US2953203A

US2953203A - Perforating apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2953203A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert H Granzow
Original assignee: NCR Corp
Current assignee: NCR Voyix Corp; National Cash Register Co
Priority date: 1957-02-06
Filing date: 1957-02-06
Publication date: 1960-09-20
Anticipated expiration: 1977-09-20
Also published as: GB814939A; CH344237A; BE564335A

Description

Sepi. 20, 1960 R. H. GRANZOW PERFORATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 6, 1957 HIS ATTORN E YS h w t Sept. 20, 1960 Filed Feb. 6, 1957 FIG. 2

R. H. GRANZOW PERFORATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ROBERT H. GRANZOW 51s ATTORNEYS Sept. 20, 1960 R. H. GRANZOW 2,953,203

PERFORATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 6, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ROBERT H. GRANZOW zzfiwu HIS ATTORNEYS Sept. 20, 1960 R. H. GRANZOW PERFORATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 6, 1957 INVENTOR ROBERT H. GRANZOW BY a wa {Mia HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent Oil-ice Patented Sept. 20, 1960 PERFORATING APPARATUS Robert H. Granzow, Miamisburg, Ohio, assignor to The National Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Filed Feb. 6, 1957, Ser. No. 638,558

11 Claims. (CL 164-111) This invention relates to an improved type of punching mechanism for use in data-recording devices.

The punch mechanism of the present invention may be used in many different types of recording devices, such as commonly form a part of business systems for the recording and integration of large volumes of data.

In its illustrated embodiment, the punch mechanism is controlled by electromagnetic means which are responsive to data entered into the recording device, of which the punch mechanism forms a part, by a data input machine such as a cash register, an adding machine, an accounting machine, and/ or a media reader. For a detailed description of a representative data-recording system in which the punch mechanism of the instant invention might be used, reference may be had to the United States patent application Serial No. 550,728, of Elmer A. Gerdemann, inventor, filed December 2, 1955, now United States Patent No. 2,896,713, issued July 28, 1959. Driving means for the punch mechanism consists of a normally-operating electric motor to which the punch mechanism is selectively connected by a single-revolution clutch. The record material normally employed is a paper tape on which the punch mechanism operates to punch data according to a predetermined code. The electromagnetic control means selectively release punch drive pitmans for movement into a position in which they will be positively driven by driving means to cause the corresponding punch to perforate the paper tape. Said driving means are driven by cam means which in turn are driven by the electric motor through the single-revolution clutch.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple and eificient punch mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a punch mechanism in which the punch drive pitmans are selectively moved from a first position, in which they will not be driven by a cyclically-operable punch-driving means, to a second position, in which they will be driven by said driving means to effect punch operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a punch mechanism in which alining means are provided to hold the punch drive pitmans in their respective positions during a punching cycle.

An additional object is to provide positive means for preventing movement of those punch drive pitmans which are not selected for operation during a punching cycle.

Still a further object is to provide a punching mechanism in which the minimum number of parts consistent with eflicient, dependable operation is provided.

Still another object is to provide positive means for the return of the operated punches and punch drive pitmans to normal, or initial, position after punching during each punch cycle.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, a preferred form or embodiment of which will hereinafter be described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the novel punching mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a top detail view of the punch mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the cam-controlled alining means for the drive pitmans and also showing certain cam-operated switches.

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the drive pitmans and associated mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing the single-revolution clutch and driving gear train for the punching mechanism.

Two side frames 30 and 31 (Fig. 2) form the main supporting means for the novel punching mechanism of the instant invention. The

frames

30 and 31 are held in fixed spaced-apart relationship by a number of cross members, including a punch support block 32 (Fig. 1), a pitrnan-retaining block 33, and

magnet supporting members

34 and 35.

