US2265418A - Record-controlled accumulator - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 9, 1941.

5. BRAND 2,265,418

RECORD-CONTROLLED ACCUMULATOR Filed Jan. 31, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 ZiOFF FIGJ i INVENTOR ATTORNEY Dec. 9, 1941. 5. BRAND 2,265,418

RECORD-CONTROLLED ACCUMULATOR Filed Jan. 31, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 z INVgZTOR ATTORNEY Dec. 9, 1941. 5. BRAND 2,265,418

7 RECORD-CONTROLLED ACCUMULATOR Filed Jan. 51, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIE-3.5.

fh'llllllai M AiToRNEY lNV ENTOR w 9, 1941. 5. BRAND 2,265,418

RECORD-CONTROLLED ACCUMULATOR Filed Jan. 31, 1939' 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 /O 1:11am O 20 23 I95? --20 100 0 E I D D 0- 22 103 0 ijaa @22 4 O aa O FIG.8.

CXMRAL'TAER SIG/WEN?! ATTORNEY Dec. 9, 1941. 5. BRAND 2,265,418

RECORD-CONTROLLED ACCUMULATQR Filed Jan. 31, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 F IGJQ CYCZE ATTORNEY Dec. 9, 1941. 5, BRAND 2,265,418

RECORD-CONTROLLED ACCUMULATOR Filed Jan. 31, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 u/V/rs mvs mums I INVENTO ATTORNEY 5. BRAND 2,265,418

RECORD- CONTROLLED ACCUMULATOR Dec. 9, 1941.

Filed Jan. 31, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIGDJZ.

INVENTOR ATTORN EY Patented Dec. 9, 1941 asconb-con'raonmn ACOUMULATOB Samuel Brand, Binghamton, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, Y., a corporation of New York Application January 31, 1939, Serial No. 253,818

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a record controlled machine and more particularly to an accumulator operated by a record sheet having graph- -ical characters-positioned in a plurality of col umns. I

The present invention contemplates reading of the characters by a device of the general type in-my copending' application Serial No. 253,820, filed on Jan. 31, 1939, now Patent 2,209,107. In the copending applicatiom the characters are each scanned individually and progressively with each of the characters being formed to influence the scanning means at certain times during the scanning thereof in conformity with a code, and means are provided-to selectively energize certain work circuits according to the time of influencing of the scanning means.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention which is the basis for the copending application, the characters are describedas formed of an electricity conducting substance in a legible variation of conventional shapes. Spaced sensing brushes engage the record sheet which is fed past the brushes to permit scanning of the characters progressively fromfend to end along a straight line. Consequently, the brushes will be electrically interconnected when they simultaneously encounter connected portions of a character these connected portions comprising index marks distributed in conformance to the value of the character as per a code. Moreover, some or each of the characters may comprise a composite character formed with index marks separate from the body part of thecharacter and positioned along the scanning line'for likewise interconnecting the brushes at certain timed intervals during the scanning of the character in conformity with the code. A plurality of work circuits are provided connected through a distributor to a common circuit. An amplifying vacuum tube is in the common circuit and its grid bias is arranged to be changed each time the sensing brushes ar interconnected to per- .mit passage of current through the tube. The first brush interconnection by each character causes the distributor to. be connected by a one revolution clutch to a shaft geared to the drive shaft of the feeding means, to be thereby operated in timed rate relation thereto. A a result,

the distributor will effect selective energization of the work circuits in accordance with the time of interconnection of the brushes by each character, the distributor being'disconnected after the Scanning of each character. a

As pointed out in said copending application, the characters are so formed with relation to the brush spacing that the brushes will be interconnected only at the coded times even though the characters may be irregularly disposed on the record sheet. This feature is of exceptional value vertical and horizontal columns.

in the present invention as will be obvious as the description proceeds.

The present invention makes use of a record sheet having numerical characters of conductive substance positioned thereon in a plurality of A set 01' sensing brushes is provided for each vertical column and the sheet is fed vertically to permit simultaneous and progressive scanning of each character in a horizontal column. Now the feeding means is connected to a driving motor by a one revolution clutch as in said copending application arranged to halt the feeding means to produce a timed interruption after the scanning of each horizontal column of characters. It will be understood that by vertical feeding of the sheet is meant vertical with respect to the vertical and horizontal columns of characters.

