US2353046A - Card punching machine - Google Patents

Description

c. D. LAKE ET AL 2,353,046

CARD PUNCHINGMACHINE Filed July 29, 1943 l5 Sheecs-Shee(l l 1N EQ'TORS A TTORNEY Y. July 4, 1944.

July 4, 1944'. c. D. LAKE ETAL l CARD PUNCHING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1943 l5 SheecS-She-et V2 QQ mmm, Q\\\ J L mm Y I -I wwwl I n@ `I VE T0125 e.

BY ATTORNEY July 4, 1944. c. D. LAKE z-:TAL I CARD PUNCHING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1945 f1 V TORs ATTORNEY July 4, 1944. c. D. LAKE rs1-Al.y

CARD PUNCHING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1945 l5 Sheets-Sheet 4 BY ATTORNEY July 4, 1944. c. D. LAKE ETAL 2,353,046

CARD PUNGHING MACHINE Filed July 29. 1945 15 Sheets-sheet 5 E Tom ATTORNEY July 4, 1944. c. D. LAKE l-:TAL

CARD lPUNCHING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 29.. 1942 V ToRs ATTORNEY July 4, 1944. c. D. LAKE E... 2,353,046

y CARD PUNCHING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet '7 a. .Wos BY f ATTORNEY' July 4, 1944. c. D. LAKE ETAI. 2,353,046

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c. D. LAKE Er AL Y CARD russland-MACHINE Filed July 29, 194s 15 sheets-sheet s Y NNW. NWN

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@mi LE 5@ EES 4. B Y WT ORNE Y July 4, 1944. c. D. LAKE ET Al.

CARD PUNCHING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed July 29, 1945 IIIIIIIlll-lu I I l I I l I i I IIIA' I I i I l .mw NGE, .mst n .ndt .NGE .wat .msi mi sa @E .Sdi .NGE #mi WIN E TORS BY a-( y m/ATTRNEY July 4, 1944. C. D. LAKE ET A1. V2,353,046

GARD PUNCHING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1945 115 Sheets-Sheet 15 FIGAZ Fume.N

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l ATTORNE' I `.Patented 4, 1944 CARD PUNCHING n Clair D. Lake, Binghamton, and Francis E.

Hamilton, Endicott. N. Y., assignors to Inter-vy national Business Machines Corporation, New

. York, N. Y., a corporation vof New York 'application my z s, 194s, seran No. 496,562

` .1aY emma A( cl.' isc-7115s) This invention relates topunching machines and more 'particularly'to'- the type adapted -to Vpunch cards for controlling tabulating'andstatistic'al machines. 'I'he main object of the invention is to provide a punchingsystem in which a single punching machine is capable vof fulfilling the sequential punching requirements ot `more thany one operator. A v vA Astill further object of the invention is to selectively call the punching Vmachine into operation in a sequence that ycorresponds to the opera tors.- completion oi their digit registrations. This increases the eillciency'of output of the operator since -the operator may immediately recommencesettingup digit registrations ofthe v `next data Vwithout "awaiting completion of punching operations. Y

Another object of the invention is to coordinate with a plurality of operators keyboard digit registration stations' a punching machine Vwith such high speed punching capabilities and' character-Y istics. that it is able to complete `punching ofv cards under control of two or-more stored digit registrations without holding up any operatori More specifically this object is attained by'utillz-Y ing aV punching machine inzwhich the cyclic operation'thereoffis constant :irrespective of the number of denominational card columns which are punched.

- In the present rsystem the punching machine shown is capable when in commercial use of punchingcards atv the rate of onehundred per minute and the cyclic operation of the machine is so short relative to the time for digit setting that punching operationsV are completed without holdingupthe operators. Y a' In connection with the sequential operation ofthe punching machine, a more specific object of theS invention is attained by causing each operator-sstation'to transmit a signal to the sequencing unit which stores up the signals in the vsame sequencethey are received from the operators stations, when' they are'transmitted dissimultaneously. The sequencing .unit then causesQthe vreading out ofthe digit registrations to .the punchingmachine'in the.` same sequence that they are completed to thereby punch cards in the same sequence the signalsare storedup. The sequencing Vunit also provides `for punching lout of the digit registrations in a predetermined orde;` in the event 'thattwo or more signals are transmitted simultaneously.

Another'object of .the invention isvthe provision in"each"operators station of two digit storage associated'with thekeyboard'of the associated station -andis set lup to represent the digit key depressions. The other storage device, or secondary," is associated with the punchingmachine through the sequencing unit when the latter calls it into operation and means is further provided to effect a digit transfer from the primary storage device to the secondary storage device. This transfer operation clears out the primary storage device and it is then in condition for the reception of digit representations of the next data.

