US3050242A

US3050242A - Console control for coding punched cards

Info

Publication number: US3050242A
Application number: US763376A
Authority: US
Inventors: George R Mounce; Kivell Glenn Harris
Original assignee: ELECTRONIC ASSOCIATES Ltd
Current assignee: ELECTRONIC ASSOCIATES Ltd
Priority date: 1958-09-25
Filing date: 1958-09-25
Publication date: 1962-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 1979-08-21
Also published as: GB931712A

Description

Aug. 21, 1962 e. R. MOUNCE ETAL 3,050,242

CONSOLE CONTROL FOR CODING PUNCHED CARDS Filed Sept. 25. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR GEORGE E. MouA/CE GLENN H. K/VELL.

LAW

A RNEY Aug. 21, 1962 s. R. MOUNCE ETAL 3,050,242

consouz: CONTROL FOR comm; PUNCl-IED CARDS Filed Sept. 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS G'ORGE E. MouA/CE GLENN H. K/vELL ATTORNEY 3,050,242 CONSOLE CONTROL FOR CODING PUNCI-ED CARDS George R. Mounce and Glenn Harris Kivell, Viilowdale, Ontario, Canada, assigners to Electronic Associates Limited, Willowdale, Ontario, Canada, a private company of Ontario, Canada Filed Sept. 25, 1958, Ser. No. 763,376 12 Claims. (Cl. 234-32) Our invention relates to a console control for coding punched cards, tape, and the like and more particularly to a control for rapidly and expeditiously coding punched cards, tape, and the like which are used by automatic data processing equipment.

Many business establishments such, for example, as commercial drug houses which sell a great number of different items, employ automatic data handling equipment for processing orders, for billing, for inventory control, and for many other similar uses. The automatic equipment known to the art requires input information in the form of punched cards, punched tape, magnetic tape and other recording media onto which the information has been coded. For example, in order that information relating to a particular item, such as an order for one of a great number of different drugs, be fed into the equipment, the identifying code number of the drug must first be looked up in a catalogue. This code number, together with other coded information to be fed into the machine, must be punched into a card or tape from which the automatic machine may read the coded information. It has been suggested in the prior art that in order to accelerate the operation of feeding information into the machine, a number of cards be prepunched with the identifying code and filed alphabetically by product name. In use of this system, a card corresponding to a particular item may be pulled from the alphabetical file and the additional information, such as the quantity order and the name of the customer, may be added to the information on the card before this card is fed into the data processing machine.

It will be appreciated that the systems described above require tedious individual coding operations and consume an inordinate amount of time as compared with the speed of operation of the automatic data processing equipment. The systems of the prior art for feeding information to automatic data processing equipment require so much time that they do not make the most efficient use of the processing equipment.

We have invented a console control for punching cards or the like which rapidly and expeditiously codes punched cards or tapes used with the automatic data processing equipment. Our system permits efficient use to be made of the processing equipment known to the art. It eliminates the tedious coding operations required by systems of the prior art for feeding information to automatic proc essing machinery.

One object of our invention is to provide a console control for coding punched cards or the like which rapidly and expeditiously encodes information to be fed to a data processing machine in a form in which it may be used by the machine.

Another object of our invention is to provide a console control for coding punched cards which eliminates the tedious operations required by encoding systems of the prior art.

A further object of our invention is to provide a console control for coding punched cards which permits efiicient use to be made of automatic data processing equipment known to the art.

Other and further objects of our invention will appear from the following description:

3,050,242 Patented Aug. 21, 1962 ice In general, our invention contemplates the provision of a control for coding punched cards including a console panel carrying a number of switch buttons, each corresponding to one of a number of fast-moving items, the name of which is to be coded into a punched card or the like. Each switch button when operated closes a plurality of normally open product-coding switches. A number of groups of ten switching elements each provide the respective product-identifying digits of the coded number. One switching element of each group is actuated in response to the operation of a product-coding switch. A number of quantity switch buttons are adapted to be operated to close groups of normally open quantity-coding switches. A number of groups of ten switching elements each provide the respective quantity digits of the coded number. One switching element of each quantity digit group is actuated in response to the operation of a quantity-coding switch. There are as many groups of switching elements as there are digits in the coded number. We provide our control with means for sequentially reading the groups of switching elements selectively to energize the elements of a cardpunching means or the like to cause this means to punch a card with the digits of the coded number in sequence.

