US2114447A - Key punch - Google Patents

Description

April 19, 71938. L. M. KEEFE 2,114,447

KEY PUNCH Filed Feb. 28, 1935 5 SheetsSheet 1 (\z 0 N N x EWNINGS INVENTOR Zmrcozzv M. AEzns ATTORNEYS L. M. KEEFE April 19, 1938.

KEY PUNCH Filed Feb. 28, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ZINcazAr/f KEEFE flmflmflw ATTORN EYS L. M. KEEFE April 19, 1938.

KEY PUNCH Filed Feb. 28, 19:35

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 K. NW

ATTORNEYS April 19, 1938. E 2,114,447

- KEY PUNCH Filed Feb. 28, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS L.M.KEEFE April 19, 1938.

KEY PUNCH Filed Feb. 28. 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 mww ms mm Patented Apr. 19, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE 21 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in key punches and has for an object the provision, in a key punch, of a record carriage which may be manually set to position any horizontal row in the record in alinement with the punches.

A further object of the invention is the provision, in a key punch, of a settable carriage and means for temporarily moving the carriage to another setting.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a key punch, of a carriage which may be set with any horizontal row in the record in alinement with the punches and an operative lever having a visual indicator associated therewith by means of which the carriage may be moved to another position temporarily and adapted to automatically return to the original setting when the lever is released.

Still another object of the invention is the provision, in a key punch, of means for disabling the mechanism at a point between the keys and the punches during the time the carriage is being moved from one setting to another, the disabling means being rendered ineffective as the carriage comes into registration in any desired setting. This makes it impossible to punch a hole in the record in any other than the normal index positions.

Still a further object of the invention is the provision, in a key punch, of a carriage which may be adjusted for difierent widths of record cards and which is provided with a member engaging the top edge of a record and tending to force the bottom of the record into intimate contact with the carriage.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a key punch, of means between the keys and the punches for imparting motion from the keys to the punches regardless of the relative 40 location of the keys and the punches.

Still another object of the invention is the provision, in a key punch, of manually operated means accessible from the outside of the machine for returning to the normal position any 45 of the punches which may stick.

A further object of the invention is the provision, in a key punch, of a settable record carriage, a visual indicator operatively connected thereto, means for temporarily setting the carriage for punching in another field of either a higher or lower order than the original field, and spring means for returning the carriage to the original setting regardless of whether the temporary set was of a higher or lower order.

A still further object of the invention is the provision, in a key punch, having a carriage adapted to be set in any one of a plurality of fields and a visual indicator designating the fields, of an attachable or detachable visual indicator containing further designations in the various 5 fields.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the new and 10 improved key punch;

Figure 2 is a sectional drawing along the line 2-2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top view parallel to the carriage and taken along the line 33, Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a rear view, partly broken away, showing the arrangement of the parts of the new and improved key punch;

Figure 5 is an end view of a portion of the new and improved key punch showing details of the 20 drum, the hand lever and. mechanism controlling the locking and unlocking of the carriage;

Figure 6 is an elevation partly in section of the drum shown in Figures 3 and 5; and

Figure 7 is an elevation, partly in section, taken 25 along the line l-l of Figure 6 and showing the interrelation between the registration plate and the return dogs and springs.

Figure 8 is an enlarged view showing details of the key action.

A stepped member 20, together with end plates 2| and 22, form the main frame of the machine. The stepped plate is provided to carry the keys which will presently be described.

'A plate 23 secured to the stepped plate 20 and the end plates 2| and 22 is provided with a cut away portion 24 and forms a support for a plate 25. The plate 25 is provided with an elongated depression 26.

A multiple die plate 21 is secured to the plate 49 25 and has a plurality of dies 28 communicating with the elongated depression 26 whereby portions cut out from the records may be discharged.

A punch suporting member 29 is secured to the plate 23 in any suitable manner; for example, by means of screws 30; at eachend thereof, the spacing apart of said screws being preferably wider than the widest record which the punch is capable of handling.

