US2781846A - Punch selector - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 19, 1957 J. J. MADDEN ETAL. 2,781,845

PUNCH SELECTOR Filed Jan. 7, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet l JJ' MDDE N EE. SUMNE' R j Bk #Lf ATTORNEY /NVENRDRS 5 Sheets-Shee't 2 PUNCH SELECTOR J. J. MADDEN ET AL A'E AND TME RAM SOLE/VO/D JJ MADDEN By MLJ ATTORNEY nFel. 19, 1957 Filed Jan. 7, 1954 J. J. MADDEN ETAL PUNCH SELECTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 3

FIG. 6

FROM

3 (To) New YORK N.Y,

FOR ACCOUNTING USE TIME ENTRIES MON DAY HOU R CALLI N G N U M BER J.J. MADDEN EE. SUMNER ATTORNEY Feb. 19, 1957. J. J. MADDEN ETAL 2,781,846

PUNCH SELECTR Filed Jan. 7, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 SH/FT PUNCH /NVENTORS J-J- MA DDE N E. E'. SUMNE? By 0,454.6. ou@

A T TOR/VSV J. J. MADDEN ET AL 2,781,846

PUNCH SELECTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 19, 1957 Filed Jan. 7, 1954 '"'The selecting and lvention maybe employed to produce a perforated, print United States Patent() PUNCH SELECTOR James J. Madden, Woodhaven, and Eric E. Sumner, New York, N. Y., assignors to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 1, i954, serial No. 402,799

4 claims. (Ci. 1pz- 112) 4'This'invention relates to a selecting and recording device and more particularly vto an arrangement wherein any of a plurality of symbols may be selected and recorded by perforating, printing or otherwise marking av manufacture of mechanical perforators by which a card or a continuous tape is perforated to afford a record of a transaction, the selecting mechanism, by means of .which the perforators identifying the characters are set into position, prior to perforating or stamping the record, almost invariably is a system involving a plurality of linkages which requires considerable effort and expense to manufacture, assemble, adjust and maintain.'

In any selecting device, wherein a number of symbols, or code elements identifying symbols, are required to be perforated, printed or otherwise recorded simultaneously, the number of selecting elements required may become relatively numerous. yIn a selector-recording device having means for selecting and perforating a plurality of areas of a record simultaneously, since the se- .lecting mechanism for selecting the individual elements` or symbols is the most numerous of the elements in the device, simplified selecting mechanism, in which the elements comprising the individual selectors are minimized, will effect corresponding economies. Afeature of the present invention is a unique selecting mechanism for eifecting'the selection of the element whichis to perform the perforation or print or stamp ',the desired symbol from an array of such elements.

I -ln lthe presentarrangement, instead of a system of linkages, such as are normally employed in a mechanical selecting and recording device, the selection is performed ,by `actuating a rotatable selecting wheel from a normal position of rest to a predetermined stop or selecting position to determine the character to be perforated or recorded and, in response tothe rotation, winding a eX- ible element, such as a short section .of tape, 4a string, .a strand, a band or -a filament of metal, fiber, or plastic, for instance, onto the selecting wheel for a Alength proportional tothe rotation of the rotatable element and thereby displacing an interposer element, secured to the free end of the tape, to a particular one of a number of selecting positions, to effect the selection of the perforating, printing or other recording element, from an array of 'such elements. 7

recording device of the present ined or-o'therwise stamped record in Aa-wide variety of 2,781,846 priere# Fer-.19t 19.57

forms, for any of a large number of purposes. In one preferred embodiment, it may be employed, for instance, to record the calling number of a calling subscriber in a communication system together with other pertinent information, as a part of an accounting record of a transvaction involving the usage of communication facilities.

The invention may be understood from the following description when read with reference to the associated drawings ywhich taken together disclose a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows in perspective the selecting recording device of the present invention in assembled form;

Fig. 1A shows in perspective a single selecting code wheel, the dexible tape secured to the wheel and the interposer block secured to the free end of the tape, together with a single punch and the punch retractor;

Fig. iB shows a die and guide plate assembly;

Fig. 2 shows an end view, partially lin section, with aportion of the casing removed;

Fig. 3 is an end view, partially in section, showing the calling number card-stop mechanism; Y'

Figs..4A, 4B and 4C are perspective views of the card-stop calling number, answer time and disconnect time switches;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the time selector mechanism; v

Fig. 5A is a perspective view showing the solenoid for controlling the time selector mechanism;

Fig. 6 is an end View showing the calling number code wheel restoring mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a circuit diagram showing the calling number stop switch and the calling number ram solenoid circuit;

Fig. 8 is a circuit diagram showing tthe time solenoid circuit;

Pig. 9 is a circuit diagram showing the time stop i switch, the time and the ram solenoid and the disabling relay circuit; and l Fig. 10 is a plan view of a card which is perforated by the present device.