We provide our system with an auxiliary coding switch assembly for punching a card with the coded number of an item other than one of the fast-moving items corresponding to a console panel coding switch button. Our system has a button adapted to be operated to reset the switching elements in the event a mistake is made in feeding information into the machine. Our system has means for preventing the information from being fed to the coding devices in the event two switching elements of a single group are accidentally simultaneously energized.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification land which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of our console control for punched cards showing the general arrangement of parts.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic view of a portion of the electrical circuit of our console control for coding punched cards.

More particularly referring now to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, our control includes a plurality of panel sections, each of which is indicated generally by the reference character 10. Conveniently, the panel sections 10 are curved. We arrange these panel sections 10 in semicircular fashion around a stool 12 supported on casters 14 to permit all panels to be accessible to an operator seated on the stool 12. Each panel section 10 carries a plurality of switch actuating buttons or plates 16 mounted in staggered rows on the front of the section. Preferably, We make each of the plates 16 from a translucent, light-diffusing plastic and so construct the plate to permit an identifying card carrying the name of an item to be placed behind the plate in view of the operator.

In many commercial establishments such, for example, as a firm distributing drugs, as many as thirty thousand different items are sold. However, only a very small percentage of these items are in relatively great demand. For example, as few as two thousand items may constitute ninety percent of the firms business. In our system, as applied to such a business, for example, each plate 16 corresponds to one of these fast-moving items which are sold by the firm.

Our control is intended for use with automatic data processing equipment of a type known to the art. For example, it may be employed with a unit indicated generally by the reference character 18 adapted to perform predetermined operations on data fed to the unit. This unit 18 has a feature known to the art by means of which a card placed in an opening 20 may automatically be coded with information contained on a prepunched card placed in an opening 22 in the machine. As will be explained hereinafter, a prepunched card containing information such as a customers address, for example, may be placed in the opening 22 to cause information on this card to be transferred to a fresh card placed in opening 20. An electrical cable 24 connecting the panel made up of sections 10 to the unit 18 causes the unit 18 to punch other coded information onto the fresh card along with the information from the prepunched card in a manner to be described hereinafter.

In addition to the plates 16 corresponding to fast-mov ing items, our control includes an auxiliary coding switch assembly 26 having a number of buttons 28 adapted to actuated sequentially to cause a code number of an item other than a fast-moving item to be punched onto a card. An electrical cable 30 connects the assembly 26 to the system. A reset button 32 provides a means for resetting the system before the coded information is fed to unit 18 to correct an error.

We mount a quantity switch assembly 34 on the stool 12 in a position at which the buttons 36 are accessible to the operator. A cable 38 extending through a guide tube 39 connects the quantity switch assembly 34 to the unit.

We provide our control with a number of indicators 40 corresponding in number to the number of digits in the coded member. Each indicator 40 includes ten neon glow lamps 42 corresponding to the respective digits 0 to 10.

Referring now to FIGURE 2 of the drawings, each product-coding switch plate 16 is adapted to actuate a number of product-coding switch arms 44 through a linkage 46 to close the arms on respective contacts 48. Each quantity switch button 36 is adapted to actuate a number of quantity switch arms 50 through a linkage 52 to close the arms on respective contacts 54. Our control includes a plurality of respective groups of bus bars, which groups are indicated respectively by the reference characters 56, 58, 60, 62, and 64. We provided as many groups of product-coding bus bars as are required for the number of digits of a code number required to identify the numberof products. For example, with three groups 56, 58, and 60 of product-coding bus bars, three digits are available to permit 999 different fast-moving products to be identified. It will be appreciated that the same number of switch plates 16 and associated groups of switches are needed. For purposes of clarity, in FIGURE 2 we have shown only three product-coding switch plates 16 and their associated switches; There are as many groups 62 and 64 of quantity bus bars as are necessary to encode the anticipated orders. For example, where two groups of bars are used, as is shown in FIGURE 2, the first digit corresponding to the group 62 conveniently may represent a quantity group such as units, dozens, gross, cases or the like. The second digit corresponding to the group 64 of bus bars may conveniently represent the number of units, dozens, and the like required.

