US2199544A - Tabulating machine - Google Patents

Description

y 1 e. v. A. 'MALMROS 2.199.5 4

TABULATING MACHINE Filed larch 5, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG1 W" BY ATTORNEY reams May 1, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TABULATING MACHINE Gustav V. A. Malmros, Binghamton, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Gorporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of This case relates to card accounting or tabulating machines.

The control or record card of these machines has parallel columns of vertically arranged index point or perforation receiving positions. These positions are punched according to a predetermined code to designate data. In tabulating information from record cards, the latter are usually sent through the machine in groups, the group characteristic or classification depending on a selected item designation in a selected column. Thus, if cards are punched with yearly data, the groups may be arranged by years, all cards of the same year being in one group. If the cards in the year group are to be further sub-classified by month characterizations, then the cards of the same month are arranged in a group in the larger year group. The larger group is then known as the major group and its subdivisions are known as the minor groups.

The tabulating machine has major and minor group change sensing means. When the major group change is sensed, a total printing and resetting cycle is initiated for taking a total (ineluding printing) of the items entered in selected accumulators under control of the entire major group of cards. The accumulators are then reset or zeroized. When a minor group change is sensed, a total printing and resetting cycle is initiated for taking the total of the items entered in selected accumulators under control of the cards of the minor group, following which the latter accumulators are reset.

The above is the ordinary operation of a tabulating machine such as disclosed, for example, in Patent No. 1,976,617.

The present invention contemplates improvements in the above scheme of operation.

First, it is intended to suppress, eliminate, or skip a total printing operation under certain conditions even when a group change is sensed.

Second, the conditions mentioned in the preceding paragraph are to be selected and designated by the cards; more particularly, such selection and designation is to be efiected by a special or predetermined designation on a card; still further, the special or predetermined designation is to establish a condition for skipping total printing in accordance with the analysis or sensing of this designation by the card reading or analyzing means.

Third, it is intended to suppress or skip not only total printing but also resetting under certain conditions denoted by the cards.

More specifically, the latter intention is to suppress initiation or the total taking and resetting cycle even though a group change occurs or when there is no actual group change butonly an apparent one; further this is tobe eflected by suppressing the sensing of a real or apparent group change by the group change sensing means under predetermined conditions.

Fourth, it is intended to suppress perception of a group change by the sensing means and to restore such perception only upon a change to a selected group. Stated in another way, it is intended to selectively control the perceptiveness of the group change sensing means in order to make the latter responsive to certain group changes and non-responsive to other group changes.

Further, the above contemplates ignoring of changes from one card group to another of a plurality of certain such groups and the recognition of a change from the aforesaid plurality of groups to another plurality of certain other such groups to initiate total taking of the first-mentioned plurality of groups.

During the first tabulating or card item analyzing cycle which follows a total print and reset cycle, means are provided to operate group indicating devices. The means for thus operating the group indicating means is normally ineil'ective during the second tabulating cycle following the reset cycle.

The present invention contemplates the holding over of the means for operating the group indicating means to another tabulating cycle, specifically, the second.

Other objects will appear from the further parts of the specification and from the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is the upper part of the circuit diagram.

Fig. 1a is the lower part of the circuit and a continuation of the circuit shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 is a timing diagram.

Fig. 3 diagrammatically shows groups of cards arranged to run through the machine and in connection with which the invention is applied.

Fig. 4 shows another example of cards for which the invention is utilized, and

Fig. 5 shows a third example of cards for which the invention is used.-

First case Assume cards are perforated with amounts due and the designations of the debtors. Such cards may be termed due cards. Further, assume when a debtor pays up the amount due that a I card is perforated with the amount paid and the designation of the payor. Such card may be termed a paid" card. When the cards are sorted into groups according to the debtor designations, some groups may contain a "paid card'. When the machine is to tabulate and list the items due together with the designations of the debtors, then those groups containing a paid card should be eliminated. To avoid the searching out of such groups from the stack of cards and their elimination prior to the tabulating operation, means are provided to cause the tabulating machine itself to recognize such groups and to eliminate the printing of data from such groups.

Fig. 3 represents iive cards run through the machine in ascending order. The first card belongs in group 5, the next three cards are in group 4, and the last card is in group 2. The middle card of group 4 is a paid" card and has an X perforation in a column other than the group control column.