Refer now to Figs. l, 1A and 1B, a description of which will serve as an introduction to the detailed. de-

scription that follows:

Fig. 1 shows a casing 101 which is employed to cover the selecting and recording mechanism of the present invention. yWithin the casing are mounted three different sets of selecting and perforating elements, one which may be employed to identify the callingsubscribers central oflice and directory number, for instance, has ive selecting wheels 102, 103, 104, 105 and 106. The periphery of each selecting wheel is provided with a number of serrations, such as ten for instance, in a section which constitutes approximately a 90 degree segment of the wheel. The rst wheel at the left, wheel 102, is employed to identify the communication central switching ofce to which the subscriber is directly connected. Each one of theserrations on wheel 102 Will be designated with a symbol identifying a different one of ten central communication switching offices, for instance. The next four selecting wheels, wheels 103, 104, 105 and 106, reading from left to right, are employed todesignate the calling s ubscribers directory number which, it is assumed, is a four-digit number.' Each 'oneof 'these selecting wheels has ten serrations Iand the serrati'ons on each individual wheel are'numbered from'l) to 9. Thus the iive selecting wheels permit the identification of any line numbered from 0 to 9999 inany of ten different oitces.

The serrations in each selecting wheel are formed so as to permit the rotation of each wheel downwardly by means of an operators 'lingen pencil or "actuating device, fromits normal position of rest tol as t'op'4 position determined by thelower edge 112 of lthecaing lar--one of a group often punches, only one, 114, or

`the operator.

opening. `.Depending uponthe location on theparticular selecting wheel of the central oflice symbols and the calling number, thousands, hundreds, tens and units digit to :be identified, the operator will actuate each oftheV vetwheels from its normal position of rest through a deningllimited `arc .to the stop position. 'In ,response -to this,.the.individual ilexible tapeattached to each -se lccting wheelrwill `be displaced by'being drawn through a horizontal slot such asshown inguide block `190, and wound onto the wheel for a distance equal to thelength ofthe arc throughtwhich the periphery of the selecting wheel is rotated. Secured to the free end of the tape is an interposer block, such as 113, which will be displaced from a normal position offrest through a correspondingdistance and :positioned over a particuwhich is shown in `Fig. 1A. Each of the tive selecting wheels employed'to designate -a calling subscribers ofce and directory number will be operated in turn to positionthe vtive interposerblocks to completely identify -the central AOice .andthe directory number of the calling subscriber. Each wheel is locked in its stopposi- `tion in anmanuers-to be described. At this juncture, each interposer block associated with each one -of'the five selecting wheels will be in individual vertical alignment with a particular one of ten punches` associated individually with each wheel. Each group of ten punches is -fixed in alignment in the path of `its respective interposer as the tlexible tape is wound on the code wheel.

Next the card, a plan view of which is shown in Fig. I0, is inserted inthe card lslot or rectangular aperture 107. Reference -to Fig. 10 indicates that the right-hand end of the card is to be perforated to identify the calling number. A stop is interposed in the path of the card, ina manner to be described, as it is inserted in aperture 107, in such a position that the live columns of the card identifying the central ofiice and directory number `of the callingvsubscriber are in proper alignment withthe corresponding punches. A calling number rstop switch will thereupon be closed, energizing a calling number-ram solenoid, which willactuate a ram, which` lin turn will actuate the individual interposers connected to each one of the-five selecting wheels, to perforate a particular area in each of five columns of the card to for checking that the calling number selecting wheels have all been rotated into the proper position to permit correct perforation of the card. Consonant with this, local areas, such as 11,1, Fig. lA, of the periphery of each selecting wheel are stamped, or otherwise designated, so that as each wheel is rotated to the stop position, a symbol'identifying the symbol which will be punched, as a result of the selection effected by each selecting wheel, will be simultaneously rotated into position in registry with window 103, so that the calling number, whichhas been set up by the selector, may be read on the selecting wheels through window 108 by Other windows 109 and 110 permit checking of the month, day and time selectors, to be discussed hereinafter.

In the present embodiment `it is contemplated that the card per Fig. 10, as mentioned heretofore, will afford anindividual record of `a transaction, such as the usage of communication -facilities vby a subscriber in a `communication system, a krecord of a toll call, for instance. The information aiorded by the card is the identification of the central oice to which the sub- Yseriher Yis connected, the directory number of the sub .sctiber fwho has :made `the Call, the date Qn which the .call was made, the time ofstartingthe call, the timeof .emplettes the call. .and the `cin/, central ottica and di4 rectoryinlmber` of vthe .calledparty together with certain other pertinent items. The card is divided into three sections. The left-hand section is adapted for recording thereon certain of these items which will be written or typed thereon by the operator. The middle section is reserved for accounting purposes. The right-hand portion of the card is the only portion thereof with which we are presently concerned. In it are perforated areas defining thefmonth,.day,hour, minute land-.tenth of a minute when'the call vstartedVthe'month, day,ihour, minuto and tenth-of aminutewhenthe callfterminated, the identity of the central station to which the calling subscriber station is directly y.connected andthe directory number of the calling station.

