US518886A - hollerith - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets--Sheet, 1.

7 (No Model.)

- H. HOL LER'ITH.

TABULATING SYSTEM.

No. 518,886. Patented Apr. 24, 1894.

l M TLJLJL FILJL E LJ E WKNW (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. HOLLERITH.

TABULATING SYSTEM.

' No. 518,886. Patented Apr 24, 1894;

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Urirrnn STATES IBATEN'I Grrrcn.

HERMAN HOLLERITH, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

TABU LATI NG SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 518,886, dated April 24,1894.

Application filed November 17, 1893. Serial No. 491,222. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN HOLLERITI-I, of Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tabulating or .Calculating Systems; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

My present invention relates to and constitutes an improvement upon the tabulating or calculating system described in my application, Serial No. 482,097, and it has for one of its principal objects to automatically prevent the operation of the registers when a defective record-card or strip is employed in connection with the switch mechanism. As is fully explained. in my said prior applica tion there are three sources of error to be provided against, resulting from carelessness or inattention on the part of the operator, either in preparing or arranging the record-cards or strips by means of which the circuit connections are made or controlled. The first source of error is the imperfect adjustment of the record-card or strip with relation to the switchmechanism whereby the circuit controlling devices or means are improperly located; the second source of error is the omission on the part of the operator to supply the requisite number of perforations or other circuit controlling media, one for each column; and the third source of error is the presence in any one column of two or more perforations or other circuit controlling media, due to the mistake of the operator in giving a single item two or more values.

The present invention and improvements 7 deal more particularly with the errors of the ond, by the closing of the circuits through each column of the switch, requiring for this purpose that at least one hole or equivalent circuit controlling device should be supplied for each column. Errors of the third class arising from double punchings were not prevented, but were carried forward out the re isters, and an indication was madeon telltale registers of the fact that an erroneous registration had been effected. This necessitated a subsequent connection, the amount and location being indicated.

According to the scheme of my present invention, the registration of errors of the third class is automatically prevented,instead of being merely indicated, as before, consequently no registration is effected unless the record card is properly placed; and contains at least one and not more than one perforation or equivalent circuit controlling device in each column. So far as I am aware this result has never heretofore been attained; it is accomplished through the medium of the record card, the latter operating through appropriate circuit connections to automatically prevent a registration being effected until three conditions are fulfilled, that is to say, a hole punched in each column; not more than one hole punched in each column; and the card containing the record properly adjusted in position. v

In illustrating a preferred embodiment of the new principle or mode of operation, I have shown its application to one of the forms of apparatus described in my prior application, some of the parts being the same and others modified or changed as hereinafter explained.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a diagram-- Only so much of the apparatus has been illustrated as is necssary to a full and clear understanding of the invention,

0 is the switch-mechanism whose fixed member or bed-plate is provided with the series of groups of contacts O to 9 inclusive, representing values, while its movable mem ber or pin-box carries the series of groups of contacts at to 23 inclusive, representing items or columns of the record card.

19 to 19* inclusive are brushes to which the groups of contacts 0 to 9 are connected on one side, and c are the terminals of the groups of contacts 4: to 23 co-operating with opposing contacts 0 on the bed-plate. The brushes b tob engage the strips of the integrator cylinder as the latter is moved or revolved; the contacts 1) to b, or such of them as are permitted to pass through holes in the record card, close the circuits between the brushes b is the conductor located at the starting point on the integrator cylinder, and serving tosimultaneously place all the brushes b to b I in communication with the generator or generato'rs.

M'i's the master circuit in which are included the following: a generator; contacts 27, 28, on the pin box and the opposingcontacts 27 28 on the bed-plate; relay contacts 1' arranged in series; and the starting magnet e for controlling the detent or interrupter by which the movements of the integrator are governed.

f is a branch of the master circuit in which are included brushes f 2 and contact stripf' on integrator cylinder, said contact f opcrating to close the branch circuit f, just before the integrator cylinder completes one movement whereby the starting magnet e is energized and the detent mechanism operated'to arrest the movement of the integrator cylinder and hold it until the circuit is again broken by the raising of the pin box, when the detent is released and the integrator cylinder advanced to the second stop representing the initial or starting position.