A still further object'of the invention is to concomitantlyr transmit a signal to the' sequencing unit vupon suchfdigit transfer operations, giving an indication that-when the punching machine has.Y terminated' its cyclic operation the digit registrations of a secondary storage device may be read out if the sequencing unit determines that such registrations should be picked vup and read out.l

A still further object of the invention'is to "'eilect a denominational shift when digit registrations are transferred from the primary storage devicesl to the secondary storage devices. The

primary storage devices maybe set up* to representy two different numbers which .varyin de nominational size and in registrations of the numbers beginning at the higher denominational digitsoi' the number, the units digit will be entered in an order'of the storage devices which varies with the sizefof the number.

. of the card. A denominational shift mechanism correlated with the primary and secondary storage devices obviates the necessity of making a I more toldetails of construction 'but which should be considered as relatively important objects is toV provide the operator .with signal devices which indicate erroneous operations and the4 condition of the primary and secondary storage devices.

devices, one VofV which, the primary, is always 65 One of such devices consists of a signal light The secondary storage devices are associated with the punch time that the operator attempts to make further' key depressions after setting up the digits of the bank number without depressing amanual bar.

A more specific object of the inventionl relates to the skip circuit arrangement provided which eliminates the necessity of the operator ofpunching the 0 key for denominational orders vto the left of the ilrst signicant digit. In this respect. the operators speed is increased because lunnecessary key depressions are eliminated, although as will be more apparent later'on, such higher denominational columns are, nevertheless,

punched to represent zeros." Y

In devising the improved punching system, particular attention .has` been stressed to the elimination of operations by the operator which, lif performed, would decrease the emciency of the system. The automatic operation of the punching machine including all `of the incidental op erations performed therein such as card feeding. punching,rcard election, etc.,rthe operation'. of the sequencing unit in accordance with theorder in which signals are transmitted therein, elimination of unnecessary 0 key strokes, the provision of necessary signals, all facilitate and cause the automatic operation of the system without attention to such automatic operations by the operator. In this system, all that is necessary for the operator to do is toA read the data, .depress the necessary digit keys, the 4manual bar and to note the condition of the signals. IThe rest `of the operations are automatically performed.

By means of the high speed vcharacteristics of the punching machine the 'operators` vare-not held up for a moment and continue withtheir key depressions one after the other for successive data derived from original records, such as' disclose, by way of example, the principle ofl the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the appended drawings: Figs. 1 to 12 inclusive when assembled according to the diagram of Fig. 13 show the complete wiring diagram for the machine.

Fig. 13 is a diagram showing the manner of assembling Figs. 1 to l2 of the wiring diagram. Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing the units comprising the improved system. This yview shows the three operator keyboard stations, their related keyboards KI, K2, K3, the `associated digit setup units DSI, DSZ, DS3, the sequencing unit S, the punching machine P, the coordination and details of which will be described here-V inafter.

assaoss Fig. v15 is a vsectional view :of va simplimd .form o! keyboard which may `beadoptedfor digit setup purposes.

'.Fig. 16 Visis. plan view of a fragmentary portion of a rtabulating card showing vthe particular columns which are previously vgangxpunched land those which are punched bythe punching fmachine P `under control .ofithe digit'setup 'units DSI, D82, DS3.

Fig. 17 is la timing diagram of electrical contacts in the y.punching machine.

Guzman. Drzsciur'rrorz The primary purpose of the'present arrangement'is to increase the output of'punchlng cards under control lof an operator by yproviding a digit setup varrangement which will enable the operator to make a subsequent .digiti-setup Vin one storage unit while the punching Amachine is punching a card 'under control ofthe previous digit set up in the otherdigit .setup unit. l'his increases the 1 output of an operator by enabling the operator to vbe busy while 'the punching machine is in operation for punchinga card and further eliminates delays Acaused to the operator by feedingcards `tothe punching machine, ejectingpunch cards, andincidental operationswhich are eifected in punching machines. The above objective is obtained by dissociating the operators from the punching machine, storing the key depressions .in alrelay circuit storage unit. vIn order that the operator need :not wait forcompletion of a punching cycle to commence the settinguup of the'digit representations fora Vnewcard, two storage circuits .are provided, 'comprising a primarystorage unit which sets up` vthe digit representations `Vby vthe keyboard depressions, 1and -a secondary storage circuit which controls the punching machineand to which the digit representations in the primary unit are transferred. Hence the Voperator may immediately store information in the-primary unit Yafter y.the Vinformation has been transferred 4to -the vsecondary storage unit Land without waitingjfor ,the latter to control the punching cleared thereafter.

Y The above description is confined to the ar' rangement fora single keyboard operators station but the keyboard stations are preferably duplicated so that the high punching Vspeed capabilities of the punching .machine .may -be economically utilized. The punching Vmachine adopted'for the present system when in vcommercial use is capable of producing punched cards at the rate of one hundred .cards per minuteand in order to utilize as muchas possible the full punching speed capacity of the machine the single punching machine is used to punch'all the information set up by the operators. Of course, with fewer digit columnsto beset :up thetime occupied by the operator willbe diminished and therefore the high lspeed capabilities of the punching machinecan bemost efflciently utilized vby having more keyboard stations. In other words, there is aproportion between the punching speed capabilities of the machine and the number of storage columns which are to be set up by each operator. The proper proportion will result inthe `rnostleillcient operation of the system.

