GB1192821A - Improvements in and relating to Actuators for example for Punch Card Apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1,192,821. Selective printing. HONEYWELL Inc. 28 June, 1967 [14 July, 1966], No. 29948/67. Heading B6F. [Also in Division B4] A selective actuating device illustrated as applicable to a card punch unit but which may also be employed in other systems, e.g. high speed computer printing apparatus, comprises a combined interposer-actuator unit A and a pair of multi-punch magnetic selection arrays ML, MR, the unit A including a pair of multipunch interposer assemblies each comprising a multi-fingered interposer flexure sheet 30 (or 30<SP>1</SP>) each finger 3 (or 3<SP>1</SP>) of which being arranged to be selectively positioned to drive an associated one of punches P1 to P12 (or P<SP>1</SP>1 to P<SP>1</SP>12) the sheet 30 (or 30<SP>1</SP>) being secured, together with flexed guide sheets 1, 5 (or 1<SP>1</SP>, 5<SP>1</SP>), cantilever fashion to a bail frame H, the fingers 3 (or 3<SP>1</SP>) normally resting in contact with the sheet 1 (or 1<SP>1</SP>) unless selected when they are biased into contact with the sheet 5 (or 5<SP>1</SP>) and operate to drive corresponding punches when the bail frame is reciprocated. The arrangement is a modification of that described in Specification 1,127,328. The arrays ML, MR each comprise permanent magnet polepieces 27-1 &c. and 29-1 &c. which are provided with solenoid windings 27-31 &c. and 29-31 &c., the arrangement being such that the polepieces pull the fingers 3 (or 3<SP>1</SP>) into contact with the sheet 1 (or 1<SP>1</SP>) and when selected windings re-energized the pull of the corresponding polepieces is overcome and the corresponding fingers are biased into contact with the sheet 5 (or 5<SP>1</SP>). The arrays ML, MR are provided with adjustable flux shunts 25, 25<SP>1</SP>. The bail frame has integral therewith a stripper assembly ST provided with head portions Sh and slots SC-1 to SC-12 for returning the selected punches to their inoperative positions. The guide sheet 5 (or 5<SP>1</SP>) has clearance cut-outs C-1, C-2 &c. Both sheets 1, 5 (or 1<SP>1</SP>, 5<SP>1</SP>) have a dimpled formation. A spacer 13 (or 131) separates sheet 1 (or 1<SP>1</SP>) from sheet 30 (or 30<SP>1</SP>) and the sheets 1, 30, 5 (or 1<SP>1</SP>, 30<SP>1</SP>, 51) are clamped together between a pair of clamps 7, 15 (or 7<SP>1</SP>, 15<SP>1</SP>). The sheet 30 (or 30<SP>1</SP>) is of magnetizable material and the sheets 1, 5 (or 1<SP>1</SP>, 5<SP>1</SP>) of non-magnetizable material. The heads of the punches and the lower ends of the flexure fingers are made of non-magnetic material of high durability. The sheet 30 (or 30<SP>1</SP>) may be laminated. Unselected punches are retained in the inoperative position by means of springs SP-1 &c. (or SP<SP>1</SP>-1 &c.) the free ends of which engage slots PS in the punches. Each punch has secured thereto a magnet MG-1 &c. (or MG<SP>1</SP>-1 &c.) which when a selected punch is sensed by a detector (PCM-1 &c.) (or PCM-1<SP>1</SP> &c.), Fig. 5 (not shown), to verify that the selected punch has punched a record card.