R indicates a series of relay magnets, (one for each group of contacts 4 to 23 or column of the record card) controlling contacts a" in the master circuit.

The several parts hereinbefore referred to are not substantially different from the corresponding parts of my prior application, and their operation in automatically preventing the movement of the integrator when errors of the first and second classes are committed is the same as heretofore, that is to say, an improperly adjusted record card will prevent the closing of the master circuit, as will also magnet e.

the omission to punch a hole in each column whereby the closing of one or more of the relay contacts r is prevented.

For a purpose to be hereinafter described each circuitincludinga relay-magnet R is provided with a circuit breaker r or equivalent circuit controlling device by which the passage of the current through the relay can be interrupted after the integrator has been started by the preliminary closing of the master circuit so that the relay contacts a" will remain open and the master circuit interrupted at those points until the circuit breakers r are again closed and a current is passed through each relay-magnet R. The circuit breakers or contacts 7 are normally open, and they are actuated or closed by a magnet '0 operating to close all the said contacts, or a series of magnets 0 may be employed one for each contact. The magnet or magn'e'ts'O is or are located in a branchcirchit connected to a cuit as soon as the integrator has'sta'rted.

By this arrangement all of the circuits including relays R are closed at the starting point, and if a card containing at least one hole in each column is properly adjusted in the switch mechanism and the pin-box is pressed down, the series of contacts rand the master circuit will be closed, the magnet e energized, and the pin B withdrawn from in front of the second stop B thereby releasing the integrator cylinder and permitting the motor to advance it. As soon, however, as the brush 0' passes off or is removed from contact 0 the several circuits through the relays R are broken, the circuit breakers 1" being released, and this condition is preserved until at the completion of the traverse of the integrator cylinder, after the pin box has been raised, the connection with magnet O is reestablished through brush 0' and contact 0 The detent mechanism is provided with an additional or third stop pin B which latter, as the movable arm B or other member'controlled by the starting magnet e is retracted engages the pin B and arrests theturther movement of the integrating-cylinder before the first of the series of contact strips 12 engages brushes b to b". It is at this stage that the devices for automatically preventingregistration in case of double punching are arranged to come into play.

In a branch of the master-circuit are arranged in series a number of relay contacts t'controlling a circuit including the starting 7 The simultaneous closing of these contacts will energize the magnet e and withdraw the pin B from in front of stop B thereby permitting the integrator to advance under the influence of its motor until arrested by the stop B The relay contacts are controlled by a series of nine relay magnets T, one for each pair of contacts, and these relay magnets are connected in series in a local circuit TcontainingageneratorT and a circuit closer 15. At the ends of the series of relay magnets T, and in theintervals between contiguous relays, are arranged a series of contacts 6 connected in circuit, and opposite each of said contacts is a contact t forming a terminal of one of the series of groups of contacts O to 9". The contacts 15 25 and t are controlled by a magnet or magnets Q located in a circuit containing a brush Q arranged to engage a contact Q on the integrator cylinder. The contact Q occupies a position just in rear of contact 0 so that the circuit containing magnet or magnets Q will be closed when the integrator is arrested and held by the stop B and before any of the contact strips'b have engaged the brushes b to If; and the energizing of the magnet or magnets Q results in the closing of 2?, t and t. If, now, there is but one hole in each column of the record card (and there must be at least one hole in each column for the integrator to have advanced to this position) the several relay magnets T will be energized, and, operating to close the relay contacts 25, the magnet e will be energized and the integrator started again for registering. But if, on the contrary, there should be two holes in any one column, say, for example, the fourth and fifth of the first column, the groups of contacts 3 and 4 would be placed in communication through the group of contacts 4, thereby short-circuiting or cutting-out that one of the relay magnets T standing between said groups of contacts 3* and 49, and preventing its contacts if from closing, consequently the circuit through contacts 25 would remain open, and the integrator held from further movement. This would effectually prevent any registering by means of the defective record-card, and would indicate at once the fact that two or more holes had been punched in one column. The card would have to be removed and corrected before it would be accepted. Up to this point no registration has of course been effected, and it is not until a properly punched card is introduced that any registration can be made. Assuming, however, that the record card has successfully passed the several tests, automatically applied, we will next explain how the registration is effected. A register-magnet r one for each column of the record-card, is connected in circuit with each one of the series of groups of contacts 4 to 23. In the illustratiomthe register magnets r (they may be relays working local circuits containing registers) and the relay magnets R controlling the master circuit are arranged in parallel branches communicating on one side with the generator and on the other with .the terminals 0 c of the series of groups of contacts at to 23. Each branch containinga register-magnet r is provided with a set of contacts or a'circuit breaker W, the latter controlled or closed by a magnet or magnets 1. The magnet or magnets P (it may be a relay magnet controlling a local circuit or circuits) is or are located in a circuit containinga brush P arranged to engage a contact P on the integratorcylinder said conductor being set to engage the brush P and close the circuit immediately after brush Q passes off contact Q and before or at the same time that the first of the series of contacts 19 engages the brushes 6 to b to transmit the counting impulse through the circuits of the switch mechanism. The circuit through brush P and magnet P is held closed by contact P while the several contacts Z1 are passing the brushes b to b, consequently the branch circuits containing the register-magnets r are held: closed while the impulses designed to effect the registermagnets are being transmitted, and after-the registration for a given record-card has been completed, the circuits are again opened pre-' liminary to the testing of the next succeed ing record card before completing another registration from it.