Slidably mounted for vertical reciprocating movement in the support block 32 are a plurality of punches 36. In the illustrated embodiment, nine punches 36 (Figs. 1 and 2) are shown alined in a vertical plane perpendicular to the

frame members

30 and 31, one punch for punching sprocket holes in the recording tape 29, and eight others corresponding to the eight channels of the form of recording tape which it is contemplated will be used with the embodiment shown of the punching mechanism. It will, however, be obvious that any desired number of punches could be provided, according to the code and the width of the tape employed.

The chaff resulting from perforation of the tape 29 is caught ina housing 50 and subsequently is carried through a chafi chute 51 to a suitable receptacle (not shown).

Each punch 36 terminates at its lower end in a bifurcated member 37, which embraces a pitman 38. The member 37 and the pitman 38 are pivotally connected by a pin 39.

The lower edges of the bifurcated members 37 for each of the punches 36 normally rest upon the upper surface of the retaining block 33 to support the connected punch 36 and pitman '38. A shoulder 40 on each pitman 38 coacts with the lower surface of the block 33 to prevent upward movement of the pitmans 38 when said pitmans are in the position in which they are shown in Fig. 1. A spring 41, secured between each p-itman 38 and a rod 42, which extends between the

frame members

30 and 31, urges the pitman 38 clockwise about the pin 39, as viewed in Fig. 1. The pitmans 38 are normally retained in the position in which they are shown in Fig. 1 against the force of the springs 41 by means of fingers 43 on said pitmans, which cooperate with notches in armatures 44 of punch-selecting magnets such as 45 and 46.

The armatures 44 are fulcrumed on the edges of

plates

47 and 48, secured to the

members

34 and 35, and are urged into engagement with the fingers 43 by means of springs 49, extending between the armatures and corresponding hooks on the

plates

47 and 48. It will be seen that energization of any of the punch-selecting magnets such as 45 or 46 will cause the corresponding armature 44 to be shifted to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, out of engagement with its related finger 43 of the pitman 38, thus freeing said pitman for clockwise movement, as viewed in Fig. 1, under the influence of the spring 41.

An additional pitman 55, which controls the punch for punching sprocket holes in the tape, is similar to the pitmans 38, except that it is not provided with a finger 43 and normally is held in the position in which it is shown in Fig. l by a spring 56 extending between the pitman 55 and a rod 57.

All of the pitmans 38 and the pitman 55 are retained in their proper side-by-side, spaced-apart relationship by means of two comb plates 58'and 59. The comb plate 58 is mounted on and extends between the

frames

30 and 31 and'coacts with the fingers 43 of the pitmajns 38, While the comb plate 59 is secured to the block33 and is slotted along its upper and lower edges to cooperate with corresponding portions of the pitmans 38 and the pitman 55.

Each of the

pitmans

38 and 55 has an enlarged lower portions to accommodate a cut-out 60, which forms an idling space 61, an upper driving surface 62, and a lower driving surface 63. A driving bar 64 extends through all of the cut-outs 60 and is secured at its ends to two companion plates, one of which is shown at 65 in Fig. 1, and

70 and 71, respectively, fixed to a cam shaft 72, journaled in the frames 30 and .31. Rotation of the cam shaft 72 causes rocking of the plates '65 and 66 and the driving bar 64, to effect shifting o'fthe pitman 55- and selected 1 ones of the pitmans 38, as will be described subsequently.

Atone end, the cam shaft 72 extends through the frame 30 (Figs. 2 and and has fixed thereto a gear 73, which is driven through an idling gear 74 by a gear 75,

fixed to the output of a single-revolution-type clutch 76.

A gear 77, secured to the input of the clutch 76, is driven through a gear train (not shown) by 'a motor (not shown), which is constantly in operation whenever the recording system, with which the punching mechanism is associated, is operating. When the clutch 76 is tripped,

the motor will be connected, through the above-described gear train, to the cam shaft 72 of the punching mechanism to cause the cam shaft to make one complete rotation.

