US1682451A

US1682451A - Typewriter-key punch

Info

Publication number: US1682451A
Application number: US749647A
Authority: US
Inventors: Weiland Alfred; Harold R Russell; Charles A Mezger
Original assignee: Remington Rand Inc
Current assignee: Remington Rand Inc
Priority date: 1924-11-13
Filing date: 1924-11-13
Publication date: 1928-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 1945-08-28
Also published as: FR598938A; DE544601C; GB240696A

Description

Aug. 28, 1928.

A. WEILAND ET AL TYPEWRITER KEY PUNCH 7 Filed Nov. 13, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet Z. M d W Z Aug. 28, 1928. 1,682,451

A. WEILAND ET AL TYPEWRI TER KEY PUNCH Filed Nov. 15, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 gnve/nfor,

attomwq Aug. 28, 1928. 1,682,451

A. WEILAND ET AL TYPEWRITER KEY PUNCH Filed Nov. 13, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 0000 o oo oo OOOOOOOOOOOO 000000000000 1 oooooooooooo WJMzQ Patented Aug. 28, 19 28.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED WEILAND, OF NESHAINIO, NEWJERSEY, HAROLD R. RUSSELL, OF DOUGLAS- TON, NEW YORK, AND CHARLES A. MEZGER, OF NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO REMINGTON RAND IN 0., OF NEW YORK,

N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPE'WRITER-KEY PUNCH.

Application filed November 13, 1924. Serial No. 749,647.

This invention relates t6 the punching of cards for use in adding, tabulating, accounting or other machines wherein the mechanism is caused to function in a predetermined manner by an arrangement of perforations in the card, and more particularly relates to a mechanism whereby the operation of a typewriter in the compilation of statistics or other data simultaneously sets up setting mechanism for controlling the perforatmg of a card m a manner representing the 1tem or data transcribed by the typewriter.

Some of the objects of the present invention are to provide a typewriter and a card perforatin machine operating in combination in such a manner that any item or data written by the typewriter, or any desired portion thereof, will be simultaneously transferred to setting mechanism to. control the perforating of a card in the form of a code perforation; to provide means for automatically perforating a record card under con; trol of a typewriter whereby the perforations on the card represent either numbers or letters of the alphabet, or both, as the case may be; to provide an improved-card perforating mechanism whereby certain selected charactors are each represented on the card by a single perforation, while other Selected characters are each represented on the card by two perforations; to provide an improved card perforating means whereby the operation of a single key of the machine causes more than one card perforating operation: and to provide other improvements as will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents a schematic plan of a card punching mechanism embodying one form of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a diagram of the control circuits arranged to be selectively operated by the keys of a typewriter or other keyboard; Fig.3 is a diagram of one of the control circuits arranged to cause a single perforation in a card under a control set up upon the actuation of one key; Fig. 4 is a d'agram of one ofthe control circuits arranged to cause two perforations in a card under a control set up upon theactuation mechanism; Figure 7 represents a sectional elevation of the punch and set-up mechanisms of a typewriter, and a punching or card perforating machine 11, arranged to have its punching mechanism 12 set in a predetermined manner by the actuation of the keys 13 of the keyboard 10. v

The keyboard. 10, generally considered, is a standard one having a row of ten keys representing numerals from one to zero and three rows of keys representing letters of the alphabet. In the present arrangement there are two auxiliary keys representing the

numbers

11 and 12 in order that the arrangement may correspond to the ordinary or generally adopted twelve row record card 14 such as shown in Fig. 5. Also keys marked Space, Skip and Clutch are employed for a purpose to be later explained.

The perforating machine 11 ishere shown of the type described in Letters Patent No. 1,307,682, granted to W. W. Lasker on June 24, 1919, having a row or rows of punches 15 arranged in corresponding relation to the card lay out and mounted for movement in an upper plate 16, paralleling, but spaced from, a lower plate 17, the two plates forming the registering means for the card which is fed into place between them. The two

plates

16 and 17 are periodically reciprocated in timed relation'to the successive feeding of the cards and all the punches 15 arefree to move with the card unless held against movement by a set-up mechanism ,18. This setup mechanism-determines which punches are to be held so that the relative movement of the card will cause them to perforate the card at the 'place or places selected.

