US2796932A

US2796932A - Multiple to unit entry card converter

Info

Publication number: US2796932A
Application number: US530494A
Authority: US
Inventors: Glen E Perkins; Arnold J Butler
Original assignee: International Business Machines Corp
Current assignee: International Business Machines Corp
Priority date: 1955-08-25
Filing date: 1955-08-25
Publication date: 1957-06-25
Anticipated expiration: 1974-06-25
Also published as: GB830496A; CH337676A; FR1172008A; DE1111436B

Description

June 25, 1957 Filed Aug. 25, 1955 FlG l G. E. PERKINS ETAL MULTIPLE TO UNI T ENTRY CARD CONVERTER 12 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS GLEN E. PERKINS ARNOLD J. BUTLER BYQOQXMZ ATTO RN EY FIGZ AUXILARY CARD ORDER CARD June 25, 1957 Filed Aug. 25, 1955 G. E. PERKINS ETAL MULTIPLE T0 UNIT ENTRY CARD CONVERTER 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 25, 1957 G: E. PERKINS ETAL MULTIPLE T0 UNIT ENTRY CARD CONVERTER Filed Aug. 25, 1955 12 Shee ts-Sheet 3 ORDER CARD FIG.4

AUXILARY CARD |234567 WWW READER PROGRAM CARD June 25, 1957 Filed Aug. 25, 1955 G. E. PERKINS ETAL MULTIPLE TO UNIT ENTRY CARD CONVERTER 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 PUNCH PROGRAM CARD UUDUI]D UUUDI]DUUUUUUUl]I]UEIUI]UflUUIJUl]DUUIJI]HDUDUUUUUUDDUUUUUUUU[ll]UHUUUUUUDUI] SKIP DDIJIJIJI] DUPLICATE 123456 HQDIWZ 14 (6 74 76 78 80 FIG? FIG.1O

FIG.8 F|G.ll F|G.15

FIGS F|G.12

F|G.l3

INVENTORS i GL'EN E. PERKINS H914 BY ARNOLD' J. BUTLER ATTORNEY June 25, 1957 G. E. PERKINS ETAL MULTIPLE TO UNIT ENTRY CARD CONVERTER l2 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 25, 1955 l 35 :4 KEYBOARD RESTORE s T AL R2 June 25, 1957 e. E. PERKINS ETAL MULTIPLE TO UNIT ENTRY CARD CONVERTER 12 Shets-Sheet 6 FIG .8

Filed Aug. 25, 1955 U o CARD FEED I D E E F 'RELEAsE 3 l J PROG June 25, 1957 G. E. PERKINS ETAL MULTIPLE TO UNIT ENTRY CARD CONVERTER 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Aug. 25, 1955 FIG.9

NUMERIC PROG BACK SPACE June 25, 1957 G. E. PERKINS ETAL MULTIPLE TO UNIT ENTRY CARD CONVERTER l3 Sheets-Sheet 8 PIN .. Eo L Filed Aug. 25, 1955 2 1 1 1 O 5 E 11 a w m m w m m m K L 9 A; mu 2 H P it %\m w P w u =1AT= W m TG I \I l Sl 3 m a g N 0 w w w w M w 6 4 FL: %%UE w & 4 4 4 4 4 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 M .A 3 P 1 June 25, 1957 e. E. PERKINS ETAL MULTIPLE T0 UNI T ENTRY CARD CONVERTER I 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Aug. 25, 1955 llllllll'lll lullllllllllll.

G. E. PERKINS ETAL MULTIPLE TO UNIT ENTRY CARD CONVERTER June 25, 1957 12 Shets-Sheet 10 Filed Aug. 25, 1955 June 25, 1957 G-. E. PERKINS ETAL MULTIPLE TO UNIT ENTRY CARD CONVERTER Filed Aug. 25, 1955 12 Sheets-Sheet 11 Ti AR3 1 RR4 TI AR4 Ti RR5 AR5 T RR6 1 11 mm TI RR? I AR? 71 H Ti ARB June 25, 1957 G. E. PERKINS ETAL MULTIPLE TO UNIT ENTRY CARD CONVERTER l2 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Aug. 25, 1955 51-3 TENS QUANTITY LJ'L RR7-4 A 2 R R 4 I R R v 4 w R United States Patent 2,796,932 MULTIPLE TO UNIT ENTRY CARD CONVERTER Glen E. Perkins, San Francisco, Calif., and Arnold J.

Butler, Wappingers Falls, N. Y., assignors to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 25, 1955, Serial No. 530,494

11 Claims. (Cl. 164115) This invention relates to record card machines and more particularly to the combination of a record card reader controlling a record card punch.

The principal objectives in using modern accounting machines are to reduce the man-hours involved in various accounting procedures and to reduce the number of errors in the accounting. This invention is adapted to apply these principles to the ordering and requisitioning of goods by merchants, wholesalers, etc. vA number of manual operations are normally involved, for example, in the ordering of goods by a retailer and the filling of the order by a wholesaler. This invention is part of an order system in which the person ordering goods marks an order card in accordance with the items desired; the marked order card is then passed through a conventional machine that electrically interprets the marks and punches corresponding data indicating holes in the card. Each card provides space for a large number of items.

It is an object of this invention to provide a machine for reading an order card punched in the foregoing manner and for controlling a card punch in a manner whereby an individual record card is prepared for each item on the order card.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine consisting of a card reader and a card punch wherein the card reader operates column by column and the card punch operates card by card, each of certain designated columns in the card reader corresponding to a card in the card punch.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine consisting of a card reader and a duplicating punch having controls interconnecting the reader and punch whereby certain data are reproduced from the reader column by column in a first detail card in the card punch, other data are translated from certain card columns in the reader and punched in the detail card representing an item number and a quantity; the previously reproduced data is duplicated column for column from the first detail card to a second detail card and an item number and a quantity are translated from other card columns in the reader to the second detail card, etc., until all items and quantities have been translated from the card reader into individual detail cards.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine consisting of a card reader, a card punch, a card hopper in the card reader for receiving a plurality of multiple item cards, a card hopper in the punch for receiving a plurality of record blanks, and control circuits interconnecting the reader and the punch so an individual record is prepared for each item in certain columns of the multiple item cards, and all cards corresponding to items in a particular multiple item card receive common identifying data.

Other objects of the invention are pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

7 2,796,932 Patented June 25, 1957 In the drawings:

Fig. l is a schematic representation of the card reader or card punch.

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the function of the order card converter.

Fig. 3 is a sample order card.

Fig. 4 is an auxiliary drum card.

Fig. 5 is a card reader program card.

Fig. 6 is a card punch program card.

Figs. 7 through 14 show the wiring diagram.

Fig. 15 shows the arrangement of Figs. 7 through 14 to form the wiring diagram.

