US2981586A

US2981586A - Albert a

Info

Publication number: US2981586A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1961-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 1978-04-25

Description

Filed Aug. 18, 1958 Tia. E.

April 25, 1961 ALBERT A. KAWACHI 2,981,586

TIME PUNCH RECORDING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1' INVENTOR. m 24 A1 BE/er A. AZWQCH/ AWTOE/VEVJ April 25, 1961 Filed Aug. 18,. 1958 ALBERT A. KAWACHI TIME PUNCH RECORDING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. @5527 r4. Kan/4cm April 25, 1961 ALBERT A. KAWACHI 2,981,586

TIME PUNCH RECORDING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 18, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ticlii- 'H' h z MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNfSD/IY THURS AY FRIDAY IN OUT IN 007' IN OUT IN OUT //V OUT 0 001100000 0000 oooonou' I IIHEIHI 1m IHI l:- a Z 2222222222221.

\3 3333 3503 333;? IIIII 7 7777 711777773? I B seas 8068 Mama? q IN VENTOR. flz 55x7 A. KAW/Kw/ April 25, 1961 ALBERT A. KAWACHI 2,981,586

TIME PUNCH RECORDING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 18, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ticlll ,NVENTOR. 455?? A A AWACH/ United States Patent TIME PUNCH RECORDING MECHANISM Albert A. Kawachi, 536 W. 112th St., New York, N.Y.'

Filed Aug. 18, 1958, Ser. No. 755,796

12 Claims. (Cl. 34682) ventional time clocks print on an employees time card in hours and minutes the time that the employee starts and stops work. The rapid and accurate calculations of totals of elapsed time from these conventional time clock records is made difiicult by the fact that the elapsed time on these cards must be calculated manually. This is a tedious and time-consuming operation and often results in an inaccurate calculation.

In view of the foregoing, it is the primary purpose of the present invention to provide a time punch recording mechanism which automatically records on cards the time by means of a plurality of punches, the punched card being adapted to be received by a computing machine for automatically calculating elapsed time.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a time pulse controlled recording mechanism which automatically selects from a plurality of punches the punch to be selected by its digital value.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a time punch recording mechanism in which the selected digits on the card to be punched are controlled by time pulsed selector units. I

Still another object of the present invention is to provide for interchangeable and adjustable selection of the digits to be punched on a card.

Briefly stated, the objects of the present invention are accomplished by providing a time punch recording mechanism adapted to selectively punch designated digits on a time keeping card. The time keeping card is provided with a series of columns each of which represents a twenty-four hour period. Each column includes four identical parallel rows, with each rowhaving ten equally spaced digits, the spacing and arrangement of the digits in each row being identical. In ,each column therefore there are forty digits. The die punching assembly includes a stationary female platen and a stationary male platen between'which the card is adapted to be interposed. The female platen has forty indentations at positions corresponding to the forty digits in each column on the card, While the male block has forty punch elements, each of which when activated being receivable in one of the indentations in the female platen. The punch elements are arranged in four parallel rows with ten equally spaced punch elements in each row. Each of the four rows of punch elements are reciprocably traversed in a stepwise manner by movable jacks. The movement of these jacks is controlled by time pulses; the

2,981,586 Patented Apr. 25, rear jack in the first row moving one digit for each pulse. The jack in the second row moves one digit when the jack in the preceding or first row has traversed the ten digits therein. The jack in each row therefore moves one digit only after the jack in the preceding row has traversed its entire row of ten digits. When the card is inserted be tween the female platen and male platen means are provided for energizing the punch elements engageable with the related jack in that row at the instant the cardis inserted.

These and further objects of the present invention will appear from the description that follows to be read in conjunction with the accompanying figures wherein like components in the several views are identified by the same reference numerals.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-section taken on the lines 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlargement of a portion of Figure 1 partially in section and illustrating the manner of selecting the portion of the card to be punched.

Figure 4 is a cross section taken on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a cross-section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a cross-section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is similar to Figure 6 and illustrates the part in Figure 6 punching a card.

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of some of the components of the part illustrated in Figures 6 and 7.