As disclosed in Patent No. 1,976,617, automatic group change sensing means are provided which normally initiate total taking operations including printing and resetting upon the sensing of a group change. During tabulating operations, a motor control relay 23 is kept energized and the first effect of the sensing of a group change is to deenergize relay 23.

During the item analyzing period 9 through X H of the tabulating cycle, the following circuit is effective to delay sensing operation of the group change sensing means and consequent deenergization of motor control relay 2! (Fig. 1).

Motor control relay circuit-A.From line 20, through holding contacts 2 l a, magnet 2|, magnet 22, motor control relay 23, line 24, terminal 25, cam contacts LIB, cam contacts L5, terminal 25, and lead 21, to line 28.

Relay 23, during energization, holds contacts 23a closed to maintain the following circuit in operation (Fig. 1).

Tabulating clutch circuit-B.-,F'rom line 20, through cam contacts Pl, tabulating clutch magnet 30, relay 3|, line 52, relay 33, contacts 23a, line 34, upper card lever relay contacts UCIa, contacts 33c, line 35, stop key contacts SP, contacts 23a, and to line 28.

Relay 3| is energized by above circuit to maintain contacts 3la closed for completing a circuit through tabulating motor TM while clutch magnet 30 is energized by above circuit to couple the tabulating mechanism to motor TM for operation.

When cards of the same group are passing the upper and lower analyzing brushes U3 and LB. respectively, then the following circuit is established during the item analyzing period (Fig. 1).

Pickup coil circuit-C.From line 20, through cam contacts Li I, common contact member 21 of the upper card analyzer, upper brush UB sensing a group designating perforation in the upper card, plug wire 38, plug socket 39, pickup coil 40 of group control relay R, plug socket 4i, plug wire 42, brush LB sensing the group designating perforation in the lower card, common contact member 43 of the lower card analyzer, make and break contacts 44, lower card lever contacts LCL', and to line 28.

Coil 40 is energized by above circuit to close contacts Ru and Rb. Contacts Ra, upon closure, complete a holding circuit through coil 45 of relay R, as follows (Fig. 1).

Holding coil circuit of relay R--D.From line 20 through cam contacts Ll2, contacts Ba, coil 4|, line 21, and to line 28.

Holding coil 45 is maintained active by above circuit to keep contacts Rb closed during the open period of cam contacts L9 and LIB when circuit A must be maintained through a shunt path. This shunt path is as follows:

Shunt path A-1 of motor control relay circuit A.-From terminal 25, through closed contact Rb, plug wire 41, switch 48 (closed for first case) contacts UCLe, and to terminal 25.

By means of above circuit path, motor control relay 23 continues to be energized when cam contacts L9, Llfl open, provided the upper and lower cards passing through the upper and lower card analyzers have agreeing control perforations.

During tabulating cycles, the items on the lower cards are read by the lower analyzer and entered into selected accumulator banks. When a lower brush senses an item, the following circuit is formed:

Add circuit-E.-From line 25, through contacts LCL', contacts 44, common member 42 of the lower analyzer, the brush LB sensing a perforation, a plug connection (not shown) to plug socket 50 of the selected accumulator bank Acc. I (see Fig. 1a), add magnet 52, and to line 20.

Energization of add magnet 52 enters the item sensed by the lower brush into the accumulator bank in. a, manner fully disclosed in aforementioned Patent No. 1,976,617.

The setting of the accumulator bank correspondingly sets the readout commutator 52 for a purpose which will be made clear later.

In the case being discussed now, during tabulating cycles, listing or printing of the items is not desired, and therefore switch 54 (bottom of Fig. 1a is closed). Further, during tabulating cycles, a relay 55 (bottom of Fig, 1 is energized, as follows:

Circuit F.From line 28, through contacts LCL', cam contacts P9, normally closed contacts 58a, contacts 230, magnet 55, and to line 20.

Magnet 55 is energized by above circuit to close contacts 55a and open contacts 55b (bottom of Fig. 1a) and with switch 54 and contacts 550 closed, a circuit is established through a magnet 55.

Energization of magnet 58 opens parallel contacts 58a and closes contacts 5821. With contacts 580 open, when an add circuit E is formed, the shunt path through contacts 58a for energizing print magnets 50 is open and consequently no printing during tabulating cycles will take place.