Two punch clutch trip magnets 78 are provided and, when energized, will remove a block 79 from engagement with a projection 80 on the clutch to allow the clutch to operate to drive the punching mechanism. A stop 84 is provided to limit the clockwise movement (Fig. 5 of the block 79. A second projection 81 on the clutch 76 cooperates with a a second block 82 to prevent retrograde movement of the clutch. The blocks 79 and 82 are interconnected'by means of a spring 85. At one end, the clutch is journaled in the frame 30, and at its other end it is journaled in a.

bracket 83, secured to the frame 30. The bracket 83 also serves as mounting means for the clutch magnets 78 and the associated clutch-operating mechanism. 4 The punch clutch trip magnets 78 are energized'each time'one or more of the pitmans 38 is released. A bail 145 (Fig. 1) extends across the pitmans 38 and is carried by a pair of arms 146 pivoted on a rod 147 mounted in the

frames

30 and 31. One of the arms is formed with an extension 148, which coacts with a block 149 to operate contacts SC3al. When any one of the-pitmans 38 is rocked, upon its release by its related armature 44, it will rockjthe bail 145 counter-clockwise, against the force of a spring 150, secured thereto, to close the contacts SC3al, which. are in an operating circuit'for the punch clutch trip magnets 78. This will energize the magnets 78 to render the clutch effective to connect the motor to the cam shaft 72 to drive it through one complete rotation. The contacts SC3al remain closed from 0 degrees to 190 degrees of the rotation of the camshaft 72.

Means are provided for positively alining and holding the

pitmans

38 and 55 the positions in which they have been disposed while the actual tape-punching operation takes place. As shown in Fig. 3, a'cam 90 on the cam shaft 72 cooperates with a roller791 on an alining member 92 to rock said member in regularly-excursioned movement during each cycle ofoperationof the punching.

- at the lowerend of each ofthe-pitmans38 and 55 and 4 l urged clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3, by 'a spring 94a, connected between the aliner 94 and a stud (not shown) on the frame 31. The configuration of the cam 90 is such that the aliner 94 is out of the path of movement of the fingers 95 during the time that some of the pitmans 38 are being released bythe armatures 44 and rocked by the springs 41 to the dotted line position of Fig. 4. The cam 90, however, permits theialiner 94 to be shifted upwardly by the spring 9411 to be positioned in the path of movement of the fingers. 95 during the time that the selected pitmans 38 and their related punches 36 are being shifted upwardly by the driving bar 64 to punch the tape with the desired'information.

the pitman 55 and with those pitmans 38 which have been a clockwise.

released by their related armatures 44 and rocked clockwise .by thesprings 41, to shift said pitmans counter- The fingers 43 of the pitmans 38 so rocked are thereby caused to re-engage the notches of their related armatures to retain said pitmans in the position in which they are shown in Fig. 1. Since the'sprocket hole pitman .55 has no finger 43, its movement under the influence .of the restoring plate 100 will be merely an idle one, and the pitman 55 will be returned by the spring 56 to theposititon in which it is shown in Fig. 1 when the plate 100 moves back to its normal position.

Means operable near the end of each cycle of operation are provided to insure that the armatures 44 for the punch-selecting magnets are returned to the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 1 for'engagement of the notches therein with the fingers 43 of the pitrnans 38. Normally, the springs 49 accomplish this function, but it is desirable .to have a returnmechanism for the armatures 44 in theevent that one or more should remain stuck to a'magnet after deenergization of said magnet due to residnal magnetism, or the failure of one of the springs 49.

A restoring bail 1 01, positioned to coact with the armatI- IQS '44 to restore them to the position inwhich they arev Shown in Fig. 1 at the conclusion of each cycle of operation, is formed integral with two

arms

102 and 103 rotatably mounted on the shaft 99. The bail 191 and the arms 102 and.103 arenormally held in theposition in which they are shown in Fig. 1 by a spring 104, connected between the bail 101 and a rod 105, fixed to the frame 30. An extension 86 of the arm'102 is provided with a pin 8 7, positioned in the path of movement of a surface 88 on the arm 98. As the arm 98 is shifted by the cam 96 during eachcycle of punch operation, the surface 83 V shaft 99. During this movement, the bail 101 contacts any armatures' 44 which are stuck in their operated position and returns them to the position in which they are shown in Fig; 1.

