US2629184A - Control board - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 24, 1953 c. w. JOHNQSON CONTROL BOARD 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 29, 1945 INVENTOR. CL A UDE W. JOHNSON 0M A T TURNEY Feb. 24, 1953 c. w. JOHNSON CONTROL BOARD 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed 001'.. 29, 1945 (Ittorneg CLAUDE W. JOHNSON .a o @Hmz a@ Sesoav ..0 @Aou Non M mm2 I sa@ 2m.:

Patenfec Feb. 24, 1953 CONTROL nonni) Cleueie W, 1011115911, Berkeley Celiit, eeeiexwe by mesne assignments, to Trendica'tvslystenisol, San Franoisco, Edif, a, corporation of Caliornia.

Application @einher 29 19415; Sferiel NSL 6.2.5?219 9 Claims,-

"all phases of operations-such yes inventories, styles,-

meterie'lsv, production, budgets, etc.

ln eorieideriiie ihe suieieei ef business eeiiireie, it is essentiel ie distinguish the `S'fiiiie :from e meeiieniee'l @here 0,11' einem Awiiisifii merely APeitreys e record of persi even-ie- .i true eeiiirei must introduce time ieeteiis 'I1 -eeepel'eiien `With one er Imore -veriebies in -iiie items i9 be een- -irfeiiect and through :..Siieh eeeperetieit :periifey trends the activity of bnsiness, on which the proprietor may rely with maximum ,safety in the ondnpt of `his business.

Wilt-eri Sueh eeiiirel telsee the ferm .Qf e eenirei eend ee disiiiieiiiehed imm e Gerd ine-ex eyeieiii ,such eonirelfiieaird may Jee serie edes ie eiee emieeiiy the feeiiieee @i e mee; cheri @i graph.

The ontrol of inventory lugs been e `very vital probl-em this .con cton, als failure ef ibuiriesfe .extent ie which the teryis `:eeriirelieffi- ,A peer eenirei er tiel et ell met' `leere the Prespieier ,eieeiiy feversieekeii with `deed Diele-W- ;m-eviiie iieme reiireeeniing en iiiiveeimeiii 0i th esente-:e :Off fiielleiie eh @veld @likewise `lee iiiiiieed ifo fezeed edi'aeiiieee; 0i the proprietor might find himself `out of items, which onlition ,eeiild ,resiiii 1e materiel ,lees ef .inetentielibilsi- `mese.er1-,eigoed will.

:My invention is pertieiileriy aepnlieeieie @mene other ihmee to the @entre of meenten ,and is n ee 'designed es te 1v'i'ieueiiv Iprovide management with ,eli the infermei me factors,

items under `oontril. (a2) t items, Q39 :the eeles treed ef teniet/er te steek vier what .items freeeire speci me periods, (t5) @heldere-tion :by

wey :iii

1:13n fS, Q40 @berate invention, in `ecditorjl `to furnishing maneeemeiii e erreiiiiee'eid eisueii eeiiviiies afnd prenais, prpoviles for tlie `development .of a he .eeeiiiieeerd .ei iiie Seine, -Wiiieh ini-ermetieri Lie `ef eeiieelei iiieie merieeemerii fer ene-weisend iiiiureeieiiiiiiie- Neelie the ebleie 9i ,irvirireniien ere;

(2)"10 provide a, novel and improved control @Pferd :Whiqh Will p eiiiey irenis in the `:rile-Venieilt efitemsiirid .reeiiirei 5x3) flip provide `e `novel Aand improved .control boercl which rneinteins'ell linfpiniietion ont in the 1 -nen Afor visual pins=p e'ztion at ell' tnies;`

ifi) Tre Prende e iiifv'iel eiisi imiiieved een-imi board enabling e visual olfnpei-son I0f levllitems Lieder .een .eli

(5) To rovine e, V I rcn'vel sind improved Qontrol 'boelrd vvliili'oers' a; permnent historica.; record Kw1-Ol) rn'gvide"el vel andlirnprovedontrol `boe-rd whichlends itself to rapid servicing or oon- Yereieii i,0. iiii'e iei,1iepeiieeiieiisr y(ljlf) To .provide afinovell' 'nclrimproved control ry ac:ogniputing or geen ation' equipment in `eli-ei Q Iiefiilebeerd i evifie e iieeieesi impreveei eenirel rg wigipni; `lends itself weging photographed efsiieeews.