When the group changes, the upper and lower cards do not have agreeing group perforations. Therefore, shunt path Al cannot form and when cam contacts L9, Llll open, motor control relay 23 is deenergized; its contacts 22a open and its contacts 23b close.

Near the end of the tabulating cycle in which contacts 23b closed, cam contacts L2 close to establish the following circuit (Fig. 1)

Initiating circuit of total taking cycle-G.- From line 20, through contacts PI, line 52, relay 55, cam contacts L3, switch 53 (closed), contacts 25b, and to line 28.

Relay 55 is energized by above circuit to close contacts P3, contacts 560, reset clutch magnet Bl, contacts Ll, contacts 56b, and to line 28.

When clutch magnet 64 is energized, it closes contacts 64' to form the following circuit:

Reset motor circuit-In-From line 20, through reset motor RM magnet 65, contacts 64', and to line 28.

Now, with reset clutch magnet 64 energized and reset motor RM in operation, the total taking and reset cycle begins.

The accumulator bank selecting switches S (Fig. 1a) are set for minor group control by positioning switch arm 66 with its upper pair of conductively connected brushes 66a and b in coniii tact wtih terminals 61a and b and its lower conductlvely connected brushes 66c and d in contact with terminals 610 and d. The upper and lower pairs of brushes are insulated from each other.

When motor control relay 23 was deenergized and relay 56 energized (by circuit G), then contacts 23c and 56a opened to break circuit F, thereby deenergizing magnet 55. As a result, contacts 55!) (bottom of Fig. close and contacts 55a open.

At the beginning of the reset cycle, cam contacts P6 close to form the following circuit (Fig. 10):

Circuit J.-From line 20, through cam contacts P6, terminal G'lc, brushes 66c and d, terminal 61d, line 68, contacts 551) (now closed), magnet 58, and to line 28,.

Magnet 53 is energized by circuit J to close contacts 58b which serially connect the readout commutators 53 and the printing magnets 60.

During the reset cycle, the reset motor RM drives feeler arm 10 of emitter E in synchronism with the movement of the type members (not shown) and the following total print circuit is formed at a differential time depending on the setting of the readout commutators 53.

Total print circuit K.From line 20, through a print magnet 60, contacts 581), a readout commutator 53, emitter E, special relay contacts 12a, make and break contacts 13, switch 14, and to line 28.

The above circuit energizes a print magnet 60 to cause printing of the total standing on the associated accumulator.

Circuit I which energized reset motor RM also energized magnet 65. Energization of magnet 65 closes contacts 65a (bottom of Fig. 1a) to complete the following circuit:

Reset circuit-L.From line 20, through terminal 67a, brushes 66a and b, terminal 611), reset magnet 15, contacts 65a, and to line 28.

Energization of reset magnet 75 causes resetting of the accumulator to occur after the total printing operation, as is fully explained in aforesaid Patent No. 1,976,617.

Thus far, the ordinary operation of the machine has been described and the only special feature included in the description was the relay contacts 12a in the total print circuit K.

When contacts 12a are opened, the total print circuit K is incomplete and total printing will not take place. Resetting will nevertheless occur and the final result will be a nullifying of the entries made into an accumulator by resetting the accumulator, unaccompanied by a total printing of the reading. Since listing or printing of the items during tabulating cycles also was prevented, it follows that when contacts 12a are opened, the group of cards which passed through the machine immediately preceding the total print and reset cycle will be eliminated entirely from the tabulation, which in the present case consists of a list of totals.

Relay contacts 12a are opened whenever a group contains a paid card. The paid card, as previously explained, has an X perforation in a selected column (see Fig. 3). When the "paid" card is passing through the lower analyzer, the X hole is sensed to complete the following circuit (Fig. l)

Elimination circuit-M.From line 28, through contacts LCL', contacts 44, common 43 of the lower analyzer, the brush LB sensing the X perforation, plug wire 80, special plug socket 8|, special cam contacts L32 (timed to close at the X point), special relay 12, special closed contacts PI5, hand switch 82, and to line 20.

Energization of magnet I2 by above circuit opens contacts 12a in total print circuit K and also closes holding contacts 121; to by-pass cam contacts L32 and the lower analyzer part of the circuit.

