This document describes a magnetic data storage verifying means. It allows for the verification of signals stored on magnetic tapes or strips by sensing two recordings of the information and comparing them digit by digit or letter by letter. The device has magnetizable signal storage layers and transducing means for sensing and comparing the two recordings to check for equality or non-equality.

1. * GB786029 (A)
Description: GB786029 (A) ? 1957-11-13
A magnetic data storage verifying means
Description of GB786029 (A)
PATENT SPECIFICATION
786029 Date of Application and filing Complete Specification: June 23,
1950.
No 37210154.
Application made in Germany on Oct 1, 1948.
(Divided out of No 786,021) Complete Specification Published: Nov 13,
1957.
Index at acceptance:-Class 106 ( 1), M( 1 C: i F: 1 G: 2 F: 4 A: 5 F:
l IB: 22).
International Classification:-GO 6 k.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
A Magnetic Data Storage Verifying Means I, GERHAR Dn DIR Ks, a German
citizen, of Moerfelder Landstrasse 44, Frankfurt on Main, Germany, do
hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be
granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be
particularly described in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to the verifying of signals stored on
magnetisable signal carriers such as tapes, strips or the like,
including larger elements such as invoices, ledger sheets and the like
which latter, in addition to having the magnetisable storage areas,
have also one or more other areas for the visual indication (e g
printing) of the information recorded as stored signals.
The invention provides a verifier having a magnetisable signal storage
layer for signals representing numbers, words and the like and having
transducing means for the sensing of two recordings of the information
to be verified and comparing them digit by digit or letter by letter
as the case may be.
The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig 1 is a front perspective view of a
typewriter adapted for operation according to the invention; Pig 2 a

2. is a rear perspective view of a similar typewriter or bookkeeping
machine, this machine being described in more detail in my co-pending
Application for Patent No.
37218/54 (Serial No 786,037); Figs 2 b-2 p are diagrams illustrating
various forms of signal which can be used in the carrying out of this
invention; Fig 3 illustrates a length of magnetisable tape in which
signals are recorded in horizontal rows and vertical columns,
successive lengths or unities of such a tape corresponding to
successive punched cards in a series, as explained more fully in my
co-pending Application for Patent No 37212/54 (Serial No.
786,0311); Fig 4 is a diagram showing how a limited number of signal
possibilities may be corn e, a ordinated to a much larger number of
characters to be represented; Fig 5 is a perspective view illustrating
one form of tape feeding and signal recording and sensing apparatus;
Figs 6-9 are diagrams illustrating the selection of successive
horizontal rows in the sensing and recording of signals, e g for a
sequence of digits; Figs 10 a and 10 b, are side view and transverse
section respectively of an alternative form of selector switch; and
Fig 11 illustrates one arrangement of checking means for instance for
checking the results of a computation.
Referring to Fig '1 there is an electrically controlled typewriter
with a keyboard 1, the printing mechanism 2, the platen roller 3 and
magnetisable tapes 4 and 5 The printing mechanism can be either a
type-character system or an electrically controlled dot or
lineprinting system, for example as set forth in my co-pending
Applications for Patent Nos.
37201/54 and 37203/54 (Serial No 786,022 and '786,024).
Methods for combining, for special purposes, essentially different
information in magnetic recordings are set forth in my co-pending
Applications for Patent Nos 37211/54, 37218/54 and 37220/54 (Serial
Nos 786,030, 786,037 and 786,039) In this present Application, two
recordings of information are verified the one against the other for
ascertaining whether equality or non-equality exists.
The two tapes 4 and '5 can be used for checking tasks in such a way
that two recordings are made First the signals for characters, digits
or commands which will operate the machines, are recorded on e g tape
4 by for instance one person on such a typewriter with tapes (as
shown) or in another device Then the signals for characters, etc are
recorded a second time, either on tape 5 or at another part of tape 4,
or on another machine, or they are sensed in a second operation, so
that both tapes or recordings can be compared before the definite
input control, either in the same machine during the second typing or
in a separate checking or comparing device.
In many cases, the recording on the tapes will be carried through as a

3. separate operation In their simplest form these recording mechanisms
contain a keyboard, a recording head system and a feeding arrangement
for the tape It is possible to combine such mechanisms with other e g
mechanically0 operating recording devices such as timerecorders, cash
registers and the likie.
Instead of magnetic storing on a tape, the recording can be effected
also on other objects or on different material, as long as these are
provided with a magnetic layer permitting recording and re-sensing of
signals by a magnet Thus typing-, duplicating-, accountpaper and the
like may for instance be provided with a magnetic substance, either
embodied in the paper or applied on to it, as a result of which it is
able to store certain sorting concepts or complete bookkeeping texts
inclusive of figures, or even the whole contents of a document or the
like.
Fig 2 a shows a view from the rear of such a machine There are to be
seen again the tapes 4 and 5 and a part of the keyboard 1.
Special reels are provided, to enable a simple handling of the
magnetic tape Thus tape 4, during its operation, is unwounfd from reel
6 and rewound on reel 7, whereas tape 5 is unwound from reel 8 and
rewound on reel 9.
The sensing, erasing and recording of the tapes is effected by means
of the group of signal heads 10 which operate as well for the upper
tape 4 as for the lower tape 5.
The feeding of both tapes is effected by the stepwisely operating
control-transport system 11 described later with reference to Fig 5.
The rear part of the machine, referring to Fig 2, is furthermore
provided with a feeding box or input box 12 for ledger-account sheets
or the like having magnetisable signal-carrying areas, from whence
ledger accounts are led one by one, from the bottom to the printing
device 13 The movement of the sheets is effected by the roll system 14
these rolls being driven by motor 15, shaft 16 and gears 17
Furthermore there is shown the output box 20 for the printed ledger
accounts, and a paper sheet 21 for receiving printed or typed
information, for instance journal entries The use of these parts of
the machine is set forth more fully in my co-pending Application for
Patent No.
37228/54 (Serial No 786,046).
The signals can be arranged on the magnetic tapes in different ways
The signals themselves are either single magnetic signals of a certain
direction and amplitude or are a certain sequence of frequencies or
interruptions of a basic frequency, whereby either the presence or the
absence of a frequency determines the meaning of a signal Such signals
can also consist of phase-shifting signals, by certain phases or
frequencies altering by certain degrees In any case all these signals

4. are preferably of the so-called "yes-or-no" signals system, or
"black-and-white" signals system.
Figs 2 b-2 p illustrate various forms of signals recorded on the
record carrier, the 70 resultant shapes being modified in accordance
with the various alternative recording arrangements which may be used
in the carrying out of the invention These different types of signal
are explained in my co-pending Appli 75 cation for Patent No 15773/50,
with reference to Figs 4 f to 4 t of the drawings filed in that
Application.
Referring to Fig 3 there is shown such a magnetisable tape with an
arrangement of 80 signals which are recorded within horizontal rows
and vertical columns The illustrated dividing lines between the rows
and columns are, of course, purely imaginary The tape contains holes
for definite feeding purposes, 85 e.g hole 22 known from optical films
In the case shown this magnetisable layer must be thought of as
subdivided into horizontal rows 23 for digit value signals and 23 '
for additional signals for combinations, commands 90 etc, and into
vertical columns 24 " This subdivision is only an imaginary one,
effected by the relative movement and/or relative positions of the
recording-, sensing and erasing heads 25 e-3,O-9, which are, in the
technical 95 design, combined into a multi-signal-head system The
vertical columns 24 '" have the meaning of denominations (digit rows)
of digits, columns or spelling positions of characters and commands
If, e g the 100 characters and digits " Radio 1950 " are to be
symbolised according to this transforming scheme, the first vertical
column 241 of the magnetic tape, which has to represent the capital
character R " contains magnetic 105 signals within the cross-points of
rows " 7 " and "c" ( 23 ' and 23 c) within the vertical column 241 The
next character " a " is symbolised within the next vertical column 242
by the basic symbol " O " and the additional 110 symbols "b and e"
(comp Fig 4, field 26).
The subdivision of the vertical column 241 ' can be effected
differently according to the different tasks of printing, computing,
storing and other organisational processes to be 115 effected,
comparable in its use to the vertical columns (denominations) of
punched cards It is evident that instead of parallel signal tracks,
the arrangement of the signals may be otherwise disposed, and the
signal heads corres 120 pondingly arranged, for example by being moved
transversely when sensing, recording or erasing.
Fig 4 shows as a diagram the co-ordination of signal combinations to
characters, digit 125 values or commands The horizontal rows 23 ea O-9
have the meaning of the comparable horizontal rows in Fig 3, and the
vertical columns of this diagram (Fig 4) show the different meanings
of combinations between 130 786,029 gripping into one perforation

5. hole.
The signal-head-system, which moves to and fro in arrow-direction 18
and 19 within the sliding-head '10 comprises two sets of e g 15
parallel arranged signal-heads 36115 and 371-15 70 with their slots 38
I-15 and coils 401-15 and 4115 of which each coil is co-ordinated to
one of the rows 230-%a (see Figs 3 and 4).
On the movement of the sliding-signal-head system 10 to the left hand
side, in arrow 75 direction 18, the magnetic signals within the
different rows 239-,a can be completely or selectively sensed and
transferred via an amplifying system to other operating means.
The stepwise movement and the sensing and 80 recording of signals on
the stationary tape enables the use of all the many control
possibilities which a stepwise feeding of punched card allows, without
complicated intermediate storing systems 85 Instead of the sensing and
recording being done by the moving of signal heads over a stationary
tape the reverse arrangement may be adopted, which has other
advantages, including the advantage that the stationary signal 90
heads give greater simplicity of construction.
Fig 6-9 show a tape recording mechanism adapted to be controlled by
the keyboard " 1 " of the typewriting machine in Fig 1, provided with
a digit-sequence transposing mechanism, 95 having means for the
recording of synchronizing signals and adapted for-stepwise tape
feeding by the feeding-system 11 of Fig 5 The parallel operating
signal heads of Fig 6 ( 369-0 e) of the signal head system 10 are 100
moved to and fro in arrow-direction 18 and 19 below the tape 4, which
is held in a fixed position during the signal-head movement in
arrow-direction 18 by means of feeding holes 22 and mechanical
registering teeth ( 30 of Fig 105 5) The coils 409- a-& of the signal
heads are connected at their one end 42 in parallel with the negative
pole 43.
The other ends of such coils are connected each to one of the contacts
459-'a actuated 110 directly or indirectly as relay contacts by the
key's of keyboard 1 Fig 1 according to the coding scheme of for
instance Fig 4.
Figs 6 and 7 show, for a better understanding of the principle, a
simplified arrangement 115 in which signals for characters or digit
values are recorded successively in the sequence of the transverse
columns 241 8, beginning at vertical columns 241 and ending at
vertical column 2480 (Fig 3), comparable to the successive 120
punching of the columns of punched cards.
The control circuit is provided with a selecting switch, shown in Fig
7, comprising the rotatable disc 47 on shaft 46 and with tooth 48, one
pair of primary/secondary coils 49 and 125 on their iron core 51, and
with a discharge tube 52 and a one-rotation-relay 53/54, allowing an

6. effectiveness only for one rotation.
The core 51 of the pair of coils 49 and 50 is closed at its upper end
and open at the lower 130 digit value horizontal rows 23 -9 and
supplementary signals in the upper rows 23 a'b,,'de.
In any one vertical column, a signal merely in a horizontal row 23 has
the meaning of the corresponding digit 0-9, and a signal merely in a
horizontal row 23 a 3 has the meaning of the corresponding alphabetic
character a-e However, when there is in the same vertical column a
signal both in a row 2309 and a row 23 ', the combination of signals
has a definite meaning, the addition of signals in rows 23 a changing
the normal meaning of signals in the rows 23 9 in the manner shown in
the various columns in Fig.
4.
Fig 5 shows details of the signal-head system 10 and the tape feeding
system 11 for the tapes 4 and 5.
The sliding-band system 10 moves in each cycle of the operating means,
for instance during each rotation of a multi-denomination magnetic
disc computer (see my co-pending Application for Patent No 15773/50)
(Serial No '786,021), first from right to left in arrowdirection 18
and then back in arrow direction 19 to the extent of say 80
denomination 281 O (this extent of movement being the width of one
unity " 32 of the tape, each unity being equivalent to one punched
card) The tape 4 is stationary during the movement of the sliding
signal head system 10 from right to left in arrow direction 18, and
moves by one " unity " to the right on the backward movement of the
sliding signal-head system 10 in arrow direction 19 The movement of
the tape by one cc unity" 32 in arrow direction 19 is controlled by
the upper part of the feed control head 11 which moves likewise as the
sliding signal-head system 10 to and fro by one "unity" first from
right to left and then backward to right corresponding to a certain
number of perforations '22 Beginning with the reversing point of the
movement of the signal head and feeding-systems '10 and 11 in
arrowdirection 18, and with the backward movement in arrow-direction
19, the lever 29 enters into the feed holes of the tape, for 'instance
hole 22, the tape meanwhile being in a fixed position, locked by the
registering teeth 30 The magnet-coil 31 effects that this stepwise
feed of the tape is controllable The stepwise feed of tape 4 is
eliminated if the magnet-coil 31 moves the lever 29 downwards by an
exciting of its windings, and lever 29 cannot then grip into the feed
hole 22 of the tape 4 This selective operation of the movement means
for tape 4 is explained below.
The feed of tape 5 with its " unities " 331 fn is controlled by the
lower part of the control mechanism (feeding control mechanism) 11 It
consists, comparable to its upper part, of the lever 34 and the

7. magnet-coil 35 It can only feed the tape 5 from left to right in
arrowdirection '19 by one " unity " 33, if the magnetcoil 35 does not
prevent the lever 34 from 786,029 end The tooth 48, for one timing
instant during one rotation of disc 47, closes the magnetic way from
the primary to the secondary coil If during this rotation the primary
coil 49 is generally excited by DC, from the positive pole 44 via the
closed switch 54 of the relay 53, a resistance 27, and the primary
winding 49 to the negative pole 43, a voltage surge is induced within
the secondary coil 50 at this instant and the discharge tube 52 is
ignited If the signals are recorded as amplitude signals and the
to-and-fro movement of the signal head system 10 is synchronized with
the rotation of disc 47, in that during the movement of the signal
head in arrow-direction 18 the said disc turns once, then the ignition
of the discharge tube 52 effects a recording of such signals in a
definite timing instant, i e.
within a definite transverse column of tape 4 and within that
horizontal row of tape 4 the signal head of which is switched on.
The ignition of the discharge tube 52 effects furthermore that the
relay 53 opens the switch 54, thereby preventing further excitation of
the primary winding 49.
If the coil 50/51 is moved stepwisely or the like rotation by
rotation, a relative stepping-on of the recording, sensing and/or
erasing of signals can be effective similarly to the manner set forth
in my co-pending Application Nos.
37214/54 and 37215/54 (Serial Nos 786,033 and 786,034).
Figs 8-10 b show a different arrangement of the selecting switch
described with reference to Figs 6 and 7 It comprises the disc 47 with
tooth 48 and, for instance, eighty pairs of primary and secondary
coils 491-SO and 501.
This arrangement differs from the selecting switch already shown in
Fig 7, only in so far as, instead of one pair of primary and secondary
coils 49 and 50, there are eighty pairs of such primary and secondary
coils, 491-80 and 501-80, disposed in a circle around disc 47.
Likewise as in the means shown in Fig 6, the arrangement of Fig 8
comprises the shaft 46 which, by means of gears 42, 55 with a ratio 2
x 1, drives the reciprocating signal head system 10 and the tape
feeding system 11 (see Fig 5).
The shaft 46 is driven by a motor 56 On the shaft 46 is also mounted a
second disc 57 which has at its circumference 80 teeth 581 8 with an
angular displacement against the tooth 48 of the disc 47 of for
instance 3 degrees, if the angular distance between the tooth 58 of
disc 57 is 3 6 degrees The tooth 58 generates in the secondary coil 60
of the pair of coils 59 and 60 a surge which ignites the discharge
tube 62 (Fig 11) if the discharge tube 61 has been ignited previously,