Figure 9 is a cross-section taken on the line 9--9 of Figure 5.

Figure 10 is a front elevation of a card punched with the device of the present invention, and

Figure 11 is a schematic wiring diagram of the device of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the device of the present invention is enclosed by a casing designated in general by the numeral 10. The card on which the device of the present invention is adapted to record time by means of a plurality of punches is identified by the numeral 11. The card 11 as illustrated in Figure 10 has imprinted thereon ten rows of figures nmbered consecutively from 0 to 9, as well as the days of the week arranged in columns. Each day of the week is subdivided into two daily half periods labeled respectively in and on The in and out periods are further subdivided into four columns for a purpose to be presently described.

' Each card 11 is therefore divided into a plurality of col:

umns 12, each of which represents a twenty-four hour period. The columns 12 are subdivided into four identical parallel rows 13, each of the. rows 13 containing ten equally spaced digits 14, the digits 14 in each row 13 being spaced and arranged in an identical manner. The

total number of digits 14 in each column 12 therefor numbering forty.

For purposes of the present invention the card 11 has punched thereon the time in a decimal system rather than in hours and minutes. This enables convenient calculations of elapsed time by' the use of conventional digital counters. For example, 9 oclock a.m. would be punched on the card as 0900- and 5 oclock pm. would be punched as 1700. In order to permit cards punched by thedevice of the present invention to be processed by existing ac counting machines each hour is subdivided into units. Thus, for example, 9:45 a.m. would be punched as 0975. Referring to Figure 10, the punches in the in column for Mondayindicate that the card was punched at 9 am. while the out" column for Monday indicates that the card was punched at 5:18 pm.

The card 11 is inserted in the casing through the opening 15, the end of the card 16 being inserted first in the opening =15. Mounted within the casing 10 are two pairs of rollers 17, one roller of each pair being motor driven. The rollers 17 are adapted to feed and guide the card 11 through the casing 10. Each pair of rollers 17 are biased into frictional contact by spring 18. The card 3.1 is discharged from the bottom of the casing 10 through the opening 1'9 and deposited in the receptacle 2%.

As the card '11 passes through the casing 16 it is punched by the mechanism designated in general by the numeral 21. The punch mechanism 21 is activated when the portion of the card which it is desired to punch is adjacent this punching mechanism. The manner in which the punch mechanism is activated is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. As the card 11 passes through the casing 10 the end 16 of the card 11 contacts lever 22 and depresses lever. 22 sufiiciently that it makes contact with the contact 23. When contact is made between lever 22 and contact 23 the punching mechanism 21 is energized in a manner to be described. It can therefore be seen that the positioning of lever 22 and contact 23 determines the area of card 1'1 that will be punched. The lever 22 and contact 23 are spring biased, such that they will bend due to the pressure of the card 11 and thereby not retard the movement of the card 11 through the casing 10.

The manner in which the position of lever 22 and contact 23 is varied to adjust the portion of the card 11 that will be punched is illustrated in Figure 4. The lever 22 and contact 23 are attached to pointer 24 which is pivot ally attached to rocker arm 25. The end of rocker arm 25 engages ratchet wheel 26 which is movable along rack 27. The ratchet wheel 26. and the pointer 24 are interconnected by red 28 on which positioning arm 29 is pivotally mounted. The end of positioning arm 29 adjacent rocker arm 25 has a convex surface 39 such that when the arm 29 is pivoted about rod 28 its convex end 30 engages rocker arm 25 and moves it out of engagement with ratchet wheel 26 as shown in the dotted lines in Figure 4. When rocker arm 25'is disengaged from ratchet wheel 26 the arm 29 is movable longitudinally in the channel 31 provided in the casing 10. During the movement of arm 29 the pointer 24 moves a correspond ing distance in channel 32. Indicia markings 33 are provided on the casing 11 adjacent the channel 32 to facilitate the positioning of lever 22 and contact 23 at the desired location within the casing 10. The rocker arm 25 is spring biased into engagement with the ratchet wheel 26 by spring 34. The indicia markings 3 3 correspond to the rows 13 on the card 11 such that the distance the pointer 24 is moved may be related to the area of the card 11 to be punched.

