US2124906A - Statistical machine - Google Patents

Description

July 26, 1938. .1. w. BRYCE STATISTICAL MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 19, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l FIG/L ABC TRUST COMPANY NEW YOR TO TIIE XY TRUST C0 OFF TRUST COMPANY NEW YomgMxM- Q INVENTOR 2% j/Z V f jwan ATTORNEY 02? 35 XYTRUS se- FEGUQ y 1938- J. w. BRYCE 2,124,906

STATISTICAL MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 19, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Elo . v 1%(EN OR ad T T 55% Z 7 ATTORNEY5 y 26, 1938- J. w. BRYCE 2,124,906

STATISTICAL MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 19, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 g 210 F|G.4. WW

INV NTO i/ BY M fm ATTORNEY-3 Patented July 26, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STATISTICAL moms James'W. Bryce, Glen Ridge, N. J., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York 19 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in statistical machines and more particularly to improvements in such machines which are adapted to be controlled by a transparent filmrecord. Such controlling film records are provided with machine control spot representations of numerical data and with other identifying markings and with markings or representations of document facsimile. Such control records are extremely compact and the control spot representations of numerical data are furthermore related to and correspond with the numerical data shown upon the related document facsimile and are of utility in selecting such facsimile for viewing it in the statistical machine.

This application is a continuation of the copending application Serial No. 64,639, filed February 19, 1936.

One of the objects of the present invention resides in the provision of a statistical machine adapted to derive data from a photographic control record which data may be added, accummulated or entered in the machine in desired ways. to Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a statistical machine adapted to use a photographic controlling record wherein provision is made for accurately and quickly locating a particular record in a strip of film comprised of a plurality of records.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a statistical machine wherein rapid selection of a particular record may be effected with provisions affording visual inspection of the selected record.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a statistical machine provided with comparing means to compare data scanned from the film by the trans-illumination 40 thereof with other pre-set data.

Further objects of the present invention reside in the provision of novel forms of statistical machines adapted to the use of a photographic film control element.

45 Further and other objects of the present invention will be hereinafter set forth in the accompanying specification and claims and shown in the drawings which show by way of illustration a preferred embodiment and the principle :4) thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle. Other embodiments of the in vention employing the same or equivalent principle may be used and structural changes made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and within the spirit of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents an enlarged view of a fragmentary section of a transparent photographic film record controlling element of a statistical machine.

Fig. 2 is a somewhat enlarged diagrammatic view which delineates the numerical control value of the spot representations according to the variable disposition of the spot representations upon the film.

Fig. 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of a statistical machine showing the manner in which the novel controlling element is utilized in controlling the statistical machine for deriving numerical data therefrom for accounting operations; and

Fig. 4 is another diagrammatic view showing another manner of use of the controlling element in a statistical machine wherein provision is made for visually inspecting a document facsimile.

Before describing the improved statistical machines which form the subject matter of the instant application, the photographic film controlling element will be first described.

Referring first to Fig. 1 wherein a fragmentary section of the photographic film controlling element is shown, in this figure, the perforations designated 200 represent the feed apertures in the film. The data represented at Zili represents a photographic facsimile representation of a document such as a bank check. The spot representations in zone 202 represent amounts which may be derived from hand set up devices of a calculating machine.

In practice, such data representations may be used to designate the depositors number or like data. The data represented at zone 203 represents numerical data entered from the keyboard of the calculating machine. In the delineated illustration such data at the first zone 203 represents the amount of the check, that is, the check represented at is for an amount of $32.74 and the data represented at 203 also represents $32.74. In the lower photographic record on the film the data at 204 represents the class of total operation, for example, total or transfer of total and the data at 205 represents numerical total result data derived from the accumulating section of the accounting machine and comprises a total of the numerical data from the successive 203 fields.

A serial number reproduction is indicated at illuminated in the statistical machine.

that the reproductions are in extremely compact form. Accordingly, a large quantity of statistical information can be placed on an extremely small controlling record.- The films used may be negative films or films which during development are reversed to position. The film delineated is a positive.

The spot representations 222, 223, 2% and 205 are photographic machine control spot representations and each set of numerical data comprises one or more control spots in such relative position upon the film record as to represent by their relative position thereon the numerical control value thereof when the film record is trans- In practice and according to the embodiment shown, such numerical spot representations are shown on the film in index point relation in general conformance with the manner in which index perforations are disposed on perforated record cardsin the Holler-1th accounting system. That is,- the difierential position of a control spot photographic representation,delineates the numerical value of a particular numeral. This will be clear by referring to Fig. 2. In this figure it will be noted that the 202 data represents a hand set up amount of 102132. Such numbers could be used to represent a date or another number such as a depositors number or the like. The numerical data in zone 203 represents an amount of $32.74 which is the amount of the first or upper bank check on the film record.