8. since the primary coil 59 is connected into the discharge circuit of
discharge tube 61 Both discharge tubes 61, 62 are shown in Fig 11.
Furthermore the switch 63 is operated by tooth 48 once within each
rotation of disc 47 to control the one-revolution-clutch, which has a
control magnet system 65 (Fig 8) Such clutch is driven by the motor 56
and allows one revolution of shaft 46 with gear 42 and discs 47 and 57
for each excitation of the 7 control magnet 65.
Fig 9 represents a single pair of coils 49 and 50 with its iron core
51, on an enlarged scale.
Figs 10 a and '10 b give a schematical survey 7 ' of the two discs 47,
57 on shaft 46: disc 47 with one tooth 48 and disc 57 with eighty
teeth 581 8, of which only teeth 581 are represented Fig 10 b shows a
cross section through the two discs, along line A-B of Fig 8 ( a with
primary coils 49 and 59 and secondary coils 501 and 60 There is to be
seen in each of the pairs of coils the co-ordinated core, for instance
core 51, which is closed at the upper end and open at the lower end 8
i Checking or verifying of the information is effected by a second
recording of signals being made by a second person or at a different
time, in different tracks of a tape, which may be displaced e g by one
track laterally Both the 9 C recorded signals are then compared
automatically by comparing means according to Fig 11.
The checking of recorded signals or effected operations guarantees
great security.
If results which have been achieved by 9 ' computing are obtained
twice, by repeated computing, eventually even over separate electronic
means, verifying of the computations with a highest degree of security
can be achieved by an automatic comparing of the 101 resulting signals
in a device according to Fig.
11 In telecomputing, telewriting etc the same procedure of a second
transfer and a comparison of the resulting signals within a device
corresponding to the group control mechanism 10 f of Fig 11 guarantees
highest reliability Thus the great reliability of electronic computing
can be increased to a degree far above mechanical possibilities.
The checking device, illustrated in Fig 11 11 ( compares the simplest
way by means of two sensing heads 141 and 144, of which signal head
141 senses the original signals and signal head 144 senses the
checking signals of the checking track The two sensed signals are 115
amplified respectively by pentodes 145 and 146 which operate according
to the push-pull principle via push-pull transformer 147 with a common
secondary winding 148 If signal head 141 as well as signal head 144
senses 12 C signals to be compared no voltage will be induced in the
secondary winding 148 Therefore the gas discharge tube 149 is not
excited.
If on the contrary there is a signal only in one of the sensing heads

9. 141 and 144 (bridge 125 circuits) a voltage will be induced within the
secondary winding 148 and the discharge tube 149 is ignited, actuating
the relay 150 which indicates, that there is a difference between
original and checking signals 130 -4 786,029 786,029 5 The checking of
electronic processes e g.
electronic computing processes, can be effected likewise by an
automatic comparing of intermediate or final result signals of a first
operation with the same signals obtained 'in a second operation The
high speed of electronic computing allows of a complete recomputing
and checking by comparing The required checking and comparing devices
correspond in principle to the devices of Fig.
11 In tele-computing i e in the telecontrol of computors, telewriting
etc the same process may be effected by a comparison between signals
received and recorded at a first transfer and such signals received
and recorded at a second transfer The comparing and checking means are
the same as described above The arrangement of Fig 11 is described in
more detail in my co-pending Application No.
37215/54 (Serial No 786,034).
The device shown in Fig 11 may be used not only as a mere comparing
device but also as a group control whereby on the occurrence of a
non-equality in one or more selecting columns in successive unities of
a signal carrier signals may be released for the operation of devices
handling groups, sub-groups, totals and the like, as is practised in
the sensing of punched cards.
In such a case the push-pull transformer 147 may be replaced by a
2-entry gate, for example by the use of compression windings.
A group control device of this kind indicates in successive partial
areas of the same signal carriers, at selected columns, whether the
signals sensed in these columns in both partial areas are equal or not
equal when compared and, at non-equality or equality, releases an
indicating signal.
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* GB786030 (A)

10. Description: GB786030 (A) ? 1957-11-13
Improvements relating to the sorting of signals recorded on a magnetisable
signal carrier
Description of GB786030 (A)
PATENT SPECIFICATION
Date of Application and filing Complete Specification: June 23, 1950.
No 37211/54.
Application made in Germany on Oct 1, 1948.
(Divided out of No 786,021).
Complete Specification Published: Nov 13, 1957.
Index at acceptance:-Class 106 ( 1), S.
International Classification:-GO 6 k.
COMlPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements relating to the Sorting of Signals Recorded on a
Magnetisable Signal Carrier I, GEREARD Diaxs, a German citizen, of
44,Mc erfelder Landstrasse Frankfurt on Main, Germany, do hereby
declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted
to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be
particularly described in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to the sorting into classes information items
which are recorded as signals on a magnetisable signal carrier.
One object of the invention is to make possible the sorting of
"unities" of a signal carrier, e g successive lengths of a
magnetisable tape, comparable to the handling of punched cards, but
with much more ease, at a much less cost and in a much smaller space.
The invention provides an apparatus for sorting into classes
information items which are recorded as signals in a first
magnetisable track by the magnetic state thereof, each item comprising
two or more characters and being represented by a group of such
magnetically recorded signals, including a sensing means for sensing
the said groups of signals in turn during one sensing cycle, a
plurality of magnetic recording means co-operating with a like
plurality of magnetisable recording tracks, each such recording track
being allocated to recording items of a different one of said classes,
and means operative in response to the sensing within each of such
items of a character-representing signal designating the class to
which the item belongs, to select the appropriate one of said
recording means and to effect the transfer during said one sensing

11. cycle of the corresponding items to their appropriate recording
tracks.
The invention may be carried out in either of two ways In the one case
only those signals are transferred to each recording track which
represent the information appropriate to that track, whereas in the
other case all the signals are transferred to each recording track and
then all are erased from each tracks except those appropriate to that
track.
786,030 In my co-pending Application for Patent No 37212/54 (Serial No
786,031), there is set forth a sorting apparatus in which only two
magnetisable recording tracks are used.
In the present Application, the term plurality 50 as applied to
recording means and recording tracks means three or more.
The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings, wherein. 55 Fig 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the
main parts of a ten-tape sorter; Fig 2 is an enlarged perspective view
of those parts of the tapes on which the feeding, sensing and
recording means operates; 60 Fig 3 is a further enlargement, in
perspective, of the tape feeding, sensing and recording means for one
tape; Figs 4-7 are diagrams representing succebsive stages of a
sorting proces 53 65 Fig 8 is a diagrammatic perspective view of
independent feeding means for a plurality of tapes; Fig 9 shows the
main circuitry for the sorting apparatus; 70 Fig 10 is a more detailed
wiring diagram for the sorting apparatus; and Figs lla-d are diagrams
illustrating the use of the invention when two sensing stages are
involved, one being a pre-sensing stage for 75 the sensing of a
sorting signal.
Referring first to Fig 1, this shows in diagrammatic perspective the
main parts of a multi-tape sorting mechanism It comprises eleven
successively operating tape systems 80 10-10 for the successive
step-wise sensing and recording of signals on magnetisable sorting
tapes Each tape system comprises the reel 2 from which the tape is
uncoiled, the sensing head system 3 by which the tape is sensed, 85
the tape feeding system 4 with stop teeth 5 (compare Fig 3) and the
reel 6 for rewinding the tape The sensing and the transport systems
are operated in dependence on the movement of the main shaft 7 driven
by the 90 motor 8 In the drawing an input tape system l 1 ' is shown
at the front of the assembly, followed by the systems 1 -1 ' in
succession.
The multi-tape sorter may make superfluous the mechanical sorting of
punched cards into ten boxes, by replacing a mechanical sorting of
marked record means by the simple electric sorting of the signals
themselves on to e g.
ten tapes.

12. For a better understanding, the multi-tape sorter is compared in the
following with the function of the known punchcl card sorters with ten
boxes or pockets The successively stepwvisely operated sections or
unities of tape 9 are comparable to tfe punched cards which are fed
through one slot of the punched card feeding mechanism of the sorter.
The tapes within the pairs of coils 2 "' and 60 " 1 can be compared
with the mechanical boxes of a punched card sorter, into which the
punched cards are sorted in dependence of which hole is sensed by the
sensing brush within the vertical row selected for sorting But there
is a great difference between both mechanisms In the mechanically or
electro-mechanically operating punched card sorters the cards are
mechanically fed to one or other of the sorting boxes 0-9 In the
multi-tape sorter according to this invention no mechanical sorting of
mechanical cards into boxes takes place In this case the
magnetically-recorded signals of the sensed " unity" of the
successively step-wisely fed tape 910 themselves are sensed and
transferred to that one of the sorting tapes which corresponds to the
sensed sorting signal within the selected sorting column of tape 9 the
sensing and transport means for which have been set forth in detail in
my co-pending Application No 37215/54 (Serial No 786,034).
The equivalent of the mechanical filling up of the sorting box of the
multi-tape sorter are the stepwisely operating tapes of the tape reels
1 P-1 and 6 10 of which that one in turn is moved on by one unity to
which all the signals of a sensed unity of tape 91 ' have been
transferred.
In Fig 1 the original tape or a duplicate of it is constantly
stepwisely fed from reel 210, to the reel 61 In parallel with these
reels, ten further reels are arranged of which the second ones from
the left 1 and 60 contains the tape to which those "unities" of the "
original " tape (first couple of reels on the left 110 and 61) are
transferred during the first passage which have at the selected
transverse row of sorting signals the digit value "zero " The third
tape from the left, contained in the pair of reels 11 and 61 receives
all the signals contained in those unities of the original tape which
have at the first passage in the adjusted transverse row for sorting
the digit value "one" etc.
The tapes and the signal head systems 30 " as well as the tape feeding
systems 4 are shown enlarged in Figs 2 and 3 The mechanism may be
understood as a manifold signal head and transport mechanism of the
kind slhc wn in my co-pending Application No.
37215/54 (Serial No 786,034) and will in 7 A dude a selecting
inductive switch as illustrated in that Application The signal head
systems 30 310 are arranged in parallel within the bar 10 and the
transport mechanism 4 "-Il with the bar 11 The control magnets 12 7 i

13. allow of a gripping of the tape feeding levers 13 into the transport
holes of a tape only if the signals of one unity have been recorded on
that tape in dependence on the coordinated signals in that selected
transverse 8 C row of the tape which contains the sorting signal The
selecting of transverse rows is effected by the selecting mechanism
known from the co-pending Application No 37212/54 (Serial No 786,031)
85 The principle of the sorting process will be explained more fully
by considering a sorting task represented in the sorting diagrams of
Figs 4-7 arm At first a duplicate of the original tape is 90 produced,
containing in its " unities " (as described in said cc-pending
Application No.
37212/54 (Serial No 786,031)), each consisting of a group of, for
example, 80 columns.
the sorting marks and the signals symbolizing 95 digit values and type
characters The " unities " arranged on the tape 910 originally have
their signals in an irregular order ( 327, 148, 234, 456, etc in Fig
4) They are to be sorted into a subsequent sequence of 100 signals in
three selected columns, beginning with the lowest and ending with the
highest.
Each unity contains within its recorded information, sorting signals
for digit values and/or characters in any of its columns selec 105
tively, according to the selected sequence of columns in which sorting
is to be effected.
The sorting signals are indicated by digits whereas the contents of
all the various columns of the unities are represented by letters
(wxy, 110 -hi, klm, etc).
The sorting process is described now for three passages of the
original master tape, the number of passages corresponding to the
number of columns in which the sorting marks 115 are recorded At the
first passage, the signals for the symbolized digit values and type
characters of a " unity " are transferred each to that one of the ten
further tapes of the systems P which corresponds to the sensed 120
digit value signal within the first column to be sorted.
For instance, the first column is used as a sorting column, namely the
row 15 2 for the last digit of the three sorting digits marked in 125
the vertical cclumns 1511, 15 and 15 The first unity 16 ' of the
unities 16 ' with the sorting signal 7 ( 1511) is transferred to tape
97 with all the signals of the unity comprising for instance the
symbolized signal for 130 786,030 786,030 3 " W x y," and including
also " 327 " The second unity 162 with the sorting signal 8 ( 151 ")
is transferred to tape 9 ' with all the signals of the unity
comprising e g the symbolized signal for " g h i " and including also
148, the third unity 163 with the sorting signal 4 ( 15 ") te tape 94
with the signals for "k 1 m " and including " 234," and so on.

14. After the first passage as shown in Fig 7 tape 91 comprises no signals
at all as there was no sorting digit " O " in column " of any unities
16 '; tape 91 comprises no signals at all as there was no sorting
digit " 1 " in column is 151 " of any unities 16 '-"; tape 92
comprises all the signals of all the unities having in column 151 "
the sorting digit value " 2," in this case one unity, namely the unity
16 '; tape 9 comprisesno signals at all; tape 94 comprises all the
signals of all the unities having the sorting digit " 4 " in column
1513, namely unities 16, 16 ", 16 "; tape 9 ' comprises no signals at
all; tape 9 ' comprises all the signals of all the unities having the
sorting digit " 6 " in the column 151 ", namely unity 164, 16 ', 16 ';
tape 9 ' comprises all the signals of all the unities having the
sorting digit 7 in column 151 ", namely unities 161, 16 '; tape 91
comprises all the signals of all the unities having the sorting digit
8 in column 151 ", namely unities 162, 16 '; tape 9 ' comprises no
signals at all.
Hereby, during the first passage, the signals of the sensed unities
are completely transferred, both the sorting signals as well as the
signals for characters and digit values for computing, to each one of
the tapes 93-99 in a successive order in dependence of the sorting
signal in vertical row 1513.
In a comparable way as the heaps of punched cards of the different
boxes would be placed one upon another, beginning with the heap in the
box "zero," the signals on the tapes 9 -g are re-transferred to tape
91 " at the successive stepwise backward movements of tape 91 ", from
reel 61 " to reel 110 whereby at first the signals of the tape unities
of tape 9 ' are re-transferred, followed by the signals of the unities
of tapes 9 ', 97, 91 etc Before the recording of the signals of each
unity on tape 91 " the preceding signals on that tape are erased by
the erasing heads, likewise the signals in the stepwisely moved tapes
9 -99 are erased after having been sensed and transferred.
If punched cards would have been sorted, they would have been laid
upon each other in the mechanical sorting boxes corresponding to the
tapes 9 -9 The stepwisely moving tapes can therefore replace the
expensive punched :ard sorting mechanism, if tapes are used on which
can be recorded the symbols of up to 80-150 columns of a unity within
at the most 1/5th of a second, and from which the symbols be erased
for further use of the tapes, and if 70 the signals of any one column
may be selected within the same time.
At the second forward passage of the tape 910, the sorting of the
column 1512 is effected and as shown in Fig 8 75 tape 9 ' comprises no
signals because in no unity was there a sorting signal 0 in column 151
"; tape 9 ' comprises the signals of all unities in which in column
1512 there was a 80 signal 1 namely unities 16 ', 16 ", 16 ' and 16 ';

15. tape 92 comprises the signals of all unities in which in column 1512
there was a signal 2 namely unities 161 and 85 16 ' etc.
During the second passage, the sorting signals have been selected from
column 1512 i e.
the penultimate column of the sorting number.
For completing the sorting process the signals 90 on the tapes 9 -99
are again re-transferred to tape 91 " while the tapes are moving
backwards.
At the third forward passage of the tape, according to Fig 9 tape 9 '
contains the signals of all unities 95 having the signal 0 in column
15 " 1, namely unity 16 '; tape 91 contains the signals of all unities
having the signal 1 in column 15 ".
namely unities 16 ' and 16 '; 100 tape 9 ' contains the signals of all
unities having the signal 2 in column 15 " namely unities 16 ', 164
and 16 "; tape 9 ' contains the signals of all unities having the
signal 3 in column 151 " 105 namely unities 161, 16 '.
As the stepwise feeding can take place up to a speed of fifty to
hundred unities per second, the equivalent output of ten punched card
sorting machines can be achieved, for the effect 110 is the same as if
a pile of 180,000 and more punched cards would have been sorted in an
hour, in one passage, to one selected column.
By " passage " is understood, comparable to the sorting of punched
cards, the sorting of 115 " unities " of the tape, according to the
pulses for example 0-9 (or 0-12) for digits or characters, within one
selected column.
It is furthermore evident that the change of reels with original tape
which can be dupli 120 cated also during the first passage within a
further reel tape system, is much easier done than the handling of the
heaps of punched cards, quite apart from the costs.
The transfer and re-transfer of the signals 125 can be automatically
controlled so that with the great recording capacity of the tape reel
system, reels must scarcely be changed in usual tasks.
Referring to Fig 8, there is shown the 130 786,030 manner of step-wise
feeding and the sensing and recording of one or more tapes controlled
independently of each other From the original tape 910, which is
stepwisely fed, a transfer of signals is effected at the first passage
to the second tape 9 ' only when the first tape contains, in a
selected column the digit value " O " At the same time, when such a
transfer has taken place, the second tape 90 is moved on by I O one
step, as in this case the bar 17 with the feeder 18 is not fixed to
the core of the magnet coil 19, and therefore the rotating disc 20, on
shaft 7, can pull the tape forward by one step After this forward
movement, the cross bar 18 with its cams 21 will be pulled out of the
corresponding feed hole at the edges of the tape, whereupon it is held