General description of basic units may also be referred to simply as the 'punch or as the slave A schematic representation is shown, in Fig. 1, of one of the duplicating punches referred to hereinbefore. This figure corresponds to Fig. 17 of the Patent 2,647,581, issued August 4, 1953, to E. W. Gardinor, et al.

The reader and punch referred to herein are each mechanically identical to the machine shown in the Patent 2,647,581 except that a read station card lever, identical to the punch station card lever, is positioned to be operated by a card at the read station of the reader to close contacts designated RCL contacts (read card lever contacts). The circuits of the reader and the punch are identical to the circuits of the patented machine except as indicated hereinafter in the specification and shown in dotted lines in the attached drawings. The circuits of the reader and the punch are altered in a manner whereby the normal functions of the machines as claimed in the Patent 2,647,581 or the functions claimed in the claims attached hereto may be utilized by the mere operation of a converter function switch 502, shown in Fig. 11. With the switch 502.in its off position, the reader and the punch may each be operated independently in the manner described in the cited patent. With the switch 502 in its on position, the reader and the punch cooperate as a single machine.

Reference may be made to the Patent 2,647,581 for the mechanical structure and for the functions of the individual machines. The functions of the two duplicating punches forming the converter are described in detail only to the extent that they differ from the functions of the machine described in Patent 2,647,581 and to the extent necessary to describe the operation of the converter.

Referring to Fig. l, the reader and the punch each comprises a card hopper 10 from which cards are fed singly to a position E in registration with a punching line 11. The movement of the card past the punching line is controlled to occur in a step-by-step or column-by-column manner which will advance the card toward a position F in registration with a reading line 12. The movement of the card past the reading line also is controlled to occur in a step-by-step or column-by-column manner while data columns of the card are sensed, card feed wheels 86 and 86a, shown in the schematic of Fig. 1, represent the means for movin and read

lines

11 and 12.

After passing the reading line 12, the card is advanced cards past the punch to a position designated C from which it is shifted at i ht an les o a me hanism which delivers it to a dis: charge hopper 13.

Punch elements arranged along the line 11 may be controlled selectively from a keyboard, from a record card at the sensing line 12 or from a record on an auxiliary drum 230a. Various functions of the machine are controlled, modified or facilitated by a record card on a program drum 230. Some of the functions are; numeric punching from a keyboard; automatic skipping of desired portions of a record card; X skipping of a desired' portion of a card (punch an 11 hole in the first column of a field and skip the remainder); duplicating data from a card at the read station to a card at the punch station; alphabetic punching from a keyboard; zero print eliminate (punch zeros to the left of a significant digit without printing the zeros) suppress printing of all data punched; duplicate data from the auxiliary drum 230a; punch multiple holes in a single card colurnrn' The foregoing are normal functions of the reader and the punch.

The numeric designations of components. of the patented machines are retained so as, to be readily compared with the structure and circuits of the Patent 2,647,581. When reference is made to these components a parenthetic'designation (S), or (M) isused to designat e whether the component referred to is a part of the punch (slave) or the reader (master).

General description of'order card converter The reader unit is used only as a card reader. To commence operation, a first card feed cycle is initiated to move a prepunched card from the hopper 10 (M) to a prepunch position A (M) shown in Fig. 1. A second card feed cycle is initiated to move the first card from the position A (M) to the position E (M) in registration with the punching line 11 (M) and to move a second card to the position A (M). A release cycle is initiated to release the first card from the position E (M) to the position F (M) in registration with the sensing line 12 (M), and at the end of the release cycle, a third card feed cycle is automatically initiated to advance the second card to position E (M) in registration with the line 11 (M), and a third card to the prepunch position A (M). As the first card is read it is advanced to the position C (M). Thereafter, each time a card feedcycle of the reader is initiated a card is advanced from the position (M) to the stacker 13 (M), another card is advanced to the position F (M), a third card is advanced to the position E (M), and a fourth card, is advanced from the hopper (M) to the position A (M).

The punch is used as, a duplicating card punch To commence operations a first card feed cycle is initiated to advance a blank card from the hopper 10 (S) to the prepunch position A (S). A second'card feed cycle is initiated to advance the first card to the position E (S) in registration with the punch line 11 (S) and a second card to the position A (S).

With a prepunched order card, DC, at the reading line 12 (M), a blank detail card, D, at the punching line 11 (S) and the converter function switch 502 in its on position, the converter is in readiness for converting a multiple item order card into a plurality of single item order or detail cards. 7

The cards for use with the converter are conventional cards comprising twelve rows of data recording positions divided into eighty columns.

Order card:

The particular application of the converter must determine to a certain extent the arrangement of the order card and of the various control cards used in the cone verter. For the purpose of explanation a particular arrangement is assumed. However, it will be understood that this arrangement may be altered within the scope of the invention.

The first six columns of the order cards in the examples are. set aside for identification of a particular store within a chain of stores, and for identification of a particular order sheet. For example, the store and the order sheet may each be identified by three digit numbers. Columns 7 through 56 of each order card are identified, in a catalog supplied to each store, with particular items that may be ordered. Twenty-three of the eighty columns, columns fifty-seven to eighty, are unused. It will be apparent that additional columns may be assigned to additional items. However, in consideration of factors not pertinent to this invention, the last twenty-three columns are not used in the preferred embodiment.

An exemplary order card is shown in Fig. 3 to facilitate the subsequent description of the converter operation. Columns one to six contain the store number, for example, 134" and the order sheet number, for example, 512. Column seven contains the quantity 21; column eight contains the quantity 7; column nine is blank; column ten contains the quantity 21; and the remaining columns are blank. This example is followed hereinafter in describing the circuitry and functioning of the converter.

The following coding scheme is used in punching columns 7 through 5 6 of the order cards:

Normal Index Denomina- Bositlon Desigtional Des1gnatlons-Top nation For to Bottom Converter Feature The normal designations are indicated along the lefthand edge, of the card, in Fig. 3, and the special designations. along the righthand' edge.

To represent other numbers, for example, the number 63, holes are punched in

positions

9, 8 and 0 to designate 40+20+3=63.

The arrangement of the denomination designations in the order card is provided to avoid errors since the original cards. from which the. order cards are prepared are hand marked and it would be confusing to retain the normal designations 1 through 9 and require that the person ordering then; shift to thetop of the card for higher denominations. With the described arrangement the denominations increase from top to bottom of the card.

Auxiliary card As described in thehereinbefore cited Patent 2,647,581, an auxiliary'card placed on the auxiliary drum 230a may be sensed to control the punches. The auxiliary card used in the preferred embodiment is perforated to cause the punching of consecutive numbers 1-50 corresponding to columns seven to fifty-six of the auxiliary and order cards. The columns. oneto six of the auxiliary card are blank Columns. seven to fifty-six are punched in accordance with the code described hereinbefore for the order card. The-values may, be combined to form intermediate values or larger values; for example, to represent line number 39,, holes are punched in the index positions 8, 7 and. to, designate 20+10+9=39.

Program cards As describedin the cited Patent 2,647,581, when certain patterns of punches are sensed in the program card of a'machine, functions associated with particular patterns are performed automatically; for example, 12 holes in consecutive columns of a program car'd causes the corresponding columns of the card in the read or punch station to be skipped automatically; a blank column followed by 11 punches puts the machine in a condition for manual keying of data into corresponding columns of a card at the punch station; holes in consecutive columns causes data from corresponding columns of a card at the read station to be duplicated automatically in corresponding columns of a card at the punch station; a blank column followed by 2 holes causes zero print elimination to the left of the first significant digit in corresponding columns of a card at the punch station; and 3 holes in consecutive columns cause the suppression of printing of data punched in corresponding columns of a card at the punch station.

Reader program card The program card of the reader is shown in Fig. 5 and is punched as follows:

Columns 1-6-0 punched to duplicate column for column from reader read station to the punch Columns 7-56-0 in addition to 8s punched to duplicate from the reader read station and auxiliary card to the punch Columns 7-568 punched to translate single column one or two digit numbers to two-column two-digit numbers Columns 57-80-12 punched to skip out order card Punch program card The program card of the punch is shown in Fig. 6 and is punched as follows:

Columns 1-60 punched to duplicate column for column from one detail card to the following detail card Columns 7-10When the blank column 7 is reached,

duplication stops Columns 11-80-l2 punched to skip out detail card Converter function With an order card, 0C1, positioned at the read line 12 (M) and a detail card, D1, positioned at the punch line 11 (S), the converter is ready to perform its function of the converting the first multiple item order card 001 into a plurality of single item detail cards, D1, D2, D3, etc. By referring to Fig. 2, in conjunction with the following description, the converter operation will be clear.

Columns one to six of the card 0C1 are duplicated into columns one to six of the first detail card D1 in a step designated 1A. After column six of the card 0C1 is sensed, the card 0C1 escapes to column seven where the data in column seven are sensed. At the same time column seven of the auxiliary card on the drum 230A of the reader is sensed by star wheels. The data in columns seven of the auxiliary card and the card 0C1 are coded as indicated hereinbefore and shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Each column contains a oneor two-digit number that will be translated to a two-column two-digit number in the detail card. For example, the 4 hole punched in column eight of the card shown in Fig. 3 represents the digit 7 which will be punched as 07. The number from column seven of the auxiliary card is translated and punched in columns seven and eight of the card D1 in a step designated 1B. The numberin column seven of the card 0C1 is translated and punched in columns nine and ten of the card D1 in a step designated 1C. The card D1 is advanced to the read line 12 (S) and a new detail card D2 is advanced to the punch line 11 (S). The card 001 and the auxiliary card are advanced to column eight. The data in columns one to six of the card D1 are duplicated into columns one to six of the card D2 in a step designated 2A. The data in column eight of the auxiliary card are translated and punched in columns seven and eight of the card D2 in a step designated 23, and the .data in column eight of the card 001 are translated and punched in columns nine and ten of the card D2 in a step designated 2C. The card D1 is advanced to the stacker 13 (S), the card D2 is advanced to the read line 12 (S), a card D3 is advanced to the punch line 11 (S) and the auxiliary card and the card 0C1 are advanced to column nine. The data in the columns one to six of the card D2- are duplicated into columns one to six of the card D3 in a step designated 3A. The data in column nine of the auxiliary card are translated and punched in columns seven and eight of the card D3 in a step designated 3B. The data in column nine of the card 0C1 are translated and punched in columns nine and ten of the card D3 in a step designated 3C. Columns one to six of each succeeding card are duplicated from the preceding detail card and the data in the auxiliary card' and the card 001 are translated and punched in the manner described until the last data-containing column of the card 0C1 has been read the corresponding data have been punched. The card 0C1 is then advanced to stacker 13 (M) and a second order card, 0C2 is advanced to the read line 12 (M). The procedure explained for the card 0C1 is repeated for all order cards in the hopper 10 (M).

Circuit description Referring to Figs. 7-14, the added circuitry is shown in dotted outline and is described hereinafter.

The circuitry for effecting the feeding of cards is fully described in the Patent 2,647,581, so a starting position is assumed with the first order card, 0C1, positioned with its column number one at the reading line 12 (M) and a detail card, D1, positioned with its column number one, one space to the right of the punch line 11 (S).

The reader circuit is shown in Figs. 10 to 14 and the punch circuit in Figs. 7 to 9. The reader and the punch are to function together as the converter, so the converter function switch 502, shown in Fig. 11, is closed. With the switch 502 closed, a circuit is completed from the zero potential line 403 (M) through a line 504, the switch .592, relay coils 73P (pick), 73H (hold), 74P, 74H, 75F,

and 75H to the positive potential line 402 (M). The relay points associated with R73, R74 and R75, and referred to hereinafter, are transferred. Twelve sets of relay points designated 73-1 to 73-12 are transferred when R73 is energized and, as shown in Fig. 10, connect the usual read station pin contacts 223 (M) to corresponding read relays designated RR1 through RR12.

Functions of relay contacts Twelve sets of relay contacts designated 74-1 to 74-12 are transferred when the R74 is energized. The transfer points of the contacts 74-1 to 74-12 connect the auxiliary station contacts 246a-1 (M) to 246a-12 (M) to respective auxiliary relay designated AR1 through AR-12. When R73 is unenergized and the read pins, which are described in the Patent 2,647,581, sense holes in a card at the read line 12 (M) and corresponding ones of the contacts 223 (M) are closed, circuits are completed through the normally closed points of R73 and the normally closed points of the relay R32 (M) to the usual interposer magnets designated 188-1 (M) through 188-12 (M). With R73 energized it will be apparent that when the contacts 223 (M) are closed by the sensing of data in the card at read line 12 (M), corresponding ones of the read relays RR1 through RR12 will be energized instead of the corresponding interposer magnets 188-1 (M) through 1815-12 (M). When R32 (M) is energized and R74 is unenergized and data are. read in the auxiliary card and corresponding auxiliary contacts 246a (M) are closed, circuits are completed through the normally closed R74 contacts and the normally open R32 (M) contacts to the interposer magnets 188 (M). With R74 energized, it will be apparent that the circuit will be from the auxiliary contacts 246a (M) through the transferred R74 points to respective auxiliary relays designated ARI through AR12.

