GB517021A - Improvements in or relating to visual indicators for record-card-controlled printingmachines - Google Patents

Abstract

517,021. Record-card-comtrolled statistical machines. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd., and KEEN, H. H. June 17, 1938, No. 18101. [Class 106 (i)] A grouped-card controlled statistical machine is combined with a visual indicator 10 13A-L, corresponding to a selectable combination of classification groups, the selection being adjustable by control devices independently of the scheme of classification punched on the cards. To cause the indicator to give one or other of a number of indications, selecting means ULI &c. TLI &c. are adjusted (energized) by the designation reading of the first card of a group, when this card first enters.the machine, into one or other condition according to the designation, and means (plug connections) are provided for adjusting any desired control device so that it is operated by the selecting means in a predetermined condition or conditions, selected at will, of the selecting means. The indicator 10 has sections 12 with lettered frosted-glass panels lit by lamps 13A, 13B, 13L, each section having alongside it. a shelf 11 to store the appropriate sheets on which the items and totals of the correlated card groups should be printed. The sheets may be differently coloured, and the glass panels coloured to correspond. The machine preferably has the sheet-feeding mechanism set out in Specification 501,982, [Group XVI], and the usual auto-restart means is suppressed. At a card group change the indicator shows the sheet required for the new group, the operator taking a sheet from the correct shelf 11, placing it on the feed tray of the machine, and restarting the machine. Fig. 2 assumes a designation number of not more than two denominations., Out of the possible ninety-nine group designations, assuming that six different sheets are to be used for eleven different groups, correlated as follows:- plug connections 17a, 17, and 17b are made. as shown. By the use of a commutator 14 the reading of any group designation by the upper brushes UBS energizes a particular combination of primary selecting relays UL1 ... UL4 and TL1 ... TL4 for the units and tens digit respectively. The combinations for the units relays (the arrangements for the tens is similar) is-as follows:- Hole 0 no relay is energized " 1 energizes relay ULl " 2 " " UL2 " 3 " " UL1 and UL2 "4 " " UL3 " 5 " "UL1 and UL3 " 6 " " UL2 and UL3 " 7 " " UL1, UL2, and UL3 " 8 " " UL4 " 9 " " UL1 and UL4. Each coil UL1, UL2 &c. closes contacts UL1B, UL2B &c. to energize a holding coil UL1H, UL2H, UL3H or UL4H of which the first two are in series with relays UL6 and UL7 and with relay UL8 respectively. Contacts UL6A, UL8A &c. and TL6A, TL8A &c. are controlled by relays UL1 &c. and TL1 and coact with intermediate relays CS1, CS2, CS16 whose contacts CS1A, CS2A, CS16A may be plugged with circuits of lamps 13A ... 13L. If, say, the group number "23" is read off the first card of a new group, the relays TL2, TL8, UL1,. UL6, UL7, UL2, UL8 are energized to reverse their contacts and a circuit T7, minor control contacts R26B, UL4A, UL3A, UL8A (lower), UL6B (lower), SU3, 16, coil CS3, 17, ST2, TL6B, TL8A (lower), TL3A, TL4A energizes the intermediate relay coil CS3 so that its contacts CS3A light the lamp 13C behind panel C in Fig. 1. This is the correct panel section according to the first table above and the operator takes a sheet off the correlated shelf 11 for insertion in the machine. The group number " 24" causes energization of relays TL2, TL8, UL3, and circuit T7, R26B, U44A, UL3A (lower), UL8B, UL7A, SU4, SU3, 16, CS3, 17, ST2, TL6B, TL8A (lower), TL3A, TL4A energizes the same relay CS3 to light lamp C as required by the above table for group "24" as well as group "23." Coils 14A ... 14L and their contacts 114A ... 114L are for holding the lamps lit until the machine is restarted upon card feeding.