US1962743A - Record-card-controlled statistical machine - Google Patents

Description

June 12, 1934. KEEN 1,962,743

RECORD CARD CONTROLLED STATlSTiCAL MACHINE Filed April 4, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 12, 1934. KEEN 1,962,743

RECORD CARD CONTROLLED STATISTICAL MACHINE Filed April 4, 1929 2 sheets sheet 2 llll Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES 1,962,743 RECORD-CARD-CONTROLLED STATISTICAL MACHINE Harold Hall Keen, Letchworth, England, assignor, by mesnc assignments, to International Business Machines Corporation,

New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application April 4, 1929, Serial No. 352,454

In Great Britain April 5, 1928 3 Claims. (Cl. 235-92) certain field of successive record-cards, for the purpose of bringing about automatically a change in the operation of the machine when the holes in two successive cards do not agree.

The customary form of such automatic contro device comprises essentially two card-reading devices arranged to read corresponding points on each two successive cards simultaneously, a circuit containing both card-reading devices in series, and an electromagnet in the circuit. If there is a hole in the same position in both cards being read, the circuit is completed and the electromagnet is energized; if the holes in the two cards are in different positions the circuit is not completed and the electromagnet is not energized. Such non-energization is made use of to bring about a change in the operation of the machine, normal operation being maintained by the periodic energization of the electromagnet.

Another form of automatic-control device, an example of which is described in British patent specification No. 250,953, comprises two circuits in parallel, each containing one of the two cardreading devices, and electromagnetic devices, one in each circuit, which oppose one another-that is to say if both are energized, no efiect will be produced, but if either is energized alone a suitable member will be actuated to bring about a change in the operation of the machine.

The series-circuit arrangement first referred to necessitates a separate electromagnet for every card-column which it is desired to use for automatic control.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an automatic-control device which has the two card-reading devices in series but which nevertheless has the advantage that only one electromagnet is required for several card-columns.

According to the present invention the automatic-control device comprises two card-reading devices connected in series and a shunt circuit across one of the card-reading devices which shunt circuit contains the winding of an operating electromagnet and has a higher resistance than the part of the series circuit which is shunted.

It will be evident that if the same hole is present in both cards, current will flow through the series circuit, but only a very small current, insumcient to energize the electromagnet, will flow through the shunt circuit. If, however, two cards are compared which have holes in difierent positions, a stage will be reached when there is no hole at the shunted card-reading device while a hole is being read by the other. Under these conditions current will flow through the shunt circuit, the low-resistance alternative circuit being broken by the material of the card, and the operating electromagnet will be energized.

Preferably the shunted card-reading device is that one which first reads any card.

When it is desired to use more than'one column for automatic control, the several series circuits are connected in parallel and the several high- 6 resistance shunt circuits are'also connected in parallel to a common lead which contains the winding of the operating electromagnet.

When the automatic-control mechanism is of a dual or multiple character, two or more different kinds of card-groups being dealt with concurrently as explained in British patent specification No. 254,761, there are two or more operating electromagnets each capable of being connected to any one or more of the high-resistance shunts in common.

Preferably the operating electromagnet (or each one) is in the form of a series relay which when energized closes a separate operating circuit through its winding containing an electromagnetic device which itself causes the machine to change its mode of operation, and means may also be provided for concurrently closing a shunt around the operating electromagnet, whereby it receives current only through the first unpaired hole in any control column, that is to say a hole in the first of two cards which is not present in the other, any subsequent unpaired hole or holes which may occur in another column or columns on the same card merely increasing the current through this shunt instead of through the electromagnet winding, which however remains energizgd by the current in the separate circuit aforesai Two alternative forms of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a circuit-diagram of a record-cardcontrolled statistical machine embodying one form of the invention,

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a modified form of the invention, and

Figure 3 is a-front elevation of a part of the machine showing the means for automatically operating a counter-resetting clutch.

Referring first to Figure 1, the machine is of the well-known Hollerith type having two rows of card-reading brushes one above the other, four of the upper brushes being shown at 10 and four no of the lower at 12. The counter-circuits, printing magnet circuits and total-taking circuits have been omitted as they are sufilciently well known, for example from British patent specification No. 190,144.

