US1866995A - Tabulating machine - Google Patents

Description

July 12,1932. l J w, BRYCE 1,866,995

TABULATING MACHINE AFim sept. 14,1925 s sheetssheet 1 Jly 12,1932. 1w, BRYCE# 1,866,995

TABULAIING MACHINE Z710/ Filed sept. 14. 1925 5 sheets-sheet 2 l :sa we ,06 8

. "563 www use xx snc: t a

July 12, 1932. J. w. BRYCE 1,866,995

` TABULATING MACHINE Filed Sept. 14f 1925 5 sheets-Sheet 5 Y sidi H-Illlll H-lllll July 12, 1932. J, wl BRYCE 1,866,995

TABULATING MACHINE Filed septq14, 1925 5 sheets-snm 4 P so- I mmm "n Q my# P 0 7d; I MWI |08 los July 12, 1932. J w. BRYCE. 1,86,995

TABULATING MACHINE Filed Sept. 14, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July l2, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE V JAMES W. BRYCE, OF BLOOMFIELD, NEW

JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE TABULATING MACHINE COIMPANY,4 OF ENDICOTT, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY TABULATING MACHINE l `Application led September rlhis invention relates to improvements in tabulating machines using perforated cards whereby information being punched in the cards preparatory to being used in a tabulator may be tabulated or added in the tabulating machine simultaneously with the punching of thatin'formation in the cards.

` Itis customary to punch the index perforations in record cards by means of a manually operative punching apparatus, and after the cards are completely punched they are run through a tabulating machine at any later time and the data punched in the card there- 'by tabulated.

'It is evident that in following the abov-e regular process none of the information Aon the record card is available in tabulated form until the cards are completely punched and are run through the tabulator.

The principal object of my present inven-y tion is to enable the data on the record card to be tabulated while the cards are being punched; that is to say, while the operator is punching any hole in the card a counter in the tabulator is adding the amount represented by that perforation in a selected accumulator. This permitsjthe operator to have'loe-I fore him a tabulation of the information on the cards as soon as the punching of the cards has been finished and before any of them have been run through the tabulator thus fre- 1 quently saving considerable valuable time.

My invention contemplates that these data may not only be set up in a counter for-visual inspection but may also be printed on the data sheet of the tabulator if desired. These results are accomplished with tabulators and card punches of knowntype by means of supplementary devices built into the punch and tabulator. These comprise, in'part, controlled electric devices; between punch and tabulator, actingunder control. of the ,punching apparatus to effect the desired results in the tabulator. E

@ther objectsl and advantages will be hereinafter set forth in the accompanying specilication and .claims and shown in the draw'- ings, which by way of illustration show what isv now considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention.

i4, 1925. semi No. 56,149.

In the drawings,

Figs. l and la taken together form a Wiring diagram of tabulator, punch and supplementary devices.

A Fig. 2 is a cross-section 'of the punch showing devices for controlling the electric circuits.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of a counter andl contact mechanism for printing.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the escapement mechanismvr and card column contacts.

Fig/5 is a-detail of the paper feed contro f Fig. 6 isa cross section illustrating the printing-mechanism of the tabulator.

Inthe ordinary operation of the tabulating machine when perforated cards are passed through it, magnets (Fig. 3) are energized by circuits containing contacts that are brought together through perforations in the card. The' cards are punched at diderent points to indicate amounts and are then passed between the contacts to set up these amounts on the register wheels for adding f them.

The time of engagement of a clutch 24 on shaft 26, which is similar to the clutch designated'48 in Fig. 2 of Patent 1,534,532, therefore, depends upon the .position of .the hole that. caused such engagement, and consequently the corresponding register wheel will be turned through an arc proportionate to such time. In other words, if the hole in the `When a magnet 2O is energized its armature is attracted, clutch lever 32 is released,the

proper clutch 24 is engaged, and the corresponding register wheel 22 is advanced all of which is old in the art and fully described in the aforesaid Lake Patent 1,534,532'.

