US1534531A - Relayless counter - Google Patents

Description

C. D. LAKE April 21, 1925.

RELAYLES S COUNTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 UUU U Filed June 17, 1922 3 INVENTOR.

BY z C(ryV H 1 Y i m April 21, 1925. 1,534,531

I c. D. LAKE RELAYLESS COUNTER Filed June 17, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Q [0Q /(1 m ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 21, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,534,531 PATENT OFFICE.

CLAIR D. LAKE, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE TABULATING MA- CHINE COMPANY, OF ENDICOTT, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF'NEW JERSEY.

RELAYLESS oonn'rna.

Application filed June 17,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it lmown that I, CLAIR D. LAKE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Binghamton, in the county of Broome and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Relayless Counters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in tabulating apparatus, and more particularly to improvements in the record card circuit, the controlling means therefor and the controlled magnet circuit as were heretofore of. the type employed in electric tabulators shown in Hollerith Patent 945,236 and Lake Patent 1,307,740.

The circuits commonly and generally used in tabulating apparatus may be subdivided into two general classes. In one construction, which is the above Hollerith patent, as an example, the record card circuit controls the energization of the counter magnet and the establishment of its circuit. After the circuit is initially energized the record card circuit is shunted by a suitable relay or other means so that arcing at the index point perforations is obviated by materially cutting down the flow of current in the card circuit. During these periods the magnet circuit is maintained only to be finally interrupted by a supplemental circuit controller or contact device.

In other constructions, of which the Lake patent is an example, the card circuit initiates the energizationof the magnet and the establishment of the circuit. Immediately I thereafter both the card circuit and the magnet circuit are automatically broken, and at the end of the cycle the magnet circuit is reestablished leaving the parts in proper condition for a new cycle upon the next closure of the card circuit. This arrangement prevents arcing at the card since ,the card circuit is broken and no current is flowing at the time the brush leaves the index point perforation in the card.

In certain types of tabulating apparatus- 1922. Serial No. 589,078.

condition the other type of control is necessary.

The present invention is directed to the provision of a simple arrangement of circuits which will provide for either shunting or actually breaking the card circuit and for maintaining the controlled magnet energized during the card cycle.

Other and more detailed objects of the present invention relate to an improved record card circuit controller which obviates the use of brushes in cooperation with the index point perforations and substitutes therefor suitable ball contact devices.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of a conventional tabulating apparatus embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of one counter and its associated contacts.

Fig. 3 is a similar detail of the other counter.

Fig. 4 is a detail showing one form of ball lndex point circuit controller.

Fig. 5 is a detail of another form of the record card circuit controller.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, '10 designates a stack of record cards which are fed by the usual upper and lower feed rolls l1 and 12 past cooperating brushes 13 and contact blocks 14. If desired, the index point circuit controlling means may be of the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Here metallic balls are. used to make the contacts through the index point perforations in the cards. In Fig. 4 two balls 15 are provided,'each being pressed into contact by means of spring 16.

The contact block 14 is suitably recessed to receive one of these springs and the common brush holder bar 17 is recessed to receive the other. Fig. 5 illustrates a similar construction except that one of the balls 15 is 4 eliminated and contact'is made direct] with .contact block 14. These devices are a apted to establish the card circuit when an index ppilnt perforation comes under the ball or The gearing for rotating the feed rolls is shown conventionally at 18 in Fig. 1. This gearing receives its drive from a shaft 20 which by a belt and pulley connection is driven by tabulatormotor 21. A shaft 22 forms the main drive shaft of the tabulator and is shown broken away in the upper part of Fig. 1 and extended into cooperation with two tabulator counters in the lower part of the figure. A similar shaft 23 driven in unison with the card feeding devices carries a number of cams for operating certain contact devices as Will be hereinafter described. The card feeding section of the machine is provided with the usual card lever 24 which closes card contacts 25 when cards are passing under the brushes.

To start the tabulator into operation the operator first closes main line switch 26 to the supply main. Thereafter start key 27 is depressed which, upon the closure of its contacts, establishes a circuit from line 28 through start key 27, motor relay magnet 29, stop key 30, tabulator motor 21, and back through wire 30*, etc. to source. The energization of motor relay magnet 29 establishes a holding circuit for the tabulating motor 21 through the armature of motor relay magnet 29, line 31,through cam contacts 32 which are closed after the motor has rotated the parts, thence back through wire 28 to source. Cards now pass downwardly through the feed rolls and close the card contacts 25. Cam contacts 33, 34 are make and break cams generally used in tabulating apparatus and serve to establish a circuit 35 to the card lever contacts 25 and to interrupt this circuit once per card cycle. The closure of the card lever contacts 25, when circuit 35 is established, energizes counter control relay magnet 36 and motor control relay magnet 37, current flowing from these magnets back to source. The attraction of the armature of motor control relay 37 establishes another holding circuit for the tabulating motor 21 through a line 38 and thence through motor relay 29 and through the rest of the circuit as previously traced. This holding circuit maintains the machine in operation when cam contacts 32 break once per card cycle. The purpose of the contacts 32 is to interrupt the tabulating operation u n deenergization of motor control relay 3 after the last card has passed through the machine and permitted contacts 25 to open.

