US2566937A - Sorting machine - Google Patents

Description

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Patented Sept. 4, 1951 SORTING MACHINE Emerson W. Gifford, Teancck. N. J., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 7, 1947, Serial No. 753,250

9 Claims. i

This invention relates to record controlled machines and more particularly to that type of machine which has become known as a collator.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel comparing mechanism capable of comparing alphabetical data and suitable for use in collators and other record controlled machines.

An object is to provide a comparing mechanism which does not require that the machine be specially plugged for an alphabetic comparing operation. In other words, it functions automatically to compare alphabetically merely from the fact that the cards sensed contain alphabetical data in the fields compared.

An object is to provide a comparing mechanism which may be readily added to existing machines without mechanical change in the machine and requiring only the addition of a bank of relays and a minor change in the timing such as may be readily accomplished in the iield.

An object is to provide an alphabetic comparing mechanism which comprises supplementary relays which may be used in conjunction with the standard commercial comparing mechanism with no mechanical change therein, but merely a re-wiring of the contacts, such as may readily be accomplished in the eld.

An object is to provide a comparing mechanism for alphabetical data which does not require extensive alteration in the machine or its circuits to install the comparing mechanism.

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. 1A and 1E comprise a wiring diagram of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the mechanical comparing mechanism.

Fig. 4 is an electrical timing chart. p

Fig. 5 is a mechanical timing chart.

Fig. 6 is a plugboard chart.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the hopper contacts.

The invention is shown in the drawings as applied to the well known International collator which is disclosed in Patent No. 2,379,828. Since the present invention contemplates only a minor change in the mechanical structure of the machine and does not contemplate any change in the mode of operation of the machine in respect to the manner in which cards are merged or 'selected. only a very brief general description of the mechanical construction of the machine will be given and for further details reference may be had to the above patent. It will be understood that the disclosure herein is purely illustrative and that the invention is not limited in its application to the specific type of machine selected for illustration.

Basically, the machine comprises two card hoppers of which PH (Fig. 2) is commonly termed the primary hopper and SH the secondary hopper. In the ordinary use of the machine, the file of cards is usually placed in the hopper PH and the cards to be filed in the hopper SH, al1 according to the type of operation to be effected and in accordance with the teachings of the above patent. It will be understood here that the general function of the machine is the same as in the above patent and the only change in the operation of the machine is in the functioning of the comparing mechanism which, according tothe present invention, is made additionally capable of comparing alphabetical data besides numerical data. Accordingly the present description will deal primarily with the comparing functions of the machine and it will be understood that the machine is capable of performing the same operations as in the above patent with the exception of some of the card counting operations which do not involve the treatment of cards alphabetically.

So far as possible the reference numerals herein will correspond to those in the above patent to facilitate reference thereto in ascertaining the mode of operation or structural features which itis not deemed necessary to describe in detail herein.

Each of the hoppers SH, PH is provided with the usual card picker Ilia (Fig. 2) which is operative at theI proper time to push the bottom card in the hopper to the left far enough to be gripped by the feed rollers |11, |18. The cards are carried by the feed rollers |11, |18 to the feed rollers |84, |81, past the primary and secondary card lever contacts PCL and SCL respectively. Thence the cards are carriedy past the primary brushes PBI and the secondary brushes SBI which cooperate with the contact rollers PCRl, SCR, respectively. Slotted feed rollers 20| cooperating with these contact rollers further advance the cards to the feed rollers 8|, |81. in the case of the primary cards, and the feed rollers 208, 209 in the case of the secondary cards. The primary cards are additionally carried past 3' the primary brushes PS2 and the contact roller PCR2 before being delivered to the feed roller 233 which cooperates with a feed roller similar to the feed roller 233.v It will be seen that the primary cards from hopper PH are analyzed twice by the brushes PBI, FB2, while the secondary cards are analysed o nly once. prior to arrival at the ieed'rollers 233,333, 233.

Additional card lever contacts are provided for detecting the passage of the cards past the contact rollers PCRI, PGE2, SCR, and are designated PCLI, PCL2 (Fig. 1A) and SCLI, respectively- The machine is provided with three sorting blades to compel the sectors 313, 3,14 to follow said balls in their oscillations by'a cam 310, there being a pair of balls 383, 384 anda pair of cams 310 ln each unit.

designated with the small numerals 1 to 9 in Fig. 3 which represent the various digital positions in which the sectors may be stopped bythe pawls 318 according to the time of energization of the m comparing magnets PMI, PM2 or SMI, SM2.

designated sul. in, 3l, or' which the mst two r 1,-, in the cycle corresponding to the positions of the Vcontrol the distribution of cards to three of the four receiving pockets with which the machine is provided, while the blade 333 controls the distribution of the primary cards to the' pockets PRJ and MS (Fig. 2). Besides the pockets MS and PRJ the machine is provided with the secondary reject pocket and .a pocket tor the selected primaries which pockets are designated SRJ and SP in the patent.

The blade 333 is controlled by the magnet SRMI (Fig. 2) vwhile the blade 331 is controlled by a similar magnet SRM! not shown in Fig. 2 but appearing in li'igll. 'I'he blade 333'is controlled by magnet PBM (Figs. 1B and 2). The hoppers SH and PH are provided with the hopper contacts designated SHC and PHC (Figs. la and '1) which are closed whenever cards are placed in the respective hoppers. The distribution of the cards after they pass the feed rollers 233 to 233 is controlled by. the magnets SRMI, SRMZ, PRM and an eject magnet EMv (Pig. 1C) which controls a clutch rendering the feed roller 206 effective to'feed a primary card over or underneath the blade 303 according to whether or not the magnet PRM is energized. These magnets function for the diiierent operations in exactly the same manner 'as described in the patent.