Current is supplied to the various circuits from two lines 14 and 16 of opposite polarity. The main driving-motor TM is in a circuit extending between the points 18 and 20, and this circuit includes stop-key contacts 24, normally closed relay contacts 26, upper card-lever contacts .28, a series-relay winding 32 in series with startingkey contacts 34 and the card-feed clutch-magnet 36 shunted by cam-contacts 38. The operation of this circuit is well known and will not be further described herein, but it will be understood that if the contacts 26 are opened by the energization of the relay winding 27 (hereinafter referred to as the motor-control relay) the motor circuit will be broken at the end of the cycle by the opening of cam-contacts 22 in a shunt across the contacts 26. The breaking of this circuit automatically brings about the printing of a total, and the resetting of the counter from which the total is taken, in a manner well understood and therefore needing no further description.

The upper and lower card- reading brushes 10 and 12 which are to be used for automatic control are connected individually in series by wires 40 each of which contains a resistance 42 of about 3000 ohms. The contact-bar 11 with which the upper brushes 10 cooperate is connected to the line 14 at 44 through cam-contacts 46 which open automatically during the times that the gaps be-- tween cards are passing the brushes. The lower contact-bar 13 is connected to the point 20 through the lower card-lever contacts 30 and the relay contacts 26, the stop key contacts 24, and certain cam contacts. A rotary current-interrupter 48 is provided which closes the circuit just before each hole-position on a card reaches the brushes and opens it before the edges of the holes separate the brushes from the contact-bar, thereby preventing sparking at the brushes.

Each upper brush is shunted through a. resistance; 50 ofabout 4000 ohms. These shunts are connected individually to the wires 40 at points between the'resistances 42 and the upper brushes 10, and the parts of the brush circuits from these points to the point 44 have no appreciable resistance.

The resistances 50 are connected to a common lead 54 which is connected to the point 44 through a relay winding 56 the contacts 58 of which are closed by winding 56 and are in an operating circuit 60 extending from the point 44 through the winding 56, the contacts 58, a relay winding 66, the motor-control relay winding 27, cam contacts 62 to the line 16. The common lead 54 also'contains a pair of normally-closed contacts 64 which are opened by relay winding 66 which is in the circuit 60. When relay winding 66 is energized, it closes contacts 64a thereby connecting the resistances 50 and wire 54 directly to the line wire 14 through said contacts and a wire 68.

When cards are being compared by the cardreading devices, it is evident that if successive cards have the same control perforations the series circuits 40 will be completed and no appreciable current will flow in the high-resistance shunts 50.

If the control perforations disagree, at some time in the cycle a hole will be present at the lower brushes while there is no hole at the upper brushes. Hence current cannot flow through the low-resistance part of one or more of the series circuits 40, and will therefore flow through the high-resistance shunt 50. The relay winding 56 will therefore be energized, its contacts 58 will close and the motor-control relay 27 will be energized thereby stopping the machine and causing a total to be printed. At the same time, the relay contacts 64 will separate due to energization of winding 66, and the current through the high-resistance shunt 50 will be diverted through the contacts 64a and wire 68, the relay winding 56 nevertheless remaining energized because the 1otperating circuit 60, now closed, extends through If control is being effected on several columns simultaneously several columns might change simultaneously thereby sending an excessive current through the relay winding 56. It is for the purpose of preventing possible damage owing to this excessive current that the contacts 64 are provided. The purpose of establishing a shunting circuit around winding 56 through contacts 64a and wire 68, instead of only breaking the circuit, is to prevent back-circuits.

The cam-contacts 62 are arranged to open once per cycle after the last hole-position on a card has passed the reading-brushes, thereby de-energizing the magnets 27, 66 and 56 and returning the circuits to their normal condition in readiness for the next card.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figure 2 is designed to secure what is known as major and minor automatic control-that isto say, automatic control by two difierent categories of card-groups-as described for example in British patent specification No. 254,761. In this kind of automatic control, a change of "minor group is to bring about the printing of a total from one counter, while a change of major group is to bring about the printing of a total from that same counter and also from another counter. In other words, whichever group changes, a "minor total is printed, but a major total is printed in addition if the major group changes.

The circuits are generally similar to those described with reference to Figure 1 but the operating circuit 60, the magnets 56, 66 and 27, the contacts 58, 64, 64a, and the shunt 68 are duplicated, the duplicated parts being designated by the same reference numerals with the addition of 0. Further, there are two pairs of normally-closed relay contacts 26, 260 in series in the motor circuit under the control of the relay windings 27 and 270 respectively.