The supporting member 29 carries a shaft 3! which pivotally carries a plurality of punch actuating levers 32. The levers 32 are each provided with a tongue 33 which engages a notch 34 in a I punch 35.

The punches 35 are supported in a block 36 which might be termed a stripper.

When the levers 32 are moved about the pivot shaft 3| in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, the tongues 33 engaging notches 34 in the punches 35 propel the punches into the dies 28.

A metallic block is secured to the supporting member 29 and carries spring means for returning the levers 32 to normal. This block is provided with a plurality of holes 38, one for each of the levers 32. Each hole carries a plunger 39, and spring 40. The upper end of each hole is closed by means of a screw 4|. The pressure of each spring 40 is conveyed to its associated lever 32 by means of a plunger 39. The tension on the plunger 39 may be adjusted by means of the screw 4|.

A transverse member 42 extends from the end plate 2| to the end plate 22. A substantial portion of the member 42 is hollowed out to form a receptacle for the metallic block 43. This block is retained in position by means of a plurality of set screws 44.

The block 43 is provided with a plurality of holes each containing a plunger 45, one plunger being provided for each lever 32. The lower ends of the holes in the block 43 have secured thereto conduits, one of which is designated by the numeral 45. The plungers 45 each have secured thereto a positive driving flexible means. In the present embodiment this flexible means is a close wound continuous spring 41.

The stepped plate 20 is provided with a plurality of keys, one of which is designated by the numeral 48. Each key 48 is provided with a shank 49 and a shouldered portion 59. A bushing secured into the plate 210 secures the key in operative relation thereon. The shouldered end 5|] of the key has a cavity 52 formed therein, and a plunger 53, similar to the plunger 45, engages the cavity 52 and transmits motion from and to the key.

The plungers 45 and 53 are provided with reduced end portions, not shown, which are threaded in a pitch matching the convolutions of the spring 41 so that they may be screwed into the ends of these springs.

The conduits, one of which is designated by the numeral 46, in addition to having one end secured to the block 43, have the other end secured to the interior of the stepped plate 20 in the following manner:

The conduit 46 passes through a bushing 54, and terminates with the plunger 53 in cooperative relation to the shouldered portion 5|] of the key. The conduit is retained in this position by the clamping action of the bushing 54 when the same is screwed into the plate 20.

Due to the fact that the close wound spring 41 is confined in the conduit 46, motion may be directly imparted from one point to another without any appreciable lost motion and through any angle. In view of this the positions of the keys 48 relative to the positions of the punch actuating levers 32 are immaterial and this form of construction has advantages over lever and gear linkages of the prior art in that the mechanism is greatly simplified and the final form of the device is not limited by the type of mechanism imparting motion from the keys to the punches.

A bottom plate 55 is secured to the stepped plate 29 and to the end plates 2| and 22, thereby forming a closure for the bottom of the device and stiffening the structure.

The record carriage, generally designated by the numeral 55, consists of a substantially rectangular plate 51 having a rectangular opening 58 formed therein so that the carriage can be moved relative to the punches and their associated mechanisms.

The plate 5'! has secured thereto on the rear surface thereof, a rack 59 and a rack 69. A gear 6| meshes with teeth in the rack 59 and a gear 62 meshes with teeth in the rack 58. These gears are carried on a shaft 63 which is suitably journalled in the end plates 2| and 22 so that when the shaft 63 is rotated the motion is transmitted to the plate 5? through the gears and racks and thereby the carriage is moved up or down.

The operation of this shaft and the carriage motions will be presently described.

The plate 5'! also has secured thereto on the rear face thereof, preferably adjacent to the racks 59 and 6D, metallic angles 54 and 55. These angles are provided with a series of preferably rectangular notches 65. A slidable shaft 67 is supported by the end plates 2| and 22 and has a faced portion milled 01f to form a rail 68 of substantially rectangular form adapted to engage any of the notches 56. The rail portion 68 of the shaft 61 is provided with a notch adjacent to each of the angles 64 and 65. One of these notches is designated by the numeral 59, see Figure 3.