- The present invention contemplates the provision of a system of relays which is operative, in conjunction with the usual mechanical comparing mechanism ordinarily used for numerical comparing, to effect alphabetical comparing. 'Ihe mechanical construction of the comparing mechanism is substantially the same as i'n the above patent and diilers therefrom only in respect to the construction of the contacts which denote the numerical relationships and the manner in which these contacts are wired in the comparing circuits.

-The comparing mechanism is shown in Fig. 3 and comprises two comparing devices as in the above patent. One of these comparing devices is usually termed the primary sequence unit and involves the comparing magnets PMI, PM2 while the other unit is termed the selector unit and inf volves the comparing magnets SMI, SM2. The mechanical construction of these units is identical and Fig. 3 of the drawings illustrates both with the magnets alternatively designated. Only a very brief description will be, given of the structure of the comparing units.

Each comparing unit ordinarily comprises sixteen positions, giving a comparing capacity of sixteencolumns on the record cards. Associated with each column is a pair of magnets PMI, PM2v for the sequence unit or SMI, SM2 for the selector unit whose armatures 313 normally latch pawls 313 in the position shown in dotted lines inFig. 3, clear of the comparing sectors 313, 314. '.lhe sectors 313 are associated with magnets PMI or SMI and the sectors 314 with magnets PM2 o r SM2 and they are connected by spring 335 with the operating balls 333, 334, which springs tend The comparing magnets are usually plugged to the brushes PBI, FB2, SB, whereby the magnets PMI, PM2, and SMI, SM2 are impulsed, in accordance with the well known Hollerith principle, at times holes designating digits in the columns of the -cards compared. This feature is well known in the art and very fully explained in the above patent.

The bails 383, 334 are controlled by restoring magnets designated PRI, PR2, FR3, and SR in Fig. 1C. Once the sectors 313, 314 have taken settings to correspond with the digits l to 9 punched in the card, the settings are retained in the comparing mechanism until the balls 383, 334

are rendered operative by energizatlon of the corresponding restoring magnets PRI, PR2, FR3,

Each pair of sectors 313, 314 is pivtally slidably interconnected by a link 393 (Fig. 3) which is slotted at its ends and at its middle is provided with a pivot stud 333 slidable in a horizontal straight slot 4334 inl a fixed guide plate 4II3- and also extends into a cam slot 43Ia in the contact operating member 4BI.` Thel cam slot lo in the member 43| is so shaped that, when both sectors 313, 314 occupy identical numerical positions, the pin 393 will lie in the middle or inclined part of the slot Ia in member 40|, holdo ing said member in a neutral position to signify that the compared digits are equal in value.'v

This condition is illustrated in Fig. 3 in which both of the sectors 313, 314 have been set to represent the digit 9. If the upper sector 313 were to be moved one step further in a clockwise direc- 4" tion to represent 8, the pin 333 will move to the right, owing to link 393 being rocked clockwise about the pivotal connection to the lower sector 314, and will cam the member 40| upwardly to indicatethe fact that the digit entered under control of the magnet. SMI or PMI is lower in value than the digit entered under control of the related magnet SM2 or PM2.A Similarly, if the lower sector 314 is moved one step clockwise, the pin 333 will move to the left and cam member I downwardly t0 indicate that the digit entered by magnet SM2 or PM2 is the smaller.

The member Ill operates two sets of transfer type contacts which are designated 4I2a. 4I2b, 4I3a, 4I3b in the case of the selector unit (Figs. 3 and 1D) and 4I2c, 4I2d, 4I3c, 4I3d in the case `of the primary sequence unit. When the members 43|- of the selector-unit move to the upper dotted position signifying low secondary, the contacts 4I 3a open and 4I3b clo but contacts 4I2a, 4I2b are not disturbed. Similarly, in the sequence unit, the contacts 4I3d open and 4I3c close to indicate that the second oi two successively icd primarycards is lower than the ilrst. On the other hand, contacts 4I2a open and 4I2b close in the selector unit when the primary card is lower than the secondary card and 4I2d open and 4I2c close in the sequence unit when the second primary card is high. The foregoing assumes for convenience of description thatthe selector unit has been plugged to compare each noch sector su, :u nos mno tooth spaces todos? primary card with a second'ary card and each primary card with a succeeding primary card, otherwise the designations of numerical relationships are arbitrary and depend upon which hall of either unit may be selectively `plugged for a particular function or operation. Since neither the selector unit nor the sequence unit is permanently wired to the card sensing brushes, the comparing units may be used interchangeably or may be used together to give a combined comparing capacity of thirty-two columns. The various ways in which this may be done is made clear in the patent and will' not be reviewed herein.

The contacts 4I2a to "2d and 3a to Mid are the full equivalents of the comparing unit switch structures disclosed in Figs. 9 and 9a of the above patent and their eil'ect is exactly the same.

