US2390427A - Record controlled computing machine - Google Patents

Description

1945. A. H. DICKINSON 2,390,427

RECORD CONTROLLED COMPUTING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1944 16 Shets-Sheet l A TTORNE Y Dec, 4, 1945. i A. H. DICKINSON RECORD CONTROLLED COMPUTING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet 2 e 9. 2 m. 2 W." m m V G 3 F F F H G 8 I z a & a F m r m m F F F F 45/1 PITF/W'M 2295448 Z 5 J, [gym/i012 ATTORNEY Dec. 4, 1945. A. H. DICKINSON RECORD CONTROLLED COMPUTING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 Z 2, INEZENTOR ATTOHNE Y Dec. 4, 1945. A. H. DICKINSON RECORD CONTROLLED COMPUTING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Dec. 4, 1945. A. H. DICKINSON RECORD CONTROLLED COMPUTING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1944 16 ShBtS-ShBGt 5 IN VEN T OR A TTORNEY mm w W86 M x .g W 5 is 3 5. Es W WWW W 1 1 u \QE 1 m IJ w nx w wk mut .nkhl l m y W U M mfiwm a w.w\ 985 w WWM Q :l Ii 3 WQE 33% WW. 1 W W7 WM rl M M WM W W n WWW WWW WWW WWW WWW WWW WW WWW WWW. m 33 3k 3% $6 SQ $6 $6 \Qw \aQ A u an 9 an am 1 3w w 3w \GW 3% EN 3\ wbu Imp v 1W 1W LW U m A r Dr F F Win w q HFJIJ .JL-FJ HJLHJ HEJIJ g F fi-g \QQ/v W Nwfi Nu NW wv w mr. & Nw fi N XW. m MN\ m w M w w w WW WW 2: m 1W W -W W W 2W m WW W J; W W W W --W M 16 Sheets-Sheet 6 A. H. DICKINSON Filed April 12, 1944 x8 w QSRWW. Nuns q TS wk RECORD CONTROLLED COMPUTING MACHINE Dec. 4, 1945.

INYENTOR A TTORNEY 4, 1945. A. H. DICKINSON RECORD CONTROLLED COMPUTING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet 7 QQNMWMENM 3 RD E k QW IN'VENTOIY ATTORNEY 16 Sheets-Shet 8 MWQN 3 J mmm uNdE

A. H. DICKINSON Filed April 12, 1944 Dec. 4, 1945.

RECORD CONTROLLED COMPUTING MACHINE INV NTOH ATTORNEY 4, 1945. A. H. DICKINSON RECORD CONTROLLED COMPUTING MACHINE l6 Shets-Sheet 9 Filed April 12, 1944 .& w s 5 3 QQQ wax

EN mum \SQ n w mm RQQQ M VTENTQH ATTORNEY 4, 1945. A. H. DICKINSON RECORD CONTROLLED COMPUTING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet 10 NNNK mwdI IN VENTOR BY M4444.

A TTOHNE Y Dec. 4, 1945. A. H. DICKINSON RECORD CONTROLLED COMPUTING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet ll I NNS II N-Nu EN TOR A TTOHNEY 16 Sheets-Sheet 12 4, 1945. A. H. DICKINSON RECORD CONTROLLED COMPUTING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1944 Filed April 12, 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet l6 Patcnted Dec. 4, 1945 RECORD CONTROLLED COMPUTING MACHINE Arthur H. Dickinson, Greenwich, Conn., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 12, 1944, Serial No. 530,588

9 Claims.

This invention relates to computing machine and mor particularly to the type controlled by perforated records and which is capable of selectively performing dividing, multiplying, or combined dividing and multiplying computing operations, such as, represented by the equation AXB C The main object of the invention is to provide a selecting mean comprising distinctively perforated controlled records which precede other records which are to control the selected computation. In the present invention such control records are characterized for the purpose of distinction as master cards and the following computing control cards or records as detail cards.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a record handling, feeding and record analyzing means which will select under control of the master records the desired computing mechanism and accordingly condition the machine for the desired computation effected under control of the following detail cards.