Coordinated with each register wheel is a stepped cam 34 which is always in such position that when the totaltaking device 36 is rocked on shaft 38 stop screw 40 will abut against the proper step on cam 34 and the contact devices 42 will ca use the digit represented on the corresponding register wheel 22 to be printed on the data sheet of the tabulator.

The printing mechanism which is of well known design is illustrated in Fig. 6. Type bars 267 carry type 266 at their upper ends and the bars are raised in synchronism with the passage of record cards past the analyzing brushes to bring the type opposite the platen '263 in accordance with the passage of the corresponding index point beneath the analyzing brushes of the tabulator. The type bars are slidably supported on a cross head 269 which is raised by an arm 306 fast to a rock shaft 305, the arm being connected to the cross head by a link 271. The shaft 305 maybe rocked either from cam 311 mounted on shaft 294 which rotates during adding and listing operations, or from a cam 301 fixed to shaft- 315 which rotates during total taking operations. Whenever one of the shafts 294 or 315 is rotating, the other is always stationary. Secured to the rock shaft 305 is atwo armed member 304--401. Loosely mounted on shaft 305 is an arm 302 cooperating with cam 301 and an arm 309 cooperating with a cam groove in cam member 311. Rotation of either cam 301 or 311 causes this two armed member 304-401 to rock clockwise. An eX- tension 303 on arm 302 engages a set screw in arm 304 which arm it will be recalled is fixed to shaft 305 and a set screw in arm 309 engages an extension on the arm 401 integral with arm 304. It Willbe obvious that whenever either shaft 294 or 315 rotates, rock shaft 305 will be rocked first ini a clockwise direction and then in a counterclockwise direction. The arm 306 is therefore first raised and then lowered and in turn raises and lowersthe i cross head. 269 in synchronism with the passage of record cards through the analyzing mechanism. The type bars 267 are -slidably supported in the cross head and an arm 268 pivoted to a suitable bracket on the cross head and normally held elevated by a suitable spring engages under the lower end of each type bar and tends to raise it with the cross head. Owing to the spring connection it can be stopped without interferring with the upward movement of the cross head. The type bars may be arrested in the diferentprint-,ing positions by energizing print magnets 216, each of which when energized attracts its armature 278 vpullir'ig a call wire 277 to the left, thereby releasing a latch 273 normally holding pawl 272 and permitting the latter to engage suitable ratchet teeth in the type bar to prevent its further forwardmotion. In this manner the type corresponding to the index point which effected energization of the printer magnet is selected for printing. Toward the end of each machine cycle, after the type bars have been set in their proper printing positions, a hammer 280 is tripped to effect printing after which the cross head 269 is lowered and in lowering engages an extension'on all type bars to lowerthem to normal position. This printing mechanism is well understood in the art.

The key punch shown in Fig. 2 is well known, aside from the supplementary devices built into it for purposes of the present invention. The card 44 to be punched is placed in the position'shown on'the punch. When the operator depresses a key 46 bell crank 48 moves an interposer bar 50 to the left over the punch 52 corresponding to the depressed key so that when magnet 54 is energized and its armature 56 drawn to the right, bail 58 will be drawn down, depressing the interposer bar 50 and forcing punch 52 through the card. Bail 58 is connected to armature 56 by vertical link 60, bell crank 62, and horilzontal link 64. After the punching operawere punched in each column th`e escapement.

device would stop the card successively with each of the 45 columns under the punches. There are usually twelve punches 52, one for each of the ten digit positions in each cardcolumn, plus two extra positions some y times used. These'extra positions are generally designated a: and wm.

All of the above mechanism is well known rvices my present punch has the following additional features.

When any key 46 is depressed latch 72 hooks over the shoulder 74 of the key stem and holds the key in depressed position until released when link 7 6 is drawnrdown by the movement of armature 56 to theright. The movement of these parts is so timed that the releasing pins 78 contact with tailsv 80 of latches 72 .-at'such time that keys 46 are not released until the end of the stroke of link 76. This*holds contacts 82 closed until the punching of the card is completed.

When any interposer bar 50 moves to the left it carries with it bail I84 pivoted .at `86 and having afdepending link 88 which has a and link 88 are drawn to normal position by spring 100 when all interposer bars 50 are in l card lever 102 is held in depressed position as in Fig..2 and contacts 104 are open. If there is no card holding lever 102 down contacts 104close.