In commercial practice alphabetical data is represented by combinations of two holes per column, one of which holes, called the zone hole,

is placed in the 0, 11, and 12 positions, while the second hole, called the numerical hole, occurs in the 1v to 9 positions. The following table shows the commercial code, the numbers following the letters designating the hole positions of a single card column:

For the purpose of eilecting alphabetical comparing there is provided, in addition to the usual mechanical selector units described above controlled by the magnets PMI, PM2, SMI, SM2, a system of relays including relays capable oi storing in the machine for purposes of comparison the' 0, 11, and 12 designations (zone holes) and of using these stored designations in conjunction with the numerical part o! the code as stored in the mechanical comparing mechanism.

It will be noted by reference to the table that the alphabet is divided into three sequential groups in each of which groups the sequence of the characters in each group is denoted by the numerical part o! the code, that is, the hole positions l to 9. The sequence o1' the groups is denoted by the inverse order of the 0, 11 and 12 positions. Thus, the group containing A is difierentiated from the group containing J by the fact that each letter in the A group has a 12 hole while the J group has an 11 hole. The A group is difierentiated from the S group by the fact that the S group contains a 0 hole, while the J group is differentiated in sequence from the S group by 11 holes. In other words, in comparing a card designatedl A in a particular column with a card designated J, the A is lower in sequence because the zone hole for this card is higher than the zone hole for the J card. Thus, a 12 hole in a compa-ring column dominates over an 11 hole or a 0 hole and an 1l hole dominates over a 0 hole.

It will be noted in the table that there is no code combination 0 and 1 but this combination may be reserved for a special character or simply one which has no sequence significance. Ad-

6 vantage is taken of the foregoing characteristics of the code to diierentiate the different letters of the alphabet from each other in respect to alphabetical sequence.

For this purpose, there is provided, in addition to the comparing magnets SMI, SM2, PMI, PM2, a group of three set-up zone relays like the ones designated SRII, SRI I, and SRI! (Fig. 1A) associated with each comparing magnet. In Fig. 1A only the groups associated with the sixteenth or highest order positions of the comparing mechanism are shown in order to avoid' confusion on the drawing. Since there is a total of 84 comparing magnets in the commercial machine it will be understood that there will be 64 groups like the relays SRII, SRI I, SRI2 which are associated with magnets SMI. In the case o! the magnets SM2 the relays are designated PRL PRII, PRI2 while the relays corresponding to the magnets PMI, PM2 are designated IPRII, IPRII, IPRIZ and 2PRO, 2PRI I, IPRI2, respectively.

When each comparing magnet, such as the magnet SMI, for instance, is plugged to one of the card sensing brushes in the usual way, the

corresponding groups of relays SRI). SRI I, SRI2 is likewise automatically plugged at the same time. The coils of the relays SRII, SRII, SRI2, PRI), etc. are not directly connected tothe plug sockets PS4 to PS1, for the magnets SMI, SM2, PMI, PM2, but are connected thereto through the contacts A of zone selection relays designated ZRU, ZRI I, ZRI2, oi' which there are three. The contacts A of the relay ZRII are arranged so that when they close they connect the coils of all of the relays designated SRII, PRO, I PRO, and 2PRI to the plug sockets PS4, PS5, PS6, and PS'I corresponding to the comparing magnets SMI, SM2, PM2, PMI, respectively. Similarly the contacts A of relays ZRI I, ZRI2 connect the coils of the relays SRII, SRI2, PRII, 4PRI2, IPRII, IPRI2, 2PRI I, 2PRI2 to the plug sockets corresponding to magnets SM2, PMI, PM2. The relays ZR., ZRI I, ZRI2 are energized momentarily once per cycle, at the 0, 11, and 12 points (Fig. 4) in succession by the timing contacts CRII), CRI I, CRI2 (Fig. 1A). In order to understand the operation of the relays mentioned above, let it be :assumed for the moment that the sixteenth position magnet SMI, denoted by the small number I8 appearing above the magnet in Fig. 1A, is plugged to one of the plug sockets SPI so that impulses o! current may be transmitted to the sixteenth position magnet SMI through a hole in 'the card column sensed by the particular brush. SB selected. Let it be assumed that there is an 11 hole in the column under consideration.

When the selected brush SB senses the 0 indexpoint position in the card the contacts A of relay ZRU (Fig. 1A) will be closed by the energization of the relay ZRII arising from the closure of contacts CRI D (Fig. 4) However, there is no 0 hole in the card and relay SRD will not be energized. Due to the hole in the I I position, however, relay ZRII will close its contacts A about the time the brush finds the 1.1 hole in the card and willcause the energization of the relay SRII in parallel with magnet SMI for position 16. The relay SRIZ, like relay SRII, will not be energized when contacts CRI2 energize the relay ZRI2.` Thus, the 11 zone hole in the column under consideration will in effect be set up in the machine by energizing the relay SRI I. When the relay SRI I is energized it closes its contacts A and establishes a brief holding circuit for itself from line wire WI to the wire W4 (Fig. 1A) through commutatorSC2 (Fig. 1B) to line wire W2. 'I'he commutator SC2 (Fig. 4) holds the circuit until the designated B and C which are arranged as shown in Fig. 1E. For each position of each comparing unit there is a pair of relays for denoting the sequential relationship between the zone holes in two columns which are compared. In a case of the selector unit, the pair of relays is designated LPR, signifying low primary relay, and LSR designating low secondary relay. In the case of the fifteenth and sixteenth positions, of the selector unit, for example, these relays -are designated LPRIB, LPRI5, LSRIB, LSRI5 (Fig. 1E). Only'the circuits for the relays LPRIII, LSRIB 'for the sixteenth position of the selector unit are shown in Fig. 1E but it will be understood that the wiring is duplicated for the other fifteen positions land have associated with them the same number of relay contacts wired in the same fashion as illustrated by the pair of .comparing circuits enclosdin the dotted rectangle captioned selector unit" (rig. 1E).