While in the embodiment shown I have shown numerical spot representations, such representations might indicate a letter or the letters of the alphabet or other symbols and the phraseology with respect to numerals in the appended claims is intended to cover any suchindex point position representations.

In the use of my improved controlling element in a statistical machine the film may be fed through the machine in any suitable manner and trans-illuminated and scanned to ascertain the numerical control value of a spot in a row or of spots in a plurality of rows.

Fig. 3 shows a statistical machine adapted to derive and add up numerical amounts from the film record. In this figure the film record, which will be generally designated I99, is shown as disposed on a supply spool 2). The film is attached to a take-up spool 2| l, and the film strip may be advanced by the driving connections generally designated 2l2. Suitable film feeding sprockets as Zls may be provided to co operate with the feed sprocket apertures 200 in used. From the amplifier a circuit 2i8 leads to a plugboard 2l9, at which point plug connections may be made to wires such as 220. Wires 22B lead through the contacts Hi to an accumulator magnet 222. The accumulator is generally of the form shown in Lake U. S. Patent No. 1,534,531. Upon energization of theaccumulator magnet 222, the amount of the read oil control spot will be entered into the accumulator in the customary way.

The statistical machine shown in Fig. 3 is driven by a motor M and includes the customary cam contacts 223, 22d and 225. Contacts 226: are also provided, which are closed upon the passage of a film and such contacts when closed energize relay coil A causing closure of points A-i which energize relay coils B and 0.

As is customary in these machines, the motor is started in operation by the depression of a start key 22? which energizes a motor relay magnet D, the circuit being completed through the stop key contacts 228. With motor relay magnet D energized, the relay contacts D-i close and the motor is thereafter maintained in operation until contacts Ci open or cam contacts 226 open. The accumulator circuits are supplied through lines leading to the cam contacts 224 and through relay contacts B-i in the customary manner.

The accumulator is driven in the customary manner in synchronism with the drive for cam contacts 223, 221i and 225 and thus it will be appreciated that the drive is synchronized with the film drive. When a control spot passes the aperture 2M, it will afiect the photo cell Zit at a differential time, depending upon the position of the spot upon the film. The photo cell will influence its corresponding amplifier unit and its relay contacts 2l'lb in the amplifier unit will become closed and current supply will be afiorded from main supply line 250, through cam contacts 228, through wire 25!, through relay contacts B--i now closed, to the amplifier unit, through the relay contacts 2!?!) thereof, through the wire 2l8, through the plug connection at 2H9 and to the accumulator magnet 220 and back to the other side of the line.

With the foregoing arrangement of statistical machine, it will be understood that successive numerical amounts can be read ofi from the film record and added up in the accumulating section of the accumulator unit. In lieu of or in addition to utilizing accumulator magnets the usual printing magnets used in tabulating machines, could be employed so that a list of numerical data amounts could be imprinted upon a tape (see Lake Reissue Patent No. 16,304). The accumulators can be reset in the customary manner by the resetting mechanism generally designated at 228.

In certain statistical work, it may be desired to run the film record through a machine and preset the machine so that the machine will stop automatically when a particular record comes into position. For example, it may be desired to inspect a document facsimile pertaining to a particular depositors number, date or other numerical control data representation on the film. When this type of operation is desired the film i99 would be run through the machine shown in Fig. 4. In this figure, similar reference characters will be used with similar parts so far as is consistent with corresponding operation of the statistical machine shown in Fig. 3. In lieu of providing two feeding sprockets 2I3 as in the 75 l Fig. 3 embodiment, three sets of feeding sprockets are provided. After passing the scanning apertures 2, the fihn is traversed past an inspection point which will be generally designated as 229. The film when at this point is trans-illuminated by means of lamps 230 and may be inspected by viewing the same through a lens system 23L It will be presumed that the operator of the machine desires to inspect the photographic facsimile bearing a particular control number as 2132. The hand set up device generally designated 232 is first setup to this figure, the brushes being positioned to set up this amount. Plug connections are made from the sockets 233 of the number set up unit to the sockets 234 which are connected to the pick-up magnets 235 of an auto-control unit. The magnets 235 are wired back to the various amplifier units 211. The auto-control unit also includes relay holding magnets 236 and holding stick contacts 231 and serially wired contacts 238. This auto-control unit is of the type well known in the tabulating art and is fully described in Lake et al. United States Patent No. 1,987,343. The customary emitter 300, which is driven in the usual manner, emits impulses through the hand set up device 232, which impulses flow through plug connections from 233 to 234 and to pick up coils 235 of the auto-control unit. If the amplifier contacts close at a point or points of time which match the time that the impulses come from the emitter, the corresponding contacts 237 will close and the auto-control unit will function in the manner fully explained in the Lake patent above.