It will be at once apparent to one skilled in the art that the apparatus described is susceptible of much variation and modification in details of construction, the arrangement of parts and the employment of known equivalents for bringing about the several actions. Thus in the illustrated system, the impulses which operate the registers are transmitted through the switch-mechanism, whereas the switch mechanism may be employed to hold the circuits closed or open during different periods, and the impulses may be transmitted through circuits controlled by the circuits of the switch mechanism and the record card, as described and illustrated in my prior application.

Instead of locating the several magnets "r and R in branches of the same circuit and connecting them to a common generator, they may be in separate circuits; so too the ma nets O. P and Q may be in separate circuits instead of branch circuits. The magnets O, P, Q, or either of them can be arranged to operate the series of contacts controlled thereby either directly, as a multiple contact relay, or a number of relays connected in series may be employed as indicated in Fig. 6. Again, in lieu of brushes engaging contacts on the integrator cylinder, the latter may be provided with or caused to actuate cams or other forms of transmitting mechanism for controlling the contacts. Thus, for example, the contacts 0 P magnets O, P, and brushes 0 P may be replaced by mechanism such as is indicated in Fig. 3 wherein V is a cam moving in unison with the integrator cylinder and operating a lever V to close the circuit or circuits through contact strips V A similar arrangement may replace the parts Q, Q, Q the cam being made longer, to hold the circuits closed while the impulses are being transmitted through the circuits.

' Still another arrangement of contacts is illustrated in Fig. 4t wherein one set of movable contacts Y is actuated by a cam Y to alternately engage two series of opposing contacts Y Y These are but few of the numerous forms of mechanism which may readilybe adapted for controlling the several series of contacts t, t t and T the only requisite being that said contacts shall be operated at the proper intervals for testing the record-cards before the registration is efie'cted.

The several contacts f, 0 P Q described as 'on the integrator cylinder are connected together electrically and to a conductor S which latter is in connection with operating circuit through a brush S.

Operation: Assuming a properly punched record card has been inserted between the pinbox and bed-plate of the switch-mechanism andthat the pin-boxhasbeen depressed,whereby a certain pin in each group of contacts 4 to 23 permitted to pass into contact with one of 1 This will cause a current to traverse each relay mag-g each group of contacts 0 to 9*.