- Similarly, for the sequence unit there isa pair oi' relays for each comparing position designated IPHR, ZPLR, denoting secondvprimary high relay and second primary low relay. These relays are differentiated from `each other in the dierent orders by the suilix numbers 1 to 16. Onlytwo the zone holes punched thereon', it will be assinned forthe moment that the magnets SMI,

SM2 for position I6 in Fig. 1A are plugged to se- -lected plug sockets PSI, PS2, respectively, to

compare a column' on a primary card with a column on a secondary card (see Fig. 6 also).

Let it be assumedthat the primary card is punched A, represented by the combination of a 12 hole and a 1 hole, and that the secondary card,

is punched J involving the combination of an 11 and a 1 hole. At the 1l point in the cycle, the position lmagnet SMI of the selector unit will be energized but will have no eect. At the same time 'the relay SRII will be energized in consequence oi' the closure of contacts A of ZRII and the holding circuit for relay SRII will be held by the commutator SC2 as described above. This stores the 11" hole temporarily. At the 12 point in the cycle the magnet SM2 for the sixteenth position of the selector unit also will be idly energized and at the same time the relay PRI2 corresponding to that position will be energized and held by contacts PC2 `thereby storing 8 the circuits through the relays LPRII, LSRII, only one circuit can be completed since only relays PRI 2, SR II are energized. This circuit is traced from line wire WI, through low primary relay LPRIS, contacts C of relay SRII andC of relay PRI2, and contacts CR8 (Fig. 1C), to line wire W3. The energization of the relay LPRIG denotes the fact that in the sixteenthv position of 'the selector unit the primary card punched A is lower in sequence than the secondary card punched J and of itself is suiiicient in this example to determine the sequence relationship of the cards, it not then being necessary to determine what the relation is between the holes `'punched in the 1 to 9 positions which, in the present case, both happen to be 1 holes. Any card punched from A to I will dominate a card punched from J to R, since the 12 hole always dominates an II hole.

The contacts of the relays LPRIB,ISRIB are inserted in a circuit with the contacts "2a, "2b and "3a, 4I3b for the sixteenthposition of the mechanical part of the comparing unit in .the manner shown in Fig. 1D. Since only the relay LPRIB was energized, the contacts B of relay LPRIIi will close and contacts A- open, thereby preventing any possibility of closing an vequal circuit through the selector unit and closing the low primary function selection circuit as follows: Line wire WI, low primary relay- R22, the contact A of relay'R38, low primary plug socket P531, contacts B of relay LPRIG, the plug wire between plug sockets PS43, PS, wire W3 con-l tacts CR! (Fig. 1C) and relay contacts RII, which are closed when the machinev is-in operation under normal conditions `to line wire W2.

'I'he energization of the `relay R22 manifests the fact that the card punched Avis ilrst in a1- phabetic sequence since position 'I6 is the highest order corresponding to the initial letter of a name, and the machine will be controlled in any of the manners described in the foregoing patent which involve the use of the basic setup controls which are responsive to the relays R22, R23, R24.

treme left hand plug socket PS4 in Fig. 6 is connected by a plug wire to the plug socket PSI corresponding to thesecondary brush SB for column '24. similarly, the plug socket PS5 after the sixteenth magnet SM2 is connected to plug socket PS2 for brush PB2 corresponding to the column 24 of the primary card.

The same situation could have happened in the sequence unit in comparing column 24 of two successive primary cards. For example, the first of two primary cards might be punched A and the second J involving a 12 hole and an 11 hole, respectively. Under these conditions the sixteenth position magnet PM2 and the relay IPRI2 will be energized under control of the l2 hole in the first primary card and the sixteenth position magnet PMI and relay 2 PRII willbe energized under control of the 11 hole in the second primary card.

With reference to Fig. 1E it will be noted that only one circuit can be established in the sequence unit to energize relay ZPHRIB through the contacts C of relay 2PRII and C of IPRI2. With reference to Fig. 1D the energization of relay 2PHRI6 indicates that the second primary card is high and the closure of contacts B of the relay 2PI-IRI 6 causes the relay R25 and any function connected to plug socket PS40 to be selected in the same manner as relay R22.

With reference to Fig. 6 it will be noted that plug socket PSM has not been plugged and only the normal function of the relay R to control feeding of the cards will prevail. Since the basic setup control is shown plugged on in Fig. 6, the effect of the energization of relay 25 will depend upon the energization of the equal relay R23 which denotes when the primary and sccondary cards under comparison are equal. In the present case the operation of the machine with the plugging arrangement shown in Fig. 6 will vbe exactly the same as in the case of the plugging arrangement shown in Fig. 21A of Patent No. 2,379,828, designated merging with selection of unmatched secondary cards." 'I'he only difference in the present case will be that the merging and selection of the cards will be on an alphabetical sequence basis rather than a numerical basis. In other words, the cards inserted in the primary and secondary hoppers will be an alphabetical order instead of numerical order. The only diierence betwen the two types of operation will be in the manner in which the comparing mechanism functions.

