Improvements in Machines for Compiling or Tabulating Statistics
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 20th Oct., 1894
Improvements in Machines for Compiling or Tabulating Statistics.
A communication from HERMAN HOLLERITH, of 1360, E. Street, Central Power
Station, Washington, D.C., United States of America, Electrician.
I. ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
My correspondent has hitherto invented and patented in numerous countries
certain improvements in the art of compiling statistics, involving, among other
things, the use of record cards or strips having perforations punched in each to
represent the items or characteristics of the individual or subject designated by
that particular card or strip, an electric circuit closing device consisting of a bed
plate provided with a series of contacts forming the terminals of a system of electric
circuits and a reciprocating platen carrying a series of spring contact points or pins
corresponding in number and arrangement to the contacts in the bed plate and
adapted to pass through the perforations in the cards or strips registering with
them and to make connection with the bed plate contacts, a series of electro-
mechanical counters and a series of electro-mechanically operated sorting boxes
connected to the aforesaid system of electric circuits and adapted to count and to
facilitate the distribution of the cards acted upon by the circuit closing device.
The object of the present invention is to provide for the substitution in whole or
in part of pneumatic or other fluid pressure devices for electrical devices previously
invented by me.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:
Figure represents a perspective view of the principal parts of the outfit or
apparatus, that is to say, it shows the air reservoir and compresser, the perforated
record cards, the press, so-called, in which the cards are placed, and with which
they co-operate, the counters and the sorting boxes.
Figure 2 is a plan of the press.
Figure 3 is a sectional view of the same, taken on the line x-x, Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a plan view of one of the cards.
Figure 5 is a detail view of one of the counters showing the manner in which it
is operated.
Figure 6 is a detail view showing the manner in which the sorting boxes are
operated.
Figure 7 is a view illustrating the use of relay valves in the system.
Figure 8 is a detail sectional view of one of the relay valves.
Figure 9 is a view of a modification of the platen.
Figure 10 represents a side elevation (partly in section) of another form of my
apparatus.
Figure 11 a top plan view of the movable platen thereof.
Figure 12 a front elevation of the same.
Figure 13 is a top plan view of the bed plate.
Figure 14 is a plan view of one of the record cards; and
Figures 15, 16 and 17 are respectively a side elevation ;
top plan view and a
cross sectional view of a multiple contact device.
Figure 18 is a view of a modification in which a number of circuit closers are
operated from a single air tube.
Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.

page_text: The letter A indicates one of the record cards. It is preferably made of paper
and has one of its surfaces divided or marked off into spaces a, as shown, each space
indicating some statistical item which the card may be used to record.
B indicates the bed plate and C the movable platen of what I term the "press."
The bed plate is provided with apertures 6 corresponding in number and position
to the spaces designated on the record card, and adapted to register, when the card
is placed in position upon said bed plate, with as many perforations as may be
punched in said spaces.
The movable platen C is about of the same dimensions horizontally as the bed
plate B. An air chamber or space c is formed in it and from this space extend a
series of apertures or passages c' corresponding in number and position to the
apertures b in the bed plate B. Instead of being provided with this space c, the
platen may be provided with an open or recessed face adapted to make contact at
its edges only, as shown in Figure 9. The stem c² of the platen is provided with a
duct or passage c leading to the chamber c, with a valve chamber c containing a
valve and with a nipple for the attachment of a tube T' (preferably a flexible
wire covered rubber tube) that is connected at its other end to a compressed air
reservoir D, in which pressure is constantly maintained by means of an air pump E,
or equivalent means.
For the purpose of ensuring the even descent of the platen upon the bed plate it
is preferably mounted upon swinging parallel links F, G, as shown, one of said
links F, being provided at one end with an operating handle F1 and at the opposite
end with a counter spring F2 whose tendency is to keep the platen normally
elevated.
The valve seats downward and its stem c' extends out through a gland or
stuffing box c in position to strike a stop H, when the platen is fully depressed.
I preferably make this stop adjustable, as shown, in order that it may be made to
operate upon the valve just at the proper time.
Where it is desired to merely count the various statistical items recorded by
punchings in the record cards, those apertures in the bed plate which it is known
from the subject matter treated will not be required to be used, are closed by means
of solid conical plugs I, shown in Figure 3, while in each of such apertures as are
to be used is mounted a hollow plug J which is connected by a flexible rubber
tube to a suitable translating device actuated by pressure admitted to said tube
and in turn operating a suitable mechanical counter, an example of such a
translating device so operating being a cylinder K containing a piston L which is
adapted to operate the prime mover M of a mechanical counter N.