16. fast by the magnet coil 19 during the rearward movement of the bar 17
Combined with the up and down movement of the camsn 21 is the up and
down movement of the stops 5, which have a resilient tape-engaging
edge, so that the tape receives by means of these stopping members 5,
a definite position in which accurate sensings and recordings can be
effected The sensing and recording is effected by means of sensing-,
recording and erasing heads 30-3 o.
During the continuous stepping forwards of the first tape 9, a
transfer from its sensing coils 31 to the recording heads 22 " of the
next tape 9 "' can be effected only if at a selected column the digit
value " O "' is contained in the first passage.
Fig 9 gives in continuation of Figs 1-8 a diagram of the principal
wiring scheme of a sorting mechanism with ten sorting tapes 9 '-'.
Between the sets of sensing heads 30 and recording heads 220-e, 23 and
24 and the respective tapes there is a relative movement in the
direction of the arrows 25-26.
The said relative movement may be a movement of signal heads over a
stationary tape, or a movement of a tape past stationary signal heads
During the movement in direction 25, the magnetic signals within the
different rows 27 of tape 93 ' are transferred to the recording head
systems 22 0, 23 -0, 240 etc, so that at the end of this movement all
the tapes contain the same signals on the same cross points of rows 28
, 29 and 30 ' and so on with the columns 151-' During this movement in
direction 25 it has also been determined which digit value had been
marked by magnetic signals within the selected denomination, e g at
denomination " 13 " By the selective distributor 14 (see also the
co-pending Application No 37212/54) (Serial No.
786,031) and by the switch 311 " of the selected denomination " 13 "
and the discharge circuit 32, it is effected that the amplifier 33
containing ten channels (tubes) is opened only for the interval of the
passing of the sensing heads 3 above denomination " 13 " namely ", and
that one of the tubes 34 -9 is ignited which corresponds with its
digit value to the magnetic signals within the selected denomination,
i e " 13 " As these tubes 34 " pass the erasing high frequency of the
oscillator 35, all those recordings on the tapes 9 ' are erased during
the 70 backward movement in direction 26 which do not c rrespond as to
their sorting number in column Li 15 with the number of the tape ( 9
', 95, 9 ', etc) to which they have been transferred In this case, the
pulse " O " being con 75 tained within denomination 171, " 13 " at row
23 of tape 9 "', all the signals transferred to the tapes 9 ' during
the forward movement 25, will be erased during the backward movement
26, whereas only the recording on tape 80 of this unity remains, se
tube 34 ' will be closed during the backward movement 26.
During this backward movement also, tape 90 will be fed stepwisely by

17. one unity while the tapes 9 ' remain stationary and are erased 85
within the just-transferred unity fields and rows Thus an effective
transfer took place (sorting pulses) only from tape 91 ' to tape 9 ",
in conformity with pulse " O " within dencmination " 13," namely
column 15 " 3 90 By the exciting of amplifier 33, the relay lever 36
effected the advance of the tape by one step, whilst at the same time
the way was closed for the erasing frequency to the signal heads on
the tape 9 " 95 The wiring diagram of this high efficiency sorting
mechanism is shown in detail in Fig.
It differs from the arrangement already described by the fact that
instead of parallel sensing heads 3 Y, and parallel recording 100
heads 22 "-, 230, 24 " etc, a serial arrangement is shown for sensing
and recording and including the sensing head 37 for a synchronizing
track and the sensing head 38 for sensing the sequence of -signals
indicating the 105 numerical values (digit and denomination value) in
series, denomination by denomination in each unity The sensing head 37
for the synchronizing track controls the electronic distributing means
39 by means of the sensed 110 control frequency This wiring diagram
(Fig.
10) includes to a great extent the same electronic means which are
used for computing, storing and printing tasks as set forth in my
co-pending Application for Patent No 15773/ 115 (Serial No 786,021),
so that only a few additional electronic means are required for the
sorting processes The electronic distributot 39 is controlled as to
the rotation of its cathode ray by a control frequency on the tape 120
The control frequency is sensed by signal head 37 and amplified by
pentode 40, controlling the two deflecting plate systems 41, 42 of the
cathode ray tube 39 the voltages of such plates being shifted
relatively to each other by 90 125 degrees, effecting a rotation of
the cathode ray.
The digit value signals are sensed by means of the sensing head 38,
amplified by the pentode 43 and conducted to the control electrode 44
of the cathode ray distributor 39, if the pen 130 786,030 plate
circuit of pentode 49 is transferred via separate secondary windings
to the respective pentodes 56-', so that the transformers 57 may
produce in the signal heads 48 and 54 9 the erasing frequency, be 70
ing switched on during the backward movinent of the signal heads over
the tape, if a reciprccating relative movement between signal heads
and tape is used and no anti-reciprocating selecting of sorting
signals by a preceding 75 signal head has been made, as described
below with reference to Fig NY.
By this means all those signals sensed by sensing head 38 and
transferred to tapes 90-99 by signal heads 48 -9 and 540-D, are 80
erased by those of the signal heads 48 -9 and 54 -9, of which the

18. corresponding discharge tube 58 is not ignited as the co-ordinated
pentodes 56 -9 are "open " If a discharge tube 580-9 is ignited, the
corresponding pentode 85 56 is closed, because with an excited
discharge tube the cathode of the co-ordinated pentodes 56 -D becomes
positive compared with its suppressor grid Thus, only to that one of
the ten tapes 9 ' to 91 which corresponds 90 to the digit value in the
selected sorting column of the tape will the digit value signals
sensed by means of sensing head 38 be " effectively " transferred, and
not then erased The ignition of the discharge tube 58 -9 is controlled
in 95 dependence on the digit value or character signals in the
selected sorting column via sensing head 38, pentode 43, control grid
44 of cathode ray tube 39 and the switching field
59 -9 of the screen 45 100 Instead of operating the sorting means with
ten tapes, and transferring all the signals of digit values to the
recording heads of all the tapes, and erasing during the backward
movement of the sensing heads all those recordings 105 which do not
correspond to the digit value of the selected column, a direct
transfer of signals may be made but in the latter case it would have
to be stated and recorded in an advance sensing to which of the tapes
the pulses had 110 to be transferred, as only after the sensing of the
signals of the sorting column is it known to which of the tapes 9 '
toa 91 the digit value impulses are to be " effectively " transferred.
The ignition of the gas discharge tubes 58 115 via the cathode ray
distributor 39, with switching fields 590-9, corresponds to the
arrangement described in detail in my co-pending Application No
37212/54 (Serial No.
786,031) 120 In the devices described up to now the sorting was
effected by the transfer of unities to a set of sorting tapes by
transfers which " have been made effective " either during the
movement of the tape after the signals have 125 been sensed from a
stationary tape, or transferring all signals to all tapes and sensing
a sorting signal, and during the movement of the tape, erasing all
those transferred signals not selected by the sorting signal 130 tode
43 is " opened " The " opening " of the pentode 43 is effected by
means of the discharge tube 32 (Fig 9) only during the sensing of that
column which ignites the discharge tube by the exciting of its control
grid by a pulse from the column-selecting means, in this case the
inductive distributor 14 and the closed switch 3113 After the column
has been selected the sensing head 38 senses the signals in that
column which signals are transferred effectively to the tapes 9 -99
under the control of the electronic distributor 39.
A second rotating system may also be used within this cathode ray
distributor 39, its rotation being controlled by means of a control
frequency, either taken directly from the tape or synchronized by

19. synchronizing signals during the rotation of the cathode ray of the
first system over screen 45, this ray rotating once for every column
and the ray of the second system rotating in synchronism with the
first ray but only for one field for each rotation of the first ray By
this means column Selecting is made possible Finally, a selecting of
the column can be effected, if there are holes or notches provided on
the edges of the tape, so that the column at which the exciting of
discharge tube 32 (Fig 9) is to take place, can be selected by a
displacement of one or more signal heads to an extent equal to the
distance between the selected column and the zero By this means a
local selection at a definite time instant can be made instead of a
time selection at varying time instants This is described in more
detail below.
Instead of the electronic or inductive distributors, a contact
distributor or other distributor may be adopted according to the
degree of efficiency required, and to the speed of operation.
Via pentodes 43 and 46 and transformer 47 the digit value signals are
transferred at first to the recording coils 48 (see tape 90) of all
the tapes 90-99 The coils 480-9 are, according to the high frequency
pre-magnetizing and erasing, pre-magnetized from the oscillating
pentode 49 to which the transformer 50, connected in parallel to the
recording coil 48, is coupled The circuits 51 -9 each consist of a
self-induction and parallel capacitor, tuned into the oscillating
frequency from the transformer 47.
The pulses sensed by means of sensing head 38 are transferred in the
one movement of the heads 38 and 37 against the tape 910 to all the
tapes 90-9 Further on the control frequency is transferred from
sensing coil 37 via pentode to pentode 52 and the transformer 53 to
the respective recording heads 54-9 The premagnetizing from the
oscillating pentode 49 via transformer 50 is effected in the same way
as described above, since the circuits 55 '-, each consisting of a
capacitor and a self induction coil are used as described above The
high frequency oscillating in winding 50 within the 786,030 The
transfer can be effected in such a way, that in a preceding sensing
process the digit value of the sorting column is sensed and used for
selecting In dependence on the use of the signal in a second sensing
process, the whole unity is sensed and in a given case transferred on
to the respective sorting tape.
It is in this process possible to effect the sorting by two sensing
processes, which are effected simultaneously, of which the one is
locally pre-arranged in one unity from the other On the other hand,
the sensing processes can be effected by the same signal head
successively after each other The pre-marking signals for the
effecting of the transfer at the next sensing may be either stored in

20. relay or electronic tube storages or the like, or on the tapes
themselves.
Such a sorting device, which effects the sorting process at the
transfer from a sorting tape 9 l by means of two sensing processes is
described in the following with reference to Figs 11 d.
In Fig 11 " the sensing heads 59 are shown, which introduce signals
via the switches 9 in a selectable way via the connection ways a, b,
to the electronic selecting gate comprising the discharge tubes 61 and
62 and the pentode 63 and of Fig 11 V.
The sorting column according to which the sorting is to be effected,
is selected by means of the coils 64/65 and 66/67 in the distributor
shown in Fig 11, by a rotational adjustment within the circle 68 The
circle 68 carries a scale, which indicates in which sorting column the
coils 64/65 and 66/67 are to be effective.
Discs 69 and 70, which are provided on the main shaft 47, have teeth
693 and 70 T, respectively, the edges of which pass closely overthe
edged cores of the said coils 64/65 and 66/67 The shaft 47 may for
example be the main shaft of a computor such as is set forth in my
co-pending Application No 15773/50 (Serial No 786,021).
If the primary winding 64 of a coil is excited by means of direct
current, the gas discharge tube 62 is ignited at the passing of the
tooth 69 t over the core of that coil, since the secondary winding 65
of this coil is connected with the control grid of the gas discharge
tube 62 The ignition of the gas discharge tube 62 effects an opening
of pentode 63, as the cathode resistance 72 of the gas discharge tube
delivers the screen grid voltage of the pentode as a voltage drop.
After an interval of almost one column, the tooth 70 " of disc 70
passes the core of the coils 66 and 67, and the gas discharge tube 61
is ignited which closes the pentode 63 by making the cathode potential
positive in relation to the potential of the suppressor grid.
By way of introductory explanation it may be menticoned that after a
sorting column has been selected, it must be ascertained which digit
value (if any) is in the selected column, and such digit value must be
recorded as a pre-mark for the next storage stage This recording may
be done either in an electronic storage e g electronic tubes or on the
tape itself The latter alternative is illustrated dia 70 grammatically
in Fig Eld, whilst the former is illustrated in Fig lie.
In Fig 1 lb the circuitry for the digit value 0 is shown, and for the
other digit values either the same arrangement of recording 75 means
could be repeated for each line or a single recording means could move
from line to line successively for the successive digit values C-9.
In operation, the control grid of pentode 80 63 is connected only with
that one of the sensing heads 59 '-9, which is switched on via the
corresponding switch 60 ' (i e in the case shown the switch 60 ) and

21. only those signals can be made effective via the pentode 85 63, which
correspond both to the selected column as determined by the position
of the coils 64/65 and 66/67 and to the switched-on sensing head 590-9
(i e in the case shown, signal head 60 ) The circuit connections be 90
tween Figs 11 i and 11 d are shown at the terminals a, b.
If such a signal is sensed from a selected columu, it ignites the gas
discharge tube 73 via the pentode 63 (opened only during the 95
passing of this column) and opens the pentode 74, the control grid of
which is connected with secondary winding 75 while in the plate
circuit of that pentode the recording coil 76 is arranged 103 By this
means, an indicating mark is stored in the first or other preceding
column of the same unity, indicating that the signals of this unity
must be transferred to sorting tape 0 ( 9 ") at the next sensing and
transfer stage 105 In Fig ib' the tape moves from left to right.
By this process a relatively high speed of the tape can be attained,
as the movement of the tape can take place during the backward
movement of the transport systems By means 110 of this pre-marking for
the effecting of a transfer, this transfer can be effected directly,
Without the making of ineffective transfers which later have to be
erased This pre-marking signal is sensed by means of the signal 115
head 77, which is connected with the control grid of the pentode 78
via the leads c, d The amplified signal effects the ignition of gas
discharge tube 79, opening the respective switches connected to the
respective cathode circuits 120 at 80 determining whether a transfer
of the signals of the unity to the respective sorting tapes (in this
case tape 90) is to take place or not.
The selection as to the sorting tape to which 125 a transfer of
signals is to be made may then be controlled by a corresponding
plurality (e.g 10) of amplifier and relay circuits similar to the one
shown in Fig l'd and comprising pentode 78 and discharge tube 79 Such
a 130 786,030
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* GB786031 (A)

22. Description: GB786031 (A) ? 1957-11-13
Improvements relating to the sorting of signals recorded on a magnetisable
signal carrier
Description of GB786031 (A)
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The EPO does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of data
and information originating from other authorities than the EPO; in
particular, the EPO does not guarantee that they are complete,
up-to-date or fit for specific purposes.
f -
PATENT SPECIFICATION
7863031 I Date of Application and filing Complete Specification: June
23, 1950.
No 37212/54.
Application made in Germany on Oct 1, 1948.
(Divided out of No 786,021).
Complete Specification Published: Nov 13, 1957.
Index at acceptance:-Class 106 ( 1), S.
International Classification:-GO 6 k.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements relating to the Sorting of Signals Recorded on a
Magnetisable I, G Ea HARD DIR Ks, a German citizen, of
Moerfelderlandstrasse 44, Frankfurt-on-Mam, Germany, do hereby declare
the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me,
and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly
described in and by the following statement: -
This invention relates to the sorting of information recorded as
signals on erasible signal carriers, for example magnetisable tapes.
One object of the invention is to make possible a sorting of unit

23. areas of a signal carrier in dependence on information likely to have
been recorded in any one or more of those unit areas, in a manner
comparable to the handling of punched cards but with much greater
ease, at much less cost and in a much smaller space By way of example
said unit areas or "unities" as they are hereinafter called may
comprise successive lengths of a tape, or successive lengths of a
track (circumferential or axial) of a drum memory, a track being an
area marked out by a signal head means by a relative movement between
such area and means.
According to this invention two erasible storage means are provided,
each having recording and sensing means between which and said storage
means there is a relative movement, said storage means having
successive unit areas arranged in the direction of said relative
movement, and selective sensing means for the sensing of successive
sorting signals in successive passages of a storage, the sensing of a
sorting signal controlling said recording and sensing means so as to
transfer the signals of the respective unities from storage to
storage, whereby the unities are eventually arranged in ascending,
descending or other pre-selected sequence in dependence on a
predetermined sequence of sorting signals operative at the respective
transfers.
In the preferred forms of the invention the said storage means are two
magnetisable tapes with said unit areas arranged in sequence Signal
Carrier lengthwise of the tape, and said control means will effect a
transferring of signals from one tape to the other and back to the one
as many times as partial re-arrangements are required, each record
being erased after being transferred and the unit areas in the final
record being in the desired ultimate sequence determined by the
preselected sorting signals.
According to another feature of the invention, the storage means which
for the time being is a receiver of transferred signals has a
step-by-step relative movement between itself and a recording means,
unity by unity, and is advanced by one step only if a transfer of
signals has been effected to the unit area then in receiving position.
The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings, wherein:Fig 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the main
parts of a two-tape sorting machine; Fig 2 is a diagrammatic
perspective view of an alternative form of two-tape sorting machine;
Fig 3 is a simple circuit diagram showing how the transfer of signals
is effected; Fig 4 is a perspective view of an inductive control
device hereinafter described; Fig 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view
illustrating one method of effecting a preliminary command that a
transfer is to be made in the next transfer stage of the cycle; Fig 6
is a circuit diagram to' be read in conjunction with Fig 5; and Fig 7

