GB1202106A - Improvements in or relating to punch mechanisms - Google Patents

Abstract

1,202,106. Punching. INTERNATIONAL COMPUTERS Ltd. 23 May, 1969 [29 May, 1968], No. 25672/68. Heading B4B. A punch mechanism for selectively punching a moving recording medium 10 comprises a punch element 7, mounted in a carriage 3 and movable perpendicular to the medium 10, a linkage assembly connected to the carriage 3 and the punch element 7, and means 1, 5 for reciprocating the carriage 3 parallel to the medium so that on selecting the punch element 7 a point on an arm 23 of the linkage is fixed, and motion of the carriage 3 causes the punch element to function. The medium 10, e.g. a tape, is driven by a capstan 31, the carriage 3 being reciprocated by a rotary cam 1 acting against a spring 5 at a uniform forward speed equal to the tape speed. At the start of a punching cycle the latch arm 23 of the linkage is engaged by a latch member 26 under the influence of a solenoid 27, and as the carriage 3 advances the punch 7 is forced downwards by a lever 13, pivoted at 14 to the carriage 3 and at 16 to a strut 15 depending through a swinging link 18 from the arm 23. At the end of the stroke the arm 23 engages a stop 36C, causing the punch 7 to be withdrawn, the solenoid 27 is de-energized and, the strut 15 and link 18 having pivoted out of alignment sufficiently to contact a latch member projection 29, the latch 26 is disengaged, so that the arm 23 can rise unhindered as the strut 15 pivots during the return stroke of the carriage 3. Several punch mechanisms may be operated selectively simultaneously, each solenoid 27 remaining de-energized during any non-punching cycle, and the tape 10 may be fed by frictional contact with the carriage.