The perforating ofthecard `per Fig. 10, in the preferred embodiment, is performed in three steps. The identity of the central station and the directory number of the calling subscriber are -rst'punched The card, as mentioned,whenrst inserted engages a stop, which controls a microswitch, .which in turn controls a solenoid, which actuates la ram, `which -engages'the code wheel Yinterposers andthe code 'wheel interposers actuate the -selected punches.

Reference to thesection ofthe 4card per Fig. l0 un der the heading Calling Number shows that in the 1eft hand column there are ten sets of three symbols each, each set of three symbols, suchfas CH2, CH3, ABl, etc., identifying a different -central oce. The corresponding interposer will be positioned so as to veffect the selection of a punch which perforates a small vrectangular area immediately below the symbols designating the central `office involved. In Fig. l0, the small rectangle, immediately below `the symbols CH3, represents a perforation and indicates that the subscriber making `the -toll call is directly'connected to theChelsea 3 oiiice. The rectangle below the numeral 1 inthe thousands column and the rectangles below the 0 in yeach of the hundreds, tens and units -columns indicate that the subscribers directory number'is 1000. Therefore-the whole designation is Chelsea -3-1000.

In the present embodiment the selector recorder, as mentioned, is arranged to perforate also areas indicating the month, day, hour, minute and tenth of a minute `of answer time and themonth, day, hour, minute and tenth of a minute of disconnect time. VIn order to do this, nine other sets of punches, and individual sets of selecting elements therefor, 4are provided. Each of the nine other sets is used twice, once to'punch the answering time and once to punch the disconnect time. The cardis provided with eighteen columns in which this informa tion is perforated. 'Each vof the nine columns allocated to starting time is alternated with a corresponding one of Athe nine columns allocated to terminating `time with the starting column on the right of Aeach pair and the terminating column on `the left. Reference, for instance, to the columns allocated to recording the month on the card shows that there is a -total of -four columns assigned to this purpose. There are twelve months to 'be defined and two columns are assigned to the month of starting and two to the month ofterminating a connection. Ordinarily, it is to bc understood that, except at the end of a month, themonth of 'starting and the month of terminating a toll connection will be the same. Of the four columns under the heading Month, the second and the fourth columns from theleft are assigned to the starting month and the first and the third columns from the left are assigned to the terminating month. There is a perforation under the knumeral 0 in each of the second and rst columns under the heading Month and another perforation .under the numeral 4 in `each of the fourth and third columns indicating that the connection .was started and terminated `in `the `fourth month of the year. If Vthe ,transaction occurred in the veleventh or twelfth month it Vwould be indicated by e, perforation ,under the numeral .l

in the first and second columns and Aanother perforation under the 1 or the 2, respectively, in the .third and fourth columns. And, in general, indefining ythe month,'day, hour and minute, since each requires a numeral in the tens position of a two-digit number for complete definition, two sets of counting wheels and selecting elements are required in each instance.

' The selector recorder mechanism for the month and day, as indicated in Fig. 1, is located in the middle portion of the selector recorder. The mechanism for the i time, that is hours, minutes and tenthsof minutes, as indicated in Fig. 1, is located in the right-hand portion of the selector recorder.

It is contemplated that the selector wheels controlling the punches, defining the month and day, will be set manually, once per month and once per day, respectively. An opening in casing 101 to afford access to these code wheels is provided with a readily demountable cover 120, which may be adapted to be secured in position to cover the opening in any convenient manner, as by a formed' spring catch, not shown.

The time selector mechanism will be controlled by a clock supplying impulses to a solenoid once every six seconds, or tenth of a minute, which vin turn controls a cumulative time counter and indicator through proper gearing and a system of selectors and punches and a ram generally corresponding to those employed for the calling number identifier.

