US2286812A - Connecting device for tabulating machines - Google Patents

Description

L. M. KEEFE June 16, 1942.

CONNECTING DEVICE FOR TABULATING MACHINES Filed Aug, 9, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 16, 1942. L. M. KEEFE 2,286,812

CONNECTING DEVICE FOR TABULATING MACHINES Filed Aug. 9, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 cocoa .INVENTOR Lincoln Hlfeefe l/mM4M ATTORNEYS QOOOOOBIO! will borrow Patented June 16, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONNECTING DEVICE FOR TABULATING MACHINES Lincoln M. Keefe, Springfield, Mass. Application August 9. 1938, Serial No. 223,813

(or. m -azs) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in connecting devices for tabulating machines, and has for a principal object the provision of means for quickly interconnecting the sensing means of a tabulating machine with the accumulating and/or printing means and the machine control means.

In existing electrical tabulating machines, the upper sensing brushes terminate in Jacks and are conveniently located in a plug-board. The lower brushes also terminate in jacks which are for convenience, parallel to the upper brush jacks.

The accumulating and printing devices terminate in other jacks on the plug-board; the machine control means terminate in still other jacks positioned on the plug-board in two groups-one group for association with upper brush jacks, and the other group for association with lower brush jacks. Shunt circuits in the machine also terminate in a row of jacks in the plug-board and usually a major and a minor control plug are available for insertion into these shunt jacks in accordance with the kind of control desired. The major and minor Jacks are normally positioned in "dead Jacks which are provided for holding the plugs so that they do not dangle.

In utilizing the machine, it is customary to interconnect certain of the lower brush Jacks with the accumulating lacks in accordance with the results desired, and as stated above, the machine control jacks in one group are designed to be interconnected with the upper brushes, and in another group are designed to be interconnected with the lower brushes.

In making the setup, it has been customary in the prior art to individually make the connections by means of plug wires.

Some of the existing tabulating machines are provided with removable plug boards whereby the user of such a machine may have several plug board for one machine, each plug board maintaining in fact a diflerent setup.

Some of the disadvantages of the removable plug board are 1. They are complicated and relatively expensive.

2. They are more or less bulky and fragile, therefore suitable storage facilities must be provided for them and great care must be exercised to prevent them from becoming damaged.

3. There is ever present the danger that a clerk running short of plug wires on a new setup one or more plug wires from some other removable plug board setup and forget to replace the wires later with the result that ii the plug board from which the wires were borrowed is used errors in tabulating result and retabulation of cards is inevitable.

One of the objects of the present invention is to overcome all of the above disadvantages.

According to the present invention, which con templates the provision of panels having preconnected contacts connected in accordance with setups which are frequently used, the machine is provided with a receptacle for such panels having a plurality of plunger contacts each of which is connected to an element of the machine. Such connections are preferably made in addition to the connections between the various elements and the jacks and the plug-board above referred to.

Since this receptacle is preferably located near the plug-board, it may be convenient to provide permanent connections between each jack in the plug-board at the rear there0f, -and a corresponding plunger contact in said receptacle, said contacts being mounted on insulated supports in said receptacle. Means are provided on the receptacle for advancing the panel toward said plungers and against the resiliency thereof, so that the interconnected contacts in the panel will contact with corresponding plungers, thereby quickly interconnecting the elements of the tabulating machine in accordance with the desired setup without the necessity of individually interconnecting any Jacks in the regular plug-board of the machine by means of plug wires.

The panels having pre-connected contacts connected in accordance with setups which are frequently used are preferably in the form of wafers having no delicate parts which might be subject to damage in handling and furthermore these panels are relatively thin and for a standard numeric tabulating machine only approximately 5" x 8" in size.

It is, therefore, possible to stack these panels or wafers like record cards and they may be thrown around and roughly handled without becoming damaged.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sketch showing the jacks on a plug-board of a modern tabulating machine, the layout of plunger contacts in the receptacle for containing the new and improved connector panels, and interconnections between some of the jacks in the plug-board and some of .the plungers in said receptacle;

Figure 2 is a schematic machine;

diagram of .a tabulating Figure 3 is a front elevation of the panel receptacle;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the receptacle; Figure 5 is an end elevation of the receptacle; Figure 6 is a cross sectional elevation taken along the lines 56, Figure 3, showing the receptacle in its closed position with the new and improved connector panel in position therein;

Figure 7 is a cross section of a portion of the plunger board taken along the lines 'l'|, Figure.

