US2172062A - Tabulating machine - Google Patents

Description

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 5, 1939. G. GHERTMAN TABULATING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16, 1938 Sept 5, 1939- G. GHERTMAN TABULATING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 www llllllll llll `l7 JNVENToR.

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Sept. 5, 1939. G. GHERTMAN 2,172,062

TABULATING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16, 193.8 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 z, J, v

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Sept. 5, 1939. G. GHERTMAN 2,172,062

TABULATING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16, 193B 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 7.

ATT RNEY Patented Sept. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TABULAI'INGy MACHINE Application August 16, 1938, Serial No. 225,086 1oc1aims. (ci. 1st-115) This invention relates to punching machines for punching tabulating cards so that the latter designates certain infomation.

The improvements relate to an improved means for selecting punches of a punching machine, and constitute, in the present invention a group of relays which are selectively set up to represent data, and which control the selection of punches to punch acard to represent this data.

The provision of relays for .this type of control enables with facility its incorporation in machines of the electrically controlled type and fits in the scheme of electrical connections and the electrical instrumentalities utilized, so as to provide a simpleaand eilicient means for punch selection.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a set of electrical instrumentalities, such as relays, which are selected from a group to be set up to represent a digit, and then cause the relay just set up to select a punch. l

A more specific object of the invention is to provide ten digit representing relays for each order or as an alternative arrangement a lesser number of relays which are set up in combination to represent a digit. In the last arrangement such relays set up contacts in combination and which are interpreted or translated so as to establish a resultant electrical impulse which selects the related punch.

'Ihe invention, has for the purpose vof illustration, been shown in connection with a tabulating machine and is utilized to cause the punching of group-number-representing perforations. It is proposed in Patent No. 1,946,913 to punch the totals of one or more accumulators on a card and which accumulators receive items entered in a tabulating machine. It has also, heretofore, been proposed as disclosed in Patent No. 1,087,061 to utilize one of such accumulators to receive the group number and to cause the punching of the group number under control of the Vaccumulator. The use of such accumulator prevents its customary use as an item receiving accumulator and the provision of the present invention in this arrangement permits, in an admirable way, the utilization of all the accumulators for their customary use. Y

It is therefore, a more specific object of the present invention to set up on the relays previously referred to in the preceding objects, and

by either the arrangement consisting of ten relays for each order or a lesser number of .relays set up in combination for each order, the digit representations of the group number, and to cause these relays to -eifect the punching of the group number on the card along with the punching of the total thereon.

Another object of the invention is to repeatedly set up the group number by the relays and to break down this setup as long as successive cards agree in their group number representations. The group control sensing means functions to retain this setup so as to cause the relays to select the appropriate punches to punch the group number.

FurtherA objects of the instant invention reside in any novel feature of construction or operation -or novel combination of parts present in the embodiment of the invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings Whether within or without the scope of the appended claims and irrespective of other specific statements as to the scope of the invention contained herein.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of the separate punching machine preferably utilized in connection with the-present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the punching. machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail view, upon an enlarged scale, showing some of the cooperating parts of the punching machine.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged View in plan of the column selector for the punching means.

Fig. 5 is a View in side elevation of the column selector and is taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Figs. 6A and 6B taken together with Fig. 6A on the top is the complete electrical wiring diagram showing the coordination of cooperating parts of the tabulating machine and the perforating machine. The punch selectors, comprising ten relays for each other, as shown in Fig. 6B.

Fig. 6C is a modification of the punch selectors utilizing relays in combinational arrangement, and when substituted for Fig. 6B and placed below Fig. 6A is a completed electrical wiring dia` gram of the tabulating machine and a perforating machine utilizing this modification.

Fig. 7 is a timing diagram o f cams controlling contacts.

Referring to Fig. 1, A indicates generally the column selector attachment of the perforating machine which in conjunction with punch selector relays located in the tabulating machine controls the automatic punching operation and B indicates generally the card punching portion of the perforating machine. Ihe perforating machine without the column selecting attachment is fully described in detail in Patent No. 1,821,078.

The column selector attachment apparatus is also Well known and fully described in Patent No. 2,016,706.

In brief, the operation of the punching mechanism is as follows: A stack of cards to be punched is placed in magazine I0. The operator draws out a rod II which feeds one card fromV the bottom of the stack forward into the punching section provided with a. single column of punches I2, each of which is adapted to perforate a corresponding index point position of a card column. To operate the punches manually, the operator depresses a. key I3 corresponding to a punch selected for operation. A rod I4 (Figs. 2 and 3) rigidly carried by the key rocks a bell crank I5 counterclockwise which moves an'interposer bar I'I to an advanced position over the corresponding punch. As the interposer bar advances, it rocks a bar I8 which is in the path of the interposer bar I'l to the left, which pulls a link I9 (Fig. 3) forward to close contacts 20. Closing of the latter contacts completes a circuit (not shown) through the punching magnet 2i which then attracts armature 22 to pull a rod iI to rock an arm 24 secured to a rock shaft 600 and thus rock the bail 23 fast to said shaft.

operation of a key I3. The punch I2 corresponding to the depressed interposer `bar Il is Y thereby operated as is shown in Fig. 3. After enclosing a spiral spring.

each column ofthe card is punched, an escapement .mechanism operates to-feed the next card column under the punches I2. The card which is punched rests on a frame plate 620. A card carriage comprising a rack 630 has an arm 660 at the rear carrying a pivoted member 650 which drops behind the rear edge of the card being fed and a hold-down cam gripper 660 (Fig. 2) which engages and holds down the forward end of this card. The rack 630 (Fig. 3) has "gear teeth on its lower edge meshing with a gear 610 forming part of the casing of a spring drum As the carriage is moved to the right in Fig. 3 the rack rotates gear B10 and tensions the spring drum which thereupon tends to move the carriage back tothe left. This movement to the left is controlled by es- `capement mechanism responsive to the punching operation. A bail 100 is mounted on a shaft H0 and extends beneath all the interposer bars I'l so that when an interposer bar is lowered to effect punching the bail 100 is rocked counterclockwise against the action of a biasing spring (not shown). A pawl 130 is loosely mounted on shaft 1IIJ and a. spring 120 attached to an extending arm of the pawl tends to force it into engagement with a series of notches formed on the upper edge of rack 630. A second pawl 800 pivoted on the machine frame,vcooperates'with pawl 130 to form an escapement. A double arm member 8I0 is also lmounted on shaft 'H0 and arranged to be operated by bail 100. This member is conpawl 130 in engagement with one of them.

On a punching operation the depression of one of the-interposers Il moves bail '100l downward as shown in Fig. 3 and consequently rocks mem- -ber 8I0. This rst movespawl 800 into engageling in the particular card column has been effected -the pawl 800 is raised and the card carriage moves un'til pawl 130 engages the next ratchet tooth stopping the carriage with the next card column under the punches. This escapement mechanism is fully described in'aforesaid Patent No. 1,821,078 and in Patent No. 1,426,223.

'Ihose punches whose interposer bars have not been thrust forward will not be aiected as their interposer bars will be in the position shown in Fig. 2 with the clearance notches I'Ia (Fig. 2) under the bail. Contacts 26 (Figl 2) are provided to cut out the interposer-operating magnets 42, operable alternatively to keys I3, as will be hereinafter explained, while pull-rod II is being operated in order to prevent a punching operation during that time (as fully disclosed in aforeasid Patent No. 1,821,078, page 13, line 111 through line 13 of page 14, in conjunction with Figs. 3 and 13).

The automatic control of the punching mechanism includes punch selectors and column selectors. The column selectors are preferably located in the perforating machine while the punch selectors are preferably located inthe tabulating machine.

In tabulating machines of the class described the perforated cards are analyzed by a set of upper brushes B0 (Fig. 6A) in one card cycle and then in a subsequent cycle by brushes 6I. These two analyzing stations are designated UB and LB in Fig, 6A. A set of lower brushes designated tlc are for the purpose of analyzing amount representing perforations and these amounts are entered in accumulators and when the group number of cards change a perforating machine is adapted to punch on a card the total of such amounts. The arrangement for effecting this function is fully shown and described in the patent to M. Maul, No. 1,946,913. The totals are number as an incident to perforating the total so that the cardpunched also bears the group number and laterjthere will be described the means for effecting this function but there will now be described the means for detecting the change in group numbers which causes the automatic initiation of the operation of the perforating machine to perforate the card to represent the total.-