The rail 68 retains the carriage in any setting (according to which notch 66 is engaged thereby) and the carriage can only be moved when the notches 59 are in line with the notches 55. The method of actuating the slidable shaft 57 in connection with the moving of the carriage will presently be described.

The carriage 56 is provided with lands 7!) and H for the records to align precisely therewith and for guiding the records into the spaces between the die plate 27 and the stripper block 35. A stop plate 12 is secured on one side of the land and serves as an abutment for the end of the record to position its vertical columns in line with the punches. A stop plate F3 is positioned adjacent to one side of the land 'H. The stop l3 has an angular foot M which is secured to the plate 51 by means of a screw 15. The screw 75 passes through a slot 16 formed in the plate 5! and the stop 13 may be set a greater or lesser distance from the stop 72 (this movement being limited by the length of the slot 76) to accommodate different widths of records.

The carriage 56 carries a plate Tl which has end portions 18 and i9 embracing preferably rectangular shafts 89 and 8|. A rectangular sleeve 82 is secured to the shaft 89 forming a shoulder for limiting the upward movement of the shaft. A similar sleeve 83 is secured to the shaft 8| in the same manner and for the same purpose. The shafts 89 and 3! are secured to a spring plate 84 in any suitable manner. For example, by means of screws 85, one of which is shown dotted in Figure 1. The rear end of the spring plate 84 is secured to the plate 'l'l so that when the curved or front end of the spring plate 84 is raised the rectangular shafts 8i] and 9| are moved upwardly endwise until the portions 82 and 83 come in contact with the end portions 78 and 19.

A suitable bottoming plate for the records, designated by the numeral 85, is secured to the lower end of the plate 51. When a record is inserted into the carriage its bottom edge comes in contact with the plate 86, and its ends are positioned by the stop plates I2 and I3.

When a record is inserted in the carriage the spring plate 84 is raised as above described and when releasedthe portions 82 and 93 contact with the upper surface of the record, thereby insuring the registration of the bottom of the record with the surface of the plate 89.

The plate TI is provided with shouldered stud screws 81 and 88 which project through vertical slots 89 and 99 formed in the plate 51 so that the plate TI may be adjusted vertically for records of diiferent heights, nuts 9I and 92 being provided to secure the plate I! in any desired setting.

The shaft 53, carrying the gears El and 62 above referred to, has a sleeve 93 splined or keyed thereto. The sleeve 93 has secured thereto a hub 94. The hub 94 is provided with a keyway 95. The sleeve 93 has a shouldered and a threaded reduced portion 96. A nut 97! secures a portion of the hub 94 against said shouldered portion.

The hub 94 has formed integral therewith a drum generally designated by the numeral 99. The drum 98 has a radial portion 99 which terminates in the hub 94. It also has a cylindrical portion I99 which is parallel to and spaced apart from the sleeve 93. The cylindrical portion I99 has formed integral therewith an outwardly extending radial section IOI which serves as a visual indicator as will presently be described.

An indexing plate I92 is pivoted on the sleeve 93 and is movably secured to the end plate 22 I by means of screws I93 and I94 extending through slots I95 and IE6 respectively in the plate I92.

The indexing plate I92 is provided with a plurality of notches I! which correspond to the horizontal rows of index points in the records and each notch will cause the record to be positioned with one of its horizontal rows in registration with the punches.

A plurality of holes I98 are formed in the index plate I92 each hole being adjacent to one of the slots I91. The functions of these holes will presently be described.

A spring plunger I99 is carried by a bracket IIB secured to the end plate 2!. The plunger I99 is provided with a tongue portion I I I adapted to engage any of the notches I91 and thereby to block the index plate I92 in any position, according to which notch is engaged. The bracket I I0 is provided with a pointer II2, in line with the tongue III, and adjacent to the radial portion ll of the drum. The pointer H2 forms a portion of a visual indicator. The other portion of the visual indicator is formed on the outer surface of the radial portion I9! in the manner shown in Figure 3. The lines indicate the various index positions of the horizontal rows in the records and the numbers on the lines designate those rows. For instance, when the pointer H2 is in line with the line upon which the 2 is positioned it indicates that the horizontal two row of the records is in line with the punches.

