GB205863A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for use in record-card systems for tabulating, counting, printing or sorting statistical or other data - Google Patents

Abstract

205,863. British Tabulating Machine Co., Ltd., and Campbell, C. July 21, 1922. Statistical machines.-The machine comprises two card-reading mechanisms, one or more singlecolumn selectors associated with one of these reading mechanisms, totalizing-counters or printing devices controlled by the second reading mechanism and connections such as relay switches between the two reading mechanisms whereby the second reading mechanism is rendered operative only when the first is operative. The card-circuits of the first card-reading mechanism operate an intermediate circuit which controls the second reading mechanism and also a card-sorting mechanism, if desired. The invention also includes an improved single-column selector. Current is supplied from line 14 to upper contact brushes 4 through cam-contacts 18, line 19 and the contacts of a relay 20, the contacts 18 opening only when the brushes 4 make contact with their blocks 4<a> during the interval between two cards, the distance between these brushes and the lower brushes 6 being not less than the length of a card. The contacts of the relay 20 are closed as soon as a card passes a card-lever 38, thus completing a shunt 36 to energize this relay. A single-column selector 24 is provided for each brush 4, and is connected through relays 28 and 30 with line 16, the contacts 32 of the relays 30 being in an intermediate circuit 34. In Fig. 1 only two selectors are shown in use, the contacts 32 corresponding to the unused selectors being short-circuited by switches 40, and if a card has perforations at the points in the particular columns for which the two selectors have been set, the corresponding relays 30 are energized and their contacts 32 closed. At the same time two holding relays 28 are energized and complete a holding-circuit 29 which short-circuits the brush contacts 4, 4<a> and thus keeps the contacts 32 closed. As soon as the card has passed the brushes 4, contacts 42 close and complete the intermediate circuit 34. At the same time the contacts 18 open and to hold the circuit 34 there is a relay 44 which short-circuits the contacts 42, 32 through contacts 48. This circuit 34 controls the second series of card-circuits including brushes 6 through contacts 52, the winding 54 of which is in this circuit 34. Thus, for a correctly-perforated card as above, the circuit 34 and contacts 52 are closed, so that when the card passes the card-lever 56 the brushes 6 complete circuits through the perforations and operate counters, printing devices, &c. through magnets 64; a shunt 60 including a relay 62 shortcircuits the contacts 56 and provides a holding circuit. To start the machine, key contacts 66 are closed, completing a circuit through motor 8, stopkey contacts 70, 72 and a relay 68 which then short-circuits the key 66 through contacts 78, the winding 80 of which is in the shunt 60; hence when the last card has passed the lever contacts 56, these open and also the contacts 58 at the end of the cycle, thus breaking circuit 60 and therefore the contacts 78. Cam contacts 76 are timed to close when contacts 58 open, but since the last card has passed and contacts 78 are open, when contacts 76 next open the whole of the circuits are broken and the machine is stopped. A totalcard counter may have its magnet-winding 82 in the shunt 36 and a selected-card counter its winding in the circuit 34; and as a check upon these two there may be used a non-selected-card counter. If ordinary Holbrith counters are used, the magnet-winding 84 of the total-card counter is placed in a shunt 86 across the brushes 6 and contacts 52, the winding 90 of the selected-card counter is in a line 94 in series with the contacts 52 and the winding 96 of the non-selected-card counter is in a line 100, this last counter every time the circuit 34 is completed being short-circuited by a line 102 having contacts 104 the winding 106 of which is in the circuit 34. If it is desired to sort out the selected cards after they have passed through the machine, a card-sorting device 116 is used, its magnet-winding being in the circuit 34 or in the line 94. The improved single-column selector, Fig. 2, comprises a grooved drum 3 of insulating material driven synchronously with the card feed through a one-way clutch 13 and having let into its periphery a metal bar 7 which completes the card-circuit through the cardbrush 4 &c. across two brushes 17 once per revolution. The drum 3 may be adjusted so that when this bar 7 is under the brushes 17 the brush 4 is on an index point in the column under investigation and to do this a pivoted lever 33 is rocked. This first locks the shaft 9 carrying one clutch member rigid with it and then brings a pinion 27 rigid with a knurled disc 31 into mesh with a wheel 25 rigid with the drum 3 so that the latter may be turned against the clutch 13 to set the bar 7 to correspond to any desired index point in the column. A spring tongue 43 prevents undesired movement of the wheel 25. More than one selector 24 may be set to operate on one column. Specification 15475/11 is referred to.