The apparatus being ready for operation, each record card is in turn placed upon
the bed plate and properly centered by suitable guides and stops attached to the
latter, after which the movable platen is brought down by means of the handle so
as to confine the card between the platen and the bed plate and bring the
corresponding apertures in said parts in alignment with each other and with the
perforations in the card. By the time close contact is made between the card and
the surfaces between which it is clamped, the stem of the valve strikes the stop H
and the valve is opened, thus permitting the compressed air to fill the space or
chamber in the platen and rush out through the aligned apertures or channels and
into the tubes J¹ and cause the pistons in the piston cylinders to be driven forward
and advance the counters one point. The lifting of the platen again will cause the
valve to close by the pressure of the air, aided if need be by a small spring N', and
the pistons in the piston cylinders will be brought back to first position by the
stress of suitable springs s applied to the prime movers of the counters, as will be
readily understood.
66
Where it is desired to not only count the various statistical items recorded on the
cards, but to also sort the cards into groups, for instance into "native" and
"foreign," it is only necessary that for each perforation in the record cards
representing one of the groups or divisions there shall be inserted in the
corresponding aperture in the bed plate a hollow plug having connected to it a

page_text: Dating the piston cynout o
Figure 6.
The piston of this piston cylinder is provided with a slotted or forked stem O in
which rests a pin O' projecting from a pivoted weighted catch 02, that is designed
to engage with an arm 03 of a shaft O' which carries the lid Os of one of the
sorting boxes and has connected to it a spring O' which tends to turn the shaft and
throw open the lid.
When the piston is driven outwardly by the force of the air pressure, it turns the
catch 02, releases the arm and permits the spring to raise the lid and open the box,
and then when the operator takes the record card from the press, he slips it into the
open sorting box and closes the lid, thereof leaving the apparatus in condition for
dealing with the next card.
The automatic raising of the sorting box lid in the manner described, not only
renders that particular box accessible, but acting also as an indicator serves to
apprise the operator that the apparatus is in proper working condition, and should
at any time a lid fail to rise upon the operation of the press, it would at once denote
that the record card had not been properly introduced or been properly centered,
or that some other part of the apparatus was out of order.
That there may be perfect contact between the record card and the platen and
bed plate of the press and consequently no escape of air around the edge of the
card, nor through apertures in the press that are not in alignment with the
perforations of the card, I preferably face the platen with soft rubber as shown
at U, in Figure 3, and bevel the portions of the rubber between the apertures as
shown, in order that when put under compression they will not by lateral displace-
ment obstruct the free passage of the air.
Of course the faces of the platen and bed plate might be made so true and caused
to approach so accurately as to obviate the possibility of any material escape of air,
but I prefer to employ the soft rubber facing as it does not require such a nice
construction and adjustment of the parts. The bed plate may also be faced with
soft rubber, if desired, but the facing of the platen only will generally be found to
be sufficient. Where the modified form of platen shown in Figure 9 at W¹ is
employed its contacting edge is also preferably faced with soft rubber as at W.
It is obvious that where it is desired to count or distribute or to both count and
distribute, the cards in accordance with the combination of perforations in the
cards indicating but a single statistical item as "white-male" for instance, a
system of relays may be used.
The principle involved in such an arrangement is of course that of requiring the
concurrent or simultaneous action of all the mechanism controlled by the index
points or perforations of the card embraced in the combination, in order to cause
the actuation of the counter or sorting box, or both, designed to be affected by such
particular combination. This will be fully understood by reference to Figure 7,
wherein B represents the bed plate of the press; R an air tube corresponding
to the perforation designating "male in the record card, R¹ an air tube
corresponding to the perforation designating "white" in said card; N is a
counter adapted to be actuated by the piston of a piston cylinder connected to the
end of the tube R; R³ a normally closed valve constructed as shown in Figure 8,
interposed in the tube R; R is a piston cylinder connected to the tube Ŕ¹ and
having its piston R³ connected to the operating lever of valve R³.
It will be seen that unless the pressure is admitted to both tubes R and R'
concurrently, the counter will not be operated, for if pressure is admitted to
the tube R only, the valve R³ checks its progress, while on the other hand, if
pressure be admitted to the tube R alone, the valve R³ will be opened, but
vainly, as there is no pressure in the tube R to operate the counter.
After the cards have been thus sorted by combinations into groups the cards
constituting each group may be sorted into still further subdivisions or groups by
passing them again through the apparatus, as will be readily understood.

page_text: An embodiment of this invention which combines the use of fluid pressure
devices with electrical devices is shown in Figures 10 to 18 inclusive.