The sleeve 93 is provided with a portion having a larger diameter and having slanting sides, which forms a cam. This cam is generally designated by the numeral II3. This cam engages a device for disabling all of the keys so that no perforations may be made in the record unless the record is in accurate registration with the punches. This mechanism consists of, referring to Figures 2 and 4, pivoted arms I I4 and H5 carried on a shaft I I9 which is journalled in the end plates 2| and 22. A bar II! is secured to the upper ends of the pivoted arms H4 and HE. A spring I'I5 has one end connected to the arm I I5 and the other end connected to a pin I76 in the end plate 22, for holding this mechanism in the normal position shown in dotted lines.

-When the drum 98, together with the sleeve 93 and its cam I I3, are moved to the right, as shown in Figure 6, which is to the left as shown in Figure 4, the cam II3 engages the pivot arm H5 and moves it slightly in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2, or outwardly as viewed in Figure 4, thereby positioning the bar III immediately above the extensions H8 forming an integral part of the levers 32. The drum and the sleeve shaft together with the cam must be moved in the manner described before the carriage can be moved to another position. The cam H3 continues to engage the pivot arm H5 until the carriage is set at another accurate index position and a movement of the drum to its normal position disengages the cam from the pivot arm H5 thereby allowing the bar ill to return to the position shown dotted in Figure 2 which is its normal position, after which the keys are again enabled to actuate the punches.

The index plate I02 has secured thereto an overhanging extension II9 which overhangs the flanged portion IIII of the drum. This overhanging extension II9 is provided with a registering pin I29 which engages a hole I2! formed in the flanged portion of the drum. The flanged portion of the drum also has a keyway formed therein which is adapted to be engaged by a key I23; It is preferable to make this key in the form of a roller. The open face of the drum is provided with a registration pin I 24 which is adapted to register with any of the holes I93 as will presently be described. The radial portion of the drum 98 has secured thereto an annular ring I25. This ring is of substantially larger diameter than the cylindrical portion I99. The slidable shaft 61 extends through the end plate 22 and carries at its outer end a lever I26. The lever I26 has formed therein a slot I27 which straddles and rides the ring I25 at all times so that any movement of the drum 98 lengthwise along the shaft 63 will be imparted to the slidable shaft 9?. 5 I

A lever I28 is secured to the shaft BI and is provided with a hole which is at all times in engagement with a guiding pin- I29 located in the end plate 22. This lever and pin arrangement prevents the shaft 61 from rotating but permits it to slide freely as the position of the drum 98 is changed.

The hub 94 has secured thereto a ring I39 provided with sockets I3I and I32. A lever I 33 has a portion thereof in the form of a ring I34 and an end portion. I35 the tip of which is made in the form of a ball I36. The ring portion I34 is provided with pivot screws I37, I38 which pivotally engage the sockets I32 and I3I respectively. The ball I39 is positioned between sectors I39 and I49. These sectors are spaced apart by sleeves one of which is designated by the numeral MI and they are spaced apart from the end plate 22 by sleeves one of which is designated by the numeral I42, the sleeves and sectors being secured to the end plate 22 by means of bolts I43 and nuts I 14. The lever I33 is provided with a suitable handle I45.

When the operator engages the handle I45 and presses the same to the right as viewed in Figures 1, 3 and 6, the drum 98 together with the sleeve shaft 93 is moved to the right whereupon hub I56 journalling on the sleeve shaft 93.

the cam H3 causes the key action to be disabled as above described. By this movement the registering pin I20 is disengaged from the hole I2I, the key I23 is disengaged from the keyway I22 and as the drum is moved further to the right the registration pin I24 engages a hole I08. At the same time the movement of the drum is imparted to the shaft 61 through the medium of the lever I26. This aligns the notches 89 in the rail 68 with the angles 84 and 65 so that the carriage is now free to move and the operator may release the index plate I92 by raising the spring plunger, whereupon the carriage may be moved to any desired setting by rotating the handle I45 to a higher or lower index point as indicated on the visual indicator IOI.

