US2980320A - Combination punch and reader units - Google Patents

Description

O 1 Aprn 18, 196 L. J. LAPOINTE 2,980,320

COMBINATION PUNCH AND READER UNITS Filed May 22, 1959 34 39;" a lz '36 Fig-l /2 6 4 .J

1 I7 38 44 21 23 43 l/ /4 27 I 4x ii lgiglgg m IiQnwQumQQmfi. x 26 Fig.4 3/ 28 ATTORNEYS i' ll INVENTOR LLOYD J. LAPOINTE United States PatentOfi cc This invention relates to a combination punch and reader unit construction for perforating or sensing perforated records; more particularly it relates to a combination punch and reader unit construction having elements common to both perforating and sensing functions; and specifically to a punch and reader unit construction having common elements which are operable in part by, the tape being punched or read.

In brief this invention provides a combination punch and reader unit construction which is simple, reliable and inexpensive; one which has a minimum of working parts; and one wherein close accuracy in fabrication is not necessary.

The above desirable features are obtained through the employment of spherical elements carried within holes in a plate and biased toward registering dies in a die block vertically spaced from the plate. In accordance with the invention the spherical elements, when functioning as sensing elements, are adapted to be moved into and out of columnar perforations in a record as it moves columnwise past the elements; the latter movement being effected by recordportions between columns of perforations. Switch means operable in response to and simultaneously with the movement of the elements are employed to initiate electrical signals representative of the code sensed. When functioning as .perforating elements, the spherical elements are adapted, in combination with a die plate, to be driven and to cut through an unperforated record and thereafter to be moved out of the holes perforated by the record as it moves columnwise to present succeeding columns.

A further feature of the invention is the fact that signals representative of the holes being punched may be simultaneously developed and employed to verify the accuracy of the information punched.

-An object of the invention is in the provision of a reliable punch andreader unit having a minimum of WOIk ing parts. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel construction which may be employed as a punch and as a reader.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combined punch and reader unit construction employing the record to be punched or read as a working element.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a combined punch and reader unit which may be employed to punch or sense perforated tape or the chadless variety of perforated tape.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of the combined punch and reader showing the normal relationship between the parts with a record operatively disposed therein;

2,980,320 Patented Apr. 18,. 1 961 2 Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the relationship of the parts immediately after a holehas been punched in arecord; '1 V i 2 Figure 3 is a fragmentary i'explo'ded cross sectional view showingthe ball switch construction; ;and v Figure 4 is a front elevationalviewo f the combined punch and reader. i 1 g Referring now to the drawings. wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the-several views thereofand wherein is shown a preferred embodiment, there isl shown in Figure 1 'a U-shaped support bracket 11 secured as by. screws or by any other suitable means to a frame member 12 in spaced relationship with a record .feed drum 13 adapted, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art,fto periodically and incrementally .feed a record 14 in.synchronization with the punching or sensing of the record; The .U-shaped support bracket .11 is, provided with cars 15 for supporting a'shaft 16 .upon which are mounted for rotation a plurality of levers generally designated 17 spaced predetermined distances'apart by collarsl8. The number of levers corresponds to the number of levels employed to code-information; the instantshowing being that of a five level punch .orreader. Each lever has a laterally extending leg 21 and an upwardly extending leg 22. Legs 21 and 22 are terminated respectively by cylindrical projections 23 and 24. A plate member 25 integral with the 'baseof the U-shaped support bracket 11 or otherwise suitably secured. thereto .extendseto theleft as seen in Figures 1 and 2. The plate member 25 .isprovidedwith aplurality of aligned holes 26.disposed-,immediately below the projections 23. ln each h0l6iS a spherical element orball 27 normallymaintained by its respective projection 23.. Mounted-on and spaced from plate member 25 is a die plate 28 having a plurality of die holes 31 corresponding in number to those in .plate member 25 and aligned therewith. The hole's31 inthe die plate 28 are of smallerdiametenthan the balls 27 and more particularly of a diameter relative to the balls such that standard .072" holes will be perforated in the record 14. H

Projections .24 of levers 17 are adapted to operate switches each comprising a movable ball -contact 32 and a pair of stationary wire contacts 33. .Theball contacts 32 are operated through plungers 34 mounted in bores 35 of a block 36 of insulating material, such as nylon. The block of insulating material is suitably secured to the support member so that the plungers 34 will push against projections 24. Each plunger 'is formed with a reduced end portion37 adapted to move between contact wires 33 and to engage its respective ball contact. Each-ball contact is. biased toward its respective plunger by a spring 38 such that it normally-contacts its asso ciated pair of stationary contact wires 33 (Figure 3) and maintains the plunger 34 biased outwardly of the bore such that 'lever 17 is biased counter-clockwise and the sensing/perforating elements 27 are in turn biased toward associated die holes 31. The pairs of stationary contact wires 33 are fitted into holes in the insulating block and cemented therein whereby they are insulated from one another and from the wires of other pairs.