Escapement'bar 68 (Fig. 4) carries an in'- sulated contact brush 106 bearing on slug bar 108 which has a contact block 110 for every column on the card; that is, when any particular column is under the punches, a corresponding block 110 is in contact -with brush 106. If there are forty-five columns on the card there are forty-five contact blocks 110.

There is another contact' block 112 fastened to the frame of the punch in such position that a second yinsulated brush 114 carried by the escapement bar will contact with it at the end of the carriage movement for the purpose of actuating the paper feed in the printing apparatus.

In the normal operation of the tabulator, cards are fed one by one from magazine 116, represented diagrammatically in Fig. 1, by

picker device 118 through the kfeed rolls 120v past uppercont-rol brushes 122 and lower tabulator brushes 124 moving upper card levers 126 and lower card lever 128 and closing up- "per and lower card lever contacts 130 and 132 respectively. The upper brushes are for control purposes and are connected by suitable electric devices to the groupindicator and control devices shown 'in the upper half of Fig. 1a the operation of which is well known in tabulator art.

Figs. 1 and 1a are the wiring diagram of a conventional tabulator corresponding to the wiring diagram of Patent 1,822,594. The tabulator includes the usual counter and printer sections marked- 1, 2, 3 and 4,- etc. (Fig.` 1a) vand in all respects is similar to the wiring diagram of tabulators' now in general use with certain exceptions which will herein be given. Inasmuch as the tabulator is to be keptin operation during the registration of items Jderived from the punching attachment it is obvious that there must be a tabu lator operation when there are no cards passing through thetab'ulator. .For this reason switches 134 and 136 are provided for shunting out the card lever contacts 130` 1-32, respectively, and switches 138 vand 140 for cutting current ofi' the upper and lower brushes thus enabling the machine to operate without socket-142a at a particular time in the cycle of operation of the tabulator corresponding to the ,time when a particular index point would be under the brush if a card were present, that such available current at socketsy 142a will energize the counter magnet 30 and its associated printing circuit and cause registrationin the tabulator of an amount of corresponding index point value. Plug sockets 142a are therefore connected to the punching attachment through a commutator device generally designated 150, which is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1 and schematically in Fig. 1a. The commutator 150 comprises a series of digit slugs 152 spaced so as to conform to the digit spacing of the card feed cycle, a commutator arm 154, and a common ring 156 connected by wire 158 to brush 106. The digit slugs 152 are connected to corresponding key contacts 82 of the. punch by wires 160. The column slugs 110 of the slug bar 108 are connected with the supplemental plug sockets 142a by wires 162.

As shown in Fig. 1a brush 106 is on the 42d column slug of the slug bar 108. With the parts in the position shown in the diagram if a hole representing digit 3 is being punched in the card and it is desired to add that amount in column 8 of the counter 3, the action is as follows z-Depression of key 46 closing contact 82 sets up a circuit as follows: from the right side of the line through wire 164, coil 166, wire 168, Contact 82 at 3 position, wire 160, slug 152 at 3 position, arm 154 when it reaches 3 position), common ring 156, wire 158, brush 106, slug 110, wire 162, socket 142a, plug wire 170 previously inserted by the operator, socket 144 and thence throughthe regular counter circuit to the left side of the line thus adding 3 on the eighth element of accumulator number three. The contact of arm 154 with slug 152 is only momentary, but is suicient to energize magnet 20 and throw in the accumulator clutch 24, which being heldin engagement' in the usual manner until the end of the card cycle, adds 3 on the eighth element of accumulator number 3. The momentary contact of arm 154 and commutator slug 152 although suflicient to insure proper action of the accumulator element is not of long enough duration'to properly enermature 174 is drawn up'and contact 172 closed thus establishing a circuitthrough wire 164, coil 166, point 172, armature 174, wire 176, contact 92. wire 178 to the left side o the line and vthis stick circuit stays set up until broken at 92 when the punch magnetoper'- ates. At the same tme'a circuit is established from the right side of the line through punch magnet 54, wire 180, contact 94, point 182, wire 184 to'the left side of the line. This side ofthe line. Card lever 102 (Fig. 2) controls contact 104 so that if there is no card in the punch contact 104 will be closed. Contact 96 is closed by the depression of any key 46 and opened by the operation of punch magnet 54. The closing of contact 96 causes an asterisk to be printed provided Contact 104 is also closed, as it will be if there is no card in the machine.

