the covers of which are selectively opened. The covers 150, Figs. 9, 10, are arranged in a row along which the cards pass after traversing contact mechanism controlling the selecting relays and magnets. Each cover 150 is carried on a spring-controlled shaft 151, which has two arms 152, 153 co-operating with levers 154, 155 carrying the armature of two selecting magnets 160, 161. As indicated by Fig. 10 any one of a hundred covers is opened by energizing one of the ten magnets 160 and one of the ten magnets 161.