US2362004A - Analyzing device - Google Patents

Description

Nova 7,, M944 w w. HEIDINGER ANALYZING DEVICE Filed May 28, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 M m m N 1 ATTORNEYS.

Nov. "7 1944. W. HEHDHNGER ANALYZING DEVICE Filed May 28, 1940 5 Sheeis-Sheez 5 I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Nov T7 3944. W. HEEDINGER ANALYZING DEVICE Filed May 28, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INID/ENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Novo 7 1944. w. HEKDINGER ANALYZING DEVICE Filed May 28, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 W %v1 /E TOR.

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ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 7, 1944 ANALYZING DEVICE Willy Heldinger, Pocking, Germany, asslgnor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May as, 1940, Serial No. 337,663 In Germany May 31, 1939 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in an analyzing device and relates more particularly to analyzing devices capable of analyzing character designation marks by means of light responsive devices.

In the present invention a plurality of photoelectric analyzing means are provided for analyzing the novel coded designation marks representing characters. The characters are represented by one or more designation marks, which marks, for example, are circular in shape and of difierent areas; thus, for illustrative purposes, the characters are represented by one or two circular designation marks, the areas of which are varied in accordance with a prearranged code. A pair of photoelectric analyzing means are provided for analyzing the said designation marks and are conditioned by the difierent marks by subjecting the analyzing means to difierent amounts of light upon examination of the designation marks to produce different current values, in the output circuits of the analyzing means. The different current values are impressed upon associated current responsive devices, such as marginal relays, to effect the selection of predetermined circuits from a plurality of such control circuits. The selected control circuits are arranged to control the operations of various types of character indicating or manifesting devices.

An object of the invention therefore resides in the provision of analyzin means capable of analyzing character designation marks, varying in size in accordance with a predetermined code, for producing diiferent controlling effects, such as causing difierential current values to be initiated upon analyzation thereof.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of photoelectric analyzing means capable of analyzing character designation marks differing in size for controlling the operation of associated marginal current responsive devices.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of analyzing means of the type referred to for controlling the selection of pre-- determined control circuits from a group for controlling the operation of character manifesting means in accordance with the character designation marks analyzed.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed ut in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Figs. 1 and 2 are diagrams showing two different arrangements of character designation marks varying in size and number in accordance with a prearranged code, with the related characters.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a preferred code of designation marks for numerical and alphacuits for another type of character manifesting device.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 several arrangements of the characters and associated character designation marks on the records will be described. The held or area reserved on the record for the printed character is indicated by the rectangular area i wherein a character 2 is formed or disposed. The fields or areas reserved on the record for the associated upper designation marks are indicated by the circular areas 0a to 0e, and for the lower designation marks by the areas Ua to Ue. In the said areas upper and lower designation marks of predetermined sizes and areas are formed which are indicated by the reference numerals 30 and 3x1, respectively.

According to the example shown in Fig. 1 the corresponding designation marks are disposed above and below the printed characters, whereas in Fig. 2 the designation marks are shown disposed above and below a fictive reference line 4. Upon examination of a prearranged code shown in Fig. 3, it is seen that some of the characters 2 have one associated designation mark (upper or lower) and that others have two associated designation marks (upper and lower). The relative sizes or areas of the individual designation marks (upper and lower) of the code are shown in Fig. 3.

Referring now to Fig. 4 the means provided for analyzing the designation marks will be described and in addition thereto the means for selecting control circuits in accordance with the combinations of designation marks analyzed and for energizing the selected circuits to effect operati n of the corresponding control elements of a suitable character indicating or manifesting de vice will be described.

In Fig. 4 the reference numeral 5 designates a record provided with one or a plurality of sets of the characters 2 and associated designation marks 30, and 311 shown in Figs. 1 to 3. Any suitable means may be provided for feeding the records. A light projecting device 6 is provided to project the rays of light to the areas on the record where the designation marks are disposed. A pair of lens-systems I receive the light reflected from the code areas on the record where the said marks might appear, and transmit it to the associated photoelectric cells so and 8, respectively. It is evident that the quantity or amount of light directed to each cell is in proportion to the size or area of the upper and lower designation marks presented in the focal field of the lenssystcm; and, that with a large designation mark a small amount of light is directed to the corres onding photoelectric cell, whereas with a smaller designation mark a larger amount of light is directed thereto. Obviously, when no designation mark is present at the designating areas the maximum amount of light is reflected and directed to the cell.