Magnet I2 is thus maintained energized until cam contacts PIS open shortly after the printing portion of the total print and reset cycle which follows passage through the lower analyzer of the group of cards in which a paid card occurred. The position of the paid card in the group is immaterial. No matter where it happens to be in the group, circuit M will be formed and held until after the total printing period of the reset cycle which follows the change to the next group of cards.

In above manner, whenever a group of cards includes a paid card, the printing of the ,total from the entire group is suppressed. Case 1 given here is merely illustrative; the paid card may be considered a special card or one containing a special perforation and may also be termed an' elimination card. The group containing the special card may be termed a special group.

Second case The cards are arranged in groups, the first card in each group being a header card. The other cards of the group may be termed detail cards. The header cards have a major group field punched with a major group designation and are blank in the minor group columns. The detail cards are perforated in the minor group columns and are blank in the major group columns (see Fig. 4). In addition, the header card has an X hole in a selected column which preferably is a different column than the one selected for containing the X hole of a paid card in Case 1.

Before beginning operations under the second case, major shunt switch 48 (circuit path A--l) is opened.

During passage of two, detail cards of the same group under the lower and upper brushes, circuit A through motor control relay 23 will be in effect, as described in connection with the first case. The minor control columns of these detail cards have agreeing control perforations and consequently during the item reading period of the tabulating cycle, a pick-up coil circuit C will be formed, followed by the formation of holding circuit D, so that contacts Rb are closed when cam contacts L9, LIB open. When the latter cam contacts open, a minor shunt path for relay 23 circuit will be formed as follows (Fig. 1)

Shunt patch A-2 of motor control relay circuit A.From terminal 25, through contacts Rb, plug wire 41, line 84, a special hand switch 85 (closed for the second case), special relay contacts 86a, and to terminal 26.

If, for any reason, the minor group designations do not agree, a minor total taking and resetting cycle will be initiated by failure of shunt path A2 to form.

In the present case, the brushes sensing the major group designations of the cards are not plugged to any of relays R, although it would be immaterial it they were plugged in, since the major group change in Case 2 is not sensed by operation of relays R as will appear from the following description.

During passage of two detail cards through the upper and lower brushes, their blank major group fields, withthe ordinary construction and with switch 48 open, would cause a major group control operation to be effected whether the major field sensing brushes were or were not connected to'relays R. Since no major change has in fact occurred, such major control operation should not be eifected. According to the present invention, the major control circuit is maintained in operation, independently of the major group fields of either detail or header cards and the major group designations of the header card are merely for controlling major group indicating.

During passage of detail cards through the upper and lower analyzers, the following major control circuits are in effect (Fig. 1):

Major control circuit N-through cam contacts L9.From line 28, through line 81, contacts 88a, major control relay 88, contacts L9, terminal 26, line 21, and to line 28.

Major control circuit N-1.--From line 28,

through line 81, contacts 88a, "major relay 88, line 84, switch 85, contacts 88a, terminal 26, line 21, and to line 28. When cam contacts L9 open after the X point of the cycle, circuit N breaks but circuit N--I is still in operation and major relay 88 remains energized.

When the last detail card of a group is under the lower brushes, the header card of the next v group is under the upper brushes, and both a major and minor group control operation must be eflected. As is usual, the major group control operation carries along with it a minor control operation. The minor shunt path A--2, formed to keep circuit A in effect after cam contacts L9, LI8 open, and the major control circuit N-I which must keep the major relay 88 in operation after cam contacts L9 open, both include closed relay contacts 88a.

During the passage of the last detail card of a group through the lower analyzer, relay contacts 88a must be opened to manifest major and minor group changes. The relay contacts 88a are opened under control of the X hole in the header card when analyzed by the upper card analyzer. When the X hole of the header card is sensed by the upper brushes, the following circuit is formed (Fig. 1):

Circuit O.From line 28, through cam contacts LI I, common 91 of the upper analyzer, thebrush UB sensing the X hole, a plug connection 98, a plug socket 9|, special cam contacts L33 (closed a, before X and opened at the I2 point of the tabulating cycle), special relay 88, special hand switch 92 (closed for the second case), and to line 28.

Circuit 0 energizes relay 86 to close contacts 8817 which forms the following holding circuit:

Circuit O1.From line 28, through cam contacts LI5, line 94, line 95, contacts 88b, relay 86, switch 92, and line 28.

Circuit 0-I maintains relay 88 energized afterthe X hole has passed the upper analyzing brush.