The punching mechanism 21 as iliustrated in Figures 6 and 7 includes a stationary fem-ale platen 35 and a stationary male platen 36, the card 11 passing between these two platens during its travel through the casing '10. The

female platen 35 has forty depressions 37 formed therein.

These depressions 37 are arranged to correspond and register with the forty digits 14 in each column 12 when a particular column 12 on the card 11 is adjacent the female platen 35. The stationary male platen 36' has forty chutes 38 formed therein and extending therethrough. The forty chutes 38 in the male platen 36 are spaced in the same manner as and correspond with'the forty depressions 37 in the female platen 35. Spaced from the stationary male platen 36, but in alignment therewith, is header 39. The header 3% is movable towards and away from the stationary male platen 36 in a manner to be presently described. The header 39 has formed therein and extending therethrough four channels 40. These channels 40 in the header 3.9 are in alignment with the four rows of chutes 38 in the stationary male platen 36 and extend the length of the male platen. The reduced 4 end 41 of the header 39 is slidably movable in the slot 42 of stationary guide 43. Guide 43 has formed therein and extending therethrough four grooves 44 which are the same length as and in registration with the channels in the header 39.

Each of the grooves 44 in the guide 43 has slidably mounted there-in a rod 45 which is movable in its associated groove 44 in a manner to be described. The rods 45 extend through the guide 43 and into a portion of the channels 40 in the end 41 of the header 39. The chan nels '40 in the header 39 have mounted therein stems 46. The stems 46 have attached thereto or formed integrally therewith shoulders 4'7 which are slidably received in guideways 48 in the header 39. The ends 49 of the stems 46 are notched at 5! to receive the ends of the rods 45 extending within the end 4 1 of the header 39. It can therefore be seen that as the rods 45 move in the grooves 44 of the guide 43 they move the stems 46 in the header 39, the shoulders 47 being slidably movable in the guideways 48 in the header 39. During the movement of the header 39 towards the stationary male platen 36 the connection between the stems 46 and the rods 45 is maintained, the depth of the notches 50 being greater than the distance traveled by the header 39.

The stems 46 are of such length as to partially extend into the chutes 38 in the fixed male platen 36. Each chute 38 in the stationary male platen 36 has slidably mounted therein a jack 51. When header 39 is energized and moved toward the stationary male platen 36 it carries with it the stems 46. The ends of the stems 46- extending within the chutes 38 in the stationary male platen 36 contact the ends of the jacks 51 and drive these jacks into engagement with. the depressions 37 in the stationary female platen 35. The card 11 is punched during the above described movement of the jacks 51. The jacks 51 are spring biased by spring 52 to return to their original position in the stationary male platen 36 after the punching operation.

The operation of the recording apparatus of the present operation will now be described with reference to Figures 11 and 9, the pulser 53 may be any of several forms capable of emitting a periodic square pulse. Thus in a given period of time, the pulser would emit a se ries of regularly spaced electrical pulses, the interval between pulses being absent any signal. A typical commercially available pulser has an input shaft and a series of interval electrical contacts. The number of pulses produced is a function of the number of turns of the input shaft. Thus, when the input shaft is turned at a fixed rate, as by a synchronous motor, spaced pulses are produced. Pulsers of this or other commercial types may be employed, so long as a'fixed shaft input gives the requisite number of spaced pulses per minute. The pulser 53 is pulsed 100 times each hour by the synchronized motor 54. Each time that the pulser 53 pulses it closes contact 55 and energizes the magnet 56a. When magnet 56a is energized plate 57 is attracted. toward magnet 56 which momentarily through linkages 58 moves pawl 59 out of engagement with the teeth 60 on the rod 45a. The rod 45a is spring biased by spring such that when the magnet 56 is energized and the pawl 59 moved out of engagement with the teeth 69, the rod 45a is pulled forward. When'the pawl 59 is pivoted back to its original position it engages the tooth 60 adjacent to the one with which it was previously in contact. Each tooth 60 corresponds to a digit 14, such that each time the pulser pulses the next succeeding jack 51 has positioned thereabove its associated stem 46.

