US2225314A - Master plate for key punches - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 17, 1940.

L. L. MQCART I MASTER PLATE FOR KEY PUNCHES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' I Filed Nov. 29, 1939 FIG.2

- INVIENTOI'L Dec. 17, 1940. Q Mc -2,ZZ5,314 v MASTER PLATE FOR KEY runcnss Filed Nov. 29, 19:59 2 shuts-sneer 2 I YVFIGJJYW W///////////////AV Patented Dec. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES P TE a p I I ms'raarmr ii zifiln ruNcn is as... 1.. mom, Forest mus, N. n, assignor, by mesne assignments, to The ,McBee Company.

Athens, Ohio d Application November29,'19 39, Serial No. 306,603

gajcisiins. v(enlist -111) My invention relates to that typeoi devices illustrated and described in United States.

Letters Patent No. 2,144,412, issued January 17, 1939, which describes a machine ror' slotting cards 5 in order that they may be sorted'into a numerical or other desired sequence as taught by United States Letters Patent No. 1,544,172,"issued to Alfred Perkins. This patent shows a-st'ack of cards, each of which is provided with a series of m perforations adjacent one or more edges of the card. These perforations are located so that each one can have the material intermediate the perforations and the edge ofthe card cut away forming a notch or slot. These notches are arranged to form a pattern which will designate a particular desired classification. By passinga sorting device through the periorations in a mixed stack of cards and lifting it, the cards which do not have slots or notches will be carried upward by the sorting rod or device and by placing these cards at the back of the stack and repeating the operation the cards will be sorted into a numerical sequence in a very short time. This is fully set forth and described in the said Perkins patent to which reference may be had for a full and complete description of the device inall its details. In my Patent No. 2,144,412 hereinbefore referred to, I describe a master card or key plate which has a pattern of notches or slots cut in one of its edges so that only certain of the punches may be operated thereby causing the remaining punches to notch or slot the desired pattern in the card which is to be slotted. When the master card or plate having the desired pattern is placed in the machine, one or more of the devices constructed according to the Perkins patents are inserted in the machine and on operation of the punches, the pattern of slots appearing on the master card will be reproduced on the Perkins card.

In order to insure the correct pattern of notches being punched in the card. the key plate must always be in the correct position. It is common practice forcompanies to issue'credit 5 cards to their customers as a means of identification and the clerk makes a record of the transaction by copying in longfiiand the name and address and account numbers, but the handwriting is not always legible and frequently employees make errors in the spelling of the names or copying of the addresses.

My invention has for its object to provide a master card having. not only the openings adapted to registerwith one or more die slots, but

553.150 the perforations called for by the Perkins always being in the patentso that apattern of slots; or notches designating this account number may be formed'in the card; This card is-suppliedito the customer whom on making a purchase, hands it toqthe clerk. The clerk instead ofhavin'g' tor'lahoriously copy the-name and address,"simply-inserts the card in a punching device, such as is described in my'patent, or 2- similar machine, this key'plate or master card will render inactive. all

of the punches except those which would slotthe o pattern of notches designating the particular account number'of that particular customer.- The clerk would then insert a sales slip and charge card, or either of them, and .on the device being operated the sales slip and charge card, or either 15 one, as the case may be. will be slottedwith the pattern of slots or notches which identify that particular account number. This eliminatesthe element of error and-by sorting as described in the Perkins patent, posting of the account to the 20 I right customer is insured. l

A further object is to'provide means which will automatically insure the master card or key plate correct position and prevent the punches being inserted in the master card 25 upside down.

My means of accomplishing the foregoing objects may be more fully comprehended by having reference to the accompanying drawings which are hereunto annexed and are a part of this 30 specification in which I have illustrated a master card embodying my invention: g Fig. 1 is a plan view of a master card;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with a pattern of slots or notches referring to a single classification as- 35 illustrated, it is number 1226, which is the account number of the customer in question;

Fig. 3 is a view of the master card ina machine; V Fig. 4 is a'sectional view on line 4-4 in Fig. 8. 40 Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the specification. As shown in the drawings, the plate or master 7 card I is provided with a plurality of openings} adapted to register with one or more of the die 5 slots in the die blockof a slotting machine. It

should be understood that the location and num- I bers of these openings will be determined by the pattern of notches to be cut in the sales slip or charge card. Adjacent the other edges of the 50 plate I I form perforations I which are so disposed adiacent one or more edges of the plate or card I that one can cut away the intervening material 4 on each as shown by dotted lines I in Fig. 1 thus forming a slot} in Fig.2. By slotting J5

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