In respect to the functioning of the machine as to the mechanical part of the comparing unit, the numeral 1 will be entered into both sides oi the comparing units under both of the assumed conditions above and,. so far as the sectors 313, 314 for the sixteenth positions of either unit are concerned, the contacts 4I3a, 4I3d, 4I2a, 4I2d will remain closed, but as pointed out above with reference to Fig. 1D, the opening of contacts A of the relay LPRI B and ZPHRI 6 makes it impossible to send either a low secondary or a low second primary or an equal circuit through the comparing units. In other words, owing to the disposition of the alphabetical comparing control contacts A and B of relays LPRIG, 2PHRI6, LSRIS, 2PLRI6 ahead of the corresponding contacts 4I2a to 4I2d and 4I3a to 4I3d for position 16 cause the alphabetic zoning holes to dominate over the numerical holes and determine the selection of the A card.

In each order or position, the relays LPR, LSR, and 2PHR, 2PLR are placed ahead of the correspending contacts 4I2a to 4I2d and 4I3a to 4I3d for that order.

In the above two illustrations, if the secondary card had been punched A and the primary card punched J. or the second primary card punched A and the rst primary card punched J theconditions would be reversed as then the relays SRI2, PRII and IPRII and 2PRI2 will be energized.

With reference to Fig. 1E, it will be seen that the relay LSRI6 or 2PLRI6, as the case may be, will be selected through the contacts C of relay SRIZ and B of relay PRI I, in the case of the selector unit, and through contacts C of relay 2PRI2 and B of IPRI I, in the sequence unit.

In the event two cards are punched alphabetically alike, the zoning holes 0, 11 or 12. as the case may be, will be alike on both the cards which are compared and the numerical holes will also be alike. Under these conditions none of the relays SRI), SRII and SRI2, etc. in Fig. 1E

' can have any effect because the contacts B and C oi relays SRI I, for example, are not in circuit with any of the contacts of relays PRI I, thus preventing any energization of the relays LPRIG, LSRIG. The contacts A o! these relays (Fig. 1D) remain closed and, sincethe numerical holes are also the same, an equal circuit can be transmitted through the contacts 4I2a, 4I3a to the remaining orders of the comparing unit. Of course, it may happen that the highest orders or positions may be punched alike and some lower order be punched unlike, in which case the nearest order in which there is a dierence will dominate over the remaining lower orders exactly as in the case of simple numerical comparison as described in the patent.

There is one further condition which must be satisfied, that is the case where two compared cards belong in the same zone group. For example, in comparing A with B, it is necessary that the numerical comparison determine the selection, since both cards will be punched 12 in such case and will differ only in that the A card will be punched 1 and the B card punched 2. In this case, the contacts A of the relays LPRIB, LSRIE or ZPHRIG, 2PLRI6, according to which selector unit is involved. will remain closed, but one or the other of the contacts 4 I2b, 4I3b, in the case of the selector unit, or 4I2c, 4I3c in the case of the sequence unit will close to select one of the relays R22, R24 or R25, R21. depending upon which card has the 2 hole. Under these conditions the comparing unit functions in the same manner as it does in numerical comparison to differentiate the A card from the B card.

The foregoing description has been confined to the sixteenth position simply as a matter of convenience of description. It might have happened, for example, that positions 12 to 16 of the selector unit are punched alike in both cards but that the eleventh position is the first in which a difference is noted. In this case, the circuit is traced up in Fig. 1D through the higher orders, beginning with the contacts A of the relays LSRI6, LPRIS, contacts 4I3a and 4I2a, thence to contacts A of relay LSRIS, LPRI5, etc., to the contacts A or B of the relays LSRI I, LPRI I.

It will be noted by careful study of the table that there are nine possible comparing conditions which must be satisfied in the comparing units. Of these, three are equal conditions in which the two cards compared both are punched 12, 11, or 0, respectively. These three cases are taken care of by arranging the contacts of the relays LPRI, LSRI, etc., in the case of the selector unit (Fig. 1E), and ZPHRI, 2PLRI, etc., in the case of the sequence unit, s0 that the equal circuit normally exists in the respective comparing units until changed by closure of an unequal circuit. Thus, normalbl the relays R23, R23 (Fig. 1D) will be selected unless the cards are unequal.

Now, with respect to any two compared cards. there are three possible low conditions as to one card and three diilerent low conditions as to the other card. These conditions represent different combinations oi' relationships between the zone holes and are as follows: 12, 1l; 12, 0; and i1, 0. Ii the 12 or 11 hole occurs in the primary card, then one of the relays LSRI to LSRIG will be energized to denote the fact that the secondary card is low. These three possible conditions are represented, in each comparing position of the secondary side of the selector unit by the three circuits connected in series parallel to the relay LSRII in Fig. 1E. It will be noted. for example, that the 12, 11 combination is set as, for example. LPRIl, LSRIB, through one o! the six circuits associated with that position. ccrresponding to the six possible unequal relations of the zone holes. In Fig. 1E the three circuits associated with the sixteenth position of the selector circuit which take care of the three possible low primary conditions are designated LOW PRLwhilethethreewhichtakecareoithelcw secondary condition are marked LOW SEC.