When the cam contacts CF4 (M), shown in Fig. 11, close at 65 of the card feed cycle in which the card C1 is fed to the .read line 12 (M), a circuit is completed from the line 403 (M), through the contacts CF4 (M), through normally open contacts 75-9, through the read card lever contacts RCL which are closed by the card 0C1 at the read line 12 (M), through a relay R6 to the line 402 (M). The relay R6 is held energized through a circuit comprising a line 506, a relay point 6-d, and a line 508, connected in parallel with the hold coil, H, of the relay R1, shown in Fig. 11. Another circuit is complete from the read card lever RCL to a line 510, relay contacts 75-6, and the coil of a latch pick relay 47LP, through a line 512 to the line 402 (M). The relay 47LP is of the type that, once energized, is latched and the contacts completed by the energization of the relay 47LP remain closed until a latch trip relay 47LT, shown in Fig; 13, is energized. A circuit from contacts CF4 (M), through the contacts 75-9, the read card lever RCL and normally closed contacts 75-10, to the relay R3 (M) is broken by the opening of the contact 75-10. The contacts 75-10 serve during normal punch operation to pick up R6 in parallel with R3 (M) since the relay contacts 6-b, 6-c, and 6-e, shown in Fig. 11, replace normal R3 (M) contacts 3-b and 3-0.

The normally open relay contacts 75-1, shown in Fig. 11, are used to isolate relay contacts 47-2 during normal key punch operation. The relay contacts 75-3, shown in Fig. 12, complete the 0 star wheel contacts in the punch during normal key punch operation. The relay contacts 75-4, shown in Fig. 11, provide a circuit from the contacts 6-]; to the program circuits of the reader when the reader is being used in the normal manner as a duplicating punch. The relay contacts 75-5, shown in Fig. 11, complete the auto-duplication circuits in the reader during normal key punch operation thereof. The relay contacts 75-7, shown in Fig. 12., are in series with the program drum 8 contacts and complete circuits for picking up a translation relay R56, also shown in Fig. 12.

Relay contacts 75-8, shown in Fig. 14, complete a circuit for use in the converter function for duplicating columns one to six of the order card into the first detail card of a card group. The contacts 75-11, shown in Fig. 10, complete a circuit to the auxiliary pin contacts 246a (M) in parallel with the circuit to the read pin contacts 223 (M). The relay contacts 75-12, shown in Fig. 13, isolate the P6 (S) pulses from the punch so that the punch cannot efiect spacing of the reader during normal duplicating punch operations.

The latch pick relay 47L? has three sets of contacts. During converter operation, when the relay contacts 47-1, shown in Fig. 11, close, they cause the release of a detail card in the punch during a reader feed cycle if no quantity had been sensed in the order card. The relay contacts 47-2 and 47-3, shown in Fig. 11, are effective to drop out of the relay 47L? in the event it is energized when the release key or the feed key is depressed.

After duplication of the first six columns of the order card, the relay R56 is picked up through the program contacts 8, shown in Fig. 12. The relay contacts 56-1, shown in Fig. 13, are effective to switch the operation from column by column duplication from the order card at the line 12 (M) into the detail card at the line 11 (S) to the sequential reading out of values set up in the translation relay networks shown in Figs. 13 and'l4. The relay contacts 56-2, shown in Fig. 12, are effective to cause duplication of columns one to six of one detail card into columns one to six of the following detail card when the order card is in a quantity field. When the relay R56 is energized, the relay points 56-3, shown in Fig. 13, are elfectiveto cause interrogation of the translation networks. When the relay R56 is tie-energized, its contacts 56-3 are effective to cause the spacing of the order card-in response to a P6 (S) pulse from the punch.

The relay contacts 56-4., shown in Fig. 12, condition the punch to take a punch cycle when the order card is in a quantity field. The relay contacts 56-5, shown in Fig. 11, are efiective to provide hold circuits for the reader duplicating circuits during the time that one detail card is being escaped from the punch and another detail card is being fed'thereto during which time the contacts R3-e (8), shown in Fig. 8, are open. The relay contacts 56-6, shown inFig. 14, are eifective to prevent the energizing of the relay R60 at P7 (M) time while an order card is in a quantity field.

A relay R33, shown in Fig. 8, having a number of sets of contacts is effective to interlock the operation of the reader and punch. Whenever the punch is duplicating, skipping, feeding cards, or at any time that the interposer bail contacts are closed, a circuit is completed to the first grid of a tube T-16 in Fig. '8 and the relay R33 in the plate circuit of the tube 'T-16, is energized to perform its interlocking function through its various contacts.

A latch pick relay 46LP, shown in Fig. 13, is effective to start the sequential readout of four sets of storage relay networks representative of a tens digit column number, a'units digit column number, a tens digit quantity and a units digit quantity. Four relays 49LP, 50LP, 51LP and 52LP are effective to cause the sequential interrogation of the four storage networks. A relay R53P is provided with four sets of contacts. Its contacts 53-5, shown in Fig. 14, provide a hold circuit for the relay R53H. Its contacts 53-2, shown in Fig. 14, delay the starting of the above described sequential interrogation of storage relays to allow time for the feeding of detail cards in the punch. Its contacts 53-4, shown in Fig. 13, switch the P6(S) pulses from interrogating the networks to spacing the order card Its contacts 53-1, shown in Fig. 14, complete a circuit for picking the latch trip relay SZLT for deenergizing the latch pick relay 52LP.

Circuit operation The program cards of the reader and the punch are programmed to automatically commence duplication and when the card 001 :is registered with its column number one at the reading line 12(M'), duplication is started and the data in the identification field, columns one to six of the order card, are duplicated in columns one to six of the first detail card D1. When the order card is advanced with its column seven at the read line 12(M), the order card is then in the quantity field comprising columns seven to fifty-six.

Hereafter, when a relay contact is started to be normal it is in the position assumed when the relay is uuenergized. Transferred contacts are in the position assumed when the relayis energized.

Referring to Fig. 3, columns one to six of the order card are punched in the conventional Hollerith code as follows, to represent the store and order sheet numbers: 1, 3, 4, 5, 1, 2. Referring to Fig. 10, when column one is sensed, the pin contacts 223-1 (M) close and a circuit is completed through the pin-contacts 223-1 (M), through the transferred contacts 73-1 to the read relay RRl-P (pick). The contacts RR1-1, shown in Fig. 13, close and provide a hold circuit through the hold relay RRl-H (hold). At P7 (M) time a circuit is completed from the line 403 (M), through the P7 (M) contacts, shown in Fig. 14, through the relay contacts 56-6 which are in their normal closed position due to the order card not being in a quantity-field, through the relay contacts 75-8 that are closed due to the converter function switch 502 being closed, through a relay R to the line 402 (M). The relay R60 picksup closing its contacts designated 60- 1 through 60-12 associated with lines designated 514-1 through 514-12 that run through a cable 516 to the punch interposer magnets 188-1 (S) through 188-12 (S) in Fig. 7. At P8 (M) time, a circuit is completed from the line 403 ,(M) through the P8 (M') contacts, shown in Fig. 13,-through1he normal relay contacts 56-1, through a line 518, through the contacts RRl-S, that are closed due to the energizing of RR1, and the closed contacts 60 1 to the line 514-1 that extends through the cable 516 and the punch interposer magnet 188-1 (S) in Fig. 7, to the line 402 (S). When the interposer magnet 188-1 (S) is energized, the usual bail contacts 194 (S) and 195 (S) are closed thereby initiating an escape and punch cycle of the punch as follows: from the line 403 (S), contacts 3b in Fig. 8, interposer contacts 194 (S) and 195 (S) in parallel, contacts 24d (S), rectifier 409 (S), contacts 23c (S), 220 (S) to the first grid of the tube T4 (S), thus short circuiting the bias resistor 407 (S) and causing the tube to become conductive. The plate of the tube is connected to the escape magnet 104 (S), the other side of which is connected through the wire 446 and the cam contacts P1 in Fig. 9 to the line 402 (S).