'I'he complete system may be visualized as consisting of the following units, all interconnected by cable connections; the three operator assemblies each consisting of Aa table supportingl ten key keyboard K (Fig. 14) and a primary and Amachine land :to be latedfto his naher-station.

maximum outputnand speed of` card .punching.-

ings-sacaste lecondary `-dlsit'setup '.unItDB .for each operator:

a `sequencing unit .s towhieh-:all fthe' dleit3s'etupfunite of thefthree operatore stations vrare 4connected'iby .cables; and ai -h-ighfspeedpunching imachine 'P controllediby thefeecondarystorase of the three operators" stations, 'when :selectively called into loperation by vthe'sequencing;unit.

The obvious ldifficulties involved 'in causing-afsingle punching. machineitoiplmch under :control ofdigit representations stored inthe vsecondary unitsin .any 'random'V sequence without vfocusing the operator confusion Vand undue'delay or hesitation requires the provision of the aforementionedusequence unit. This unit receives.l signals` from: the completelyv set 1upl storage units vand 'determines 4the* sequence 'that '.thestorage Y units vareV tobe coordinated l.with `the punching machine.

Therefore, iwhjensignals are' received at :random l and in an invariable sequence, `these.tsiglmlsfare stored up and the punching machinefpun'ches; cardsin thesame order that .thejsignals fare re-l ceived.. 'Ihe possibility oi' receiving r'signals'eiimul-y taneously-is also provided tor-in the .sequencing unitby arranging. the ylatter I"to caueefpunching of Vthe cards Ink aninvar'iable order determined `by three 'signals from :stations Nos. '1, 2 and f3 twill, in the .present system, cause punchi-ngoutin this namedorder. f The provision for `sequencing punching.- operations finv the sequential order that 4signal'r'are received enables punchin'f'of4 cards ini-the same order ythe operators` finish 1 their 'digit-1 setup. 'operations. Hence, no operatoriis "favored `aridathere is little or `no `waii'lingfbv the operatorsi'orvthe clearing .out of the. secondary-*storage units `re- This enables vthe A consideration. of thecard'form 'shown in Fig. lindicates that .itconsistsfof fafnumbei-.zoi' fields.

There are 'threef separately `identified lelds; gone` ileld comprising columns 1.to8fand such-columns represent common .information.andet-heyiaresfpreviouslygangxpunched. Theremaining. card .-fcoli-v` which` represents the bank number andthe Lothar 'Ilhe bank `.number and amount are onthe'checks receivedby Athefbanky and such checks arearead eby..the.operator tondetermine .the keyy depressions which should-be *made for punching a card vto represent 'this informathe check amount;

tion onthecheck.

.to thev secondarystorage \unitafto-.cetesupzme.numbenin the,.pr'cper.I :columns litt.thesecondaryunitgtolloiwins1-ird'iicli'-it readout Ylmay@take@plusentranti-the;lecoxiciary"litorale unit AwIihmstf` thef.1necees'ity.fci 1ra. r `further r :denominatioaalifshiit.. f

.fmhef-faboveziisaai-.general outline .of. the..system and -1.the\descriptiont of..;thesivarious- .which :ma'lreupy Athees-ys'tem..Lwill now.: :be described 4`with ya chapter de'vlotedeto.:eachof "fthe separate. units,

the description .being .presented in anVV orderly es the. specinc: cli-cuitaconnecetiom` made Vintl-ie -se' -quencing unit. The lsimultaneous] reception i oi' .nmnner- `:so that the l complete operation vof. the machine tbe visualized by yunderstanding ythe l`detailed"descriptionf :of the construction, coordi' natiomandaoperation of the unfits.

K-IiYB0ARD .The .fstnucture of .the/.keyboard f for.. each operatorfs- .station .isY videntical.1a-nii the .arrangement will.v .be L described .i in v:connection Vwithl only; one, f `referring fparticularlymoil'igs. 3, 14 v.and 15; The keyboardis o! ,the `.ten-.key nkeyboard arrange.

4'ment .andanyconventionalfarrangement will .suf-

dce furthe purposes. Referring to Fig. lzthe-key caps fill-rot `the;.lteivboard '1 .levers :project .outside ot i-.the' keyboard. -caeingwiorrmanipulation by the operatorandxthevkeyboardilncludes the VVVdigit y'keys l designated. ..0-9 i'orfeiiectingscorrespondingf. digit setups. `In.additi0.n.to`the digit :keys `0.9 the keyboard-lis #providedrwith an lverror key" lIilrI and a manual bar. Ill {(Fig: 3:). vWhen Veach digit-'key iszdepressediit closes .itslzrelated contacts '|03 Aand ".by'meansfo! aibailft vunderlying Yall .of lthe digit keys..0i9,; fbail #contacts -I III-are closed :upon .each depression@ of *the tfdi'git keys. .The contacts .closed iby `irltexmanual:barzaudithe :errori keyv will :be re- Ierredtoz-.fas thetdescription.proceeds` .key- `boards of .the three :stations 4are v'designated SKI mentalitiesuf eachrkeybcardzKfl `ior example (see Img. .532),- fcomprfise enclosed bye the ldotted vlinesfaridiles'ignated'fKfI inzEig: 3.