ItwillbenotedinFig.1Dthattherelays IBRIO, LPRllare arranged with their contacts ahead of the numerical comparing contacts Illa, "2b, 3a. "3b in order that the zone holes in the card may dominate over the numerical holes for the same column and prevent a false comparison being made when the zone hole on one card is high with respect to the other, while the numerical hole is low. This may happen, for example, in comparing the letter I, calling for the combination oi.' 12, 9 in the table, with the letterV J, represented by the combination 11, 1. Ii' contacts of the relays LSRIE, LPRIS were placed above the sixteenth position contacts 2a. "2b, "3a, 3b. the latter would be able to close circuits to one or the other oi the relays R22, R24 and dominate the relays LSRIB, LPRIO, which. of course. `is an undesirable condition. The only case where it is desired that the numerical comparmg determine the selection is where both the zone holes in the comparedcardsare thesameandthequestionis one of differentiating cards within one of the sequential groupsAtoI.JtoR,orStoZ.

Since the normal ilow oi current in controlling the selections in accordance with card comparisons is In at the plug sockets P843, PS and upwardly to the line wire WI (Fig. 1D), it is apparent that the foregoing results are achieved. It will be understood, of course, that it is not the actual direction of current now that is important, but the relative order in which the contacts of the relays and numerical comparing mechamsmsare arranged. With the arrangementoithewlringasshowninFlg.1D,the highest orders or positions oi the comparing units are at the bottom and each dominates over the next order above in effecting inequality selections. Sofarasthe'comparingmechanismisconcerned, it is always ready to compare either numeral or alphabetical cards provided the plug wire connections between the plug sockets I, ill, I, |01 remain undisturbed. These plug wire connections are provided, not for the purpo of rendering the alphabetical comparing feature operative. but tov make it possible to disable the alphabetic comparing feature when numerical comparison is being eiiected inviields which maybe double-punched with control holes in the 1l and 12 positions, as sometimes -happens. Por example. very often a hole is placed inthe 11 or 12.positions of a particular column o! a neld devoted to numerical data to denote some special fact which may or maynot have anysigniiicanceasi'arasthedatapunchedin asados? an illustration is the practice which has been resortedtointhepastotpunchingllandlz holesinamount iields to denote debitandcredit.

with respect to the amounts punched in such neldsfwhiieitisnotlikelythat 11and12 holeswillusuallybeplacedinthesame columns as numbers most likely to be compared, such as serial numbers or account. numbers, which are most used for comparison, it may occasionally happen that Ithis is owing to insumcientcapacityoithecard. Iisuchacardwere throughthepresentmachinewiththe wiring madeipermanent between the relays SRI, SRM, SRIZ, PFI, etc. and the line wire WI, the

machine would automatically effect an alphabetical comparison of numerical data which, of

course. would be meaningless in such a case. The

plug wires between the plug sockets PSI, PSiII, PSI, PBII'I make it possible to disable the alphabetical comparing feature for the rare occasions where a i'alse comparison would resuit trom the incidental comparison oi 0,"11 and '12 holes which have no true comparative meaning. Intheordinaryuseofamachinahowever, the plug connections will remain undisimrbedsothatthemachineisalways-inreadiness for alphabetical comparison and is ren- :erieirective solely by the type of data-com'- It was mentioned above that when the 0, 11, and 12 holes are sensed by the card sensing brushes the magnets 0f the selector unit will be energized idly. While the brushes are traversingthe1to9positionsotthecardthemagnets will be energized'according to the positions 0I the numerical holes in the code and in everycase the magnets will receive the second une energization after the sectors 313, 314 have been set numerically. However, when a. comparing magnet has tripped its related pawl 318. which may occur anywhere between 9 and 0, a second energization or the magnet during the same cycle merely results in idle vibration of the related armature 31| without eil'ect as it is impossible to make a new setting between the 0 and 12 points of a cycle or change the setting arising from the rst energization of the magnet before the balls 383. 384 have become operative to restore the sectors 313, 314 to starting position. In a case -where a card is only numerically punched and only numerical comparison is desired. the absence ot 0, 11 and 12 holes in the columns compared will simply mean that the relays SRU, SRI i, SRI2, etc. will remain unenergized, although the zoning relays ZRI, ZRII, ZR!! operate every cycle ot the machine. But on the occurrence ot an alphabetical card the relays are automatically energized merely in consequence oi the presence of the zone holes. Thus, it is unnecessary to specially plug the machine to condition it for either alphabetical or numerical operation and the only plugging is the normal plugging to connect the brushes to the comparing magnets.

The majority of the operations described in Patent 2,379,828 which involve the use of the sequence or selector unit to compare the rela'- ti've sequential value of two cards may be performed with the alphabetic comparing mechanlsm described herein, provided the cards ilrst are arranged in alphabetical order or selected according to an alphabetical preference of some kind. Such operations include sequence checking, either alone orin combination with other operations; matching, merging, and selection tbatnumerical ileldhappenstobeconcerned. operationsinwhichthecards are arrangedin alphabetical order and are to be filed or matched alphabetically instead of numerically; and various operations in which the selection or control is eilected solely on the basis of the relationship one card bears to the other in a sequence sense.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the. fundamental novel features vof the invention, as applied to a preferred embodiment, 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:

l. In a machine of the class described, two sets of electrical sensing elements, each set for sensing the index-point positions of the columns of one of two records to be compared for alphabetical sequence, each letter of the alphabet being represented in said records by a combination of two designations in a single column of indexpoint positions, each column having a series of zonal index-point positions representing a series of sequential groups of the alphabet in one of which zonal index-point positions one of said two designations is placed to designate the sequential group containing the designated letter, each column also having a series of numerical positions for denoting the sequence of a designated letter within its sequential group, the second of said two designations being placed in one of the numerical positions; a system of storage relays including a series of relays for each column of the records under comparison,

