Patent GB-399873-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to statistical apparatus
Filed: 1932-04-15
Abstract: 399,873. Statistical apparatus. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd., Victoria House, Vernon Place, Southampton Row, London. April 15, 1932, No. 10868. Convention date, April 17, 1931, Addition to 391,210. [Class 106 (i).] Totals, printing.-The parent Specification relates to statistical apparatus in which a master machine transmits data simultaneously to a slave machine ; for this impulses are generated at the slave machine (emitter 137, Fig. 18 of the parent Specification) and transmitted to the master (commutators 20, Fig. 19 of the parent Specification), from which the appropriate impulses are selected and retransmitted to the slave (plugs 138, 139 for punch selector magnets). The slave machine illustrated in the parent Specification is a punching machine to which card-group totals are transmitted from the master, so that the slave produces record-cards punched with the totals. According to the present invention the slave machine includes a counter to which are transmitted totals from a counter in the master machine. Means are further provided for retransmitting the totals in the slave to the recording mechanism of the master machine so that these totals are recorded. The totals in the master counter are progressive totals and those in the slave counter are grand totals. Figs. 7a and 7b form the wiring diagram of the slave machine and Figs. 7c and 7d form the diagram of the master machine for dealing with credit and debit cards. A debit card has an " 11 " hole in column K, Fig. 8. In any card, the amount is punched in one field and the complement thereof in another field. A credit amount is entered in counters Nos. 2 and 4 and its complement into counter No. 5, all in the master machine, Figs. 7c and 7d. For a debit card, the amount is entered in counters Nos. 3 and 5 and the complement into counter No. 4. The apparatus is arranged for major and minor group control, the account number being the major designation and the date being the minor designation. When the date changes the apparatus selects whichever counter No. 4 or 5 contains a true balance and transmits this total to counter A (credit) or counter B (debit) in the slave machine, Figs. 7a and 7b. Assuming counter No. 4 is thus selected (credit), the totals from counters Nos. 4 and 2 are printed in the master machine and counters Nos. 1 and 2 are reset. When the account number changes the grand totals which have accumulated on counters A and B (slave) are transmitted to the master and printed ; and the counters of both machines are zeroized. Instead of the complement of each amount being punched in a separate field of each card, the amount only may be perforated and the complement derived by the use of translating mechanism. The master is a tabulating machine which is similar -except for total-taking and automatic control mechanisms-to that described in Specification 247,200, [Class 106 (i), Calculating &c.]; the cards passing upper and lower brushes UB, LB. At the lower brushes the amounts read from the cards are entered by counter magnets 12 which close contacts 13 for printer magnets 14 which print the items. The counter wheels are geared to brushes 24, Fig. 7d, which rest on segments 23 corresponding to the amounts registered by the wheels as in Specification 356,304. In each of the counters 4, 5, A and B the common segments 23 are wired together by lines 27 as shown. Total-taking is effected by total cams 18 and contacts 19, Fig. 7c, in the known manner ; and the total is read out to the printing mechanism as in Specification 356,304. The brush structures 24 also serve as controlling means whereby a total may be transmitted from master to slave. The motor SM, Fig. 7a, which drives the counters A and B also drives a shaft 50, Fig. 6, through a halfrevolution clutch, similar to that shown in Specification 190,144, [Class 106 (i), Calculating &c.], (Figs. 19 and 20), controlled by a magnet 54. Shaft 51 makes one revolution to shaft 50's half rotation and drives two brushes 55 over contacts 57 of emitters 56 associated with counters A and B, Fig. 7b. Contacts 57 are wired as shown to lines 27 of counters A, B and, through lines 58, to lines 27 of counters 4, 5. During total-transmitting operations, the emitters 56 send timed impulses through segments 23 of counters 4, 5 to transmit the totals therein to counters A, B. For total printing, emitters 71, 72, Fig. 7d, are actuated synchronously with the rise of the type bars. Each brush 71, which is mounted on the total shaft of the machine, makes one revolution during total printing and during the first half moves over the segments 72. The emitters 56 and 70 are never in operation at the same time. Circuit changing contacts 73, 74 in counters 4, 5, Fig. 7d, are actuated by magnets 81-4 and 81-5. Contacts 87 in the slave machine, Fig. 7b, are operated by magnets 81-A and 81-B. This mechanism also interacts with the resetting shafts of the master and slave machines. Adding and subtracting.