The said cells 80 and Bu are connected directly to suitable amplifiers 90 and Su respectively, which amplifiers in turn are connected to individual groups of relay windings 0-! la to 0-4 la and U--l la to U-l is by conductors I00 and In, respectively. The relay windings in each group. namely, the upper group and lower group, are connected in series to the related conductors I00 and i0 respectively, and the windings of each relay of each group are proportioned so that the relays of each group operate as marginal current responsive relays. Thus, for different current values impressed upon the relay windings of a group different relays of the said group will be operated accordingly. These groups of marginal current responsive relays will be referred to hereinbelow as differentially operable units. The said cells and corresponding amplifiers are arranged so that when the cells receive the maximum amount of light the amplifiers are conditioned so that a minimum or substantially zero current flow is produced in the related output circuit.

Thus, it is seen that during the analyzing operations when no designation marks appear on the record there is substantially no current flow produced in the output circuits of the said amplifiers. However, during the analyzing operations when a designation mark of the size indicated by De or Uc (Fig. ll appears on the record, a small amount of light is reflected and direct d to the cell to cause a current flow of maximum value in the output circuit thereof.

The relays Ol la to O-I la and U-l la to U- l le are proportioned in such a way, that current flow of minimum value is effective to operate relay O-l i or U-I la and a current flow of maximum value is effective to operate relay O-l le or U-I ie. For example, the contacts I! associated with relay O-| la or Ul la are transferred when a designating mark of the size 0a or Ua is analyzed. Upon analyzation of a designation mark of th size Ob or Ub the relay windings O-|la and O-Ilb or U-lla and Ullb are energized sufficiently to effect transfer of the associated contacts, and finally upon analyzation of designation marks of the size Oe or Us the relay windings O-lla to O-I le or Ul la to Ul le are energized sufll-ciently to effect transfer of all the associated contacts.

Now it will be seen, upon analyzation of the designation marks, and depending upon the numher and size thereof designating the different characters, that different combinations of the relays O-|la to O-lle and UHa to Ulle are operated to eifect the selection and energization of various control elements such as solenoids I! included in the selected circuits, which control elements are effective to control the operatlons of suitable character indicating devices in accordance with the character designation marks analyzed. Assume now that the designation marksof the character W" are analyzed. The minimum amount of light is reflected and directed to th cells and Bu to cause a current of maximum value to flow in the conductors I00 and Wu, respectively, and effecting energization and operation of all the relays O-I la to 0-! is and U-I Ia to U-l is thereby effecting a transfer of all the associated contacts l2. The following circuit is selected and can be traced from the positive terminal of the power supply !5, transferred contacts l2 associated with the upper group of relays, conductor Be, the W solenoid I1, conductor Me, transferred contacts l2 associated with the lower group of relays, switch l6, and negative terminal of the power supply [5, energizing the said solenoid.

Upon analyzation of the designation mark for the character 1. the cell 80 is activated by the light rays directed thereto to condition the amp.ificr so that the resulting current flow is effective to energize and operate the relay 0-! la of the upper group of relays. The contacts l2 associated with the upper and lower groups of relays are then effective to complete a circuit from the positive terminal of the Power supply 5 to conductor- No, the l solenoid ll, conductor i4, switch IE to the negative terminal of the said supply, energizing the said solenoid.

From the description thus far, it is now understood that the controlled contacts l2 associated with the two groups of relays O| la to O-l lo and Ulla to Ulle are effective to select a single circuit from each group of circuits l3-l3e and H--l4e thereby controlling the selection of a single control element such as solenoid l and upon energization of the selected solenoid control the operation of the character indicating device. for example, to record the character which is designated by the analyzed designation marks.

The energization of the selected solenoid is controlled by the action of switch IS. The said switch is closed only during the analyzing operations and is opened at all times between the analyzing operations.

It was mentioned that the solenoids l1 control the operations of a suitable character indicating or manifesting device. Obviously, the said indicating device can be one of many different types of key controlled machines, such as key controlled typewriters, key controlled statistical machines, key controlled perforators, or for example, it can be a form of transmitting teletypewriter device which not only records the various characters but also initiates control signals ac cordingly upon operation of keybars to which the solenoids are attached. Such a device is shown and, described in U. S. Patents Nos. 2,104,570 and 2,066,786.