This auto-control unit functions so that it compares the number derived from the film record as it passes the light sensitive unit 2m with the number set up on the set up unit 232 and when this number compares the film is stopped with the document facsimile at the inspection zone 229. The stopping circuit will now be traced. On a comparison, all of the serially wired contacts 238 will close and when cam contacts 239 close a circuit will be completed to energize relay coil F. This coil will be maintained energized by the stick contacts F-l and release key contacts 24!]. Upon energization of coil F relay contacts F--2 open and interrupt a holding circuit for the feed clutch magnet 2. This feed clutch magnet when deenergized, disengages the drive from the motor M to the cam contact shaft to the drive for the film. Upon stoppage oi the film with the photographic facsimile at the reading zone 229 contacts F3 which are also controlled from relay coil F be come closed to provide current supply to the lamps 2%. It is then possible to visually inspect the film through the lens devices 23i.

In starting up the machine after having viewed a document facsimile, the operator would first press the release key to open,contacts 240. This would de-energize relay coil F and permit contacts F-Z to become closed and contact F'3 to re-open. Now, if the operator depresses the start key to close contacts 242, a circuit will be completed through the feed clutch magnet 24! and through the stop key contacts 243. With clutch magnet 24i energized, contacts 24|a become closed to provide a holding circuit for the clutch magnet through cam contacts 225 or through contacts Gl, which are closed upon the energization of relay coil G. Relay coil G becomes energized when the film control contacts 226 are closed upon the passage of a film.

As the control data passes the scanning apertures 2, contacts 223 and 224 become closed and with c0ntacts'226 closed, relay coils H and G are energized. The contacts Hl close to supply current to contacts in the amplifier units 2H.

In the wiring diagram, Fig. 4, it will be noted that certain cam contacts are shown in two places on the wiring diagram. The cam contacts are cyclically operated from the cam and driving shaft-245. The cam contacts 244 are so timed as to close during the period in the cycle when the control data on the film passes the scanning apertures 2M and such contacts 244 remain closed until after contacts 23!! close to test for comparison or lack of comparison.

It will be understood with the foregoing machine that if a comparison of control data is not made the machine will continue to run until such time when a comparison is made. At such cell 2i6, but at a slightly later time in the film feed cycle so that the previously sensed zone in the film may have passed to the inspection point at 229.

By utilizing a photographic film record, ma-

terial can be recorded for filing or other puri poses in an extremely compact form. Thereafter quick and accurate selection may be made of any one or more of the records by using the records in a statistical machine which will provide for an automatic record inspection and selection. The photographic record can be made smaller than a perforated record thereby reducing storage space and expense. Such records can be readily duplicated by well known photographic processes. machine by means of light sensing furthermore is very rapid and accurate and will afiord a better machine control than a. perforated record.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out 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 scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A statistical machine which comprises means for feeding a film record bearing photographic control spot representations of numerical data and document facsimiles, means for trans-illuminating the film, means for scanning the trans-illuminated numerical data, means for comparing the scamied data with pre-set data, and means controlled by the foregoing last mentioned means for stopping film feed and for affording visual inspection of a document facsimile, said last named means including a source of light and means controlled by the comparing means for turning on said light to afford visual inspection of a selected corresponding document facsimile.

Scanning in the statistical 2. A statistical machine for han film records bearing numerical data representations and corresponding photographic facsimiles, including means'to compare numerical data trans-illuminated through the film with pre-set numerical data, and means controlled by the comparing means to provide for a selected visual inspection of a photographic facsimile upon the film, said means including a film illuminating means which illuminates a selected section of the film under the control of the comparing means.

3. A statistical machine for handling photographic film statistical records and controlling machine operations in accordance with data derived therefrom, said film control having spots thereon, said machine including a scanning station having scanning means to scan the film to detect the difierential disposition of control spots upon the film and means for trans-illuminating the film, an inspection station having a source of light to afiord visual inspection of a section of the film, film feeding means to feed the film to the scanning station and then to the inspection station, and means controlled by the scanning means to select which section of the film is to be brought to rest at the inspection station and to turn on the light at such station so that such film section may be visually inspected.