Refer to Figs. 4A, 4B and 4C. After punching the calling number information, the desired toll connection is established and, at the moment when the toll call is answered by the called party, the card per Fig. l is again inserted in aperture 107. The stop which fixed the card in position for punching the calling number information lwill have been withdrawn, in a manner to be described,

and a second stop, in the path of the card in the aperture 107, will tix the card in position with the proper columns in alignment with the selected month, day, hour, minute and tenth of minute punches so that the answer time information may be perforated in the odd numbered columns, counting from right to left, of all of the time entries. Simultaneously, a small area of the card irnmediately adjacent the second stop will be notched to permit the subsequent insertion of the card for an additional distance equal to the Width of a single column when the disconnect time is punched. When the toll circuit is disconnected the card will be inserted a third time a distance equal to the length of the second insertion plus a further short distance equal to the Width of the notch, which corresponds to the width of the single column. This permits perforations of the disconnect time, month, day, hour, minute and tenth of' minute in the even numbered columns of the time entries and effects perforation of directly comparable data in adjoining columns of all of the time entries to facilitate the computation of the elapsed time. f

Refer now to Fig. 2. In Fig. Zthecentral oice wheel 102 is shown mounted on shaft 122. Most of the' internal area of the-wheel has beencut away leaving a substantially circular rim portion'and awedge-shaped radial section 123 which is provided lwith an axial aperture -to permit mounting on shafty 122. In-substantially radial alignment with the ten serrations on the periphery of thewheel are ten serrations 142 on the inner surface of the rim. Mounted on a shaft 145 is detent Y143 arranged to engage with thefse'rrations 142. A helical spring 144 connects a lower projection on the detent with an extension of the wedge-shaped portion 1 23 of the wheel. In the normal position the spring is distended tending to rotate detent 143in a counterclockwise direction about shaft 145 and urging the upper left-hand extremity of detent 143 intoengagement with the lowest 0f the serrations 142.v As wheelj102 is actuated -in a counterclockwise direction by the operator; when a selection is to be made, detent 143 is actuated to follow the con tour of the serrations under the inuence'of spring`144 and wheel'102 will be locked by the detent 143 in the position to which the wheel 102 is actuated.

The inner surface of the rim of wheel 102 has a short section 150 of its surface inclined upwardly from right to left to form a cam, and the incline is disposed so that it is just to the left of follower 125 of link 126 when wheel 102 is in the stop position. The lower end of link 126 is secured to lever 128 through pin 127. As motion is first imparted to wheel 102, by the operator, follower 125 rises along cam 150 and thereafter remains stationary in its elevated position. Arm 128 pivoted at 139 is rotated clockwise in a limited arc responsive to the elevation of follower- 125 through link 126 and pin 127. The left extremity of arm 128 is bent forwardly at right angles and is perforated to secure therein a short shaft 160. The shaft projects through an aperture in the middle portion of calling number stop lever 131. As arm v128 is raised, stop lever 131 is projected through an aperture in die 199 for a short distance into card slot 107 in the path of the card and in position to stop the card when the columns thereon allocated to the calling number are in registry with the proper punches. Stop 131 is rotatable through a limited arc about shaft 160. The lower end of stop 131, responsive to the rotation of stop 131, upon engagement with the card, actuates element 132 of microswitch 161.

Refer now to Fig. 7. Upon engagement of the lower section of stop 131, with element 132 of microswitch 161, contact 162 in Fig. 7 is closed energizing the calling number ram solenoid 133 from a source of potential 163 and drawing solenoid core 134, Fig. 2, downwardly. The solenoid core 134 is secured to bar 135 and through pin 136 to ram 137 which is pivoted on shaft 138, The ram 137 is attached to helical spring 141 secured to vertical riser 140. As the solenoid 133 is energized, ram 137 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction about shaft 138 against the tension of spring 141.

The metallic tape or string 153 may be secured to wheel 102 by means .of screws 151 and 152. When wheel 102 was actuated to effect a selection, interposer 113,

' secured to the free end of metallic tape 153, was displaced from its extreme left-hand position into a position in alignment with a particular one of the ten punches, such as 114, dependent upon the distance through which wheel 102 was actuated. Ram 137 is provided with guide block 190, having an individual slot or guide channel for eacli tape 153, within which the movement of tape 153 is restricted. The left-hand end of tape 153 is normally urged toward the left under the influence of spring 165 which is secured to pin 167.

As the ram descends, the interposer 113 engages'the selected punch and forces it through an area of the card and into the opposed die in die block 199 which is provided with ten dies in registry with the ten selectable punches. Punch restorer 168 is mounted on two guides 115 and 118 which project into guideways in the punch guide block 170. The guides have enlarged heads 171 and 172 Whichare displaceable in counterborings at the lower ends of the guideways and limit the upward motion of punch restorer 168. Punch restorer 168 is normally urged upwardly by helical springs 116 and 117 through axial openings in which guides 115 and 118, respectively,H protruste.` When the. perforation has been completedand the'solenoid isdeenergized, ram 137 is restored toits normal position under thev influence of spring 141 and the punch which has been actuated will also be restored to its normal position aspunch restorer 168 is elevated under the influence of springs 116 and 117.