The letter A indicates one of the record cards, the same being made preferably
of paper and divided or marked off into spaces a*, as shown, each space indicating
some statistical item, which may appertain to the person or subject of which
the card is the exponent.
66
B* indicates the bed plate and C* the movable platen of what is termed the
press." The bed plate is provided with ducts or passages * and the platen
with ducts or passages cl*, corresponding in number and position to the spaces
designated on the record card and adapted to register, when the card is placed
in position upon said bed plate, with as many perforations as may be punched in
said card spaces.
To aid the operator in properly positioning the cards upon the bed plate the
latter is provided with stops or projections S*, (see Figure 13) so located that
when the rear edge and the left hand end or edge of the card are brought up
against them the holes in the card will properly register with the appropriate
corresponding ducts or passages in the platen and bed plate respectively and thus
ensure the proper working of the machine.
The ducts or passages, in the platen all communicate with a common air
chamber c*, which in turn communicates, through a passage c*, valve-chamber c
and flexible tube T₁*, with a reservoir D* in which a supply of compressed air is
constantly maintained.
The platen is preferably swung upon links F* G* to ensure its even descent upon
the bed plate and the outer end of the link F* is provided with an operating
handle F*, while its inner end has connected to it a spring F2*, whose function is
to keep the platen normally elevated.
is a downwardly seating spring-pressed valve arranged within valve
chamber and having a stem e* which extends downward as shown.
This valve is intended to be automatically raised to admit air to the
chamber e*, when a record card is properly placed upon the bed plate and the
platen is brought down upon the card, but it is not intended to be disturbed when
an improperly positioned card is upon the bed plate. The mechanism for thus
controlling the valve I will now describe. Upon the platen are arranged two bell
crank levers O¹* 02*, one at the side and the other at the end of the platen. Each
of these levers is pivoted at its angle, as shown at o*, and its lower arm is provided
with a slotted finger 03*, which is guided by a pin (4* and is kept normally pressed
down by a light spring 05* so as to project the finger O³* below the lower edge or
face of the platen, as shown; while its upper arm is preferably reduced and enters
a slot o* or o✶ in the end of a pivoted lever O* or 07* arranged on the top of the
platen.
The top lever O* is pivoted at p* to co-operate with the side lever O
while the top lever O* is pivoted at pl* and co-operates with the end lever O2*.
When these several levers are all in their normal positions (as shown in
Figures 11 and 12) the free end of the top lever O* overlaps the free end of
the top lever O*, at a point immediately beneath the stem of the valve ** and
if, while this position of the levers is maintained, the platen is brought down upon
a properly positioned record card resting upon the bed plate, the downwardly
projecting fingers of the levers ('* 02* will enter suitable slots or recesses U* U*
(Figure 13) in the bed plate provided for their reception and the ends of the
overlapped levers O*, O* will strike a stationary projection H* (consisting pre-
ferably of an adjustable screw shown in Figure 10) just before the platen reaches
the limit of its downward movement and will be raised or sprung up by said
stationary projection sufficiently to cause them to bear upward against the valve
stem cand lift the valve from its seat thereby permitting the passage of
compressed air into the ducts or passages of the platen, thence down through
the perforations in the record card and finally into the corresponding ducts or

page_text: passages in the bed plate. Should however, the record card, through the care-
lessness of the operator, have been improperly placed upon the bed plate, that
is to say, so as to leave it projecting either out at the front side or at the
right end, or at both these points, such projecting portions will arrest and raise
one or both of the fingers O* upon the descent of the platen and cause one or both
of the levers 01 02 to be tilted and one or both of the top levers 0* 07* to
be turned so as to throw the outer end of one or both said last mentioned levers
out of line with the valve stem e*, and thus prevent the lifting of said stem and the
opening of the valve.
The failure of the apparatus to operate will be noticed by the attendant
who will at once properly adjust the card and proceed with his work.
The levers O* 02*, 06* and O'* together with the stationary projection H*,
constitute what may be termed a valve actuator, and embody a principle of
operation which may obviously find expression in various mechanism, though the
embodiment shown is preferred because of its simplicity.