A still further object of the invention is to provide for feeding one or more detail cards after a master card has selected the desired type of computation and retained the machine in the condition it has been put in for effecting the kind of computation determined by the master card, so that the desired computing operation can be effected as long as detail cards follow but terminate upon the sensing of the following master card.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel setup means for the desired form of computation which is concurrently set up in the record feeding Operation that a detail card is fed, to provide for the retention of the setup while the computing operation is being effected under control of one or more detail cards so that immediately upon terminating computing operation for the last detail card the next computing operation can be immediately effected.

In th present machine the distinctively perforated master records possess only the function of selectin the desired form of computation, whereas the detail cards are perforated to represent the data to control the selected computation. Inasmuch as the master and detail cards are passed through the machine in the sequence in which they are placed in the magazine and through a common feeding mechanism it is desirable to pass the master cards through the punching machine without, however, effecting any result recording operations.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of means to run the master cards through the record handling part of the computing machine, then idly through the record punching machine so that after being ejected from the punching machine the master and detail cards are placed in the hopper of the punching machine in the same sequence in which they are initially located in the magazine hopper of the computing machine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a plurality of computation selecting setup means associated with a single control column of the master records and which are selectively set up to determine the type of computation to be effected under control of the following detail cards. The arrangement provides for the breakdown of the setup so that upon occurrence of the next master card requiring the same computing operation as the preceding card the associated setup means may again be set up. A breakdown is so arranged that as the master cards vary computing operations may accordingly change from master card to master card.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Figs. 1 and 1a taken together with Fig. 1a to the right of Fig. 1 show a somewhat diagrammatic view of the various units of the machine and the drive therefor.

Figs. 2a to 271. inclusive, taken together show the complet circuit diagram of the machine when arranged according to the diagram of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a diagram (on the sheet showing Fig. 1a) indicating the manner of assembly of Figs. 2a-2h comprising the wiring diagram.

Fig. 4 is a timing diagram showing the timing of the various CC cams.

Fig. 5 is a timing diagram of the FC cams.

Fig. 6 is a timing diagram of the KC cams.

Fig. 7 is a sequence diagram indicating the cyclic operations of the machine when multiplying, dividing and computations are successively effected, the computing mechanisms being selected by the assoelated master card and following detail cards controlling the selected computation.

Fig. 8 is a diagram of the plugboard connections made to effect the n, B and C entries and also the plugboard connections made to effect the selection of the different computing means under master card control.

Fig. 9 is a flow diagram showing the manner of entering factors of a multiplying computation and how the machine performs such multiplication.

Fig. 10 is a flow diagram showing the manner of entering factors of a dividing computation and how the machine performs a dividing computa- 1. Machine drive Referring first to Figs. 1 and 1a, in general the machine comprises five accumulating units which are respectively designated SP, LQ, RD, ML, and MP. It may be explained that the unit ML contains accumulators and readouts from which all of the nine digital multiples of the divisor or multiplicand can be derived depending upon.

whether the machine is used for division, multiplication, or

A B C computation. The MP receiving device receives the multiplier upon entry in the multiplying or AXB C calculation. Such unit is not utilized in a dividing computation of The accumulating units LQ and RD receive components of the products upon multiplication with the final product formed in LQ, and upon division or AXB computation LQ receives the quotient amount.

In division RD receives the dividend amount, and in AXB computation RD receives the product of AXE. The SP unit is utilized in receiving the C factor of a AXB C computation. The various accumulating units are driven by the gearing delineated from the driving motor M. The machine is also provided with a direct current generator DC. The card handling and feeding section of the machine is of customary form like that shown in Daly Patent No. 2,045,437 and is driven in the usual manner. The FC cam contacts FC2-22 (Fig. 1a) are also driven in the customary manner in synchrortism with the drive of the card handling section of the machine. The units designated CY, N-R, are electromechanical relay setup units of the general construction shown in Figs. 16 and 17 of Patent No. 2,295,448, issued to J. W. Bryce et al. Each of these units is adapted for reset from the constantly running drive shaft by the customary one-revolution clutch arrangement. The reset magnets for the units are respectively designated 32lCY, 32lN--R. The comparing units are shown diagrammatically at CU--CU. These comparing units are of the form shown in Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive of the patent to Bryce et al., No. 2,295,448, and such units are adapted to be driven from the drive shaft by the use of the well known one-revolution clutch, the clutch magnet being designated 342. Also driven from the main drive shaft are the usual CC cams designated CCI-lll and the impulse distributor 306. In addition there are also provided eight impulse emitters which are designated 3, 3, M4, 322, M0, 315, 348, 350 and SH.

