GB680892A - Improvement in record sensing and comparing means - Google Patents

Abstract

680,892. Statistical apparatus. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd. April 8, 1948 [April 15, 1947], No. 9867/48. Class 106 (i). [Also in Group XL (b)] In a record-sensing mechanism for use, for example, with the card-controlled machine described in Specification 543,513, [Group XL], and in which disagreement of perforations in successive record cards causes the card feed to cease and a totalling or tabulating mechanism to start, corresponding index positions of successive cards pass simultaneously beneath spaced sensing positions and a beam of light passes through or is reflected from each index position in turn according to whether or not an aperture is located in the sensing position. The beam then passes to one photo-cell if the perforations are in agreement and another if they differ. As shown, a reciprocating picker 35 feeds cards singly to clutched rollers 33 which pass the cards through sensing positions A and B, the drive being such that the same index position of each card is in the appropriate sensing aperture simultaneously. Light is directed from a source L to sensing position B and if an aperture is located in that position, passes through and is reflected by mirrors M, M1 on to the underside of sensing position A. If an aperture is in position A, photo-cell Na is energized; if not, the light is reflected from the underside of the second card to photo-cell Ka. If no aperture is located in position B the light is reflected to mirrors M2, M3 and on to aperture A again energizing photo-cell Na if position D is also blocked, indicating agreement, and photo-cell Ka if the light passes through an aperture at A, thereby indicating disagreement. Owing to the closeness of columns the photo-cells Na, Ka are made to respond to light from the front columns, Nb, Kb the second, and so on. Circuits and operation. Closure of a start switch 240, Fig. 4, energizes a relay Q and a clutch magnet 28 which commences feeding the cards. As each card approaches position A it closes contacts 41, operating a relay F and short-circuiting the start key. This card then passes to the second position B closing a contact 42 to energize a relay N, which provides a further short-circuit of the start key and completes with relay F an energizing circuit for amplifiers AMP (1), AMP (2). Comparing single point numerical data. For comparing single point numerical data photocells Na, Nb only may be used, switches S being placed at their right-hand positions. Connections are then made with plugged leads from each amplifier AMP (1) or AMP (2) to its corresponding relay 1U, that is from sockets 550, 551 of AMP (1) to sockets 154, 155 of relay 1U, and in the case of AMP (2) to the corresponding sockets of relay 2U. The other connections are then from sockets 157 to 156 and 566 to 567. Mirror M2, Fig. 1, must be moved to the inoperative position (shown dotted) to avoid energization of the photo-cell Na or Nb by reflection from the index points of two cards which have no apertures in the sensing position. Agreement of the first column of the two cards under comparison energizes a relay which locks over an auxiliary winding while agreement of the second column operates similarly a relay 2U. If one of these relays is not operated, one of contacts 1ub or 2ub fails to lift and closure of cam-driven contacts CF7, CF13 causes operation of a relay P which breaks the circuit of the clutch magnet and stops the card feed. Comparing two-point alphabetical data. Cells N, Na, Nb may be used for comparing information in the two-point alphabetical code. The amplifier outputs are now connected to their relays 1U and 2U via a distributer CD2 which makes when the cards are in each of index positions 1-9 and to further relays 1UN, 2UN via distributers EM1 which make at index positions 0, 11, 12. The plugging is now sockets 551 to 155, 550 to 574, 576 to 154, 577 to 578, 579 to 580, 581 to 582 and 157X to 156X. In operation agreement of the data in one of the index positions 1-9 causes operation of and locking of relays IU, 2U by way of contacts of distributers CD2 which are described in the prior Specification. If agreement occurs again in the index positions 0, 11, 12, a further relay 1UN is operated over contacts of a distributer EM1. Agreement of both columns operates relays 1U, 1UN and 2U, 2UN with the result that a further relay 590 operates and prevents closure of the circuit of resetting relay P by cam driven contact CF13. Comparing both numerical and alphabetical data. Cells Ka, Kb which operate on disagreement of the data may perform both numerical and alphabetical comparison. The plugging is from sockets 550, 551 to 154, 155, 157 to 156 and 565 to 567. Mirror M2 is now set to the operative position. Operation is as for the case when photo-cells Na, Nb were examining numerical data but since cells K operate on disagreement the disagreement is arranged to close the circuit over contacts 1ub or 2ub for operating resetting relay P.