'Antape-feeding pinwheelfl106 (Fig.1) is fixed on a shaft .107 journaled'in the frarnesl30 and 31 and has, in 7 its. periphery, pins which engagethe feed holes in the tape to advance thetape after it is punched, A ratchet wheel 108, also fixedon the shaft 107, is adva'nced step by step by means, of a' tooth 109 on an arm110 pivotall attached to theupper end; of'a'feed link 111' pivotally secured at its :lower end to thearm98by a pin 112. Also pivotal ly secured to the upper end of the link 111 at'the point of attachment'of the arm 110 tosaid'link -isan 1 arn1113 rotatablymounted' onthe shaft 107; Aspiing 11'4 connects the free ends of the arms 110 and '11-3. -'During eaeh'cyele of operation of the-punching mechahism, as the arm 98 is rocked by the cam 96, this movement is transmitted by the link 111 to the arms 110 and 113, causing the arm 113 to be rocked clockwise about the shaft 107 and causing the arm 110 to be shifted downwardly. The tooth 109 on the arm 110 coacts with the adjacent tooth on the ratchet wheel 108 to carry said wheel one step in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, thus advancing the pinwheel 106, and the paper tape with which it is normally engaged, one increment. During subsequent return movement of the arm 98, the arm 110 is returned upwardly to the position in which it is shown in Fig. "l, the tooth 109 on said arm ratcheting past the adjacent tooth on the ratchet wheel 108.

A detent wheel 115, also fixed on the shaft 107, co-

operates with a roller 116 on an arm 117 to accurately position the pinwheel 106 and to prevent retrograde movement of said pinwheel and the ratchet wheel 108 during the upward return movement of the arm 110, having the tooth 109 thereon. The arm 117 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 118, fixed in the frame 30, and is urged clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 1, by a spring 119, connected between the arm 117 and a rod 89, fixed in the frame 30, to maintain the roller 116 in engagement with the detent wheel 115. I Switch means associated with a punching mechanism are provided to effect the halting of punch operation in the event that tension on the tape becomes so great as to cause improper punching, or in the event of breakage of the tape. The operating mechanism for said switch will now be described.

In the recording apparatus, the tape will be guided from a supply roll (not shown) through various guiding elements (not shown) over a roller 120 (Fig. 1) on a tension control arm 121, under a tape feeler 122, through the punching section of the punching mechanism, over the pinwheel 106, and under a cooperating pressure plate 123, around additionalguide means (not shown) to a take-up reel (not shown).

The tension control arm 121, the tape feeler 122, and the pressure plate 123 cooperate to open contacts SClbl in an operating circuit for the punch clutch trip magnets 78 to prevent an operation of the punching mechanism under the following conditions, which would contribute to an improper punching of the tape.

The tape feeler 122 is carried by an arm 124, which is pivoted on a stud 125. With a supply of tape in the punching mechanism, the feeler 122 will be supported by the tape; but, as soon as the tape breaks or the end of the tape passes the feeler, the feeler will drop: downwardly and rock the arm 124 clockwise (Fig. 1) about the stud 125. The arm 124 is pivotally connected to a link 126. A spring 127, connected between the link 126 and the frame 30, urges said link upwardly, as viewed in Fig. l, and urges the arm 124 clockwise. Movement of the link 126 and the arm 124 under the influence of the spring 127 is limited by a stop member 128, which coacts with a surface on said link. At its lower end, the link 126 is provided with an operating finger 130, of insulating material, which is positioned to coact with the upper blade 131 of the contacts SClbl. When the arm 124 rocks clockwise, it will pull the link 126 upwardly, thereby causing the finger 130 to carry the blade 131 upwardly to open the contacts SClbl.