It is to be'und'erstood that eachof wheels 103, 104, and 106 will also be mounted on shaft 122. Each will be provided with an individual metallic tape such as-153 andan interposer such as 113. vThe ram 1 37 will avons-ite '7 becotnmon to all Vfive code wheels and will actuatethc tive linterposers simultaneousy. Each wheel will -bc equipped with an individual de-tent, such as v'1f-t3, and-an individual spring such as 144. The five dctents willall be mounted on shaft 14S. 'There willbe an individual group of ten punches associated with each Wheel. The punch restorer 16S is preferably common to all of the five groups or" punches. The single solenoid 133 operates the common ram 137 and a single card-stop mechanism will be required for the calling party identifying mechanism. Wheel 102, which identities the central station of the calling subscriber, will always be actuated when any calling subscriber is to be identified and, therefore, wheel '102 only need beprovided with the cumming surface 1-50 to control a card-stop mechanism associated with the calling numberidentlfying mechanism.

The callingnumber mechanism is provided with means for restoring the selector wheels and the interposers to normal uponcompletion of therpunching operation. This may be understood from reference to Fig. 2 and Fig. 6. Secured to ram 137 'oy pin 147 is a lever 146 which is in turn attached through pin 148 to a horizontal arm 180 and a vertical arm 181 integral therewith. The vertical arm has an aperture therein by means of which it may be rotated about shaft 145'. A horizontal element 149, of right-angle section. is integral with elements 136 and ISI. Element 1119 is provided with a series of tive notches in both its horizontal and vertical portions, into which the live detents, such as detent 143, project, as indicated in Fig. Z, to maintain the detcnts securely in position. When ram 137 is drawn downwardly by solenoid 133, the common detent release mechanism is rotated clock# wise about shaft 145 moving each detent in a clockwise direction away from engagement with serrations l142 in the five selecting wheels which they have been locking in position. Wheels 102 to 106 will thereupon be rotated in a countercloclovise direction under the influence of their respective springs, such as spring 144, until the motion of each wheel is Varrested by common stop 124. vWhen the ram is raised, lever 146 will rotate the detent control mechanism 'in a counterclockwise direction about shaft 145 and the detents will be restored to their .normal positions of rest.

The units and tens day punches and the units and tens month punches. as explained, are selected by removing cove: 120 und actuating the day-selecting wheels manually once a day and the month-selecting wheels once a month. The serrations such as 142 and the cooperating detent for these selecting wheels are arranged in such manner that the selecting wheels may be actuated in either direction to any required position, the detent serving only to hold the wheels in theseiected position against the force applied through the spring such as 1'65 to the free end of the tape such as 153. The cam surface 150, link 126, and the card-stop mechanism, together with the mechanism controlled through lever 146, whichactuatcs the detents to permit the selecting wheels for the month and day selectors to restore to normal are not required.

Refer now to Figs. 5 and 5A which show, in perspective, the tenth of minute, unit minute, tens of minutes, unit hours and tens of hours selectors and to Fig; 8 which shows the time solenoid circuit. A clock 301, Fig. 8, controls the transmission of a Voltage pulse every tenth of o minute to the time solenoid 302 and the winding of the disabling relay to be describedhereina'fter. The time solenoid rotates bell crank 305 counterclockwise in a limited arc about xed shaft 304 against the tension of helical spring 306. The limited rotation is imparted through shaft 307, secured to the vertical arm of vbell crank 305 and translated into reciprocating motion of pawl 3,08, which is npertured at 310 to accommodate shaft 307. The upawl S at its right-hand end engages notched wheel 309 which turns freely on shaft'319 `and is actuated intermittently one-tenth revolution every six seconds,-oroncrevolntionevery minute. Notched wheel 309 and-shaft319 are'sho'wn also in Fig. 5. Wheel 309 is'integrallysecure'd to hollow shaft 311 which `is freely rotatable 'onshaft 3.19. 4On shaft 311 are also integrally mounted spurgear I`r12,tenths of minute index wheel 313, and a single toothed counting gear 31'4 of the cumulative counting mechanism. The single toothed gear 314 will make'one'revolution per minute and once per minute, at the end thereof, gear 314 engages a spur on the righthand end of transfer gear 315. Gear 315 is one ofia plurality `of similar vgears mounted on fixed shaft 340 and arranged to turn freely thereon. Th mechanism is well-knownin-the art asa Vceder Root transfer. Each of the transfer elements such as 315, 341, 342 `and 364 maybe considered to comprise two spur gears integrally joined laterally and having 'a common axis of rotation. The right-hand'section of the transfer gear, such as 315, may haveathreetteethspaced at 120 degrees, for instance, andthe left-hand section'may have six teeth spaced at 60 degrees. The three teeth are in longitudinal alignment with alternate |ones ofthe six'teeth. The portion lof the gear Vhavingfsiit `teeth co-acts `with a spur gearsuch as 316loosely mounted on shaft 319 and-integrally joined tothe unit minutes rindex wheel .317 and its associated single tooth Vgear 31S. Gear.316 may have twenty teeth, 4for instance. Each rotation of the single tooth gear 314 thus advances gear 318 and its associated minute index or counter wheel .317 one-tenth of a revolution in one minute and arcomplete rrevolution 4in ten minutes. The motion :of gear 3,'18'is noticont-inuous but intermittent in tensteps at theend of each minute of a tenminute interval.