The machine successively feeds cards to the analyzing brushes 60 and 6I which read selected group control number representing columns of the cards. The numbers in these selected columns are not accumulated or listed by the machine but/ serve only as indication or control perforations. .'So long as the designations in the group control columns'of two successive cards agree the machine continues to operate to ac-.- cumulate and list the itemsiin other card columns. Only two group control columns-of the card and two sets of group control elements are shown in Fig. 6A for purposes Aof illustration but it will be; understood that, if desired, use may be madel of one, three, four, or more of suchlcol- `umns and corresponding sets of group control elements. Each set of group control elements f. comprises, aforementioned analyzing brushes 6B and 6| for reading alined group control number representing columns of upper and lower cards,

a magnet 53 connected in series in the same circuit as said brushes, and a pair of contacts 63 controlled by said magnet 63. If the group designations in two successive cards agree the brush- `es 60 and 6| analyzing the same column of the two cards will contact the perforations in said -columns at the same ti e, thereby completing circuits 62 through magnets 63 whichthereupon attract armatures 54 to unlatch bell cranks 65 which are then rocked clockwise by springs 51 to effect closing of contacts 68 there being one pair of coacting contacts 68 operatively associated with each magnet 53. The pairs of contacts 68 are in series in a circuit 59 so that each pair must'be closed in orderv to complete the circuit. 'I'his will occur only if the group designations in each column of successive cards agree and some time during the card cycle each magnet 53 has been energized to closevthe asso-f/ ciated pair of contacts 53. Circut 59 includes al magnet 1l! which controls the punch initiating operation. During the perforation analyzing portion of the card cycle, contacts 1| remainl -closed to complete a circuit 12 through the magnet 10. At the end of the perforation analyzing portionof the cycle, a cam 15 opens contacts 1.| but magnet remains energized due to closing of the contacts 68 some time during the analyzling portion of the cycle ii the .group designations in the cards underthe lbrushes agree.

At the beginning-of the next cycle before the successive card is analyzed, cams B6 move bell cranks 55 back into latching engagement with armatures B4 which have, meanwhile, been released by the deenergization of magnets 63. When successive group designations fail to agree, one or more of magnets 53 will fail to be energized and corresponding contacts 58 will thus remain openat andafter the end of the analyzing portion of the cycle. `After the analyzing portion vof the cycle contacts .1| will also open, v

thus causing the deenergization of a magnet 10 and permitting armature 13, controlled by said magnet, to drop and close contacts 10b. Assum ing that switch 16 is closed, the closure of con- `tacts 10b will initiate the punching operation.

40a to punchthe units denomination of the total in theefirst column, thereafter the card carriage of the perforating machine is stepped so that a contact piece '48 'carried by the carriage engages theA column contact 46b.to cause the selection oi a"punch magnet 42 under control of commutator 4|Ib to vpunch the tens denomination, etc. so as to cause successive punching of the'digits ofthe successive denominational orders of the accumulator. When the complete.' total is cpunched contact piece- 43 will now engage the' ture foration is encountered4 right line side, lower card lever contacts CL, circolumn contact 46d to cause punching of the group number by meansnow to be' described.

Referring to Fig. 6B, there will be seen an 'emitter EM which is in circuit connection with the left line side of the source through a switch 9. Theemitter sends successive electrical impulses to a series of ten pick-up relay magnets 3|, the wire 33 connecting one side of all of the magnets 3| to the right line side of the source, and the emitter EM is driven by the same shaft in the tabulating machine that drives the dentated cam of the circuit breaker 39 shown in Fig. 6A 4so that impulses are directed to the mag,

nets 3| at the instants the perforations are anl alyzed, or in other words, the emitter EM has the same timing as the circuit breaker 33.

The pick-up relay magnets 3| attract their armatures 34 and the latter are serially connected by wires 35 connected to the armatures and contacts 40. The wire 33 also connects one side of allthe holding relay magnets 32, the other side of each relay magnet 32 leading to a contact 4|: As each relay magnet 3| is energized it will attract its armature 34 and the latter will open its contacts 4|), if it is so provided Iwith, and close its contacts 4|', ay circuit now be'ng made from the right line side, wire 33, a relay magnet 32, its contacts 4|, its arma- 34, and through the wires 35, contacts 40, and armatures 34 of the deenergized magnets 3| 32 whichare lower in relay contacts 21, wire 25, cam contacts L-26, and wire 28 to switch 3,.' to the left line side. Relay contacts 21 are open until a perforation is encounteredY by one of the lower brushes LB.