When the desired setting is obtained the spring plunger I09 may be released and the tongue III is allowed to engage another notch I01. Having obtained the desired setting the drum 98 mustbe returned to its normal position before the keys can be operated.

A spring I46 surrounds the sleeve shaft 93 and bearing against the inner end of the hub 94 tends to return the drum to its normal position. As the drum returns to its normal position the shaft 51 returns to its normal position with the rail 68 engaging notches 66 in the angles 84 and 65 and at the same time the cam H3 is disengaged from the pivot arm II allowing the bar tal row in the records.

Assuming that the horizontal rows represent months in which it is desired to record activities in, for example, the various departments of a department store, by setting and locking the carriage for any horizontal row in the record the data for the month represented by said row may be very rapidly perforated into the records. However, it has been found that occasionally the carriage must be moved to another horizontal row in the record either above or below the one in which most of the perforations are being placed. It was therefore necessary to devise some means for temporarily moving the carriage to another position so that one or more punching operations could be effected and to have the carriage automatically return to its original setting after these out of the ordinary punching operations have been completed.

An arm I41 is provided with a hub I48 which is journalled on the sleeve shaft 93. The arm I41 is provided with a stud I49 to which is secured one end of a preferably fiat spring I50. The other end of the spring I50 is secured to a stud I5I carried by the index plate I02.

The index plate I02 also carries a stud I52. The drum 98 has secured thereto, in the interior thereof, a stud I53. The studs I52 and I53 clear each other radially and they are both parallel to the shaft 93. The arm I41 has a flat portion I54 which normally engages both the studs I52 and I53. A second arm I55 is provided with a This arm carries a stud I51 to which one end of a flat spring I58 is secured. The other end of the spring I58 is secured to the stud I5I.

The arm I55 is provided with a straight portion I59 which engages the studs I 52 and I53. The straight portion I59 contacts the studs I 52 and I53 on the right hand sides thereof as viewed in Figure 7, and the flat portion I54 contacts these studs on the left side as viewed in Figure '1. The spring I50 is so arranged that when the arm I41 is rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure '1, the spring winds up; and when the arm I55 is moved clockwise, as viewed in Figure 7, its spring I58 is wound up. The arms I41 and I55 normally contact the studs I52 and I53 under an initial'tension.

Now, with the carriage set to perforate in one horizontal row of the records as above described for the purpose of entering activities during any month, for example, and assuming that the carriage is set to perforate in the horizontal 5 row in the records, suppose it is found necessary to make one perforation in the 8 row, the handle I45 is moved to the right, as viewed in Figures 1 and 3, and thereby the drum 98 moves to the right to a point where the registering pin I20 is disengaged from the hole I2I and the key I23 is disengaged from the slot I22, The movement is continued until a point is reached where the drum can be rotated. However, the registration pin I24 must not enter any of the holes I08 because in this instance the plunger I09, its tongue III and the index plate I02 are not disturbed. This movement of the drum through the medium of the ring I25 and the lever I26 moves the shaft 61 to a point where notches 59 in the rail 68 permit the carriage to move (the slots 69 being of such width that the carriage is permitted to move with the drum in the position just described).

By moving the handle I45 upwardly the drum may then be rotated until the index line for the 8 row indicated on the flange IOI is in line with the pointer I I2. When this point is reached the lever is moved further to the right sothat the registration pin I24 goes into a hole 605 cor responding to the 8 position after which a punching operation may be eifected in the horizontal 8 row in the record.

During the rotation of the drum just described, the stud I53 causes the rotation of the arm I41 and thereby increases the tension on the spring I50. As soon as the punching operation in the 8 row, just described, is completed the carriage must return to the 5 row where the main punching operations are being carried out. Therefore the handle I45 is released and the spring I48, acting endwise against the: interior of the drum, disengages the registration pin I24 from the hole I08 and as soon as this occurs the spring I50 pulls the arm I41 back to its normal position (for example, from the dotted position shown in Figure '7 to the position shown in solid lines) after which the spring I45 continues to move the drum to the left (Figure 6) until the key I23 reengages the keyway I22 and the pin I20 reengages the hole I2I, the carriage has returned to its original setting and punching operations may then be resumed.

