GB368766A - Improvements in or relating to methods of and means for controlling the printing units of a perforated card operated tabulating machine - Google Patents

Abstract

368,766. Statistical-apparatus ; calculating-apparatus. BROUGHAM, L. E., Brillig, Riddlesdown Avenue, Purley, Surrey. Dec. 10, 1930, No. 37278. [Class 106 (i).] A method of and means for controlling the adding and printing units of a record-card controlled statistical machine consists in connecting the setting mechanism of each unit to a cross-total unit whereby each item sensed is set up in all the units, the cards being additionally perforated to cause selective non- printing in those units to which the entry does not relate. The apparatus comprises essentially a sensing mechanism with an extension pin box having a plurality of sets of extension rods with cross connections to corresponding rods of each set. The invention is described as applied to a tabulating machine with type sectors and controlling means as described in Specifications 26896/13, 108,942, [both in Class 106 (i), Calculating &c.], and 365,689. The machine comprises four totalizing units A .. D, Fig. 1, for the totals and the items relating, say, to costs, material, and labour respectively. The rods A<1> .. D<1> are interconnected by cross-bars 2 and the rods C<1> are extended to co-operate with the pins of the sensing pin box (not shown). To ensure that an item shall be entered only in the appropriate unit and in the total unit A each unit B, C, D is provided with eliminator bars B<2>, C<2>, D<2> having extensions B<3>, C3, D3 cooperating with certain sensing pins. The control arrangement of perforations is shown in Fig. 2. As regards the top row of perforations the eliminators B, C will be actuated to raise the nought shutters as described in Specification 365,220 whereby printing in their respective units is prevented. Manual settable means comprising stops B<4>, C<4>, D<4> co-operating with projections B<5>, C<5>, D<5> on the eliminator extensions are provided to hold the bars raised to prevent printing in any column. If the rods of the several units are extended to co-operate with sets of sensing pins all the items may be punched on the same cards in different fields. In such a case the card feed must be regulated so that the card is sensed as many times as there are items punched thereon. The card feed may be controlled by a quadrant and a cam lever as described in Specification 271,935, [Class 106 (i), Calculating &c.].