The escape magnet 104 (S) is operated to advance the card D1 one step to bring its first punching column beneath the rows of punches and upon energization it closes its contacts 107 (S) and 107a (S) in Fig. 8, of which contacts 107a (S) short circuits the bias resistor of the tube T3 (S) so that T3 (S) becomes conductive to energize the relay R22 (S) in Fig. 8, through the wire 446 (S) and the cam contacts P1 (S). The relay R22 (S) thereupon opens its contacts 220 (S) in the grid circuit of the tube T4 (S) causing its deenergization of the escape magnet 104 (S) before the card D1 has advanced more than a single column or step.

Relay R22 (S) also shifts its contacts 22d (S) completing a circuit from the line 403 (S) to the contacts 3b (S) of the relay R3 (S) (now closed), the wire 447 (S), the contacts 22-d (S) transferred, to the first grid of tube T7 (S), rendering it conductive so that the punch clutch magnet 204 (S) in the plate circuit thereof is energized through the contacts P1 (S). This results in tripping a one revolution clutch, causing the punch shaft (S) to make a single revolution during which the punches whose interposers have been activated will be reciprocated to punch hoes in the detail card D1 and the Various P (S) contacts are actuated.

At P6 (S) time, eighty degrees to one hundred and seventy degrees (80-170) of the punch cycle, during which column one of the card D1 is punched, a circuit is completed from the line 403 (S) through the P6 (S) contacts, through the relay contacts 25e (S) normally closed, Fig. 7, through a line 520, the cable 516, through the contacts 6a in Fig. 13, the normal relay contacts 56-3, the transferred relay contacts 75-12, a line 522, the relay contacts 24d (M) in Fig. 11, the rectifier 409 (M), the relay contacts 230 (M) and 22c (M) to the first grid of the tube T4 (M), (also in Fig. 11) causing the tube to become conductive and energize the escape magnet 104 (M) thereby eifecting a one-column escapement of the order card, C1, and the auxiliary card in the manner described hereinbefore with respect to the card D1 in the punch. In the manner there described, a cycle of the reader punch shaft is initiated whereby the read pins are actuated to sense column two of the card 001 and the auxiliary card. Columns two, three, four, five and six of the card 0C1 are duplicated into the corresponding columns of the card D1 in a similar manner.

The P6 (S) pulse emitted from the punch to the line 520 upon the punching of column six of the detail card, D1, advances column seven of the order card to the read line 12 (M) and advances column seven of the reader program card to its reading line. The reader program card moves synchronously with the order card and the auxiliary card, and as shown in Fig. 5, columns seven to fifty-six of the reader program card are punched with zeros to efifect duplication and also are punched with 8s to effect translation of data from the order card and the auxiliary card codes into the Hollerith code for punching in the detail cards. When the first 8 hole in the reader program card is sensed, a circuit is completed through the 8 contacts, shown in Fig. 12, through the transferred relay contacts 75-7 and the relaycontacts 1e (M) to the first grid of a tube T15 (M) thereby causing the tube T15 (M) to become conductive and energize the relay R56 in the plate circuit thereof.

When the order card and the auxiliary card are advanced from column six to column seven, after the duplication of data from column six of the card 0C1 to column six of the card D1, the punch shaft (M) is rotated, in the manner described hereinbefore, through one cycle hereinafter referred to as cycle A (M). The cams P7 (M), P6 (M) and P8 (M) are on this shaft, as well a the P cams described in the Patent 2,647,581.

At P7 (M) time, 70-250 degrees of the cycle A (M),

the P7 (M) pulse is ineffective since, when the reader program card advanced to column seven, the relay R56 picked up and the contacts 56-6, shown in Fig. 14, opened.

At P6 (M) time, -170 degrees of the cycle A (M), circuits are completed to the read pin contacts 223 (M) in Fig. 10 from the line 403 (M), through contacts P6 (M), contacts 25e (M) (transferred), contacts (M) and the line 414 (M). Another circuit is completed from the line 403 (M) through contacts P6 (M), contacts 25e (M) (transferred), contacts 9c (M) and contacts 75-11 to the auxiilary pin contacts 246a (M). At P6 (M) time the former circuit continues through the pin contacts 223-12 (M) and 223-8 (M), the respective transferred contacts 73-12 and 73-8 and the relays RR12 and RR8 to the line 402 (M) which represent the reading of the quantity 21 from column seven of the order card, 0C1, as shown in Fig. 3. The later circuit is complete through the auxiliary pin contacts 246a-12 (M), the transferred contacts 74-12 and the relay AR12 to the line 402 (M) representing the reading of the item number 1 from column seven of the auxiliary card as shown in Fig. 4. The relays AR12, RR8 and RR12 are held through their respective contacts AR12-1, RR8-1 and RR12-1 in Fig. 13 as previously described for RR1. The relay contacts RR8-3 and RR12-3, shown in Fig. 13 are transferred, and at P8 (M) time, -240 degrees of the reader cycle A (M) during which the order card was advanced to column seven, a circuit is completed from the line 403 (M) through the P8 (M) contacts, shown in Fig. 13, through the transferred relay contacts 56-1, through a line 523 and the transferred relay contacts RR12-3 and a line 524 to the latch relay 46LP and the line 402 (M). The relay 46LP is picked and latched. A parallel circuit is completed from line 524 through a rectifier 526 and a trip coil 47LT of the latch pick relay 47LP to the line 402 (M) thereby unlatching the latched relay 47LP. If the order card has no quantities punched therein, it is desired to release the detail card, D1, since it has thev identifying store number and order sheet number punched therein. For this purpose the previously described circuit through the relay contacts 75-1 and 47-1, shown in Fig. 11 to the R1 (S) coil of the punch effects a release of the detail card, D1, during the card feed cycle during which the order card, having no quantities punched therein, is released from the read line 12 '(M) and a new order card is fed thereto in the manner described hereinafter.