Wien brush 114 reaches block 112, magnet 208 becomes energized and the paper feed is unlatched and allowed to operate. As the mechanism is adapted to record digits one at a time which taken. together will represent a given number it will be necessary to suppress the usual paper feed during the punching of any given card. Referring to Fig. 5, 200 is the actuating lever of a paper feed of the usual type which operates the paper feed bar 202, which is connected b y spring 204 to the paper feed. A latch 206 is provided for holding paper feed bar 202 in an elevated position when the paper feed is suppressed, allowing the spring 204 to stretch for each movement of the operating arm 200. Latch 206 forms the armature of a magnet 208 for releasing the paper feed bar 202. This mag` net is energized by the contact of brush 114 and block 112 at the completion of the card punching, whereupon the paper feed operation takes place. A cut out lever 210 is provided for holding back the armature 206 so that the paper feed can perform all the operations necessary in normal tabulating without the punch. Switch 212 (Fig. 1a) is provided to cut ofi current from the whole punching apparatus when desired.

In the punching device there are keys 46 for punching'holes in the a: and mw index positions, and also for spacing when the operator desires to skip a column. As these operations do not require operation of the accumulator, their key .contacts 214` (Corresponding to contacts 82 of the digit keys) are not connected with commutator 150, but are connected across from wire 168 to wire 178. When a contact 214 is closed the punch mechanism functions but the accumulator does not.

In the operation of my machine arm 154 makes one revolution while each card column is under the punches, and in the same time as is required for one card cycle. Arm 154 is gear driven, and so synchronized with the card cycle that when cards are being fed past the brushes in the regular operation of the tabulator, arm 154 is in contact with the slug 152 representing any digit, at the same instant that brush 124 is in contact with the corresponding index point on the card. S0 it will be, readily seen that with the punching device operating, commutator 150 offers exactly the same opportulgities for circuits to be completed through the accumulator magnets as if a card were passing contact brushes 124. An operator cannot manipulate the punch as rapidly as the tabulator operates, so the tabulator may go through several card cycles and commutator arm 154 make several revolutions between successive punching operations. When a punch key 46 is depressed andfa contact 82 closed, arm 154, on its next revolution, will complete the circuit through the counter magnet to which it is connected by block 110 and wire 162 and the amount corresponding to the depressed key will be added in the accumulator element correlated to that magnet. Thereafter before the next column of the card is in position, or a new card inserted in the punch, arm 154 may make several idle revolutions before it again finds a contact 82 closed, but when it does find one closed it acts again as described above, and the new amount is added.

I have described how the digit punched in a single column may be entered in its correlated accumulator element. An amount represented in the card by digits in a plurality of columns will be entered in the accumulator in successive cycles, the digit in each column being entered inthe accumulator element to which it is connected by block 110 and wire 162. V

By connecting the columns in various card fields to'different accumulators, the data in the various elds will be accumulated in those different accumulators, and as the usual well then printing lthe total, or printing totals only.

In F'ig. 1a, 215 represents the total taking zero buttons, and 216 are the printing magnets.

I have described only those machine parts and electric circuits which are essential to an understanding of my device. Those parts, circuits, etc., not described are well known in the tabulator art and require no description here.

What I claim is- .1. In a machine of the class described, in combination', a ca d punching device, for sequentially punching in different denomina'- tional orders, an accumulating device, and means to operate said devices conjointly for entering corresponding items therein as the card is being sequentially punched.

2. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a device for punching data in a record card sequentially in different denominational orders and means coordinated therewith for accumulating the data while it is being sequentially entered in the record card.

3. The invention set forth in claim 2 in which means is associated with said accumulating means for printing the data set up in the accumulator.

4. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a device for punching amounts in record cards, devices coordinated therewith and controlled thereby for accumulating the amounts being punched, and means coop-- erating with said accumulating devices for printing the totals of the amounts.

.5.' In a machine of the class described, in

combination, a device for punching amounts in record cards, devices coordinated therewith for accumulating the amounts being punched, means coordinated with said accumulating devices for printing the totals of the amounts on ya record sheet, automatic device for feeding the record sheet, and a manipulative device to render said feeding devices inoperative.

6. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a series of depressible members representingl digits,l a device for punching record cards sequentially in different denominational orders, an accumulator device under controlof said members, and means to enter the digits in said devices simultaneously as said members are sequentially depressed.

7. In a machine of the class described, in

combination, a device for punching record cards, an accumulating device, and means controlled by said punching device for initiating operations in said accumulating device.

8. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a device for punching record cards, an accumulating device, and means controlled by said punching device for initiating operations in said accumulating device, said operations entering in said accumulator the same data recorded in the record card by said punching device.

9. The invention set forth in claim 7 in which said controlling means includes electric circuits between said punching device and accumulating device.

`10. The invention set forth in claim 7 in which said controlling means includes a movable electric contactdevice synchronized with said accumulating device. A y L 11. The invention set forth in claim 8 in which said controlling means includes electric circuits between said punching device Iand accumulating device.

3 combination, a key operated punch forentering data in record cards, an accumulator controlled thereby, and means for entering in the kaccumulator at the sametime the same data veach digit as it is being punched.

15. The invention set forth in claim 13 in which means is associated with said accumulator for printing digit by digit the numbers set up in the accumulator.

16. The invention set forth in claim 14A in which means is associated with said accumulator for printing digit by digit the numbers set up in said accumulator means.

17. In a machine of the class described, in.

combination, a device for sequentially punching holes representing digits of numbers, in record cards, means controlled by said punching device for printing the digits on a record sheet as punched, and means for holding the record sheet stationary until all the digits of a number are punched.

18. In a machine of the class described, in

combination, a device for sequentiallyhpunching holes representing digits of numbers, in record cards, means controlled by said punching device for printing the digits on a record sheet as punched, means for holding the record sheet stationary until all the digits of a number are punched, and devices to thereafter automatically feed the record sheet one line space.

19. In a. machine of the classsdescribed, in combination, a key controlled device for panchina record cards se uentially in different denominational or ers, an accumulator, and a key controlled contact device for entering information in said accumulator while said information is being sequentially punched in the record cards.

20. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a series of accumulator elements, a device for sequentially punchin holes in successive columns of arecord car a contact device coordinating each card column with an accumulator element, and differential contact means controlled by said punching device for completing circuits through said contactdevice and thereby actuatingsaid accumulator element.

21. In a machine of the class described, an accumulator element having cyclically operable 'differential mechanismk for entering 12. In a machine ofthe class described, in 1 items therein, a punching device and means controlled thereby for operating said differential mechanism, said means comprising devices for setting up and holding a reading corresponding to a punching operation and means-responsive tothe set up for initiating operation of the differential mechanism.

22. In a machine of the class described, an accumulator element having cyclically operable differential mechanism for entering items therein, a punching device and means controlled thereby for operating said difierential mechanism, said means comprising selective switching devices for setting up and holding a reading corresponding to a punching operation and means operable synchronously with said differential mechanism for initiating operation of the latter in response to a set up of the switching devices.

23. In a machine of the class described, a series of accumulator elements representing diii'erent denominational orders and having cyclically operable diiierential mechanisms for entering items therein, a punching device comprising means for sequentially punching a record in different denominational columns and means controlled thereby for operating said dierential mechanism, `said means comprising devices for setting up and temporarily holding an reading corresponding to a punching operation and means responsive to the set up for initiating operation of the differential mechanism to sequentially enter items corresponding to the punched perforation in accumulators of different denominational orders.