jBy` means foi.' 'i-.cables .1506; (Fig. 114),. electrical 'connections-.fare `made?.:between theelectrical .in-

:strumcntalities 10i' p "the keyboard .and other f in- 45 rstrumentalitlesfpprovided f. iin-v the related v control digl'tzfsetup uniti YWhen each rdi-sitzkeyf :depressed it closes Ye.

' circuitto.She-subsequentlyedescribed .to energize a Azspecial .circuit `arrangement Lis provided which. Y

vprovide .some means Iorshiitiug the number in columnar relation so ythatthe units .positionfoi the number enters the units position of the card,

the .tens in the tensvposition, etc., in Vaddition to whichit is. desirable to punch 'zeros'. in` the 4blank columnsato theleft ofthe significant :digit in the highestdenominationalorder. f l

Various .means vimay befprovided to effectfths but in the present `arrangement the variable'denominational shift is effected in the digit transsito 1 -.by..-li-nesz1.|"f|0 .and:.IIf'I..

y11nstartling, vthe".ilirstalley."depression vcauses a circuit to :be closed rv.from lline I .Iiiy through y.contactsfnow nclosed, th-rough bail contacts IUI l 'thenbyaalineWir-through the conta-ctseACI--I` .now f fin :the gpositionifshown, throughv relay.V con-:

tacts .CII-l., ACI re1-ay,f'-through DGAS, contacts, to .line '.lI Relay AGLnnw :abeing energized trans'fersz'its .contacts fAC I-fI- vbut; since contacts YC I -1 2a-re vnowf fopen,A the .-.circuit tothe C2V relay coil .is :open-:and the latter is not Venergized a'during Ithisr'flsey depression, whereas-relay coi1.AC`I is and. remainsenerg'ized Iby-reason -of fits h stick A conm).cts;y 'which' stick circuit fe'xtends through `h I?v l i esos] contacts, relay j contacts `now; closed, wire. I-Il, relay contacts MBRI,v wire" I- I3, RL-:I Acon tacts to lined I0. Hence,.when the hail contacts open upon the releaseot-.the depressed keywrelay- CI deenergizes but relay ACI remains. energized.

Upon the next key depressiony the'circuit; ex-

tends. fromline -.l I0, through contacts,l bail.. contacts |05, wir@` I.I2, through .ACI.I` contacts.

now transferred, C I-T 'contacts nowv closed, Ato relay coil C2, DOAJ contactatoliner I I l.. Relay coil C2 closes its h.stick contacts .to provide a1 stick circuit back to line IIII bythe stick circuit,

Relay coil= C2 .closespreviously traced for CI. its contacts C2-,8 to pick up ACI relay coil. Relay coil AC2 opensitscontacts AC2-2 to open the stick circuit of relay coil ACI but as contacts ACI-'I transfer back to normal position the closure of the left contactswill tend to complete a circuit to relay CI, which,Y however, is'now prevented bythe opening of Lcontacts C21. It is thus seen that upon odd key depressions relay coiliCI is energized'while'upon all evenk'ey de pressions relay coil C2 is energized. will be later explained; relays CI, C2 have 'additional contacts in 'alternate V-columnsof the primary storage "'unlt-.With "contacts "of CI in-.all 'oddcolumns .and with contacts 'of C2 In all even columns. Thusfuponithe first -key-depression, closure of contacts C I`I` (Fig: 4)k providesan impulsing circuit to columnV Il of th'e'primary-stor'- ageunit. The key `contacts Il! (Flg; 3) are closed lbythe respective digit keys -and upon closure :a circuit is extended from'line III)` through Rl-I con? tacts, through-bailA contacts |05, through the respective key contacts |03 to vthe Vrelated relay KOU-KCI, one relay'for each key, which relays are connected -at their other. side tothe :line "I I I so thatv afdepression of a key will energize its KC relay and-close its respective'KC contacts shown inFig. 3. 1 -Nw -ff Whenb'ail IoLclos'es its contacts |05, a circuit is ektended'ffromdine Ill, RI- I contacts, coritacts llfwire' I`I2`,"joining wire IIB to-relayfCOM;