When the relay.46LP is energized, the contacts 46-3 shown in Fig. 12, close completing a circuit from the line 403 (S) in Fig. 9, through a line 528, through the contacts 56-4 and 46-3 in Fig. 12 and the interlocking contacts 33-2 in Fig. 9, through a line 530 to the first grid of the tube T-7 (S) in Fig. 9. When the tube T-7 (S) conducts, the punch clutch magnet 204 (S) is energized initiating a cycle of the punch shaft (S), hereinafter referred to as cycle B (S).

At P7 (S) time, 10-60 degrees of cycle B (S) of the punch shaft, a circuit is complete from the line 403 (S), through the P7 (S) contacts, shown in Fig. 9, through the interlocking relay contacts 33-1, and a line 532 in the cable 516 to Fig. 14, through the relay contacts 46-1 and 53-2, and the latch pick relay ,49L P, to the line.

402 (M). At P6 (S) time, 80-170 degrees of cycle B (S), a circuit is completed from the linev 403 (S) in Fig. 7, through the P6 (S) contacts, the relaycontacts 259(8) (normal), through the line 520 in cable 516 to Fig. 13, through the contacts 6a, 56-3 transferred, 53-4 normal, through the transferred contacts 49-3, through the normal contacts AR7-2, AR9-2 and AR8-4, through a line 534-0, in Figs. 13 and 14, through the line 514- in the cable 516, through the 0 inte'rposer magnet 138-0 (S), in Fig. 7, to the line 402 (S). Energizing the 0 interposer magnet 188-0 (S) actuates the 0 intcrposer and closes the

interposer bail contacts

194 and 195 in Fig. 8, thereby initiating an escape and punch cycle of the punch, in the manner described hereinbefore, and hereinafter referred to as cycle C (S), whereby the digit 0 is punched in column seven of the card D1 to represent the tens digit of the item number 01.

At P8 (S) time, 200-260 degrees of cycle B (S), a latch relay 50LP is energized by a circuit from the line 403 (S), through the contacts P8 (S), a line 536 in the cable 516 to Fig. 14, a line 538, the transferred contacts 49-2 and the relay 50LP to the line 402*(M). A parallel circuit from the line 538 through the contacts 49-1 energizes the latch trip relay 46LT thereby dropping out the relay 46LP.

At P7 (S) time, 10-60 degrees of the cycle C (S) that is initiated by the energizing of the 0 interposer magnet 188-0 (S), a circuit is completed from the line 403 (S),

tacts 33-1 and the line 532 toFig. 14, through the contacts 50-1 and a latch trip relay 49LT to the line 402 (M) thereby energizing the latch trip relay 49LT and-unlatching the latch pick relay 49LP.

At P6 (S) time, 80-170 degrees of cycle C (S), during which column seven is punched, a circuit is complete from the line 403 (S) through the contacts P6 (S) in Fig. 7, the relay contacts e (S) (transferred), the line 520 in the cable 516 to Fig. 13, the contacts 6a, the transferred contacts 56-3, the normal contacts 53-4, through a line 540 and the transferred contacts 50-3, through the transferred contacts AR12-2 that represent the reading of the item number 1 in column seven of the auxiliary card, through a line 534-1 in Figs. 13 and 14, through a line 514-1 to the interposer magnet 188-1 (S), in Fig. 7, thereby causing an escape and punch cycle hereinafter referred to as cycle D (D) during which a 1 is punched in column eight of the card D1 representing the units digit of the item number.

At P8 (S) time 200-260 degrees of cycle C (S), during which column eight-of the detail card, D1, is punched, a circuit is completed from the line 403 (S), through the contacts P8 (S) in Fig. 9, through theline 536 to Fig. 14,

through the line 538 and the normal contacts 49-4 and the transferred contacts 50-2, throughthe latch pick relay SILP to the line 402 (M).

At P7 (S) time 10-60 degrees of cycle D (S), a circuit is completed as described hereinbefore from the line 403 (S), contacts P7 (S), line 532, to Fig.14, through the transferred contacts 51-1 and the latch trip. relay 50LT, to the line 402 (M) thereby unlatchingthe latch relay 50LP. At P6 (S) time 80-170 degrees of cycle D (S), the previously described circuit is completed from the line 403 (S) through the P6-(S) contacts in Fig. 7 and the line 520 to Fig. 13,. through the contacts 6a and 56-3 transferred, the normal contacts 53-4, and the line 54.0, through the transferred contacts AR12-6 that indicate that the item number 1 Was. read, through. the transferred contacts 51-3, in Fig. 14, through the normal contacts RR7-4, RR9-4, through thev transferred contacts RRS-S, that indicate the tens quantity 2, through a line 534-2, and the line 514-2, to the interposer magnet 188-2 (S) in Fig. 7, thereby actuating the corresponding interposer and initiating an escape and punch cycle hereinafter referred to as cycle E (S) and effecting the punching of a 2 in column nine of the card D1, representing the tens quantity 2.

. 12 At P8 (S) time, 200-260 degrees of cycle D (S), the hereinbefore describedcircuit is completed from the line 403 (S) and the contactsv P8 (S) in Fig. 9, through the 11116536 to Fig. 14, through the 1ine538, through. the normal contacts 50-4 and the transferred contacts 51-2, through the latch pick relay 52LP to the line 402 (M).

At P7 (S) time, 10-60 degrees of cycle E (S), a circuit is completed, as described hereinbefore, from the line 403 (S), through the contacts P7 (S) in Fig. 9, the line 532 to Fig. 14, through the transferred contacts 52-1 and the latch trip relay SILT, to the line 402 (M).

At P6 (S) time, -170 degrees of cycle E (S), a circuit is completed from line 403 (S) through the P6 (S) contacts in Fig. 7, through the line 520 to Fig. 13, through the contacts 6a, the transferred contacts 56-3, the normal contacts 53-4, through the line 540, through the contacts AR12-6, that indicate that the item number 1 was read, through a line 542 and the transferred contacts 52-3, through the transferred contacts RR12-4 representing the units quantity digit 1, to the line 534-1 and through the line 514-1 to the interposer magnet 188-1 (S) in Fig. 7, therebyactuating the corresponding interposer and initiating an escape and punch cycle hereinanfter referred to as cycle F (S) and effecting the punching of a l in column ten of the card D1. At P8 (S) time, 200-260 degrees of cycle E (S), the previously described circuit is completed from the line 403 (S), through the P8 (S) contacts in Fig. 9 and the iine 536 to the line 538 in Fig. 14, through the normal contacts 51-4, the transferred contacts 52-2 and the relay R531 to the line 402 (M). A hold circuit is provided for the relay R53 as follows: from the line 403 (S) through the contacts PR3 in Fig. 8, through the contacts P.3d, (S), through a line 544 in the cable 516 to the contacts 53-5 in Fig. 14, through the relay R53H to the line 402 (M).