24. In a machine of the class described, a series of accumulator elements representing different denominational orders and having cyclically operable diierential mechanism for entering items therein, a-punching de-' vice comprising means for sequentially punching a record in different denominational columns and means controlled thereby for operating said differential mechan ism, said means comprising devices for setting up and temporarily holding a reading corresponding'to a punching operation and means responsive to each set up for initiating operation of the dierential mechanism to enter items corresponding to the punched perforations in an accumulator of the correspond-ing denominational order and for releasing the set up of each denominational order prior to another punching operation. 25. A tabulating machine having a plurality of denominational order element-s adapted to be controlled by record cards, in combination with manually controlled manipulative means for controlling said elements and means for'automatically sequentially placing dierent denominational order elements under control of said manipulative devices to permit successive entries to be made 1n denominational orders according to a predetermined sequence.

26. A tabulating machine having a plurality of denominational order elements adapted to be controlled by record cards, in combination with manually controlled manipulative means or'cont-rolling the elements in one denominational order at a time, and means for automatically sequentially placing the dili'erent denominational order elements under control of said manipulative means in a fixed sequence according to their denominational4 `trolled individually thereby and controlling means for said selective means operated by the manipulative means on a controlling operation by the same in one denominationl order to eiect selection of the element of another denominational ordei` for control by the manipulative means.

28. A tabulating machine having a plurality of denominational order elements with electrical operating means adapted to becontrolled by record cards, in combination with a group of electric switches for controlling said elements, selective switching devices for associating the several denominational order elements individually'with said switches for independent control thereby and means for operating said selective switching device/s to place the elements under control of said switches in a predetermined sequence.

29.- A tabulating machine having a plu- 3 rality of denominational order elements with electrical operating means adapted to be controlled by record cards, in combination with a group of electric switches for controlling said elements, selective switching means for associating the several denominational order 'elements individually with said switches for independent control thereby, said selective switching means including an escapement operated commutator device for sequentially placing saidelements under control of said switches in accordance with their denominational orders.

30. A tabulating machine having a plurality of denominational order elements adapted to be controlled by record cards, in

combination with a group of electric switches.

for controlling said elements, selective switching means for associating the several denominational order elements individually with said switches for independent control thereby, said selective switching means including a commutator device with escapement control for sequentially placing said elements under control of said switches in accordance with their denominational orders and means operated by said switches on operation thereof to operate the escapement control.

31. In a machine of the class described in combination a card punching device with means for sequentially selecting punching operations for d1fl1'erent card columns, anaccountmg device havin denominational order elements and means or conjointly controlmeans for sequentially selecting punching op- Y erations for diiferent card columns, an accounting device having denominational order elements, means for conjointly controlling said devices to concurrently select punching for a single card column and control of a corresponding denominational order element and means for sequentially transferring the control of said last named means from column to column of the card and from one denominational order element to another to provide for punching and entering the same items into the accounting device through a common controlling operation.

33. In a machine of the class described a card punching device including a punch controlling member and punch selecting means having an appreciable but indeterminate lag in their operation, an accounting device having operating mechanism controlled by said punch vcontrolling member and having a definite differentially timed operation and means associated with both the punching device and the accumulating device for prolonging the control of the punch controlling member until both devices have operated.

34. In a machine of the class described in combination, a card punchin device including manipulative devices or sequentially punching in different denominational orders, an accumulating device and means under control of the manipulative devices of the punching device for operating the latter and the accumulating device conjointly for entering corresponding items therein as the item is being sequentially punched.

35. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a device for punching data on a record card sequentially in different denominational orders, and means under control of the punching device alone for accumulating the data as it is being sequentially punched on the record card.

36. In a machine of the class described, means for. sequentially punching a record representing digits, an accumulating device and means operable under control of said means for sequentially accumulating the* quentially punchinga record in. successive denominational orders, an accumulating device, and means whereby said punching device controls the accumulator device and including the provision of means whereby each digit is entered in the accumulator sequentially as the record is being-punched in each order.

38. In a machine of the class described, in combination a continuously but cyclically operated accumulating device, a record punching device optionally operated during any of the cycles of operation of the accumulating device, and means 'for co-ordinating said punching and4 accumulating ldevices whereby a digit punched is entered in said accumulating device during one of the cycles of operation of the accumulating device.

In testimony whereof I hereto ailix my signature.

. JAMES W. BRYCE.

Images