24. is a view of an alternative control arrangement which includes an
electronic distributor.
Referring to Fig 1, there are shown two stepwisely operating tapes 1,
2 for the successive step-wise sensing and recording of signals
thereon Each tape system conprises a reel (not shown) from which the
tape is uncoiled, a sensing head system 3 by which the tape 1 sensed,
the tape feeding system 4 with stop teeth 5 and a reel (not shown) for
rewinding the tape The sensing and the feeding sys2 786,031 tems are
operated in dependence on the move.
ment of the main shaft 6 (compare Fig 27 driven by a motor (not
shown).
The two-tape sorter may make superfluous the mechanical sorting of
punched cards into ten boxes, by replacing a mechanical sorting of
marked record means by the simple electric sorting of the signals
themselves on to another tape in any desired new sequence.
For a better understanding, the two-tape sorter is compared in the
following with The function of a known punched card sorter The
successively stepwisely operated sections or unities (unit areas) of
tape 1 are comparable to the punched cards which are fed through a
slot of the punched card feeding mechanism of the sorter.
The tape 2 can be compared with the leceiving boxes of a punched card
mixing or sorting machine, into which the punched cards are delivered
in dependence of which hole is sensed by the sensing brush within the
vertical row selected for sorting But there is a great difference In
the mechanically or electromechanically operating punched card sorters
the sensed and fed punched cards are mechanically delivered with all
their contents of information in the form of punched holes to one or
another sorting box With the two-tame sorter according to this
invention no mechanical sorting of mechanical cards into boxes takes
place In this case the signals of the sensed " unities " of the
successively stepwisely fed tape 1 are electronically sensed and
transferred to another tape under the control of a sorting signal in a
sorting column selected from tape 1 With this invention any column of
a unity may be used as a sorting column in a similar selective way as
with the columns of punched cards.
Fig 1 shows details of the signal-head system 7 and the tape feeding
system 4 for the tapes 1 and 2.
The signal-head system 7 moves at one cycle of the operating means,
from right to left in arrow-direction 8 and back in arrow direction 9,
by 80 denominations 10(width of one " unity" 111-1 of the tape, each
unity beng equivalent to one punched card).
The tape 1 may be stationary during the movement of the sliding signal
head system 7 from right to left in arrow direction 8, and move by one
"unity" to the right on the backward movement of the sliding

25. signal-head system 7 in arrow direction 9 The movement of the tape by
one " unity " 11 in arrow direction 9 is controlled by the upper part
of the transportation control head 4 which, similarly to the sliding
signal-head system 7, moves to and fro by one " unity " from right to
left, and backward to the right corresponding to a certain number of
perforations 12 Beginning with the reversing point of the movement of
the signal head and transport-system 7 and 4 in arrow-direction 8, and
with the backward movement in arrow-direction 9, the lever 13 enters
into the feeding-holes of the tape, for instance hole 12, the tape
meanwhile being in a fixed position, locked by the registering teeth 5
The magnet-coil 14 effects, that 70 this stepwise transport is
effected or not effected The stepwise feeding of tape 1 is not
effected if the magnet-coil 14 moves the feeding-lever 13 downwards by
an exciting of its windings, and lever 13 cannot then grip 75 into the
feeding-hole 12 of the tape 1.
The feeding of tape 2 with its "unities" 151 is controlled by the
lower part of the feeding control mechanism 4 It consists, comparable
to its upper part, of the feeding 80 lever 16 and the magnet-coil 17
It can only feed the tape 2 from left to right in arrowdirection 9 by
one " unity " 15, if the magnetcoil 17 does not prevent the lever 16
from gripping into one perforation hole 85 The signal-head system,
which moves to and fro in arrow-direction 8 and 9 within the
sliding-head 7 comprises two sets of e g 15 signal heads 18 and 19 e
operating in parallel, with their respective slots 3 ' and coils 90 ,
slots 21 and coils 22 , of which each coil is co-ordinated to one of a
number of horizontal tracks 23 - On the movement of the sliding
signal-head system 7 to the left hand side, in arrow-direction 8, the
magnetic 95 signals within all the different rows 23 are sensed within
one cycle and those in any selected vertical row (column) may be
selected as sorting signals and may be used for the selective control
of the transfer of the sensed 100 signals of all the columns of a
unity on tape 1 to a unity on tape 2, for example during the backward
movement of the sliding head system There may be a repeated to-and-fro
movement of the signal head system over the 105 samze unity whilst the
tape remains stationary.
The stepwise movement and the sensing of stationary tape in all the
columns of a unity within one cycle, and recording in any selected
column of that unity, enables the use of all 110 the many control
possibilities which a stepwise feeding of punched cards allows,
without complicated intermediate storing systems.
The advantage of such a use of stepwisely moved magnetic tapes lies in
the possibility of 115 an easy recording and erasing, and a repeated
sensing of signals in any selected signal position and sequence during
e g one cycle, and very simple recording, erasing and feeding means,

26. compared with punched card mech 120 anism.
Instead of the sensing and recording being done by the moving of
signal heads over a stationary tape the reverse arrangement may be
adapted, which has other advantages, that 125 the stationary signal
heads give greater simplicity of construction.
The means for the selective operation of the sensing and/or recording
means, and the means for transport of the tape are set forth 130
786,031 - 8,3 in more detail in my co-pending Application No 37215/54
(Serial No 786,034).
Referring to Fig 2, there is shown the manner of step-wise feeding and
the sensing and recording of one or more tapes controlled
independently of each other From the original tape 1, which is
stepwisely fed, a transfer of all the signals of a unity is effected
at the first passage to the second tape 2 only when the first tape
contains, in a selected column, the selected sorting signal e g the
digit value " O " At the same time, when such a transfer has taken
place, the second tape 2 will be moved on by one step, as in this case
the bar 25 with the feeder 26 is not fixed to the core of the magnet
coil 27, and the rotating disc 28 on shaft 6, moving the to-and-fro
transport system, can pull the tape forward by one step.
After this forward movement the cross bar 26 with its cams 29 will be
pulled out of the corresponding transport hole at the edges of the
tape, whereupon such bar 26 is held fast by the magnet coil 27 during
the rearward movement of the bar 25 Combined with the up and down
movement of the cams 29 is the up and down movement of the stops 5,
which have a slanted edge so that the tape receives by means of these
stopping members 5, a definite position in which accurate sensings and
recordings can be effected The sensing and recording is effected by
means of the sets of sensing-, recording and erasing heads 18 and 19.
During the continuous stepping forward of the first tape 1, a transfer
from its sensing coils 18 to the recording heads 19 of the next tape 2
can be effected only if at the selected column the selected sorting
signal (e.g the digit value " 0 ") is contained during the first
passage.
The sorting may be done in either of two ways namely, by transferring
the whole content of a unity at each sensing operation and then
erasing the new record if it does not contain the selected sorting
signal in the sorting column, or by having a pre-sensing of the
sorting column in a unity and then transferring the whole content of
the unity only if such pre-sensing reveals the presence of the sorting
signal in that unity The latter method will be described first with
reference to Fig 3 and then -the former method with reference to Fig
4.
Fig 3 shows the operation of a two-tape sorting device with tapes 1

27. and 2, by means of a diagram.
Above the tapes 1 and 2 move the signal head sets 18 and 19 in arrow
directions 8 and 9 The sensing heads 180 are connected with the
amplifier 30 and, via a selecting stepping switch 31, with the
amplifier 32.
During the movement of the signal heads in arrow direction 8 the
signals of tape 1 are sensed by that set of sensing heads 18 and the
signals sensed from tape 1 may be transferred or not transferred,
after amplification in amplifier 30, with e g parallel channels, for a
recording by means of the recording heads 19 8 on the tape 2 under the
control of a selective mechanism Such selective mech 70 anism may e g
comprise a selective device for sorting columns, a selective device
for sortingdigit-value signals or the like in the selected column, a
transfer switching device and a switchable feeding device actuated in
depend 75 ence on the presence or absence of such selected signals The
selective device for sorting columns includes the amplifier 32, which
is in-active in its normal position and only opened for a short period
by the selective 80 switch 33, including e g the inductive
distributing switch 34 actuating the igniting of the discharge tube 35
selectively By means of this selective switch the selection of the
sorting column may be effective The select 85 ing switch 33 has as
many switching ways 36 as there are columns 24 in a unity on the tapes
1 and 2.
In Fig 3 the switch 36 " 3 is shown closed, which makes the windings
of the inductive 90 switch effective during the passage of signal
heads 18 over column 243 ", which column has been selected by the
actuation of switch 3633 as the sorting column amongst the columns 24
" 80 for this phase or stage of the 95 sorting process The selected
switch effects the ignition of the relay tube 35 at the passing of the
co-ordinated sorting column area 243 " of the magnetizable tape 1
below the sensing heads, said relay tube being switched-off again 100
before the beginning of the passage of the signal heads 18 over the
column area.
The selective device for sorting signals in the selected sorting
column includes the stepping switch 31, which may be operated selec
105 tively for digit values alone, e g 0-9, or may be operated for
digit values in combination with additional signals a-e say for
alphabetic characters or the like If for instance, during a first
passage of the tape 1 below the sensing 110 heads 18 a transfer from
tape 1 to tape 2 is to take place of all the signals of such unities
as have a zero in the sorting column 24 ", this selection is effected
by means of a double dependent-selection, namely a selected 115
denomination number and a selected digit value.
If in the switch selective position 310 for digit value " zero " there

28. is sensed during the passing over the selected denomination (sort 120
ing column) a signal representing "zero," a selective transfer of all
the signals of the respective tape-unity-area from tape 1 to 2 is
made, as the transfer switching device including relay tube 35 is
actuated, opening the amplifier 125 channels 30 Also, the magnet 17 is
actuated, which releases the lever 16, so that the transport of the
tape 2 is effected by one unity.
If in the sorting column 2433 selected by switch 36 " 3 there is
sensed no digit value signal 130 786,031 equal to the selected switch
position, in this example switch position 310, the amplifier 32
remains uneffective, and no transfer takes place.
The lever 16 of the transport system is drawn against the magnet 17.
Instead of a selected transfer or no transfer of signals, also a
general transfer via amplifier may take place, followed by a selective
erasing of the new record, as shown in this Figure.
For this purpose the erasing oscillator 37 is operated in dependence
on switch 35 to selectively erase or not erase the recorded signals
which have just before been recorded by a transfer of all the signals
of this unity from tape 1 to tape 2.
The process of sorting according to rising or falling sequences of
sorting numbers, characters or the like is at this two-tape sorter
operated as described below While tape 1 moves with a continuous
stepwise movement, at the first running through of this tape in a
sorting process for digits 0-9 in sorting column 2453, namely the
running through for sorting on the basis of digit value " O " which
may be adjusted by stepping switch 31 only those unities are
transferred from tape 1 to tape 2 effectively, which have in sorting
column 2433 the digit value signal " zero," so that after the said
running through of tape 1 there are recorded on tape 2 all the signals
of all such unities of tape 1 which have in sorting column 24 " the
digit value " O " By an effective transfer or effective recording is
meant one which is made selectively as well as one which has been
retained selectively in an erasing process after a general transfer.
In succession to an effective recording, a feeding of the tape 2, by
one unity is effected.
During this first running through, tape 1 is continuously step-wisely
fed and, in the intermissions between the feeding-movements, the
signal contents of the successive unities of the tape are transferred
on to tape 2 If there had to take place an " effective" recording both
tapes are transported on by one unity.
If on the other hand the transfer had to be " uneffective," that is if
it had to be erased afterwards, as there was no " zero " in column 24
", only tape 1 is moved on by one step, whereas tape 2 remains in its
position and will be erased at the respective unity At the end of the

29. first passage, the tape 2 contains in a continuous sequence all
unities of tape 1 which have, in the example under discussion, a zero
signal in the column 24 ".
In the second passage of tape 1 the transfer to tape 2 of all the
signals of such unities as have in the selected column 24 " the signal
" 1 " is effected, as the stepping switch 31 has moved from position
310 to position 311, preferably automatically, after the termination
of the first " running through " of tape 1 in the same way as
described above, the sorting process is continued during the third
running through of the tape 1 by a stepwise transfer from tape 1 to
tape 2 of all the signals of such unities as contain in the selected
sorting column 24 ", the sorting signal " 2," and at the fourth
"running through" the sorting signal " 3," 70 and so on After the
terminating of ten runs of the tape, the tape 1 contains in successive
sequence all the unities of the tape 1 in a rising or falling sequence
according to the order of selection of the digit value signals in 75
the selected sorting column.
Comparably to punched card sorting, the next sorting column will now
be selected, e g.
column 2432, by switch 36 ' becoming operative in place of switch 36
", to receive arv 80 wanted sequence of sorting numbers and all their
respective unities on tape 2.
In the devices described up to now the sorting was effected by the
transfer of unities to a set of sorting tapes by transfer which has
been 85 made " effective " either during the movement of the tape
after the selected signals have been sensed from a stationary tape, or
by first transfering all signals and then sensing a sorting signal
and, during the movement of the tape, 90 erasing all those transferred
signals nhot selected by the sorting signal.
The transfer can be effected in such a ay, that in the preceding
sensing process the digit value of the sorting column is sensed and
used 95 for selecting In dependence on the result of this use of the
signal in a second sensing process, the whole unity is sensed and in a
given case transferred on to the other tape It is in this process
possible to effect the sorting by 100 two sensing processes, which are
effected 1 simultaneously, of which the one takes place in the next
unity to that in which the other takes place On the other hand, the
sensing processes can be effected by the same signal 105 head
successively after each other The premarking signals for the effecting
of a transfer during the second sensing may be either stored in relay
or electronic tube storages or the like, or on the tapes themselves
110 Such a sorting device, which effects he sorting process at the
transfer from a sorting tape 1 by means of two sensing processes is
described in the following with reference to Figs 4-7 115 In Fig 5 the

30. sensing heads 18 "-' are shown, which introduce signals via the
switches 31 '-0 in a selectable way via the connection ways a, b, to
the electronic selecting gate comprising the discharge tubes 35 and 38
and the pentode 120 39 of Fig 6.
The sorting column according to which the sorting is to be effected,
is selected by means of the coils 40/41 and 42/43 by a rotational
adjustment within the circle 44, see Fig 4 125 The circle 44 carries a
scale, which indicates in which sorting column the coils 40/41 and
42/43 are to be effective Discs 45 and 46, which are provided on the
main shaft 47, have two teeth 48 and 49, the edges of which pass 130
786,031 same unity, indicating that the signals of Lhis unity must be
transferred to sorting tape 2 at the next sensing and transfer stage
In Fig.
the tape moves from left to right.
By this process a relatively high speed ef 70 the tape can be
attained, as the movement of the tape can take place during the
backward movement of the feeding systems By means of this pre-marking
for the effecting of a transfer, this transfer can be effected
directly, with 75 out the making of uneffective transfers which later
have to be erased This pre-marking signal is sensed by means of the
signal head 55, which is connected with the control grid of the
pentode 56 via the switching ways c, d 80 The amplified signal effects
the ignition of gas discharge tube 57, opening the respective switches
connected to the respective cathode circuits at 58 determining whether
a transfer of the signals of the unity to tape 2 is to take 85 place
or not.
If instead of the inductive distributor there is provided a cathode
ray distributor for the selection of the column and/or digit values an
arrangement can be used according to switch 90 ing diagram of Fig 7
The sorting process itself is almost the same as has been described in
connection with Figs 4-6.
In the example illustrated, and in contrast to Fig 5, an additional
sensing head 59 effects 95 via the co-ordinated pentode 60 and a
phaseshifting device the circular rotation of the cathode ray in the
electronic distributor 61.
The column according to which the sorting is to be effected, is
indicated by the connection 100 of the high-ohmic resistance 62, which
may be one of a plurality arranged for selection of the respective
sorting columns, and which ignites the gas discharge tube 63, when the
sorting process is to take place The gas discharge 105 tube opens the
pentode 64, which takes its screen grid voltage as a voltage drop at
the cathode resistance of the discharge tube 63.
The pre-marking signal itself, which indicates that the transfer is to
be effected, and which 110 is recorded by the recording head 64 ',