The above described operation will now be described with reference to a specific punching operation on the card 11. For purposes of this explanation itwill be assumed that the lever 22 and contact 23 have been so positioned that the punching mechanism 21 will be activatedwhen the in column 12 for Monday is positioned between the female platen 35 and the male platen nuances 36. With the card in this position, the row 13a on card .11 is in registration with the row of chutes 38a in the male platen 36. The row 13a is further in alignment with guideway 48a in header 39, with groove 44a in guide 43 and with the rod 45:: in groove 44a of guide 43. With the rod 45a in its initial or starting position, as illustrated in Figure 9, if the punch mechanism 21 were to be energized the jack 51 in registration with the digit 0 in row 13a would be punched. The next time that the pulser 53 is pulsed the rod 45a is moved to its next succeeding position such that if the punch mechanism 21 is then energized the jack 51 corresponding to the digit 1 in row 13a would be activated to punch the card 11. The motion of rod 45a is therefore dependent on the pulser 53, the rod 45a after ten pulses having traversed the row 13a from digit 0 to 9.

When the pulser 53 has pulsed ten times the rod 45a has traversed the row 13a once and has reached the end of its travel. When this occurs rod 45a closes contact 61a which energizes solenoid 62a thereby returning rod 45a to its initial position illustrated in Figure 9. At the same time that solenoid 62a is energized magnet 56b is energized. The magnet 56b performs the same function for rod 4511 as magnet 56:: does for rod 45a. The rod 45b is adapted, through similar intermediate mechanism, to traverse the digits 14 in row 13b. It can therefore be seen that each time rod 45a completes one traverse of row 13a rod 45b is moved to the next succeeding digit 14 in row 13b.

The

rods

45c and 45d traverse the

rows

13c and 13d in a similar manner. The rod 45a completes one traverse of row 13a for every ten pulses, the rod 45b completes one traverse of row 13b for every 100 pulses, while the rod 450 completes one traverse of row 130 for every 1,000 pulses, or once every ten hours.

From the above it can be seen that rod 450 moves one digit each hour, while rod 45d moves one digit every ten' hours. When rod 450 has traversed four digits and is moving to the fifth digit, which would be either at 4 am. or 2 pm. the rod,45c closes switch 63. The rod 45d is adapted to close contact 61 when it has traversed two digits. If at the instant that rod 450 is moving from digit 3 to 4 and closing switch 63, the rod 45d happens to be on digit 2, it would be midnight. With this condition the solenoids 62c and 62d are energized moving

rods

45c and 45d back to their start positions. Conversely, if at the instant that rod 450 is moving from digit 3 to 4, the rod 45d is on digit 1 it would be 2 pm. With this condition thesolenoid 620 is energized androd 45c moves to digit 4 while, rod 45d remains on digit 1. In this manner each of the rods 45 is at their initial or start positions at midnight- As heretofore described, the punch mechanism'z'l is energized when a card 11 makes contact between lever 22 and contact 23. When this occurs solenoids 64 are energized momentarily drawing header 39 toward the male platen 3,6." In the manner previously described this activates the jacks 51 above which the rods 45 are positioned, punching the appropriate digits 14 on the card 11.

It is to be understood that although the present invention has been described with reference to one specific structure, changes and modifications may be made to the structure illustrated and described without departing from the scope of the present invention except as limited by the following claims.

Iclaim: f

l. A timepunch recording mechanism for use with time-keeping cards provided with a series of parallel columns, each of which represents a respective time period, each columnon said card having -a plurality of identical parallelrowswithgeach row having a predetermined numberof digital'positions therein, said mechanism comprising a bank of punchelements corresponding 7 in number 'andarrangement to thedigital positions in one column of said card, said bank being divided into rows corresponding in number and arrangement with the rows in one column on said card, and an actuating device for each row of punch elements, a pulser, adapted to produce a series of evenly time-spaced electrical marking pulses, each actuating device being .responsive to time-marking pulses produced by said pulses and positionable with respect to any punch element in the associated row of punch elements, each of said actuating devices traversing in a stepwise manner a respective row of said punch elements from a first digit to a last digit in a sequence of digit steps controlled by said pulses and thereupon returning to said first digit to allow repeating the sequence of said steps, and means responsive to the interposition of said card in said mechanism to cause actuation of those punch elements which are engageable with the related actuating devices at the instant of said interposition.