To illustrate that the described analyzing device is not limited to control the operations of keybar controlled devices the descriptions to follow will describe briefly the application of the anlyzing device to other types of machines. The

machines themselves form no part of the present invention and therefore it is believed the brief descriptions thereof are sufllcient, particularly, in view of the fact, that these machines and the operations thereof are well known.

Referring now to Fig. 5 the combination of the analyzing device with a known type of record sorting machine will be described. The control of the sorting machine is effected by the two groups of relays O-I|a to O-lle and U--lla to U-I Ie described hereinabove. The operations of the said groups of relays are controlled by the records 5 which are fed to the machine by feed rollers 26. The character designation marks borne by the individual records are analyzed by the light controlled cells 80 and an to control the actions of the associated amplifiers 90 and 9 exactly as described hereinbefore, thereby controlling the operations of different combinations of relays of the groups O-lla to -Ile and Ul to to U-l is.

In this particular example, the arrangement of the contacts l2 controlled by the related relays diifers from the arrangement described above in connection with Fig. 4. It is noted that certain relays of the group are provided with two sets of normally open contacts, namely, the relay Ha of the upper group, and the relay lib of the lower group, and that the contacts of certain relays are normally closed, whereas the contacts of other relays are normally open. This contact arrangement is preferred in order to eiTect selection of the control magnets H3 in predetermined combinations. The armatures 2! of the related magnets it are arranged to control the positioning of the bars 22 which in turn control the positioning of the sorter blades it of the sorting magazine 2c. Upon examination of the arrangement of the sorting blades it it is seen that normally the records are directed to the reject "R sorting pocket 25. Now, upon energization of the third magnet iii of the group, the associated bar 22 is positioned to the left, as viewed in Fig. 5, to position the associated blades is so that the record fed to the sorting magazine is now directed to the 1 sorting pocket; 25. The positioned bar or bars 22 may be locked momentarily in their setup position by means of a locking bar 23, the operation of which is under control of the release magnet 24. The release magnet is adapted to be energized momentarily each sorting cycle to release the setup or the sorting blades.

Assume that the record 5, which is being analyzed, bears the designation mark of the charactor 1. Referring to Fig. 3 it is seen that the code mark comprises an upper designation mark the size of which is indicated by the reference character 0a. The photoelectric cell 80 and amplifier 90 are controlled in a manner described above to effect operation of relay O-i la of the upper group of relays thereby causing the associated contacts l2 and iZa to be closed. A circuit can now be traced from the positive terminal of power supply l5 to the third magnet it. said contacts Ma and i2 now closed, normally closed contacts ii of relays O-HOZ and 0-! le. respectively, of the upper group, and the normally closed contacts l2 of the relays U-Hc. U--l Id, and U--i le of the lower group of relays. switch Hi to the negative terminal of the said power supply. In this manner the said mag net I8 is energized to effect sorting of th analyzed record in the l sorting pocket.

In a like manner relays O-Ila and 0-H!) oi the upper group are operated upon analyzation of the designation marks representing the character 2" to eflect energization of the third and fourth magnets H or the group thus positioning the associated sorting blades is to direct the analyzed record to the "2" sorting pocket. Upon analyzation of the designation marks representing the character 9" relays O-lla, O-llb, and O-'l|c of the upper group are energized and relays U-l la and U-l lb of the lower group are energized to effect energization of all the magnets l8, thus positioning the sorting blades l8 to direct the analyzed record to the 9 sorting pocket. Further description of the operation 01' the record sorting machine is not believed necessary, the description just set forth is sufiicient to understand the principles of analyzing the records, controlling the operations of the groups of relays associated with the analyzing means, and controlling the operation of the sorting control magnets in accodrance with the operations of the said relays.

Referring now to Fig. 6 the described analyzing means is shown associated with appropriate control elements for controlling the operations of a weil known type of data accumulating mechanism. Only one accumulator wheel 30 for a single order of the accumulator mechanism is shown for the sake of simplicity, however, it is understood that a plurality of orders of the accumulating mechanism can be controlled simultaneously in accordance with the analyzed numbers disposed on the record 5, which numbers are arranged in multiple columns or orders on the record in a manner well known. It is understood that the control devices shown in Fig. 6 are duplicated for each order of numbers appearing on the records.