31. will be released at the high-ohmic resistance 65 Only those of the
signal heads 18 can be made effective via the cathode ray distributor,
which give signals on to the control grid of the 115 pentode 66 via a
closed switch 31 - On this feature compare the description of Fig 5.
In the plate circuit of the pentode 66 is arranged the transformer 67,
which transfers the signals to the control grid 68 of the cathode 120
ray tube 61 and thereby controls the intensity of the cathode ray A
transfer on to the second tape from the sensing heads 69 via the
coordinated pentodes 30 to the recording heads 19 of the other sorting
tapes is only 125 effected, if at the beginning of the sensing of a
unity, the gas discharge tube 70 is ignited, by a pre-marking signal,
which has been recorded on the tape 1 and sensed by the sensing head
71 and amplified by pentode 72 130 closely over the edged cores of the
said coils 40/41 and 42/43 The shaft 47 may for example be the main
shaft of a computor such as, is set forth in my co-pending Application
No 15773/50 (Serial No 786,021).
If the primary winding 40 of a coil is excited by means of direct
current, the gas discharge tube 35 is ignited at the passing of the
tooth 48 over the core of that coil, since the secondary winding 41 of
this coil is connected with the control grid of the gas discharge tube
The ignition of the gas discharge tube 35 effects an opening of
pentode 39, as the cathode resistance 50 of the gas discharge tube
delivers the screen grid voltage of the pentode as a voltage drop.
After an interval of almost one column, the yoke 49 of disc 46 passes
the core of the coils 42 and 43, and the gas discharge tube 38 is
ignited which closes the pentode 39 by making the cathode potential
positive in relation to the potential of the suppressor grid.
By way of introductory explanation it may be mentioned that after a
sorting column has been selected, it must be ascertained whether the
digit value (if any) in the selected column corresponds to the sorting
value operative for this passage of the tape, and such digit value if
sensed, must be recorded as a pre-mark for the next sorting stage This
recording may be done either in an electronic storage e g electronic
tubes or on the tape itself The latter alternative is illustrated
diagrammatically in Fig 5, and in further detail in Fig 7.
In Fig 5 the principle of operation is shown for the first running
through of the tape; switch 310 is closed, so that the digit value 0
is used as selecting value The further selecting according to other
selecting values may be done with the same arrangement of means by
further running through the tape 1 and a stepwise change of the
selective switching of switch 31 from position 310 to position 311,
312 etc.
for e g the successive digit values 0-9.
In the drawing, the control grid of pentode 39 is conected only with

32. that one of the sensing heads 18 '9, which is switched on via the
corresponding switch 31 (i e in the case shown the switch 31 ); only
those signals can be made effective via the pentode 39, which
correspond both to the selected column as determined by the position
of the coils 40/41 and 42/43 (e g column 24) and to the switched-on of
sensing heads 18 (e g in the case shown, signal head 180).
If such a signal is sensed from a selected column, it ignites the gas
discharge tube 51 via the pentode 39 (opened only during the passing
of this column 24 ") and opens the pentode 52, the control grid of
which is connected with secondary winding 53 while in the plate
circuit of that pentode the recording coil 54 is arranged, see
connections e, f in Fig 6.
By this means, an indicating mark is stored in the first or other
preceding columns of the 786,031 After each sensing process of the
tape 1 this tape is moved forwards by one unity by means of the
feeding system The tape to which the signals have been transferred is
moved on by one unity as described above The control of the feeding
system is also effected by -he discharge tube 70, influencing
respective feeding system via magnet 17.
In the same way the series of signal heads 18 9 and 69 9 may be
replaced each by one signal head if electronic distributor means or
the like is used, operating in dependence on signals in the
synchronizing track sensed by signal head 59, or determining numerical
values on a basis of locality or time, related to fixed points on the
tape or other storage means.
The illustrated examples of feeding devices, recording-, sensing-,
storing re-arranging and sorting devices set forth advantages which
can be achieved in the recording of information of any kind As a
further great advantage it may be mentioned, that the storing capacity
of such a tape is very great The contents of whole punched card filing
systems may be recorded on one tape To the advantage of the saving of
space, can be addedthe further advantages of lower production costs as
well as the lower weight and size of the apparatus and the very easy
handling of the reels compared with the handling of punched cards The
possibilities of operating with the stored information are especially
advantageous over the use of mechanical symbol carriers, because the
recorded information may be erased and the recording tape used again.
Finally, by electronic operation of the signal carriers the highest
operation speeds can be achieved.
The invention may be modified in that the sensed signals are first
transferred to an intermediate storage and from there are passed to
the other storage of the sorting means Such intermediate storages may
be magnetisable rotatable storages.

33. * Sitemap
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* GB786032 (A)
Description: GB786032 (A)
No title available
Description of GB786032 (A)
PATENT SPECIFICATION
786032 Date of Application and filing Complete Specification: June 23,
1950.
No 37213/54.
Application made in Germany on Oct 1, 1948.
(Divided out of No 786,021).
Complete Specification Published: Nov 13, 1957.
Index at acceptance:-Class 106 ( 1), A( 1 F: 7 A: 7 X: 10 A: l OB: l
OD).
International Classification:-GO 6 f.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Electronic Computing Means I, GERHARD DIRKS, of
Moerfelder Landstrasse 44, Frankfurt on Main, Germany, o 6 German
Nationality, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a
patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be
performed, to be particularly described in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to electronic computers operating by result
elements as defined below and has especial reference to the computing
of numbers one or more of which is or are represented or contained as
signals in a record means or storage, e g a magnetizable or an
electro-static record means, those numbers not contained in a storage
being fed to the computor by any other suitable input means, such as

34. punched cards, punched tapes, a keyboard or the like.
This invention will find use inter alia for effecting the calculation
of a result from two digit values, of which one such digit value is
represented in a record means, in a computer such as is set forth in
my co-pending application for Patent No 15773/50 filed 23rd June 1950
(Serial No 786,021).
By result elements are meant elements which may be influenced by two
or more signals jointly, simultaneously or otherwise, representative
of different digit values, to release a result signal representative
of a predetermined computation of these digit values with each other.
Methods of computation by means of result elements are set forth in my
said co-pending Application which consist in the provision of two sets
of signal paths at right angles to and crossing each other, each set
containing as many paths as there are digit values in the
denominations concerned, a digit value of one operand being fed as a
signal along the appropriate path of one set and a digit value of
another operand being fed as a signal along the appropriate path of
the other set, the result value being indicated at the point where
those selected paths cross.
The present invention provides a means for lF Nco 3 s 6 d l computing
together two digit values in a given scale by two deflections of a
cathode ray, comprising a storage for signals representing digit
values, means for selecting from such storage signals representative
of one of said two digit values and applying them as voltages to the
deflection system of a cathode ray tube to effect the corresponding
one of said two deflections, means for effecting the other of said two
deflections to represent the other of said two digit values, and means
whereby the resulting position of the cathode ray on a screen or like
receiver is detected and gives rise to signals representative of the
result of the computation in the same scale The said other deflection
of the cathode ray may itself be effected by applying to the
deflection system of the cathode ray tube voltages derived from
signals in a storage representative of said other digit value.
In the preferred arrangements according to the present inventions the
crossing paths mentioned above consist of horizontal and vertical rows
oif areas on a cathode ray screen and the digit values are computed by
the deflection of the ray along the appropriate horizontal and
vertical row respectively, that area where such rows cross being the
area to which the cathode ray is finally deflected, originating the
transmission of a result signal representing the result of the
computation.
Therefore a preferred arrangement according to the invention comprises
a means for computing together two digit values in a given scale
wherein one such digit value is caused to deflect a cathode ray in one

35. direction and to a degree representative of such value and the other
digit value is caused to deflect the ray in another direction and to a
degree representative of that value, the directions having been
pre-determined in dependence on the nature of the computation, and the
final location of the ray releasing or originating a signal
representative of the value (in the same scale) resulting from the
computation.
The means co-ordinated to said relative directions for causing the ray
in its final location on the tube screen to transmit a signal
representative of the result of the computation may for example
comprise an arrangement of electronic discharge tubes.
More specifically the invention provides a serial adder wherein two
digit values from a record means or input means (or both) are fed as
signals to the respective deflecting plate systems of a cathode ray
tube, one value to one set of plates and the other value to the other
set, and wherein from that part of the plate or screen of the tube on
which the deflected ray falls a signal is transmitted having or
representing a value representing the sum of said digit values.
A representative arrangement according to the invention is illustrated
in the accompanying drawing, wherein:Fig 1 shows schematically a
wiring diagram of the computing arrangement comprising a cathode ray
tube result means and gas discharge tubes as input and output means;
Fig 2 shows on an enlarged scale the screen of the cathode ray tube of
Fig 1 with co-, ordinated gas discharge tubes on the output side Also,
the input tubes of Fig 1 are coordinated to the result elements in Fig
2.
Referring to Fig 1, there is a cathode ray tube 1 with its screen 2
and three sets of gas discharge tubes 3 ', 4 and 50-9.
Resistors 7 9 are co-ordinated to the respective discharge tubes 3 9
in the respective cathode circuits and control the current of said
tubes so that the amount of current of tube 3 ' is higher than that of
tube 31 by one unit, the amount of tube 31 exceeds that of tube 3 by
two units, and so on.
All the cathodes of the discharge tubes 3 9 are connected in parallel
to the single resistor 6, thus effecting a voltage drop at the
resistor the amount of which corresponds to the current of whichever
discharge tube 3 is ignited at the time The voltage drop of resistor 6
is applied to the vertical deflecting plate 8 of the cathode ray tube
1 which controls the vertical deflection of its cathode ray 9.
By means of this arrangement the cathode ray 9 will impinge on the
screen 2 (which is provided with secondary emission spots in
horizontal and vertical rows) at the crossing field 12 9 having the
value " 9 ", if discharge tube 31 is ignited, and if there is no
additional horizontal deflection of the cathode ray 9 (e g.

36. for a carry-over as explained below) If instead the discharge tube 30
is ignited, its coordinated resistance 70 within the discharge circuit
causes such a voltage drop at resistance 6 that the deflecting plate 8
deflects the cathode ray 9 to the crossing field 12 having the value "
O ", if there is no additional horizontal deflection It is evident
that, by this means the cathode ray 9 will always be deflected onto
those crossing fields 0-9 within the vertical row 12 -9, which
corresponds to the ignited discharge tube 39.
In similar manner the gas discharge tubes 409 effect a co-ordinated
voltage drop at resistor 10, by means of the respective resistors 11
and thus control the horizontal deflection of the cathode ray 9 by the
voltage applied to horizontal deflecting plate 12 a.
Computing by the means shown in Fig 1 is achieved by igniting that one
of the discharge tubes 3 -9 corresponding to the first digit value
andt that one of the discharge tubes 4 "II'' corresponding to the
second digit value.
The voltage drops at the resistances 6 and 10 effect a deflection of
the cathode ray 9 in two directions The selected spot of the screen 2
is co-ordinated to the digit values of the ignited discharge tubes and
for a Chosen kind of computing operation this spot is co-ordinated
also to the result of said operation That is to say, for addition the
cross field represents the sumni of the two digit values For other
types of computation, e g subtraction, multiplication etc the crossing
fields represent the corresponding results.
A further set of discharge tubes 5 9 is provided for effecting or
transmitting result signals for indicating, printing, storing,
recording of the result value, or for passing it back for further
computation, or the like.
Referring now to Fig 2 there is particularised the screen 2 of the
cathode ray tube with its secondary emitting layer divided up into
fields or result areas each containing two spots or localities All the
right hand spots 12 representing the same units digit value of a
result are connected together in parallel and, via a coupling
capacitor, are connected to the control grid of that one of the
discharge tubes representing the respective digit value.
After deflection the cathode ray 9 is intensifie'd e g by a positive
impulse supplied to the control grid 14 of Fig 1 intensifying the
secondary emission current of the selected spot of the kyer via the
co-ordinated resistor 14 a, the voltage drop of which is supplied to
the control grid of a discharge tube 5 -9 and ignites it.
Each result area of the screen 2 contain two such secondary emitting
spots Of each pair one spot 12 is connected to the respective
discharge tubes 5 -, the other spot 13 being effective to control a
carry to the next higher denomination of the result The area of the

37. cathode beam being sufficient to affect both spots in an area.
E As appears from Fig 2, the spots are connected as an addition table
The spots 13 for the carry are connected in parallel to the gas
discharge tube 15 which operates as a carryover pre-mark switch On the
ignition of the said discharge tube its co-ordinated resistor 16
effects an additional current within the resistor 6 and thereby an
additional vertical deflection of the, cathode ray by one area.
78; 6,032 786,032 3 Another arrangement, used as a multiplication
table or the like, can make use of a set of discharge tubes connected
to the left hand areas of the result fields, to indicate the digits
0-9 Such an arrangement is described more fully in my co-pending
Application No.
15773/50, (Serial No 786,021).
In one modified arrangement (not illustrated) the secondary emitting
spots are replaced by metallic anode elements for direct operation by
the cathode ray beam current, and in another arrangement a usual
fluorescent screen is provided, and small photo-cells are provided
outside of the tube, in front of the fluorescent screen, for igniting
the discharge tubes for deriving the result signals, in accordance
with the position of the bright area produced on the screen by the
cathode ray beam.
Instead of the selectively-operating discharge tubes and resistors for
varying the currents in dependence on different digit values,
electromechanical relays may be used for the same purpose.
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* GB786033 (A)
Description: GB786033 (A) ? 1957-11-13
Improvements in magnetic storage devices
Description of GB786033 (A)

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The EPO does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of data
and information originating from other authorities than the EPO; in
particular, the EPO does not guarantee that they are complete,
up-to-date or fit for specific purposes.
AMENDED S PECIFICATION
This Reprint embodies amendments in accordance with the Decisions of
the Superintending Examiner acting for the Comptroller-General dated
the twentyninth day of July 1960, under Section 14, of the Patents
Act, 1949, and the nineteenth day of April, 1961, under Section 29.
PATENT SPECIFICATION
DRAWINGS ATTACHED 786,O 33 A ___ Lb Date of Application and filing
Complete Specification: June 23: 1950.
lj,9 4 No 37214/54.
Application made in Germany on Oct 1, 1948.
(Divided out of No 786,021) ____ /1 Complete Specification Published:
Nov 13, 1957.
udex at acceptance:-Classes 40 ( 2), M; 106 ( 1), C ( 1 D: 2 B 1: 2 G:
3 C: 3 D: 4 A: 4 B: 5: 6).
nternational Classification:-GO 6 f G 10 j.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Magnetic Storage Devices I, GETHARD DIRICS, a German
citizen, of 44, Moerfelder Landstrasse, Frankfurt-onMain, of German
Nationality, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a
patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be
performed, ito be particularly described in and by the following
statem.nt: The invention relates to magnetic storage devices with
which the recording, sensing and erasing of signals is effected by
signal heads.
A magnetic storage device makes use of a magnetisable record means as
a signal carrier, which has or is provided with a magnetisable record
material which will record sensible signals by changes of the magnetic
state of the said record material.