4. A statistical machine including in combination film feeding means for a film, said film having control spot representations thereon, means to explore the film to determine the time of passage of control spot representations difierentially disposed thereon, said exploring means comprising means for trans-illuminating the film and light sensitive means afiected by the control spots at difierential times, means providing for visual inspection of a section of the film, means for setting up comparison data and means for calling the last mentioned means into operation when data derived from the film matches with like data upon the setup means.

5. A statistical machine for handling films bearing differentially disposed. control spot representations of numerical data, comprising film feeding means for a film, said film having control spot representations thereon, means providing visual inspection of a section of the film, means for scanning the film to detect the dlfierential disposition of the control spots on the moving film and to thereby detect the relative numerical value of control spot representations thereon, means upon which comparison data may be set up, means called into action when scanned data derived from the film matches with comparison data having like numerical value for terminatin film feed and for calling into efiective operation the means which provides visual inspection.

6. A statistical machine comprising film feeding means for feeding a length of film from a supply reel to'a takeup reel, said film having control spot representations of numerical data thereon and also having related data, controlling means, means to explore the film and variably influence said controlling means according to the time of passage of a control spot representation past a given point, an inspection station including means providing for the visual inspection of a. section of the film by light which passes .through the film, means for setting up comparison data, means to compare data derived from the set up means with the data derivedfrom the film by the exploring means, and means called into operation upon such comparison for stopping the corresponding film section adjacent aiaaeoe the inspection station and for affording light supply at such station.

7. A statistical machine having film feeding means for a film, said film having control spot representations thereon, means including a source of light and an inspecting station at which a section of such film may be visually inspected, means for exploring the film by scanning means variably influenced upon the passage of a control spot representation difierentially disposed upon the film and by light which passes through the film, and means controlled by the scanning means of the exploring means for bringing the selected corresponding film record to a stop position at the inspecting station and for turning on the source of light at such station.

8. A statistical machine for handling photographic film records and for controlling machine.

operations in accordance with data derived from photographic control spot representations differentially disposed upon the film, said machine including film feeding means, controlling elements for the statistical machine adapted to be brought into operation at difierent times, means for controlling the difierential times when such elements are to be brought-into operation, said last mentioned means including a scanning station through which the film is fed by the feeding means, with scanning means at such station and means for trans-illuminating the film to affect said scanning means at the differential times determined by the difierential positions of the control spots upon the moving film, the aforesaid controlling elements of the statistical machine comprising controlled relay magnets of a control unit, said control unit including means to set up control data and said control unit having means associated therewith to stop film feed upon the matching of data in the control unit with data derived from the moving film.

9. In a machine of the class described, comprising nieans for selectively setting up circuits in accordance with desired comparison data, a film having various character data represented thereon, means for feeding the film with'a continuous movement past a light source for exploring the film during continuous movement thereof, light responsive means, means connecting the set up-circuits with the light responsive means at differential times during film feed and means controlled by said last named means to manifest agreement between character data upon the film and means controlled coniointlyby the last comparing named means and by the light responsive means to manifest agreement between set up comparison data with character data upon the film, said last named means including means to automatically suspend film feed and to bring a selected section of the film containing related matter to the comparison data to an inspecting station beyond the point where the film is explored for character data and means controlled by the comparing means to illuminate the selected section of the film when at such inspecting station.

11. A machine for selecting photographic records of documents represented on a film by photographically recorded characteristic marks, comprising light responsive means and a light Source cooperating with the same, means for feeding the film containing. the characteristic marks with a continuous movement into the path of the light source to cause modification of the light rays affecting the light responsive means at differential times, circuit means including the light responsive means and including also circuit connections for selectively varying the arrangement of the circuit means according to patterns corresponding to different characteristic marks on the film and means con-- trolled by the circuit means to manifest a predetermined relationship between the pattern set up on the circuit means and characteristic marks on the film in the path of the light source at the differential time such marks affect the light responsive means.

12. A machine of the class described, including a light source, film feeding means for feeding a film having a plurality of frames of character data thereon successively into the path of said light source, a frame selector for controlling the film feeding means to stop film feed when predetermined character data is upon a particular film frame, said selector including light sensitive means influenced by character data upon the film, circuit setting up means capable of being selectively set to represent predetermined desired comparison data and control means brought into operation by the light sensitive means at differential times upon correspondence of film data which influences the light sensitive means at such differential times with like set up comparison data.

13. A machine of the class described, including a light source, film feeding means for feeding a film having a plurality of frames of character data thereon past said light source, film frame selecting means for manifesting agreement between character data upon the film with set up comparison data and control means for the same, said control means including light sensitive means influenced by character data upon the film at differential times during film movement and also including means for selectively establishing circuit connections with difierent connections for each character which may be represented upon the film, and control means controlled by the light sensitive means upon agreement of film character data detected at differential times during continuous film movement by the light sensitive means and set up comparison data according to the circuit connections established which control means controls the aforesaid film frame selecting means.

14. A machine of the class described comprising means for feeding a continuous film control record bearing a series of groups of data representations, each group of representations comprising a plurality of columns of one or more light modifying areas differentially disposed thereon and positioned longtiudinally thereof so as to represent by their relative positions the value of the representations, means to analyze the film record to sense the data representations comprising a source of light rays and light responsive means for each column of data to be sensed, said light responsive. means adapted to be conditioned' by the light rays modified by the representations, a circuit network controlled by the light responsive means comprising a plurality of circuits adapted to be connected selectively in difierent combinations and means controlled by the circuit network each time a group of data representations is effective to modify the light rays to condition the said light responsive means and energize the said circuit network.

15. A machine of the class described comprising means for feeding a control record bearing a plurality of light controlling sections, .each of said sections having columns of data representations disposed thereon in the form of light modifying areas which by their relative positions denote the values thereof, said areas being differentially positioned in a direction along the record to conform to the direction of the feeding of the record, means to sense the record comprising a source of light rays and light responsive means for each column of data to be sensed which are conditioned by the light rays modified by the data representations, a plurality of circuits adapted to be connected selectively in various combinations controlled by the light responsive means and means controlled by all of the said selectively connected circuits each time the said circuits are energized upon conditioning of the light responsive means.

16. A machine of the class described comprising means for feeding a control record bearing a plurality of light controlling sections, each of said sections having columns of data representations disposed thereon in the form of light modifying areas which by their relative positions denote the values thereof, said areas being differentially positioned in a direction along the record to.

conform to the direction of the feeding thereof, means to analyze the record comprising a source of light rays and light responsive means which are conditioned by the light rays modified by the data representations, a circuit network controlled by the light responsive means comprising a plurality of circuits selectively connected to represent specific and predetermined data, and means controlled by the circuit network when the predetermined data represented by the said circuit network corresponds to the data on the record analyzed by the light responsive means.

17. A machine of the class described, including a source of light rays, film feeding means for feeding a film having a plurality of frames of character data thereon into the path of said light source, each frame of data comprising one or more light modifying areas differentially disposed on the film and positioned longitudinally thereof so as to represent by their relative positions the value of the data, film frame selecting means for manifesting agreement between character data upon the film with predetermined desired data and control means therefor, said control means including light sensitive means influenced by the light rays modified by the character data upon the film and also including means for selectively establishing circuit connections with different connections for each char-. acter which may be represented upon the film, and control means controlled by the light sensitive means upon agreement of the film character data and said predetermined data represented by the circuit connections established, which control means controls the aforesaid film frame selecting means.

18. A machine for selecting photographic records of data represented on a film by photographically recorded groups of data representations, each group of representations comprising a plurality of columns of one or more light modifying areas difierentially disposed on the film and positioned longitudinally thereof so as to represent by their relative positions the value of the representations, including light responsive means and a light source cooperating with the same, means for feeding the film containing the data representations into the path of the light source to cause modification of the light rays efiec'ting the light responsive means, circuit means including the light responsive means and including also circuit connections for selectively varying the arrangement oi the circuit means to represent specific and predetermined data corresponding to different data representations recorded on the film, and means controlled by the circuit means to manifest a predetermined relationship between the data represented by the circuit means and data disposed on the film in the path of the light source.

aiaaeoe 19. A machine of-the class described, including a light source, fihn feeding means for feeding a film having a plurality of groups of data representations thereon into the path of said light source, each group of representations comprising one or more light modifying areas differentially disposed on the film and positioned longitudinally thereof so as to represent by their relative positions the values of the representations, a data group selector for controlling the film feeding means to modify film feeding when predetermined data is detected upon the film, said selector including light sensitive means infiuenced by the data representations upon the film, circuit means capable of being selectively connected to) represent predetermined desired data, and control means controlled by the light sensitive means upon correspondence of the film data, which influences the light sensitive means,

with like data represented by the circuit means. 0

JAMS W. BRYCE,

Images