The accumulator wheel 30 is arranged to be advanced by a start-stop shaft 3i and the associated gearing 32, 33 and 34. Upon energization of a control magnet 21 the clutch pinion 33 driven by gear 32 is thrown into engagement with the gear 34 secured to the wheel 30 to advance the wheel as long as the said magnet is energized. Secured to the shaft 3| is a contact arm 28 of a distributor 29, which arm is advanced in synchronism with the wheel 30 whenever the magnet 21 is energized.

A plurality of conducting segments 29a to 29e are provided in the distributor 29 which are en gaged successively by the contact arm 28. It is noted that the three segments 29a, 29b. and 25c are eoual in length and that the segments 29d and 292 are equal in length, the latter however being equivalent to the length of the three individual segments 29a-29c. The pur ose of this arrangement will be understood as the description progresses. The main driving shaft 36 is rotated continuously by any suitable means. Associated with the said shaft 36 is a single revolution clutch device generally indicated by the reference character 35 which when operated is efiective to rotate the shaft 3i one revolution. A well known type of control means can be employed for controlling the clutch device 35, namely, an electro-magnet controlled by contacts which are acted upon by a record 5 each time the re ord is advanced past the analyzing means. However for the present description, which merely is for the purposes of disclosing the principle oi operation of the analyzing means, it is sufiicient to consider that the card handling operations,

clutch control operations, etc., are manually controlled operations.

Assume now that the designation marks representing the character 1 are analyzed on the record 5 to effect energization of the relay Ila of the upper group. A circuit is completed from the positive terminal of power supply l5 to contacts I2 of the said energized relay lid of the upper group, magnet 21 to switch arm 31 and contact arm 28. Assume now that the clutch device 35 is rendered operative under influence of the record 5 or any other suitable means as referred to above. Now. upon engagement of the segment 29:]; by the arm 28, the circuit just traced is completed by the conductor extending from the said segment to the normally closed contacts of relays O--Hd and O-He of the first group, and the normally closed contacts of the relays U-l lc to U-l le of the second group. switch It (now closed) to the negative terminal of the said power supply, energizing said magnet 21. Since the said relay O-l la is the only one energized of the groups of relays the magnet 21 is energized only as long as the segment 29a is engaged by contact arm 28 to effect advancement of the accumulator wheel 30 one step; or stated in other words the said wheel is advanced sufficiently to register the number 1." The length of the individual segments 29a--29c is such that magnet 21 is energized long enough to effect advancement of the wheel one step, thereby indicating the entry of one digit.

Upon analyzation of the designation marks representing the character 9 it is now understood that relays la, O-l lb, and 0-4 lc of the upper group and relays U-I Ia and U--l lb of the second group are energized. For this condition, during one revolution of the contact arm,

. the magnet 21 is energized for a period sufficient for the wheel 30 to be advanced nine steps thereby eifecting the entry of the digit "9 therein. The circuits effecting the energization of the magnet 21 for the time period mentioned are readily traced since each of the segments 29b to 29s are connected to the individual contacts l2 (now closed) of relays 0-H?) and O-llc of the upper group and relays U--l|a and U-Hb of the lower group, which contacts in turn are connected to the negative terminal of the power supply l by means of the circuit traced hereinabove.

Referring now to Fig. 'I an arrangement is shown similar to the one shown in Fig. 6 and just described. In Fig. 7 the distributor 29 includes a greater number of conducting segments 29a 29a and 28b -29b The reason for the increased number of segments is that a different type 0f registering device is controlled by the magnet 21, such as a printing mechanism. The one order of the printing mechanism is shown to comprise a type wheel 43 having the alphabetical and numerical type characters disposed on the periphery of the wheel 43 which are encaged by the printing hammer 46 upon positioning of the type wheel to effect recording of the selected characters upon a suitably disposed record strip 45 through the medium of an inked ribbon 44. Upon energization of the magnet 21 the type wheel 43 and contact arm 28 are advanced in synchronism. The individual segments 250. to 2911 are suflicient in length to effect energization of the magnet 21 to advance the type wheel one step, that is to advance the type wheel so that the next adjacent character type is positioned to the printing position. The segments 29b 29b, 28b, 29b, and 2912 are six times the length of the individual segments 2911 -2922 The purpose of this conducting segment arrangement is now believed to be understood, in view of the foregoing description, namely, that by rendering the conducting segments conductive or active in difierent combinations corresponding to the combinations of closed contacts 12, which are connected thereto, the magnet 21 is energized for varying intervals of time which thereby effect selection of different type characters by positioning diilferent types opposite the printing hammer in accordance with the selective positioning of the type wheel.