Assuming that the carriage is set for punching operations in the 5 row and it is desired to move the carriage to a row having a lower index position value, for example, the 2 row, the handle I45 would be moved to the right, Figures 1, 3 and 6 as above described and when the registering pin I20 is disengaged from the hole I 2! and the key is disengaged from the keyway I22 the handle would then be moved downwardly thereby rotating the drum 98 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 5 and '7 in which case the stud I53 working against the surface I59 would rotate the arm I55 in a clockwise direction thereby winding up the spring I58.

As soon as the 2 on the visual indicator comes in line with the pointer II2 the handle is moved further to the right so that the registration pin I26 will engage one of the holes I68 in the index plate I02. This hole, of course, would be the one representing the horizontal 2 row in the record. While the handle is held in this position punching operations may be effected in the 2 row after which the handle may be released and the carriage allowed to return to the original setting for carrying on further punching operations in the row.

A shaft I68 is journalled in the end plates 2| and 22 and one end of this shaft extends through the end plate 2! and has secured thereto a lever I6! which is provided with a handle I62. A cross pin I63 is carried by the shaft I 6!) adjacent to the end plate 2|. A pin I64 is secured tothe interior of the end plate 22 and a spring I65 is secured to the pin I63 and to the pin I64. This spring tends to hold the shaft in its normal position with the pin I63 engaging a stop (not shown).

The mid portion of the shaft I66 is slotted and has secured thereto a metallic angle I66. This angle is of such length that it spans all of the levers 32. When the shaft I66 is rotated by means of the lever IN and handle I62 through an arc the angle I66 engages the outer ends of the levers 32 and thereby if a punch 35 gets stuck in a die 38 it may be released by the operation of the lever I61.

As the punching operations go on the punchings pass through the dies 28 and fall out via the depression 26.

A suitable back plate I6! is secured to the end plates 2i and 22 by means of screws I68 and thereby incloses the mechanism.

The drum 98 is provided with spring loaded clips I69 and I I9 so that a paper strip "I may be clipped to the drum. This strip lII may carry legends or other representations of departments which carry seasonal goods, or it may carry any other designations desired.

Strips, one of which is shown at I'I2, are provided adjacent to the keys 43 and carry numerals indicating the columnar positions of the punches. For example, the lower right hand punch as viewed in Figure 1 is indicated as adapted to perforate in the 76th column of the record. These designations may be used, in some cases. In other cases it has been found expedient to attach to the keys removable buttons designating the name of the department or any other designation desired. One of these removable buttons is indicated by the numeral I13 designating the hat department.

Although a single embodiment of the invention is shown and described herein it is obvious that many changes may be made in the device without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a key punch, a frame, a die located on one portion of said frame, a punch in cooperative relation to said die, a lever pivotally supported on said frame and operatively associated with said punch, a key spaced apart from said die and supported on another portion of said frame, means between said key and said lever for transmitting motion from the former to the latter, a rigid conduit enclosing said means and defining a path for said motion, spring means acting against said lever for withdrawing the punch from the die and returning the lever and the key to their respective normal positions, and a manually operable member adapted to engage said lever to withdraw said punch from the die in case of failure of said spring means.

2. In a punching machine, a plurality of dies, a punch for each of said dies, means for selectively propelling said punches into and out of said dies, a record carriage adapted to support a record in operative relation to said punches and dies, means for setting and locking said carriage in any desired position relative to the punches whereby a series of punching operations may be effected, means including a manually operable lever for temporarily moving said carriage whereby punching operations may be effected in another portion of the record, and mechanism and spring means associated with said lever for returning the carriage to said first setting when said lever is released.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which an indicator is associated with the manually operable lever for visually indicating the index value of the setting.