The contacts SClbl are also opened when the pressure plate 123 is moved away from the pinwheel 106. The pressure plate 123 is mounted on a lever 132 pivoted on a stud 133, fixed on the side frame 30. A link 134 is connected to the lever 132 and has a pin-and-slot connection with the arm 124, so that, whenever the lever 132 is rocked to move the pressure plate 123 away from the pinwheel 106, the link 134 will rock the arm 124 counterclockwiselto raise the feeler 122 above the tape. The counter-clockwise rocking of the arm 124 will shift the link 126 downwardly and cause the insulated finger 130 thereon to coact with the lower blade 140 of the contacts 6 SClbl to shift said lower blade downwardly, thereby opening the contacts SClbl.

A further control of the contacts SClbl prevents punching if there is too much tension on the tape and improper punching would result. The roller is supported at the upper end of the arm 121, which is pivoted on a stud 135, fixed in the frame 30, and is normally urged counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 1, by a spring 136, connected between the arm 121 and the frame 30, to maintain a surface on the arm 121 in contact with a stop 137, fixed in the frame 30. A stud 138 is fixed in the lower portion of the arm 121 in such a position as to coact with the lower blade of the contacts SClbl. The stud 138 extends through a guide slot 139 in the link 126 and serves to limit sidewise movement of said link. If the feeding of the tape from the supply reel becomes blocked and the feeding of the tape by the pinwheel 106 continues, the tension on the tape will be increased and will shift the roller 120 to the right, as shown in Fig. 1, rocking the arm 121 clockwise. A stud 129, fixed to the frame 30, limits clockwise movement of the arm 121. The stud 138, in such an event, coacts with the extended lower blade 140 of the contacts SClbl to open said contacts. As soon as the tension has been relieved, the spring 136 will return the arm 121 to its normal position and will allow the contacts SClbl to reclose.

Additional mechanical switching means are provided on the punch mechanism for operation of switches used to perform various functions in the recording system.

A cam (Fig. 3), fixed to the camshaft 72, cooperates with a cam follower 156, mounted on an arm 157, which is pivoted on a stud 158, fixed to the frame 30, to operate a set of normally-closed contacts SC2bl. The arm 157 is normally urged clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3, by a spring 161, connected thereto, to maintain the follower 156 in engagement with the cam 155. An operator 159, fixed to the arm 157, coacts with a blade 160 to cause the contacts SCZbl to open at approximately 36 degrees of the rotation of the camshaft 72 and to remain open until said shaft has completed approximately 192 degrees of its rotation. The contacts SC2bl are in the operating circuit for the punch clutch trip magnets 78 and serve to deenergize these magnets after rotation of the camshaft 72 has been initiated.

Another cam, 162 (Fig. 3), fixed to the camshaft 72, coacts with an operator 163 to eifect operation of the contacts SC4al. The operator 163 is fixed to a blade 164, operatively connected to the contacts SC4al. These contacts are normally open and will be closed from 215 degrees to 310 degrees of rotation of the camshaft 72. When a media reader or other means for reading perforated tags is employed in a recording system embodying the instant punching mechanism, the contacts SC4al serve to synchronize the operation of the media reader with the operation of the recorder. The contacts SC4al are located in the circuit to the media reader clutch trip magnet and serve to prevent a further operation of the media reader until the recording operation corresponding to the current operation of the media reader has commenced. One example of the manner in which the contacts SC4al might function would be in a situation Where the punch clutch trip magnets 78 have been burned out or otherwise rendered ineffective. In this case, a rotation of the camshaft 72 could not be commenced, and the contacts SC4al would thereby prevent another operation of the media reader from taking place until the defective magnets 78 had been replaced.