At P7 (S) time, 10-60 degrees of cycle F (S), a circuit is completed from the line 403 (S) through the P7 (S) contacts in Fig. 9 and the line 532 in the cable 516 to Fig. 14, and through the transferred contacts 53-1 and a latch trip relay 52LT to the line 402 (M), thereby unlatching the latched relay 52LP.

At P6 (S) time, 80-170 degrees of cycle F (S), a circuit is complete from the line 403 (S) through the contacts P6 (S) and the line 520 to Fig. 14, through the contacts 6a, the transferred contacts 56-3 and the transferred contacts 53-4, the transferred contacts 75-12 and the line 522 to Fig. 11, through the contacts 24d (M), the rectifier 409 (M), the relay contacts 236 (M) and 220 (M) to the first grid of the tube T4 (M), thereby energizing the escape magnet 104 (M) in the plate circuit of T4 (M) and effecting a one column escapement of the order card, 0C1, and the auxiliary card so their columns eight are at their respective read lines. During escapement a punch shaft (M) cycle is initiated and is referred to hereinafter as cycle G (M).

At P8 (S) time, 200-260 degrees of cycle F (S), the circuit through the P8 (S) contacts is incomplete since the contacts 49-1, 49-2, 50-2, 51-2 and 52-2 are in their normal open positions.

When the detail card, D1, advances to column ten during cycle F (S), it is punched in accordance with the units quantity from column seven of the order card, 0C1, and is then released. from the punch line 11 (S) due to the programming of the punch program card. As the detail card, D1, is released, the relay R3 (S) is dropped out and the relay R53H which was held up through the relay contacts 3d (S) in Fig. 8, is dropped out. The first detail card advances to the read line 12 (S) under program control and a new detail card, D2, advances to the punch line 11 (S).

At P7 (M) time, 70-250 degrees of the punch shaft cycle 6' (M), during which the order card and the auxiliary card are advanced from column seven to column eight, the P7 (M) pulse is ineffective due to the open contacts 56-6 in Fig. 14.

At P6 (M) time, 80-170 degrees of cycle G (M), circuits are completed to the read pin contacts 223 (M) in gized indicating the quantity 7 in column eight of the order card, C1, in accordance with the punching of the card shown in Fig. 3. The relay AR11 is energized indicating the item number 2 from column eight of the auxiliary card in accordance with the punching of the card in Fig. 4.

At P8 (M) time, 160-240 degrees of cycle G (M), a circuit is completed from the line 403 (M) through the contacts P8 (M) in Fig. 13, through the transferred contacts 56-1 and the line 523 through the normal contacts RR12-3, RR11-3, RRO-3, RR1-3, RR2-3, RR3-3, through the transferred contacts RR4-3, the line 524 and the latch pick relay 46LP to the line 402 (M). The pulse to the latch trip relay 47LT is superfluous since the latch pick relay 47LP was previously unlatched.

When the contacts 46-2, shown in Fig. 12, close, a circuit is completed from the line 403 (S) through the 0 program contacts 246 (S) in Fig. 9, through the closed auto dup-auto skip switch 413 (S), through a line 546 to Fig. 12, through the transferred contacts 46-2 and the transferred contacts 56-2, through a line 548 to Fig. 9-

and the first grid of the tube T14 (S). When the tube T14 (S) conducts, automatic duplication is initiated in the manner described in the Patent 2,647,581 and columns one to six of the detail card, D1, are duplicated into columns one to six of the card D2.

The interlocking contacts 33-1 in Fig. 9, delay the picking up of the relay 49LP through the contacts 46-1 and 53-2. After the duplication of columns one to six is completed, the contacts 33-1 close and the sequence relays 49LP, 50LP, 51LP and 52LP effect the punching of the item number 02 in columns seven and eight of the card D2 and the punching of the quantity 07 in columns nine and ten of the card D2 in the manner described hereinbefore for the card D1.

The card D2 is then escaped to the read line 12 (S), under program control and a new card D3 is advanced to the punch line 11 (S) and the order card, 0C1, and the auxiliary card are advanced one column. The card D1 is advanced to the stacker 13 (S).

As described hereinbefore with reference to the card DI, the P6 (S) pulse emitted during the punching of column ten of the card D2 is effective to cause cycle of the reader, hereinafter referred to as cycle H (M) and to cause a one-column advance of the order card, 0C1, and the auxiliary card to present their columns nine to their respective read lines.

Column nine of the order card, as indicated in Fig. 3, is blank and therefore none of the relays RR1 to RR12 are energized. At P8 (M) time of the cycle H (M), a circuit is complete from the line 403 (M), through the contacts P8 (M) in Fig. 13, through the transferred contacts 56-1 and the line 523, through the normal contacts RR12-3 to RR9-3, through the line 522 to Fig. 11 and through the contacts 24d (M), the rectifier 409 (M), the contacts 23c (M) and 22c (M) to the first grid of the tube T4 (M), thereby energizing the escape magnet 104 (M) and initiating a punch shaft cycle, hereinafter referred to as cycle I (M), and effecting a one-column ad-' vance of the order card, 001, and the auxiliary card to present their columns ten to their respective read lines. At P6 (M) time of the cycle I (M), the relays RR8, RR12 and ARI are energized representing the reading of the quantity 21" in column ten of the order card, 0C1, as shown in Fig. 3, and the item number 4 in column ten of the auxiliary card, as shown in Fig. 4.

At P8 (M) time of the cycle I (M), a circuit is complete from the line 403 (M) through the contacts P8 (M) in Fig. 13, the line 523, the transferred contacts RR12-3,- the line 524 and the relay 46 LP'to the line 402 (M), thereby initiating the duplication of data from the card- D2 to the card D3 and' the reading out and punching of the item number 04 and the quantity 21 in the manner described hereinbefore for the cards D1 and D2.

"Columns eleven through fifty-six of the order card, 0C1, are blank and at P8 (M) time of a cycle K (M) during which the order card and the auxiliary card are advanced to present their columns eleven to their respective read lines, the circuit from the line 403 (M) through the contacts P8 (M), 56-1 transferred, the line 523, the normal contacts RR12-3, through RR12-9, the line 522, contacts 24d (M), rectifier 409 (M), contacts 230 (M), 22c (M), tube T4 (M) and the escape magnet 104 (M) initiates a cycle L (M) during which the order card and the auxiliary card are advanced one column. The P8 (M) pulse interrogates the relay contacts RR12-3 through RR9-3 for each of the columns eleven through fifty-six and each time, upon finding none of the latter contacts transferred, initiates another one column advance of the order card and the auxiliary card. When columns fifty-six of the latter two cards are read and the P8 (M) 7 pulse eifects'the usual one-column advance, column fiftyseven of the reader program card, shown in Fig. 5, which advances synchronously with the order card andauxiliary 0C1 advances past column eighty, the contacts PR3 (M),

shown'in Fig. 11, transfer and complete a circuit from the line 403 (M), upper contacts PR3 (M), switch 456 (M) and card feed clutch magnet 28 (M) to the line 402 (M). As a result, the order card 0C1 is advanced to the stacker 13 (M), as card 0C2 is advanced to the read line 12 (M), a card 0C3 is advanced to the position E (M) is registration with the punch line 11 (M), and a card 0C4 is advanced to the position A (M).