The shunt-resistances 50, of which six are shown, are connected to plug-points 70 by means of which they may be connected in two separate sets (for example two sets of three each) one set to the lead 54 and the other to the lead 540.

It will be readily appreciated that if the control perforations disagree, in any one or more of the three columns a, b, c, the winding 56 will be energized and the motor-control contacts 26 will be opened. If the control perforations in any one or more of columns d, e, I disagree, the winding 560 will be energized and the motor-control contacts 260 will be opened. In either case, the

assumed that colums a, b, c are set apart for major group-control perforations and columns d, e, f for minor group-control perforations.

Referring to Figure 3, '72 is the resetting shaft common to all the counters, only one of which is shown. A gear-wheel '14 loose on the shaft meshes with the resetting gear-wheel '75 of the counter and is provided with clutch-teeth 76. A collar 78 is fixed to the shaft '72 and carries a pin 80 sliding freely in a hole in the collar. The pin is fixed to a clutch-member 82 free to slide on the shaft and adapted to engage the clutchteeth '76 although normally it is prevented from doing so by a spring 84. The clutch may be engaged by pushing the pin 80 to the right by means of a sliding sleeve 86. This sleeve may be operated manually in a well known way and maintained in its clutch-engaging position by a bayonet catch 88. The major total counter is left with its clutch '76, 82 disengaged as shown in Figure 3, and the clutch is engaged at the proper time by means of an electromagnet 90 the armature 92 of which has an extension 94 engaging in a circumferential groove in the sleeve 86. The armature has fixed to it an arm 96 which when the magnet is energized closes a pair of contacts 98 in the total-printing circuit for that counter.

The shaft 72 is driven by the resetting motor RM (Figure 2) the circuit 100 of which contains normally-open contacts 102 which are closed when the card-feed clutch magnet 36 is de-energized, as clearly explained in British patent specification No. 190,144. This magnet is de-energized on a change of card-group, whether major or minor, as previously explained, and the result will be to start the resetting motor.

The counter (not shown) which is set apart for minor totals has its clutch 76, 82 engaged manuallyand locked in engaged position. This results in the total-printing contacts 98 of this counter being closed through the agency of the armature 92 and the arm 96. Consequently, whether the group-change is major or minor, this counter will be reset and the total standing thereon will be printed.

The winding of the magnet 90 of the major counter is in the resetting-motor circuit 100 and is provided with a short-circuiting shunt 104 in which are a pair of normally-closed contacts 106 of a relay the winding 108 of which is in the operating circuit 60, which as previously explained is only closed when a major group change occurs. When this circuit is closed (thus causing the circuit 100 to be closed) the winding 108 will be energized, thus opening the contacts 106. The magnet 90 will therefore be energized when the motor RM is started automatically in a wellknown way, thereby engaging the resetting clutch of the major total counter and closing its totalprinting contacts 98. Thus a major total will be printed in addition to the printing of a minor total when, and only when, a major groupchange occurs, the two totals being printed during the same printing cycle.

I claim:

1. In a record-card-controlled machine, an automatic-control device comprising in combination two electric card-reading devices connected in series, a shunt circuit across one of the cardreading devices having a higher resistance than the part of the series circuit which is shunted,

an operative electromagnet having its winding in said shunt circuit, and means controlled by said electro-magnet for controlling the operation of the machine.

2. In a record controlled machine, an automatic control system including a pair of record analyzing devices for simultaneously analyzing successive record cards, each of said analyzing devices including switching mechanism operable according to index points on records, a series circuit connectingsaid switching mechanisms, a shunt around one of said switching mechanisms, an electromagnet in said shunt and means controlled by said electromagnet to modify machine operation.

3. In a record controlled machine, a pair of record analyzing mechanisms for simultaneously analyzing successive cards of a group, each of said analyzing devices including a plurality of switching devices operated according to index points on records, a plurality of series circuits connecting corresponding switching devices of the different analyzing mechanisms, a separate shunt circuit around each switching device of one analyzing mechanism, circuit with all of said shunts and a machine control circuit controlled by said magnet.

HAROLD HALL KEEN.

a common electromagnet in

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