The Veeder Root" transferalso serves ns a means of locking the counter `train against accidental or spurious rotation. During Athe interval, while none of the three teeth of thethreestooth gear is in engagement with the depressionin the fsingle tooth gear, the adjacent inner surfacesof ftwo `adjoining teeth of the three tooth gear `cngagerthe :circular periphery` of the single tooth wheel, which locks the transfer gear and the higher order wheel against rotation.

Single `tooth gear 318 vco-acts with another Veedcr Root transfer 341 :generally resembling that described in the iforegoing ibut .differing in that `the gearing is arranged to advance the `counter one step for each ten minute interval.` and 'one complete revolution in an hour. And, infgeneral, motionis impartedtby a single tooth gear once ,per revolution to the gear of the next higher order of the counter through the associated transfer gears.

In thefnormal position of rest each of the cumulative timecounter index wheels will be in the zero position and each `associated,.interlzvoser will be in Yalignment with the correspondingzero punch which is in the first punch position ineachinstance yThe'hours `and tens ofhours counting mechanism and selectingfmechanism are mounted to the left of the tens of minutes counter ,in Fig. '5. Their operation will be described hereinafter. 'First the selecting mechanism associated with -the other counters will be described.

The selectingmechanism in Fig. 5, associated with the tenth of minute, minute, and ten minute counters, as'distinguished from 'the corresponding counter, or index wheel rnechanism, 'per se,'will now be described.

'Each .of 'these selecting units comprises a spur gear, such as 321,;andfa `selecting Wheel, 'such `as 322, mounted 'on 'fixed shaft 320, 'and each freely rotatable thereon. Spur gear321 mcshcswith spur gear 312. Selector wheel 322 is coupledto gear i321 vthrough detent 328 rigidly secured to the le'fthand surface of gear 321 by means of pins, such 'as 329 land `330. A tongue 350, on detent 328, directed toward fthe left, projects Vinto an aperture 327cmfselectorwheelBZZ .to impart rotation thereto, as gea-r 321 rotates. A'exible element, such as 4a metallic tape, -or string 323,fs'fsecured to wheel v322 and'passes vthrough-a -ta'pe guide, not shown in Fig. 5 but'similar` to thatin Fig. 2, intermediate the' ends of the tape, to x the tape in position so that, as it is wound on wheel 322, its-interposer, such as 325, traverses an array of punches, not shown, having their tops in horizontal alignment as shown for the calling subscriber number punches in Fig. 2.

Detent 328 co-acts with a rfixed cam 331. The cam is positioned so that its sloping cam surface 332 engages the -left-handsurface of the left-hand end of detent 328 once per revolution, to disengage selector wheel 322 from `itsdriver, by forcing tongue 350 toward the right and out of. aperture 327, whereupon spring 326, one end of which is fixed at 334 to fixed shaft 320 and the other end of which projects through an -aperture 333 in wheel 322, which spring has been tensicned by the rotation of wheel 322, restores the wheel to its normal position of rest. Simultaneously, a spring, such as 35.1, which has been -tensioned by the winding of tape 323 onto the wheel 322 restores the tape 323 with its interposer, such `as 325, to its normal position of rest. The camming action is arranged so that the cam releases the wheel 322 slightly anti-clockwise of the restv position. After the spring 326 restores selector wheel 322 to the normal position of rest, tongue 350 reengages in `aperture 327 and a new cycle of operation' of this portion of the mechanism begins. S The selector wheel 397 and its associated apparatus, individual to the unit minutes counter, is similar to that yfor the tenths of minutes selector described in the foregoing. Spur gear 316 drives spur gear 450. Detent 396 carried -by gear 450 drives the unit minute selector wheel 397.