1, showing details of one method of mounting k the plungers and one of the dowels or locking pins for bringing the contacts of the panel in wall of the panel;

Figure 13 is a viewof a rear wall such as illustrated in Figure having certain contact members applied theretoand permanently intercon-' nected to form a setup; and

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 9 showing details of another method of interconnecting the contact members.

The tabulating machine plug-board 20 carries a plurality of jacks which form terminals of the upper brushes and which are designated by the letters DU. For example, the jack of the upper brush reading the 10th vertical column in the record would be designated as DU-ili, the

jack in the upper brush reading the 15th vertical column would be designated as DU-i 5, etc.

The plug-board also includes a plurality of jacks designated by the letters DL, forming terminals of the lower brushes. The jacks forming the terminals of the lower brush reading the 5th column of the record would be designated as DIP-5 and would refer to any one of the three jacks in the vertical row under 5.

The accumulators in the tabulating machine terminate in jacks designated by the letter E. The machine control jacks are designated by the letters FU and FL, ten such jacks being shown in each group. These jacks are usually connected as follows:

A FU jack is connected to a DU jack and a corresponding FL jack is connected to a DL jack corresponding with the DU jack; a series of shunt jacks designated by the letters FS are provided and may be connected for major or for minor control.

A plug wire 22, which normally may be inserted in a dead jack 2i to keep it from dangling, may be removed from the dead jack 2| and connected to one of the FS jacks when major control is desired. A plug wire 24 which normally may be inserted in a dead jack 23 to keep it from dangling may be removed from the dead jack 23 and connected to one of the FS jacks when minor control is desired.

The plunger board 25 carries a plurality of plungers arranged in rows. These plungers are interconnected with the jacks on the plug-board and those plungers which are interconnected with the DU jacks are designated by the letters DUP, the jack DUi being connected to the plunger DUP-i the jack DU-2 being connected to the plunger DUP--2, etc.

In order to keep the drawings, Figure i, from being too complicated, some of these connections havebeen omitted but it must be understood that each upper. brushjack DU is connected to a corresponding plunger DUP. Likewise, the lower brush jacks DL are connected to corresponding plungers DLP. However, it is not deemed necessary to have a plurality of plungers for each lower brush as multiple connections may be made within the new and improved panel or wafer itself.

The plunger board also has a row of plungers interconnected with the row of accumulator jacks E, said plungers being designated by the letters EP. The plunger board 25 also includes plungers corresponding to and interconnected with, respectively, the jacks FU, FL, and FS, the rows of plungers being respectively designated as FUP, FLP and FSP.

The dead Jacks 2i and 23 in the plug-board are interconnected with corresponding plungers 2l-P and 23-? in the plunger board 25 so that connections from major or minor control, or both, may be made within the panel which cooperates with the plungers, the plug wires 22 and 2| being normally inserted in their associated lacks 2i and 23.

One type of plunger suitable for use in the plunger board 25 is illustrated in detail inFigure '7 and consists of a plunger contact member 5| having a reduced portion 52, the end 53 of which is preferably rounded. The plunger contactyis mounted in a hole in the board 25 and the shoulder 54 limits the distance the reduced portion 52 stands from the surface of the board 25. A hole communicates and is concentric with the hole in which the reduced portion 52 fits and the body 5| of the plunger contact member forms a working fit in the hole 55.

A spring 56 urges the contact member upwardly as viewed in Figure '7. A plug 51 threaded into the board 25 serves as a retainer for the spring 56, and connection may be made to the plug 51 by soldering a connecting wire into the slot 58.

Although a detailed description of only one plunger contact is given the others may be constructed in the same manner and the plug 51 of each may be individually connected to a corresponding jack in the plug board 20.

The plunger board 25 also carries dowels 28 and 21 adapted to engage corresponding holes in the removable panel which will presently be described, to insure accurate registration of the plungers with the contacts carried on the panel.

The receptacle, Figures 3 to 6 inclusive, consists of a frame 3|) which supports the plunger board 25 and which is provided with feet 28 having suitable holes 29 formed therein through which suitable bolts or screws 31 may extend for securing the receptacle to a portion 36 of the tabulating machine.