2. Accumulators and entry receiving devices As stated, the SP, LQ, RD, ML and MP units are accumulators of electromechanical type. These accumulators are identical in construction except for the number of readout sections, some accumulators having four readout sections and others having less. The accumulator which is here employed may be of various types known in the art, more particularly the type of accumulator having electrical transfer and electrical reset. Suitable accumulators of this type are shown and described in United States Patent No. 1,834,767 and suitable readout structure may be that shown in United States Patent No. 2,062,117 employing the electric reset of Patent No. 1,834,767, modified as per British Patent No.

The present invention involves transfer total arrangements according to British Patent No. 422.135.

While the aforesaid accumulators are a suitable type for use with the present invention, a preferred accumulator is of the form illustrated and described in Lake and Pfafi Patent No. 2,232,006, dated February 18, 1941.

3. Insertible plugboards The insertible plugboard construction is of a type known in the art and the insertible plug unit is generally indicated at MI in Fig. 18 of Patent No. 2,295,448. Devices of this type are generally known as automatic plugboards and a suitable form of such plugboard is shown and fully described in the patent to C. D. Lake, No, 2,111,118, dated March 15, 1938. Such automatic plugboard arrangement comprises a series of relatively fixed machine sockets to which the fixed machine wiring is connected. Adapted for cooperation with such sockets are plug prongs carried by a replaceable plugboard assembly or unit. Such plug prongs on the replaceable board are in turn connected to plug sockets upon the replaceable board. These plugboard sockets may be in turn plugged up by the operator selectively at will or the entire board may be pre-plugged with a desired set of connections.

The manner in which the replaceable plugboard unit is wired and plugged for the form of control described herein is shown in Fig. 0. v

It may be explained that the plug socket reference numerals used on the circuit diagram of -Fig. 2a-2h are the same as those used on the diagrammatic plugboard view of Fig. 8.

4. Cam timing diagrams The cam timing diagrams, Figs. 4, and 6 are self-explanatory. It should be noted that the cams controlling the CC cam contacts of Fig. 4 make one revolution for each machine cycle. The cams controlling the FC cam contacts of Fig. 5 when called into operation make one revolution for each card feed cycle which comprises two machine cycles. The cams controlling the X0 cam contacts of Fig. 6 when called into operation make one revolution for three machine cycles.

Such XC cam contacts are driven from the drive shaft through a one-revolution clutch which is controlled by magnet 3l2. (Fig. 1.) The drive side of the one-revolution clutch receives its drive from the'main drive shaft 50 through the gearing shown which drives the X0 cams one revolution for each three revolutions of the main drive shaft.

5. Operation utilizing plugboard shown in Fig. 8

This figure shows plug connections to be made when the machine is to be set for multiplying computations A X B, the

AXB C The operation of the machine will first be explained with reference to multiplying. In explaining multiplying the manner in which multiples of an entered amount are built up and stored in the machine will be set forth but these multiple building up operations ar equally applicable to the building up of the divisor in dividing computations and in the AXB C computation.

Before describing multiplying operations it may be stated that the circuit diagram of the instant application has been shown with a certain columnar capacity. For simplicity of illustration the capacity as shown by the circuit diagram is two columns by two columns, but it will be appreciated that in actual practice the machine may have a greater columnar capacity. Greater columnar capacity is derived primarily by a duplication of orders of accumulators, readouts, and increased number of entry circuits.