For the purpose of making a set-up for certain selected punches theset-up mechanism 18 is provided, consisting of pins 20 corresponding in number to the number of punches and arranged respectively in vertical alinement above the punches. These pins 20 are slidably mounted in a fixed box 21 and project from both sides thereof, on the all one side toward the punches and on the op posite side toward setting bars 22. Normally the pins 18 are held by springs 23 projected into the path of and into close proximity to the aforesaid setting bars 22. These bars 22 are slidably mounted in a box 2* and are respectively provided with latches 25 which are arranged in set position of the bars 22 to engage a perforated spring pressed latch bar 26 and thus hold the pin or pins 20 so that the corresponding punches 15 are held rigid in the path of the moving card. Suitable means are provided for operating the latch bar 26 periodically to release the set bars 22, as is well understood in the art. The setting bars 22 are arranged to be actuated by plungers 27 respectively located in alinement with the upper ends of the bars 22 of a selected row of bars and slidably guided in a carriage or frame 28. The plun ers 27 are respectively pivoted to pivoted bell crank levers 30 while springs 31 respectively re turn the plungers 27 to normal positionand also hold the levers 30 in operative position.

The plungers 27, which form part of the means for selecting the set-up bars 22, are arranged as a single row corresponding in number and spacing to a transverse row of the punches, or expressed in another way, corresponding to a column of the record card, and being mounted on the carriage 28, are brought step by step over the respective rows of set-up bars 22. Thus in each stop position a set-up is made, if required. and

i at the end of the cafiiage travel all of the bars 22, which have en set, are in position to hold the respective correspondin punches against movement. 'At the comp etion of this set-up cycle, the

movable plates

16 and 17 are automatically raised so that a gang punching of the card takes place from the set-up of the bars 22.

As a means for actuating the levers 30, a pluralitybf flexible rods 32 are provided, one for each bell crank 30. One end of each rod 32 is slidably mounted in a support 33 so that it is normally in close proximity to its bell crank lever 30, and the other end of each rod 32 is connected for'independent op eration. Thus the rod ends are respectively led through heads 34 of solenoids 35 and terminate in the path of movement of the movable cores 36 of the respective solenoids 35.

When any solenoid 35 is energized its core 36 will cause the juxtaposed rod 32 to move in the direction of its length and rock its hell crank lever 30 so that the corresponding plunger 27 moves its setting bar 22 into position to prevent movement of the punch 15 which it controls.

In order to energize the solenoids 35 selectively a plurality of circuits are provided hav ing a common source of current 37 a switch 38 for control purposes, and a-resistance 40 for regulating the operating current. The

several circuits are separately controlled by contacts 41 and contactors 42 arranged to be closed by the operation of the keys 13 of the typewriter or other keyboard mechanism, and where there are the same nmnber of control points in a row of the card as there are keys on a keyboard, and the same number of punches, it is a relatively simple matter to provide the same number of circuits as there are keys so that each key will control its own circuit and punch. \Vhen, however, the number of control points in a row of the card is less than the number of keys and all of the keys must be capable of independent action to record all the desired data, a diflicult and troublesome situation arises and one whichhas heretofore remained unsolved in so far as punching a card in a perforating mechanism of the general character disclosed is concerned by operating a single key to cause more than one selected punch to perforate.

In the card 14, shown by way of example, the control points are arranged in-parallel rows of twelve points each, which are respectively indicated by printed numbers running consecutively from zero to nine and with the numbers eleven and twelve above the zero, though this arrangement may be varied in many ways withoutdeparting from the invention. \Vhile there are a plurality of these rows of points on the card and corresponding rows of punches, the selecting mechanism consists, in the present instance, of a single row of selecting plungers 27, one for each point in the card row, and the construction is such that after the selecting mechanism has acted upon one row of set-up bars 22 carriage 28 is automatically shifted to a position in alinement with the next row of set-up bars ready for another selecting set-up operation.