Relay 88, energized at the X cycle point opens contacts 88a while cam contacts L9, LI8 afe open, thus causing a break in minor shunt path A2 and a break in major control circuit N-I. As a result 01' the "minor control break, a total taking and resetting cycle is initiated durin which the total of the items entered from the detail cards of the group preceding the header card is printed.

As a result of the major control break, "major" relay 88 is deenergized. Assume Acc. I (Fig. 1a) to have received the major group indication which must now be cleared to prepare it for receiving the new major group indication from the header card which just controlled the major and minor break. Lever 68 of switch S will have been set with its brushes 66a and b in contact with terminals 96a and 96b and its brushes 88c and d engaged with terminals 980 and d. When major" relay 88 is deenergized, contacts 88b close to complete the following circuit:

Circuit P.--From line 28, through line 81, contacts 88b, switch 91, line 98 (continued in Fig. 1a), magnet 99 contacts 65a (closed by energization of magnet 65 in the reset motor circuit I) and to line 28.

Energization of magnet 99 closes contacts 99a and b. Closure of contacts 99a forms a shunt path directly from line 28 through contacts 99a and magnet 99, which by-passes relay contacts 88b.

Closure of contacts 99b forms the following circuit (Fig. 1a):

Circuit Q.From line 28, through cam contacts P8, line I88, contacts 9911, line I8I, termlnal 98c, feelers 88c and d, terminal 96d,,line 88, contacts 55b, magnet 58, and to line 28.

Magnet 58 closes contacts 58b which connects printing magnets 68 to the readout commutators 53, and printing of the major group indication is effected by circuit K, as previously explained. It group indication without printing is desired, thenswitch 14 (see right side of Fig. 1a) of circuit K is opened. v

To clear the major" accumulator, the following circuit is operative to energize clearing magnet 15:

Circuit R.From line 28, through contacts 99a, line I82, terminal 96a, brushes 88a and b, terminal 98b, magnet 15, contacts 85a, to line 28.

The major and minor group change sensing under control of the X hole of the header card upon its analysis by an upper brush UB has been explained.

During the passage of the header card oi! the new group through the lower analyzer, the major group designation borne by this card is entered into the accumulator selected'for major group indication. This is done as follows:

The preceding total print cycle momentarily closed cam contacts P5 to establish the circuit below (Fig. 1): I

Circuit S.--From line 28 through a magnet I85, a switch I84 (in indicating position), cam contacts P5, lower card lever contacts LCL (closed during the reset cycle), and to line 28.

Energization of magnet I85 closes holding contacts I85a and multiple contacts I85b. Closing of contacts I 850. forms the following shunt circuit for magnet I85:

Circuit S1.From line 28, through magnet I85, contacts line 28.

Ia, cam contacts L1, and to 7 Closing of contacts lflb occurred during the reset cycle and is continued through the item analyzing interval of the next and first tabulat ing cycle of the new group, being opened by breaking of circuit 8-! upon opening of contacts L1.

The lower brushes LB for sensing the major group field are plugged, say to sockets I06 at one side of companion contacts I051), while plug sockets ID! at the opposite side are plug connected to sockets 50 of the selected accumulator. Thus, when the header card is passing through the lower analyzer, the following entry circuit for the selected accumulator is formed:

Circuit T.-From line 28, through contacts LCL', contacts 44, common 43, the brush LB, sensing a major field perforation, the plug connection (not shown) to socket I06, the paired contacts lliib (now closed) in series with the socket Hit, the serially connected socket I01, the plug connection (not shown) to socket 50 of the selected accumulator, the add magnet 52, and to line 20.

The header card has no minor group designations. The second card of the new group; namely, the first detail card, has the minor group indication. Since contacts L1 open to break circuit SI during the first tabulating cycle, magnet l and contacts i051; will be open during the passage of the first detail card of the new group through the lower analyzer. In order to effect minor group indicating, magnet i 05 is energized, in the present case, during the second tabulating cycle.

Further, when the header card and the following detail card are under lower and upper brushes, respectively, an apparent group change is presented due to absence of minor group designations on the header card. Consequently, circuit path A2 will not form and unless provision were made to the contrary, a minor total printing and reset cycle would occur after the header card passed the lower analyzer.

The analysis of the X hole in the header card by a lower brush LB is utilized to control means to hold over the minor group indicating period to the second tabulating cycle and to suppress minor group change sensing at the end of the first tabulating cycle.