The arrangementis herein described for only one order, but is disclosed for two orders so as to indicate a group number of two denominations. For the columns of the card which represent the Agroup number the corresponding brushes 6| are plug connected by plug connections 85 (Fig. 6A)v to pick-up relay magnets 31,` so that when a perthe circuit leads from cuit breaker contacts 99 which are closed during the instants the perforations are analyzed, brushes 6|, a plug connection 85, relay magnet 31, wire 28, switch 9, to the left line side. When the relay magnet 31 is energized, it attracts its armature to close contacts 21 thus connecting the right line side to a particular holding magnet 32 'corresponding to the digit representing perforation analyzed. Relay contacts 21 also close a circuit from the right line side to a holding magnet 38, relay contacts 21, wire 25, cam contacts L-26, wire 28, switch 9 to the left line side.

When any double wound relay magnet 3|-32 is energized it will be seen that the attraction of its armature 34 will disconnect the line 33 from the holding relay magnets 32 lower in serial order, even though the emitter EMcauses the energization of the corresponding pick-up relay A tion of holdingrelay magnet 38 through the cam .contacts Lft-26 which are also closed when the "0 and other perforations are analyzed.

In the above manner, the pick-up relay magnets 3| and 31 are selectively energized according to thekperforations analyzed lby the upper ,serial order, to a wire 43,

brushes and when cam contacts L-Zi open the gized. The relay magnet l0, as shown in Fig. 6B

also controls its relay contacts a which are in shunt with cam contacts L-20. Obviously, during operations in which group numbers agree relay magnet I0-will keep relay contacts 10a open but upon a change in group number the relay magnet 10 will be deenergized so that relay contacts 10a, will close and remain closed. While cam contacts L-25 open it will be seen that the relay contacts'a will retain the selected holding relay magnets 32 and 38 energized when there is a change in group number. v

From the above it is obvious that upon a group change one of the relay magnets 32 will be held energized and the selected relaymagnet ,32 will cause the closure oi its related contacts 8|. When the hundreds denomination of the total on the accumulator has been punched lthe carriage is stepped to now cause the contact piece 08 to engage the column contact 46d thereby causing a punching operation by the following described circuit: The left line side, contact bar 05, contact piece 48, column contact 05d, a Wire 82, leading to the common side of a series of contacts 8| of one order, a related wire 80 to the related punch magnet 12, and thence to the right line side, thus causing the selected punch magnet 42 Ato punch the units denomination of the group number. Thereafter the contact 08 engages the column contact 06e, and by a similar circuit the selected holding relay magnet 32 of the tens order causes the related punch magnet 02 to punch the tens denomination of the group number.

When all of the columns have been punched the skip bar usually' provided in machines of the Ktype described will cause the carriage to be skip-pcd to the last column so that the completely punched card may be taken out of the machine.-

Modification of group punching control relays a wire from .the related brush 6| is inserted.

The other'side of each of the relay magnets |00, |05, |06 and |07 is connected to a bus bar A|09 through related cam contacts L-33, L`-'30, L-35, L-35, respectively. The 4timing of these cam contacts is shown in Fig. 7. 'Ihe bus bar |09 has a wire connection l l0 to the left line side through the switch 9.

The perforation in the card connects the right line side Ato the relay magnets IiM--Illl-- by the following circuit, right line side lower card lever contacts CL (Fig. 6A), lcircuit breaker contacts 89, brush 6|, plug connection 85, wire |08 to relay magnets IDL-|01.. The leftline side, is connected to the relay magnets |04--I 07 in accordance with the closure of cam contacts L-33, L-l-30, L-35, L-3B to energize them singly or in combinations. For example, when the "9 perforation is analyzed cam contacts L--33 and L-36 are closed to enerto close related contacts thereby providing a circuit from the right line side, wire H8, attracted armature IIS, related contacts now closed, a Wire |20 connecting all of the holding relay magnets, cam contacts L-26 previously described, wire |22, and switch 9 to the left line side. Whenever the relay contacts of the holding magnet 'are closed a relay magnet |23 is also.

energized since relay magnet |23 is in shunt with the holding magnet The cam contacts L-20 function as previously described, that is, to break down any relay magnets that have been energized and the relay contacts 10a previously described have the same l function as previously described, that is, to provide a circuit to maintain' the selected magnets energized upon a group change. The arrangement for selection of punches is precisely the same as previously disclosed with the exception that the relay magnets lll, H2, H3, H4, and |23 control the opening and closing of their relay contacts, designated with alphabet subscripts .v and shown at the left in Fig. 6C, singly or in combination to select' a punch magnet 42. The following table discloses the various instrumen. talities utilized to select punches to punch the digits 0-9.