A distributor and an amplifying tube are pro vided as in said copending application for each set of sensing brushes with each distributor being individually connected to the driving motor by a one revolution clutch as set out above upon responding distributors. 30

numerical characters and a magnet for each ter switch is provided for each magnet in series therewith, the switch to be closed by. a master relay which is energized upon cooperation of the first index mark of each character with the related scanning unit. The driving means of the accumulator is also arranged to effect deenergization of the storage relays and restarting of the feeding means after operation of the emitter.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an accumulating machine whose operation is controlled'by a record sheet having graphical characters positioned in a plurality of vertical and horizontal columns.

-It' is an additional object of the present invention toprovide a machine of the type described in which all oi the characters in a horizontalcolumn are scanned simultaneously to set up a series of storage devices with means being provided to enter the values of the scanned characters on accumulator wheels under the control of the storage devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide, a machine of the type described in which the vertical columns are scanned simultaneously step by step with one character in each column being scanned during each step to effect selective energization of a related set of relays which in turn connect the related accumulator wheel controlling magnet to a contact of the emitter according to the value of the character, the emitter being operative during the interval between steps to energize the magnets atvarious selected times.

Further objects of the instant invention reside in any novel feature of construction or operation or novel combination of parts present in the embodiment of the invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings;

In the drawings; Fig. 1 is a plan view of the reading device. Fig. 2 is a view along line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view along line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the distributors. Fig. 5 is a partial view showing the feed clutch as taken along line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 shows a portion of the record sheet.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 6.

course, that other means may be used to form the characters, and other substances may .be used to render the characters conductive. It will be noted that the characters aredisposed on the sheet in horizontal and vertical columns, having as many horizontal columns as may be desired.

The vertical columns are limited to four in numher, but it will become apparent lateron that the number of vertical columns may be increased. In other words, the characters on the sheet are arranged to indicate a vertical column of four digit numbers.

Along each margin of the record sheet 20 is a series of pin holes 22 for use in feeding the sheet past the sensing brushes which are located as shown diagrammatically. There are four sets of brushes, each set including a pair of spaced wire brushes 23 and 24 arranged to scan each character progressively from top to bottom along a straight line. of the brushes of one set with a connected portion of a character, those brushes will be electrically interconnected. The manner in which such interconnections are used to eilect operation of a statistical machine will be pointed out later.

The reading device.- ernploying the sensing brushes is shown in Figs. 1 to 5. The electric motor- 25 is mounted on a base 26 andis conshaft 23 carries a ratchet 32 which forms a part of a single revolution clutch as shown in Fig. 5. This clutch also includes a disc 33 carried ad- Jacent to the ratchet 32 by a sleeve .34 which is mounted loosely on shaft 29 and has a gear 36 (Fig. 1) secured thereto. A pawl 36 is pivotally mounted on disc 33 and biased toward the ratchet 32 by a spring 31 which extends from one end of the pawl to a pin carried by the disc. The other end of the pawl is shaped similarly to tooth 33 formed orr the periphery of the disc 33. These two parts, the tooth and the pawl end, engage the end of a lever 39 which is pivoted on a stud 40 secured to frame 30, and is biased in a clockwise direction against a stop 4| by spring 42. The position of the pawl 36 on the disc 33 is such that, when they are disengaged from the lever 39, the end of the pawl is slightly in advance of the tooth 38. Thus, when the tooth and pawl are engaged by the lever, the pawl will be raised to disconnect the disc from the ratchet. A latch member 43 is pivoted at 44 on lever 39 and biased in clockwise direction by spring 45. The motion of the latch member is limited by a guide pin 46 carried by the member and extending through a slot in lever 39.

The latch member 43 is in the same plane as the disc 33 and so arranged that the tooth 33 will be latched between the end of the lever 39 and the member 43.