4. In a punching machine, a frame, a plurality of dies supported on said frame, a punch for each of said dies, a plurality of keys carried by said frame and spaced apart from said punches, means for transmitting motion from each individual key to an associated punch, a record carriage movably carried on said frame and adapted to support a record in operative relation to said punches and dies, means for setting and locking said carriage in any desired position relative to the punches, said means including a rotatable shaft geared to said carriage and a manually operable lever for moving said shaft, and means also operable by said lever for moving said carriage on said frame without disturbing said means for setting and locking the carriage.

5. In a punching machine, a frame, a plurality of dies supported in alinement on said frame, a stripper block parallel to and spaced apart from said dies, a plurality of punches slidably supported in said stripper block and adapted to cooperate with said dies, a lever operatively connected to each of said punches, a plurality of keys carried by said frame and spaced apart from said levers, operative linkage between said punches and said levers for transmitting motion from each individual key to its associated lever and punch, a record carriage movably carried on said frame, means for setting and looking said carriage in any one of aplur-ality of positions on said frame, means interposed between said carriage and said setting and locking means for temporarily moving the carriage away from a locked position while keeping the main carriage holding means in locked position, and spring means for returning said carriage to its locked position when the interposed means is released.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 in which the carriage is provided with angular strips having notches formed therein and a shaft slidably mounted in said frame is provided with portions adapted to engage said notches for retaining the carriage in any desired setting relative to the dies, and in which the punching mechanism is disabled during the carriage movement, and enabled when one of said portions engages a notch.

'7. In a punching machine having a frame, a plurality of punches and dies, and selective means for propelling said punches into and out of said dies; a record carriage movably supported on said frame, a pair of racks secured to said carriage, a rotatable shaft supported in said frame, a plurality of gears on said shaft meshing with said racks, an index plate pivotally carried on said shaft, said plate having registration notches formed therein corresponding to index positions in the record relative to said punches, an actuating member secured to said shaft and adapted to engage said index plate, means carried on said frame for engaging any of said notches in the index plate, and means interposed between said plate and said member for temporarily moving the carriage to other index positions than the one indexed by said plate, said last means including spring means for returning said carriage to the position indexed by the plate when the means for temporarily moving the carriage is released.

8. In a punching machine having a frame, a plurality of punches and dies, and selective means for propelling said punches into and out of said dies; a record carriage movably supported on said frame, a pair of racks secured to said carriage, a rotatable shaft supported in said frame, a plurality of gears on said shaft meshing with said racks, an index plate pivotally carried on said shaft, said plate having registration notches formed therein corresponding to index positions in the record relative to said punches, a drum secured to said shaft, a flange formed integral with said drum carrying graduations corresponding to index positions in the records and having a keyway formed therein and spaced apart from said graduations, a key carried by said index plate and adapted to engage said keyway when the drum is in a normal position, locking means carried on said frame and engaging one of the notches of the index plate, and a lever operatively connected to said drum and adapted to move the same longitudinally along said shaft to disengage said key from said keyway after which the drum may be rotated to move the carriage.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8 in which the drum is provided with two springs acting in opposite directions and so arranged that when the drum is rotated in either direction the tension of at least one of the springs is increased thereby causing the shaft to rotate in an opposite direction and to return the carriage to its original position on the frame when the lever is released.

10. A device as claimed in claim 8 in which the carriage carries a serrated strip and in which the frame carries a slidable member adapted to engage one of said serrations for locking the carriage in any desired registration, said member engaging and disengaging said serrations in accordance with the longitudinal movement of said drum.

11. A device as claimed in claim 8 in which the shaft is also provided with a cam, and a member carried on said frame is engaged by said cam during the movement of the carriage and engages said propelling means thereby preventing the punches from operating during the movement of the carriage.