The energization of counter control relay 36 attracts its armature and closes a circuit 40 supplied from the make and break cam contacts 34, 33. From wire 40 current flows through the armature of relay 36 thence through line 41 to the common brush bar 17 or 17. Current also flows through a line 42, the purpose of which will hereafter be described. I

It will be assumed that an index point perforation in one of the record cards 10 which has come under one of the controlling 'brushes or its equivalent ball contact and permitted current to flow through one of the lines 43, forming part of the card circuit,

and through the plug connections to the corresponding counter magnet 44. The energization of the counter magnet 44 will attract its armature 45 which serves as a latch for clutch lever 46 and permit this clutch lever to swing counterclockwise under the influence of the resiliency of blade spring 47. The movement of the clutch lever is independent of the energization of magnet 44, but is controlled thereby through latches 45. This movement of the clutch lever causes the clutch member 48 to engage its complementary clutch member whereupon the counter wheel 49 is rotated in the usual manner of a Hollerith counter. The swinging to the right of blade 47 will also allow contacts 50 to close and establish a direct shunt circuit from line 42 through the counter magnets 44. This circuit thus established shunts the card circuit and prevents arcing at the record card circuit controller when the brushes or their corresponding ball contacts. leave the perforations in the cards. This circuit also maintains counter magnets energized during the remainder of the adding cycle, then break cam 34 opens circuits.

The parts just described take the place of I the relays heretofore used in counters of the Hollerith type. At the completion of the adding cycle a suitable cam 51 displaces a. knock-off bar 52 and restores the clutch lever permitting the same to be relatched by the armatures 45 and disengages the counter wheel or wheels from the constantly rotating drive shaft, also opens contacts 50.

The foregoing description has described the operation of the counter unit shown to the left in Fig. 1. This counter is generally used and its associated controlling contacts have been found particularly desirable for use in tabulating machines of the Hollerith type which include printing attachments. The particular embodiment shown to the right in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 3 is in principle the same as the counter-heretofore described but differs in certain details and finds its particular utility in connection with. automatically controlled tabulators, where it is desired to break the circuit leading to the brushes as well as establish and maintain the magnet circuit heretofore mentioned. In this embodiment the card circuit is initially established by an index point perforation passing under the record card circuit controller. From 14" the card circuit 43 extends through the plu board therein. Contacts-50, when closed, allow current to flow from wire 42 through the magnets 44 and thus maintain the magnet circuit during the rest of the adding cycle. The parts are restored at the end of the cycle in the manner previously described. The details of the foregoing controller which is shown to the left in Fig. l and.in Fig. 2 of the drawings, forms the subject matter of a divisional application, Serial No. 722,972, filed June 28, 1924.

The details of the ball contact devices shown in Figs. -l and 5 of the drawings form the subject matter of another divi-r sional application, Serial No; 672,: 33, filed November 2, 1923.

lVhat I claim is 1. In a tabulating apparatus, the combination with a record card having an index point, oi a record card circuit and a magnet circuit, circuit controllers in said circuits, one of said controllers being operated by the i record card to establish both the card circuit and the magnet circuit, a magnet in said magnet circuit, means controlled by said magnet for interrupting the card circuit upon the establislnnent of the magnet circuit and means for concurrently and subsequently maintaining the flow of current in the magnet circuit.

2. In a tabulating apparatus, the combination with a record card having an index point,.of cooperating record card and magnet circuits, a controlling magnet in its circuit, record card circuit controlling means in its circuit, means for energizing said magnet and establishing its circuit upon the establishment of the record card circuit, means'for thereafter opening the record card circuit before record card operation of the record card circuit controller and for concurrently and subsequently maintaining the magnet circuit.

'3. In tabulating apparatus, in. combination, a counter wheel, a clutch lever, a counter controlling magnet, an electric circuit including said magnet, record controlled means for establishing said circuit, means controlled by the energization of said magnet for taking the control of the said circuit from the record controlled means,

said last mentioned means comprising norand means for interrupting the circuitthrough the said record card controlled means and for providing a closed circuit for the said counter magnet during the adding cycle after the initial operation thereof under the control of the record card controlling means.

5. In av counter of the kind described, the combination of counter Wheels of corresponding electro magnets and intermediate clutch levers for effecting the proper movements of said counter wheels, armatures for said magnets normally latching said clutch levers out of operation, spring actuated means for moving said clutch levers, and contact devices associated with said means adapted to be actuated upon the unlatching of the clutch levers, and a supplementary circuit including said contacts adapted to maintain the magnets energized upon the actuation thereof.

6. In a tabulating machine, in combination with a circuit, a record card controlled means therefor, of a counter wheel and a counter controlling magnet, of a clutch lever controlled but not actuated by said magnet, of contact devices cooperatively associated with said clutch lever, said contact devices having provision for cutting the record card circuit controlling means out of the main supply circuitfor said counter magnet upon the initial energization thereof and for maintaining a separate supply circuit for said magnet during the adding cycle.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature.

CLAIR D. LAKE.

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