The plunger board may be held in the frame 30 by means of suitable screws 3i. The back of the frame may be closed by means of a suitable sheet of insulation 32 backed by a metal plate 33. The sheet 32 and the plate 33 may have formed therein openings 34 and 35 through which the wires interconnecting the plungers with the jacks in the plug board may pass.

The frame 30 is provided with downwardly and outwardly extending lugs 38 and 39 as viewed in Figures 3 and 5. A metallic plate 40 forming a door has right angled ends II and 80 having respectively lugs 4i and 42 extending downwardly and outwardly therefrom as viewed in Figures 3 and 5; the lugs ll and il have holes formed therein respectively matching holes formed in the lugs Ii and 42. A bolt It extends through holes in the lugs ll and II and carries a washer 44 and a nut ll. A washer II is positioned on the bolt between the lugs 3| and ti. Likewise, a bolt 41 passes through the holes in the lugs l2 and 89 and is provided with a washer 4| and a nut 49. A washer II is positioned on the bolt 4'! between the lugs 39 and 42, thereby the door is maintained in hinged relation with the frame-30.

A bracket 6i secured to the plate I. in any suitable manner-for example, by means of rivets Iii-has end lugs 88 and 84 formed thereon. A link member 6| has one end thereof pivotally connected to the lug 63 by means of a screw 66 and a nut 61. A. link 08 has one end thereof pivotally connected to the lug 84 by means of a screw 69 and a nut ID.

A bracket ll carried on the frame 30 forms a journal for one end of a shaft 12. A similar bracket 13 carried on the frame It forms a journal for the other end of the shaft I2. A crank arm 14 is keyed to the shaft 12 on one end thereof immediately adjacent to the bracket II. A similar crank arm 15 is keyed to the shaft 12 at the'other end thereof adjacent to the bracket 13. The right end of the shaft, as viewed in Figure 4, is threaded and a suitable nut 16 and washer l1 serve to retain the crank arm 15 in keyed relation to the shaft.

Adjacent to the crank arm 14 on the other end of the shaft is a crank arm 18 extending preferably at right angles to the crank arm 14 and also keyed to the shaft 12, a nut 19 and a washer 80 serving to maintain the cranks l4 and 18 in keyed relation to the shaft 12. The crank I8 at the lower end thereof as viewed in Figure 3, is provided with a suitable handle ii.

The crank arm 14 has its'upper end pivotally connected to the link by means of a screw 82, a nut 83 and a washer 84. Likewise, the upper end of the crank arm 15 is pivotally connected to the link by means of a screw 85, a nut 86 and a Washer 81.

As long. as the crank 18 remains in a vertical plane; for example in the position shown in Figure 5; the receptacle is closed. When the crank is moved in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 5, to a horizontal is opened so that the panel or wafer, generally designated by the numeral 90, may be bodily removed therefrom.

The interior face of the door 40 may have secured thereto a resilient mat 9| adapted to exert practically uniform pressure against the face of the panel 90 when the same is in the receptacle, thereby backing up pressure exerted by the plunger contacts 5|, see Figure 6.

The improved connector panel, details of which are shown in Figures 8 to 14, will now be described.

The back plate 88 is provided with a plurality of grouped holes 89 representing upper brushes, a plurality of grouped holes 9| representing lower brushes, a plurality of grouped holes 92 representing the accumulators, a plurality of grouped holes 93 representing the machine control and the shunt connections in the tabulating machine and position the door 40 (ill ' be individually soldered to the next.

holes I4 and II respectively representing minor and major control.

The back plate II also has formed therein dowel holes "a. and 210. This back plate may be formed of fibre, Bakelite or any, other suitable insulating material and all of the holes illustrated may be originally punched therein.

A'n intermediate plate .0 has a rectangular per? tion 81 cut out and forming a frame. The frame It is provided with dowel holes 20b and 21b which match the dowel holes 280 and "a when the frame is superimposed on the back plate 88.

A front plate is provided with dowel holes 26;: and Na which match up with the corresponding holes in the back plate ll and the frame 96 when the three plates are assembled together. A record 99 may be secured to the face of the plate 08 showing the card form of the particular setup to which the assembled panel or wafer relates.

