GB552148A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for verifying statistical data recorded upon records - Google Patents

Abstract

552,148. Statistical machines. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd. Sept. 19, 1941, No. 12137. Convention date, Sept. 20, 1940. [Class 106 (i)] [Also in Group XL] The data on a series of records are compared with data set up on a keyboard, the data comprising designations indicating numbers by their position on the record, and colour designations, the keyboard having keys for numbers and keys for colours and the designation being sensed by photo-electric means. an error-indicating device being operated on disagreement. The spaces a to e on a fragment of photographic colour film, Fig. 1, contain spots 22 representing by their position numbers shown at 23. Other spots 21 may be used to control operations of the machine. The colours of the spots are as indicated. Analysing colour of data.-The film is advanced past a sensing station 25. Light rays from a source, 27 are directed by a condenser 28 on the aperture. The rays are directed to photocells 29a, 29b, 29c by light conducting rods 30 and filters 31 to 33. Assume the spot passing is red, also assume that the filter 31 is a cyan colour and passes rays other than red that 32 is a magenta colour passing rays excepting green, and that 33 is yellow passing rays excepting blue. The red rays passing through the aperture will pass filters 32, 33 and impinge on cells 296, 29c. A blue spot will affect cells 29a, 29b and green cells 29a, 29c. With a black spot, no light is transmitted to any cell. Amplifiers are connected to the photo-cells. Film feeding and sensing.-The film 20 is fed from a spool 35 over sprockets 39, 40 past the aperture of a sensing station 25 to a take up reel 36. The aperture extends transversely across the film and permits scanning of a single row of data or control spots only. In the example shown, there are three lines of spots on the films and a row of three cells 29a 29c for each line at the station 25. Upon energization of the magnet 44, the latch lever 46 releases a pawl 49 to engage a clutch element 50 loose on shaft 38 but connected by gearing to a belt drive 53, 54 so that the sprockets are driven when the clutch is thrown in. When the film supply is exhausted, a lever 61 swings to open contacts 60. On the shaft 37 a plurality of cams 62 are provided for controlling at different times in the cycle six pairs of contacts of which one pair C1 is shown. A commutator is also mounted on the shaft 37 and is adapted to close circuits in each denomination sucessively as the index point in the film is sensed. Located below the sensing station is a punch 64 which upon energization of a magnet 68 is struck by a lever 70 to punch a notch in the film. The magnet 68 is energized when disagreement occurs between the spots sensed and the set-up on the keyboard. The lever 70 also opens and closes contacts 71 and 71a respectively. Keyboard.-A key is provided for each index mark or point position' in individual columns of the records, and for each colour designation. When a key is depressed, it breaks a pair of contacts "A" and becomes latched by a sliding bar for that order of keys. The verifying operations are controlled by depression of a motor bar to close a pair of contacts, a latch lever locking the stem of this bar, the latch lever being released with the keys at the end of the verifying operation. Circuit diagrams are set out in the Specification, and the arrangement is such that if any one of the data or colours set up on the keys does not agree with that sensed, the related lamp is illuminated by completion of one of the circuits through the key contacts "A", and feed of the strip is interrupted. The operator then checks the set-up on the keys, and if an error is found; the release key is pressed and the keys and motorbar are released and the verification repeated. If there is no error on the key set-up, it must be in the film record and the " error key" is depressed to energize the magnet 68 and punch a notch in the film, releasing keys and motorbar. The verification may then be continued.