Language:
The verifier works pretty much like the card puncher, with the difference, that after punching the holes, the verifier checks the punched holes by scanning them electrically (see card reader). If the readout does not match the pattern that should have been punched a checklight goes on and the keyboard is locked. The card has to be punched completely new then. If the card is tested successfully it is marked with a notch.
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The sorter is used, as implied by its name, to sort a pile of punch cards by the value of a certain column. The heap that shall be sorted is put into a hopper and the sorter pulls in on card after the other. This machine has multiple outboxes and the cards are assigned to those by the value they have at the previously defined column.
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The collator is an advancement of the sorter. It takes to heaps of punchcard as input compares and sorts them and then assigns them to the appropriate of on of at least four output boxes. Different comparing operations can be set by a system of switchpanels. The collator can achieve a speed of 14,400 up to 60,000 cards per lane and hour.
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A switchpanel consists of non-conducting materials on which different devices are mounted and hard wired. Several panels can be plugged together to "program" complex operations. Those panels can be used to control machines such as a collator.
Machine: BULL Collator Model 56.00, IBM Collator Model 77, IBM Collator Model 88, ICT Collator Model 365, ICT Collator Model 368
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In some way the reproducer is kind of an additional gadged. Still it is pretty handy when it comes to copy, punch or compare punched cards. It has a card reader and a punching unit which it can use to read and reproduce cards.
Machine: IBM Model A514 and IBM Model 519
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The compute-puncher is a machine that works with memories and arithmetical operations. Generaly one has to distinguish between mechanical and electrical compute-punchers, where both of those have the principle of mechanical in- and output of the cards in common. The biggest difference is in the execution of the operations. The mechanical compute-punchers use mechanical counters and memories, whereas the electronical pendants use valves and core memories. The advantage of electronical compute-punchers is the speed, because electrons move with the speed of light and one can use the binary system.
Machines: IBM Model 602, 604 and 609
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The tabulating machine or tabulator reads and processes data to create reports and statistics. It can print data on continuous paper. The instructions for the machine come from a switchpanel, which allows simple operations such as addition or substraction and with an extension even multiplication and division. All results can be composed to a report that can be printed with the build in printing unit, which is able to print up to 9,000 lines per hour.
Machines: IBM Models 407, 421, 424 or 444 and BULL Model 60–5
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