to linel I`I'.`1-`Relay CoMtransfers its contacts COMI (Fig. 3) and thus a circuit -is completedA from'line Illthrough contacts COMI, through the KCic'ontactorA contacts riiiw closed; to ener--y gize relays KIgfKZ, K3 and K4', singly or in combin'ation,'which" relay coilsitfwill be noted, 'are commonly connected at their other side to the line III; It'will Abe noted that some of the KC relays close onlyl one 'pairofy contacts, whereasv others close ltwor -orv three' pair's of contacts andf such contacts are wiredto the; KI-Kl relays to` energize the KI--Kl'relaysv `singly or invco'rnbination, according toy thecodej shown in'v Hence, the KCI-I to KCS-I and 2 and I coni contactsig. 6) column l2'.A :The same is true for` the otherK2, K3, .K4 relays sothat for each key depression contacts closed by thev selected relayswill be closedin all of the twelveco'lumns of column 11. Therefore, closure of KI-Kl relay contacts in` the storage column energizes relays I- l singly or in combination but only in the storage column selected for a digit setup are such contacts effective for digit setup. Upon the ilrst key depression CI-I l(Fig. 4) contacts are closedV so that an energizing circuit for relays II-IIv of storagel column 1 is provided from line IIO through relayv contacts DOA2 now closed (Fig.-3), wire II'I, through ASI contacts (Fig. 4) now closed,v BI contacts now closed, CI-I contacts now closed, KCOI contacts now in the posivtion shown, to the particular KI-Kl contacts now closed, to the selected II-II relays, to wire III, wire IIQ, thence through DOA3 contacts now closed (Fig. 3), to. the line III` Having been energized. the relays II-Il are held energized as follows: It will be noted that combination. V Theldepression ofthe "'Ofkey energizes a KCU relaybut thelattr does not close any contactsto energize -a Kif toKljelay.' lts:r func" tion willrbe later described."Howvr,"the ".0" key does vclose bailcontactslg'lto' energi re-l lays CI, or C2,- dependlng ponwhether the key sion.

It win be noted that tc illustrate' the presenti invention twelve storage columns `1- 12 for Athe primary unit are shown'but the number my be varied. It will be observedthenthat by the depression of'the l digit keyji'or example, relay KI is energizedto clo'se its contact'sin theimpulse circuit of ea c'.h` i-itoragel column, closing lIl!! depression-is an oddor'even number keydepresrelays I-l in each unit arev ofthe double type, consisting of a pickup coil P and a hold coil H, with the contacts in series with the H coil marked h being the conventional stick contacts which are closed when the pickup winding is energized. Thel Vstick circuit forrelaysY II-Il `extends throughthe holdcoil, its hcontacts, wire II1, through DOA2 contacts, back to line` YI III.

Itwill be noted that from the line III a wire |20 .(Jilg.x4)l isccmnectcdV to one side of each or the relay contacts -II'I, I2I,'Il-I 'and Il-I andwith oneof such contacts closed a circuit will beclosedto energize-a column relay A. Column relay A, being energized. closes its h stick contacts to close a stick circuit for relay A which extends back to line IIU through h contacts, wire |20, wire IIT, DOA2 contacts, back to line III. Relay coil A closesits contacts A2 and prepares storage :column 2 vfor entryof'a storage impulse upon thesecond' key depression, the impulse now being directed through KI-2, K4--2 contacts to energize relay coils 2 I-24.` It will be noted that the `st-iclr circuit for these relays also extends by wire III back to line II0v through DOA2 contacts.

While relay contacts rA2 -in storag'elcolumn 2 are 'closed the digit impulse on the' first key depression cannot be transmitted to energize relays] Kl-z contacts of storage column.2 are `closed becausethe C2I contacts of storage column 2 are now open. Howeven on the second key depression relay coil C2 energizes to close contacts C2I` and thersecondstorage column will be set up` and Ainthis case relay coil B energizes by `a circuit similar to that .previously described to irl-l contacts (Fig. 4) for column 1, to Kl-Iz 7s open BI contacts of the first storage column to prevent erroneous setting up of column 1v on subsequent odd key depressions. Relay coil B closes its B2 contacts, in column 3 of the storage unit,

preparing it to receive ...the third digit setup. Relay coil C energizes upon the digit setup in Hence, 52 indi-v assaose columna, opening contacts CI to prevent a digit setup in column 2 and closing contacts C2 pre. paratory to a digit setup in column 4. In the same manner digit setup ensues for the twelve storage columns. l Y

It should be noted that when the digit key is depressed, relay KCO is energized as previously described and this will result in the transfer of its contacts, such as KCOI (Fig. 4) for column 1 andthe impulse for storage column l will not be directed to anyof the relays |I|4 because none of the contacts K|| to KI-I are closed but such impulse will be directed to relay coil A, due to the transfer of contacts KCOI. Hence, relay coil A will function in the same manner as it does when there is a digit setup for the relays II-Il. A similar circuit closure is made in any storage column upon the depression of the 0 `digit key', resulting in the energization of its related storage `column relay lA-L, inclusive.