For example, assume the designation mark representing the character A" is analyzed to cause the relay U-I la of the lower group to be energized. Upon release of the start stop shaft 3| and upon engagement of the segment 291; by the contact arm 28 a circuit is completed from the positive terminal of the power supply 15 to magnet 21, switch 31, contact arm 28, segment 29b conductor connected to said segment and contacts l2 associated with the said energized relay U--l la to the negative terminal of the said power supply, energizing the magnet 21 as long as the segment 28b is engaged by the said arm. The magnet is energized for a period suiilcient to position the type wheel six steps to present the type character A to the printing position. Selection of any other desired characters in a similar manner is eifected.

When it is desired to use the described analyzing means for controlling a printing mechanism as described, it is necessary at the end of each printing operation to reset the type wheel to the normal position shown in Fig. 7. Such resetting means will be describe dbrieily in connection with both the data accumulating mechanism and printing mechanism. Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, a positionable switch arm 31 is shown, normally the arm is positioned as shown, however for resetting purposes the arm is positioned so that its insulated terminal 4| engages both contact elements 42 and 43 thus connecting the magnet 21 directly to the positive terminal of the power supply 15 by means of conductor 38. Due to the altered position of the switch the magnet 21 is now connected to conductor 39 and contacts III which are closed whenever the wheels 30 or I! are displaced from the normal positions shown in the figures, to the negative terminal of the said power supply, thus energizing the magnet 21 and maintaining the magnet energized until the said wheels are reset to the said normal positions. The related contacts 40 are then opened to prevent further energization of the magnet 21 and further advancement of the associated wheel.

It is evident that if desired perforations of varying size could be used in place of the designation marks illustrated for controlling th amount of light directed to the photoelectric cells. When perforations are used the light source is positioned opposite the photoelectric cells so that the record with the perforations formed thereon is positioned therebetween to control the amount of light to be directed to the said cells.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is: Y

1. The combination with a controlled device adapted to be set to any one of a number of different conditions corresponding, respectively,

to different characters, and setting control meanstherefor, of a device for analyzing records whereon different characters are designated by different code combinations of marks of various sizes, placed in one or both of two different fields of the record, said analyzing device comprising a pair of photoelectric cells pertaining, respectively, to the two different fields of the record, means for directing rays of light to the record and from the different fields thereof to the respective cells, said light rays directed to the cells being modifled by the number and size of the marks appearing on the record, a pair of amplifying units having input and output circuits, one unit for each cell, each cell being connected to the input circuit of the related amplifying unit to control the conductivity of the said unit according to the modified light rays directed to the corresponding cell, whereby the value of the current flow produced by th unit in the associated output circuit varies in magnitude in accordance with the varying modified light rays directed to the cell, each output circuit including an individual group of electromagnetic devices connected in series, the varying current flow in said output circuits causing different numbers of the electromagnetic devices in the respective groups to be operated, in accordance with the different current values; a group of circuits for each group of electromagnetic devices including means selectively controlled by the latter to make particular circuits in the two groups jointly effective, and means jointly controlled by said particular circuits for controlling said setting control means differently for each different combination of circuits made effective, to control the setting of said controlled device in accordance with the analyzed character designation marks.

2. The combination with a controlled device adapted to be set to any one of a number of different conditions corresponding, respectively, to different characters, and setting control means therefor, of a device for analyzing records whereon different characters are designated by different code combinations of marks of various sizes, placed in one or mor of a plurality of different fields of the record, said analyzing device comprising a plurality of photoelectric cells, one for each different held of the record, means for directing rays of light to the record and from the different fields thereof to the related cells, said light rays directed to the cells being modified by the number and size of the marks appearing on the record, a plurality of amplifying units having input and output circuits, one for each cell and each cell being connected to the input circuit of a related amplifying unit to control the conductivity of the said unit according to the modified light rays directed to the corresponding cell, whereby the value of the current flow produced by the unit in the associated output circuit varies in magnitude in accordance with the varying modified light rays directed to the cell, each output circuit including an individual group of series connected marginal current responsive relays, each relay having at least one pair of contacts operated thereby, the varying current flow in said output circuits causing different numbers of the relays in the respective groups to be operated, in accordance with the different current values, a group of circuits for each group of relays, said circuits including said contacts and being selectively rendered effective thereby, and means jointly controlled by said effective circuits for controlling said setting control means differently for each different combination of operations of the relays in the different groups, to control the setting of said controlled device in accordance with the analyzed character designation marks.