In view of the fact that the present punching mechanism is arranged to be actuated by a typewriter having alphabet characters as well as numerals, thus making at least thirtyeight keys to control twelve punches, it is obvious that some means is required whereby combinations of the keys are made to produce a punching of the card corresponding to certain of the key letters or numerals. In carrying out this identification system the preferred arrangementis suchthat operation of any key of the number keys will cause the number punch for that key to be set up for a punching operation; that operation of any alphabet key from A to M inclusive will cause the setting up of a punch corresponding to the letter key operated; and that operation of any alphabet key from N to Z will cause two punch% to be set up in a combination corresponding to the letter key operated. That this may be more readily understood the present code of operation. is to arrange the electrical circuits so that when the A key isoperated it will set up the punch number 11; the B key punch 0; 0 key punch 1; and continuing successively to M key which sets up unch 12. For convenience letters I and J oth function for punch 7. The remaining keys for the balance of the alphabet are arranged as combinations of punch 12 with another punch. Thus the N key causes

punches

11 and 12 to be set up; O key sets up

punches

0 and 12; P key sets up

punches

1 and 12; Q key sets up punches 2 .and 12; R key sets up

punches

3 and 12; S key sets up

punches

4 and 12; T key sets up

punches

5 and 12; either key U or V sets up

punches

6 and 12, key W sets up

punches

7 and 12; either X or Z key sets up

punches

8 and 12; and Y key sets up

punches

9 and 12. It will be understood that this is merely one arrangement shown by way of example and because it has been found to operate successfully, but obviously different combinations can be made either through choice or for different record conditions.

I As an example of the circuits operated by individual keys for individual punches reference is had to Fig. 3 wherein keys 1 and C and punch 1 and the circuit thereof are taken as a sample of the circuits of the group of which these key contacts form a part. The solenoid 35 which controls punch 1 is included in a circuit with the source of current and has one conductor 43 leading to the contact 41 of the key 1, and a branchconductor 44 leading to the contact 41 of the key C. The contactor 42 of the key 1 is connected to the common return conductor 39 of all of the circuits, and a conductor 45 leads from the contactor 42 of the k y' C to the same return conductor39. Thus he keys 1 and C are connected in parallel in the circuit of the solenoid 35 of punch 1 and the movement of either of these keys to brin its contactor 42 against its contact 41 closes t e circuit and causes the solenoid in that circuit to make a set-up for punch 1. Thus all letter keys from A to M are connected in parallel with number keys from zero to twelve, the arrangement being as heretofore described, keys A and 11 setting up punch 11, keys B and zero setting up punch zero, and so on throughout the group.

As an example of the circuits operated by individual keys to cause more than one punch in a row to be operated at a time, reference is had to Fig. 4 wherein letter key P,

number keys

1 and 12, and

punches

1 and 12 are taken as a sample of the circuits of the group of which these key contacts form a part. The two solenoids 35 which respectively control the

punches

1 and 12 are included in a circuit with the source of current, the one being in series circuit with contact 41 and contactor 42 of key 1 for single operation of punch 1, the other being in series circuit with contact 41 and contactor 42 of key 12 for single operation of punch 12, and both solenoids being in parallel circuit with auxiliary contacts 46, and contactor 42 of the key P for dual operation of the

punches

1 and 12. Where two letter keys, such as X' and Z, are represented by the same two punches, their contacts 46 are bridged by a conductor 47 so that the operation of either closes the same punch circuit.