A spacing procedure may then bev generalized by saying that as one column is set up it partially completes the pickup circuit to the column o1' the next higher order and breaks the pickup circuit to the column previously set up. The purpose of the alternating relays Ci and C2 is to prevent the previously described closure of an A, B. C, etc., contact in the next lower column from causing an undesired progression in that column. It should ybe noted that for column 12 (Fig.,6) the impulse is directed from the wire III through K2 contacts now closed,r C2--6 contacts now closed because this is an even numbered column, thence through the KCOI! contacts now in the position shown, to select relay coils |2I-I24 for energization, depending upon the particular KI--KI relays energized. In this storage column, relay coil L is energized to open contacts LI to prevent an undesired digit setup in column V11 when column 12 is being set up.

CARD FORM A consideration of the card form illustrated in Fig. 16 shows that a portion of the card to be punched consists of twenty card columns of which columns 1 to 8, inclusive are prepunched, preferably by gang punching to indicate common data for a series of cards. The remaining card columns 9 to 20, inclusive are punched `under control of the storage columns l to 12 of each station. Card columns 9 to 20, inclusive, are subdivided into two fields, columns 9, 10, 11 andv l2 presenting the paying bank number which is indicated on the check. The amount of the check which, of course, is taken from the check is punched on the card in columns 13 to 20 under control of storage columns to 12.

Of course, the bank number and the check amount may vary in the number of significant digits which comprise each amount, and by the present novel digit shift arrangement it is possible to `punch the numbers in the correct. denominational relationship on the card and in the proper columns thereof without requiring the operator to punch the zeros at the left. Thus, if the bank number consisted of only two digits these are set up in denominational columns 1 and 2 but by a denominational transfer means to be subsequently described card columns ll and 12 are punched to represent thev tens and units of this two-digit number. Depression of the 0 digit key is unnecessary and therefore time is saved in this elimination. Correspondingly, for the amount field which may vary in the number of digits, if the amount is $80.26, for example, the

operator omits punchingy of the four zeros ahead of the amount and sets up only 8026. Later when the amount is transferred to a secondary storage unit the denominational transfer means shifts the amount to the proper position in the secondary storage unit and when punching is effected under control of this unit the digits will be punched on the card in the proper column po,- sition. In the event thatthe bank number consisted of less than four digits the operator depresses the manual bar I02 after the last digit key depression. Thisautomatically conditions the impulsing circuits and upon the next key depression storage column 5 will be set up. Hence,inter vening storage columns willnot be set up. `There will now be described the circuits which are operativeupon depressing the manual bar |02 after the bank number has been set up in the storage columns when it consists of one, two or three digits.

When the manual bar vis depressed, contacts MBRI (Fig. 3) are transferred, closing a circuit from line III, through R4-I contacts now closed, wire |I3, MBRI contacts now transferred, wire |25, El contacts now in theposition shown because storage column 5 has not yet been set up to energize relay E (see Fig. 5) thence through the A5 contacts now closed, to the pickup coil ofv The`A5 contacts are relay coil AS, to line ||I. closed because column l has already been set up to energize relay A and such contacts are safety contacts to prevent unwanted energizationof the relay coil AS in the event that the `manual bar 'is accidentally depressed prior to setting up storage column 1. `The pickup coll of AS closes the `stick or h contacts of the AS relay and a stick circuit is provided back to the line |I0 through such contacts and a wire |26. It should be` noted that the other side of the hold coll of AS relay is connected to the line |I| through the DOA3 contacts, causing AS relay to be held energized until the DOA relay is energized to break the stick circuit for such relay. As will be subsequently .described the purpose of the AS relay is vto advance the digity impulsing circuit to storage column 5 or the rst column of the amount field and to prevent such digit impulses from being transmitted to one or more of the storage columns pertainlng to the bank number eld which have not been setup so that subsequent digits will not be set up therein.

Depression of the manual bar has the capability of conditioning the relays C| and C2 to the end that theycan be energized in the proper a1- ternating sequence upon setting up the diigt in column 5 in the event that the last digit setup in storage columns 1 to 4 would not permit ,the proper sequence. This willbe made clear when it is assumed that the bank number contains three digits and after the third digit setup in storage column 3 relay ACI (Fig. 3) would bein an energized condition. If relay ACI was permitted to remain energized the next operation of a digit key for storage column 5 would be treated as an even setup and relay C2 would energize. If there had been two digits in the bank number field, relay ACI at the end of the'tWo-digit setup would be in a deenergized state. It is thusy seen that an inconsistency could result if it were not for the fact that relay ACI is returned to a de- |02 transfers the MBRI contacts and by opening 6 assaoae the upper contacts it will be observed that the stick circuit for the ACI relay is broken and such relay is therefore deenergized and upon the next key depression C| relay coil will be picked up, which is proper for storage column 5. Hence, upon the depression of the digit key after depression of the manual ban-the impulse circuit, will be directed by wire ||1(Fig. 5) through FI con-V tacts now closed, ASB contacts now closed because AS relay was previously energized and held energized, thence through C|3 contacts now closed, and the impulse will be transmitted to relays |-54 in accordance with the particular KI-Kl relays energized upon the depression of the digit key. y