' s of my `in veuntioln will be n n, Qiieviiie eeerileiieiief e ereferred embodiment of the same, taken in pont Figure lie e view `le perSeeeiiY-eeeriiy breken @vv-ay .of e preferred embodiment @fj-mir control eeeeteeier eeiiiieir Figure 2 is a view in section, taken in the plane 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in elevation, of the control boar-d of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal View in section through the tape supporting .panel occupying the central portion of the control board of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in section showing a detail -o-f construction of the control board of Figure 1 and the relationship of the panel to associated structure therein;

Figure 6 isV a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing a detail o-f construction of the .panel f Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view of a master chart employed in the operation of the control board of Figure l; K Y

Figure 8 is an edge view of the master chart of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a modified master chart.

Referring to the drawings, the control board in its assembled form comprises an outer frame I for receiving and holding a central tape supporting panel 3 therein. Y

,The outer frame includes vertical end members and 1 joined by upper and lower horizontal members 9 and VI I, respectively. The upper horizontal member is vformed with a rabbet I3 along the inner edge, leaving a depending rim I5 along the upper edge of the frame opening, while the lower horizontal member is similarly formed with a rabbet Il to provide an upstanding rim I9 along the lower edge of the frame opening.V Y

The left vertical end member 5 may be either of singular or composite construction, and includes as a part thereof, a laterally extending masking wall 2|.

` The masking wall, itis noted, lies in a forward .Y plane relative to the common plane of the inner surfaces of the upper and lower rims I5 and I9. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the masking wall 2| is preferably. spaced from such plane by the thickness of the lower rim I9.

The right vertical end member 1 of the outer frame, like the left member v5, Valso includes a laterally extending masking wall 23, such masking wall lying in the plane of the masking wall Along theupper horizontal member 9 of the outer frame, I provide a track on which to hang part of my control board. This track includes a rail 25 and a channel 2l of L-shaped section affixed along one of its edges to the upper member in a position to overhang the rail and protectlthe auxiliary equipment from leaving the rail. I

Such Vauxiliary equipment may vary with the use to which the board is put.' For inventory controLsuch equipment calls for a pendulum rod 29 pivotally supported from a block 3l which rides on the rail 25; and a narrow blackboard unit or panel 33 which also slidably hangs from the rail. The utility of these elements and the manner in which they are utilized in the control of inventory, will be described subsequently in connection with the operation of the control board.

The panel 3 constitutes an intermediate sec'- tionV of the control board and is designed to support a plurality of endless tapes 35 to form a panel unit. It is made up of a panel frame 31 of wood or other suitable-'material enclosing a or slide certain auxiliary equipment for use as Y fixed sheet or board 39 preferably of relatively soft fibrous material such as Cellotex or the like, capable of receiving and holding map tacks. pins, etc.

This frame is composed of end vertical members 4I and 43 joined by horizontal upper and lower members l5 and l, respectively, all of greater thickness than the board 3:3, and inwardly grooved to receive the board and rigidly hold the same in the frame.

The lower horizontal member 4T at each end has an integral extension t9 (Figure 6) reaching beyond the vertical members di and 43, each of which vertical members in turn having an arcuate groove 5I on its outer edge running for its entire length. Such arcuate grooves, together with the adjacent aforementioned extensions 49, form a cradle at each end of the panel frame, adapted to receive a column, preferably in the form of a spindle 53, the length of which is sufficient to reach to the upper member 45 of such frame. Y

Vertical movement of the spindle is accordingly prohibited by such arrangement, in that the forming of the arcuate groove in each Vertical end member, leaves the upper frame member 45 partially overhanging the upper ends of the spindles, as is clearly depicted in Figures l and 5 of the drawings.

The spindles 53 provide mountings for the endless tapes 35 which encircle the panel and constitute the sole means for maintaining such spindles against displacement in the plane of the board 39 from their proper operating position. Likewise, such tapes preclude rotation of the spindles, during adjustment of any tape. The spindles are formed of a smooth or close-grained Vmachinable material, preferably a plastic such as Bakelite, which will oder a minimum of friction to movement of the tapes. Spindles of such material can readily be machined to provide grooves 55 for the reception of such tapes, in order to assure proper disposition and spacing of the tapes across the face of the panel. In this respect they constitute guide means for the tapes, 1

l The spacing of the grooves in the spindles will, of course, depend upon the application to which the board is to be put. For inventory purposes, I prefer to dispose the types in spaced pairs, with the tapes of each pair preferably in edge-to-edge contact. Accordingly, each groove on the spindle will be of double tape width, whereby each pair of tapes will be spaced from adjacent pairs by the ribs 51 on the spindles which dei-lne the grooves.

Each of the endless tapes is preferably of plastic or similarly usable material and formed of two sections. One section 59 is of opaque material, preferably colored, and has a dull exposed finish or other type of surface cap-able of receiving erasable markings, such as pencil notations. The other section 6I is preferably of transparent plastic material to permit observation of background or such information as may be mounted on the panel behind the tape.

The two tape sections are joined at the front of the panel preferably by first cementing the adjacent ends in overlapping contact, and then applying an eyelet 63 through the overlapped ends. Behind the panel, the ends of the tape sections are connected by a stretched coil spring 65 with sufficient tension on the tape to preclude sagging thereof at any time.

Inthis connection, the greater thickness of terms `of dozens, gross, gallons, cases, etc. estimated daily sales or use of such item is also i designated, such `value `being preferably .based on .past sales 4records for the item, if lsuch informaamarsi the panel frame 31 as compared to the board 38 enclosed thereby, provides clearance 61 for free travel of the springs 55 with movement of the tapes; and with respect to the front of the panel, suiiicient space 69 exists to permit of the accommodation of a master chart behind the tapes.

` A 'guide strip 7-3 (Figure 6i) affixed to each vertical end member of the panel frame, overhangs 'the inner edge of such member to form a guide channel for the reception of such master chart. Each Iof these strips preferably terminat'es short of the bottom of the frame (Figure 6), to allow room for the insertion and withdrawal of such master chart from the bottom of the panel, while the masking walls 2| and 23 have a lower recessed corner M and l to provide such accessibility. In its assembled position, the master chart is permitted to rest on the lower frame member ylll.

The utilization of an eyelet in joining the yends 'of the tape at the front #of the panel is of con siderable significance in the operation of ymy control board.

For one thing, permits fof the reception of a dull pointed tool for manipi'tlation of the in- -dividua'l tapes. 'It 'likewise is Vadapted to receive the point of a marking tool such as a pencil, whereby markings through 'the tapes and 'onto the master chart may be madeafor each adjusted position of such tapes. This latter use enables one to build up a permanent 'record on the master chart, "to be interpreted in conjunction with information which may appear thereon the form of lprinted matter or the like.

The length of the "lower panel frame member 4l' with its `integral extensions 4?9, is such yas lto provide a snug or accurate fit lin the outer iframe, and when the panel .is thus `snugly assembled in the outer frame, the masking walls .2| and 23 cover up the Vends of 'the panel, leaving exposed to view from the front, :only the usable 'portion of the tapes extending across the front fof 'the panel.

For inventory control, Awhich 'application I.

-jacen't associated columns, space is iprovided ,for

applying information iusable 1in :determining movement and positioning of the appropriate tapes, andfinterpretingthe same.

'Thus in one column, is :snot'ed :the :standard ,y

ordering `quantity for .each item, that is, the Vamount of such item tobesorderedwhen-thestock available for sale reaches a predetermined :minimum. VIn another column` may be noted the 'control unit for such item, namely `whether it fbe .in The tion be on hand. .Added to this,y is the money value of such item in terms of its control unit.

Along the right-hand edge o'f the index as viewed in Figure 1, each'i'tem 'should-preferably .be numbered in seouence. lfltheivarious items of a particularbusine'ss beidentifia'ble by'a :code number, a suitable column may ralsobe added -'for this purpose.

Disposition of the items listed on the findex should be soccrrelated with respect 'tof-thefspac- `ing-o'ftapes on the panel, that "when this panel and outer frame are assembled, each item on the index will be` brought into registry with a pair of the tapes on the panel.

The sequential item numbers appearing aloner the right-hand edge of the index, should also preferably appear on the shiftable pendulum rod 29. This enables one to readily identify tapes within that general area of the board to which attention must be directed when interpreting such tapes, and the likelihood of error from this source is therefore virtually eliminated.

The master chart 1| as shown in Figures 6 and 7 is a composite arrangement including a master guide chart 16 having provision for the .application thereto of information pertinent to lthe control of the items under consi-deration. Such chart is of a size to extend above the uppermost pair of tapes, and this portion of the chart may receive a gummed strip "l1, marked olf into elements of the vcontrol period, e. g. the months and days of the year, where the `control period constitutes a year. Sundays are preferably exeluded as not constituting business days..

In lieu of the summed strip, the same information may be applied to an endless vribbon encircling the panel, in which case, two control periods will appear around the endless ribbon. `This would then enable the ribbon to be so adjusted as to start a full control period at any time in the year.

Below this control period listing and adjacent the uppermost tape, may appear the business days, consecutively numbered. These may be applied by means of a gummed strip, or may be printed `directly on the Amaster guide chart, as this information wlllnot vary so long as the con-v trol period remains *one yea-r.

The remainder of the master guide chart is preferably divided longitudinally by heavy 'lines i9 into spaces 3| of double tape width, adapted to coincide with the pairs of tapes on the panel when the completed master `chart is assembled to the board,

Along the left-hand edge of the master chart, I prefer to lattach an `index 82 corresponding to that previously described and bearing the identical information. YThis attached index is folded `under whenthe master chart is assembled to the board and becomes -a part yof the permanent record developedon the master Vchart lduring the control period.

The spaces 8| on A"the master guide chart are adapted to receive gummed strips B3 (Figures 6 and 9), and these, when applied `along with previously indicated information, constitute the master chart. Such gummed strips carry two identical `series of precalculated values based on the estimated-daily sale or daily use of a particular item with which it is to be 'associated on the board.

The board, as `thus far explained, embodies the essential features Vfor control of inventory, and a discussion of its operation may be in order at this time. 'In this connection, it is assumed that the 'index has been prepared and applied to the surface of the left-hand member of the outer frame as illustrated. "It ,is 'further assumed that the control period will run for a .period of a year and Vwill start with the i'lrst of January, and that the master chart has been prepared, with a duplicate index and with preca'lculated value strips properly `conforming to `the items listed` The `upper 4tape `of `each v'pair represents sales commitments, iwhile :the lower :tape -,represents `:esterel: availablefor sale. '.To .frea'dily .distinguish 7 between the two, the" opaque portions of these endless tapes are preferably of different colors. Red and green provides a pleasing combination for this purpose though any combination of colors will do.

In setting up the board at the beginning of the control period, all thesales tapes are moved as far as possible'to the left, which Will bring the edge of the opaque portion to the left of the rst vof the precalculated values. Each of the lower tapes, on the other hand, is pulled out a distance which represents the stock available for sale at that time.

At a point on each of theopaque portions of the lower or stock tapes, spaced back from the eyelet by a distance representing the standard ordering quantity vof 'the item it represents, a mark,.such as an X, is placed upon the tape, and this becomes known as the ordering point for such item.

-With the tapes set up on this basis, the board is ready for use. One of the first operations is tc record on the chart, the positions of the various stock tapes by marking through the eyelets of Ythese tapes. 'Ihese marks constitute the beginning of a permanent record of movements of all the various tapes during the control period, which,

if desired, maybe graphed for future reference and study. Y

Corresponding marks are madevupon the tapes themselves for current use, by drawing a line across all the tapes, utilizing the edge of the masking Wall 2| as a straight-edge.

With the board in this condition, management has a birdseye view of the condition of his business at the very beginning of the control period.

During each day as the sales commitments be-1 come known, they are totalled, and at the end of each day, the sales tape for each item is moved accordingly. The adjusted position of each sales tape is then noted on the chart by marking through the eyelet of such tape, and a corresponding mark is added to the tape along the edge of the masking Wall 2 l.

As a sales tape approaches and finally reaches the order point on its associated stock tape, such relationship informs the operator of the necessity of placing an order for the item represented by such pair of tapes, and the amount of such order will be indicated bythe standard ordering` quantity for such item as noted on the index.

Immediately upon placing such order, a map tack 85 will be placed on the panel along the lower edge of the transparent portion of the stock tape, alongside a precalculated value on the gummed strip, preferably just preceding the one to which the stock tape will be moved when such ordered quantity is received. The tack, in fact, indicates the next position to be occupied by the eyelet, and therefore should be interpreted in terms of the next higher value on the number strip. Y

The placing of such tack informs management that the required order has been placed, though not yet received. Upon receipt of such order and adjustment of the stock tape to its new position, the tack will, of course, be removed.

In the meantime, the day by day sales of the item continue on, and each time the sales tape approaches the order point on the stock tape, another order is placed, and when lled, is recorded on the stock tape for current use, and onto the master chart as part of the permanent record.

If the actual daily sales or sales commitments of all items run true to the estimated values as .set up in the index, all sales tapes V,will move 'at a 'to hammers.

uniform'rate across the board.l However.. in the normal course of events, all items do not run uniformly, for sales of different items will vary. Some will lag and some will exceed the estimated average daily sales of the items which they represent.. Y Y

If the estimated daily sales values are based on averages for a previous control period, such, for example as that ofthe previous year, the pendulum barvcan be used in conveying to managem-ent a visual picture as to which items are lagging the sales of the previous year, which are in step, and which may be leading. This information is arrived at'by-positionng the pendulum bar at the current date. All sales tapes terminating to the left of the pendulum bar represent lagging sales, While those extending beyond the bar, indicate'sales exceeding-those lof the previous year. Y

The extent to which such tapes terminate from the pendulum bar, as measured by the values on the numbered strips behind them, provide management With informationgas to the quantity by which the sale of an item might be lagging or leading thesale of such item for a corresponding portion of the preceding year. By multiplying such amount by the unit value o-n the index, the amount of business gained or lost in any item may readily be determined. v By the same simple procedure, Amanagernen may readilydetermine the amount of money tied up in a slow-moving or inactive item. Such figure Will obviously be equal to the amount of such item in stock available for sale, multiplied by the unit value of such item. Suchinformation is readily'obtainable from the bo-ard, for the stock available for sale Will be equal to that indicated by the stock tape, less that represented by the sales tape, While the unit value of the item Will be found in the index.

In Figure 3, there have been set up representative conditions which may occur during the normal course of a business. An analysis 'of these will serve to illustrate how, through reliance upon the control board; management is enabled to keep a close check on the movement of items and 'maintain a perpetual balanced inventory.

The pendulum bar indicates the current date to'Y be January 20th or the 18th business day of the year.'

Item #1, for the purpose of illustration, relates The sales tape, it will be noted, terminates clos'e to the pendulum bar, indicating that the sale of this item for the first 18 days 'of the control period approximates that of the VVly uniform.

The salles tape Vhas passed the order mark on the stock tape. The presence of the tack at Vthe number'50, informs management that the standard order quantity of 12 dozen hammers has been placed, though not yet filled. When received, the tack will be vremoved and the tape advanced to the 52 dozen indication.

In Vthe meantime, the board further indicates to ,management that the 12 dozen hammers Which were avail-able for sale when the sales tape .reached the ordering mark, have been sold. .Therefore inasmuch as the receipt of the ordered quantity would leave the sales .tape at the order mark, the operator is on notice to immediately increasethe order to 24 dozen and move fthe tack to number 69 on the number strip, s o

over three. times by the zilthof January.. for. the 1 markings on the stock tape indicate. thatl the stock has been ordered twice since the initial inventory, and the position of the sales tape shows that all stock has been sold.`

The sales tape representing item 4t2,K linseed oil lags the sales of the preceding year by 2.0 gallons, whichl to management would probably not, represent a very serious: matter, but. might b e something that management wouldwfantito keel? an. eye on.

The order mark has been passed,` but no` tack appears after the stock tape,` thereby placing management on notice to` check as to why an order has not been placed to replenish. the. diminishing inventory on this item.

The stock of linseed oil has been turnedover twice, and is in the process of being turned over for the third time. An available stock of 30 gallons is on hand, representing but a small investment of $6.00,` and therefore not a matter of concern to management.

The sale of item #3, peaches, compares favorably with that of the preceding control period, being behind' by only 20 cases out of 360. The daily sales as indicated by the markings on the sales tape are running rather uniformly. Thus the bo-ard informs management that this item does not demand its time and iattention at. this time.

Relative to item #5, Aspirin, the sale of this item lags quite far behind the sales for the corresponding period of last year. This indicates, a condition demanding investigation by manage.- ment. The seriousness of the situation is carried home by the fact that only `100` gross out of an available supply of 300 gross, have been sold. This leaves 200 gross on hand, and at a unit value of $25.00, represents $5000.00 tied up in such item, a very serious situation which should be rectified.

Item #6, Hammer-mill White, is moving satisfactorily compared to sales of the previous year. This item, however, should be watched for early receipt of the material on order, to prevent overselling the stock on hand. In fact, the situation is reaching a point where an additional order should be placed for a standard order quantity.

n item #7, sales have run ahead of expectancy, and a glance at the movement record as depicted by the markings on the sales tape, shows a large jump in sales for a short period. This could constitute a temporary condition or it might be the beginning of a long period of increased daily sales of the item. Rather than permit such latter possibility to stampede one :into purchasing on the basis of continuing increased sales, the board would control buying on the basis of the Standard order quantity plus the amount of sales beyond the order mar-k, to bring inventory back into balance, and this procedure would be adhered to until subsequent sales established the true nature of the trend. In this manner, excessive inventories are avoided, and a balanced inventory maintained, without risking increased investment.

Thus, 'the various situations depicted bythe board, present to management va visual picture of movements and trends, and forcibly bring to its notice those situations demanding his attention, thus conserving executive time, permitting inventories toJ be maintained in balance. holding investments. down to, a safe minimum and vot maintaining s uilicientJ material onv hand to provide best service to customers.

In. some businesses.. maintenance of. inventory `down to the.I closest full unit of an. itommay be adequate.` In some instances, however, accuracy to the fractional Dart of` a unit may 'becalled for. This is made possible through the use of the narrowblackboard1 unit or panel, 33g.v

The blackboard unit. is marked off in accordancen with the number of items. provided` for on the: ilidcx-q and columnar provisions made for indicating, opposite eaoh. index: item, the. item unit and current: total; of excess. elements of suchI unit. When suchA current total reaches one or more fullv units,A the sales tapes are adjusteolaccordingly, andin this manner, inyentory control to the individual element, may be maintained. The hlaokboardu unit` or panel` 33, when employed in this matter,T may. be designated a unit accumulator,`

As an added feature, of the; control board, I provide an adjustable line guido in the, form of a rod 89 terminating in a broad baseV Si slidably supported iny a groove $13` formed vertically in thevertical member 1i of the, outer frame. The. groovel is preferably undercut to receive, a complementary shaped rod-anchoring element to which the rod is aixed by a pair of vertically spaced screws. A leaf spring 91 attached to an edge of the` anchoring element serves to normally maintain sufficient frictional pressure to hold. the, rod in any adjusted. position.

By slightly tilting the rod upward to relieve such pressure, lowering of the rod is facilitated. A knob 99. on the base 9.1 of the rod can be used for this purpose.

Extending as it does across the board, the rod serves to line up an item on the index with its associated tapes and related spaces on the blackboard unit, thus facilitating the Study and analysis of a situation requiring the. concentrated attention of management. ln this connection, proper alignment of these factors can be obtained by a simple adjustment of the rod, made possible by providing an arcuate slot 10| in the anchored end of the rod for the upper screw.

Aside from the application of the board for control of inventory and other business activities, the simplicity oiv its structure permits of the board to be conveniently and economically serviced, and inasmuch as the spindles are merely cradled in the panel,l and maintained in operating position solely by the tapes, they are readily interchangeable for others, to provide for a differenttape grouping, thereby expanding the field of usefulness of the invention.

The pendulum bar possesses the feature of swinging action, whereby it permits adius-tment of tapes beyond the position o-f the bar without the necessity of withdrawing the tape adjusting tool.

By providing a master guide chart and applying the information thereto by means of prepared strips, the character of the installation offers no limitations. The board can be set -up to meet the particular problem it is to solve and is not tied down to `some specific application in a limited ii'eld.

Thus the board becomes very flexible .its applications, and such iiexbilityV to use is enhanced by the fact that in employing such number strips, bearing preoalculated values. the

A"necessity of resorting to the use of afslide rule,

bar, there are no physical limitations as to the positions to which these elements may be adjusted.

The elements of the board which cooperate `in furnishing the information for control, lie in closeparallel planes, and this in conjunction 'with the color contrasts existing between such elements, permit the board to be photographed in sharp detail and with a minimum of shadow. This gives a clear-cut pictorial representation of the board, usable in lieu of customary voluminous reports, for consideration and study by vmanagement at remote points.

structurally, the board is subject to modification and alteration, without departing from .the Aunderlying principles thereof. As one example, the master guide chart may constitute a sheet ID3 of ground cork or other suitable composition, preformed or molded with spaced parallel ribs |05, defining channels |01 Ainto which the number strips may be pressed,

thereby avoiding theV labor and inconvenience of pasting such strips. Other changes will occur to those skilled inthe art.

Also, the spindles 53' may take the form Vof other types of columns, even to the extent of fabricating such columns by assembling a pluralityrof rollers and spacing Washers of greater diameter onto a core or shaft.

I, therefore, do not desire to be limited in my protection to the speciflc details illustrated and described, except as may be necessitated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A control board comprising a central portion, a plurality of movable tapes disposed along said portion in parallel relationship to one another, a pendulum rod disposed transverse to said tapes, means pivotally supporting said pendulum rod for Yswinging movement in a plane parallel to the plane of said tapes, and means yfor moving said pendulum rod at will along said tapes.

2. For use in a control board comprising a plurality of movable endless tapes disposed across a portion thereof in parallel relationship to one another, and having an index transverse to the ends of said tapes to carry items to Which Vmovement of said tapes relates; a master chart disposable behind said tapes on which movements of said tapes may be recorded to provide a permanent record of the information currently conveyed by said tapes, when said chart is positioned on said board, and a duplicate index hingedly secured to said master chart in the same relationship to said tapes as said first mentioned index bears to such tapes.

3. A control board comprising a plurality of individually movable endless tapes disposed across a portion thereof, each Vof said endless tapes having an opaque section and a transparent section joined end to end, said opaque section of each tape having a dull exposed surface adapted to take erasable markings, and a series of indicia behind each tape adapted to represent values, with only that portion of said series loe-v hind said transparent section exposed to View.

4. A control board having a plurality of endless individually movable tapes disposed across l2 at -least a portion thereof, each of said endless tapes comprising a pair of sections of comparable width connected end to end, one of said sections being opaque with a dull exposed surface adapted to take erasable markings and the other of said sections being transparent.

5. A control board having a plurality of endless individually movable tapes dis-posed across at least a portion thereof, each of said endless tapes comprising a pair of sections of comparable width connected end to end at the front of said board by an eyelet, permitting of the introduction therethrough of a marking tool, one of said sections being opaque with a dull exposed surface adapted to take erasable markings and 6. A control board comprising a central portion, a plurality of movableV endless tapes disposed across said central portion in parallel relationship to one another, a pendulum rod disposed transverse to said tapes, and means vfor moving said pendulum rod at wille-along said tapes, said means including a block, a pivot connection extending outwardly from said block for swingably supporting said pendulum rod in a plane parallel to the'plane of said tapes, and

"a track adjacent the upper end of said control board on which said block may slide. v

7. In combination with a frame including vertical and horizontal members, a shiftable line guide comprising a rod extending substantially across said frame and terminating inV a broad base, a tongue and groove slidable connection between said base and one of said frame members and involving a spring between such tongue and a wall of such groove, and means for adjusting the perpendicularity of said rod to said frame member said means involving a pair of screws for aiiixing said base to said tongue with one of such screws passing through a slot-opening in said base.

8. In a control board having a plurality of individually movable tapes and an index for items to be controlled thereby, a backing sheet disposed behind the paths of movement of said tapes, said Ybacking sheet having a plurality of spaced ribs extending therealong between the paths of move'- ment of such tapes to define channels along such `paths of movement for the reception of strips, strips in such channels, said strips bearing information thereon usable in conjunction with said tapes to interpret movements of said tapes in relationship to such indexed items.

9.- A control board comprising a backing sheet having a plurality of parallel spaced ribs extending therealong to denne channels, a plurality of information bearing strips in said channels, a plurality of substantially opaque tape sections, and means for slidably supporting said opaque tape sections along said channels to progressively block out said strips.

CLAUDE W. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

l UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 362,665 Safford May 10, 1887 1,482,606* Goldrick Feb. 5, 1924 1,522,328 Rogers Jan. 6, 1925 1,554,467 Stratton I Sept. 22, 1925 (Other references on following page) Number 13 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Larson Dec. 21, 1926 Szepesi Apr. 5, 1927 Morichard May 17, 1927 Felty July 10, 1928 Ingram Sept. 11, 1928 Andres et a1 May 7, 1929 Hoffmann Dec. 3, 1929 Goldsmith Dec. 24, 1929 Whtcomb Jan. 27, 1931 Buck Jan. 19, 1937 Epps Nov. 2, 1937 Jackson May 24, 1938 Ammann July 18, 1939 Number Number Name Date Dobbin Aug. 8, 1939 Hanford Mar. 11, 1941 OBren Jan. 13, 1942 Perenyi Mar. 3, 1942 Rosin Sept. 22, 1942 Hanford Mar. 16, 1943 Hayes Jan. '15, 1946 Curtenius Apr. 29, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Italy May 12, 1938 Germany of 1923

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