39. The present invention provides a storage means for electrical signals
comprising a rotation symmetrical signal carrier having a magnetisable
layer or surface thereon, transducing heads operable to record
electrical signals as magnetised areas of said layer or surface and/or
to sense such magnetised areas to generate electrical signals, means
adapted to produce cyclic relative movement between the signal carrier
and the transducing heads such as 'to make a plurality of areas in the
form of a track available successively for recording and/ or sensing
by each head, and storage area selecting means including means adapted
to generate a sequence of electrical synchronising signals in
correspondence with said relative movement, gating means for each said
head adanited to render said head effective to record and/or sense
over particular groups of areas within its track, control circuits for
said gating means having a multiplicity of settings such that the
gating means are operable under the lU control of said sequence of
synchronising signals to render their associated heads effective to
record and/or to sense over different groups of areas for different
settings, and setting means for said control circuits, the arrangement
being such that any particular setting of the control circuits, if
kept unchanged during successive cycles of relative movement of
carrier and head, results in recording and sensing over the same group
of signal areas, at the same position upon the signal carrier, in each
cycle.
By a rotation symmetrical signal carrier is meant one whose
signal-recording surface is endless and which in all phases of the
said relative movement maintains the same spatial relationship at said
transducing means.
The rotation symmetrical magnetisable signal carrier may be the
magnetisable layer or surface of a drum or of a disc or the like.
The recording means will include at least one signal head but usually
there will be a plurality of signal heads and these will be displaced
relatively to each other for instance axially or circumferentially in
the case of a drum, and radially or circumnferentially in the case of
a disc In both cases the circumferential distance will be a whole
multiple of the extent of displacement between signal heads The
selecting means may be such that signals or groups of signals are
recorded and/or sensed on a basis of locality or may be such that
signals are recorded and/or sensed on a basis of time.
There may be also a sensing means for synchronizing signals and such
synchronizing signals may be recorded as remanent or permanent signals
on a signal carrier The synchronizing signals may be magnetizably 2
786,033 recorded, or they may be recorded optically or
photographically Further selecting means may be provided including
distributing means operating under the control of such synchronizing

40. signals, and such distributing means may be an electrically actuating
or electronically actuating distributing means.
The selecting means for selective transfer of signals between the
signal carrier and the sensing or recording means may be adapted for
operation in dependence on a selection programme of any kind,
including those adapted for handling addresses, information, control
and/or selection signals and auxiliary or supplementary signals By
such means, it is possible as explained more fully below to consider
the magnetizable surface as representing so many punched cards, for
selecting in an equivalent way to the sorting of punched cards.
One of the special advantages of the selective storage means is the
possibility of a combination with computing, printing and/or
indicating devices and the like These selective storages 1 may either
contain changeable impulses, which can be sensed, erased and renewed
at recording, or may be fixed impulse sequences, containing charts,
tables, reference information and the like The selective storages
allow of s O the sensing of any adjusted position of the storage and
the transfer of impulses between that position and a computing,
printing and/or indicating device and the like, in a fraction of a
second.
The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings wherein: Fig 1 is a perspective view of a rotatable magnetic
storage drum with one arrangement of sensing means; Fig 2 is a similar
view illustrating another arrangement of sensing means; Fig 3 is a
view in axial direction of one half of a storage disc, formed as a
magnetizable signal carrier, the markings shown being purely imaginary
for the purpose of explanation; Fig 4 a is a perspective view of one
example of a magnetic signal head, for example a sensing head on a
magnetizable carrier; Fig 4 b is a perspective view of an example of a
set of heads consisting of two magnetic heads for the forwarding of a
signal with change of digit value by " one "; Fig 4 c is a perspective
view of an example of a set of signal heads consisting of 11 magnetic
heads for transfer of computing signals in dependence on the operation
of numerical value switches or the like; Fig 4 d is a perspective view
illustrating a set of signal heads according to Fig 4 c in association
with a disc according to Fig 3; Fig 4 e is a like view to Fig 4 d
showing another example of a set of heads consisting of 11 magnetic
heads, which in this case embrace the disc at its edge; Figs 4 f-4 t
illustrative various forms of signals recorded on the record carrier,
the resultant shapes being modified because of the various alternative
recording arrangements 7 which may be used in the carrying out of the
invention, and in said Figures: Fig 4 f is a diagram in which the
digit value 6 is marked by recording A C in sine wave form in the
digit value fields 0-6; a

41. Fig 4 i indicates that only the beginning of the digit value, by
recording A C in the digit value fields 7-9;
Fig 4 h shows how the digit value 6 is marked by recording impulses in
all the fields E
0-6; Fig 4 i indicates that only 'the beginning of the row of digit
value fields 0-9 is marked by an impulse as a " start " signal; the
digit value field 6 contains the digit value signal 8 and the end of
the row is indicated by a "stop" impulse, Fig 4 k is similar to Fig 4
i but with the "start" and "stop" signals being of inverted polarity,
one side of the impulses being ex 9 ponential because it is effected
by the discharge of a condenser; Fig 41 shows that only the digit
value field " 6 " is indicated by an impulse; Fig 4 m illustrates how
"start" and "stop" 9 signals are given by the sides of an elongated
rectangular signal, the digit value fields being indicated by an
additional impulse, Fig 4 N is similar to Fig 4 m, but with the
"start" and "stop" signals indicated by an 1 impulse in inverted
direction; Fig 4 o is also similar to Fig 4 m, wherein the inversion
point of the "start" and "stop" signals indicates the digit-value
field,
Fig 4 p is a diagram wherein "start," "stop" 1 ( and digit value
signals only are represented by wave periods, Fig 4 q is a diagram
wherein "start" and "stop" signals are given at the beginning and the
end of the sequence of periods and the 1 l digit value signal by the
interruption between them, Fig 4 r is similar to Fig 4 q, but with the
interruption filled by a wave of another frequency, 1 l Fig 4 S is a
diagram wherein the digit value field is marked by a signal formed by
using different frequencies; Fig 4 t illustrates how the recording can
be effected by a constant A C, the start signal 1.
and the digit value signal being represented by short interruptions;
Figs 5 a, b are diagrams showing displaced signal heads under the
control of a selective program input means; Fig 6 a shows in diagram
form a series of displaced signal heads, electronically controlled
from a selective program input means; Fig 6 b shows in perspective
magnetic tapes with their respective sensing and recording 12 786,033
each containing one or more signal heads or systems of signal heads.
In Fig 2 the rotation-symmetrical signal carrier is likewise a
rotatable drum 1, and a single signal head casing 2 is shown which may
be movable axially of the drum.
In both cases, by reason of the relative rotation between the drum and
the signal heads, these heads trace out on the drum side-by-side
signal tracks and in each rotation, all the signals in a track will
pass the signal head or heads which then lie opposite the track.
In order that the selective storage means shall have a rapid access,
that is, in order for any part of the storage surface to be brought to

42. a signal head in the least possible time for the sensing and/or
recording or erasing of signals, it is necessary to select the
appropriate track and to select the appropriate signals in that track
This involves a selection in a direction axially of the drum and a
selection circumferentially of the drum, either of which selections
may be carried out in different ways If for instance a plurality of
signal heads or signal head systems is disposed around the drum, the
degree of angular displacement of the drum necessary to select
particular signals in a track is reduced, and the access time
correspondingly shortened.
For the selection of a track from the several side-by-side tracks, the
switching ways of a plurality of side-by-side signal heads arranged
axially of the drum may be made effective selectively This arrangement
is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig 1, where the signal head
casings are indicated at 2 '-n and the connections to the said
switching ways are indicated at 31-n Alternatively, one or more signal
heads may be adapted to be moved axially of the drum This arrangement
is illustrated diagrammaticaly in Fig 2.
Referring to Fig 1 in more detail, the drum 1 is mounted for rotation
about the axis 4 by means not shown, and may have a speed for example
up to 6,000 r p m With a drum of a diameter of say 7 "-10 ", each
circumferential signal track may contain say between 1,000 and 5,000
signals, and with a drum of a length from 6 " to 12 " there may be for
example 100 signal tracks.
In order to avoid wear on the drum surface and on the signal heads at
such speeds, and in order to make possible the recording and/or
sensing of the required number of signals in a track, the signal heads
are spaced from the drum surface, the extent of such spacing being
dependent on the one hand on eliminating friction and on the other
hand allowing the required sub-division of the circumferential track
into the required number of areas for recording the required number of
signals.
In the arrangement illustrated in Fig 2, the drum 1 is carried on a
shaft 4 which is mounted in the brackets 5 and 6, and is adapted to be
driven by the motor 7 through heads and transport systems, used as an
input or output means for the selective storage, the tape being
imaginatively divided into unities each containing signals in columns
and lines having the same tasks as punched holes in punched cards; Fig
6 c shows the use of a tape, with a track for synchronising signals,
for controlling an electronic distributor; Fig 6 d is a perspective
view of an inductive switch shown in Fig 6 b; Fig 7 a is a view in the
axial direction of an inductive distributor; Fig 7 b is an edge view
of the rotor used in the distributor of Fig 7 a; Fig 7 c is a cross
section of the stator shown in Fig 7 a, on the line "A"-"B"; Fig 7 d

43. shows a wiring diagram for the control of gas-discharge tubes by an
inductive distributor according to Figs 7 a-c; Fig 7 e shows the
combination of an inductive distributor similar to that of Fig 7 a
with two contact switches of commutator type; Fig 8 is a diagram
showing the use of magnetic gates for a selective control of signal
heads in the selective storage means, indicating e g
denomination-values and digit values represented in selective tables;
Fig 9 is a circuit diagram showing the use of a magnetic drum with
selective distributing means controlled electrically by signals in a
synchronizing track and the possibility of transfer or re-transfer in
a similar arrangement to magnetic tapes; Fig 10 is a similiar diagram
with a number of signal heads operating in parallel and wherein the
signals may be transferred to or from the tape in a selective way with
or without re-arrangement, and with the simultaneous transfer of
synchronizing and information signals; Fig 1 la shows in diagram form
selective comparing means for addresses for binary numbers of several
denominations for use in selecting storage areas; Fig 1 lb shows
optical selecting means delivering signal frequencies for magnetic
recording under the control of the selective switching means of Fig
hla; Fig 1 ic is a development of a cylindrical part shown in Fig hla
with means for the selection of address signals as a binary number in
several denominations; Fig 1 ld shows in perspective a magnetic drum
storage with selective sensing and recording means under the control
of signals forming a multi-denomination address; In Fig 1, the
rotation-svmmetrical signal carrier is shown as rotatable drum 1, the
circumferential surface of which is or is provided with a maanetizable
layer adapted for the storage of signals by a change of the
magnetizable state of the material of such layer There is shown also a
plurality of signal head casings 2- arranged side-by-side and 786,033
gear and clutch means indicated at 8 and 9, whereby the rotation of
the drum may be continuous or intermittent, as desired In the brackets
5 and 6 there are also mounted a further shaft 10 and a guide rod 11,
and these (shaft 10 and rod 11) carry the casing 2 containing the
signal head or heads.
At the one end of shaft 10 is a wheel 12 which is adapted to be
rotated by gear and clutch means 13 for continuous or intermittent
operation, and the wheel 12 is connected with means such as a cam, or
screw and nut mechnaism whereby its rotation effects a corresponding
lateral movement of the casing 2, this movement being continuous or
intermittent selectively as determined by an operation of the clutch
Clutch and gear 9 and 13 are both driven from the motor 7.
By a selective operation of the drives to the drum and the wheel 12, a
direct access to any part of the drum surface by the signal heads may
be realized in a short time.

44. In some cases the drum may have a cyclic rotation and the casing 2 an
intermittent movement, whilst in some other cases the reverse may
obtain.
In the embodiment represented by Fig 3, where the signal carrier is a
disc 13, the sideby-side tracks are concentric rings and the signal
heads have a radial displacement or movement instead of an axial
displacement or movement The same selective combinations of continuous
and intermittent movements may be carried out as described in
connection with the drum in Figs 1 and 2.
The disc 13 is mounted on the shaft 14 for rotationtherewith and its
magnetizable surface may be regarded as (imaginatively) divided into
the said concentric tracks 15 and also into sectors between radial
lines, for instance the sectors 161 Within each sector the tracks
151-1 ' are regarded as divided into sub-sections e.e 17 into 40
fields 18 " 39 Each of such fields is a locality for the recording,
sensing and/or erasing of signals, for example digit value signals
Such signals have a definite local relationship to precise points on
the shaft or disc, for instance a precise relationship with the
angular position of the kevway 19, or they may have a precise
relationship with recorded signals in one or more tracks for effecting
synchronisation, for instance the tracks 20 21, such signals for
synchronizing also being either in definite local relationship to
precise points on the shaft or disc, or themselves forming the time
base for a time-base signal generator operating in synchronism with
the relative movement between them and sensing means provided for the
sensing of such signals Snch signals for synchronisation may be
recorded mechanically or may he recorded for example magnetically,
electrically or photoaranhically, or may otherwise be optically
sensible.
Such signals for synchronisation are nrovided within track 21 once
only within each sector namely at the beginning of the sector (in the
arrow-direction of rotation 23) and are;nd'cated as strokes 22 ', 22
', 223, 2212 etc In track 20 synchronising signals 239 " 1 are
provided for the controlled selective sensing, 70 recording and/or
erasing of signals or groups of signals within the respective fields
18 " in the different tracks 15 l N of each of the sectors 161-n In
track 24, the numbers of denominational sectors are shown in Roman
figures 75 The recording, sensing and erasing of the magnetic signals
on to and from the disc can be carried out in any manner known from
magnetic tape sound technology and the like.
Examples of signal heads and their manner of 80 use are illustrated in
Figs 4 a-4 e.
Fig 4 a shows a usual magnet head in diagrammatic representation In
particular, the iron core 25 is shown with a slot 26 and a winding 27,

45. the head overlying the magnetic 85 layer 2 of the disc 7 A magnetic
flux in the head induced by an electric current within the winding 27
flows through the arms of the iron core 25 and partly through the
magnetic layer 28 and thereby brings about an increased 90 magnetic
saturation of this layer and the remanent magnetising effect within
the magnetisable layer 28 constitutes a signal which may be of any of
the known recordable types.
For recording, the signal carrier or record 95 means need not be in
every case the movable part The signal heads may themselves move
without altering the principle of the process, since only the relative
movement between signal heads and record means is required 100 The
sensing of such magnetically recorded signals takes place in the
reverse manner, by means of sensing heads or sensing windings in the
same heads as the recording windings A magnetic signal which passes
the slot 26 of a 105 sensing head brings about a change of voltage
within the winding of that head, which constitutes a signal and which
when amplified can be used for computation or control functions or the
like 110 Erasing takes place mainly by means of energising an erasing
head by a high-frequency current Alternatively, the erasing could take
place by a suitable direct current erasing head, which would saturate
the magnetic layer and 115 again de-magnetise it to bring about the
original condition of such layer The sensing and recording heads may,
as shown in Figs.
4 b-4 e, be mechanicaly united into a set of two or more heads In this
case the sensin R 120 can take Dlace with the aid of a sensing head
and the subsequent recording with the aid of a recording head if thev
are connected each other over signal transmission means, for examole
an amplifier If the sensing and the 125 recording slots 26 and 261 of
this combination of heads are in alignment radially of the disc then a
magnetic signal nassing the sensing head is transmitted from the
sensed track to the corresponding field in the track under the 130
786,033 having been recorded under the control of the said signals 23
in track 20 for synchronisation purposes The length of the recording,
respectively the number of waves, may indicate, in a decimal system, a
corresponding digit value, 70 for instance in the case shown the digit
value 6, within a denomination area or a part of it constituted by the
sub-sector 170.
In the indicated digit value 6 is to be replaced by a digit value 8
within the same 75 denomination area, this may be done in such a way
that a second recording representing the digit value 8 will be made
within the fields
18 -180, superimposed on the signals already recorded in those fields,
in the same amplitude 80 direction but the second recording will be
longer by two waves in excess of those recorded in the previous

46. recording the said two waves being in the fields 187 and 180 If, on
the other hand, the digit value 4 is to replace the 85 digit value 6,
a second recording will take place in the fields 18 -184, superimposed
on those already in such fields, but beginning from the fields 185 and
18 ' there will be either a recording with the same wave length but in
the go opposite direction, thereby erasing the preceding record or a
recording frequency may be used so much higher than the signal
frequency than an erasing effect is obtained beginning from field 18 '
95
The fields 18 -9 may also be used as denomination fields in a simple
"Yes" and " No" numbering system Other types of " Yes" and " No "
symbolizations including time representation and/or start-stop and
other 100 signals for synchronisation are shown in the remaining
Figures 4 g to 4 t Such signals may be frequencies of a given time
period operating under the principle of interrupting a constant
recording at definite times or starting a 105 recording at definite
times, as shown in Figs.
4 f to 4 g, or they may be pulses each having only one direction as to
their amplitude as shown in Fig 4 h They may also be signals each of
which indicates the starting and/or 110 ending point of a time length,
by " Yes " and "NO" signals as shown in Figs 4 i to 4 o instead of "
Yes " and " No " signals without frequency modulation, or
frequency-modulated combinations including time and also change of 115
frequency may be used, or phase shifting of a frequency by a frequency
jump may be used as shown in various ways in Figs 4 p to 4 t.
Any of these signals may indicate numerical values, including digit
and denomination 120 values By such signals also, there may be
represented characters, groups of characters (e g letters of the
alphabet) and other information, adapted to control switchable
elements.
The use of such a selective storage device in 125 different ways and
for different purposes is set forth in several of my copending
Applications, for example No 15773/50 (Serial No.
786,021).
Referring again to Fig 1, there is shown 130 recording head 30 and
therefore with the same l digit value, since the slots 26 and 261 are
not displaced angularly relative to each other as shown later on in
Fig 7 b If the slots 26 and 261 are mutually displaced angularly then
with such a transfer of a signal from the sensed track to the track
under the recording head 30 a change of position angularly of the disc
will take place in the same sector, and therefore with a change of
digit value of the signal (see Fig 7 c).
Fig 4 b shows two signals heads 29-30 positioned side-by-side in such
a way that the slot 26 of the sensing head 29 is distant from the slot