2. A time punch recording mechanism for use with time-keeping cards provided with a series of parallel columns, each of which represents a respective time period, each column on said card being divided into four identical parallel rows with each row having a predetermined number of digital positions therein, said mechanism comprising a bank of punch elements corresponding in number and arrangement to the digital positions in one column of said card, said bank being divided into four rows with each row corresponding to a respective row in one column on said card, and an actuating device for each row of punch elements, a pulser, adapted to produce a series of evenly time-spaced electrical marking pulses, each actuating device being responsive to timemarking pulses and positionable with respect to any punch element in the associated row of punch elements, each of said actuating devices traversing in a stepwise manner a respective'row of said punch elements from a first digit to a last digit in a sequence of digit steps controlled by said pulses and thereupon returning to said first digit to allow repeating the sequence of said steps, and means responsive to the interposition of said card in said mechanism to cause actuation of those punch elements which are engageable with the related actuating devices at the instant of said interposition.

3. A time punch recording mechanism for use with time-keeping cards provided with a series of parallel columns, each of which represents a respective time period, each column on said card being divided into four identical parallel rows with each row having a predetermined number of digital positions therein, said mechanism comprising a die punching assembly having a stationary female platen provided with a plurality of indentations at positions corresponding to the digital positions in one column of said card and a complementary bank of male punch elements, each of which when activated being receivable in oneof said indentations in said female platen-,;said bank being divided into four rows with each 'row corresponding to a respective row in one column on said card, and an actuating device for each row of punch elements, a pulser adapted to produce a series of evenly time-spaced electrical marking pulses, each actuating device being responsive to time-marking pulses produced by said pulser and positionable with respect to any punch element in the row of associated punch elements, each of said actuating devices traversing in a stepwise m'anner a respective 'row of said punch elements from a first digit to alast digit in a sequence of digit steps controlled by said pulses and thereupon returning to said first digit to allow repeating the sequence of said steps, and means responsive to the interposition of said card between the male and female o t-said assembly to cause actuation of those male elements which are engageable with the related actuating device at the instant of said interposition.

4.A time punch recordingw rnechanism for use with time-keeping cards providedwith a series of parallel columns, each ofwhichv represents a respectivetime period, each column on said card being divided into four identical parallel rows with each row having a predetermined number of digital positions therein, said mechanism comprising a die punching assembly having a stationary female platen provided with a plurality of indentations at positions corresponding to the digital positions in one column of said card and a complementary bank of male punch elements each of which when acti vated being receivable in one of said indentations in said female platen, said bank being divided into four rows with each row corresponding to a respective row in one column on said card, and an actuating device for each row of punch elements, a pulser adapted to produce a series of evenly time-spaced electrical marking pulses, each actuating device being responsive to time-marking pulses produced by said pulser and positionable with respect to any punch element in the row of associated punch elements, each of said actuating devices including a movable stem adapted to traverse in a stepwise manner a respective row of said punch elements from a first digit to a last digit in a sequence of digit steps controlled by said pulses and thereupon to return to said first digit to allow repeating the sequence of said steps, and means responsive to the interposition of said card between the male and female of said assembly to cause actuation of those male elements which are engageable with the related stems at the instant of said interposition.