Thetens of minutes counter wheel 398 is arranged to indicate each of the six tens' of minutes in a full hour in one half'of a revolution, so that a full revolution indicates each of the tens of hours in two hours. To do this the numerals 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are spaced consecutively at`30 degree intervals and are then repeated. The diameter of the corresponding selector wheel 451 is chosen so that it winds its connected tape so as to effect a selection of the punches in positions 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 during the rst half revolution. The selector wheel is then restored to its positionA of rest and repeats the selection of the samepunches in positions 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 during the second halfrevolution. In order to do this the tens ofminutesselector wheel has two apertures and the gear driving the tens of minutes'selector wheel has twodetents and two cams, not shown, cooperating therewith. Y

Theftens ofV minutes counterl wheel 398 and gear 460 are lintegral with hollow shaft 497 which shaft is rotatable freely on fixed shaft 319. Gear 460 has two teeth 495 and 496 spaced diametrically and advances gear 360, through transfer gear 342, one step each hour and two steps for each rotation of gear 460.

The unit hour selecting mechanism is arranged to effect selections of punches from to 9 and then to be restored to normal. It will repeat this cycle and then will be operated through a shorter interval of four hours to correspond to the twenty-four hours in a day, at the end of which time it is required to be again restored to normal. Spur gear 360 freely rotatable on shaft 319 meshes with and drives spur gear 367 freely rotatable on shaft 320. Selector wheel 371 for the unit hour selector has secured thereto a pin 430 having a conical end arranged to engage in apertures 435 in gear 367. There may, for instance, be ten apertures equally spaced angularly. The one hour selector wheel 371 is integral with spur gear 372 which meshes with and drives spur gear 362. Gear 362 is connected to hour index wheel 361 through hollow shaft 463 which is freely rotatable on hollow shaft 462. Shaft 462 is secured at its right-hand end to gear 360 and at its left-hand end to single tooth gear 363. Gear 363 drives gear 365 through transfer gear 364. Gear 365 is freely rotatable on shaft 319 and meshes with and drives spur gear 374. Spur gear 374 drives selector wheel 375 through pin 432 which engages with an aligned aperture in wheel 374. Selector wheel 375 is freely ro, tatable on shaft 320and coaxial with gear 392 and integral therewith. Gear 392 meshes with and drives gear 393'which is securedthrough'hollow shaft 464 to the tens of hour index wheel 366. Gear 367 meshesv with and drives gear 368 which is secured through hollow shaft 465 to vcam 370 on its rightfhand end and to cam 386 on its left-hand end. Gear 368, hollow shaft 465, cams 370 and 386 are rotatable freely as a unit on fixed shaft 369. The gearing ratios are such that gear 367 advances one-tenth of a revolution in intermittent steps each hour and a full revolution in ten hours. Gear 368 and cams 370 and 386 integral therewith make one revolution each twenty four hours. Cam 370 has three depressions in its peripheral surface. Cam follower 425 bears on the surface of cam 370. At the end of a ten hour interval follower 425 is urged downwardly to enter the depressed surface 427. Follower 425 is the horizontal element of a bell crank 382 which is rotatable about shaft 383. The vertical portion of bell crank 382 is bifurcated and the upper ends of the bifurcations project toward the left bearing at two points, as indicated, against the right-hand surface of gear 367 which is normally urged toward the right by spring 429. When follower-425 is lowered into thedepressed portion 427 of the surface of cam 370,1the bell crank rotates about its axis 383 and permits gear 367 to slide toward the right while remaining meshed in gears 360 and 368. To permit this, gear 367 is substantially thinner than gears 360 and 368. The displacement of gear 367 is sufficient to permit pin 430 to disengage from the aperture with which it is momentarily in engagement in gear 367. Selector wheel 371 and gear 372 are thereupon restored to normal under the influence of spring 373. Gear 362 and the hour index wheel 361 are also responsively restored to normal. l

Follower 425 will again be depressed into the depressed surface 428 in cam 370 at the end of a second ten hour interval to permit the restoration of the hour selecting .mechanism and its associated index wheel 361. After a third interval of four hours, the mechanism will be restored again to normal when follower 425 engages depressed surface 426. Cam 386 `controls the tens of hours selecting mechanism to permit its restoration once every twenty four hours. It is provided with one depressed area 490 on its peripheral surface to permit this. Bell crank 390, gear 374, spring 431 and pin 432 operate in substantially the same manner as described for the unit hour selecting mechanism'with the exception, of course, that the tens of hour mechanism operates only once in twenty four hours to restore.

ln the preferred embodiment a separate ram and solenoid are employed for punching the date and time perforations. The ram mechanism has not been illustrated as it is the same as shown in Fig. 2 except that the detents, the detent release mechanism, the card stop and card-stop switch mechanism, shown in Fig. 2, are not employed.