-The lower brushes LB, reading the card field which contains the true amounts (credit or debit), are connected by wires 93 to contacts 91, as shown in Fig. 7c; and the lower brushes reading the card field bearing the complements are similarly connected to contacts 91a. Contacts 91, 91a are plugged as shown to counters 2 .. 5 so that if a credit amount is read, the amount is added to counters 2 and 4 and the complement to counter 5. If the card is a debit card, the special " 11 " hole (Fig. 8) energizes a relay 92, which reverses the contacts 91, 91a so that the debit amount goes to counters 3 and 5 and the complement to counter 4. Relay 92 is energized, when an upper brush reads the " 11 " hole, over a circuit UB, Fig. 7c, 105, 107 (closed momentarily when the " 11 " hole positions are read), 92, 109, 100. Major and minor group control. Contacts 112, Fig 7c, are closed individually by the energization of associated control magnets 111 which are each plugged in series 'between any brush UB and the corresponding brush LB so as to give group control on a particular card column or columns ; according to the number of contacts 112 which are included in the control circuit by plug holes 113 and plug wires. In the present case, the contacts are arranged in series for major control (account number) and minor control (date). The major and minor circuits include major and minor control coils 117, 118 respectively. At a minor group change the coil 118 is de-energized, while at a major group change both coils 117, 118 are de-energized; and contacts 118a or 117a and 118a are closed to energize the coils 122, 123, 124, 121, 126. Coil 122 breaks the tabulating motor TM crrcuit. Coil 123 maintains the reset motor RM in operation. When either group changes, the slave machine receives the totals from the master, and in turn causes resetting operation in the master, during which various contacts are closed to restart the master on a new tabulation. Energization of coil 121 at a group change closes a circuit which energizes the clutch magnet 54, Fig. 7a, which drives the emitter brushes 55, Figs. 6 and 7b, in counters A, B. Assuming counter A is receiving a true credit balance from counter No. 4, the emitter of counter A revolves and circuits are established through 147a-A, 55, 57, 58, 27 (counter 4), 23, 26, 74, 76, and counter magnets 12 of counter A. To decide, however, which counter No. 4 or 5 contains the true balance, the impulse emitters 70, Fig. 7d, have each a special segment 72a on which the brush 71 rests when the emitter is idle. If the counter (say counter No. 4) holds a true number its higher wheels stand at zero ; but the other counter (No. 5) will stand at " 9 " since it holds a complement, so that its higher brushes 24 close a circuit 103, 143, 71 (Counter No. 5), 144, 178, " 9 " segment counter 5, 26, 145, 146, magnet 147B, Fig. 7b, 148, 126a, 100. Contacts 126a are closed by coil 126, Fig. 7c. Magnet 147B opens contacts 147 a-B, Fig. 7b, to prevent the counter B receiving a total from counter No. 5. Hence contacts 147a-A are left closed and when emitter 155 revolves, the total is transferred. For the reverse conditions of counters 4-5, contacts 147a-A are opened by magnet 147A and contacts 147a-B remain closed. Total-printing.-At the end of the abovedescribed total-transmitting operations, contacts SL 2 close in the slave machine to complete a circuit 103, Fig. 7c, reset motor RM, reset clutch magnet 137, 138, 139, SL2, 140, 123b (closed by coil 123 at a group change), 141, 14L, P3, 100. This results in resetting and in printing the true balance on counter No. 4 or 5. It is necessary, however, to select the correct counter to avoid printing the complement of the balance. At a minor change, magnet 120, Fig. 7c, is de-energized and its contacts 120a, 120b move to the position shown in Fig. 7d. Segments 72a are again used and a magnet 81-4 or 81-5 is energized according as counter No. 4 or 5 respectively, holds the true balance. Magnet 81-4 (or 81-5) opens contacts 74 and closes contacts 73 in counter No. 4 (or 5). The segments 23 and brushes 24 of counter No. 4 (or 5) are thus connected to the printer magnets 14 for total-printing; emitter 71 rotates and total-printing and resetting of counter 4 (or 5) occurs. During this time the totals are printed from counters No. 2, 3 of the master under control of cams 18 and contacts 19, Fig. 7c, in known manner. Magnets 155 control the resetting of counters 4, 5. If a minor group change has occurred, the master then resumes tabulating on the next group ; but if a major group changes, both coils 117, 118, Fig. 7c, are de-energized and after the total and reset cycle described above, the master commences a second cycle (contacts 117a still being closed) during which the totals in counters A, B are transmitted to the master machine for printing and the entire apparatus is then reset. During this second cycle, magnets 81-A, 81-B are energized, Fig.