GB497054A - Improvements in or relating to record-controlled statistical machines - Google Patents

Abstract

497,054. Photo electric control of statistical machines. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd. (International Business Machines Corporation) June 4, 1937, No. 15584. [Class 40 (iii)] Relates to statistical machines with photoelectric readers for use with photographic records of the kind described in Specification 429,950, [Group XIX], wherein the matter recorded is designated by the position of a single spot in each of a series of columns arranged side by side in one frame of the film, each frame corresponding to a complete transaction. According to one feature of the invention, in a machine having counting or other mechanism of the type whose operation depends on the time in its cycle of operation at which an impulse is transmitted to it, the record is fed continuously in synchronism with the cycle in such a way that each position in a column of the record is projected in turn upon the associated light - sensitive cell, means controlled by the cell being provided for transmitting an impulse to the mechanism each time a spot is scanned. According to another feature, the film may be arrested for inspection of any particular transaction by setting up on the machine the corresponding designation, the film being automatically fed until the designation on the film agrees with that set up on the machine. In the machine shown in Fig. 3, film 199 of the kind shown in Fig. 2 is utilized, and amounts designated by spots in the zone 204 are read and are added in an accumulator unit. The film is continuously fed between a lamp 215 and a series of light-sensitive cells, one for each column. Each cell controls through a relay 217a a clutch magnet 222 of a known form of counter, the clutch, when operated, coupling a counter-wheel 222b to a constantly rotating shaft 222c. The clutch is mechanically disengaged each time a zero position on the film reaches the reading opening 214, and since the positions in the columns pass through the opening in the order 9... 0, the higher the digit represented by a spot the earlier in the cycle will the corresponding counter magnet be energized through the closure of the appropriate contact 217a. Contacts 221 in the magnet circuit are opened in the usual manner when the magnets are energized, centre contacts 221a being closed at the same time to provide a holding circuit for the magnets which is broken at contacts 224a on the completion of a cycle. The contacts 224a are controlled by a cam 224 on a motor-driven shaft 212a, through which the driving sprockets and take-up spool for the film are driven. Cams 223, 225 are also provided on the shaft 212a to control respectively contacts 223a, 225a. Contacts 223a and 224a are in parallel, and are in series with relay contacts B<1>. During the rotation of the cam shaft 212a, a circuit through B<1> is maintained by one or the other of the pairs of contacts 223a, 224a, the contacts 223a starting the closure of this circuit at the commencement of a film feed cycle, and 224a breaking the circuit when a zero position on the film has passed the reading opening 214. Film-operated contacts 226 are closed only when a record film is threaded in the machine for operation, and allows a relay coil A to be energized. Contacts A<1> of this relay then close and enable a relay B to be energized and to close its contacts B 1. A relay C prepares, through its contacts C<1>, a holding circuit for the motor M, which is started by pressing a key 227, relay contacts D<1> completing the holding circuit which allows the key 227 to be released after starting. 228 is a stop key. After the film has run through the machine, or should the film break, the contacts 225a ensure that the motor circuit is not broken until the cam-shaft 212a has rotated to a normal starting position. Instead of, or in addition to utilizing counter-magnets, printing magnets could be employed in the usual way to print a list of the amounts read from the record film. Fig. 4 shows a machine which enables the film to be automatically stopped for visual inspection of a selected frame when it has been run through to the desired position. In this case, the designations in the zone 203, Fig. 2, representing account members or other data are utilized. The machine is similar to that previously described, but it also comprises a viewing device 231 through which the film passes after passing the aperture 214 of the photo - electric reading devices, for scanning the columns in the zone 203. A " designation register " 232 is provided, comprising four commutators each having ten digital segments 232a, a common segment 232b, and a brush 232c. The brushes are set manually to connect to the common segments the digital segments corresponding to the indications in the frame which is to be inspected. Each segment 232a is connected to an appropriate segment 250 of an " emitter " E which has a brush 252, rotating in synchronism with the feed-movement of the record so as to connect each segment 250 in turn to a common segment 251. A. motor M drives a cam-shaft 245 (controlling contacts as shown) and the film-feeding mechanism through a one - revolution clutch 241a, engaged when a magnet 241 is energized. Film contacts 226 having been closed to energize relays G, H and thereby to close contacts G<1>, H<1>, the machine is started by closing key contacts 242, thus completing the motor circuit through contacts F<2>, the clutch-operating magnet 241 (which also operates holding contacts) and stop key contacts 243. The machine will operate continuously until a designation in the zone 203 of the film agrees with that set up in the register 232. When this occurs, successive energizations of relay coils 235, caused by the simultaneous closing of circuits through the photo-electric relay contacts 217a and through the emitter E, will have taken place, resulting in the closing of each one of a number of contacts 238 in series with a relay F. At the end of a cycle, the cam-operated contacts 239a also close, and thus the coil F is energized and opens its contacts F<2>. This condition occurs when the zero positions on the film have just passed the reading opening 214. The circuit through the clutch magnet 241 is not, however, broken until cam-operated contacts 225a have opened after the opening of contacts F<2>. De-energization of the magnet 241 allows the clutch 241a to disengage upon completion of its revolution, and the film is brought to rest for inspection. The coil F also closes contacts F<3> to connect the inspection lamps 230 in circuit.