5. A time punch recording mechanism for use with time-keeping cards provided with a series of columns each of which represents a respective time period, each column on said card being divided into four identical parallel rows with each row having a predetermined number of digital positions therein spaced at equal intervals, said mechanism comprising a die punching assembly having a stationary female platen provided with a plurality of inden tations at positions corresponding in number and arrangement to the digits in one of the columns on said card and a complementary bank of male punch elements each of which when activated being receivable in one of said indentations, said bank being divided into four rows with each row corresponding to a respective row in one column on said card, and an actuating device for each row of punch elements, a pulser adapted to produce a series of evenly time-spaced electrical marking pulses, each actuating device being responsive to time marking pulses produced by said pulser and positionable with respect to any male element in the row of associated male elements, each of said actuating devices including a movable stein adapted to traverse in a stepwise manner a respective row of said maleelements from a first digit to a last digit in a s'equenceof digit steps controlled by said pulses and thereupon to return to said first digit to allow repeating the sequence of said steps, and means responsive to the interposition of said card between the male and female of said assembly to cause actuation of those male elements which are engageable with the related stems at the instant of said interposition.

6, A time punch recording mechanism for use with time-keeping cards provided with a series of columns each of which represents a respective time period, each column on said card being divided into four identical parallel rows with each row having a predetermined number of digital positions therein spaced at equal intervals, said mechanism comprising a die punching assembly having a stationary female platen provided with a plurality of indentations at positions corresponding in number and arrangement to the digits in one of the columnson said card and a stationary male platen in alignment with and spaced from said female platen, 'said male platen being provided with a bank of chutes extending through said male platen, said chutes being in alignment with and corresponding in number and arrangement tothe indentamouuted in each of said chutes whereby each of said pnnch elements is. receivable in "oneof said intentations tions on said female platen, punch elements slidably L in-the female platen, when activated, said bank of chutes being divided into four rows with each row corresponding to a respective row in one column on said card, and an actuating device for each row of chutes, a pulser, adapted to produce a series of evenly time-spaced electrical marking pulses, each actuating device being responsive to time marking pulses produced by said pulser and positionable with respect to any chute in the row of associated chutes, each of said actuating devices including a movable stem adapted to traverse in a stepwise manner a respective row of said chutes from a first digit to a last digit in a sequence of digit steps controlled by said pulses and thereupon to return to said first digit to allow repeating the sequence of said steps, and means responsive to the interposition of said card between the male and female of said assembly to cause actuation of those punch elements which are engageable with the related stems at the instant of said interposition.

7. A time punch recording mechanism for use with time-keeping cards provided with a series of columns each of which represents a respective time period, each column on said card being divided into four identical parallel rows with each row having a predetermined num' ber of digital positions therein spaced at equal intervals, said mechanism comprising a die punching assembly having a stationary female platen provided with a plurality of indentations corresponding in number and arrangement to the digits in one of the columns on said card and a stationary male platen in alignment with and spaced from said female platen, said male platen being provided with a bank of chutes extending through said male platen, said chutes being in alignment with and corresponding in number and arrangement to the indentations on said female platen, punch elements slidably mounted in each of said chutes whereby each of said punch elements is receivable in one of said indentations in the female platen, when actuated, said bank of chutes being divided into four rows with each row corresponding to a respective row in one column on said card, and an actuating device for each row of chutes, a pulser, adapted to produce a series of evenly time-spaced electrical marking pulses, each actuating device being responsive to time marking pulses produced by said pulser and positionable with respect to any chute in the row of associated chutes, each of said actuating devices including a movable stem adapted to traverse in a stepwise manner a respective row ofsaid chutes from a first digit to a last digit in a sequence of digit steps controlled by said pulses and thereupon to return to said first digit to allow repeating the sequence of said steps, means for returning each stem to the first digit in its respective row after each traverse of said row, and means responsive to the interposition of said card between the male and female of said assembly to caus'e'actuation of those punch elements which are engageable with the related stems at the instant of said interposition. v