As to assembling or making up the panel for a given setup, the procedure is as follows:

A back plate I! is taken and eyelets ill are inserted in the holes corresponding to plungers which are to be interconnected. These eyelets are then set after which wires or conductors may interconnect the eyelets in a manner desired. I'br example, in Figure 13 it will be' noted that an eyelet corresponding to the jack DL-l2 is connected to an eyelet representing an accumulator Jack El-I, an eyelet corresponding to lower brush Jack DL-H is connected to an eyelet corresponding to an accumulator jack E2-9, etc.

For interconnecting the eyelets either bare or insulated wire may be used and in case bare wire I04 is used, suitable tape or strips of insulation I M may be applied over one layer before adding After the desired connections have been made, a frame member 96 is applied with the dowel holes 26!) and 21b matching respectively the holes 26a and No. It will be noted that the connections all fall within the opening 91 in the frame and the remaining space is filled with aplastic I02 after which the front plate 98 may then be 'applied with its dowel holes 260 and 210 matching the corresponding dowel holes in the other plates.

A suitable ferrule or binder I03 may then be applied around the edges of the assembly to form a unitary structure in the form of a wafer or panel 90.

The plastic I02 is preferably a material which remains in a plastic state instead of hardening up. Although the ferrule ill! may be formed of thin metal, I have found that certain types of adhesive tape serve admirably to hold the structure 90 together, especially in view of the fact that the plastic I02 has adhesive qualities.

Instead of setting the eyelets I00 as shown in Figure 9 and soldering the wires thereto after the eyelets have been set, a further modification. shown in Figure 14, contemplates the application of the-wires illla to the eyelets IBM in the back plate 88a and individually setting them on the wires after which the wires may be soldered to the eyelets, or in cases where the eyelets have walls of substantial thickness, soldering might be deemed unnecessary.

The setup illustrated in Figure 13 is given by way of example in connection with a sales analysis wherein a quantity and amount of sales of certain commodities are tabulated according to territories. As such tabulations are well known and and the setting of the machine. a detailed description of the connections need not herein be given between the eyelets which correspond to the jacks in the plug-board.

The connections are clearly illustrated in Figure 13 and the indications on the eyelets correspond to the indications on the Jacks in the plugboard, Figure 1.

As a further modification, both the front and the back faces of the panels may carry eyelets or contact members, the eyelets in one'face being interconnected by conductors and the eyelets in the other face being interconnected by other conductors, thereby providing a connector panel carrying two distinct set-ups.

Although the panel is illustrated in the drawings as comprised of two plates of insulating material with a plastic therebetween, it is obvious that the panel may be molded of insulating ma.- terial, such as Bakelite, or the like, with the eyelets or inserts carried in one face thereof and the conductors imbedded within the body of the material.

Although the. invention has been disclosed in connection with the specific details of a preferred embodiment. thereof, it must be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative of the invention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A connector panel comprised of a pair of plates of insulating material spaced apart from each other, a plurality of rigid contact devices formed of rivets carried in one of said plates, the heads of said rivets comprising contact surfaces lying substantially parallel to the outer face of the plates in which they are carried, a mass of non-hardening adhesive plastic filling the space between said plates, a plurality of conductors embedded'in said plastic and permanently interconnecting said contact devices in a predetermined order, and means embracing the edges of said plates for securing them together to form a unitary structure.

2. In a quick connecting panel, a front plate formed of insulating material, an intermediate plate hollowed out to form a frame, and a solid rear plate, said front plate being formed with a plurality of holes therein, contactor devices comprising rivets mounted in at least some of said holes and set, a plurality of conductors permanently interconnecting said rivets in accordance with a predetermined pattern, said rivets and connections being so positioned in said front plate that they fall within the open area of said frame. a non-hardening adhesive plastic filling the space within said frame and embracing said conductors, and a strip of binding material applied around the edges of said plates and frame for securing them together to form a unitary structure.

3. In a quick connecting panel, a front plate formed of insulating material, an intermediate plate hollowed out to form a frame, and a solid rear plate, said front plate being formed witha plurality of holes therein, hollow rivets positionedv in said holes and set, a plurality of conductors permanently interconnecting said rivets in accordance with a predetermined pattermthe rears of said rivets and said connections being so positioned on the rear of the frontplate that they fallwithin the hollowed out space in said frame, a non-hardening adhesive plastic filling the space within said frame and embracing said conductors,

and a strip of binding material applied around the edges of said plates and frame for securing them together to form a unitary structure.

LINCOLN M. KEEFE.

Images