GB365648A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for verifying perforated record cards - Google Patents

Abstract

365,648. Statistical machines. CAMPBELL, C. and BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd., Victoria House, Vernon Place, Southampton Row, London. Oct. 24, 1930, No. 32067. [Class 106 (i).] Verifying perforated record cards; punching special marks.-A verifying machine of the type in which the cards are verified column by column by means of a keyboard and a card-carriage (or carriage for the verifying mechanism) which is escaped step by step and with means for indicating non-verification, is characterized by means which punch a hole or notch in a special position on the card on the completion of correct verification. The special hole may be punched at any column to indicate that that column has not been correctly verified. The card is inserted between a pusher and a guide 12 rigid with carriage rack 15 with the first card column in position for reading by balls 13, the rack 15 being escaped by magnet 16 when a verifying key 27 is depressed corresponding to the hole read by balls 13. This escape mechanism and the skip key 28 tabulating key 29 and release key 30 are constructed and act as described in Specification 369,635. The special hole punched is a triangular one at one of the corners of the card so that after verification the cards are placed together and checked by passing a needle through all the special holes. The hole is punched be energizing the punch magnet 109, armature bell crank 111, Fig. 2, sliding on interposer 113 between hammer 116 and punch 125. The interposer, through bell crank 120, raises link 122 and closes contact 123, Figs. 2 and 5, to energize the escape magnet 16. The latter attracts its armature 23 which, through linkage 22, 21, 20, lowers the hammer 116 to effect punching. At the same time link 22 opens contacts 123, 39, closes contacts 40, and opens contacts 65, 65<1>, Fig. 5. This de-energizes magnets 16 and 109. To ensure that the card is correctly positioned initially a lever 134 is used, pivoted to a block 135 adjustable on a fixed rack 136. When the carriage 15, Fig. 4, is moved to the right an abutment 137 rocks lever 134 so that the latter raises a flap 131 to close contacts 100, 104. At the first escape of the carriage these contacts again open. Relays 44 .. 49 function as in Specification 369,635 ; if non-verification occurs and escape magnet 16 is not energized, then relay 49 is energized to open contacts 49<1> in the circuit of magnet 16, this persisting until error key 69 opens contacts 66 to deenergize relay 49 (and also relays 46, 47). In the present arrangement, when the correct initial positioning of the card raises flap 131, the contacts 100, 104 energize relays 101, 102, 105, 106 which are held to partially close the circuit of punch magnet 109 until, when the last card column is verified, an abutment on the carriage 15 closes contacts 110 to close this circuit fully and effect punching, magnets 109 and 16 open contacts 108 and 65<1> and relays 101, 102, 105, 106 are de-energized. If an error occurs then relay 49 is energized and opens its contacts 49<111> to de-energize relays 101 and 102. This opens contacts 101<1> and 102<1> so that even if the error key 69 is depressed and recloses contact 49<111>, relays 101 and 102 cannot be re-energized. Open contacts 102<1> prevent punch magnet 109 being energized when 110 are closed at the end of the carriage travel so that the card is discharged without a triangular hole in it. If, however, it is desired to punch the hole at any stage of the verification to indicate the card column which is at fault, then contacts 114 are manually closed. Then, when an error occurs, relay 49 is energized and closes contacts 49<1111>. Contacts 49<111> open to de-energize relays 101 and 102 but relays 106 and 105 remain energized so that contacts 1061 remain closed and a circuit for punch magnet 109 is made through 114, 49<1111>, and 1061. This punches the hole at the column in error and de-energizes relays 105, 106 by opening contacts 65<1>. The relays being all restored to normal the verification hole cannot be punched in the corner of the card even if the error key is depressed and verification is proceeded with.