Suitably mounted on a bar or plate 41- secured to the frame are a plurality of solenoids 42 adapted to be selectively energized in accordance with electrical impulse combinations representative of data; which impulse combinations may be derived from a reader or from an encoder associated with an input device such as a typewriter. Each solenoid has associated therewith a movable armature 43 biased in its normal position by a spring 44 as shown in Figure l. The armatures are disposed immediately above their respective projections 23. Upon energization' of the solenoids 42 the arrnatures 43 will move downwardly against the tension of springs 44 as shown in Figure 4 striking the projections 23 and thereby driving the ball sensing/punching elements 27 which in combination with'the die holes 31, perforate a record passing betweenplate' member 25 and die block 28.

Figure 1 shows the position of the parts with an unperforated portion of a record passing between the elements 27 and plate 28; the ball switches being open as shown by the switch tothe left in Figure 3.

Figure 2 shows the position of the parts when a perforated portion of a record is between elements 27 and plate 28; the ball switch associated with the element in the perforation being closedas shown by the switch to the right in Figure 3. Figure 2 also is an illustration of the position of the parts immediately after element 27 has been forced through the record by armature 43; the paper being cut by the element and the area of contact with the opening of the die hole 31 which may if desired be shaped to produce chadless tape as will be understood by those skilled in the art. After a punching operation or after a perforation in a record has been sensed the record will move column-wise and in doing so the edge 45 of the record (Figure 2) will cam the element upward in preparation for punching or sensing succeeding columns of the record.

As will be understood as a record is being sensed the elements 27 will move in and out of perforations in succeeding columns whereby the ball switches associated therewith will be opened and closed, a closed switch being representative of a perforation in the record. As will be understood when the ball switches are closed, circuits including the pair of wires associated therewith, one each of which is connected to a power supply 46 as shown in Figure 4, will be energized. These circuits as will be understood by those skilled in the art may include the set up solenoids of a decoder, the output of which may be connected to actuate an automatically operated typewriter or the like.

Obviously the ball switches may be similarly employed during punching operations whereby the data punched could be simultaneously verified at the typewriter.

It should be understood, that the foregoing disclosure relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:

1. Apparatus of the type described which is capable of sensing and perforating a record having data items in columns transverse to record movement, said record being adapted to be moved past a sensing/perforating station; comprising a frame, a pair of spaced plate members mounted on said frame and forming a channel through which said record is moved columnwise, a plurality of elements mounted within a first of said plate members 4 for movement into and out of contact with the other plate member, means comprising switch means mounted on said frame for normally yieldably biasing said elements into contact with said other plate member, said switch means being operable simultaneously with the movement of said elements toward and away from said other plate member, said elements being moved out of contact with said other plate member when unperforated portions of said record pass through said channel, perforated portions of said record permitting said elements to move into contact with said other plate member under the action of said biasing means, means for selectively driving said elements and an unperforated portion of a record in said channel into contact with said other plate member, and means on said other plate member co-operating with said selectviely driven elements to eifect'a circular line of contact whereby the record therebetween is perforated.

2. Apparatus of the type described for perforating and sensing records having data items coded in columns transverse to the direction of motion of said records, said rec ords being adapted to be moved through a sensing/perforating station; comprising a frame, a pair of spaced plate members mounted on said frame and forming a channel through which a record is to be moved columnwise, a column of aligned holes in each of said plate members, a plurality of spherical elements disposed within the holes of one of said plate members, the holes on said other plate member having a diameter smaller than that of said spherical elements, a shaft mounted on said frame transverse to the direction of tape movement, a plurality of levers pivotally mounted on said shaft; means comprising switch means associated with one extremity ofeach of said levers for normally yieldably biasing the other extremity of said levers into contact with said spherical elements whereby said spherical elements are in contact with edges of said smaller diameter holes in said other plate member, said elements being movable out of contact with said other plate member by unperforated portions of a record passing through said channel thereby operating through said levers said switch means, and means for selectively driving said other extremities of said levers, whereby said elements and unperforated portions of a record passing through said channel are forced into contact with the edges of the holes in said other contact plate to effect perforation of said record.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for selectively driving said levers comprises the armatures of solenoids mounted on said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,578,717 Daubmeyer Mar. 30, 1926 1,608,493 Daubmeyer Nov. 30, 1926 1,649,635 Willard Nov. 15, 1927 2,475,307 Brand July 5, 1949

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