Encrgized relay magnets Cam

Punching,r of digit contacts using lOAl- l l 1, 123 vl 05-112 1045-113 -112 While there has been shown and described and pointedgout the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, 'it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in' the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the sco-pe of the following claims.

What is claimed is: V

l. In an apparatus for punching information on a record, a plurality of groups of punch selector relays selectively energized and held energized to retain a multi-digit representation concurrently set up thereon, and means controlled by said energized punch selector relays for successively punching digit by' digit the multi-digit representation.

2. In an apparatus for punching information on a record, card punches, a plurality of groups of selector'relays, -card perforation analyzing means, means controlled by said analyzing means for concurrently4 energizing and holding energized a plurality of selected selector relays to set up a multi-digitn-representation, and automatically operated means for initiating the selection of said punches under control of the energized selector relays.

3. In a punching machine, a plurality of denominationally ordered groups of punch selector relays, means for concurrently energizing said punch selector relays in said groups for setting up data thereon, means controlled by said relays for punching the data set up thereon digit by digit, and means for/causing the deenergization of the energized punch selector relays concurrently in the plurality of groups of selector relays.

4. In a punching machine, a plurality of denominationally ordered groups of punch selector relays, means for analyzing datarepresenting periorations in a record, means controlled by said analyzingA means for concurrently. and selectively energizing said groups of punch selector relays to set up thereon corresponding data, a punching means including punchesand means for causing the energized relays of said groups to successively select said punches for perforating a record sheet to represent said data.

5. In a machine for perforating cards, aplurality of punch selector relays, electrical contacts controlled thereby, means for analyzing digit representing perforationa'contact making means for transmitting impulses to said relays singly or in combination, means controlled by said analyzing means for rendering said contact making means effective to cause the energization of said relays to set up said contacts in combination, means for translating the meaning of said contacts set up in combination and deriving therefrom a single electrical timed impulse, and means for causing the timed electrical impulses to select said punches.

6. In a punching machine, a plurality of denominationally ordered groups of punch selector relays, means for analyzing group number representing perforations of successive groups of cards, means controlled by said analyzing means for selectively energizing said relays to represent the group number, a punching means comprising punches selected by said punch selector relays, and means responsive to a change in group number of said cards for causing said punch selector relays to select said punches for a punching operation for perforating a sheet to represent the group number.

7. In a punching machine, a plurality of denominationally ordered groups of punch selector relays, record controlled means for concurrently and selectively energizing said groups of punch selector relays, means for holding said energized relays in energized condition, punching means including punches, means for causing said lenergized relays to select in succession said punches to punch information digit by digit, and means for rendering said holding means ineiective at the completionr of the successive punching operation.

8. In a device for controlling punches of a punching machine by a tabulating machine comprising a plurality of groups of selector relays energized and held energized to retain a setup thereon to represent data corresponding to groups of cardscontrolling said tabulating machine, punches oi said punching machine selected by said selector relays, means responsive to a change in designations of card groups for automatically initiating the operation of the punching machine and for causing said energized selector relays to select said punches.

9. In a device forcontrolling` punches. of a punching machine comprising a plurality lof groups of punch selector relays, means for energizing said relays to set up data thereon corre spending-to data represented by groups of cards and for deenergizing said energized relays as long as said data remains unchanged for a. group oi cards, and sensing means for detecting a change in card groups for causing the energizing punch :selector relays to remain energized to select said punches of the punching machine.

10. In a device for controlling punches of a 'punching machine to successively punch the defl nominational orders of a column of a record sheet,

a plurality of groups of punch selector relays, means for energizing said punch selector relays in accordance with group number data on successive `cards and including means for deenerglzing said energized punch selector relays as long as said group numberrdata on successive cards agree, group number change sensing means, and means controlled by said sensing meansfor retaining the energization of said 'punch selector relays to control the selection of punches of said punching machine.

' GOINO GHERTMAN.

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