If desired, the novel punch mechanism of the present invention may also be providedwith a set of contacts SCSacl and SCSbcl (Fig. 5) for use in a sequential timing and checking circuit of the type disclosed in United States patent application, Serial No. 561, 866, of Edgar H. Sonnanstine, Jr., and Robert H. Granzow, inventors, filed January 27, 6, now United States Patent No. 2,789,644, issued April 23, 1957. Such a device is employed to keep a sequential stepping switch in a recorder in its correct phase relationshipwwith the punching mechanism.

l Secured to the camshaft 72 (Fig.5) of the punching mechanism is a'pinion 167, which meshes with a gear 168, secured on a shaft 169, journaled in the frame 30. Also secured on the shaft 169 is a cam 170. Since the pitch diameter of thegear 168 is twice that of the pinion 167, thefcam 170 makes one half of a complete rotation each timethe punching mechanism cycles. -A cam follower i171, fixed to an arm 172, is positioned to coact with the periphery of the cam 170 and is retained in engagement with said cam by a spring 173, secured to the 172 and to the frame 30. The arm 17.2 is pivotally mounted by a stud 174 ,on a bracket 175, secured to the frame 30. Also fixed on the bracket {175 are the contacts SCSqcl and SCSbcl, which are positioned to be controlled by an operator 176, fixed to one end of the arm 172. The configuration of the cam 170is such that, during'each cycle of the punching mechanism, one of the sets of contacts SCSacl and SCSbcl will open and the other will close, and, during the next succeeding cycle of the punching mecha-, nism, the contacts which were closed in the previous cycle will be opened, and the contacts which were opened will be closed. For a detailed description of the manner in which the contacts SCSacl and SCSbcl perform a timing function, reference may be had to the previously-cited Patent No. 2,789,644. a

A plug unit 177 (Figs. 2 and 5), connected to the frame 30 by means of studs 178, and spaced therefrom by means of sleeves 179 on said studs, is normally used to connect the electrical circuit components of the punching mechanism of the present invention to the circuitry of the remainder of the recording system.

Operation A brief description of the operation of the novel punching mechanismwill now be made. As has been stated, a representative data-recording system in which this punching mechanism might be employed is shown in the previously-cited United States Patent No. 2,896,713. Therefore it will be assumed, for purposes of this explanation, that the system shown therein is used to control the punching. mechanism described, and, for a detailed description of the manner in which the punching mechanism is controlled to perform its various functions, reference may be had to that application.

Assuming that power to thesys'tem has been turned on, and that said systemis completely prepared for operation,

the entry of data to'the system, through a c'ash register'or other data input device, according to a predetermined program, will cause a circuit to be completed to one or more of the punch-selecting magnets, such as 45 and 46 (Fig. '1). These magnets'are thereby energized, causing the corresponding armatures 44 to be shifted to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, releasing their related pitmans'38 for movement under the'infiuence of the springs 41 to the dotted-line position in which they are shown in Fig.4.

This movement of any of the pitrnans 38 causes'the bail 145 to be rocked counter-clockwise in the manner previously described, to close the contacts SC3al. The closing of the contacts SC3al completes a circuit for the energization of the punch clutch trip magnet 78. (Figs. 2

, afposition in which they, together with their corresponding punches 36, will be operated by'the drive bar 64 in an npward'direction. l V w i Subsequently to. the 'previously described movement oft-he aliner 94, the cams 70 and 7:1 coact with the correspondingrollers 6 8 and '69 to shift the drivebar 64 up- 'waraly. rhosepitmans 38 which have not been shifted '8 9 from the position in which they are shown in Fig. 1 are not'moved upwardly by the drive bar- 64, since the 'cut ou't 60 of these 'pitmans has the idle space-'61 positioned in the path of movement of the drive bar 64, and the drive car is, therefore, ineffective to move these pitmans. However, the selected pitmans which have been shifted to the dotted-line position of Fig. 4, as well as the sprocket hole pitman 55, present their upper driving surfaces 62 in the path of movement of the'drive bar '64. As said drive bar moves upwardly in its regularly-excursioned movement, it contacts these surfaces 62' and carries the selected pitmans and their corresponding punches 36 upwardly with it. This upward movement of the edema punches 36 causes the paper tape to be perforated by them in the corresponding channels at the point at which it is positioned on the upper surface of the punch support block 32 directly over the line of punches 36. V

The pitmans '38 which have not been. selected by energization of their punch-selecting magnets are posiing block 33. On the other hand, the shoulder 40 of any pinnan 38 which has been shifted to the dotted-line position shown in Fig. 4 is moved so that it will not engage the block 33' during the'upward movement of said pitman and its associated punch 36.

