US2129775A - Tabulating machine - Google Patents

Description

Se t. 13, 1938." c, D LAKE 2,129,775

,TABULATING MACHINE Filed Jan. 17, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet '1 FIGJ' INVEN OR @Zmx.

AITI'ORNEY Sept. 13,1938. J c. D. LAKE 2,129,775

TABULATING MACHINE Filed Jan. 17, 1934 I 5 Sheets- Sheet 2 35 FIGZ iNVEN OR M 17.

A'iTORNEY se tf'is, 1938. c, D, LAKE I 2,129,775

TABULATING MACHINE Filed Jan. 17, 1934 s Sheets-Sheet s Q gymvzu-ron BY t 4' ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT orrics ternational Business Machines Corporation,

New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 17, 1934, Serial No. 106,927

6 Claims.

This invention relates to tabulatlng machines of the type wherein data are taken from perforated cards to control accumulating and printing operations of the machine.

The main object of the invention is to improve generally upon machines of this character; as for instance by so constructing and arranging the parts and the mode of operation as to obtain greater operating speed and a higher degree of reliability than is at present possible.

It is a desideratum in certain types of work performed by tabulating machines wherein a list of items is printed under record card control and a total of the items printed as an accompaniment to the itemized list, to obtain a total which is truly representative of the sum of the printed items.

It is the object of the present invention therefore to so re-organize the interrelation between the accumulating and printing devices of the tabulating machine, that, where a printed list is accompanied by a printed total, the agreement of such total with a known figure will be a certain indication that the items as listed are correct. lihis result has been achieved by providing an im proved type of printing mechanism of the reciprocating type bar form, wherein each type bar is to close an individual contact at the time one of its type elements is selected for printing The contacts are adapted to cotnrol the energization of the adding magnets, so that an impulse is transmitted to an adding magnet when a type element is selected. It is thus obvious, that the actuation of the accumulator is dependent upon and incidental to the actual type element selecting operation, which, once effected, is certain to result in the printing of the character selected. If, due to any cause, the character selected for printing is not the desired one, the value entered into the accumulator will be correspondingly undesirable, so that there is a certitude that a total printed under such conditions will be truly representative of the printed list of items which it ordinarily follows.

A further object of the invention, is to provide an improved form of checking mechanism which has particular advantage in connection with the preparation of bills or statements, as issued, for example, by public utility companies. .In the preparation of these statements, it is customary to print certain data in a plurality of places on the bill, for example, on the stub, coupon, and the bill portion proper. Other objects reside in new and improved structures and cooperations with the special elements of the mechanisms.

As will be pointed out, the invention is illustrated by way of example in the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuits of a complete tabulating machine to which the present invention has been applied.

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail of the essential'elements of the printing mechanism of the tabulator showing the manner in which the mechanism of the invention is applied thereto.

Fig. 3 is an isometric view showing the essential operating elements of the accumulator mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the'arrangement of the type bar controlled devices.

Figs. 5 and 6 are time charts of certain of the contact devices employed in carrying out the objects of the invention.

The wiring diagram shown in Fig. l is similar to that of the printing tabulator disclosed in the patent application of C. D. Lake and G. F. Daly, Ser. No. 672,388, filed May 23, 1933, now Patent No. 1,976,617, granted October 9, 1934.

The circuit connections as shown in the aforesaid application are shown in light lines in Fig. 1, and the connections added thereto for the purpose of carrying out the present invention have been superimposed thereon in heavy outline.

During card feed and analyzing operations, the machine is driven by a tabulating motor TM, which is controlled by a group of circuits includmg relays and cam operated contacts, and during total taking operations, the machine is driven by motor RM, which is also controlled by relays and cam controlled contact devices, which are illustrated in the upper portion of Fig. 1. During the operation of the motor TM, the usual perforated cards will feed successively past a set of upper analyzingbrushes U13 and then past lower analyzing brushes LB. As they pass the latter, the items represented by the perforations may be entered into accumulators, represented by accumulator magnets 10, and printed under control of printing magnets II. The cards continue to feed and the successive items continue to be entered as long as certain classification holes do not change, this being taken care of by the usual group control G0. On a change in the group classification perforations, the group control system interrupts accumulatingr During the ensuing total taking operations, printing is controlled by the printing magnets I l in a manner to be more fully explained.