8. A time punch recording mechanism for use with time-keeping cards provided with a series of columns each of which represents a respective time period, each column on said card being divided into four identical parallel rows with each row having a predetermined number of digital positions therein spaced at equal intervals, said mechanism comprising a die punching assembly having a stationary female platen provided with a plurality of indentations corresponding in number and arrangement to the digits in one of the columns on said card and a stationary male platen in alignment with and spaced from said female plater'nsaid male platen being provided with a bank of chutes extending through said male platen, said chutes being in alignment with and corresponding in number'and arrangement to the indentations on said femal'e'platen, punch elements slidably mounted in each of said chutes whereby-each of said punch elements is receivable in' one of said indentations'in the female platen whenfactiuated, said bank "of chutes being divided into four rows with each row corresponding to a respective row in one column on said card, and an actuating device for each row of chutes, a pulser, adapted to produce a series of evenly time-spaced electrical marking pulses, each actuating device being responsive to time marking pulses and produced by said pulser and positionable with respect to any chute in the row of associated chutes, each of said actuating devices including a movable stern adapted to traverse in a stepwise manner a respective row of said chutes from a first digit to a last digit in a sequence of digit steps controlled by said pulses and thereupon to return to said first digit to allow repeating the seqeunce of said steps, means for returning each stem to the first digitin its respective row after each traverse of said row, means responsive to the traverse of said stems whereby as each stem completes a traverse of its associated row the stem in the next succeeding row traverses one digit, and means responsive to the interposition of said card between the male and female of said assembly to cause actuation of those punch elements which are engageable with the related stems at the instant of said interposition.

9. A time punch recording mechanism for use with time-keeping cards provided with a series of columns each of which represents a respective time period, each column on said card being divided into four identical parallel rows with each row having a predetermined number of digital positions therein spaced at equal intervals, said mechanism comprising a die punching assembly having a stationary femaleplaten provided with a plurality of indentations corresponding in number and arrangement to the digits in one of the columns'on said card and a stationary male platen in alignment with and spaced from said female platen, said male platen being provided with a bank of chutes extending through said male platen, said chutes being in alignment with and corresponding in number and arrangement to the indentations on said female platen, punch elements slidably mounted in each of said chutes whereby each of said punch elements is receivable in one of said indentations when activated, said bank of chutes being divided into four rows with each row corresponding to a respective row in one column on said card, a movable header mounted in alignment with and spaced from said male platen, said header having extending therethrough four guideways each of which is in alignment with one of the rows of chutes in said male platen, a stem mounted in each of said guideways and movable therein the length of the row of chutes in said male platen with which said guideways are in alignment, a pulser, adapted to produce a series of evenly time-spaced electrical marking pulses, the movement of said stems being responsive to time marking pulses produced by said pulser to position said stems with respect to the chutes in each row, each of said stems being adapted to traverse in a stepwise manner a respective row of said chutes from a first digit to a last digit in a sequence of digit steps controlled by said pulses and thereupon to return to said first digit to allow. repeating the sequence of said steps, and means responsive to the interposition of said card between the male and female of said assembly to move said header toward said male platen whereby those punch elements which are engageable with the related stems at the instant of said interposition are actuated.

10. A time punch recording mechanism for use with time-keeping cards provided with a series ofcolumns each of which represents a respective time period, each column on said card being divided into four identical parallel rows with each row having a predetermined number of digital positions therein spaced at equal intervals, said mechanism comprising a die punching assembly havinga stationary female platen provided with a plurality of indentations corresponding in number and arrangement to the digits in one of the columns on said card and a stationarymale platen in alignment with and spaced from said female platen, said male platen-being provided with a bank of chutes extending through said male platen, said chutes being in alignment with and corresponding in number and arrangement to the indentations on said female platen, spring-biased punch elements slidably mounted in each of said chutes whereby each of said punch elements is receivable in one of said indentations in the female platen when activated, said bank of chutes being divided into four rows each corresponding to a respective row in one column on said card, a header mounted in alignment with and spaced from said' male platen and selectively movable toward said male platen, said header having extending therethrough four guideways each of which is in alignment with and extending longitudinally the length of one of the rows of chutesin said male platen, a stem mounted in each of said guideways and movable longitudinally the length thereof, each of said stems engaging one punch element in the row of chutes associated with the guideway of said jack during movement of said header toward said male platen, a pulser, adapted to produce a series of evenly time-spaced electrical marking pulses, a rod associated with each of said stems and responsive to time marking pulses produced by said pulser to selectively position said stems within said guideways whereby said stems traverse in a stepwise manner a respective row of said chutes from a first digit to a last digit in a sequence of digit steps controlled by said pulses and' thereupon return to said first digit to allow repeating the sequence of said steps, and means responsive to the interposition of said card between the male and femaleof said assembly to move said header toward said male platen whereby those punch elements which are engageable with the related stems at the instant of said interposition are actuated.