The opposite end of the lever 39 carries an armature 41 for cooperation with a magnet 43 mounted upon bracket 49. Thus, when the magnet 43 is energized, the lever 39 will be moved to release the pawl 36 and disc 33 allowing the pawl 36 to engage the ratchet 32 and efiect revolution of the disc 33. As the disc nears completion of a single revolution, the tooth 38 will raise the latch member 43 and the end of the pawl 36 will strike the lever 39. The pawl will then be raised and disconnected from the ratchet just as the tooth strikes the end of the lever, at which time the latch member drops into place. Consequently, each time the magnet 46 is energized, the gear 35 will be turned one revolution in a clockwise direction. A pair of intermediate gears 50 and 5i (Figs. 1 and 3) are secured to a shaft 52 which is journaled in frames 30 and 3|. The former gear 50 engages gear 35 to be rotated thereby and gear 5| then drives gear 53 with which it is engaged. Gear 53 is secured to shaft 54, journaled in frames 3| and 55. A feed roll 56 is secured to the shaft 54 between the'frames and is provided with a number of pins 51 for cooperation with the pinholes 22 in the record sheet 20.

The record sheet 20 is arranged to enter the reading device from the left side as viewed in Fig. 2' and to pass over a table 58 mounted be- Upon simultaneous engagement tween frames 3! and 55. From the table 58 the sheet passes over the feed roll 56 and out of the right side of the device. A pressure roller 59 (Figs. 1 and 2) is rotatably mounted between levers 69 and 6| which are secured to a rod 62 journaled in frames 3i and 55. Another lever 63 is secured to the rod 62 and extends outside of the device to permit manual raising of the roller 59, the lever 63 being normally biased in a counterclockwise direction by spring 64 to hold the pressure roller 59 firmly against the record sheet. A latch lever 65 is pivotally mounted upon frame 3| and biased against a pin 66 carried by the manual lever 63. The end of the latch lever is so shaped that,-fu'pon manual raising of the pressure roller, the pin 66 will drop.

into a notch on thelatch lever 65 to hold the left side of the device and carries a leaf spring 68 which acts to hold the record sheet firmly against the table and to'pooperate with the feed roller to maintain the record ,sheet taut. The brush sets are mounted above'the table 58 so that the brushes will engage the record sheet as it is passed thereover. It will be seen from the wiring diagram that one brush 23 of each set of brushes will be connected to a common source. These brushes 23 are, therefore, mounted on a single plate 69 secured to an insulating block 10. The remaining brushes 24 are mounted on individual conducting strips 1| secured to another insulating block I2. The two insulating blocks are in turn mounted between a pair-pf plates I3 and I4. A rod I5 extending between the frames 3| and 55 supports one end of these plates, and an adjusting shaft I6 journaled in the" frames 3| and 55 supports the other side of the plates.

This shaft I6 is threaded for cooperation with a nut 'I'I carried by plate I4 to efiect horizontal movement or'adjustment of the brushes upon rotation of the shaft I6 by a hand wheel 18. A spring I9 between plate I3 and frame 55 serves to keep the threads tight.

The position of the brushes and the feed roll '-are so related that, when the feed roll clutch is latched, the brushes will be positioned midway between two horizontal columns of characters. The movement of the feed roll is so related to the movement of shaft 29 that one revolution of the shaft will cause ,the sheet to be moved past the brushes to permit scanning of onehorizontal column of characters and halted with the brushes midway between the scanned line and the next horizontal line of characters. In this manner, all four digits in a number are simultaneously scanned progressively from top to bottom along a straight vertical line.

As is seen from Fig. 10, the sheet is fed before the emitter has ceased operating, but this feeding merely advances the sheet from the prior stopping point midway between two characters and no character index is scanned until after the emitter has ceased operation.

In addition to the ratchet 32, shaft 29 has a gear 80 (Fig. 1) secured thereto. Another gear 8| is mounted on'the end of shaft 82 and is in engagement with the gear 80 thereby being constantly driven in a direction opposite to the rotation of shaft 29, which is assumed tobe clockwise as viewed in Fig. 3. The shaft 82 is journaled in frames 3| and 55 and has four ratchets 83 (Fig. 4) secured thereto forming part of four singlerevolution clutches. These clutches are similar to the clutch described for driving the sheet feed roll and each one includes a sleeve 84 loosely mounted on the shaft 82, a disc 85, a pawl 86, a lever 81, a latch member 88 and an armature 89 carried by the lever 81. Four electromagnets 90 are also mounted in between frames 3| and 55 and are positioned to cooperate with the armatures 89. Thus, when one of these magnets is energized, the corresponding sleeve 84 will be gaged by the brush 92 upon rotation thereof.