47. 261 of the recording head 30 by one field in the direction of the
relative movement between the heads and the magnetisable layer.
Fig 4 c shows a combined set of one sensing head 31 with slot 310 and
ten recording heads 32 with slots 32 -329 by means of which the
transfer of signals from one track to other tracks can be effected in
such manner that any predetermined changing of the position of the
signal on the signal carrier, e g the magnetisable disc 7 can take
place The slot 31 ' of the sensing head 31 is in the same angular
position as the slot 320 of the first of the recording heads 32, the
slots 321, 322 32 ' of the other recording heads being progressively
advanced angularly with respect to that of the previous recording
heads by the extent of one digit value field.
Fig 4 d represents the same set of heads as shown in Fig 4 c but in
the working position relatively to a magnetisable signal carrier or
record means in the form of a disc, namely disc 13, this set of heads
being able to change the position of signals in dependence on switches
(not shown) and operating with one sensed track a and a track b
divided into ten sub-tracks arranged side-by-side.
Fig 4 e shows an alternative arrangement in which such a set of heads
operates with only two tracks a and b, track b not being subdivided
The disc lies in the slots of the heads, these being in line and
signals are sensed in track a and recorded in track b The arrangement
shown in Fig 4 d has the advantage that the several slots can be
arranged much closer to each other, whereas the arrangement shown in
Fig 4 e is that it requires no more space for track b than for track
a.
The signals for digit values or other information may be recorded in
different ways, and may be of different forms, some of which are
illustrated diagrammatically in Figs 4 f to 4 t.
The Figs 4 f to 4 t showing different types of signals which may be
used are selfexplanatory to those versed in the art of recording, and
therefore only some explanation is given In these Figures the diagrams
may be taken to represent a length of track equal to a sub-sector e g
170, containing the fields 18 -.
In Fig 4 f may be seen a signal forming a complete wave length of 360
in each field,
786,033 a plurality of signal heads which may be made effective
selectively and which trace circumferential tracks on a drum In Figs 5
a, 5 b and 6 a, the track 24 a the right hand side of the Fig
represents a part of one of such tracks.
These Figures show that a plurality of signal heads 32 ' is provided
(compare Fig 4 c) displaced relatively to each other lengthwise of the
track, namely in positions circumferentially of the drum The same
arrangement may be adapted with a displacement of the heads axially of

48. the drum These signal heads are selectively switchable in dependence
on a control mechanism including a rotatable time or sector switch
having contacts 391-39 N and a rotating switch 42 on a pivot 40, this
switch operating in synchronism with the rotation of the drum whereby
at any given time instant in a cycle of rotation any one of the signal
heads 32 may be made effective selectively under the control of a
selective programme.
In Figs 5 a and 5 b the time or sector switch is shown as having its
contacts 391 'n connected to the vertical rows 351-n of a panel or
full keyboard in which the horizontal rows 36 _ are connected to one
end of the respective signal head windings, the other ends of the
windings being connected in parallel to an amplifier circuit, to which
also the contact arm 42 is connected This amplifier circuit amplifies
signals sensed by sensing head 31 from a signal track which may be on
the same signal carrier as the track 24 or on another signal carrier
The Figures 5 a-5 b illustrate a method of computing by displacing
signals which is set forth in detail in my co-pending Application No
15773/50 (Serial No 786,021).
Instead of an electromechanical time or sector switch a magnetically
or electrically operated distributing means may be used as shown for
example at 451-n and 46 in Fig.
6 a Further, instead of a panel or full keyboard, there may be used an
arrangement of electric or electronic relays, or other magnetic or
elec-tronic gates or the like, operated in dependence on punched
cards, punched tapes, magnetic or optical tapes or other record or
storage means, operating on the basis of signals stored or recorded by
means of a change in the magnetic or electric state of the record
material of such means, as set forth in varying forms in my co-pending
Application No 15773/50 (Serial No 786,021), and described in some
forms below.
Such electronically operated gates are illustrated as electronic relay
tubes 43 '9, with their respective pentodes 44 '', co-ordinated to the
several signal heads 32 -.
Fig 6 b shows the sensing and/or recording of signals from unities of
magnetic tapes 46 a and 46 b, being adapted to record signals in
vertical rows (columns) and/or lines according numerical values etc
The operation of this mechanism is described fully in my co-pending
Application for Patent No 37215/54 (Serial No 786,034) The said
unities may be used in their sequence on the tape instead of punched
cards, each unity taking over all the tasks and possibilities for
control found in a punch card 70 punched in comparable arrangements
The tapes are used as input and output means for the
rotation-symmetrical storage, effecting a co-operation between
respective unities and corresponding storage areas in such storage 75

49. Therefore, signals in the different columns may represent soraing
numbers or characters or other sorting control records, address
numbers, and numbers for computation, including denomination and digit
values The signals in 80 a unity may also represent function signals
indicating for instance arithmetical processes such as addition or
subtraction; supplementary control signals equivalent to holes punched
in the "overhead" rows of a punched card, and 85 signals controlling
other operation means as for instance means for the selecting of
particular unities, sequence changing whilst duplicating the record,
and using the unities having the supplementary control signais as
master 90 records for the control of multiplying arrangements, for
sorting, mixing and so on, as in punched card practice.
Fig 6 b shows, for a better understanding of the principle, a
simplified arrangement in 95 which signals for characters or digit
values are recorded successively in -the sequence of the transverse
column 47 %", beginning at vertical column 471 and ending at vertical
column 4780, comparable to the successive punching of 10) punched
cards having 80 columns The circuit is provided with a selecting
switch shown in Fig 6 d and comprising the rotatable disc 48 with
tooth 48 a, one pair of primary/secondary coils 49 and 50 on their
iron core 51 and, as 105 shown in Fig 6 b, with a discharge tube 52
and a one-rotation clutch relay 53/54, allowing an effectiveness of
the selecting switch for only one rotation.
The core 51 of the pair of coils 49 and 50 110 is closed at its upper
end and open at the lower end The tooth 48 a, for one timing instant
during one rotation of disc 48, closes the magnetic way from the
primary to the secondary coil If, during this rotation, the 115
primary coil 49 is excited by D C from the positive pole 55 via a
resistance 56, the closed switch 54 of the relay 53 and the primary
winding 49 to the negative pole 57, a voltage surge is induced within
the secondary coil 50 120 at this instant and the discharge tube 52 is
ignited If the signals are recorded as amplitude signals and the
to-and-fro movement of the signal head system 58 (as explained in my
co-pending Application No 37215/54 125 (Serial No 786,034) is
synchronized with the rotation of disc 48, in that during the movement
of the signal heads in arrow-direction 59 the said disc turns once,
then the ignition of the discharge tube 52 effects a recording of 130
786,033 by means of a negative impulse to the control grid of a
pentode (not shown), cutting off the plate circuit of said pentode and
the circuit of the discharge tubes 70 9.
If for instance signal transfers are fto be 70 effected from a
continuously running tape to signal carriers having a cyclic movement
relative to conveying means, e g a to-and-fro movement of signal head
systems in the case of tapes, and of magnetizable rotating drums 75 or

50. discs, or a cathode ray movement in the case of a cathode ray tube
screen storage, etc, for the purpose of storing, computing, sorting or
the like, the reliability of the transfer is absolutely independent of
mechanical tolerances 80 or clearances Every wanted connection between
relay tubes 70 and any controlled elements of an office machine can be
effected so that, over a plug switch board or the like every desired
column transposition is obtained for the intro 85 duction of signals
into computors, printing devices or the like, which are equally
applicable to columnwise re-arrangement in cooperation with
intermediate storage preferably in the form of magnetizable cyclically
operat 90 ing drums, discs or the like.
If, during the recording a lateral movement of the recording heads 71
will be effective by one track, whereas the tape itself is moved on
stepwisely by one unity, stepwisely displaced 95 recordings are
obtained, allowing a larger signal capacity on account of the distance
between the parallel operating signal heads.
Distributing means for the selective control of sensing and/or
recording means for signals 100 or groups of signals operating through
a mechanical coupling of such distributing means to the rotating shaft
of the signal carrier are shown in Figs 7 a to 7 e as an inductively
operated distributor 105 The inductive distributor according to Figs.
7 a-d comprises in stator 72 a circle of ten primary coils 73 -9 and
ten secondary coils 74 '9, the cores 75 and 76 of which are on their
one side connected with each other in 110 pairs by the yokes 77 Fig 7
a shows the sideview of the distributor and Fig 7 c shows a section on
line A-B of Fig 7 a The rotor 78 is fixed on the shaft 79 by a key 80
in a defined position relative to the record means, 115 e.g a
magnetizable drum or disc This rotor is of starlike form with teeth 8
W 1 and, in the example, has nine such teeth equally spaced so that
between the 9 parts of the rotor and between the ten parts of the
stator there is a 120 vernier-like displacement during rotor movement
in the direction of the arrow 82 This is used for the purpose of the
digit value distribution for the digit value signals 0-9 in the
different sectors of the record means 125 The rotor 78 is fixed by its
key 80 on shaft 79 in such a way that, in the timing instant in which,
e g according to Fig 5 a, the digit value field 0 in track is below
the slot 310 of the sensing head 31, the tooth 81 of the star 130 such
signals in a definite timing instant, i e.
within a definite transverse row of the tape and within that
horizontal row a track of the tape at which the signal head is
switched on.
The ignition of the discharge tube 52 has the further effect that the
relay 53 opens the switch 54, thereby preventing further excitation of
the primary winding 49.

51. If the coil 50/51 is moved stepwisely orthe like rotation by rotation,
as shown in Figs 7 a and 7 b, a relative stepping-on of recording,
sensing and/or erasing of signals can be effective similarly to the
manner set forth in rny co-pending Application No 15773/50 (Serial No
786,021).
Instead of a parallel arrangement of signal heads as shown in Fig 6 b,
a serial arrangement may be used, including sensing means for signals
in a synchronizing track (magnetic or photographic) for effecting
synchronisation, and other signal heads for information signals
recorded in relationship to said synchronizing signals on a basis of
time or locality Such an arrangement is shown in Fig 6 c, where signal
head 60 senses in track 60 a a signal for effecting synchronisation
and supplies the sensed synchronization frequency to the control grid
of pentode 61.
The amplified control frequency, if a saw tooth frequency, effects
horizontal linewise deflections, or, if a sinusoidal frequency, as
shown in Fig 6 c, effects a circular deflection of the cathode ray The
control frequency is transferred to the deflecting plates 62 of the
tube 63 and is shifted by 90 relatively to the deflecting plates 62 a,
so that the cathode ray rotates in definite relation to the phase of
the control frequency As a modification, instead of artificially
shifting the phase, two separate control frequencies, off-set by 900,
could be recorded By this means the distributor is independent of any
mechanical part, and can easily be synchronized by sensing previously
recorded signals, or by transmitted or simultaneously symbolized
signals The sectors 64 9 of the sensitive screen of tube 63 will emit
secondary electrons, when hit by a cathode ray of sufficient intensity
The intensity is controlled by grid 65 of the cathode ray tube 63
Plate 66 is connected to the secondary emitting sectors 64 via the
respective high ohmic resistances 67 -, effecting a voltage drop, if
secondary electrons are emitted, i e if the bias of control grid 65
has become less negative, when a signal is sensed by signal head 68
and is amplified by pentode 69.
This voltage drop is supplied to the control grid of the co-ordinated
discharge tube 70 9 and ignites it After the ignition of one tube, the
others will be blocked, if the resistances are correspondingly
dimensioned, and only that one of the switching ways is actuated which
corresponds to the timing position of the sensed signal The extinction
of the discharge tubes is effected at an exact time instant e g.
786,033 like rotor 78 is exactly opposite the cores 75 and 76 of the
pair of coils 730 and 740, connected magnetically by the stationary
yoke 77.
The magnetic resistance is very low at that instant, when the tooth
810 connects the primary coil 730 magnetically to the secondary coil

52. 74 " in the way of a transformer; and if a digit value signal " O "
has been recorded on track a it will be sensed at that instant In all
other pairs of coils there is no inductive connection and therefore
they have a high magnetic resistance A sensed signal " O " therefore,
supplied to all the primary coils 73 will generate a signal only in
the secondary coil 740, being the only one that is magnetically
connected to its primary at that instant.
If in the next instant the field of the digit value " 1 " is below the
slot 31 of the sensing head 31, the connection of the coils 731 and
741 is effected by the tooth 811 Similarly, in the timing instant "
2," the coils 732 and 742 are connected via the tooth 812 etc, until,
after " 9 " the inductive distributor begins again with " 0 " For a
better understanding, in Fig 7 a there was chosen a vernier division,
at which in one rotation of the rotor each coil will be effective nine
times, giving a total of 90 fields in the secors I-X It is evident
that where 13 sectors are used, each sub-divided into 40 digit value
fields, suitable modifications will be made to the rotor and stator By
reason of using the vernier divisions larger coil intervals can be
allowed On the same principle, there could be an arrangement with the
teeth in the zero-position of each sector and ten primary and
secondary coils in the stator fields 0, 1,
2, 3 9 of the same or of the following sector.
As Fig 7 d shows, the primary coils 73 9 are connected in series and
via transformer 82 to a discharge circuit (not shown) controlled by
sensing head 31 (compare Fig 5 a) At that instant in which a digit
value signal is sensed by the sensing head 31 in track a a current
surge is generated which is given to the primary coils 73 ' A movable
magnetic tooth 81 connects one of the secondary coils 74 ' with the
corresponding primary coil so that within this secondary coil a
voltage surge is generated, which corresponds to the respective digit
value signal " 0-9 " Such a voltage surge is used for the ignition or
exciting of one or another of the relays connected to each secondary
coil, for instance a discharge relay 83 ', by means of which output or
storage means can be connected in accordance with the timed instant of
digit value signals.
By means of such a distributing switch a stroboscopic visual
indication of the signals, sensed from record means, e g a
magnetizable disc, can be effected such as is shown in my co-pending
Application No 37205/54 (Serial No 786,026), or other indicating means
may be operated.
Fig 7 e shows in perspective the practical design of an inductive
distributor switch with rotor 84, teeth 85 '-, primary and secondary
coils 86 ' and 87 ' respectively on yokes 88, with a further rotor 89
of a contact switch, pairs of gliding brushes 90 and 91 and contact

53. 92, for another distributing switch, e g the sector switch.
Referring now to Fig 8, there is shown an arrangement of double-entry
magnetic gates 939-9 to 94 '', in each of which the one entry is
co-ordinated for the selection of groups of signals indicated by the
tubes 95 -9 and the other entry is co-ordinated for a further
selection within the selected group, indicated by an excitement of the
tubes 96-9, by a cross-wise or matrix arrangement In the case shown
both combinations allow, e g in a decimal system, a selection of any
of one of groups, by only two ten-fold entry phases.
If ten such arrangements of magnetic gates are used selections of any
of 1000 groups can be made, requiring only ten further entering means
Selected timed signals may be taken from such arrangement by
electronic tubes 970 O or 98 "'' selectively, opening and closing the
switching ways to recording signal heads 99 and 100 in selected time
periods according to the control by the two-entry excitements of said
gates Sucii excitements may also be effected by signals sensed from
magnetizable record means The Figure shows such selectively by signal
heads 311 and 312 which after amplification by amplifier 101 influence
via a distributing means e g the magnetic distributing means 102 '-9
and 103 the control grids of said electronic tubes 95 "' effecting the
one entry to the gate.
Fig 9 shows the co-operation between a storage drum 104 and output
means 105, via selective electronic distributing means 106 which means
is synchronized electrically with the rotation of the drum by signals
in the synchronizing track of said drum and allowing in each time
instant during a cycle of operation the control of only one of the
relay tubes 107 '" in spite of a delivering of information signals to
the combined arrangement of the electronic distributing means 106 and
relay tubes 1071-n The output means 105 is a diagrammatic
representation of the printing device forming the subject of my
co-pending Application for Patent No 37206/54.
Fig 9 also shows the possible use of magnetic tape in the same way The
circuit shown in this Fig is described more fully in my co-pending
Application No 37208/54 (Serial No 786,028).
Referring now to Fig 10, a transfer from a record means in the form of
a drum to a tape, or the reverse, in a selective way is shown.
Both record means shown have corresponding tracks 107, 108 for signals
which effect synchronisation, which signals are transferred from the
one or the other track in the same defined BC 112 786,033 and/or
recording means when the comparison between the two sequences of
signals is equal.
The gates may be electronic tubes The signals may be delivered to the
comparing device in repeated changes of sequence during each cycle 70
of said cyclic relative movement and the repetition of the change of

54. sequence may be a constant repetition.
The number of chains in the gate may be equal to the number of
denominations required 75 to indicate any signals or groups of signals
to be selected in the signal carrier Also each gate may control only
two switching ways the number of gates required in the comparing
device being equal to the number of denomina 80 tions required in a
binary number to indicate any signal or group of signals in the signal
carrier.
Such selective programme control may also include a selected sensing
of signals or groups 85 of signals in one track and the recording of
them in other parts of the same or other record means The selective
programme may also be according to a selected recording as well as a
selected sensing of signals 90 When a "Yes" and "No" system of signal
symbolizing is used, the selective control may be by sequences of
signals in different systems and may include address signals,
information signals, control signals and any other required 95 signals
For example the sequences may be in a binary system, or in a decimal
or other numeral system, or may represent alphabetic characters, or
coded words or information of any kind These address and/or control
signals 100 in selected areas or localities may indicate what is to be
done with information contained in successive areas of the same signal
carrier and/or areas of one or more other signal carriers co-ordinated
therewith 105 As shown in my co-pending Application No.
37220/54 (Serial No 786,039), stored signals selected according to one
system of representation (such as shorthand symbols or Oriental
written characters) may control means for 110 sensing signals
according to another representation, so that for example a
transliteration from one alphabet to another may be effected.
The address signals may be signal sequences, say for instance
according to the binary system 115 representing groups of characters
such as syllables, words and so on as may be used for coding, and
decoding e g for tele-communication or even for transformations into
other sequences for the same information in 120 another system of
representation, whereby even such difficult tasks may be solved as to
the printing in Oriental characters of words recorded in Roman
characters.
In the selecting device of Figs lla-lid 125 a universal electronic
switch selecting means is combined with the group of electronic
switches 124-126, 127-129 and 130-132, and with the switches 133-135
The number of groups of switches used depends on the 130 timed/local
relationship to information signals, also transferred selectively from
the one record means to the other This relationship between signals
which effect synchronisation and information signals is preferably
obtained when both signals are transferred at the same time.