During the card feed cycle, the CF cams, described in the Patent 2,647,581, are actuated. At CF 5 (M) time, a circuit is completed from the line 403 (M), through the contacts CFS (M), shown in Fig. 11, through a line 546, a relay R5 and a line 548 to the line 402 (M). The contacts 5-1, 5-2, 5-3, 5-4 and 5-5, shown in Fig. 14, close completing circuits from the line 403 (M) through the foregoing R5 contacts and the latch trip relays 52LT, 51LT, 50LT, 46LT and 49LT, in parallel, thereby energizing all the foregoing relays and assuring that none of the latch pick relays 46LP, 49LP, 50LP, 51LP, or 52LP are energized when a new order card is registered at the read line 12 (M).

The procedure just described for the order card, 0C1, is then repeated for the order card, 0C2, whereby a detail card is prepared for each quantity-containing column of the card 0C2, each of the detail cards containing, in columns one to six thereof, the data punched in columns one to six of the card 002.

The process is repeated for each order card in the hopper 10 (M).

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the. following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A card handling machine comprising, in combinatron, a card reading station, means for feeding at least one columnar prepunched record card through said reading station in a column by column manner, means operable synchronously with said card feeding means for emitting signals .coincidently with the reading of selected columns of said prepunched record card and indicative of respective ones of said selected columns, a card punching station, means for feeding blank record cards serially through said punching station in a column by column manner, means actuatable for causing punching of data in said blank record cards as they pass through said punching station, means controlled by the sensing of data in successive columns of said prepunched card and by the corresponding column indicating signals for actuating said actuatable means whereby successive blank record cards are punched each in accordance with data sensed in one of said successive columns of said prepunched record card and in accordance with said corresponding column indicating signals.

2. A card handling machine comprising, in combination, a card reading station adapted for reading at least one columnar prepunched record card, means for moving said card through said station in a column by column manner, means operable synchronously with the column by column reading of said prepunched card for emitting signals indicative differentially of said columns, a record card punching station, means for feeding other record cards serially through said punching station in a column by column manner, means actuatable for causing punching of data in said other record cards as they pass through said punching station, means controlled alternately by said column indicating signals and by the sensing of data in successive-onesof said columns otsaid prepunohed card for actuating said actuatable means whereby successive ones of said other record cards are punched each in accordance with data in one of said successive columns of said prepunched card and in accordance with said corresponding column indicating signals and means operable after the reading and punching of data from one of said successive columns and the punching of data according to said corresponding column signals for elfecting a one column advance of said 'prepunched card while removing apunched one of said other record cards from said punching station and advancing another of said other record cards to said punching station whereby one of said other record cards is punched for each column of said prepunched record cards.

3. The invention set forth in claim 2 including means operable when a blank one of said columns is read in said prepunched card for effecting said one column advance of said prepunched card while suppressing said re moving and said advancing of said other record cards.

4. A card handling machine comprising, in combination, first means adapted for reading at least one columnar prepunched record card in a column by column manner, said card having selected columns punched in accordance with a first code and other selected columns punched in accordance with a second code, means operable synchronously with the column by column sensing I of said prepunched card for emitting signals indicative differentially of said columns punched in accordance with said second code, a card punching station, means for feeding other record cards serially through said punching station-in a column by column manner, means actuatable for causing punching of said other record cards as they pass through said punching station, means controlled by the reading of data in said selected columns of said prepunched card for actuating said punching means for duplicating last said data in corresponding columns of a first one of said other record cards, means controlled by the sensing of data in the first of saidother selected columns of .said prepunched card and by said corresponding column indicating signals for translating last said data and said corresponding signals and for causing punching in four columns of said first one of said other record cards, second means adapted for reading columnar records, meansfor feeding said other records through said second means after they pass through said punching station, means operable by said second reading means for controlling said punching means for duplicating said duplicated data from each of said other cards to a succeeding one of said other cards, means for operating said translating means and said duplicating means alternately whereby each succeeding one of said other cards is punched in accordance with data punched in said first code in said prepunched record card and in accordance with data from one of said other selected columns punched in accordance with said second code and in accordance with said respective column indicating signals, and means operable after said reading and punching for effecting a one column advance of said prepunched card while advancing one of said other cards from said punching station to said second reading means and for advancing another of said other cards to said punching station.

5. The invention set forth in claim 4 including means operable when an unpunched one of said other selected columns is read for effecting said one column advance of said prepunched card while suppressing the advancing of said other cards.

6. The invention set forth in claim 4 including means operable when the last punched one of said other selected columns has been read and the read data punched for advancing said prepunched card from first said reading station.

7. The invention set forth in claim 6 including means operable each time a prepunched card is advanced from said first reading means for advancing a succeeding prepunched card to said first reading means.

8. A card handling machine comprising, in combination, card reading means adapted for reading in a column by column manner a columnar prepunched record card having selected columns punched with data in accordance with a first code and other selected columns punched with quantities in accordance with a second code, second card reading means adapted for reading a code punched record card synchronously with the column by column reading of said prepunched card said code punched card being punched in accordance with said second code with numbers designating said other selected columns of said prepunched card, card punching means, means for serially feeding other record cards past said punching means in a column by column manner, means actuatable for causing punching of said other record cards as they pass said punching means, means controlled by the sensing of data in said selected columns of said prepunched card for actuating said punching means for duplicating data from said selected columns of said prepunched card into corresponding columns of a first one of said other record cards, means controlled by the reading of data in the first of said other selected columns of said prepunched card and by the reading of a corresponding one of said column designations in said code punched card for translating last said data and said corresponding column designation and for causing punching in accordance therewith in four columns of said first one of said other record cards, third reading means adapted for reading said other record cards after they pass said punching means, means operable by last said reading means for controlling said punching means for duplicating said duplicated data from each of said other record cards to a succeeding one of said other record cards, means operable alternately with said translating means and with said duplicating means whereby each succeeding one of said other record cards is punched in accordance with data punched in said first code, with data punched in said second code in one of said other selected columns and with a column number corresponding to last said one of said other selected columns, and means operable after the reading and punching of said data for efiecting a .one column advance of said prepunched card and said code punched card while advancing one of said other record cards from said punching means to said third reading means and for advancing another ,of said other record cards to said punching means.

9. The invention set forth in claim 8 including means