Continued rotation of the camshaft 72 causes the drive bar 64 to be returned downwardly and to carry theoperated pitmans 38 and down with it by contact of the lower edge of the drive bar 64 with the lower driving surface 63 of the cut-out of each of the operated pitm ans. A positive means is thus provided to return all of the pitmans and their associated punches to their lower position.

During continued revolution of the camshaft 72, and after return of the drive bar 64 to its original position, the cam (Fig. 3) rocks the arm .92 to cause the aliner 94- to move out of the position in which it retains the fingers 95 of the

pitmans

38 and 55 against movement. With. the aliner 94 out of the path of movement ,of the fingers 95, the restoring plate i is caused. to move clockwise to the right (Fig. l) to coact with adjacent surfaces of the operated pitmans 38 and 55 to shift these pitm'ans from the dotted-line position shown in Fig. 4 to the solidline position shown in Figs. 1 and 4. This return of the pitmans to their original unoperated position is effected by the cam 96 on the camshaft 72, in cooperation with the roller 97 on the arm 98, to which the restoring plate 100 is fixed. a i

Clockwise movement of the;arn1 98,' as viewed in Fig. l,

V is also 'e'fiective to cause the armatures 44 to be positively returned to their original positions by contact of the surface 88on-the arm 98 with the pin 87 on the extension 86. This rocks the extension 86, the arm 103, with which it is integral, the arm 102, and'the restoring bail 101 clockwise about the shaft 99 and causes the restoring bail 101 to coact with the armatures 44 to positively return any of the operated armatures 44 to their original unoperated position, as shown in Fig.1; Since the pitmans 38 have also been returned to their original unoperated position, as described above, the. notches of the armatures 44 V engage the fingers 43 on Said pitmans and retain the pitmans 38 in the position in which they are shown in Fig. 1.

During this time, the paper tape is also advanced one increment by the tape-feeding means previously described. The clockwise movement of the arm98 under the influence of the cam 96 shifts the link 1111 and the'arms 11 0 and 113, in the manner previously described, to cause the pinwheel 106, 'the ratchet wheel" 108, and the detent wheel 115,. all of which-are fixed to the shaft 107, to be 7 advanced one step in a' clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, to position a new ection of paper tape opposite the ends or the unches 36 for perroratioaa eording to 9 the determined code and the data entered into the recording system.

During each punching cycle, the contacts SCZbl, SC4al, and SCSacl and SC5bcl are also caused to operate at a predetermined time in the manner previously described, to perform their respective functions in the operation of the data-recording system.

Since the punch clutch trip magnets 78 have been deenergized by the opening of the contacts SCZbl in the operating circuit for said magnets during the punching cycle, the block 79 (Fig. 5) will be returned by the spring 85 into the path of movement of the projection 80 on the clutch 76. This will uncouple the recorder motor from the camshaft 72. to halt the punching mechanism after completion of a single cycle, unless another signal has been received from the data input means prior to the end of the cycle.

During normal operation of the recording system, in the recording of a program of information comprising more than one character, signals relating to each successive character are received from the data input means prior to the end of the punching cycle for the immediately-preceding character. This causes the contacts SC3al to be closed to reenergize the magnets 78 before the end of the cycle, thereby shifting the block 79 out of the path of movement of the projection 80 on the clutch 76, so that the recorder motor and the camshaft 72 remain uninterruptedly coupled for another cycle of punch operation. The continuous coupling of the recorder motor and the camshaft 72 results in higher operating speed of the system and less wear on the punch mechanism, since no starting and stopping, with their attendant inertia effects, take place until punching of all of the information in a program has been completed.

While the form of the invention shown and described herein is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form or embodiment disclosed herein, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various other forms.