Each card column contains 10 index point posiv tions, difierentially located to represent the 1.0 digits, and a different digit is representedby a perforation in each position. As the card passes the lower brushes LB the position of its index points determines the time of closure of circuits. A representative plug connection for printing is shown on Fig. l where a plug connection 12 may be made between the selected lower brush and a plug socket I 3 associated with the selected denominational order of the accumulator. As the. selected column passes the lower brush, a circuit will be completed upon the analysis of a hole, which is traceable as follows: from the right side of line I 4 through lower card lever contacts l5, contact devices l6, lower brush contact bar I1, perforation in the record card, connection I2, socket l3, normally closed contacts l8a, printing magnet II, to left side of line l9. This is the normally effective printing circuit.

The mechanism controlled by the printing magnet II is shown in Fig. 2. Type bars 2|) are carried by crosshead 2| which is slidable, vertically, on rods 22. The spring-pressed arms 23 pivoted to the crosshead have their free ends abutting the lower extremity of the type bars, so that as the crosshead moves upwardly, the type bars are urged in the same direction. The reciprocating movement of the crosshead is controlled from either the listing shaft 24 or the total taking shaft 25. The former carries a cam 26 and the latter a cam 21; which cams are adapted to rock shaft 28, throughfollower mechanism designated 29. Shaft 28 carries arms 30, which are connected by links 3| to the crosshead.

As the type bars move upwardly, the type elements 32 will successively pass printing position opposite platen 33 and ratchet teeth 34 will successively pass the nose of the stop pawl 35. Energization of magnet II will trip latch 36 permitting stop pawl 35 to engage one of the ratchet teeth 34, thus positioning the corresponding type element opposite the platen.

For the purpose of the present invention, an auxiliary crosshead 31 is provided which is slidable upon rods 38. The cross head 31 is link connected with a lever 39, pivoted at 40 and having its shorter arm connected by a link M to an arm 42, secured upon shaft 28. With this arrangement, the crosshead 37 moves upwardly in unison with the crosshead 2|. Carried by crosshead 31 are adjustable camming elements 43, one for each type bar. Each element is adapted to cooperate with an interposer 44, pivoted to and depending from arm 23. The operation of the mechanism is such that as the crossheads move upwardly, the parts maintain the same relative positions they occupy in Fig. 2. Upon the energization of magnet ll, however, and the consequent interruption of further upward movement of type bar 20, the lower extremity of the bar will become a fulcrum for the free end of arm 23. The pivot point of arm 23 will, of course, continue its upward movement with the crosshead 2| so that the interposer 44 will now move upwardly at a greatly reduced rate.

The camming element 43, moving upwardly with crosshead 31 will force the free end of interposer 44 toward the left momentarily, as the camming portion of element 43 passes the camming surface of the interposer.

In alignment with interposer 44 is a link 45, carried by a. pair of bell cranks 4B and 41, which are connected for parallel movement by a link 48. Movement .of interposer 44 toward the left will cause a corresponding movement of associated links 45 and the extending nose 49 thereof will cause closure of a pair of contacts 50. For convenience in construction, alternate links 45 have the extensions 49 at opposite extremities in engagement with associated contacts 50, and the related contacts 50 are similarly staggered as shown in Fig. 4.

Briefly then, the energization of the printing magnet will interrupt the type bar 20 with a printing element in position. Immediately following the interruption of the type bar movement the resultant relative movement between interposer 44 and camming element 43 will cause momentary closure of the associated pair of contacts 50.

It is these contacts that control the operation of the accumulator mechanism in the manner to be described presently.