12. In a machine for punching cards in which perforations along one dimension represent different classes of information and perforations along another dimension represent data in the respective classes, a single row of key operated punches disposed parallel tothe perforations along said first dimension, a. frame supporting said punches and the keys associated therewith, a card carriage on said frame, means for adjusting said carriage parallel to said second dimension and locking the same in position for perforating in a single line along said first dimension, and means including a manually operable lever and a selfcentering return mechanism for moving said carriage from its locked position for perforating data of other values or classes, said return mechanism being adapted to return the carriage to said first locked position.

13. In a key punch including punches, keys, a frame and a carriage movable on said frame, indexing means for setting said carriage a definite relation to said punches whereby data of any given index value may be recorded, means for disassociating said carriage from the set indexing means and moving the same to a setting of an index value different from said first value, and means associated with said second means, and operable when said second means is released, for returning said carriage to its original setting, regardless of whether the index value of said second setting is greater or less than said first setting.

14. In a punch' for perforating records, a frame, a multiple die and punches therefor supported on said frame, means for selectively actuating said punches, a record carriage movably mounted on said frame, a rotatable shaft carrying mechanism engaging said carriage, an index plate pivoted on said shaft, a member on said frame adapted to engage said plate, a hollow drum keyed to said shaft and longitudinally movable thereon, a stud secured to the index plate and extending into the hollow of said drum, a stud in said drum parallel to and spaced apart from said first stud, both of said studs being parallel to said shaft and normally in line radially within said drum, an arm pivoted on said shaft and normally contacting one side of both of said studs, a second arm pivoted on said shaft and normally contacting the opposite side of both of said studs, spring means associated with one of said arms adapted to be wound up when the same is moved in one direction, spring means associated with the other of said arms adapted to be wound up when the same is moved in a direction opposite to said first direction, and rotatable means to rotate the drum in either direction thereby causing said second stud to rotate one of said arms and wind up the spring means associated therewith; said spring means being adapted, through the medium of one of said arms and one of said studs, to rotate said shaft and bring said carriage to a normal position defined by the initial setting of the index plate.

15. A punching machine according to claim 14 in which the spring means associated with said arms comprises flat spiral springs each having one end connected to an arm and the other ends connected to a second stud carried by the index plate.

16. A punching machine according to claim 14 in which the means. for selectively actuating the punches include-s, manually operable keys carried on said frame and spaced apart from the punches, and individual means for transmitting motion from each key to a corresponding punch is provided and confined within a rigid conduit defining a path for said motion.

17. A punching machine according to claim 14 in which the drum is provided with a graduated flange carrying an indexing pin, an indexing hole, and an indexing keyway; in which said index plate is provided with an extension overhanging said flange and carrying a registration pin which normally engages said indexing hole, and a key which normally engages said indexing keyway; in

which a spring embracing said shaft within the hollow of the drum holds the drum in a normal position, and in which a lever is associated with the drum for moving it longitudinally against said last spring to disengage said pin and said key from the flange and for rotating the drum to move the carriage after such disengagement.

18. A punching machine according to claim 14 in which the drum is provided with clips by means of which a strip bearing designations may be applied to the drum.

19. In a punching device for perforating records, a die, a plurality of punches. for said die, means for moving said punches into and out of said dies, a frame supporting said punches and. said dies, a carriage for said records movably supported on said frame, means for setting and, locking said carriage on said frame, balanced resilient means between said carriage and said frame, and means for temporarilymoving saidcarriage from a set and locked position and unbalancing said resilient means during each temporary movement.

20. In a punching device for perforating records, a die, a plurality of punches for said die, means for moving said punches into and out of said dies, a frame supporting said punches and said dies, a carriage for said records movably supported on said frame, mechanism for moving said carriage on said frame, a locking member, a pawl on said frame adapted to engage said member for locking said carriage on the frame in any desired setting, and balanced spring means interposed between said member and said mechanism thereby permitting said mechanism to be operated to move said carriage in either direction from a locked position on said frame and at the same time unbalancing said spring means.

21. A punching device according to claim 20 in which said mechanism includes a manually operable lever which when released returns to a normal position while the carriage returns to its original setting under the urge of said spring means while balancing itself.

LINCOLN M. KEEFE.

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