What is claimed is:

1. Punching apparatus comprising, in combination, a plurality of punch elements; a plurality of drive pitmans operatively connected to the punch elements; a cutout portion in the pitmans including a driving surface and an idling space; control fingers on the pitmans; spring means urging the pitmans in one direction; shiftable retaining means normally engaged with the control fingers of the pitmans for holding said pitmans in a first position; means for controlling the shiftable retaining means, and operable to move selected ones of the shiftable retaining means out of engagement with the pitmans, thereby enabling the spring means to move the released pitmans from said first position to a second position; and cyclically operable operating means having a driving member extending through the cut-out portions of the pitmans and coacting during each punching cycle with the driving surface of those pitmans which have been shifted to said second position to drive those pitmans and their corresponding punch elements in a punch-operating movement to an operated position, said member at the same time moving in the idling space of the pitmans which remain in said first position and being there fore ineffective to drive the latter pitmans.

2. The punching apparatus of claim 1 in which the cut-out portion of the pitmans also includes a second driving surface located opposite the first-mentioned driving surface, the driving member coacting during a portion of each cycle with the second driving surface of those pitmans which have previously during the cycle been driven in a punch-operating movement to drive said pitmans in a return movement from their operated position.

3. The punching apparatus of claim 2 including a cyclically-operable pitman-positioning means for shift- 10 ing theoperated pitmans from said second position t6 said first position after they have been returned from their operated position.

4. The punching apparatus of claim 3 including means for advancing the record material to be punched past the punch elements.

5. The'punching apparatus of claim 4 in which the record-material-advancing means is operated in unison with the pitman-positioning means.

6. The punching apparatus of claim 3 including means operable in unison with the pitman-positioning means for returning the shifted retaining means into engagement with their corresponding pitman control fingers.

7. The punching apparatus of claim 1 including a fixed retaining member; and complementary retaining surfaces on the retaining member and the drive pitmans cooperating so that, when the drive pitmans are in said first posit-ion, they are positively restrained against punch-operating movement, the movement of the pitmans from said first position to said second position being effective to move the retaining Surfaces of the pitmans out of cooperative relationship to the corresponding surfaces on the retaining member to free Said pitmans for subsequent punch-operating movement.

8. The punching apparatus of claim 1 including alining means operable during a punching cycle to hold the pitmans against movement from said first position to said second position and vice versa.

9. The punching apparatus of claim 1 in which the means for controlling the shiftable retaining means comprises a plurality of magnets.

10. Punching apparatus comprising, in combination, a plurality of punch elements; a plurality of operators positively connected to the punch elements, each of said operators having a driving surface thereon; spring means urging the operators in one direction; shiftable retaining means normally engaged with the operators for holding said operators in a first position; means for controlling the shiftable retaining means, and operable to move selected ones of the shiftable retaining means out of engagement with the operators, thereby enabling the spring means to move the released operators from said first position to a second position; actuating means partaking of regularly-excursioned movement for coaction with the driving surfaces of any of the operators which have been shifted from said first position to said second position for operation of the corresponding punch elements, the driving surfaces of those operators remaining in said first position being located out of the path of movement of the actuating means; a stop member; and surfaces on the operators arranged to coact with said stop member when the operators are in said first position to positively retain them against movement for operating their respective punch elements.

11. Punching apparatus comprising, in combination, a plurality of punchelements; a plurality of operators positively connected to the punch elements, each of said operators having a driving surface thereon; spring means urging the operators in one direction; shiftable retaining means normally engaged with the operators for holding said operators in a first position; means for controlling the shiftable retaining means, and operable to move selected ones of the shiftable retaining means out of engagement with the operators, thereby enabling the spring means to move the released operators from said first position to a second position; actuating means partaking of regularly-excursioned movement for coaction with the driving surfaces of any of the operators 'which have been shifted from said first position to said second position for operation of the corresponding punch elements, the driving surfaces of those operators remaining in said first position being located out of the path of movement of the actuating means; and alining means which are operative during a punching operation to hold the operators against-movement from said first position to said second pdsit'ionznd'viceversa.

Rfierente's Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS mesa-#11 2,431,661 7 zgzomos. 27373-41 VVFGREIGN iNFENTS Germany Apr. 21, 1-917