Our control includes a number of columns of relays, which columns are indicated generally respectively by the -.,reference characters 66, 68, 70, 72, and 74 equal to the number of groups of bus bars. The relays of the columns 66, 68, 70, 72, and 74 are control devices which, as will be apparent from the following description, may be conditioned from a normally inoperative state to an operative state. Each relay of the column 66 includes a Winding 76 adapted to be energized in a manner to be described to close respective normally

open switches

78, 80, and 82. Each relay of the column 68 includes a winding 84 adapted to be energized to close respective normally

open switches

86, 88, and 90. The relays of the column 70 7 include windings 92, each of which is adapted to be energized to close normally

open switches

94, 96, and 98. The respective relays of the columns 72 and 74 include respec- 4 five

windings

100 and 102. Windings 100 are adapted to be energized to close respective groups of normally open switches 104, 106, and 108 while the Windings 102 are adapted to be energized to close groups of normally

open switches

110, 112, and 114.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the complete coded number for the system shown in FIGURE 2 includes five digits. The group 56 of bus bars and the column 66 correspond to the ten thousandths digit. The group 58 of bus bars and the column 68 of relays correspond to the thousandths digit. The group 60 of bus bars and the group 70 of relays, the group 62 of bus bars and the column 72 of relays, and the group 64 of bus bars and column 74 of relays correspond respectively to the remaining digits of the complete coded number in decreasing order of significance. We connect each of the arms 44 and each of the arms 50 to a common ground conductor 114. We connect each bus bar of the group 56 to one of the respective relay windings 76 of the column 66, for example. To avoid confusion, we have indicated only one of these connections in FIGURE 2. A conductor 116 connects the bus bar corresponding to 20,000 to the winding 76 corresponding to 20,000. We connect the bus bars of the respective groups 58, 60, 62, and 64 to the respective windings 84 of the column 68 of relays, to the respective windings 92 of the column of relay 70, to the respective windings 100 of the column 72 of relays and to the respective windings 102 of the column 74 of relays. To avoid confusion, We have shown only certain of these connections in FIGURE 2. A conductor 118 connects the bus bar corresponding to 3,000 to the 3,000 winding 84 of the column 68. A conductor 120 connects the 400 bus bar of group 60 to the 400 winding 92 of column 70. A conductor 122 connects the 80 bus bar of group 82 to the 80 winding of column 72. A conductor 124 connects the 9 bus bar of group 64 to the 9 winding 102 of column 74 of relays.

As has been explained hereinabove, in the particular setup shown in FIGURE 2, a five digit code number may be punched on a card. If we represent this number by abca'e, the connections of the bus bars to the relay windings will be apparent from the notations placed alongside these elements in FIGURE 2. For example, the bus bars a of the group 56, which provides the ten thousandths digit,

are identified as [1 to n respectively. The windings 76 of the group 66, corresponding to the ten thousandths digit, are similarly identified by al to a The a bar of the group 56 is connected to the a, winding 76 and so forth for all the bars and their associated windings throughout the system.

We connect the respective contacts 48 of a switch including plate 16 to respective bus bars, one from each group 56, 58, and 60 to provide a code number corresponding to a certain product. For example, the respective switch plates 16 shown in FIGURE 2 are adapted to produce code numbers 234, 479, and 587 respectively as viewed from top to bottom in FIGURE 2. It will be clear that in the notation we have adapted for clarity, these numbers correspond respectively to groups of digits a b c a4b7C9, and a b c It will be understood that the digits of each of these groups of three digits are the three most significant digits of a complete coded number, abca'e.