not B, the contacts 0" being closed by magnet 0, while no current is .permitted to pass movement of the integrator effects the breakingot the circuits through the switch mechanism in two places, first, by moving contact bar 19 from brushes 6 to U, and, second, by separating the contact 1" which takes place when contact 0 passes 01f from brush O and opens the circuit through magnet O. The relays, contacts '1" at once open and the master circuit being broken thereby, the armature of magnet e is retracted, and stop pin B is engaged. This arrests the movement of the integrator cylinder with brush Q on contact Q energizing magnet Q, thereby-closing contacts't', 15 t and the circuit through relays T. No two of the groups of contacts 0 to 9 being connected, all of the relays T are operated to close contacts and thus energize the starting magnet e so that the integrator will be released a second time. As the integrator cylinder advances the circuit through magnet Q is broken at Q Q contacts t t i separate and relay contacts 15 open, 'and the circuit through the starting magnet is'agai'n broken. The first action of the integrator cylinder after this is to close the register circuits at W, which is done by energizing magnet P; at the same time the contact strips or bars 19 are caused to operate on brushes b to b to establish the series of impulses for working the registers. As the last of the contacts 19 is brought into action, the

branch of master circuit is closed through f f the starting magnet e is energized and the The relays R close the further motion of the integrator is arrested by stop B While these operations have been taking place, the pin-box has been held down, and as soon as the registration has been completed the pin-box is raised so that the j record card can be removed and another in sorted. The raising of the pin-box breaks the master-circuit which was closed through f f, thus releasing the armature of magnet e withdrawing the stop B and permitting the integrator cylinder to advance to the second stop 13, the stop carried by the armature 13 now standing in the position it assumes when the armature is retracted. The integrator cylinder has now arrived at the starting point i will be no movement of the integrator cylinder, the stop B notbeing withdrawn. If the record card is properly adjusted and contains at least one hole in each column, the integrator will be started but it will be arrested and held by the stop B It cannot pass beyond this point until the stop pin B is released and this can only occur when all the relays T are energized and their contacts t closed, consequently if there'should be twoor more holes in any one column so as "to short circuit any one of the magnets T, no registration would be made because the integrator would not-advance to the registering position. It will be noticed that the several checks provided for the three classes of errors, although illustrated as parts of a complete system, are operative independently; thus each series of devices independently checks the movement of the integrator and thus prevents registration, no matter What form, construction or arrangement of registering devices may be employed. The same is true of the check for insufficient punching and the check for over punching; each may be used independently of the other and in difierentsystems.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a system, such as described, thecombination of aswitch mechanism controlled by a record card; a starting or releasing circuit; magnets arranged in series in a local circuit and controlling contacts in the said starting or releasing circuit; and circuit connections between the switch mechanism and the local circuit magnets operating to short circuitor out out one or more of the magnets when cross connections are formed in the switch mechanism; substantially as described.

2. In a system, such as described, the. combination with a switch mechanism provided IlC with two opposing series of groups of contacts and a record card controlling the same; a' contact connected to each groupof one of said series of groups of contacts; alocal circuit containing magnets controlling a starting or detent circuit; and contacts at opposite ends of each of said last named magnets, cooperating with the said contacts of the switch-mechanism, for short circuiting said magnets; substantially as described.

3. In a system, such as described, the com bination of the switch, mechanism; an integrator mechanism connected with said switch mechanism; a master circuit and detent controlled thereby; contactsin series in a branch of the master-circuit; a series of magnets controlling said branch contacts; and contacts for short circuiting the magnets of said last named series through the switch mechanisms; substantially as described.

4. In a system, such as described, the combination with the integrator, switch-mechanism and record-card, of the series of relay magnets in a local circuit, with intermediate connections leading to the switch mechanisms; the contacts of said relays being arranged in a circuit including the starting magnet for the integrator, substantially as described.

5. In a system, such as described, the combination with the integrator, switch mechanism, registers, and a starting circuit controlled from the switch-mechanism, of a series of circuit controllers located in a branch of the starting circuit and controlled through relays connected to the switch-mechanism, substantially as described.

6. In a system, such as described, the 00111- bination of the following elements, an integrator-cylinder; a switch mechanism controlled by a record card; a master or starting circuit for the integrator, containing relay contacts arranged in series; relay magnets connected to the switch mechanism and controlling the relay contacts in the master circuit; and contacts or circuit closers in the relay-magnet circuits, said contacts being controlled by theintegrator; substantially as described.