As substantially shown in Fig. 2, contacts US are closed from the beginning of the tabulating cycle to just before the X cycle point, then after a brief open gap, close again at an intermediate point of the X cycle interval, and then remain closed until opened again near the X cycle point of the next tabulating cycle. During the portion of the X cycle interval in which contacts L|5 are closed, contacts L34 are still closed. The X hole of a card column traverses a brush UB or LB during the X cycle interval, so that when the X hole of the header card is sensed by a lower brush LB, during the time that contacts U5 and L34 are both simultaneously closed, the following circuit is formed:

Circuit U.-From line 28, through contacts LCL', contacts 44, lower common 43, lower brush LB sensing the X hole of the header card, a plug connection (not shown) to socket Ill) (Fig. 1), cam contacts L34 (closed during the X to 12 period), line Ill, magnets H2 and H3 in parallel, line 94, cam contacts U5, and to line 20.

Energization of magnet H2 closes contact Ilia to shunt out the lower analyzing means and cam contacts L34 as follows: From line 20, th ough contacts Ll5, line 94, magnets H2 and H3, in

parallel, contacts ilIa, switch 92, to line 28. Thus, when contacts L34 open, the shunt circult is operative, so that magnets H2 and H3 remain energized when cam contacts L9 andLlO in minor control circuit A open later in the cycle.

Magnet "2 also closes contacts 2b to form the following shunt path for circuit A and prevent deenergization of motor control relay 23 when cam contacts L9, LIO open.

Shunt path A2'.From terminal 25, through special line H5, contacts 2b, and to terminal 28.

By means of shunt path A-Z', the apparent group change between the header card and the following detail card, both in the same group, is rendered ineflective to cause a minor control break with consequent initiation of a total print and reset cycle.

There is also an apparent major group change betweenthe header card and the following detail card, but before cam contacts L9 open, cam contacts Ll5 open to break circuit Ol, thereby causing deenergization of relay 86 with the resulting closure of contacts 860 so that major control circuit N-l is returned to operation.

Cam contacts Ll5 make again, as previously explained, at an intermediate point of the gap between the X and 12 cycle points to permit formation of circuit U when the X hole of the header card is sensed by a brush LB, thereby suppressing an apparent minor group change, as above explained. Thus, during the first tabulating cycle of a series, when the header card is passing the lower brushes, the apparent minor and major group changes are rendered ineifective to cause group control change sensing operations. During the second tabulating cycle of the series, cam contacts L15 break before cam contacts L9, LID open so that the holding circuit of magnets H2 and H3 is opened. This restores the minor group change sensing control to relays R which requires making of shunt path A2 under control of agreeing minor group perforations. The major control change sensing means remains in the same condition as at the later portion of the first tabulating cycle and until the X hole of the next header card is sensed by an upper brush UB.

During the first tabulating cycle of the series, the major group indication was entered in a selected accumulator by circuit T, as already explained. The header card has no minor group item so that minor group indication must be taken from the second card of the roup, which is also the first detail card of the g oup.

It will be recalled that circuit U energized magnets H2 and H3. The function of magnet i I3 is to permit group indication during the second tabulating cycle. Energization of magnet I I3 closes contact 3a (bottom of Fig. 1) during the X cycle point of the first tabulating cycle and holds these contacts closed during the item analyzing period of the second tabulating cycle during which the first detail card traverses the lower brushes.

When contacts I I3a close, the following circuit is formed through magnet I05: xn

Circuit S2.From -'line 20, through agnet I05, switch I04, contacts 3a, card lever contacts LCL', and to line 28.

Magnet I05 holds contacts 1% closed during the second tabulating cycle and with the brushes LB sensing the minor group field plugged to selected sockets I06 and a selected accumulator plugged to sockets I01, the minor group designation will be entered in the accumulator during the second tabulating cycle by circuits such as circuit T, previously described.

Case 3 It is desired to suppress minor group total taking and resetting operations until the change is made to a selected group. For example, if the cards have monthly data and are arranged in groups classified by months, it may be desired to obtain the semi-annual totals only. The first six months groups 1, 2 6 are arranged in any order but in advance of the second six months groups. It is required, however, that the first group of second six months groups be the seventh month group.