We connect the respective contacts 54 associated with a quantity push button 36 to bus bars from the respective groups 62 and 64. By way of example in FIGURE 2, the respective switch buttons 36 as viewed from top to bottom in the figure are set up and connected to provide code numbers 46 and 89. The digits of these two digit groups may, for example, make up the two least significant digits of a complete code number, the d and e digit in our notation.

We connect the terminals of all the

windings

76, 84, 92, 100, and 102 of the columns 66, 68, 70, 72, and 74 of relays other than those terminals connected to bus bars to a common conductor 126. We connect conductor 126 to the contact 128 of a reset switch including an arm 130 connected by a conductor 132 to one terminal of a normally closed push-button switch 134, the other terminal of which is connected to the positive terminal 136 of a suitable source of electrical potential.

From the structure thus far described, it will be seen that actuation of a switch plate 16 to close the associated contact arms on their contacts energizes predetermined ones of the relay windings of the columns 66, 68, and 70. For example, if the uppermost plate, as viewed in FiG- URE 2, is actuated, the 20,000 or a winding of the column 66 is energized by a circuit from conductor 114 through the upper switch arm 44, through the 20,000 or a bar of group 56, through conductor 116, through the 20,000 or a winding 76, through conductor 126, through contact 128 and arm 130, through conductor 132 and switch 134 to terminal 136. The circuits of the b and c windings are completed in a similar manner. Switch 134 may be operated to de-energize the relay windings in the event that incorrect information is accidentally put into the apparatus.

We connect the contact arms of

switches

82, 90, 93, 108, and 114 to the same terminals of the associated

windings

76, 84, 92, 100, and 102 as those terminals which are connected to bus bars. We connect the contacts of

switches

82, 90, 98, 108, and 114 to a common conductor 138 which is connected to ground by the winding 140 of an automatic reset relay. It will be seen that upon the energization of any winding 76, 84, 92, 100, and 102, it closes its associated

switch

82, 90, 98, 100, or 102 to complete its own holding circuit to ground through winding 140.

Upon its energization, winding 140 operates a linkage 142 to move switch arm 130 out of engagement with contact 128 to interrupt the circuits of all the relay windings. We select winding 140 so that with only one relay winding in each column energized insuificient current flows through winding 140 to cause it to operate. If, however, more than one winding in a column is energized, then the winding 140 operates and the system is automatically reset. In this manner, we prevent incorrect information from being fed to the card-punching device to be described hereinafter.

We connect the respective switches 80 of column 66 in parallel between conductors 144 and 146. The switches 88 of column 68 are connected in parallel between conductors 146 and 148. We connect the switches 96 of column 70, the switches 106 of column '72, and the switches 112 of column 74 respectively in parallel between conductors 148 and 150, in parallel between

conductors

150 and 152, and in parallel between

conductors

152 and 154. We connect conductor 144 to the contact arm 156 of a normally open switch including a contact 158. A conductor 160 connects conductor 144 to the contact 162 of a switch including an arm 164 normally in engagement with contact 162. Arm 164 is connected to positive terminal 136 through button 134. A conductor 166 connects conductor 154 to the contact 158 associated with switch arm 156. A conductor 168 connects conductor 166 to the upper terminal of a resistor 170 connected to ground by a capacitor 172.

We connect a step-initiating relay winding 174 between the common terminal of resistor 170 and capacitor 172 and ground. We connect a stepping solenoid 176 between a contact 178 associated with arm 164 and ground. A linkage 180 operated by solenoid 176 is adapted to move the respective contact arms 182 and 184 of a pair of stepping switches through a predetermined number of positions to engage the respective contacts 186 associated with arm 182 and to engage contacts 188 associated with switch arm 184. In the particular form of our apparatus shown in FIGURE 2, each switch arm 182 and 184 has seven positions. A linkage 190 also operated by solenoid 176 drives a cam 192 arranged to move switch arm 156 out of engagement with contact 158 in the zero position of the switches.