each relay corresponding to one of the zonal' index-point positions and selectively energized under control of the sensing means when the corresponding zonal index-point position of a record column contains a designation, the two series of relays corresponding to each pair of compared columns and having their contacts connected in a series of comparing circuits, each circuit including in series the contacts of two different storage relays to represent one of the possible zonal comparison relations between two zonal designations, said circuits being divided into two groups, the comparing circuits in each group in parallel, one of said groups corresponding to all o! the comparison relations when a predetermined one of two compared records is low in sequence and the other group corresponding to all of the comparison relations when the other compared record is low; a pair of sequence relays for each pair of compared columns, each controlled by one of said groups of circuits; and numerical comparing mechanism including comparing sectors set to represent the values of the numerical designations in the compared columns and including a series of selective switching means, each for manifesting the sequence relation of two compared columns in respect to the numerical designations in such columns, said switching means and the contacts of said sequence relays being arranged in three series parallel circuits, one of which is closed by said switching means or said sequence relays when two compared records are equal and one or the other of the remaining circuits being closed when the compared records are unequal.

2. In a machine of the class described, two sets of electrical sensing elements, each set for sensing the index-point positions of the columns of one of two record fields to be compared for alphabetical sequence, each letter of the alphabet being represented in said record columns by a combination o1' two designations in a single column of index-point positions, each column having a series of zonal index-point positions representing a series o1' sequential groups of the alphabet in one of which zonal index-point positions one of said two designations is placed to designate the sequential group containing the designated letter, each column also having a series of numerical positions for denoLing the sequence of a designated letter within its sequential group, the second of said two designations `being placed in one of the numerical positions;

a system of zone storage relays controlled by said sensing elements and having contacts grouped in a pluraliy of series comparing circuits, each comparing circuit being closed when a particular combination of zonal designations occurs in a pair of columns of said fields, said grouped circuits representing all the diierent possible combinations of two zonal designations in a pair of compared columns; a plurality of sequence relays arranged in pairs, each pair corresponding to a pair of compared columns and in circuit with all the comparing circuits which correspond to combinalions of designations of like sequence relation, one of said sequence relays being energized when one eld is low in sequence in the related column and the other being energized when the other field is low; numerical comparing mechanism having two series of value representing sectors, one for each iield, and magnetic means controlled by the sensing elements for setting said sectors to representJ the numerical parts of the combinations of designations and including a series of switches, one for each pair of compared columns and actuated by a pair of said sectors to denote whether the designations in a pair of columns are equal or one lower than the other, said switches and the contacts of said sequence relays being arranged in three series parallel output circuits, each of which represents one of the high, low, and equal conditions of said compared elds.

3. In a machine of the class described, two sets of electrical sensing elements, each set for sensing the index-point positions of the columns of one of two elds 1o be compared for alphabetical sequence, each letter of the alphabet being represented in said record columns. by a combination of two designations in a single column of index-point positions, each column having a series of zonal index-point positions representing a series of sequential groups of tbe alphabet in one of which zonal index-point posiions one of said two designations is placed to designate the sequential group containing the designated letter, each column also having al series of numerical positions for denoting the sequence of a designated letter wihin its sequential group, the second of said two designations being placed in one of the numerical positions; numerical sequence comparing mechanism including two series of comparing members, onefor each column of the field, each member diierentially selectively settable to any one of a series of digital positions corresponding to the numerical indexpoint positions of one of said columns according to the position of the second designation in said column and including electromagnetically controlled means for setting said members under control of said sensing elements and also including a series of switching devices, one for J each pair of compared columns, for denoting the numerical sequence relation othe designations in said columns; two series of comparing relays, each series corresponding to one of said series l oi' comparing members, one relay oi' each series corresponding to one of two compared columns for indicating vwhich of two zonal designations in said compared columns is lowest in alphabetical sequence and having contacts interspersed in series parallel with the corresponding ones of said switching devices; and a plurality of sets oi' relay circuits, one set for each comparing 4. In a machine of the class described, two sets of electrical sensing elements, each set for sensing the index-point positions of the columns of one o! two records to be compared for alphabetical sequence, each letter of the alphabet being represented in said records by a combination of two designations in a single column of indexpoint positions, each column having a series of zonal index-point positions representing a series of sequential groups of the alphabet in one of which zonal index-point positions one ot said two designations is placed to designate the sequential group containing the designated letter, each column also having a series of numerical positions for denoting the sequence of a designated letter within its sequential group, the second oi said two designations being placed in one of the numerical positions; means controlled by said sensing lements for separately storing the numerical designations. including two sets of members, each settable to any digit represented by a numerical designation in a single column, switching means actuated by said members to denote the numerical relationship of the numerical designations on two compared records, a system of zone relays asados? 16 numerical positions; electromechanical ineens controlled by the sensing element for comparing the sequential relation of the numerical designations in two records sensed by said elements. including a series of switching devices, one for each column. each device capable of manifesting that one record is higher, lower, or equal to the other in two compared columns; a series of storage relays controlled by the sensing elements i'or storing the zonal designations on the compared records, comparing relays controlled by the storage relays for comparing the zonal sequence ot the compared records, switching mechanism controlled by said comparing relays and comprising a series of switching sections interspersed with the switching devices, and machine control devices selected jointly by said switching devices and said switching-sections according to the relative alphabetic sequence of the compared reccontrolled by said sensing elements for storing the zonal designations on the two compared records, system zonal comparing relays for determining the relative sequence value of the stored zonal designations, va second switching means controlled by the zonal relays for manifesting which of two. compared records is higher in sequence, and machine control means selected by joint action-oi both of said switching means for indicating which of two compared records is higher in sequence alphabetically.