' The segments are insulated from each other by portions of a supporting member I05 which is sensing .brushes.

secured to the base 26,. The parts just described 7 are so related to each other that, when a distributor clutch is latched, the distributor brush 92 will be in contact with segment I00.

In order to understand the operation of the multiple scanning means just described, it will be necessary first to carefully examine Fig. 7. As pointed out hereinbefore; characters 2| are elec- .trically conductive and are to be scanned progressively from top to bottom by the horizontally spaced sensing brushes 23 and 24. It will be seen that both the vertical and diagonal bars of the characters are considerably narrower horizontally than the space between the brushes so that the brushes cannot be electrically interconnected by a simultaneous engagement with a single vertical bar or a single diagonal bar. Further, those diagonal bars which form an acute angle with a vertical bar are disconnected therefrom (see numerals 1 and 4), to avoid interconneotion of the brushes by simultaneous engagement with connected diagonal and vertical bars. It now becomes obvious that these characters are so formed and their configuration is such that only the horizontal bars will interconnect the Since the horizontal bars or index marks are considerably wider than the space between'the sensing brushes, it becomes apparent that the characters may be irregularly disposed crosswise of the line of scanning, as may occurin a typewritten record, and still effect interconnection of the sensing brushes by each horizontal bar. It is to be understocd that the spacing of the brushes 23 and 24 may be even less' than shown as long as they will be interconnected only by the horizontal bars.

.For purposes of illustration and explanation only, the characters in Fig. '7 have been divided by horizontal 1lnes spaced along the line of mo- I tion of the record sheet and marked in accordance with the corresponding segment controlled by brush 92 when'the particular line is under the brushes. It will be recalled that the rate of rotation of the distributor brush and the rate of movement of the sheet have a timed relation since both are driven by the same motor. The space between the horizontal lines is the distance that the sheet will be moved past the sensing brushes in the time that it takes the distributor brush to move from one distributor segment to the next. However, it is to be understood that the distributor brush is not necessarily moved from one segment to the next when the sheet is moved the distance from one horizontal line to the next. It will be explained in connection with the wiring diagram how the first interconneotion of the sensing brushes 23 and. 24 by a horizontal bar of each character will effect oper ation of the one revolution clutch resulting in a single revolution of the distributor brush, the size and spacing of the characters allowing a complete revolution before scanning of the next character. In other words, the first horizontal bar'of each character will always be encountered by the sensing brushes 23 and 24 while the distributor brush 92 is on segment I00, whereupon the distributor brush will be rotated and aft-er all segments have been contacted'thereby, it will be held stationary on segment I00 until the first horizontal bar of the next character is encountered. Examination of the character- 0 with regard to the spaced horizontal lines reveals that sheet.

the sensing brushes will be interconnected while the distributor. brush engages segments I and ated under the successive control of the relays of each unit. The accumulator mechanism (Fig. 9) is of a well-known type and therefore a detailed description is not required here. For a detailed description, reference may be made to Patent #1,976,617. The drive shaft I06 may be driven by a motor I01 (Fig. 11) and acts through gears I08 to rotate shaft I09 clockwise. Loosely mounted on shaft I09 are four gears IIO, one for each vertical column of numerals on the record An accumulator wheel I I I loosely mounted on shaft I I2 is provided for each gear I I0 and is to be driven thereby through gear II3. A magnet H4 is ,also provided for each gear H0, and each of these magnets may be individually energized at various times during the cycle of the machine. Energization of the magnet H4 attracts the armature II5 to displace the attached lever I I6, causing the clutching member I I1; slidably mounted on shaft-I09, to engage member I I8 integral with the gear IIO. when thus coupled to the shaft I09, gear IIO drives the accumulator wheel for the remainder of the cycle. At the end of the accumulating cycle, bar H9 is moved by after, the time of energization of the magnet II4 will depend upon the value of the character secured shaft I06 to effect operation of switches I38, I39, I40 and I respectively. The first two of these switches, namely, I38 and I39 are con- I nected in series with the emitter and operate to make a circuit after the emitter brush has con tacted a segment and to break the circuit before the brush leaves the segment to avoid arcing at w the brush. Switches I40 and HI are-in other circuits which are now to be considered.

Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, a source of direct current provides a positive line I42 and a negative line I43. It will be seen that both motors and I01 are connected directly between the lines chronizing means (not shown) interconnecting motors 25 and I01, the. time required by the shaft I06'to rotate from one division to the next is the same as that required by the distributor brush 92 to move from one segment to the next. At the beginning of the scanning period cam I31 closes switch I fora short time (Fig. 10) to connect feed clutch magnet 48 between lines I42 and I43. Eriergization of magnet 48 will operate its related one revolution clutch to feed the record from a point midway between characters to the first scanned. For instance, if an 8 is scanned,-

the magnet II4 will be energized to effect rotation of the accumulator wheel a suflicient amount to moveeight numbers on the wheel successively into reading position. Each gear II3 carries a number of pins I 2I which cooperate with fln-' gers I22 to prevent over-throw ofthe wheels III upon release of the clutching element.

The usual carry mechanism is provided with each accumulator wheel and acts, when that wheel passes through zero, to advance the wheel of the next higher order.

A resetting mechanism is provided which includes a magnet I 23 arranged to be energized upon closure of key switch I24 (Fig. 11). The magnet I23 effects a single revolution of reset shaft I25 (Fig; 9) in a manner fully described in the aforementioned patent. Gear I26, carried by shaft I25, engages gear I21 to rotate shaft H2. The shaft I I2 has a groove running lengthwise thereof which cooperates with a pawl I28 carried by each accumulator wheel to pick up that wheel and reset it to zero.

An emitter (Fig. 11) is associated with the accumulator mechanism and includes a;set of interoonnecting brushes I30 and I3I' mounted for rotation by shaft I06, one of said brushes I30 being constantly in contact with a conducting ring I32 and the other being arranged to successively contact nine conducting segments I33 these contacts being diagrammatically illustrated as compressed into an arc of limited angular extent for simplification only, such contacts actually bein distributed around shaft I06, approximately 215 degrees. Four cams I34, I35, I33and'I31 are also character, whereupon a horizontal column of numbers is fed past the multiple scanning means and the record is fed to a point midway between the successive characters, where it is stopped for a predeterminedinterval of time. Now as previously explained, each character in the horizontal to indicate the order scanned thereby. i

As previously mentioned, all of the brushes 23 of each scanning unit are connected together and to wire I43. A single battery I44 is used for biasing the grids of-the amplifying vacuum tubes I45, one of which is provided for each scanning unit. Line I43 is connected by wires I46 to the cathode of each tube and one side of the battery is also connected to the cathode. The other side of the battery is connected by wire I" to the grid resistor I48 of each tube. The cathode heaters of the tubes are also connected together in series between lines I42 and I43 and controlled by manual .switch I49; Now each time a set of brushes 23 and 24 are interconnected'by portions of a character 2I, a circuit will be completed from one side of battery I44 through the corresponding resistor I48, the interconnected brushes 24 and 23, a

portion of line I43, wire- I46'to the cathode side of the battery; Consequently, the grid bias of the corresponding tube will be changed in theeach tube is connected toline I43 and the plate is connected to brush 92 of the corresponding distributor. Each of these distributor segments I00, IOI, I02, I03 and I04 are connected to line I42 through relays I00a, Ia, "2a, I03a, and I 04a respectively, and wire I49. As previously pointed out, distributor brush 92 will be in conone revolution clutch is. operated to start rota-' tion of distributor brush 92. Thereafter, certain of relays I Ia, I02a, I03a and I04a will be energized in accordance with the segment contacted by brush 92 at the particular time that the sensing brushes 23 and 24 are interconnected by the character being scanned. In other words,

' the relays willbe selectively energized according to the value of the scanned character as set forth by the code.

Contacts- I00c are also closed when relay I00a -is energized to complete a circuit from line I43 through contacts I40, wire I50, contacts I00c, wire I5I corresponding master relay I00d to line I42. The resulting energization of the master relay closes contacts I We and I001, the former establishing a holding circuit from line I42 through relay I 0011, contacts I00e, wire I52 and contacts I40 to line I43, the latter contacts I00f being connected in series with the corresponding accumulator magnet II4.