Let us assume, by way of example, that the uppermost product-coding switch plate 16 in FIGURE 2 and that the lower quantity-coding switch plate in FIGURE 2 have been actuated to energize the windings identified by the notations a b 0 d and e From the structure described hereinabove, it will be seen that in this condition of the apparatus, a circuit may be traced from terminal 136 through switch 134 and arm 164 through conductor 160, through conductor 144, through the switch of the a winding, through the switch 88 of the b winding, through the switch 96 of the c; winding, through the switch 106 of the d winding, through the switch 112 of the e winding, through

conductors

154, 166, and 168 to the upper terminal of resistor 170. When this occurs, capacitor 172 charges through resistor 170 to a potential which is sufficient to energize winding 174. When this occurs, arm 164 moves out of engagement with contact 162 and into engagement with contact 178 to energize stepping solenoid 176 to move arms 182 and 184 through one step. Assuming that the arms were initially in the zero position, they move in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 2 to the next contact. At the same time, cam 192 moves to a position to permit arm 156 to close on its associated contact 158.

The operation described above is repeated for each step of operation following the step from the zero position of the stepping switches to the first position with the exception that the charging of capacitor 172 takes place through the now closed switch including arm 156 and contact 158. A conductor 194 connects push-button switch 134 to the arm 132 of the reset stepping switch. We connect a resistor 196 between the contact 186'corresponding to the sixth position of arm 182 and the upper terminal of reset winding 140. When arm 182 moves into its sixth position, sufficient current flows through winding 140 to energize the winding to operate linkage 142 to move arm 130 out of engagement with contact 128 to interrupt the circuits of all the matrix relay windings to permit the relays to reset. This reset operation does not interfere with the stepping operation of winding 176 since the charging circuit of capacitor 172 may yet be complete through the switch including arm 156 and contact 158. On the next stepping operation, however, as arms 182 and 184 move into their zero positions, cam 192 moves arm 156 out of engagement with contact 15 8 so that the stepping circuit will not again operate until another product-coding switch and another quantitycoding switch are operated.

We connect the switches 78 of the relays of column 66 between a common conductor 198 and respective conductors 199 corresponding to digits of from one to zero. We connect the switches 86 of column 68, the switches 94 of column 70, the switches 104 of column 72, and the switches of column 74 between respective

common conductors

200, 202, 204, and 206 and the respective conductors 199 corresponding to digits of from one to zero. We connect a punch-actuating device or the like, such, for example, as a solenoid 208 between each one of the respective conductors corresponding to a digit and ground. The windings 208 are adapted to be energized to code the record with respective analogues of the digits of the number system, such as the decimal number system, being used. It will be appreciated from the structure thus far described, that if any one of the switches 78 of the column 66 is closed, a circuit is complete from ground through solenoid 208 through the closed switch 78 to conductor 198. In a similar manner, circuits are completed from ground through the solenoids and through the switches of the other columns to the

conductors

200, 202, 204, and 206. We connect the

respective conductors

198, 200, 202, 204, and 206 to the contacts 188 of the stepping switch including arm 184 corresponding respectively to the first to fifth positions of the switch arm.

A conductor 210 connects arm 184 to a contact 212. A switch arm 214 associated with contact 212 is adapted to be moved upon the energization of winding 174 to complete the circuit from a common conductor 216 connected to a suitable source of potential and the contact 212.

'In each of its respective first to fifth positions, arm 184 connects one of the

conductors

198, 200, 202, 204, and 206 to the contact 212. With the arm 184, for example, in the first position, it connects line 198 to contact 212. When relay winding 174 is energized to initiate a stepping movement of arm 184 from the first position to the secend position, it moves arm 214 into engagement with 7 contact 212 to complete a circuit from the positive conductor 216 through arm 214 and contact 212, through arm 184, through conductor 198 through the closed switch 78 in the column 66 to one of the conductors 199 corresponding to a digit of the group from one through zero and through the corresponding solenoid winding 208 to ground. Thus the solenoid whose circuit is complete is energized to operate a punch or the like (not shown) to code a digit onto the card to be coded. This operation continues as arm 184 moves through its first five positions and into its sixth position sequentially to read the respective columns of relays '66, 68, 70, 72, and 74. It will be seen that the switch arm 184, its contacts and its associated circuitry comprise means for energizing the conditioned solenoid windings 288 in sequence.