7. In a system, such as described, the combination of the following elements: an integrator cylinder; 2. switch mechanism controlled by a record-card; a series of register controlling magnets connected to the switch mechanism; and a series of circuit closers in the register magnet circuits controlled from the integrator cylinder, substantially as described.

8. In a system, such as described, the combination of the following elements: an integrating cylinder; a switch mechanism controlled by a record-card; a master circuit containing relay contacts in series; relay magnets connected to the switch mechanism and controlling the relay contacts in the master circuits; a series of register controlling magism; substantially as described.

nets connected to the switch mechanism; and circuit closers or contacts in the register and relay circuits controlled from the integrator, substantially as described.

9. In a system such as described, the combination of the following elements: an integrator cylinder; a switch mechanism controlled by a record-card a master-circuit with relay contacts in series; relay magnets controlling said relay contacts connected to the switch mechanism; a series of register controlling magnets connected to the switchmechanism; contacts in the relay and register circuits controlled from the integrator cylinder; a series of relays in a local circuit; relay contacts in a branch of the master circuit; and contacts controlled from the integrator cylinder for closing and connecting said local relay circuit to the switch mechan- 10. In a system,such as described,the combination of the following elements: a switch mechanism containing two opposing sections each containing a plurality of contacts; a master or starting circuit, a local circuit including a magnet, a circuit closer for said 10- cal circuit, connections between said local circuit and separate contacts of the switch mechanism for short circuiting or cutting out said local circuit magnet, and circuit connections in the master circuit controlled by the local circuit magnet; substantially as described.

11. In a system, such as described, the combination of the following elements: a switch mechanism controlled by a record card and provided with two series of conductors, a starting or master circuit containing relay contacts controlled through connections with one series of conductors of the switch, a branch of the starting or master circuit containing contacts controlled through connections with the other series of conductors of the switch; substantially as described.

12. In a system, such as described, the combination with the integrator cylinder, the switch mechanism and the starting or master circuit, of the following elements: register magnets connected with one series of groups of contacts of the switch, relay magnets connected to the same series of groups of contacts, circuit closers in each of said relayand register circuits, contacts arranged in series in the master circuit and controlled by said relays, a local circuit containing a second series of relays, contacts for connecting the switch mechanism to said local circuit, a contact for closing said localcircuit contacts controlled by said local circuit relays located in a branch of the master circuit, and actuating devices controlled by the integrator cylinder for successively closing and opening the first mentioned relay circuits, the local relay circuit and the register circuits, respectively, substantially as described.

13. In combination with the integrator, the detent mechanism provided with three stop pins operating in conjunction with a movable pin, a magnet cont-rolling said movable pin, a master-circuit containing relay confacts in series and including the aforesaid magnet, a branch of the master circuit including a second series of relay contacts, a second branch of the master circuit including contacts movable with the integrator to close said branch and actuating devices controlling the two series of relaycontacts said devices being controlled through the switch mechanism' and integrator; substantially as described.

V 14., In a system, such as described, the combination with the integrating cylinder and the switch mechanism adapted to be con trolled bya record, of the series of relay magnets T, in a local circuit containing contacts t and a circuit closer 13' contacts t con- 20 nected to the switch mechanism, relay contact O for operating said contacts substantially as described.

16. In a system, such as described, and in combination with the integrator, switch mechanism and master circuit, a series of register magnets r, a series of magnets R, contacts T for the circuits of magnets R, contacts r for the circuits of magnets r contacts r 1n themaster circuit controlled by magnets It, magnet O, controlling contacts r and controlled by contacts O' 0 magnet P controlling contacts r and controlled by contacts P, P, a detent controlling magnet in the master circuit and a detent mechanism c'on trolling the integrator; substantially as described.

17. The combination to form a system, such as described, of the following elements: the integrator, the switch mechanism, adapted to be controlled bya record card, the master circuit controlling the movements of the integrator, the two relaycirouits, each connected to one member of the switch mechanism and controlling the master circuit or branches thereof, and circuit controlling devices operated by the integrator cylinder to successively close the contacts of the two relay circuits, substantially as described. HERMAN HOLLERITH;

Witnesses:

EWELL A. DICK, OTTO E. BRAITMAYER.

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