It will be seen, therefore, that the Venergization of the AS relay opens contacts LASI, ASI and ASB (Fig. 4). Taking the extreme case where only storage column k1 has been set up the depression of the manual bar after such digit setup will cause contacts ASI and AS! to open. Therefore.' the impulse transmitted by the depression of the digit key following depression of the manual bar will be transmitted to storage column 5 as just explained but due to the opening of contacts ASI, and ASS, this impulse cannot be transmitted to either storage column 2 or storage column 3. Of course, since relay coil C2 has not been energized because C| is energized when storage column 5 is set up as, Just explained, C2-2 contacts forkstorage column 4 will be open and therefore storage relays M cannot be energized when storage column 5 is set up. Further, it will be seen that when the operator depresses one of the digit keys for setting up storage column 6, this impulse cannot be transmitted to storage column 4 because while the C2 relay coil is energized to close contacts C2-2 when digit setup is made in `column 6, relay coll E has been previously energized in ef-` fecting the digit setup for column 5. Hence with El contacts in storage column 4 now open, the impulse cannot be transmitted to storage column 4 and only storage column 6 will be set up.

summarizing, itis only necessary for the operator to effect key digit setup operations for those storage columns of the bank number field which correspond to the significant digits. The depression of the manualy bar will skipthe intervening columns and condition the circuit so thatthe next digit setup will be in column 5. An improper digit setup of the storage columns of the bank number field which have not been set up will be prevented. Of course, the greatest saving in time transpires when the digit setup for the bank number consists of only one digit and hence three key strokes will be saved even though the time saved will be decreased by the time consumed in the stroke for the manual bar. However, when a large number of storage columns are allocated for the bank number field `and only a relatively few digits are necessary to be set up, a much greater saving in time results.

SETTING UP'DIGIrs or AMOUNT Rural-:summa FIELD Upon setting up of the first digit in the amount representing field beginning at storage column 5, the operator depresses the digit keys in succession, making a digit setup in the successive storage columns corresponding to the significant digits of the amount. However, as previously explained, digit keys corresponding tothe significant digits' of the-amount are only depressed.

second manual bar depression is made which signifies the completion of the storage operation and conditions circuits now to be described.

With E4 contacts now transferred because a digit setup has been made in column 5, the second depression of the manual bar |02 will complete a circuit from its lower MBRI contacts, wire |25, relay contacts El now transferred, through BRI contacts now closed, through ASI contacts now closed because the first depression of the manualbar has energized the AS relay, to the pickup coil of relay MBC, through DOAJ contacts, to line The pickup coil of MBC closes the h stick contacts and the stick cir-4 cuit is extended from such contacts to line H0 by wire |28. Energization of relay MBCwill close the MBCS contacts and when manual pressure on the manual bar has been released MBRI contacts will come to normal, thereby closing a circuit from the upper contacts, wire H4, through MBC! contacts to the MBR relay to line III. At this stage of the, operation relays AS. MBC and MBR are held energized.

The foregoing describes the manner in which the desired information has been completely stored in the storage columns to set up the digits of the bank number and amount of the check. Due to the fact that punching requires an appreciable time, if it should be arranged that punching operations take place under control of the storage columns and particularlyby reason of the delays incident to the use of the same punchins machine by three operators as in the present embodiment, it is desirable that a storage circuit be immediately available to the operator for effecting a digit setup for the next data without the necessity of waiting for punching of the card of the last digit setup. In the present machine, to make a primary storage circuit immediately available to the operator, a secondary relay storage circuit is provided and the latter is adapted to control the punching machine whereas the primary storage circuit is always utilized to effect the digit setup under control of the digit keys'operated. In general'. after completion of a digit setup in the primary storage circuit a digit transfer takes placev to the secondary storage circuit which then retains the digit setup, following which the primary storage circuit may be deenergized and made availablev for digit setup of the next data.

When MBR. relay is energized upon the second depression of the manual bar to attempt a digit transfer it closes its contacts MBR2 (Fig. 3), closing a circuit from `line H0, through DOBI contacts now-closed, wire |30, through MBR2 relay contacts now closed, RIV-l contacts now closed, R3| contacts now closed, relay TI, thence by a wire III, a wire |32, through DOB2 contacts now closed, to the line This same impulse is directed by wire |34 to the R| relay to energize the same to close the R|| contacts. The circuit for energizing Tl is completed, however, onlyif a certain requirement has been met;

After the last digit of the amount is stored, a

that is, the secondary storage circuit must'have been cleared of previously stored information and the storage relays thereof should have been deenergized. If the secondary storage' circuit is cleared out and if it is not in the course of being deenergized to be cleared out, then the closure of contacts R|| and R3| in the energizing circuit of relay T| will permit the energization of the latter. The energizing circuits for relay aesaose RI which through its contacts controls the enerlining circuitv for relay TI will be more clearly described later on.