The circuit for the date and time solenoid which operates the date and time ram to actuate the nine sets of date and time punches is shown in Fig. 9. The time stop switch control 400 is shown in Fig. 4B. It is first actuated to close contact 401, Fig. 4B and Fig. 9, when the card, Fig. 10, is inserted in aperture 107, Fig. l, the second time. As shown in Fig. 9, the circuit of the date and time solenoid extends from the positive terminal of battery 402, through contact 403 of the disabling relay 404, wind ing of the date and time ram solenoid 405 and contact 401 of the time stop switch, when closed by the insertion of the card, to the negative pole of battery 402. When the date and time ram solenoid is energized, the date and time ram is actuated to project a selected one in each of the nine sets of date and time punches to punch a record of the time of answering the call by the called 1 1 station. Simultaneously, as -mentione'd in the Vforegoing, the card per Fig. iltlis notched tovpermit its insertionlto a greater'disancd when the circuit interconnecting `the calling and called subscriber is Vdisconnected or -when communication is finished. vAt this time the card'is 'inserted athird time `to operatetthefsame card time stop control 400 and contact 401 asfon the secondinsertion. The circuit per Fig. 9 `Will therefore `again function to operate the Itime and date ram a second-time-'to punch the disconnect time information.

VAttention vis called tofthe disabling relay, the winding 404 of which isshown in Fig. `8 andthe Winding and-'contact 403 controlled therebyin'Fig. `9. fWhenever a voltage pulse is sent out under eontro'lof clock 301 to energize the time solenoid 302,it is desirable to preventthe operation of the Vdate and'timesolenoid 40S. VFor this reason, each'time a-pulse is sent'out under controlfof thevcloclt 301, winding 404 ofthe disabling relay is energized'to open `contact 403 and -prevent operation of the'date and time ram solenoid until transmission 'of the time pulse is/ended. The relay'may be made slowto releaselto insure that the mechanism controllediby the solenoid 302 "has eometo restibefore-date yandtime ram solenoid 405 is energized.

What is claimed is:

l. Aselecting mechanism-comprising a rotatablevsurface having one end of a ytape or string-securedfthereto, means 'for winding said tape onto-said surface, an array of selectable punch elements, means -responsive to `said winding for directing an unwoundsection of said .tape along said array, means for predetermining the amount of said rotation so as to select 'any predetermined one of said selectable elements an individual interposer selecting element secured to said unwound portion, `meansresponsiverto the winding of a predetermined length of ysaid tape or string onto said rotatablesurface `for positioning said1interposer in registry with a predetermined individual oneof said punch elements, a ram for actuating saidinterposer and said predetermined punch element, electrical means for actuating said ram, a switch and a control element for said switch for energizing saidelectr'ical means and means responsive to the actuation of 'said-rotatable surface for actuating said control element into a ready position, so as `to permit itssubsequent operation.

2. A selector recorderhaving-an array of fpunches, a string, an interposer securedto a'free-end on said string, means for directing said interposer along-said array Vto effect a selection of a predetermined punch, said means comprising a guide for said string, a rotatable clement for winding'said-string and means'for Ypredetermining the amount of said rotation, ra switch :cont-roh.` azswitchfresponsive to Asaid control, a solenoid-responsive to ,said switch,

arramfresponsive -tofsaid solenoid vtozactuate the: individual selected punch through said interposer and `means for operatingisaid switch Vcontrol from a non-actuable i'toan actuable position, `responsive to the rotation of said :rotatable element.

3. In combination ina time controlled lselector .and recorder, a source `of Vpulses atregular timed intervals,.an intermittent cumulative counter responsive `tosaid vpulses to indicate cumulative elapsed time, a selector.` mechanism co-acting with saidcounter, said selectormechanism'com prising a rotatable device,.a tape or string secured:to;saitl rotatable device, means in `said selectorvand recorder, responsive to said pulses, for operating saidtape orstring intermittently in discrete displacements, yan array of rselectable `elements individually selectable in responsexto Asaid intermittent displacement, said cumulative ,counter comprising a tirst gear train, a second gear `train,.a.trst

spring tor'interconnecting said gear trains, said rotatable device integral with saidsecondgear train, a .camcom trolling the interconnection of said gear trains through said spring, meansrresponsive to said cam fortdecoupling said gear trains and a second nspring for `restoring said second gear train to normal in response to said decoupling.

4. In combination in a time controlled .selector and recorder, afsource of pulses spaced at :regular intervals, a cumulative counter responsive to saidpulses, 1a selecting wheel co-acting with said-counter, means for 4actuating said selecting wheel intermittently in response to said pulses, a tape or string displaceable in response to the intermittent displacement of said selecting wheel, a selecting elementsecured to said tape or string, a plurality of selectable elements disposed in -the path of motion of said selecting element, means for `restoring-said wheel to a normal position of rest after the lapse of :a predetermined interval, said restoring means comprising a spring tensionable in response to the actuation of saidselecting wheel and camming means vfor releasing said `selecting wheel after the duration of a predetermined timeinterval.

References Citedin the leof thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hin Apr. is, 1899 Hobby n lIu'ly'3, 1947

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