11. A time punch recording mechanism for use with time-keeping cards provided with a series of columns each of which represents a respective time period, each column on said card being divided into four identical parallel rows having a predetermined number of digital positions therein spaced at equal intervals, said mechanism comprising a die punching assembly having a stationary female platen provided with a plurality of indentations corresponding in number and arrangement to the digits in one of the columns on said card and a stationary male platen in alignment with and spaced from said female platen, said male platen being provided with a bank of chutes extending through said male platen, said chutes being in alignment with and corresponding in number and arrangement to the indentations on said female platen, spring-biased punch elements slidably mounted in each of said chutes whereby each of said punch elements is receivable in one of said identations in the female platen'when activated, said bank of chutes being divided into four rows with each row corresponding to a respective row in one column on said card, a header mounted in alignment with and spaced from said male platen and selectively movable toward said male platen, said header having extending therethrough four guideways each of which is in alignment with and extending longitudinally the length of one of the rows of chutes in said male platen, a stem mounted in each of said guideways and movable longitudinally the length thereof, each of said stems engaging one punch element in the row of chutes associated with the guideway of said stem during movement of said header toward said male platen, a pulser, adapted to produce a series of evenly time-spaced electrical marking pulses, a rod associated with each of said stems and responsive to time-marking pulses produced by said pulser to selectively position said stems within said guideways whereby said stems traverse in a stepwise manner a respective row of said chutes from a first digit to a last digit in a sequence of digit steps controlled by said pulses andther'eupon return to said first digit to allow repeating the sequence of said steps, means for returning each rod and its associated stem to the first chute in its respective row after each traverse of said row of chutes, and means responsive to the interposition of said card between the male and female of said assembly to move said header toward said male platen whereby those punch elements which are engageable with the related stems at the instant of said interposition are actuated.

12. A time punch recording mechanism for use with time-keeping cards provided with a series of columns each of which represents a respective time period, each column ,on said card being divided into four identical parallel rows having a predetermined number of digital positions therein spaced at equal intervals, said mechanism comprising a die punching assembly having a stationary female platen provided with a plurality of indentations corresponding in number and arrangement to the digits in one of the columns on said card and a stationary male platen in alignment with and spaced from said female platen, said male platen being provided with a bank of chutes extending through said male platen, said chutes being in alignment with and corresponding in number and arrangement to the indentations on said female platen, spring-biased punch elements slidably mounted in each of said chutes whereby each of said punch elements is receivable in one of said indentations in the female platen when activated, said bank of chutes being divided into four rows with each row corresponding to a respective row in one column on said card, a header mounted in alignment with and spaced from said male platen and selectively movable toward said male platen, said header having extending therethrough four guideways each of which is in a1ignment with and extending longitudinally the length of one of the rows forming said bank of chutes in said male platen, a stem mounted in each of said guideways and movable longitudinally the length thereof, each of said stems engaging one punch element in the row of chutes associated with the guideway of said stems during movement of said header toward said male platen, a pulser, adapted to produce a series ofevenly timespaced electrical marking pulses, a rod associated with each of said stems and responsive to time marking pulses produced by said pulser to selectively position said stems within said guideways whereby said stems traverse in a stepwise manner a respective row of said chutes from a first digit to a last digit in a sequence of digit steps controlled by said pulses and thereupon return to said first digit to allow repeating the sequence of said steps, means for returning each rod and its associated stem to the first chute in its respective row after each traverse of said row of chutes, means responsive to the traverse of each rod and its associated stem whereby as each stem completes a traverse of its associated row of chutes the stern in the next succeeding row traverses one chute and means responsive to the interposition of said card between the male and female of said assembly to move said header toward said male platen whereby those punch elements which are engageable with the related stems at the instant of said interposition are actuated.

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