It will be assumed that a set of master and following detail record cards are in place in the supply magazine of the machine. The operator then closes switch 300, supplying current to driving motor M (Fig. 2b). With the main driving motor M in operation the D. C. generator marked DC (Fig. 211) is set in operation supplying current to ground and to D. C. line 30!. The operator now depresses start key 302 (Fig. 2d) and a circuit is completed from ground through the F03 contacts through relay contacts Fl, through the start key contacts back through relay coil E to line 30!. Relay coil E upon being energized is maintained energized by a stick circuit through relay contacts El and cam contacts FC2. The energization of relay coil E closes relay contacts E2 and a circuit is completed from ground, through cam contacts C029, through the punch controlled contacts Pl (Fig. 2d) and the E2 contacts now closed, through the JJ 2 contacts, through the stop key contacts 303 now closed, through the card feed clutch magnet 304, back through the DI contacts in the position shown to line 30l. A master card is now fed by the card feeding and handling section of the machine (Fig. 12). During the first card feed cycle the first master card will be fed to be analyzed by the presensing brushes 3' to determine the computation to be performed in a. manner tobe subsequently explained. It is explained here that the presence of a perforation in the 9 position of a control column will enabl the machine to remain in its normal status for effecting a multiplying operation of AXB under control of the following detail card. In starting up the machine on a run of cards, the start key must be maintained depressed for two card feed cycles or it may be depressed and released and then redepressed. During the first card feed cycle certain idle operations occur which may be merely alluded to. The RD accumulator is reset to zero and circuits of the machine are conditioned just as if a product amount were to be punched. Punching does not occur at this time, however, because there is no result to record and the card has not yet reached the punching machine.

Upon redepression or maintained depression of the start key 302 (Fig. 2d) the previouslydescribed circuit will be established to the card feed clutch magnet 304 and a second card feed cycle will ensue during which the master card will be fed past the analyzing brushes 308 and a following detail card will be fed from the magazine hopper to the brushes 3' and in such position that in a subsequent or third card feed cycle amounts from the following detail card will be read by the analyzing brushes 308 to effect entries to control the selected computation. However, in the feeding of the master card past the analyzing brushes 308, no analysis of the master card occurs thereby, since the master cards carry only the computing selecting perforations which are not analyzed by brushes 308. As will be later evident, means is set in operation by the master card to render such entry means effective prior to a computation.

During the second card feed cycle, the master card is fed past the analyzing brushes 308 to the punch tray in the usual manner. Upon reaching this tray, card lever contacts 3| I (Figs. 2d and 12) close to energize the relay coil D. The energization of relay coil D shifts relay contacts DI, (left side of Fig. 2d) to a reverse position from that shown, cutting off the current supply to the card feed clutch magnet 304 and providing current supply for the punch rack trip magnet 3|! upon closure of cam contacts CCI with contacts P3 and relay contacts Bl closed. The

'relay contacts Bl become closed upon energize.-

tion of the B relay coil (Fig. 2d, lower left side) upon closure of the customary last column punching contacts P5. With punch rack trip magnet 3l8 energized, contacts 3H (Fig. 2b) be come closed and remain latched closed in the customary manner by latch 320. Current supply is 7. LQ Reset With relay coils B and D energized in the manner previously explained, relay contacts B2 and D2 (Fig. 2e) become closed. Upon closure of cam contacts CC2I, current will flow from the 3M line through these contacts through the relay contacts AK2 now in the position shown, down through the now closed B2 contacts, the HH2 contacts now closed, the D2 contacts now closed to and through the 32ILQ reset relay coil to ground. Reset will then be effected of the LQ accumulator during a machine cycle following the second card feed cycle.

The present machine employs electric reset and provision is accordingly made to maintain the 32 ILQ relay coil energized during the reset cycle. This is provided for by stick contacts LQI, such contacts being in a stick circuit including cam contacts CO5. Upon energization of the LQ relay, contacts LQZ, LQ36 (Fig. 2h.) and LQI (Fig. 2g) shift to reverse position from that shown. With LQ2 (Fig. 2h) in reverse position current supply is afforded to an emitter 322 which is wired in a nines complementary manner to the LQR readout. Complemental impulses representative of the nines complement of the amount standing in LQ flow through the now shifted LQ3-6 contacts, through the set of lines generally designated 323 to the 3|3LQ accumulator magnets and back to ground (see also Fig. 29). By thus introducing the nines complement of the amount standing in LQ the accumulator elements are restored to a 9 position. To bring the accumulator to zero from the all 9 position, an elusive 1 is entered in the units order at the carry time in the cycle. This entry is provided through the contacts LQ'I which are closed in the manner previously explained. This impulse is supplied in the vfol'lpwing manner: From line 30!, through cam contacts CCI6, (Fig. 2g) via line 324, through the LQ'I contacts, through the normal carry relay contacts AV4 controlled by relay coil AV (Fig. 2d) down to the units order of the 3I3LQ magnets. The units order is thus advanced one step and the electric transfer devices of the accumulator cause advance of all the other higher orders one step.

It may be explained that as long as the machine is operating, cam contacts CO2 close once each machine cycle at the carry time in the operation of the accumulators. Such closure of cam contacts CC2 energizes relay coil AV (Fig. 2d). The energization of coil AV closes contacts AVI-4, and AV59 (Fig. 29), AVID-ll, (Fig. 2e), AV|228( Fig. 2a) and AV2930 (Fig. 20)", which are respectively associated with the LQ, RD, MP, ML and SP accumulators. Since coil AV becomes energized once each machine cycle the aforementioned relay contacts thus close at the carry time. The closure of these contacts permits the electric carry devices to be effective for \performing carry operations whenever they are required in their related accumulators.

During LQ reset, provision is made to prevent repetition of such reset. This repeat reset preventing means is provided for as follows: During LQ reset, the LQ8 contacts are closed (Fig. 2d right side). Accordingly, when cam contacts C06 close, a circuit is provided from ground through the LQ8 contacts, through 006, either through relay contacts AK3 or through the AN3 contacts to relay coil HH. Relay coil HH, becoming energized, establishes its stick circuit through contacts HHI and the punch controlled contacts P2 now closed. On Fig. 2e, the relay contacts HH2 open and thus interrupt the reset initiating circuit t 32lLQ.

8. Master card control of multiplying mechanism Reverting to operations .performed in the first card feed cycle upon starting up the machine, it will be assumed that the first master card fed from the magazine hopper to be analyzed by the brushes 3' is perforated at the 9 index point position of the control column which calls for a multiplying computation to be effected under control of the following detail card. Referring to Fig. 2h a circuit will be completed in the second machine cycle of the first card feed cycle from line 30I, through the FCI5 cam contacts, conductor plate 310, analyzing brush 3H in a column to sense the 9 index point position of the control column, GAI relay contacts, to the emitter 5l2 which when it makes at the time the 9 index point is analyzed by brush 3' causes an impulse to flow to plug hub 50i, via plug connection from plug hub 50! to plug hub 5l5, (see also Fig. 8) to grounded relay coil EA. Relay coil EA energizes to close its stick contacts EAI, the stick circuit extending back through EAI contacts to the cam contacts FCI9 contacts. The latter maintains the energization of the relay coil EA to the end of the first card feed cycle and for substantially half of the first machine cycle of the second card feed cycle. This second card feed cycle, it will be recalled, is initiated manually and during the first machine cycle of the second card feed cycle while the EA relay is energized cam contacts FCZO close and with the EA2 contacts now closed a circuit will be closed from line 3M through cam contacts F020, through EA2 contacts to the grounded FA relay coil. A stick circuit for the FA relay coil is provided back through the FAI contacts and the punch control contacts P211, the latter being operated concurrently with the P2 contacts (Fig. 2d). By this stick circuit FA relay will be retained energized during the remainder of the second card feed cycle and during the subsequent two machine cycles during the first of which the LQ accumulator is reset in the manner previously described. During the second machine cycle there is a reset of the ML and MP receiving devices provided for by the following circuit.

9. Reset of ML and MP receiving devices During the LQ reset cycle, while the 32ILQ relay coil is retained energized to close the LQH and DQIZ relay contacts (Fig. 2f) cam contacts CC24 close, thereby closing a circuit from the line 3!, through cam contacts C024, FA5 relay contacts now closed, then through LQH relay contacts now closed through the grounded KK

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