In case 3, switch 48, is closed, so that major control magnet 88 is energized through a circuit from line 20, through line 81, contacts 88a, magnet 88, switch 48, contacts UCLe, line 21, to line 28. Energization of magnet 88 by this circuit continues until a card fails to feed to brushes UB, as a result of which card lever relay contacts UCLe open to break above circuit. Major control magnet 88, however, remains energized through control circuit N until contacts L9 open during the next tabulating cycle when the last card passes through the lower analyzer.

In the present case, the cards for one year only are run through the machine. Thus, when the second multiple or plural group of six monthly groups of cards has passed through the machine, the cards will be depleted, and major control relay 88 will be deenergized to initiate a major total taking operation during which major and minor totals are taken.

When the first six months groups pass through the machine, then the first card of the seventh month group arrives at the upper brush, and with such arrival, means are provided to effect total taking of the preceding six months groups. Before arrival of the seventh month group, means are provided to suppress sensing of monthly group changes, and similarly after the total taking of the first six months group initiated by arrival of the seventh month group at the upper brushes, sensing of monthly group changes is again suppressed until the cards are exhausted.

When cards of the same group are concurrently passing the upper and lower card analyzers, minor shunt path AI will be formed to keep motor control relay 23 energized.

When any group change occurs except to the seventh month group, then motor control relay is maintained energized during the open interval of cam contacts L9, LIII by the following shunt path for circuit A:

Shunt path A3.--From terminal 25, through line I28, special relay contacts I22a, special switch I2I (closed for Case 3), plug wire 41, switch 48 (closed for Case 3) contacts UCLe, and terminal 28.

When a card with a 7 classification appears at the upper brushes, total taking of all the preceding groups is to be effected and the means for suppressing group change sensing is to be rendered ineffective. This is done under control of the 7 group perforation and the upper brush sensing this perforation. When the 7" is sensed by the upper brush UB, the following circuit is established:

Circuit W.--From line 20, through cam contacts LII, upper common 31, brush UB sensing the "7 in the group control column, plug connection 38, plug connection extension I 24, plug socket I25, special cam contacts L (closed during the '1 cycle interval), special magnets I28, I22, card lever contacts LCL, and to line 28.

Magnet I28, being energized, closes contacts I28a to by-passcam L35 and the upper analyzer and to maintain magnets I28 and I22 energized through the following circuit:

Circuit W1.From line 28, through line I21, special cam contacts L88, contacts I28a, magnets I25, I22, contacts LCL, and to line 28.

Magnet I22, upon energization, opens contacts I22a in shunt path A-8 and holds these contacts open during the open interval of cam contacts L9, LIII. Consequently, circuit A is broken and a total print and reset cycle follows.

In above manner, group change sensing was placed under control of the sensing of a selected designation of the upper card by the upper analyzer and was not controlled by a comparison of the upper and lower cards. This is analogous to Case 2 where a major group change sensing was under control of the analysis of an X hole by the upper analyzer. The 3d case illustrates this principle as applied only to the minor group change sensing and with a selected number designation other than the X hole, whereby a change to a selected group efiects multi-group total taking whereas in Case 2, change to any group effected major and minor total taking of the single preceding group.

SUMMARY In Case 1, the presence of an X hole on a paid" card falling in any order within its group of due cards causes elimination of total printing of the items taken from the entire such group. The presence of the special X hole is sensed by the lower card analyzer to form elimination circuit M which is held in operation while the remaining cards of the same group pass through the machine and throughout the printing period of the total taking cycle which follows the passage of the last card of the group past the lower analyzer.

This eliminaiton circuit opens contacts 12a in total print circuit K so that total printing of the accumulation of items from the cards of the group is suppressed. Clearing of the accumulators takes place, however. The final result is the complete elimination from the tabulation of data taken from any group including a special card.

The total printing control is restored to normal by cyclical means comprising cam contacts PI8, which open after the printing portion of the reset cycle.

In Case 2, total printing is suppressed as in Case 1, but also clearing of the accumulators is suppressed; that is, the entire total taking and reset cycle is suppressed following an apparent minor group change (between the header card and the following detail card) as well as following an apparent major group change (between two successive detail cards or between a header card and the following detail card). This suppression upon an apparent minor group change is effected when the lower analyzer senses a special perforation, the X hole, in a special header card. The sensing of the special perforation by the lower analyzer forms circuit U through magnet II2 to close shunt path A-2' which suppresses apparent minor group change sensing operation. The restoration to normal of the minor group change sensing means is effected by the cyclical means comprising cam contacts LI5 when they open during the second tabulating cycle of a series to open the holding circuit through relay I I2.