It is to be noted that the connection between the common conductor 216 and one of the control or digit conductors connected to a solenoid 288 is complete only when contact arm 214 engages contact 212. Tape or card punches frequently require a recovery period between operations to permit the mechanical elements to return to their rest positions. Since the stepping relay including arm 184 moves very rapidly from one position to the next, the control circuit of the punch may not be open for sufficient time for the punch to recover. We provide a recovery period for the punch by closing arm 214 on contact 212 for only a part of the period of time making up a complete stepping cycle.

As has been explained hereinabove, we provide our system with a means for manually coding a card with a number representing a product other than a fast-moving product. In FIGURE 2 we have schematically indicated this assembly by a plurality of respective manuallyoperated, normally-open switches 218 each connected between a respective solenoid control conductor 199 and the common conductor 216. It will be appreciated that upon operation of a switch 218, a circuit is complete from its associated solenoid winding 208 to conductor 216.

As has also been explained hereinabove, our system includes a .number of neon glow lamps 42 arranged to afiord an indication of the number which has been coded into a punched card or tape. In order that these lamps 42 indicate the number which is coded onto the card, we may, for example, connect the lamps in parallel with respective windings of the matrix. In this way, only those lamps corresponding to energized windings glow after a button has been actuated. For purposes of clarity we have indicated in FIGURE 2 only those lamps 42 corresponding to matrix windings which are energized in the particular arrangement shown.

n use of our console control for coding punched cards, We first set up the desired number of product-coding switch plates 16 and connect the contacts 48 of the switches associated with the plates to the groups of bus bars 56, 58, and 60. In a similar manner, we set up the quantity-coding switch plates 36 to give, for example, a two-digit number, the first digit of which may indicate the ordering unit and the second digit of which may indicate the number of units. In the particular setup which we have illustrated, a five-digit coded numher is provided. With the switch arms 182 and 184 in their zero positions, a plate 16 and a plate 36 may be actuated to energize one relay in each column 66, 68,

70, 72, and 74. For example, the circuit of the a winding of column 66 is complete, when the uppermost plate 16 is actuated, from ground conductor 114 through the uppermost arm 44 associated with plate 16, through the a bus bar of group 56, through the a winding of column 66, through conductor 126, through contact arm 130, through conductor 194, and through switch 134 to terminal 136. Once a winding, such as the a winding, is energized, i-t completes its own holding circuit through switch 82, through conductor 138, and through winding to ground. In the arrangement shown with only one winding in each column energized, insufiicient current flows through winding 140 to cause the winding to be energized. If, however, more than two windings in any column are energized, enough current flows through winding 140 to open the switch including arm 130 and contact 128 automatically to reset the system.

When on relay winding in each column is energized, a circuit is complete from terminal 136, through switch 134, through arm 164-, through conductors and 144, and through a switch 88, a switch 88, a switch 96, and a switch 186, and a switch 112, through

conductors

154 and 156 to the upper terminal of resistor 178. Owing to this circuit, capacitor 172 charges to a potential suflicientto energize winding 174. When this occurs, arms 182 and 184 move from their zero to their first positions and switch arm 156 is permitted to close on contact 158 to provide a holding circuit for the step-initiating timing circuit including resistor and capacitor 172. As has been explained hereinabove, with arm 184 in its first position, a circuit is complete from one of the solenoid control conductors through a switch 78 of column 66 to contact 212. As the charge again builds up on capacitor 172 through contact arm 156, winding 174 is again energized to move arm 214 into engagement with contact 212 to connect one of the solenoid conductors to the common conductors 216 to cause one of the solenoids to operate. This operation continues on successive steps until arms 182 and 184 move into their sixth positions. In the course of these operations, the respective columns of relays are sequentially read to energize predetermined windings 208 to punch the card or the like with the desired code number. When arm 182 moves into its sixth position, winding 140 is energized through resistor 196 to open the switch including arm 138 and contact 128 to de-energize all relay windings. Since switch arm 156 remains in engagement with contact 158, capacitor 172 again charges and arms 182 and 184 move into their zero positions. At the same time, cam 192 moves am 156 out of engagement with contact 158, and the system is ready for its next operation.

