US740042A - Keyboard for tabulating-machines. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED SEPT. 29, 1903.

C. F. PIDGIN. KEYBOARD FOR TABULATING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1899.

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UNITED STATES Patented September 29, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

KEYBOARD FOR TABULATING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 740,042, dated September 29, 1903. Application filed July 31, 1899. Serial No. 725,575. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. PIDGIN, of Boston, in the county of Sufiolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Keyboards for Tabulating-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object the provision of means for tabulating or compiling statistics, such as sociological and population statistics of a census. I

In the compilation of items or statistics relating to individuals in census-work it is the practice for each enumerator of a district to secure all of the items or data relating to each individual, as age, sex, color, place of birth, conjugal condition, birthplace of parents, employed or unemployed,relation to head of family,length of residence in a town,city, or State, the. These data are placed upon sheets, from which tables are made with particular reference to certain items or correlations of items in which each individual is regarded as a unit. For instance, it is not only necessary to prepare tables showing how many persons are male or female, white or black, native or foreign born, &c., but also to prepare others showing how many have the same charactertics or how many are white, males, twentyone years of age, native-born, and follow the same occupation. Consequently it has been the practice to transfer from the large sheets those data relating to each individual and subsequently compile statistical tables from such transferred items.

The present invention has for its object the provision of means for transferring data electrically from the sheets to registers or counters, and thereby dispensing with the Writing which has been heretofore necessary in the preparation of tables.

If desired, I may employ instead of the large sheet, as thus described, punch-cards or original cards, as described in my copending application, Serial No. 720,995, filed June 17, 1897. These cards are connected together in a strip, and each card is devoted to certain facts or items called correlations of items relating to individuals.

The mechanism which I employ consists of a plurality of counting-machines adapted to be actuated electrically. and a plurality of keys or manually-operable switches, which are electrically connected with the counters. These keys are preferably arranged in banks and upon being depressed by the operator close the circuits through the corresponding counting-machines. The counting-machines which I prefer to employ in connection with the switches are specifically illustrated and described in the said application hereinbefore referred to and are placed in a large cabinet or casing, so that the results may be easily read or ascertained. The keys and the counters are each adapted to receive small slips of paper or cardboard each bearing a sym bol, the symbol of each key corresponding to the same symbol on one of the counters. As previously stated, the said keys are arranged in banks, and they may be manipulated like those of a type-writer, whereby the items occurring on the enumerators sheet may be quickly and easily tabulated and counted.

Referring to the drawings, Figure lindicates in plan view a keyboard containing banks of keys. Fig. 2 represents a section through the same. Fig. 3 represents one of the keys in section. Fig. 4 represents the same in plan view. Fig. 5 represents the cabinet containing a plurality of electrically-actuated counters. Fig. 6 represents a diagrammatic view of a portion of the circuit.

The keyboard consists of a base a, having end walls a, adapted to receive three strips a a a of non-conducting materialarranged in differenthorizontalplanes. Eachofthestrips is adapted to receive three rows of keys, such as those shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4/ Each key consists of a support or post b, secured to the strip by a screw 1), which also acts as a binder for the wire 11 The post or support Z) is pr0- vided with cars 11 to receive the ear 5 of the movable member or key b the latter being fulcrumed in place by the pin b. The key is held normally raised by a spring b", attached by a screw 1) to the under side of the key and resting upon the post Z) betweenthe cars 6 0 indicates a stationary contact, which is secured to the strip by a screw 0, to which the wires 0 are attached. The contact 0 is directly below the key 12 and the current may be closed between the two by depressing the said key, the end of the spring 12 being carried forward and downward, as at b, so as to lie directly above the beveled portion 0 of the stationary contact, so that it touches the contact when the key is depressed. The current can further pass directly from the post I) to the contact 0 through the spring 1) b and therefore the key 19 may be made of any suitable non-conducting material.

The key itself is preferably rectangular in plan View and is adapted to receive a strip of paper or cardboard bearing a symbol, and for the purpose of holding the card in place a spring-clip d, bent in V form and having its ends inserted in apertures in the rear end of the key, is used.

The counters are indicated at e, and they may be of any suitable character, although I prefer to use those shown in my application hereinbefore referred to. Each counter is electrically connected by a branch circuit, through a wirefand the wire 11 with one of the keys, as shown in the diagram in Fig. 6, so that each time one of the keys is depressed the counter connected therewith is electrically actuated. Said counters are arranged in rows in the cabinet g, and each has provisions for receiving a card similar to that on the key. The contacts are all connected with the main circuit by the Wires 0 The switch '1 is employed for breaking the main circuit when the work has been completed on the tabulator.

By arranging the keys in several banks they are so divided that the key of one division will not be operated by mistake for that of another, and consequently all of the keys in one strip may bear symbols relating to one particular set of facts, while those of the others bear symbols relating to other sets of items or facts.

It will be observed that across the top of the bank of keys and down the side there are rows of inactive keys, each provided with a spring-clip for the reception of a card or stripv of paper bearing a symbol. Consequently correlated tables may be formed with little difficulty. For instance, each horizontal row of keys may represent items relating to males, and the second to females, or else the horizontal rows may relate, respectively, to persons of different races, as white, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Malay, &c.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a way of constructing and using the same, although without having attempted to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, I declare that What I claim is- 1. The combination with an electric circuit and branch circuits, of a keyboard having a plurality of keys adapted to independently close said branch circuits, said keys each comprising a stationary contact, and a pivoted member carryinga spring-support which also serves as a circuit-closing contact.

2. Means for closing an electric circuit, consisting of a contact-post, a key pivotally supported therein, a stationary contact adjacent said post, and a spring secured to said key and having one end resting on said post, the other end of said spring being adapted to be moved into engagement with said contact by depression of said key.

3. The combination of akey adapted to close an electric circuit, and a spring-clip bent over the surface of the key and adapted to receive a card or slip between it and the key.

4. Means for closing an electric circuit comprising a contact-post, a stationary contact adjacent thereto, a key pivotally mounted at one end in said post and overhanging said stationary contact, and a bowed spring secured to said key, one end thereof resting on said post and supporting the key, the other end thereof being adapted to engage said stationary contact when said key is depressed.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES F. PID GIN.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM G. GRUNDY, FRANK H. DROWN.

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