55. Fig 10 shows a recording device in which the signals are recorded at
first on a magnetizable drum 109 (This could be a disc or the like)
The recording heads 110 a' connected with the keys 111 -', a-e of a
keyboard, correspond to the recording heads of Fig 6 b in their
function The coils 112 and 113 and discharge tube 114 in connection
with the magnetic yoke 115 operate in similar way to coils 49 and 50
and discharge tubes 52, shown in Fig 6 b The transfer of signals and
of control frequencies from the drum 109 to the tape is effected only
when all the required signals are recorded on said drum The recording
on this drum is effected by means of the key contacts 111 in
co-operation with the inductive switch 112, 113, 116 The significance
of the superscription 0-9, a-e is explained in my co-pending
Application for Patent No 15773/50 (Serial No 786,021).
The information signals on the drum are sensed by sensing heads 117 -9
a and are transferred via pentode 118 and signal heads 119 to the tape
120, whereas the control frequency is sensed by signal head 121 and
transferred via pentode 122 and signal head 123 to the synchronization
track 108 of said tape 120.
A signal generator may be provided which is arranged to synchronize
both the said cyclic relative movement and the operation speed of the
input and/or output means, intermediate storage or the like, or
computing, indicating or other means The cathode ray may be deflected
in synchronism either in dependence on signals sensed from the
synchronising track of the signal carrier or on signals from a signal
generator common to both, and may sense or record signals from or on
the storage screen of a cathode ray storage tube of a computor.
Signals may be transferred from or to the record means in dependence
on an equality or non-equality in a comparing device comparing signal
sequences from the record means with signal sequences from another
source Such a comparing device may include a chain of gates, each gate
being controlled on the one hand by one of the signals to be compared
and on the other hand by the other signal to be compared, the said
chain providing a continuous signal path if the comparison in all the
gates of the chain is equal.
The signal sequences recorded on the signal carrier, or on a record
means operating in synchronism with such carrier may influence a set
of co-ordinated 2-entry gates such gates being included in a comparing
device to which other sequences are delivered, and the comparing
device delivering a control signal influencing switching means
co-ordinated to the sensing 786,033 number of combination symbol
elements necessary to arrive at the number of combinations desired The
possibilities are almost indefinite.
The de-coding, by means of which the position in the storage means is
determined in which the desired signals may be found, will be

56. described hereafter The selection system illustrated in Figs lla-d can
be used with any form of rotation-symmetrical storage coming within
the scope of the appended claims.
The gas discharge tube 126 is controlled by means of a sensing head
133 mounted above the inductive wheel 134 a shown in the development
in Fig llc Although in the drawing the selecting means is shown as a
rotating inductive element (similar to those set forth in my
co-pending Application No.
37220/54 (Serial No 786,039)) any other suitable form of selector may
be adapted, e g a -0 contact selector, an optical selector or the
like.
The address of multi-column coding signal sequence requires an
electronic determination of the respective position synchronous with
the relative movement by means of a symbolized element sequence and
besides a device comparing this determination with a special
symbolized signal frequency The sensing head 133 of the gas discharge
tube 126 is arranged over the induction wheel 134 a '(Fig lid) and
sensing head 135 of discharge tube 129 over the indication wheel 136,
sensing head 137 of gas discharge tube 132 over the induction wheel
138, and so on.
If gas discharge tube 126 is not ignited the pentode 124 is blocked,
whereas pentode is open, the voltage of the screen grid of pentode 124
being given by the cathode resistances 139, 140 of the gas discharge
tube 126, whereas the suppressor grid of pentode 125 has the same
potential as the cathode of this tube as long as the tube 126 is not
ignited.
As soon as the discharge tube 126 is ignited the pentodes 124 and 125
change with respect to their opening, i e pentode 124 is "open" while
pentode 125 is blocked, pentode 124 having received its screen grid
voltage, whereas the cathode of pentode 125 has become positive with
regard to its suppressor grid potential.
Contact 141 has either position a or position b depending on which of
two positions the first element of the combination requires.
Signals sensed from a storage by sensing head 142 will pass the switch
141, in position a only if gas discharge tube 126 is ignited, i.e if
pentode 124 is open In position b of the switch 141 no signal
transmission from sensing head 142 is possible with open pentode 124,
the necessary circuit being interrupted by means of said switch 141.
The circuit of gas discharge tube 126 is adjusted to a frequency which
opens pentode 124 and blocks pentode 125 after a period corresponding
to the rotation of the induction wheel 134 a from one tooth to the
next The signals induced in signal heads 142, 143 are always effective
at a position corresponding to the middle of the space between two
adjacent teeth on said wheel, the wheels being adjusted relatively to

57. the storage means for that pur 70 pose.
Within the second group of pentodes 127, 128 with gas discharge tube
129 the same process takes place, i e the signals transmitted by
signals heads 142 and 143 are only further 75 transmitted if the gas
discharge tube 129 is extinguished, i e if pentode 128 is open if the
switch 144 is in position b.
According to Figs 1 ic and lid, the control of the relative opening
and blocking of pentodes 80 124, 125 is shown by way of wheel 134,
136, 138 Pentode 124 is opened during the period represented by the
upper half of wheel 134 (Fig llc) in each rotation and closed during
the period represented by the lower half, i e 85 pentode 124 is open
during the first 1800 of one rotation, whereas during the next 1800 of
a rotation pentode 125 is open With the next switch group, pentode 127
is open and pentode 128 is closed from 0 to 900 and from 180 to 90
2700 in each rotation of wheel 136, whereas pentode 127 is closed and
pentode 128 is open from 900 to 1800 and from 2700 to 3600 in each
rotation.
This automatic opening and closing of the 95 electronic switches
during each rotation brings about the combination of automatically
opened and " blocked " switches with the preset positions a and b of
the switches 141, 144, 145 or corresponding relay contacts, keyboard
con 100 tacts or the like.
To avoid a too strong amplification of the signals produced in the
sensing heads 142 and 143 transmission to the control grid of the next
tube is provided by means of a tapping 105 of the respective anode
resistor In the drawing, only the first two and the last of the chain
of switches is shown.
There may of course be any number in the chain Thus, only those
signals from the sensing 110 heads 142 and 143 are transmitted through
the whole chain of switches, when the electronic switches, in
combination with the position of the pre-set switches establish a
continuous circuit 115 In the movement at which the combination of the
switches 141, 144 and 145 and so on corresponds to the combination
according to the diagram at the top of Fig 1 la a signal runs from the
sensing heads 142, or 143 120 through the chain and ignites the gas
discharge tube 146 (Fig 1 lb) causing a flash tube to light by means
of its discharge circuit The flash tube may for example be the tube
150 shown in my co-pending Application for 125 Patent No 15773/50
filed 23rd June, 1950 (Serial No 786,021).
As set forth in that Application there is a series of flash tubes, or
with a corresponding mask arrangement, a single flash tube behind 13 (
786,033 time of the 7-position combination, if the same limiting
frequency is used.
The speed of tele-printing with the usual transmission channels and

58. with sub-audio frequencies or the multiple transmission on or 70 along
wires or the like has hitherto been limited by the mechanical speeds
attainable With the present invention a 15-element-combination may
have the same transmission velocities as are obtainable with the
7-element-combination 75 despite mechanical limitations The 15-element
combination allows of printing automatically about 30 000 different
words or syllables, whereas the 7-element-combination allows of the
printing of only 32 different characters 80 By this invention
therefore relative high efficiencies may be obtained without
additional mechanical means, the printer being simpler than with the
usual tele-printers.
Digit pulses may be used in the same way 85 instead of "current"-"no
current" combination elements If for instance the area of the rotating
or like storage means to be sensed corresponds to a determined digit,
this method is used In the case of numbers, consisting for 90 instance
of five digits e g logarithm tables or tables for other mathematical
functions, or tables for deductions from wages or the like it is also
possible to use a chain of five electronic and pre-set switches
corresponding to 95 the pentodes 124, 125 and gas discharge tube 126,
these being controlled either by means of inductive sensing means
corresponding to those of the gas discharge tube 129 or by means of
the deflection of a ray of light or the 100 like, combined with a
photocell and a gas discharge tube.
By adapting ten sensing heads and selecting corresponding to the digit
to the one to be sensed, the gas discharge tube 126 is ignited 105only
during that moment at which the selected digit is sensed On the
sensing stored of photosignals on the rotating storage means, the
symbols for respective areas are indicated on the storage means These
symbols may be 110 synchronized by means of a slotted horizontally or
vertically in dependnce on the keys of a keyboard or the like, or by
means of a mirror controlled by a magnetic coil, piezo-electric
crystal or the like, or by means of the projec 115 tion of the
fluorescent spot on the screen of a cathode ray tube or otherwise
Thus, not only mechanical settings but also purely electric signals
permit of an optical selection by means of the excitation of a coil or
of an active 120 crystal.
Instead of continuously "switching on and off" within all groups at
each "single tooth," the 1st group (opening of pentode 124 and closing
of pentode 125) may be switched on for 125 instance during the whole
first half of a rotation by means of the ignition of tube 126 by one
tooth, and its extinction after rotation of the wheel 134 for 1800 by
means of a second tooth including a voltage pulse in a second coil,
130 an optical record means, containing in different areas symbols of
the different letters contained in a syllable or word, which is to be

59. printed or otherwise indicated By means of the arrangement of a mask
with an additional concentric slot movable sidewise step by step from
the middle to the edge, line after line or the symbols is represented
Instead of this movable mask a rotating mask with circular slots,
staggered relatively to each other by one step may be provided, or
there may be a stepwise sensing in the direction of rotation.
In correspondence with the symbols illuminated by means of said flash
tube, one or another of the photo-discharge tubes 147 (one only is
shown) provided for the ten digit values and additionally a
photo-discharge tube provided one for each of the additional symbols,
e g.
indicating the letters of the alphabet, is ignited.
These photo discharge tubes may also excite printing signal sequences
for dot and line printers for example as described in my copending
Applications for Patent Nos 37201/ 54 and 37203/54 (Serial Nos 786,022
and 786,024) The secondary windings of the printing lever coils would
be excited correspondingly by the signal sequences which are necessary
for the printing of the selected symbols.
After the ignition of these discharge photo cells, which may also be
normal gas discharge tubes controlled by means of photo-cells, the
process is perfectly similar to the above described converting method
To succeed in arranging the signal sequences for each character on
each rotation, character by character, in a continuous step-by-step
movement, a special discharge switch is provided, the sensing coil of
which is energized successively.
In the said secondary windings a voltage pulse would 'be induced only
when the corresponding distributor cam passes this coil system.
The coil system moves step-by-step around the periphery This
excitation is caused when during the rotation of the drum the position
is reached at which the next letter is to be printed.
The printing is provided by means of the discharge tubes 148, 149, 150
with the relative recording heads 151, 152, 153.
The combination switches 141, 144 and 145 are set according to the
purpose in hand.
Using this method of coding of combinations by means of translation
into sequences of dot and line printing for instance, to accelerate
tele-printing with sub-audio frequencies on telephone-lines, the
contacts a and b are switched by means of the usual distributor, which
is used in all teleprinters The relays are energized at the various
positions of the distributor, according to whether the distributor
delivers a "current" or "no current" pulse.
With a combination of usual structure, seven symbol elements are
necessary for each character, including a "start" and "stop" symbol.
A 15-position-combination of the same type requires on

60. tele-transmission about double the 786,033 12 786,033 controlling for
instance an additional pentode in the discharge circuit of the tube
126 to extinguish that tube.
In another modification (not illustrated) the 3 opening of pentode 124
is effective by ignition of the gas discharge tube 126 thereby
increasing the screen grid voltage, whereas this pentode is closed by
means of another gas discharge tube effecting a positive voltage drop
at the cathode resistor thereby biassing its suppressor grid
negatively with regard to the cathode Thus the pentode is open only
during a period controlled by means of an opening signal at the
sensing head 133 in association with one tooth of the wheel The second
pentode of Fig 11 a operates inversely and is therefore opened by
means of the ignition of the said second gas discharge tube and closed
by means of gas discharge tube 126.
This type of operation may correspondingly be used to select pulse
sequences representing numbers (for example logarithms and other
constants) the first group being controlled by means of tubes 124, 125
etc according to the first digit of the number, the second group
according to the 2nd digit, and so on The recorded-track
synchronisation illustrated in Fig 6 c, and the sonic-wheel
synchronisation illustrated in Figs 11 c-d can be used to synchronise
any suitable type of distributor from the rotation-symmetrical
storage.
The sensing of impulse sequences from a selective storage may be used
likewise for the selecting, coding and de-coding, so that the
combination signal may be sensed from tracks of the signal carrier The
different tracks of the selective storage may be sensed by the sensing
heads in such a way, that the corresponding series of tracks are
sensed by those sensing heads The switching on the sensing head in
question is either achieved by means of a co-ordinated pentode, being
"opened" by means of an electronic switch, as described above, or
magnetic gates and/or switches, including diodes, such as copper-oxide
or selenium rectifier-cells, allowing the passes of the impulse
sequences only, if a voltage drop is put to them in the flux
direction, whereby the voltage drop will be produced, e g by the
igniting of a relay tube Finally the switching on can be effected by
contacts and relays The impulses can either be arranged in different
tracks, or in different sectors of the rotating drum In the latter
case the arrangement of the impulses must be set-off in such a way,
that at each sector for every symbol the sequences can be derived
from.
The selective storage means may be provided in such a form that
multiplying, dividing, raising to powers and extraction of roots and
so on may be effected by means of adding, subtracting, multiplying,

61. dividing etc of logarithms, and wherein switching means are provided,
which control the selection of digitvalue signals for functions,
tables of constants and the like, including those dependent in series
with intermediate storages such as nomograms (up to now usually
recorded only visually in books) in dependence on computing signals
effected from the keyboard, in storages or the like, in dependence on
computing signals to be processed and/or in dependence on selected
computing signals, and wherein further switching means are provided,
which transfer the corresponding logarithms into computers.
According to another feature of this invention means is provided for
effecting different speeds of cyclic relative movement at different
lines selectively, so that for example recording and sensing of the
same signals may be carried out at different speeds.
The invention may include the recording of signals once only, for
instance at a low speed from another means for example via a
telecommunicating system, and their repeated sensing at a higher
speed, and for a repeated synchronized transfer to a visual indicating
device such as the fluorescent screen of a cathode ray tube, so as to
effect an apparent continuous image of digits, characters or the like
arranged in one or more lines as set forth in my co-pending
Application No 37222/54 (Serial No 786,041).
I do not claim any storage means in which the arrangement is such
that, in normal operation, signals are maintained in storage upon the
signal carrier by sensing and re-recording, in each cycle of movement,
the whole of the signals in storage Subject to the foregoing dis-
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