automatically fed from a magazine 50 one at a A time by a reciprocable picker bar 51 and are delivered to the registration passage by pairs of feed rolls 52. when a stop 53 holds each card against further movement by the friction rollers 54 during the gang punching operation. \Vhen this operation is completed, the stop 53 is automatically removed and the card then feeds over a discharge roller 55 and is ejected into the hopper 5'6.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a complete unitary combined typewriting and card perforating machine has been devised whereby it is possible to simultaneously record predetermined data on a typewriter and control a setting up mechanism to cause the perforating of acard in accordance with the particular recorded data; such perforated card then representing, by its perforations, the item or items of the subject-matter recorded on the typewriter. Furthermore, the present invention makes possible the use of all the typewriter keys for perforating purposes even though the number of punches is less than the number of keys on the keyboard of the machine. Thus in the present instance but twelve punches are used while thirtyeight keys control the punches to cause perforations in the card having identifying characteristics of the keys operated. Where the data compiled is in the form of figures, the punch corresponding to the particular figure can be set up by the actuation of thatfigure key of the typewriter. For example, pressing down typewriter key 1 closes the circuit of the solenoid for punch 1. On the other hand if alphabet characters or words are being compiled pressing down key C will also close the circuit of punch 1 to cause the desired location of the perforation in the card. Again if typewriter key P is pressed down a circuit including the solenoid of punch 1 andthe solenoid of punch 12 is closed and a set-up of

punches

1 and 12 is made whereby the card is perforated at two points in the same column. Of course it will be understood that many key combinations may be made differing from those here shown to cause one or more than one perforation to be made in a card; also that certain little used letters are combined with others to cause operation'ofthe same punch for perfectly obvious reasons.

For convenience of control the typewriter keyboard may be supplied with extra keys, or

\ keys which are seldom used may be employed,

a control circuit which causes the space mechanism of the punch machine to operate so that the pin set-up is moved into vertical alignment with the next adjacent vertical row of numbers or characters on the card. In other wordsfthe operation of the space keys shifts the punch set-up carriage one space.

The key marked Skip is arranged so that its operation causes the carriage to skip a row.- The key marked Clutch controls operation of the punch mechanism and the key marked Carriage return controls the automatic return of the punch carriage as will be understood. y.

In Fig. 5 a sample card is shown wherein the perforations represent the abbreviated company name Powers Acct Mach Corp.

Thus when the card was prepared the writing I of the name on the typewriter simultaneously made a set-up of punches in the punching machine, so that when the name was completed the operation of the punching machine perforated the card at all the predetermined locations. It will be-understood that it is preferable, though notnecessary, to have the typewriter make a complete set-up of all typed F data for a card before operating the punching mechanism, and thereafter automatically replacing the perforated card with an unperforated card ready for code punching of the data to be placed on that card.

- It has heretofore been proposed to employ combinations of keys in a manual key punch, so that a greater number of operations are possible than there are key punches, but this system depends upon memorizing all combinations and manually operating the key combinations from memory, so that not only is there a'wide chance for errors in punching, but also the speedof operating is at a minimum. In work of this character accuracy and speed are two of the most important factors, so that by the present invention not only is there the speed of the operator greatly increased over the ordinary manual punching but the chance of error is reduced to a minimum. This latter is due to the fact that if the o erator wishes to punch the card for the letter N, it is only necessary to press down the typewriter kev N and simultaneouslv the two punches for that letter will be set up. The operator does not have to remember

keys

11 and 12 give the combination for the letter N, because this is taken care of automatically by the key-board control mechanism.

While but one of the many forms in which the present invention may be embodied has been here shown, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific construction but might be applied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In acard perforating mechanism, the combination of a plurality of rows of punches, means for controlling said punches,

a keyboard having a group of numeral keys and a group of letter keys, said keys exceeding the number of punches in a row, means actuated by either a number key or a letter key for causing said controlling means to control a predetermined punch,'and means actuated by the operation of one key of one group for causing said controlling means to control means to actuate two predetermined punches, one of said two punches being the same for every combination. 7

2. In a mechanism of the character stated, the combination of a typewriter and a punching mechanism, said punching mechanism in cluding a plurality of rows of punches, each row corresponding to a column of a record card and having a less number of punches than there are keys on said typewriter, a set-up mechanism, including rows of set-up bars, means arranged to travel from row to row of said set-up bars for selectively operating said set-up mechanism, a feeding device for automatically delivering cards one at a time to said punching mechanism, means actuated by any one of a group of the keys of said typewriter for causing said selecting means to set two punches predetermined by the key operated, and means operated by any one of another group of said typewriter keys for causing said selecting means to set one predetermined punch.