Referring now to Fig. l, the contacts 50 have their one blade connected to a pair of plug sockets 5| and the other blade to a pair of plug sockets 52. In positions in which it is desired to have adding accompany printing, a plug connection 55 is made between sockets I 3 and 52 and a further connection 53 is made between socket 5| and one of a pair of sockets 54, which are wired to adding magnets it). With this arrangement, the circuit from the lower brushes which extends through the plug connection l2 as traced above, will branch at plug socket i3 through connection 55, contacts 5'], connection 53, adding magnet ID, to line Hi. It will be noted, however, that the completion of this circuit which parallels the printing magnet circuit, traced above is effected slightly after the completion of the printing magnet circuit and is dependent upon the time of closure of contacts 50. Since the adding circuit also passes through the card perforation, it is apparent that the action of the mechanism which results in closing contacts 50 must be very rapid. In commercial machines it is desirable to have greater operating tolerances and in such case the accumulators which receive entries through contacts 50 are timed later; that is, their time of clutch disengagement is delayed; than the accumulators that receive entries directly from the analyzing brushes.

When the accumulator is thus timed, the plug connection 55 is not made, but instead a substitute connection is made from socket 52 to one of the sockets 8| so that upon closure of contacts 50 a circuit is completed from line I4, wire 81, contacts L3| (timed as in Fig. 5 in synchronism with the retarded accumulator), wire 88, socket 3|, connection to socket 52, contacts 50, socket 5|, connection 53, socket 54, adding magnet ID to line l9. Thus according to Fig. 5 the adding circuit is completed about a point and a half after the printing circuit.

The mechanism controlled by adding magnet I0 is shown in Fig. 3. This adding mechanism is of the well-known Hollerith type, and is described in detail in the application above referred to. Its operation briefly is as follows:

A shaft 51 is driven in the usual manner in synchronism with the card feeding mechanism so as to make one revolution for each card passing through the machine. Attached to shaft 51 and rotating herewith, are clutch elements 53 which are shiftable along the shaft to engage the other faces 59 of the clutches. These latter elements are integral with gears 60 which mesh' with gears 6| associated with the usual numeral or index wheels 52, freely carried on shaft 53.

Each clutch element 58 is normally urged toward its related element 59 by a pivoted lever 64, which is urged in a counterclockwise direction by a leaf spring 65. Movement in this direction is normally prevented by means of an armature latch 66 which engages a block 61 to hold the arm 64 in the position shown in Fig. 3. When magnet I is energized, the latch 6'6 is released and the driving element 58 engages 59 to cause rotation of the index wheel 62.

At the end of each revolution of shaft 51, the

clutch 58 is mechanically disengaged in the usual manner so that the amount of rotation imparted to the index wheel 62 is dependent upon the time in the cycle in which magnet i8 is energized. Thus, if magnet Ill is energized at the time, wheel 62 will be advanced five steps.

Associated with each adding wheel is a tota readout device, which consists of a commutator 68, provided with segments 69 corresponding in number and position to the several digit indicating positions of the index wheel. A brush structure i8 is carried by and insulated from a gear '5 i, meshing with gear 68, so that the brush structure i8 is angularly displaced an amount corresponding to the reading on the numeral wheel. The structure carries two brushes, one ofwhich engages the segments 69, and the other engages a common segmental conductor '52, whose contacting surface is concentric with the supporting shaft of gear 'l l. The segments 69 and conductors it are diagrammatically represented in developed form in the circuit diagram, Fig. 1.

Each group of segments 69 corresponding to the same digit is connected to a common conducting wire 13, whereby all the 9 segments are in multiple, all the 8 segments are in multiple and so on. An emitter M, shown diagrammatically in Fig. l, is driven insynchronism with the movement of the printingcrossheads, during total taking operations. This emitter consists of a double brush structure 15 which may be mounted on the total taking shaft 25 of Fig. 2. One of the brushes I5 is adapted to successively contact with the segments l6 as the correspondingly numbered type elements pass through printing position during total taking operations.

Each segment 16 is connected to the correspondingly numbered wire 13 through a cable Tl.

\ Hence, it will be understood that each of the commutator segments 89 receives a timed impulse from the emitterat the time when the type corresponding to the wheel setting is passing the printing line.