As oneof the relays IOIa, I02a, I03a, I04a is energized, it closes the corresponding set of contacts IOIb, I02b, I03b, I04b respectively, to complete a holding circuit therefor from line I42 through wire I49, the relay and contacts, and wire I50 to line I43. The corresponding set of I contacts IOIc, I020, I030, I040, are also closed to complete a circuit from line I42 through wire I53, the corresponding one of relays IOId, I02d, I03d, mm, the closed 0 and b contacts, wire I50 and contacts I40 to line I43. Relay IOI d is arranged'to operate three double throw switches comprising contacts IOIe and IOIf, IOIg and IOI h, I0I9' and I0 Ik, with the IOIf, IOIh and MI]: being normally closed. Relay I02d operates two double throw switches comprising contacts I02e and I02j,

and I02g and I02h, with I02! and I02h being nor-.

mally closed. Relay I03d operates three double throw switches I03e and I03,f, I030 and I03h, I037" and I03k with I03f, I03h and N315 being normally closed. Relay I04d operates a double throw switch I04e and I04f with I04) normally closed.

All of the double throw switches of each scanning unit are so interconnected with each other and with the emitter segments I33, which are also numbered from 1 through 9, that the selective energization of the storage relays in accordance with the code will operate those switches to connect the line I42 through the corresponding magnet II4, master contacts I00f, wire I54, double throw switches to the segment I33 having the same number as the scanned numerical char: acter. If a 1" has been scanned, the relays I00a and [04a have been energized, the former starting the distributor and the latter effecting opening of contacts I04f and closing of I04e. A connection is then made from wire I54 through contacts I 04c,

I02) and IOIf to the 1 segment I33. If a 2 is scanned, the connection is through contacts I04f, I02g, IOIh and I03e to the 2 segment. Similarly, a 3 will make a connection through contacts I04e, I02! and IOIe; a 4 through contacts I04}, I02h, I0llc and M311; 9. 5 through I04f, I029, and IOI9; a 6 through I04e and I 3 I02e; a "7 through I04], I02h, IOU and I03h: an "8 through I04 I 027;, IOIi and I 039; and a 9" through I04f, I020, IOIh and I031. If a 0 is scanned, a connection is made from wire I54- through contacts I041, I02h, IOIlc to I037. But for obvious reasons contacts I037 are not connected to the emitter since the accumulator need not be affected by a zero.

Thus, during the'scanning period, each pair of sensing brushes scans a character and selectively sets up a series of storage relays which connects the corresponding accumulator magnet to the desired emitter segment. From the timing chart, it can be seen that regardless of the character scanned, the storage relays will becompletely set up by the end of the scanning period and before the interval during which scanning is stopped and the emitter is closing its contacts. It is true that, if one of the scanning units is scanning a 4, the corresponding distribut or will not have completed its revolution by the end of the scanning period but there will not be any additional relays energized. Forsexample, if the number 7137 has been scanned, the thousandsmagnet circuits of all the storage relays. 50.-

is connected to the "3 segment I33. After completion of these connections and during the interval between scanning of the characters themselves the emitter brush I3I, which is connected to line I43, will start contacting the segments I33 successively starting with the 9 segment. When the 7" segment is contacted, the units and the thousands magnets I I4 will be energized to operate the corresponding clutch to effect turning of the units andthousands wheels III. When the 3 segment is contacted, the tens magnet II4 will be energized and when the 1 segment is reached, the hundreds magnet II4 will be energized. There then remains one more cycle division before any index of any character can be scanned by the brushes and just slightly before this cycle division is reached, contacts I40 (Fig. 10) are opened to deenergize the master relay I00d and effect deenergization of magnets II4. Opening of contacts I40 also releases the holding Prior, therefore, to the time that any brushes scan an index mark in the succeeding scanning period, the number 7137 has been added to the reading of the accumulator wheels and they are declutched and latched in place. The contacts I were closed before the emitter ceased its operative function, to energize the feed clutch magnet 48 to start feeding of the record from a point midway between succeeding characters and following the termination of the preceding addition (see -Fig. 10), there ensues simultaneous scanning of the next horizontal column of characters to be added to the reading of the accumulator wheels.