3.- In a mechanism of the character stated, the combination of a typewriter and a punching mechanism, said punching mechanism including a plurality of rows of punches, each row corresponding to a column of a record card and having a less number of punches than there are keys on said typewriter, a set-up mechanism, including rows of set-up bars, means arranged to travel from row to row of said'set-up bars for selectively operating said set-u mechanism, a feeding device for automatically delivering cards one at a time to said punching mechanism, means-actuated by any one of a group of the keys of said typewriter for causing said selecting means to set two punches predetermined by the key operated, means operated by any one of another group of said typebination of a keyboard, a punching mechanism including a plurality of rows of punches, each row corresponding to a column of a record card and having a less number of punches than there are keys on said keyboard, set-up bars for the respective punches, a selecting device arranged to travel across said set-up mechanism, automatic means for successively feeding cards to said punching mechanism, means actuated by any one of a group of said I keys for causing said selecting device to set two set-up bars predetermined by the keys operated, and means actuated by any one of another group of keys for causing said selecting device to set one set-up bar predetermined by the key operated.

5. In acard perforating machine, the combination of a keyboard, a punching mechanism including a plurality of rows of punches, each row corresponding to a column of a record card and having a less number of punches than there are keys on said keyboard, set-up bars for the respective punches, a selecting device arranged to travel across said set-up mechanism, automatic means for successively feeding cards to said punching mechanism, means actuated by any one of a group of said keys for causing said selecting device to set two set-up bars predetermined by the keys operated, means actuated by any one of another group of keys forcausing said selecting device to set one set-up bar predetermined by the key operated, and means for causing all punches corresponding to the setup bars to simultaneously perforate a card.

6. In a card perforating machine, the combination of a keyboard, a punching mechanism including a plurality of rows of punches, each row corresponding to a" column of a record card and having a less number of punches than there are keys on said keyboard, set-up. bars for the respective punches, a selecting device arranged to travel across said set-up mechanism, automatic means for successively feeding cards, means actuated by any one of a group of said keys for causlng said selecting device to set two set-up bars predetermined J determined by the key operated.

7. In a card perforating machine, the combination of a keyboard, a punching mechanism including a plurality of rows of punches, each row corresponding to a column of a record card and having a less number of punches than there are keys on said keyboard, set-up bars for the respective punches, a selecting device arranged to travel across said set-up mechanism, automatic means for successively feeding cards to and from said punching mechanism, means actuated by any one of a group of said keys for causing said selecting device to set two set-up bars predetermined by the keys operated, means actuated by any one of another group of keys for causing said selecting device to set one set-up bar predetermined by the key operated, and means for causing all punches corresponding to the setup bars to simultaneously perforate a card.

8. In a mechanism of the character stated, the combination of a typewriter and a perforating machine comprising a plurality of rows of punch set-up devices fixedly mounted against lateral movement on the machine, a punch selecting mechanism laterally shiftable over said set-up devices from row to row for operating said set-up devices, and means for operating said set-up devices singly for-certain characters written on the typewriter and in combination for other characters written on the typewriter.

Signed at New Brunswick, in the county of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, this 28th day of October, 1924.

ALFRED VVEILAND. HAROLD R. RUSSELL. CHARLES'A. MEZGER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION? Patent No. 1,682, 451.

Granted August '28, 192 8, to

ALFRED WEILAND ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patentrequiring correction as follows:

Page 4, line 85, claim 1', strike out the words "means to actuate"; and that the, said Letters Patent should be read with this'correction therein thatthe same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. I

Signed and sealed this 20th day of November, A. D. 1928.

4 (Seal) I M. J. Moore, Acting Commissioner of Patents.