GB741746A - Improvements in or relating to machines for punching records such as record cards - Google Patents

Abstract

741,746. Selective punching machines. POWERS - SAMAS ACCOUNTING MACHINES, Ltd. Feb. 18, 1954 [March 31, 1953], No. 8972/53. Class 31 (2). [Also in Group XXIV] A machine for recording data in the form of perforations by punches which are conditioned by signals initiated from a keyboard consisting of manually-operated keys 1 each representative of a character to be recorded, comprises normally-inactive selector means movable by the keys to an active condition to determine the signal or signals to be transmitted on the operation of any one key, a bail 19 supported for reciprocation and co-operation with an active selector means to cause the latter to operatively engage the signal transmitting means, a one-revolution clutch for operating the bail, and a latch device arranged to set the clutch into operation upon the actuation of any key and to disengage it after one revolution irrespective of whether or not the actuated key is restored to its inactive condition. The keys 1 are disposed in a keyboard similar to that of a typewriter and each is arranged so that when depressed it acts through a bell-crank 23 to slide leftwards in Fig. 1 a link 21 and thereby swing an interponent 17 so that a notch 18 in the bar engages over the bail 19 which is common to all the interponents ; each interponent is pivoted on a spring-supported lever 13 and normally urged away from the bail by a spring 20. The downward movement of the bail, which occurs whenever a key is depressed, then lowers the engaged interponent and rocks the corresponding operating lever 13 into engagement with the upstanding portions of one or more of a set of code bars 12 according to the prescribed code. Each code bar constitutes one link of a parallel linkage 4, 9, 10, 12 so that when actuated by an interponent it acts through a plunger 3 upon a flexible cable 2 for transmitting a signal for controlling the corresponding set bar of the punching machine. The bail is operated from eccentrics 37 on a shaft 38 which is driven through the onerevolution clutch whenever a key is depressed. The key when depressed acts through its link 21 upon a pivoted bail 58, Fig. 1, common to all the keys, and then through a link 57 and trip lever 55 to release latch members 47, 48, Fig. 2, which thereby permit a pawl 43 pivoted on the clutch disc 40 to engage a ratchet-wheel 45 on a power-driven shaft and so actuate the clutch ; the latch members trip the pawl after one revolution of the clutch and so disengage it. A space operation of the punching machine is controlled by a bar 67 through a flexible cable, and punching and skip operations are each controlled by a key which operates the clutchengaging linkage 57, 58 and, through interponents, an operating bar 13 acting directly upon a flexible cable. Instead of the plungers 3 operating flexible cables for setting the punches, they may actuate electrical contacts for controlling the set bars electrically.