Those ducts or passages * in the bed plate which are not required to be used
with a given series of punched cards, are closed by means of conical plugs 1*, such
as shown in Figure 10, while in each of such ducts or passages as are to be used is
inserted a hollow plug J* which is connected by a suitable flexible tube J** to an
electric circuit closing device consisting preferably of a two-part casing K* K*, a
flexible diaphragm K2* clamped at its edges between the two parts of said casing,
and spring contact arms K**, K**, whose fixed ends are secured to the part K'* of
the casing, but whose free ends k*k* are overlapped and stand in such relation to
the middle of the diaphragm as that when pressure is brought to bear upon the
inner surface of the diaphragın, as by the flow of compressed air into the tube J1,
said free ends will be forced together, thus completing an electric circuit L* of
which said contact arms form parts and operating an electro-mechanical counter L³*
interposed in said circuit thus indicating upon the dial of the counter the fact
that the particular statistical item of the card designated by the perforation that
has admitted air to that particular tube J¹* has been duly counted and registered.
By providing a tube J¹ and circuit closer for each of the ducts or passages on
the bed plate of the press, connecting up the circuit closers to the other electric
circuits provided also with operating magnets and counters, all the items indicated
by the perforations of any given card are at the same time counted and registered,
as will be readily understood.
It is sometimes desirable to have the circuit closing device operate to close a
series of circuits instead of a single circuit as shown in Figure 10, and to accom-
plish this I make use of a multiple contact arrangement, such as shown in
Figures 15, 16 and 17, the same consisting of a bar N1* pivoted at N2* and bearing
a number of contact strips N** etc., which are adapted to co-operate with a series
of pairs of spring contacts N**, N**, interposed in the several circuits to be
manipulated.
This bar N* is connected at one end to a pin or projection secured to the
diaphragm N* and its outer end bearing the contact strips is caused to rise or fall
accordingly as said pressure is applied to or withdrawn from the diaphragm, as will
be readily understood. The same result can be effected by connecting a number
of the single circuit closing devices to one air tube; as shown in Figure 18.
Of course it is understood that where the multiple contact arrangement shown in
Figures 14, 15, 16 and 17 is used, the diaphragm N** and its casing of Figure 15
is to be used in substitution for the diaphragm K2 and its casing of Figure 10.
Where it is desired to sort the cards into groups so that the latter may be again
passed through the machine and counted it is only necessary that the circuit closer
connected to the tube which makes connection with the duct or passage in the bed
plate registering with such group-perforation in the cards be interposed in a circuit
whose operating magnet instead of actuating the prime mover of a counter is
arranged to operate the lid of one of the sorting boxes used in this system. This
is also illustrated in Figure 10, where M¹* indicates the particular operating

page_text: magnet referred to, M2* a pivoted arm or catch adapted to be attracted by the
magnet when the circuit is closed, M³* an arm connected to the lid M** of a
sorting box M* and normally engaged by the arm or catch M** and M** a spring
adapted to throw up the lid M** when the arm or catch M2* is released by the
closing of the circuit.
By this form of apparatus I am enabled to gain the advantage of having the
perforated cards co-operate with a fluid pressure apparatus instead of with an
electric circuit closer and its many contacts and, at the same time, I am enabled to
connect up and operate my counters and sorting boxes electrically, which effects a
very material saving in point of space as well as in cost of plant, since wires can
be run and connected up more economically and more compactly than air tubes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tiou, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :
1. In a system, such as described, the combination, with the separate record cards,
provided with perforations representing items or characteristics of the individual
or unit, of a fluid pressure apparatus having ducts or passages leading therefrom, a
series of sorting boxes and mechanism for operating the sorting boxes by pressure
in the ducts or passages leading from the fluid pressure apparatus, whereby as each
card is caused to operate with the fluid pressure apparatus, a sorting box is opened
ready to receive it; substantially as described.
2. The combination with a perforated card or strip, a movable platen having
passages in communication with a source of fluid pressure, a bed plate and ducts or
passages leading therefrom, translating devices operated by pressure admitted to
such ducts or passages, and counters controlled by said translating devices;
substantially as described.
3. The combination with a perforated card or strip a movable platen having
passages in communication with the source of fluid pressure, a bed plate and ducts
or passages leading therefrom, translating devices actuated by pressure admitted to
such ducts or passages and a valve for controlling the admission of pressure to the
platen; substantially as described.
4. The combination with a perforated card or strip, of a movable platen having
passages in communication with the source of fluid pressure, a pressure controlling
valve carried by said platen, a bed plate and ducts or passages leading therefrom,
and translating devices actuated by pressure admitted to such ducts or passages;
substantially as described.
5. The combination with a perforated card or strip, of a movable platen having
passages in communication with a source of fluid pressure and faced with a yielding
material, a bed plate and ducts or passages leading therefrom and translating
devices operated by pressure admitted to said ducts or passages; substantially as
described.
6. The combination of the perforated card or strip, the compressed air reservoir,
the movable platen with its air passages and valve, the bed plate and the ducts or
passages leading therefrom; substantially as described.
7. The combination of the platen, with its air passages and valve, the bed plate
having ducts or passages corresponding to those of the record card or strip, and a
stop for opening the valve as the platen completes its stroke; substantially as
described.
8. The combination with the perforated card or strip, of the platen in com
munication with the source of fluid pressure, the bed plate and ducts or passages
leading therefrom, translating devices actuated by pressure admitted to said ducts
or passages, and sorting boxes having their lids controlled by such translating
devices; substantially as described.
9. The combination with a perforated card or strip, of a platen in communication
with the source of fluid pressure, a bed plate and ducts or passages leading
therefrom translating devices actuated by pressure admitted to said ducts or

page_text: passages, and the counters and the lids of the sorting devices controlled by such
translating devices; substantially as described.
10. The combination with a perforated card or strip, of a movable platen in
communication with the source of fluid pressure, a bed plate and ducts or passages.
leading therefrom, the hollow plugs forming portions of such ducts or passages and
the solid plugs for closing the ducts or passages that are not desired to be used;:
substantially as described.
11. In a system, such as described, the combination with record cards or strips
provided with perforations representing items or characteristics of the individual or
unit, of a fluid pressure controlling apparatus having ducts or passages leading
therefrom, a circuit closer connected to one of said ducts or passages and operated
by pressure therein, an electric circuit controlled by said circuit-closer and an
electro-mechanical counter operated from said electric circuit; substantially as
described.
12. In a system, such as described, the combination with record cards or strips
provided with perforations representing items or characteristics of the individual
or unit, of a fluid pressure apparatus having ducts or passages leading therefrom, a
series of circuit closers connected to and operated by pressure therein, a series of
electric circuits controlled by said circuit closers and a series of electro-mechanical
counters operated from said electric circuits; substantially as described.
13. In a system, such as described, the combination with separate record cards
provided with perforations representing items or characteristics of the individual or
unit, a fluid pressure apparatus having ducts or passages leading therefrom a series
of circuit closers connected to said ducts or passages and operated by pressure
therein, a series of electric circuits controlled by said circuit closers of and a series
of sorting boxes and electro-mechanical devices for operating the same from said
electric circuits, substantially as described.
14. In a system, such as described, the combination with a record card having
perforations and the fluid pressure controlling apparatus having ducts or passages
leading therefrom, as described, of an electric circuit and electro-mechanical
devices operated therefrom, and a circuit closer consisting of a chamber provided
with a diaphragm exposed to fluid pressure from one of said ducts or passages and
contacts constituting the terminals of the electric circuit closed and opened by the
movements of said diaphragm, as set forth.
15. The combination with a record card having perforations as described, of
co-operating plates or surfaces between which the record card is placed, ducts or
passages opening at said plates or surfaces and adapted to co-operate with the
perforations in the card, a source of fluid pressure, a fluid pressure controlling
valve and a valve actuator rendered inoperative when the record card misplaced;
substantially as described.
16. The combination of the platen with its air passages and valve, the bed
plate, and a valve actuator arranged to be thrown out of operative position by an
improperly positioned record card; substantially as described.
17. The combination of the platen with its air passages and valve, the bed plate,
and a movable valve actuator having one of its members arranged in a plane
intersected by a misplaced card; substantially as described.
18. The combination of the platen with its air passages and valve, the bed plate
and a movable valve actuator having members projecting in planes intersected by
the end or side of a misplaced card; substantially as described.
19. The combination of the platen with its air passages and valve, the bed plate,
a valve actuator having its movable members carried by the platen, one of said
members projecting in a plane intersected by a misplaced record card; substantially
as described.
20. The combination of the platen with its air passages and valve, the bed plate,
a valve actuator having its movable members carried by the platen and having one
of said members projected beyond the edge or face of the platen at the side of

page_text: the latter so as to strike any card that projects sidewise from its proper place on
the bed plate; substantially as described.
21. The combination of the platen with its air passages and valve, the bed plate,
a valve actuator having its movable member carried by the platen a portion of said
movable member projecting beyond the lower edge or face of the platen at both
side and end; substantially as described.
'
22. The combination with the platen with its air passages and valve, the bed
plate, the pivoted top levers and the co-operating side and end levers carried by the
platen; and the fixed projection; substantially as described.
23. The combination of the platen with its air passages and valve, the bed
plate, the pivoted top levers, the co-operating pivoted side and end levers and their
springs and the fixed projection; substantially as described.
Dated this 18th day of September 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.