The apparent, though not actual, major group changes are suppressed by the normal closure of a pair of relay contacts 86a to form major control circuit Nl which prevents major group change operation. The sensing of the actual major group change is effected by the opening of contacts 86a when the upper analyzer senses the special X hole on the header card to form circuit which energizes relay 86. The major group change sensing suppression is restored to normal by cyclical means comprising cam contacts Ll when they open during the first tabulating cycle of the new series.

In Case 2, the minor group indication period is held over to the second tabulating cycle of the series by energization of magnet H3 by circuit U which is completed by analysis of the special perforation of the first card of the group by the lower card analyzer.

In Case 3, as well as in Cases 1 and 2, total printing is suppressed when a group change is sensed by the ordinary group change sensing means. As in Case 2, zeroizing as well as total printing is suppressed upon apparent group change. In Case 3, the suppression is effected by normally closed contacts l22a, forming shunting path A-J. The suppressing means is rendered ineffective by sensing of a predetermined special perforation by the upper brushes. This causes circuits W and W-l to be formed for energizing magnet I22 to open contacts Ina, thereby breaking minor group sensing shunt path A-3. At the beginning of the first tabulating cycle of the new series, cyclical means comprising cam contacts L38 open to restore the suppressing means to normal. Thus, in Case 3, total taking of a preceding series of groups is effected when a selected group arrives at the upper analyzer while single group change sensing is suppressed.

Cases 1 and 2 may be combined to permit the machine to operate at the same time with the joint features of these two cases. Thus, with switch 48 (Fig. 1) open, switches 85 and 92 closed, the plug connection to socket H0 made from the brush LB sensing the column in which the x hole of the "header" card is punched, and plug connection .0 made from the corresponding brush UB, sensing the latter column, to plug socket II, the machine is set for operation under Case 2 on header and detail cards. At the same time, switch 82 may remain closed as in Case 1 operation and plug connection 80 made from the lower brush LB, sensing the columnv in which the x hole of the "paid" card is punched, to plug socket II. It is understood that the X hole bearing column of a "paid" card is different than the x hole bearing column or a "header card" so that the X hole of a paid" card will not be semedbythebrushUBconnectedtoplugwire 90 and so that the X hole of a header card will not be sensed by the brush LB connected to plug wire 80.

The machine is now set for operation according to the features of Cases 1 and 2. The shunt circuit A2' will be operative to suppress minor group change operation during the first cycle when there is an apparent minor group change between the header card and the following card. The apparent major group change during the first cycle also will be suppressed in the manner explained in connection with Case 2. The shunt circuit Al of case 1 will not be operative but the shunt circuit A-2 of Case 2 will act after the first cycle to maintain the machine in tabulating cycle operation until the minor group control number of the last card of a group finds no agreement in the minor group field of the next card. If the latter card is a header card, a total taking cycle will be initiated to cause the total of the preceding group to be recorded. If this preceding group had as one of its cards a paid card, then switch 12a of circuit M would have been opened, so that the total would not be recorded but zeroizing would be effected during the total taking cycle.

While the invention has been disclosed in the several forms herein shown and described, it is understood that the principles of the invention may be utilized in other forms and with changes, modifications and variations within the scope of mechanical skill. I therefore intend to be limited only by the scope of the following claim.

What is claimed is as follows:

In a machine for operating cyclically on successive cards of a group, an intermediate one of which has certain group data to control groupchange sensing means which is adapted to vary machine operation upon occurrence of a change in the group data; means to analyze the cards for data, group designating means, normally ineffective entering connections between the analyzing means and the group designating means, contacts closed under control of the analyzing means upon analyzing a special designation of a card which is within the same group as and which immediately precedes the intermediate card, a circuit completed by closure of said contacts, a holding circuit established by the aforementioned circuit, means operated by the first mentioned circuit and the holding circuit for rendering said connections effective during analysis of the intermediate card so as to enter the group data from the intermediate card into the group designating means, and means for breaking the holding circuit to cause the said connections to become ineilective again before the card following the intermediate card is analyzed.

GUSTAV V. A. MALMROS.

Images