Indicator lamps 42 indicate the number which has been coded onto the card. Switches 218 provide a means for coding a card with the number of an item other than a fast-moving item. If a mistake is made by the operator, button 134 may be actuated to remove the information which has been coded onto the relay matrix.

It is to be understood that while We have shown a product code number including only three digits and a quantity code including only two digits, any desired num-. ber of digits could be provided in the coded numbers. In addition, more than merely a product code and a quantity code could be provided. While We have shown a relay matrix, it is to be understood that other suitable devices such as flip-flop circuits, magnetic cores, or mag.- netic tapes or drums could be used. Further, our coder could be employed to incorporate information into a magnetic tape.

It is to be understood further, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that while we have shown and described our invention in terms of a decimal digit system, it is within the scope of our invention to provide apparatus operating in any number system.

It will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our invention. We have provided a console control for coding punched cards which makes eflicient use of automatic data processing equipment known to the art.

Our system eliminates the tedious coding operations required in systems of the prior art for feeding information to automatic processing machinery. Our apparatus rapidly and expeditiously encodes information in a form in which it may be used by an automatic data processing machine.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombiations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinaitons. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of our claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of our claims without departing from the spirit of our invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A console control for coding a record with a digital code number including in combination a plurality of windings adapted to be energized to code the record with a respective analogue of a digit of the number system, a plurality of banks of control devices, said banks corresponding to the respective digits of a code number, each bank including a number of devices corresponding to the respective analogues of digits in the number system, the respective devices of each bank being adapted to be conditioned from a normally inoperative state to an operative state to ready one of said windings for energization, a coding switch, means responsive to the actuation of said coding switch for simultaneously conditioning a control device of each bank to operative state and means for energizing the readied windings through respective operative control devices of said banks in sequence.

2; A console control as in claim 1 including means for returning said control devices to inoperative state following operation of said energizing means.

3. A console control for coding a record with a code number including in combination a plurality of windings adapted to be energized to code the record with a respective analogue of a digit from zero to nine, a plurality of banks of control relays each including a normally open switch and a winding adapted to be energized to close its associated switch, the relays of each bank corresponding to the respective analogues of digits from zero to nine, the respective banks corresponding to the digits of the coded number, a coding switch, means responsive to the actuation of the coding switch for simultaneously energizing one winding from each bank of relays to close the corresponding switches, a source of electrical energy, a plurality of electrical circuits each including one of said windings and a respective normally open switch from one of said banks, and means for applying said source to said banks of relays in sequence to complete a number of said electrical circuits each comprising a winding and a closed switch from one of said banks to cause said windings to code said record with the digits of said numher in sequence.

4. A console control for coding punched cards as in claim 3 in which said sequential applying means comprises a stepping switch having a plurality of contacts, an arm adapted to engage said contacts and means conmeeting said stepping switch contacts to the relays of the respective banks.

5. A console control as in claim 3 including means for preventing operation of said sequential applying means unless one relay in each of said banks is energized.

6. A console control as in claim 3 including means for initiating the operation of said sequential applying means.

7. A console control for coding a record including in combination a plurality of windings adapted to be energized to code the record with a respective analogue of a digit from zero to nine, a plurality of banks of control devices, said banks corresponding to the respective digits of a code number, each bank including ten devices corresponding to the respective analogues of digits from zero to nine, the respective devices of each bank being adapted to be conditioned from a normally inoperative state to an operative state to ready one of said windings to be energized, a plurality of coding switches, means connecting the respective coding switches to said control devices in such a manner that each switch represents a given code number, means responsive to the operation of any coding switch for simultaneously conditioning a control device of each bank to an operative state and means for energizing the readied windings through respective operative control devices of said banks in sequence.