3. The combination with a controlled device adapted to be set to any one of a number of different conditions corresponding, respectively, to different characters, and setting control means therefor, of means for analyzing records whereon different characters are designated by different combinations of graduated marks placed in one or more of a plurality of different fields of the record, said analyzing means comprising means for illuminating the record, and a plurality of light responsive devices, one for each field of the record, each light responsive device being arranged to analyze only its own field of the record, said graduated marks being adapted to impart correspondingly graduated light reflecting properties to the areas of the fields containing them analyzed at one time by their respective light responsive devices; a number of groups of selectively operable devices, one group for each light responsive device, the devices of each group being selectively controlled by the related light responsive device in accordance with the light reflecting properties of the related area of the field; and means controlled jointly by the operated devices of said groups for controlling the operation of said setting control means, to cause said controlled device to take a setting in accordance with the analyzed character designating marks.

4. The combination with a controlled device having a number of different positions corresponding, respectively, to different characters, driving means to move said device through said positions in sequence, and setting control means controlling said driving means; of means for analyzing records whereon different characters are designated by graduated marks placed in one or more of a plurality of different fields of the records, said analyzing means comprising a plurality of light responsive devices, one for each field of the record, said graduated marks being adapted to impart correspondingly graduated light reflecting properties to the areas of the fields containing them analyzed at one time by their respective light responsive devices, a plurality of differentially operable units, one for each light responsive device, control devices operatively interposed between each light responsive device and the related differentially operable unit, said control devices being variably responsive to their light responsive devices to operate the related units differentially in dependence upon the character designating marks analyzed by the respective light responsive devices, and means including a cyclically operable device controlled, as to the portion, or portions, of each cycle during which it is effective, by the combined action of said differentially operable units, to operate said setting control means in accordance with the combined actions of said light responsive devices, to cause a new setting of said controlled device by said driving means, corresponding to th character designating marks analyzed.

5. The combination with a controlled device having a number of different positions corresponding, respectively, to different characters, driving means to move said device through said positions in sequence, and setting control means controlling said driving means; of means for analyzing records whereon different characters are designated by different combinations of graduated marks placed in one or more of a plurality of different fields of the records, said analyzing means comprising separate light responsive devices for individually analyzing said diflerent fields, said graduated marks being adapted to impart correspondingly graduated light reflecting properties to the areas of the fields containing them analyzed at one time by their respective light responsive devices, a plurality of differentially operable units, one for each light responsive device; control devices operatively interposed between each light responsive device and the related differentially operable unit, said control devices being variably responsive to their light responsive devices to operate the related units differentially in dependence upon the character designating marks analyzed by the respective light responsive devices, and means controlled jointly by said differentially operable units to operate said setting control means to maintain said driving means in driving relation to said controlled device for a total length of time equal to the sum of a plurality of lengths of time separately determined by the individual differentially operable units, to cause a new setting of said controlled device corresponding to the character designating marks analyzed.

6. The combination with a controlled device having a. number of different positions corresponding, respectively, to different characters, driving means to move said device through said positions in sequence, and setting control means controlling said driving means; of means for analyzing records whereon different characters are designated by different combinations of graduated marks, placed in one or more of a plurality of different fields of the record, said analyzing means comprising separate light responsive devices for individually analyzing said diflerent fields, said graduated marks being adapted to impart correspondingly graduated light reflecting properties to the areas of the fields containing them analyzed at one time by their respective light responsive devices; plurality of differentially operable units, one for each light responsive device; control devices operatively interposed between each light responsive device and the related differentially operable unit, said control devices being variably responsive to their light responsive devices to operate the related units differentially in dependence upon the character designating marks analyzed by the respective light responsive devices, and means controlled jointly by said differentially operable units to operate said setting control means in accordance with the combined operations of said difierentially operable units, to cause a movement of said controlled device by said driving means corresponding to the character designating marks analyzed.

WILLY HEIDINGER.

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