5. In a machine of the class described, two sets o! electrical sensing elements, each set for sensingthe index-point positions of the columns oi' one of two records to be compared for. alphabetical sequence, each letter of the alphabet ben ing represented in said records by a combination of two designations in a single column of indexpoint positions, each column having a series of sonal index-point positions representing a series o! sequential groups of the alphabet in one oi' which zonal index-point positions one of said two designations is placed to designate the sequential group containing the designated letter, each column also having a series of numerical positions for denoting the sequence of a designated letter within its sequential group, the second 0L said two designations being placed in one of the ords.

6. In a machine of the class described. two sets of electrical sensing elements, each set for sensing the index-point positions of the columns oi' one of two records to be comparedfor alphabetit 4zonal index-point positions representing a series of sequential groups of the alphabet in one o! which zonal index-point positions one of said two designations is placed to designate the sequential group containing the designated letter,

4 each column also having a series of numerical positions for denoting the sequence ot a designated letter within its sequential group, the second of said two designations being placed in one oi? the numerical positions; means for comparing the group sequential relation o! the zonal desig nations on two records sensed by said elements including a system of storage relays controlled by the sensing elements for storing the zonal designations and a system of comparing circuits, said comparing circuits including high-low relays for each column and contacts closed by said high-low relays; means for comparing the records for numerical sequence in said groups, including comparing magnets controlled by the sensing ele-v ments, members each diierentially settable to represent any of the values of the numerical designations in one column, and a series of switching devices interspersed with the contacts of thc high-low relays, each device actuated by the pair of members associated' with two corresponding columns, for denoting which of two compared designations is lowest in sequence; 'and machine control magnets selected either by said high-low relays or by said switching devices according to whether the zonal designations are unequal or ii' equal, which of the numerical designations is lowest. a

' 7. In a machine of the class described, two sets of electrical sensing elements, each set for sensing the index-point positions of the columns ofone of two records to be compared for alphabeti- 15 having a series oi.' numerical positions for dcnoh 17 ing the sequence of a designated letter within its sequential group, the second of said two designations being placed in one of the numerical positions; means for comparing two records for zonal sequence, including storage relays set by the sensing elements to store the zonal designations and a system of comparing relays including a pair of high-low relays for each pair of compared co1- unms, one of said high-low relays denoting that a particular record is high in zonal sequence and the other that the particular record is low, the high-low relays having high-low contacts arranged in a denominational sequence; means for comparing the numerical designations for sequence in the zonal groups, including setting magnets controlled by the sensing elements, pairs of settable members, one pair for each pair of compared columns, one member for each column, and a series of denominational switching devices, each operated by a pair oi said members, for denoting the numerical relationship of the designations in a pair of compared columns, said devices being arranged in a denominational sequence; and sequence denoting magnets selected by said highlow contacts and said switching devices.

8. In a machine controlled by records in which alphabetic data is recorded by means of combinations of zonal designations representing groups of characters in sequence and group sequence designations representing the sequence relation within a zonal group, zone storage relays for storing all of the zonal designations of two sets of alphabetic data and having contacts closed combinationally to represent all the possible high-low sequence relations between the zonal designations in the two sets of alphabetic data, a series of denominational sets of comparing relays, each set comprising a high relay and a low relay, the high relay being controlled by all of the high sequence contact combinations and the low relay being controlled by all of the low sequence combinations of a single denomination of alphabetic data, said comparing relays having sets of contacts arranged in denominational order groups, one group for each denomination, to correspond with the common denominations of the two sets of alphabetic data; group sequence comparing means including pairs of members for each denomination, each member of a pair being settable to correspond with any one of the group sequence designations which may represent a letter in such denomination, denominational switching devices, each actuated by a pair ofy said members and set thereby to designate which of the group sequence designations of a corresponding denomination is lowest in sequence, and a series of sequence relation magnets jointly controlled by said comparing relay contacts and said denominational switching devices, one of said magnets being selected according to which set of alphabetic data is lowest in alphabetic sequence.

.9. In a machine controlled by records in which alphabetic data is recorded by means of combinations of zonal designations representing groups of characters in sequence and group sequence designations representing sequence relation within a zonal group, two series of denominational groups of zone storage relays, each group corresponding to one denomination of two sets of alphabetic designations to be compared for alphabetic se quence relation, each storage relay corresponding to one of the different possible zonal designations, each denominational group being adapted for storing all of the zonal designations of one denomination of one of said sets of designations; each series of groups being adapted for storing all of the zonal designations of one oi said sets of data, said groups being paired on a denominational basis, said pairs of groups actuating storage contacts arranged in two sets of high-low circuits representing all the possible unequal sequence relations; a series of pairs of high-low relays, one pair for each denomination, leach pair including a high relay controlled by the high circuits and a low relay controlled by the low circuits and including high contacts and low contacts; group sequence comparing means including a series of pairs of members settable to different ,positions representing group sequence designations, each pair corresponding to a denomination of said sets of data; high-low switches in circuit with said high and low contacts and actuated' by .said pairs of members; and electromagnetic machine control means selected by said high-low contacts and said switching devices. l

EMERSON W. GIFFORD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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