8. A console control for coding a record with a digital code number including in combination a plurality of windings adapted to be energized to code the record with a respective analogue of a digit from zero to nine, a plurality of banks of control devices, said banks corresponding to the respective digits of a code number, each bank including ten devices corresponding to the respective analogues of digits from zero to nine, the respective devices of each bank being adapted to be conditioned from a normally inoperative state to an operative state to ready one of said windings for energization, a coding switch, means responsive to the actuation of said coding switch for simultaneously conditioning a control device of each bank to operative state and means for energizing the readied windings through respective operative control devices of said banks in sequence.

9. A console control for coding a record with an identifying code made up of a plurality of code characters in cluding in combination a plurality of elements adapted to be energized to code the record with the respective code characters, a plurality of banks of control devices, said banks corresponding to the respective places of an identifying code number, each bank including a number of devices corresponding to the number of characters in the code, the respective devices of each bank being adapted to be conditioned from a normally inoperative state to an operative state to ready one of said elements for energization, a coding switch, means responsive to the actuation of said coding switch for simultaneously conditioning a control device of each bank to operative state and means for energizing the readied elements through respective operative control devices of said banks in sequence.

10. A console control for coding a record with a code number including in combination a plurality of windings adapted to be energized to code the record with a respective analogue of a digit from zero to nine, a plurality of banks of control relays each including a first normally open switch and a second normally open switch and a winding adapted to be energized to close its associated switches, the relays of each bank corresponding to the respective analogues of digits from zero to nine, the respective banks corresponding to the digits of the coded number, a coding switch, means responsive to the actuation of the coding switch for energizing one winding from each bank of relays to close the corresponding switches, a source of electrical energy, a plurality of electrical circuits each including one of said windings and a respective first normally open switch from one of said 'banks, means for applying said source to said banks of relays in sequence to complete a number of said electrical circuits each comprising a winding and a first closed switch from one of said banks to cause said windings to code said record with the digits of said number in sequence and a series circuit comprising one of said second switches from each bank of switches for initiating operation of said sequential applying means.

11. A console control for coding a record with a code number including in combination a plurality of windings adapted to be energized to code the record with a respective analogue of a digit from zero to nine, a plurality of banks of control relays each including a normally open switch and a winding adapted to be energized to close its associated switch, the relays of each bank corresponding 1 l to the respective analogues of digits from zero to nine, the respective banks corresponding to the digits of the coded number, a coding switch means responsive to the actuation of the coding switch for energizing one winding from each bank of relays to close the corresponding switches, a source of electrical energy, a plurality of electrical circuits each including one of said windings and a respective normally open switch from one of said banks, means for applying said source to said banks of relays in sequence to complete a number of said electrical circuits each comprising a winding and a closed switch from one of said banks to cause said windings to code said record with the digits of said number in sequence, a

step initiating relay and means including a time delay cir- 12 respective analogues of digits from zero to nine, the respective banks corresponding to the digits of the coded switch, means responsive to the actuation of the coding switch for energizing one winding from each bank of relays to close the correspondingswitches, a source of electrical energy, a plurality of electrical circuits each in cluding one of said windings and a respective normally open switch from one of said banks, means for applying said source to said banks of relays in sequence to complete a number of said electrical circuits each comprising a winding and a closed switch from one of said banks to cause said windings to code said record with the digits of said number in sequence and means for de-energizing said relay windings in the event that more than a single relay in any bank is energized.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,250,847

ATE S PATENT OFFICE UNITED ST CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3,050,242 August 21, 1962 George R. Mounce et al.

the above numbered pat- It is hereby certified that error appears in ent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 12, line 2, after "coded" insert number, a

coding Signed and sealed this 4th day of December 1962.

( SEAL) Atteat:

DAVID L. LADD Commissioner of Patents ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer