Drum memory

Abstract: A MULTI-COMPUTER SYSTEM EMPLOYS A MASS CYCLIC STORAGE, SUCH AS A MAGNETIC DRUM, AS THE MAIN SYSTEM MEMORY, AND IT COMPRISES A PLURALITY OF INDEPENDENT COMPUTER ENTITIES THAT OPERATE WITH A COMMON CENTRAL PROCESSOR ON A TIME-SHARING BASIS. EACH COMPUTER ENTITY COMPRISES A SMALL PLURALITY OF REGISTERS FROM THE RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY. A CONTENT-ADDRESSED MEMORY CONTROLS THE ASSIGNMENT OF THE CENTRAL PROCESSOR TO THE COMPUTER ENTITIES AND CONTROLS THE DRUM TRANSFERS OF DATA AND INSTRUCTION SIGNALS TO AND FROM THE COMPUTER ENTITIES, THESE TRANSFERS ARE SCHEDULED SO THAT, OVER EACH MEMORY CYCLE, A PLURALITY MAY BE PERFORMED WITH MINIMAL LATENCY. THE CENTRAL PROCESSOR, UPON COMPLETING THE PROCESSING FOR A PARTICULAR COMPUTER ENTITY, SUPPLIES THE CONTENT-ADDRESSED MEMORY WITH THE ADDRESSES FOR THE DRUM TRANSFER AND CALLS FOR THE NEXT COMPUTER ENTITY TO BE PROCESSED.

Abstract: A long lifetime and high-performance MO erasable disk memory is described. It has two optical heads for the erase and write operation. Previous information is erased by the erase head; subsequently, new information is recorded by the write head, which is equivalent to an overwrite operation for a magnetic memory. The recording medium is TbCo; this has a longer lifetime than other media, which contain Fe. All components are compactly formed into a standard 13.3-cm (5.25-in.) magnetic memory drive size. This disk memory will be used as a large capacity digital memory for desktop computers or personal computers.

Abstract: Materials separating apparatus comprising an inclined drum rotatable about its longitudinal axis and having an inner surface comprised of an array of permanent magnets arranged in parallel strips extending circumferentially at an angle to the drum axis, and means for depositing commingled materials within the drum upon the magnet array whereby as the drum and magnet array rotate the magnetic field of the magnets will induce eddy currents in conductive items causing them to move progressively upward and out the upper end of the drum, while nonconductive items will slide downwardly out the lower end of the drum. In another embodiment of the invention a liner is provided over the magnet array to carry magnetic items upwardly to be deposited separately in a chute or the like.