During total taking operations, a relay magnet i8 is energized to connect the common conducting strips 12 -to the corresponding printing magnets H, by causing closure of contacts l8b. Arepresentative circuit will be traced to illustate'the manner in which the printing mechanism may be actuated from the total taking devices. Assuming the digit 5 to be set on one of the commutators 69, 72; during the total taking cycle, as the brushes 15 of emitter 14' rotate in synchronism with the operation of the printing mechanism, a circuit will be completed from right side of line I l contacts l8,common segment (9,brushes l5, 5 segment T6, cable ll, 5 wire 13, 5 segments 68, brush l0 (dotted in the units'order position of Fig. l) common conductor 12,contacts I8b, printing magnet l l, to left side of line l9. In this manner, the value standing on the read-out device of the accumulator will be printed and, as during listing operations, the contacts 50 will be closed when the upward movement of the type bar is interrupted. However, since the accumulating mechanism is inoperative-during total taking operations, this closure of contacts 50 will have no effect.

The closure of contacts 50 is utilized, however,

data will not be in proper duplicate.

'type bar in any section is retarded due to stickiness, an erroneous figure will be printed and the For this purpose, the contacts 50 are uti ized and where a plurality of type bars are to print the same information, corresponding contacts 50 will close at the same time, if all the bars are interrupted in the same printing position.

If the contacts 58 are connected in series, a circuit will be completed atthe time corresponding to the selected figure. However, should one of the type bars not be interrupted at the sametime as the others or if it had been interrupted earlier, this series circuit would then not be completed and its failure would cause stopping of the machine and operation of a single device to inform the operator of the non-correspondence between the printed items.

The checking arrangement operates with equal facility during listing and total taking operations, so that either listed items may be compared with one another, or totals may be so compared. The manner of operation of the checking circuit may best be explained by way of example with special reference to the circuit diagram of Fig. 1. Let us assume that comparison is to take place between the items printed in the positions corresponding to the 2, '7, and 8 orders of the accumulator, although it will be understood that the comparison is not restricted to positions within a single accumulator, but may occur between different orders in different accumulators.

A plug connection 88 is inserted between one of a number of sockets 8| and the socket 52 of the contacts 58 associated with one of the positions to be checked. Series plug connections 82 are then made as indicated to connect the several orders to be checked, in series. The socket 5| of the last pair of contacts is then connected by a plug connection 83 to a socket 84 of a double wound relay magnet 85.

Where more than one denominational order is to be checked, similar connections are made between the contacts of that order, and another of the magnets 85 so that if two place figures are to be checked, two magnets 85 are utilized, and if four places are to be checked, the four mag nets will be separately connected as explained for the one order.

Where a lesser number than all of the magnets- 85 are required, a plug connection 86 is made between the socket 84 of each unused position, and one of the sockets 8|.

During item printing operations, cam contacts L31 send a series of impulses to the plug sockets 8i, timed as indicated on the time chart Fig. 5. Assuming that the three type bars associated with the three contacts 58 connected as shown, are all interrupted at the same printing positions, the closure of contacts L3l at such time will complete a circuit from line 14, wire 81, contacts L3l, wire 88, socket 8|, plug connection 80, thence serially through the three contacts 58, which are all momentarily in closed position, connection 83, to left-hand winding of magnet 85, to line 19. En-

ergization of the left-hand winding of magnet 85 former providing a holding circuit from line I 0, wire 81, contacts PI2, L32, contacts 85a, right- .hand Winding of magnet 85, to line I9. This circuit is maintained until contacts L32 open at the end of the listing. During total taking operations, contacts PI! open at a corresponding time. After the type bars have completed their upward movement, all the contacts 85?) will be in closed position, if there is agreement between the positions selected for checking.

If there is any disagreement, one or more of the contacts 051) will be in'open position. The series circuit through the contacts 851) is used to cause stopping of the machine and the illumination of a suitable signal lamp. This is brought about in the following manner. Inserted in the card feed clutch circuit are a pair of relay contacts I03b controlled by a relay magnet I03. These contacts are in series with the usual stop key contacts SP, and their opening has the same effect as the operation of the stop key; that is, they interrupt the further operation of the machine. Magnet I03 is normally deenergized to enable contacts I03b to permit closure of the start circuit. The circuit for magnet I03 follows, when completed by closure'of contacts I00a, from left side of line I9, through wire IOI, normally closed contacts I04, relay magnet I03, contacts I00a, to line II. Contacts I00a are controlled by a relay magnet I00 which is energized when there is a disagreement. It is normally maintained energized by a circuit from line I9, wire I0 I contacts L33, PI3, wire I02, magnet I00, to line I4. Thus magnet I03 is normally deenergized and its contacts I03b normally closed. The contacts L33 open momentarily once during each adding cycle of the machine and contacts PI3 open during each total taking cycle. The series circuit through contacts 05b provides a shunt around the contacts L33 and PI3 so that the circuit of magnet I00 will be maintained during the period that the cam contacts P13 or L33 are open. However, this shunt circuit is eifective only if the compared positions are in agreement.

If a disagreement occurs, the shunt circuit will be open at the time when either contacts LI3 or PI3 open. Magnet I00 will thereby be deenergized, opening its relay contacts I00a, completing the circuit of magnet I03 and causing stopoperation. This is effected by completion of a so-called automatic start circuit effective upon closure of contacts P2 near the end of the total taking cycle. In the present machine, this circuit includes contacts I03b, which as seen above, are opened and held open as the result of a disagreement in the several items or several totals printed.

During total taking operations an'emitter I06 functions to send a series of timed impulses to sockets lI in the same manner as cam. contacts Lil do during listing operations.

While there has been shown and describe and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification. it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a tabulating machine having printing mechanism including a type bar provided with type elements movable to and through a printing position, an entry controlling means comprising a pair of contacts in sequence in an entry controlling circuit, a crosshead for carrying and moving said bar, means for interrupting further movement of said bar with said cross-head at differential times to select the type elements for printing and means operative upon interruption of the movement of the barfor causing the operation of said pair of contacts whereby said circult will be closed at a differential time in accordance with the value of the character selected for printing.

2. In an accounting machine, a differentially positionable printing type bar, control means for controlling the positioning of the same, and electrically operated control means for controlling operation of an accumulator, and means whereby said type bar effects the operation of said accumulator control means to cause the latter to effect an operation of said accumulator only on the positioning of the type bar to select a character for printing.

3. In a tabulating machine, a printing crosshead, means for causing an invariable excursion of said crosshead, a type bar resiliently carried thereby, means for interrupting the movement of said bar with said crosshead, an accumulator control means and means operative immediately upon the interruption of movement of said bar for causing an operation of said accumulator control means dependent upon the stopping position of the bar.

4. A tabulating machine having record ana- 'lyzing means, printing mechanism comprising a reciprocable type carrier having character representing type thereon, reciprocating means therefor, means controlled by the analyzing means to control the positioning of said char acter representing type for printing in accordance with record analysis, accumulator controlling contacts operated by said type carrier at diiferential times upon positioning of the same to select a character representing type for printing, and means controlled by said type carrier for causing the operation of said contacts at differential times upon the positioning of said type carrier for selection of said character representing type. i

5. A tabulating machine having record analyzing means, printing mechanism comprising a differentially positionable type carrier, having character representing type thereon, moving means therefor, means controlled by the analyzing means to control the positioning of said character representing type for printing in accordance with record analysis, an accumulator entry control means operated by said type carrier upon positioning of the same to select a character representing type for printing and means controlled by said type carrier for causing the operation of said entry control means upon positioning of the type carrier for selecting said character representing type.

6. In combination, a type bar arranged to take I 9,120,775 v v 5 different character representing positions, means controlled by said type bar upon the positioning ior diflerentlally positioning the same under conoi said bar for operating said impulse transmittrol of differentially timed electrical impulses, ting means for sending an electrical impulse to means for moving said bar to position the latter, said circuitat a diflerential time in accordance impulse transmitting means for a. circuit for a with the value of the character represented by 5 controlling device operable in response to dlfthe position of the type bar.

Ierentially timed electrical impulses, and means CLAIR. D. LAKE.

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