The secondary storage unit for receiving a digit transfer from columns 1, 2, 3'and 4 of the primary ystorage unit to designate thelbank number is age unit provided that four significant digits have been set up in the primary' storage unit. As will be made clear lateron, this is not always the case because, since the four groups of storagel relays in the secondary storageI unit are always allocated for controlling the' recordingy of the same card columns, this is not necessarily true of the storage columns of the primary storage unit. The` number of storage columns in the primary storage unit that are set upr is dependent upon the number of digits set up. Of course, in setting upA the digits in the primary storage unit, the units position of the number will consequently be' placed in some variable position in the primary storage circuit since the operator in depressing the keys depresses them in an order beginning with the digit of the highest denominational order. For example, in setting up a 4-digit number, storage column 4 represents the units whereas in setting up a 2`digit number, storagecolumn 2 represents the units, etc. Therefore, in order that the number may be punched in the correct denominational position in the card, it is obviously necessary to provide some4 means for shifting the number in columnar relation so that the units position of the number entersthe units position of the card. This denominational shift is effected during the transfer operation between the primary and storage units, following which recording operations may take place under control of the secondary storage unit without the necessity of any denominational shift between the secondary storage unit andv the punchi mechanism. f i

As the storage relays in the primary storage unit' are energized and heid energized, their ref lated 2" contacts in the secondary storage circuit 55 (see Fig. 7) will be closed. That is to say, for storage column 1 in the primary storage unit, relays il, i2, I3, Il will close their respective contacts ||--2, |2-2, I3-2, M-l (Fig. '1) and in accordance with the energization of the relays singly or `in combination, `the ""2 contacts will be closed singly or in combination so that when later an impulse is directed to the secondary storage circuit, such contacts will transmit impulses to vthe corresponding relays III, H2, H3, IM, if four digits are set up. Therefore, after a storage column in they primary storage unit has been set up the related contacts in the secondary storage unit will be closed and held closed. Upon the second depression of the manual bar, provided the conditions previously described are obtained, Ti relay willbe closed to close its TI-i contacts (Fig. 7), thereby completing a circuit from line H0, throughDOAZ contacts (Fig. 3)

Wire III (Fig. 7) TI-i contacts, to an impulse' line ill. One side oi all the "2" contacts oiall primary storage relays are connected to this im- .puise line III and impulses will be directed under controlo! the previously closed "2" contacts to l the correspondingrelays of the secondary storage with which latter are connected to the other line side H0 by line |32 (Figs. '7, Y 6, 5,4, 3 in the order named), through DOB! contacts now closed to line III. `The relays of the secondary storage l0 unit when energized provide a stick circuit for retainingthem energized until they have been utilized to control punching operations through their respective stick contacts h, the stick circuit then extending back to the line H0 by wire l" (Figs. 7, 6, 5, 4, V3,111 the order named), through DOBi contacts, back to line IIB.

In like manner, and at the same time, every storage column of the secondary storage unit will yhave its relays energized to correspond with the storage relays previously energized in the primary storage unit. Thuafshortly after the energization of the Tl relay there will be standing in the secondary storage unit exactly the same information as that standing in the primary storage unit.- A diiferent condition is obtained, however, in the setting 4up ofthe sec-` ondary storage unit ywhen less than four digits rare set upvin the primary storage unit and the aforesaid denominational transfer operations take place and are variably effectedwin accordance with-the number of digits set up in the primary storage unit. This can best be illustrated by reference to the following table:

DlNouxNA'rIoN/in Tiumsrln ros BANK Nunen Relays No. of digits eet S relay Relays set up To punch up in primary energized in primar ill.; card storage columns storage un t www un columns 40 Thousands ll-l4 thous.. 111-114 9 thous. 4 Hundreds s! 21-24 hund 221-224 10 hund. Tens 31-34 tens. 831-334 11 tens. Units 41-44 units. 441-444 l2 units. Hundred ll-l4 hund. 221-224 l0 hund. 3 Tens S2 21-24 tens. 331-334 li tens.. Units 31-34 units. 441-444 12 unita. 45 2{'Pens. S3 i {i1-i4 tensm.. 331-334 11 tens.

Units 21-24 units. 441-444 l2 units. l unit S4 ll-l4 unlts.. 441-444 l2 units.

From the preceding tabie itwui be observed w that when three digits are set up the units digit is represented in relays 3 I-ll and occupies a different position in the primary storage unit than when four digits are set up therein. When two digits are set up in theprimary storage unit, the

units digit position is determined by a diierent set of relays and, ofcourse, when a single digit is set' up in the primary storage unit the first set of relays iI-M represents the units position. With such variable position of the units digit and, of course, the tens and hundreds digit, x under control of such primary storage relays the secondary storage relays which cause .punching in the proper denominational position should be selected. Hence, it will be seen that for setting up 1, 2 and 3 digits in the primaryfstorage colui'nns the relays set up in the primary storage unit select through theiry closed contacts relays of the secondary storage unit different from those which wouldv have been selected` if four

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