It is possible, of course, to use other codes than the one set forth herein as fully explained in my copending application Serial No. 253,819, filed Jan. 31, 1939, now Patent 2,209,106. It is also obviously possible to permit the reading of additional vertical columns by increasing the size of v 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:

1. In a device of the character described controlled by a record sheet having legible characters positioned in a column,-each of'said characters having portions forming electrically conductive index marks positioned along a single straight line in conformance with a character value code, means for sensing said sheet, a source of energy, means for feeding said sheet step by step an amount at leastequal to the extent of the configuration of said characters, respectively, in the direction of saidcolumn to cause said marks to successively engage said sensing means at certain times in conformance with said cdde, means controlling said feeding means to produce a timed interruption between successive feeding steps, an energy controlled storage device, means for causing said successive engagements to'control the flow of energy from said source to said storage device at times in accordance with the code value of said sensed character and for causing said device to be conditioned in accordance with said code value, a movable accumulating element, driving means therefor, a magnet associated with said element to regulate the amount of movement thereof, a normally open, master age device, and means operable by said driving.

means following the operation of said last mentioned means to release said storage device and effect opening of said master switch.

2. In a device of the character described controlled by a record sheet having legible characters positioned in a column, each of said characters having portions forming electrically conductive index marks positioned along a single straight line in conformance with the code character value, means for sensing said sheet, a source of energy, means for feeding said sheet, step by step, an amount at least equal to the extent of the configuration of one of said characters in the direction of said column to cause said marks to successively engage said sensing means at certain times in conformance with said code, means controlling said feeding means to produce a timed interruption between successive feeding steps, a set of relays, a master relay, means controlled by said sensing means and including a distributor operating at a timed rate with respect to the rate of operation of said feeding means for selectively energizing said relays in accordance with the code value of marks sensed and effecting energization of said master relay upon sensing of a character, an accumulator wheel, driving means therefor, a magnet associated with said wheel to regulate the amount of rotation thereof, a normally open master switch in series with said magnet and arranged to be closed upon energization of said master relay, an emitter having a piurality of contacts, each relay of said set of relays being operable to connect said magnet through the ter being operated by said driving means during said interruption to effect timed energization of I each magnet according to the connected contact.

3. In a device of the character described controlled by a record sheet having legible char- I source of energy, means. for feeding said sheet step by step an amount at least equal to the extent of the configuration of one of said characters in the direction of said column to cause said marks to successively engage said sensing means at certain times in accordance with saidcode, a set of relays, amaster relay, a distributor master switch to one of said contacts, said emitoperated intermittently one revolution at a time at a rate proportional to the rate of feeding for selectively energizing the relays of said set in accordance with the code value of marks sensed, means controlled by said sensing means upon the first conditioning thereof by'the first index sensed, to initiate operation of said distributor to energize said master relay, an accumulator wheel, driving means for said wheel, a magnet for said wheel to regulate the amountof rotation thereof, a normally open master switch in series with said magnet and arranged to be closed upon energization of said master relay, an emitter having a plurality of contacts, said relays being operable to connect said magnet to one of said .contacts, said emitter acting in timed rela- .tion to said driving means to effect energization of said magnet at a time depending upon the contact connected.

4. In a device of the character described controlled by a record sheet having legible characters positioned in a column, each of said characters having portions forming electrically conductive index marks positioned along a single straight line in conformance with the code value of said sensed character, means for sensing said sheet, a source of energy, means for feeding said sheet step by step an amount at least equal to the extent of the configuration of one of said characters in the direction-of said column to cause said marks to successively engage said sensing means at certain times in accordance with said code, an accumulator wheel, driving means for said wheel, means operated by said driving means to effect starting of said feeding means, means for causing said successive engagements to control the flow of energy from said source to said device at times inaccordance with the code value of said sensed character and for causing said device to be conditioned in accordance with said code value, means for halting said feeding means after the sensing of each character, a magnet associated with said wheel to regulate the amount of rotation thereof, a normally open master switch in series with said magnet, means eifective upon sensing of said character to close said master switch, means operable by said driving means to connect said magnet through said master switch to said energy source at a selected time in accordance with said code under the control of said storage device and after halting of said feeding means, and means operated by said driving means to release said storage device and effect opening'of said master switch.

. SAMUEL BRAND.

an energy controlled storage device,

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