Patent US3814906A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3814906A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Mechanical data memory device having helicoid data cards and programming means therefor
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-09-07
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Granted: 1974-06-04
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Expires: 1992-09-07
Abstract
Abstract A numerical memory device having a card in the form of a helicoid having a number of turns adapted to have indicia marks on the card, where one complete turn of the helicoid represents a predetermined number of units and where a portion of the radius of the card represents a predetermined number of units such that in indicium mark on the card may represent a particular number. The card is mounted on a shaft and means are provided for rotating the shaft a predetermined amount. Reading means are included to read indicia on the card and to activate an alarm when indicia are read. Programming means are provided with each reading means in order to impart indicia onto the card. Each helicoid card comprises 100 turns, each turn comprising 1,000 units and the radius of the card represents 10 units such that each card may have 100,000 indicia thereon. A group of 10 cards may be mounted on a single shaft with a reading means for each card so that each shaft will carry cards capable of having one million indicia thereon. A number of shafts may be utilized whereby the device may be adapted to carry indicia in the amount of one million times the number of shafts.
Inventors
- 👤 M Trotta
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:49
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K17/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
271 words
A numerical memory device comprising a rotatable memory shaft, a reversible electric motor for rotating said memory shaft a predetermined amount, a card in the form of a helicoid having one hundred turns coaxially mounted on said shaft and fixed for rotation therewith wherein one complete rotation of said card represents one thousand units and wherein the radius of said card represents 10 units, a ten thousands unit selector switch for directing current to said motor to rotate said shaft a first predetermined number of revolutions, a thousands unit selector switch for directing current to said motor for rotating said shaft a second predetermined number of revolutions less than said first predetermined number, a hundreds unit selector switch for directing current to said motor for rotating said shaft a first predetermined fraction of a single revolution, a tens unit selector switch for directing current to said motor for rotating said shaft a second predetermined fraction of a single revolution less than the first predetermined fraction whereby rotation of the shaft can be controlled to one thousandth of a single revolution, brake means operable by said tens unit selector switch to brake rotation of said motor, a fixed radially extending reading means including ten radially extending unit readers positioned adjacent a turn of said card where each unit reader may selectively read any one of 10 indicia along a radius of said card at any predetermined circumferential portion thereof, and a single unit selector switch for selecting one of the 10 unit readers to be utilized whereby said reading means may read any one of one hundred thousand indicia on said card.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
271 words
A numerical memory device comprising a rotatable memory shaft, a reversible electric motor for rotating said memory shaft a predetermined amount, a card in the form of a helicoid having one hundred turns coaxially mounted on said shaft and fixed for rotation therewith wherein one complete rotation of said card represents one thousand units and wherein the radius of said card represents 10 units, a ten thousands unit selector switch for directing current to said motor to rotate said shaft a first predetermined number of revolutions, a thousands unit selector switch for directing current to said motor for rotating said shaft a second predetermined number of revolutions less than said first predetermined number, a hundreds unit selector switch for directing current to said motor for rotating said shaft a first predetermined fraction of a single revolution, a tens unit selector switch for directing current to said motor for rotating said shaft a second predetermined fraction of a single revolution less than the first predetermined fraction whereby rotation of the shaft can be controlled to one thousandth of a single revolution, brake means operable by said tens unit selector switch to brake rotation of said motor, a fixed radially extending reading means including ten radially extending unit readers positioned adjacent a turn of said card where each unit reader may selectively read any one of 10 indicia along a radius of said card at any predetermined circumferential portion thereof, and a single unit selector switch for selecting one of the 10 unit readers to be utilized whereby said reading means may read any one of one hundred thousand indicia on said card.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
A numerical memory device according to claim 1 having a group of 10 said cards on said shaft with each said card having associated reading means and selector switches and having in addition a hundred thousand unit selector switch for each card whereby the reading means for any one card may be utilized to read any one of one million indicia on said group of cards.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
A numerical memory device according to claim 2 having a plurality of shafts operatively connected together for common rotation each mounting a group of 10 said cards wherein each card has associated reading means and selector switches and having in addition a one million unit selector switch for each shaft whereby the reading means for cards on a particular shaft may be utilized to read any one indicia of the million indicia adapted to be carried by the group of cards on that shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
A numerical memory device according to claim 1 having in addition a solenoid operated punch associated with each unit reader adapted to punch perforations into the card to make an indicium thereon and having in addition a program selector switch associated with each said single unit switch for selecting the particular solenoid operated punch to be energized whereby the numerical memory device may be programmed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
A numerical memory device according to claim 1 wherein each unit reader comprises a bulb and a photocell combination wherein said photocell is adapted to be energized by light from said bulb, wherein the indicia comprises perforations in said card, and where said bulb and photocell of a combination are positioned on axially opposite sides of a turnn, and having in addition an alarm means activated by energization of said photocell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
272 words
A numerical memory data device comprising a rotatable memory shaft, a reversible electric motor for rotating said memory shaft a predetermined amount, a card in the form of a helicoid having a predetermined number of turns coaxially mounted on said shaft and fixed for rotation therewith wherein one completE rotation of said card represents a first predetermined number of units and wherein the radius of said card represents a second predetermined number of units, a first selector switch for directing current to said motor to rotate said shaft a first predetermined number of revolutions, a second selector switch for directing current to said motor for rotating said shaft a second predetermined number of revolutions less than said first predetermined number, a third selector switch for directing current to said motor for rotating said shaft a first predetermined fraction of a single revolution, a fourth unit selector switch for directing current to said motor for rotating said shaft a second predetermined fraction whereby rotation of the shaft can be controlled to a small fraction of a single revolution, brake means operable by said fourth unit selector switch to brake rotation of said motor, a fixed radially extending reading means including a plurality of radially extending unit readers positioned adjacent a turn of said card where each unit reader may selectively read any one of a plurality of indicia along a radius of said card at any circumferential portion thereof, and a unit reader selector switch for selecting one of a plurality of unit readers to be utilized whereby said reading means may read any one of a plurality of indicia on said card.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
272 words
A numerical memory data device comprising a rotatable memory shaft, a reversible electric motor for rotating said memory shaft a predetermined amount, a card in the form of a helicoid having a predetermined number of turns coaxially mounted on said shaft and fixed for rotation therewith wherein one completE rotation of said card represents a first predetermined number of units and wherein the radius of said card represents a second predetermined number of units, a first selector switch for directing current to said motor to rotate said shaft a first predetermined number of revolutions, a second selector switch for directing current to said motor for rotating said shaft a second predetermined number of revolutions less than said first predetermined number, a third selector switch for directing current to said motor for rotating said shaft a first predetermined fraction of a single revolution, a fourth unit selector switch for directing current to said motor for rotating said shaft a second predetermined fraction whereby rotation of the shaft can be controlled to a small fraction of a single revolution, brake means operable by said fourth unit selector switch to brake rotation of said motor, a fixed radially extending reading means including a plurality of radially extending unit readers positioned adjacent a turn of said card where each unit reader may selectively read any one of a plurality of indicia along a radius of said card at any circumferential portion thereof, and a unit reader selector switch for selecting one of a plurality of unit readers to be utilized whereby said reading means may read any one of a plurality of indicia on said card.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
193 words
A numerical memory device comprising a rotatable shaft, a reversible electric motor for rotating said shaft a predetermined amount, a card in the form of a helicoid having a plurality of turns coaxially mounted on said shaft and fixed for rotation therewith and wherein one complete revolution of said card represents a first predetermined number of units and wherein a portion of the radius of the card represents a second predetermined number of units, card rotation switch means for selectively controlling rotation of said motor, a fixed radially extending program means positioned adjacent a turn of said card including a solenoid operated punch for each of said second predetermined number of units with the punches positioned in a line extending radially of the card and imparting circumferentially and radially pre-positioned indicia on said card, program switch means for selectively operating each said punch, individual reading means associated with each said punch for reading indicia imparted on said card by each said punch, and reader switch means for selectively operating said individual reader means whereby said reader means may read indicia imparted to said card by an associated punch means without moving said card.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
193 words
A numerical memory device comprising a rotatable shaft, a reversible electric motor for rotating said shaft a predetermined amount, a card in the form of a helicoid having a plurality of turns coaxially mounted on said shaft and fixed for rotation therewith and wherein one complete revolution of said card represents a first predetermined number of units and wherein a portion of the radius of the card represents a second predetermined number of units, card rotation switch means for selectively controlling rotation of said motor, a fixed radially extending program means positioned adjacent a turn of said card including a solenoid operated punch for each of said second predetermined number of units with the punches positioned in a line extending radially of the card and imparting circumferentially and radially pre-positioned indicia on said card, program switch means for selectively operating each said punch, individual reading means associated with each said punch for reading indicia imparted on said card by each said punch, and reader switch means for selectively operating said individual reader means whereby said reader means may read indicia imparted to said card by an associated punch means without moving said card.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-03 | 1977-12-03 | 1978-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-03 | 1981-12-03 | 1982-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-03 | 1985-12-03 | 1986-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |