US3006537A - Tape punching apparatus for accounting machines and the like - Google Patents

Description

Get. 31, 1961 Filed April 4, 1958 T. GASSINO ETAL TAPE PUNCHING APPARATUS FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR-S TERESIO GASSINO GUGLIELMO LANZA BY 7 w AT ORNEYS Oct. 31, 1961 MACHINES AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 4, 1958 IIIIIIIIIII A m L M 0 Am E %L G U 6 WJ I: u r W mb ch Fm NO QQF Hu M QM 0:. m NmF mmp m 3 m m M m U U u m m Qv m n hv W Q. 2. G 3; PG. H m .O MVP NE 4 TTORNEYS Oct. 31, 1961 T. GASSINO ETAL 3,006,537

TAPE PUNCHING APPARATUS FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 4, 1958 N VEN TOPS (BASS/NO TEPESIO GUGLIELMO LANZA W TToRN United States Patent 3,006,537 TAPE PUNCHING APPARATUS FOR ACCOUNT- ING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Teresio Gassino and Guglielmo Lanza, Ivrea, Italy, as-

signors to lug. C. Olivetti & C., S.p.A., Ivrea, Italy, a corporation of Italy Filed Apr. 4, 1958, Ser. No. 726,547 Claims priority, application Italy Apr. 10, 1957 9 Claims. (Cl. 23424) The present invention relates to accounting and calculating machines and data processing apparatus in general, having a set of actuators arranged in denominational orders and differentially movable to represent a multiorder amount, and concerns a tape punching apparatus for sequentially punching each denomination of said amount according to a predetermined multiun-it code.

It is the primary object of the invention to provide a punching apparatus adapted to punch a tape to be used for automatically controlling other business machines for integrated data processing.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a tape punching apparatus wherein the amount represented by the actuators is translated and transferred to the punch pins by mechanical means only.

It is a further object of the invention to avoid the perforation of the non-significant zeroes of the amount represented by the actuators.

Another object of the invention is to provide in connection with an accounting machine an improved punching apparatus capable to effect the perforation of a machine function code combination followed by a train of perforations corresponding to the digits of the amount operated by the accounting machine.

Still another object of the invention is to provide punch pins having an improved cutting surface capable to ensure the cut of the paper.

According to the invention we provide a punching apparatus comprising a code member associated with each one of the actuators of the accounting machine and movable therewith, said code member having code elements arranged according to said predetermined code and being adapted to translate the ditferential positions of the associated actuator into corresponding eifective code combinations of said elements, and a multiorder storing device settable by said elements according to said code combinations for storing the represented amount so translated.

According to another feature of the invention we provide in each order of said storing device a plurality of settable interponents equal in number to the number of units of said code, said storing device being movable with respect to said code members when said actuators represent said amount to enable the code elements of each code member to set the interponents of the corresponding order according to said code combinations, whereby upon said movement said represented amount is translated and stored in said device.

Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a left-hand longitudinal sectional view of the punching apparatus according to the invention embodied in a ten-key accounting machine of the type described in the U.S. Patent No. 2,849,179;

FIG. 2 is another longitudinal sectional view of the punching apparatus showing a punch pin;

FIG. 3 shows schematically the four-unit code used by the punching apparatus according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the punching apparatus;

3,006,537 Patented Oct. 31, 1961.

FIG. 5 shows a third longitudinal sectional view of the punching apparatus;

FIG. 6 shows a view of the perforation stopping device;

FIG. 7 shows a partial cross-sectional view taken on line VII-VII of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 shows a partial cross-sectional view taken on line VIII-VIII of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 shows a plan view of a detail of FIG. 4 according to a modified embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the numeral 10 indicates one of the conventional differential actuators of the accounting machine embodying the punching apparatus. These actuators are arranged in denominational orders and are normally locked at rest in their lowest position by a universal bar 11 secured to a bail 12. The accounting machine also comprises a cyclically rotatable main operating shaft 13 adapted to oscillate the bail 12 first counterclockwise and then clockwise. During each cycle of the shaft 13 the bail 12 releases the actuators 10 which are thus differentially moved upwards by their individual springs until each one assumes a position representing the digit of the corresponding order of a multiorder amount set up in the pin carriage 14 or stored in the register 15.

Connected to each actuator 10 by being secured thereon is a code member 16 having four code elements or projections 17 arranged according to a predetermined code. Located rearwards of the code members 16 (leftwards in FIGS. 1 and 4) is a multiorder storing device 18 mounted in a frame made of a pair of transverse plates 19 and 20 secured to a pair of longitudinal plates 21 and 22 (see also FIG. 4). The storing device 18 comprises in each order a column of four settable interponents 23 juxtaposed to a corresponding code member 16. The interponents 23 are horizontally slidable in the plates 19 and 20, and are, as will be described hereinafter, each one settable in the position shown with broken lines in FIGS. 1 and 4 with reference to the upper interponent 23 of the unit column. Normally a compression spring 24 urges the corresponding interponent 23 to contact the plate 20 by means of an abutment 25. A second abutment 38 formed on each interponent 23 is normally located before a transverse plate 36.

The storing device 18 is mounted for longitudinal movement towards the code members 16 by means of a forked end 27 of the plate 21 which is slidable on a stationary stud 26.

Linked to a pin 29 secured to the plate 21 is an arm 28 of a lever 30 pivoted on a stationary shaft 31 and urged by a spring 32 to cooperate with a power means are cam 33 secured to the main shaft 13 whereby the storing device 18 is moved during each cycle to and fro with respect to the code members 16. Another arm 34 of the lever 30 cooperates with a projection 35 of the transverse plate 36 which is vertically slidable on the plates 21 and 22 and normally urged upwards by a spring 37.

Upon degrees of rotation of the main shaft 13, the actuators 10 reach the upper position representing a multiorder amount, while the code members 16 upon being moved with the actuators translate the differential positions of the latter into corresponding eflective code combinations of the code elements 17 in front of the storing device 18. The cam 33 now rotates the lever 30 clockwise, whereby the arm 34 moves the plate 36 downwards and the arm 28 moves the storing device 18 towards the code members 16. The interponents 23 abutting against the projections 17 are arrested, being thus moved rearwards with respect to the plates 19, 20 and 36, while the corresponding abutments 38 are located behind the plate 36.

It will thus be apparent that if the storing device 18 is moved forwards when the actuators 10 have been difsponding digit, whereby said amount is coded and stored 5 in the storing device 18.

Following its rotation the cam 33 allows the lever to be restored by the spring 32. The arm 34 thus allows the plate 36 to return to its upper position, locking the interponents 23 in the assumed position, while the arm 0 28 removes the storing device 1 8 from the code members 16. Each column of interponents 23 remains so set to store a digit of the amount according to the four-unit code schematically shown in FIG. 3. The storing device 18 stores the amount until the next cycle of the shaft 13, 15

whilethe actuators 10 are immediately restored by the universal bar 11.

Located rearwards of the storing device 18 is a sensing mechanism 39 mounted in a carriage formed of a pair of transverse plates 40 and 41 secured to a pair of longitudinal plates 42 and 43 (see also FIG. 4). The sensing mechanism 39 is transversely slidable on two stationary shafts 44 and 45 and is provided with four sensing elements 46 arranged in a single vertical column and individually slidable' in the plates 40 and 41. Each sensing element 46 is provided with a pair of bent lugs 47 engaging the forward edge of a corresponding bail 48 and transversely slidable along said edge. Each one of the four bails48 is carried by an arm 49 secured to a shaft 50; Also secured to each shaft 50' is another arm 51 (FIG 2- and 4) provided with a pin 52 cooperating with'a slot' 53 of a corresponding interposer formed of a horizontal slide 54. The rear end of each slide 54 is connected with a lever 55 pivoted and a stationary shaft 56, while the forward end engages the upper forked end 57 of 'a punch 35 by a pair of complementary cams 66 and 67 (FIG. 2) 45 secured to a cyclically rotatable shaft 68 which represents the main operating shaft of the punching apparatus. During a cycle of the shaft 68 the bail 64 is thus positively oscillated first clockwise and then counterclock- 5 wise.

' The shaft 68 is connected to a shaft 71 by means of two worm wheels 69 and 70 (FIG. 4) having a transmission ratio of 1:1. Secured to the shaft 71 is a worm gear 72' engageable by a rack bar 73 which by means of two bent lugs 74 and 75 is slidably mounted on a shaft 7:6; The bent lug 74 is engaged by the forked end 77 of a lever 78 pivoted on a vertical shaft 79 and pivoted with a. second forked end 80 engaging the lower end of the plate 42 of the sensing mechanism 39 (see also FIG. 1).

A spring 80 attached to the lever 78 (FIG. 4) normally 60 urges the sensing mechanism 39 to its right-hand position (upwards in the drawing) against the machine frame 81. The sensing elements 46 are thus in position adapted to sense the interponents 23 of the unit order.

The shaft 71 may be coupled to a motor shaft 82 by means of a toothed clutch 83 comprising a driven element 84 slidably but not rotatably mounted on the shaft 71 and a driving element 85 secured to a continuously rotating shaft 82. Normally the driven element 84 is latched in a disengaged position from the driving element 85.

As will be hereinafter described, after the amount represented by the actuators has been translated and stored in the storing device 18 the main shaft 13 enables both 75 the rack bar 73 to engage the worm gear 72 and the driven element 84 to engage the driving element 85 of the clutch 83. The shaft 7 1 is now rotated by the shaft 82 together with the main shaft '68 of the punching apparatus. The worm gear 72 moves the rack bar 73- rearwards (le-ftwards in FIG. 4), whereby the lever 78 moves the sensing mechanism 39 towards the higher orders through the extent of one order during each cycle ofthe shaft 71. The sensing elements 46 thus sequentially sense the columns of interponents 23 from the lower orders to the higher orders.

Upon sensing a column of interponents 23 the sensing elements 46 will assume a configuration corresponding to the code combination to be punched. More specifically, the interponents 23 located in the position'shown with broken lines (FIGS. 1 and 4), upon the transverse movement of the sensing mechanism 39 will shift the corresponding sensing elements 46 rearwards. Each sensing element 46 so shifted, through the corresponding bail 48 and the arm 49, rocks the shaft 50- counterclockwise, whereby the arm 51 (FIG. 2) will move the slide 54 rearwards to engage the projection 62 with the cross bar 63.

The cam 66 of the shaft 68 will now oscillate the bail 5 64 clockwise, whereby the cross bar 63 urges the engaged slides 54 downwards together with the corresponding punch pin members 58 which by means of their punch pins 58' will thus punch into the tape 69 the code combination sensed by the sensing elements 46.

It will thus be apparent that the sensing mechanism 39 upon sequentially sensing the orders of the storing device 18 is adapted to select corresponding combinations of the punch pins 58 in order to punch a code combination for each order of the amount stored in the storing device 18.

The punch pins 58 have a rectangular or substantially square section, thus punching substantially square holes into the tape, and the cutting surface 58 of each punch pin is formed of a pair of opposed inclined triangular planes having a common side coincident with one diagonal line of the square (see lower upward view of the punch pin 58 in FIG. 2). The cutting action will thus begin from two opposed corners of the square and will continue toward the two remaining corners making a sure cut of the paper.

Upon being punched as above the tape 60 is fed in a known manner to be ready for the next perforation during the following cycle of the shaft 68. The perforation cycles, each one corresponding to a sensed order 0 of the storing device, will thus follow until significant The driven element 84 ofthe clutch 83' is secured to a hub 87 (FIG. 4) provided with a cam disk 88 (FIG. 8) cooperating with a bent lug 98 of a lever 91 pivoted on a stationary shaft 92 and urged by a spring 89. The lug 99 comprises an inclined portion 93 (FIG. 4) and a frontal portion 94. The inclined portion 93 normally latches the driven element 84 out of engagement with'the driving element 85, against the urge of a compression spring '86. The frontal portion 94 normally latches the cam disk 88 (FIG. 8) thereby preventing the clockwise rotation of the shaft 71 and thus of the main shaft 68 of the punching apparatus.

The shaft 76 carrying the rack bar 73 is secured to a pair of levers 95 and 96 (FIGS. 6 and 7) pivoted on the stationary shaft 92. A spring 97 (FIG. 7) urges the lever 96 counterclockwise to move the rack bar 73 towards the Worm gear 72. The lever 96 is provided with an upper projection 98 contacting a bent lug 99 of a lever 100 pivoted on a stationary shaft 101 (FIG. 5). The lever 100 is provided with another lug 102 contacting a step 184 of a star-ting means such as a slide by the urge of a spring 103. The slide 105 is slidable on the shaft 191 and by the urge of a springlil contacts a stud 107 secured to a lever 108 pivoted on the shaft 56. Moreover, the slide 105 is guided by a slot provided in a bent lug 109 of a lever 110 pivoted on a stationary shaft 111. The lever 110 cooperates by the urge of a spring 112 with a cam 113 secured to the main shaft 13 of the accounting machine.

The lever 96 (FIG. 7) is provided with a forked end 114 engaging an arm 115 of a bail 116 (FIG. 6) pivoted on the shaft 111. -A second arm 117 of said bail normally contacts a shaft 118 secured to a lever 119 pivoted on the shaft 44 and urged counterclockwise by a spring 120.

The sensing mechanism 39 is provided with a sensing plate 121 (FIGS. 1 and 4) transversely slidable on the shaft 118 (FIGS. 4 and 6) in order to be movable with the sensing mechanism 39 and also longitudinal slidable in a slot of the plate 40 in order to be capable of sensing the storing device 18. To this end the plate 121 is formed with a vertical bent lug 122 located rearwards the three lower rows of intcrponents 23 of all the orders higher than the order actually sensed by the sensing elements 46 (FIG. 4).

An arm 123 of the lever 119 (FIG. 6) is adapted to cooperate with a lever 124 pivoted on a stationary shaft 125 and provided with a hooked arm 124 contacting a projection 127 of the lever 91 by the urge of a spring 126 (see also FIG. 8).

The rear end of the lever 108 (FIG. 5) is provided with a tapered edge 128 which by the urge of a spring 129 cooperates with a stud 130 secured to an arm 131 of a bail 132 pivoted on a stationary shaft 133. Another arm 134 of the bail 132 (FIGS. 4 and 5) contacts the left-hand end of a horizontal lever 135 pivoted on a vertical shaft 136. The other end of the lever 135 may cooperate with a projection 137 of a stop plate 138 carried by the conventional paper carriage for automatically controlling the functions of the accounting machine. The paper carriage is not shown in the drawings, it being described in the cited US. Patent No. 2,849,179, wherein a stop plate such as the stop plate 133 is adapted to be moved forwards through a first extent in order to arrest the carriage and through a second extent before the beginning of the machine cycle in order to automatically control the machine functions.

The projection 137 of the stop plate 138 may be of four different lengths, each one corresponding to a particular machine function. More specifically, beginning from the lower to the higher lengths, the four lengths correspond to total taking, adding, subtracting, and nonadding. The projection 137 shown in FIG. 5 corresponds to non-adding. The bail 132 is provided with a stepped member such as an arm 139 having four steps each one corresponding to one length of the projection 137.

Pivoted on the shaft 133 is also a lever 140 which is pin-and-slot connected to an arm 141 secured to a vertical shaft 142 carrying an arm 143 (see also FIG. 4) having two opposed tapered edges. When during the travel of the paper carriage a projection 144 of the stop plate 138 reaches the arm 143 the stop plate 138 is moved forwards through the first extent and the paper carriage is arrested by the means described in the cited US. Patent No. 2,849,179. The projection 144 may be arranged on the stop plate 138 in selected ones of four diiferent vertical positions corresponding to four different programs of accounting work. In FIG. 5 the stop plate 138 carries two projections 144 arranged in the first and the fourth vertical position. The shaft 142 is vertically movable to position the arm 143 in the horizontal plane of any position of the projections 144, in order to select the stop plate 138 relating to a predetermined program.

The lever 140 is provided with a stepped arm 145 similar to the arm 139, but arranged rearwards with respect to the latter. The stepped arms 139 and 145 may be sensed by a common sensing element such as a bent lug 146 of a slide 147. This slide is provided with a pin 148 6 adapted to cooperate with a lever 149 pivoted on a stationary shaft 150 and pin-and-slot connected to an arm 151 of the bail 12. Another bent lug 152 of the slide 147 normally contacts a shoulder 154 of the lever 108 by the urge of a spring 153.

Each one of the four levers 55 is connected to a code shaped member such as a vertically slidable plate 155. The upper edge of each plate 155 is provided with a set of recesses 156 variably arranged from plate to plate to represent in each one of the several transverse planes a different code combination according to the various functions of the accounting machine which may be represented by the projections 137 and to the various programs which may be determined by the positions of the arm 143.

Since it has been assumed to use four punch members 58 (FIG. 4), which may perforate fifteen different code combinations, ten code combinations are reserved to the digits (see FIG. 3), while five code combinations may be used for representing machine functions.

Each one of the plates 155 is provided with a shoulder 157 cooperating with a locking bail 159 pivoted on a stationary shaft 160 and urged clockwise by a spring 158. Said locking bail is provided with an arm 161 cooperating With a cam 162 (FIG. 7) secured to the shaft 71 and is mso provided with a second arm 163 formed With a bent lug 164 cooperating with a hook 165 pivoted at 101. Normally a bent lug 166 of the lever 100 locks the hook 165 out of engagement with the lug 164, against the urge of a spring 167.

A transverse plate 167' (FIGS. 5 and 8) vertically slidable in a slot of the sensing lug 146 and of a further bent lug 168 of the slide 147 and thus movable into variable vertical transverse planes together with said slide is adapted to engage the plates 155, but is normally held in its upper position by the urge of a spring 169. A plate 170 (FIG. 4) of a bail 171 (FIG. 8) may cooperate with the upper end 167" (FIG. 8) of the plate 167. The bail 171 is pivoted on a stationary shaft 172 and is provided with a projection 173 engaging a link 174 (FIG. 5) connected to an arm 175 of the lever 110.

The punching apparatus operates as follows:

It will be assumed that a predetermined accounting work program has been selected by vertically positioning the shaft 142 (FIG. 5). The lever 140 is rocked according to said selected program, placing a step of the stepped arm 145 into the path of the sensing element 146. It will also be assumed that the accounting machine is being cycled and that the machine functions are controlled by the stop plate 138 (FIGS. 4 and 5).

When before the beginning of the machine cycle the stop plate 138 is moved forwards through its second extent, the projection 137 rocks the lever 135 clockwise (FIG. 4) through an angle corresponding to the length of the projection 137. The lever 135 in turn rocks the bail 132 (FIG. 5) counterclockwise, placing a step of the stepped arm 139 into the path of the sensing element 146. However, just at the beginning of the rotation of the bail 132 the stud 130 engages the tapered edge 128, rocking thus the lever 108 counterclockwise, whereby the shoulder 154 releases the lug 152 of the slide 147. The spring 153 moves the slide 147 until its pin 148 contacts the lever149, whereby the slide 147 is now put under the control of the bail 12 which in turn is moved by the main operating shaft 13. In rocking counterclockwise with the lever 108 the stud 107 releases the slide 105 which under the urge of the spring 106 will contact the upper edge of the slot of the lug 109, shown with a dot in FIG. 5.

During the counterclockwise movement of the bail 12 the lever 149 is rotated clockwise, enabling the slide 147 to be moved rearwards until the sensing element 146 contacts the stepped edge of the arm 139 previously placed in its path. The vertical transverse plate 167 is thus shifted rearwards from the position shown in FIG. 5 into a ver- '7 tical transverse plane corresponding to the individual step sensed by the sensing element 146 and thus to the function predetermined by the projection 137 of the stop plate 138 which is determined by the particular length of the projection 137.

When the bail 12 terminates its counterclockwise movement the cam 113 of the main shaft 13 oscillates the lever 110 counterclockwise enabling its lug 109 to latch the shoulder 176 of the slide 105. Moreover, the arm 175 of the lever 110 pulls the link174 downwards, enabling the plate 170 of the bail 171 (FIGS. 4 and 8) to push the transverse plate 167 downwards, whereby according to the recesses 156 (FIG. 5) found by the plate 167 in its actual vertical plane a particular combination of plates 155 is selected, the plates 155 having no recess 156 in the path of the plate 167 being depressed. By means of the levers 55 the corresponding horizontal slides 54 will thus be shifted forwards as if the associated arms 51 (FIG. 2) were rocked clockwise, thereby selecting the punch pins 58' to punch the code combination corresponding to the machine function controlled by the projection 137. The plates 155 so depressed are locked in their lower position by the locking bail 159.

In the case of a projection 137 having the maximum length, as that shown in FIG. 5, the arm 139 is rocked out of the path of the sensing element 146 which now reaches the stepped arm 145, whereby the plate 167 will select the punch pins 58' according to the code combination corresponding to an accounting Work program instead of a particular machine function.

The cam 113 of the main shaft 13 now enables the lever 110 to be returned to rest. Since the spring 112 is stronger than the spring 106, the lug 1G9 latching the shoulder 176 pulls the slide 165 forwards, whereby the shoulder 104 releases the lug 182 of the lever 100. The spring 103 noW urges the lever 130 counterclockwise, enabling the hook 165 to contact the lug 164 and releasing the projection 98 of the lever 96 (FIG. 7) from the lug 99. The spring 97 will thus rotate the lever 96 counterclockwise around the shaft 92, enabling the rack bar 73 to be engaged with the worm gear 72.

Thereupon the rack bar 73 by means of the shoulder 177 (FIG. 8) engages the arm 178 and rocks the lever 91 clockwise, enabling the arm 127 to be engaged by the latch 124' (FIG. 6) and further enabling the lug 90 (FIG. 8) to release the cam- 88. The spring 86 (FIG. 4) now urges the hub 87 rearwards to mesh the driven element 84 with the driving element 85 of the clutch 83, whereby the shafts 71 and 68 are cycled synchronously. The earns 66 and 67 of the shaft 68 will now oscillate the bail 64 (FIG. 2), whereby the cross bar 63 during the first cycle of the shaft 68 operates the punch pins 58' previously selected by the plates 155 (FIG. 4).

It will thus be seen that the punching of the code combinations of an amount represented by the actuators 10 is first preceded by the punching of the code combination either of the function effected by the accounting machine in connection with said amount, said function being determined by the projection 137 of the stop plate 138, or of a particular program, said program being predetermined by the positioning of the shaft 142.

At the end of the first punching cycle the cam 162 (FIG. 7) of the shaft 71 pushes down the upper edge of the arm 161 whereby the bail 159' is rocked counterclockwise (FIG. 5), releasing the plates 155. Furthermore, the arm 163 of the bail 159 is now latched in its rocked position by the latch 165.

As'has been described hereinbefore, toward the middle portion of the cycle of the main shaft 13 the interponents 23 of the storing device 18- are set according to the amount represented by the actuators 10. As soon as the rack bar 73 (FIG. 4) has been meshed with the worm gear 72, the sensing mechanism 39 begins to be moved towards the higher orders whereby for each revolution of the shaft 71 the sensing elements 46 will sequentially sense'the various columns of interponents 23. In the punching cycle following the described first cycle the punch pins 58 (FIG. 2) are selected by the sensing elements 46 according to the configuration of each column of interponents 23, whereby the first function or program code combination perforated in the tape is followed by the perforation of a train of code combinations representing the digits of the amount stored in the storing device 18.

During the ensuing train of punching cycles the accounting cycle of the shaft 13 is accomplished and the bail 12 (FIG. 5) by means of the lever 149 restores the slide 147. Furthermore, the stop plate 138 is restored, whereby the bail 132 is restored as well, releasing the lever 168. The latter on one hand relatches the lug 152 of the slide 147 and on the other hand moves downwards the slide 105, which is released from the lug 109 and by the urge of the spring 106 contacts the lug 102 of the lever 100.

As has been described hereinbefore, the lever 96 (FIG. 7) has been rotated counterclockwise upon being released by the lever 100 in order to enable the rack bar 73 to mesh with the worm gear 72. The forked end 114 of the lever 96 has rocked the bail 116- clockwise (FIG. 6), releasing the shaft 118 from the arm 117. The spring 120 rocks the lever 119 counterclockwise and the sensing plate 121 is moved forwards. Thus the bent lug 122 simultaneously senses the three lower rows (FIG. 1) of all the interponents 23 of the orders higher than the order sensed by the sensing elements 46 (FIG. 4).

FIG. 3 shows thatthe code combinaiton representing the zero digit is formed of a single mark or hole located in the upper one of a number of possible positions which is equal to four according to the four-unit code. Therefore, if an actuator 10 remains in its lower or zero position, upon the forward movement of the storing device 18 the corresponding code member 16 will only set the interponent 23 of the highest row. On the contrary, if an actuator 10 assumes any other position, the code member 16 will set at least one interponent 23 of the three lower rows. Therefore, as long as at least one order higher than the order actually sensed by the sensing elements 46 (FIG. 4) prments a set interponent 23 in any one of the three lower rows, the bent lug 122 of the sensing plate 121 will be arrested thereby and the arm 123 of the lever 119 (FIG. 6) will not reach the lever 124.

When the sensing elements 46 reach the highest significant order of the amount stored in the storing device 18, no interponent 23 of the higher orders arrests the bent lug 122, whereby the lever 119 is rotated counterclockwise and the arm 123 rocks the lever 124 clockwise, the spring 120 being stronger than the spring 126. The lever 124 releases now the projection 127 (FIG. 8) whereby, since the shoulder 177 of the rack bar 73 is outof the path of the lug 74 (FIG. 7) as a result of the leftward movement of the rack bar 73 (FIG. 6), the spring 89 will rotate the lever 91 clockwise (FIG. 8). The inclined portion 93 (FIG. 4) of the bent lug 90 moves thus the cam 88 rightwards together with the hub 87, declutching the driven element 84 from the driving element 85, while the shaft 71 is arrested by the frontal portion 94 of the lug 90.

It will be apparent that the sensing plate 121 is thus adapted to cause the cycling mechanism of the punching apparatus to be stopped, whereby the punching apparatus is arrested without having punched the nonsignificant zeroes of the amount stored in the storing device 18.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the motor keys of the accounting machine should be locked during the perforation of the tape and should be released upon arresting the punching apparatus. To this end the lever 119 when rocking counterclockwise is adapted to disable a locking member 182 for said motor keys, such locking member being, for instance, of the type described in the U.S. Patent 2,644,637 as indicated by the numeral 329' in FIG. 16.

Upon completion of the last punching cycle, the rack bar 73 remains meshed with the worm gear 72, out of its rest position and displaced along the shaft 76, the bail 116 (FIG. 6) remains rocked clockwise contacting the lever 110 by means of a pin 179 secured to its arm 180, the lever 100 (FIG. remains rocked counterclockwise, and the locking bail 159 remains latched by the latch 165.

If the next following cycle of the accounting machine is still controlled by a stop plate 138 having a projection 137, the sensing element 146 is again arrested either by the stepped arm 139 or by the stepped arm 145, whereby the plates 155 are selectively depressed by the transverse plate 167' as in the case described above.

When the lever 110 (FIG. 6) is now rocked counterclockwise by means of the pin 179 it rocks the bail 116, whose arm 117 restores the plate 121, releasing the lever 124, and whose arm 115 rocks the arm 96 (FIG. 7) to disengage the rack bar 73 from the worm gear 72. The rack bar 73 and the sensing mechanism 39 are now restored by the urge of the spring 80' (FIG. 4). Furthermore, the stud 181 (FIG. 5) of the lever 110 rotates the lever 100 clockwise. The lug 99 of the lever 100 will now relatch the upper end 98 of the lever 96, whereby the rack bar 73 remains disengaged from the worm gear 72, whereas the plug 102 relatches the shoulder 104 of the slide 105. The lug 166 of the lever 100, restores the latch 165, releasing the lug 164 of the bail 159, which will now lock the plates 155- in their new configuration. The punching apparatus is thus in the same condition as in the case described above, whereby the lever 110 upon being restored enables the shaft 71 to be rotated for a new train of perforation cycles.

After a cycle of the accounting machine controlled by a stop plate 138 having a projection 137, the accounting machine may be operated for a cycle controlled by either a motor key or a stop plate 138 having no projection 137. In this case the bail 132 (FIG. 5) does not rock the lever 108, consequently the slide 147 is not released by the shoulder 154, whereby the plates 155 are not selected by the slide 167' and the stud 107 does not enable the slide 105 to be latched by the lug 109. The lever 100, when rocked clockwise by the pin 181 of the lever 110, is relatched by the shoulder 104 in its position of rest. The lug 99 thus locks at rest the lever 96 carrying the rack bar 73, which is disengaged from the worm gear 72 by the lever 110 as well through the arm 115 of the bail 116. In this case upon the ensuing clockwise oscillation of the lever 110, the slide 105 is not moved forwards, the lever 96 is not released and the punching apparatus is not started for operation. Said apparatus has thus been restored in its position of rest.

It has been described hereinbefore the mode of operation of the bent lug 122 of the plate 121. According to a modified embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 9, the plate 121 comprises a stepped lug having two steps 122' and 122" differentially distanced from the interponents 23 of the storing device 18, the left step 122" being less distanced, the right step 122' being more distanced. The step 122" thus reaches the interponents 23 storing the non-significant zeroes some perforating cycles before the last cycle, enabling the plate 121 to move forwards through a first extent until the step 122 is arrested by the set interponents 23. Upon this first movement of the plate 121 the lever 119 (FIG. 6) operates the locking member 182, releasing the keyboard of the accounting machine. When the step 122' reaches the first column of interponents 23 storing a non-significant zero, the plate 121 will be moved through a second extent, enabling the lever 119 to declutch the shaft 71.

The time between the first and the second extents of movement of the plate 121 may be used to start the accounting machine for the next cycle and to effect the upward movement of the actuators 10, whereby the speed of operation will be increased.

It will be noted that the shaft 71 rotates faster than the main shaft 13, for example according to a ratio of 4:1. The train of perforating cycles initiated during the cycle of the main shaft 13 may thus terminate in short time with respect to the time requested by said cycle.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that many changes may be made in the above construction, and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof. It is, therefore, intended that all matter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanying drawing, shall be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

What we claim is:

1. In an accounting machine having a set of actuators arranged in denominational orders, each of said actuators being movable from a normal position to a position representing a significant digit to represent a multidigit amount, a tape punching apparatus for sequentially punching a code combination for each digit of said amount according to a predetermined multiunit code, said apparatus comprising a coding device including a code member connected to each of said actuator, said code member being formed with code projections arranged according to said multiunit code to represent a different code combination in each of the positions of the actuator to which the code member is connected, a multiorder storing device including in each order a plurality of interponents equal in number to the number of units of said code and selectively settable by the projections of the code member of the same order according to the represented code combination, means for moving one of said devices toward the other device thereby causing the projections of each code member according to the represented code combination to set the interponents of the plurality of the same order, a sensing mechanism having a set of sensing elements equal in number to the number of units of said code and each one engageable by a predetermined one of the set interponents of each plurality, means for moving said sensing mechanism order by order in a transverse path with respect to said storing device for causing the set interponents of said pluralities to sequentially engage said sensing elements, an interposer connected to each sensing element and shiftable thereby upon engagement of said sensing element by one of said interponents, a punch pin connected to each interposer, and power means cyclically engageable with each shifted interposer in timed relationship with the movement of said sensing mechanism to operate the connected punch pin.

2. In an accounting machine having a set of actuators arranged in denominational orders, each of said actuators being movable from a normal position to a position representing a significant digit to represent a multidigit amount, a tape punching apparatus for sequentially punching a code combination for each digit of said amount according to a predetermined multiunit code, said apparatus comprising a coding device including a code member connected to each of said actuators, said code member being for-med with code projections arranged according to said multiunit code to represent a dilferent code combination in each of the positions of the actuator to which the code member is connected, a multiorder storing device including in each order a plurality of interponents equal in number to the number of units of said code and selectively settable by the projections of the code member of the same order according to the represented code combination, means for moving one of said devices toward the other device thereby causing the projections of each code member according to the represented code combination to set the interponents of the plurality of 1.1 the same order, said projections setting saidint'erponents by engaging one end thereof, a sensing mechanism having a setof sensing elements equal in number to the number of units of said code and each one engageable by a predetermined one of the set interponents of each plurality, means for moving said sensing mechanism order by order in a transverse path with respect to said storing device for causing the opposite end of each one of said set interponents of said pluralities to sequentially engage the corresponding sensing element of said set, an interposer connected to each'sensing element and shiftable thereby upon engagement of said sensing element by one of said interponents, a punch pin connected to each interposer, and

power means cyclically engageable with each shifted inter poser in timed relationship With the movement of said sensing mechanism to operate the connected punch pin.

3. In an accounting machine having a set of actuators arranged in denominational orders, each of said actuators being movable from a normal position to a position representing. a significant digit to represent a multidigit amount, a tape punching apparatus for sequentially punching a code combination for each digit of said amount according to a predetermined multiunit code, said apparatus comprising a coding device including a code member. connected to each of said actuators, said code member being formed with code projections arranged according to said multiunit code to represent a different code combination in each of the positions of the actuator to Which the code member is connected, a multiorder storing device including in each order a plurality of interponents equal in number to the number of units of said code and selectively settable by the projections of the code member of the same order according to the represented code combination, means for moving one of said devices toward the other device thereby causing the projections of each code member according to the represented codecombination to set the interponents of the plurality of the same order, a sensing mechanism having a set of sensing elements equal in number to the number of units of said code and each one engageable by a predetermined one of the set interponents of each plurality, a carriage for mounting said sensing mechanism, a cycling mechanism, a member rotating in synchronism with said cycling mechanism for moving said carriage order by order at substantially uniform speed in a transverse path With respect to said storing device for causing the set interponents of said pluralities to sequentially engage said sensing elements, an interposer connected to each'sensing element and shiftable thereby upon engagement of said sensing element by one of said interponents, a punch pin connected to each interposer, and means actuated by said cycling mechanism to engage each shifted interposer in timed relationship with the movement of said sensing mechanism to operate the connected punch pin.

4. In' an accounting machine having a set of actuators arranged in denominational orders, each of said'actuatorsbeing movable from a normal position to a position representing a significant digit to represent a multidigit amount, a tape punching apparatus for sequentially punching a code combination for each digit of said amount according to a predetermined multiunit code, said apparatus comprising a coding device including a codemember connected to each of said actuators,'said code member being formed with code projections arranged according to'said multiunit code to represent'a different code combination in each ofthe positions of the actuator to which the code member is connected, a multiorder storingdevice including in each order a' plurality of interponents equal in number to the number of units of said code and selectively settable by the projections of the code member of the same order according to the represented code combination, means for moving one of said devices toward the other device thereby causing the projections of each code member according to the represented code combination to set the interponents of the plurality of the 1 2 sameorder, a sensing mechanism having a set of sensing elements equal in number to the number of units of said code and each one engageable by a predetermined one of the set interponents of each plurality, a cycling mechanism, means operable for stopping said cycling mechanism, means controlled by said cycling mechanism for moving said sensing mechanism order by order in a transverse path with respect to said storing device for causing the set interponents of said pluralities to sequentially en gage said sensing elements, an interposer connected to each sensing element and shiftable thereby upon engagement of said sensing element by one of said interponents, a punch pin connected to each interposer, means actuated by said cycling mechanism to engage each shifted interposer in timed relationship with the movement of said sensing mechanism to operate the connected punch pin, and a sensing plate movably mounted on said sensing mechanism for simultaneously sensing the interponents of all the orders of said storing device higher than the order actually sensed by said sensing elements, said plate being adapted to operate said stopping means upon sensing non-significant digits only.

5. In an accounting machine having a set of actuators arranged in denominational orders, each of said actuators being movable from a normal position to a position representing a significant digit to represent a multidigit amount, means for starting the machine for operation, and a normally ineffective locking member conditionable for disabling said starting means, a tape punching apparatus for sequentially punching a code combination for each digit of said amount according to a predetermined multiunit code, said apparatus comprising a coding device including a code member connected to each of said actuators, said code member being formed with code projections arranged according to said multiunit code to represent a different code combination in each of the positions of the actuator to which the code member is connected, a multiorder storing device including in each order a plurality of interponents equal in number to the number of units of said code and selectively settable by the projections of the code member of the same order. according to the represented code combination, means for moving one of said devices toward the other device thereby causing the projections of each code member according to the represented code combination to set the interponents of the plurality of the same order, a sensing mechanism having a set of sensing elements equal in number to the number of units of said code and each one engageable by a predetermined one of the set interponents of each plurality, a cycling mechanism, means operable for stopping said cycling mechanism, means controlled by said cycling mechanism for moving said sensing mechanism order by order in a transverse path with respect to said storing device for causing the set interponents of said pluralities to sequentially engage said sensing elements, an interposer connected to each sensing element and shiftable thereby upon engagement of said' sensing element by one of said interponents, a punch pin connected to each interposer, means actuated by said cycling mechanism to engage each shifted interposer in timed relationship with the movement of said sensing mechanism to operate the connected punchpin, a sensing plate movably mounted on said sensing mechanism for simultaneously sensing the interponents of all the orders 'of said storing device higher than the order actually being movable from a normal position to a position representing a significant digit to represent a multidigit amount, and a main operating shaft, a tape punching apparatus for sequentially punching a code combination for each digit of said amount according to a predetermined multiunit code, said apparatus comprising a coding device including a code member connected to each of said actuators, said code member being formed with code projections arranged according to said multiunit code to represent a different code combination in each of the positions of the actuator to which the code member is connected, a multiorder storing device including in each order a plurality of interponents equal in number to the number of units of said code and selectively settable by the projections of the code member of the same order according to the represented code combination, means for moving one of said devices toward the other device thereby causing the projections of each code member according to the represented code combination to set the interponents of the plurality of the same order, a sensing mechanism having a set of sensing elements equal in number to the number of units of said code and each one engageable by a predetermined one of the set interponents of each plurality, a cycling mechanism, means controlled by said cycling mechanism for moving said sensing mechanism order by order in a transverse path with respect to said storing device for causing the set interponents of said pluralities to sequentially engage said sensing elements, an interposer connected to each sensing element and shiftable thereby upon engagement of said sensing element by one of said interponents, a punch pin connected to each interposer,

means actuated by said cycling mechanism to engage each shifted interposer in timed relationship with the movement of said sensing mechanism to operate the connected punch pin, starting means operable to start said cycling mechanism, and means for enabling said starting means to operated by said main shaft.

7. In an accounting machine having a set of actuators arranged in denominational orders, each of said actuators being movable from a normal position to a position representing a significant digit to represent a multidigit amount, a tape punching apparatus for sequentially punching a code combination for each digit of said amount according to a predetermined multiunit code, said apparatus comprising a coding device including a code member connected to each of said actuators, said code member being formed with code projections arranged according to said multiunit code to represent a different code combination in each of the positions of the actuator to which the code member is connected, a multiorder storing device including in each order a plurality of interponents equal in number to the number of units of said code and selectively settable by the projections of the code member of the same order according to the represented code combination, means for moving one of said devices toward the other device thereby causing the projections of each code member according to the represented code combination to set the interponents of the plurality of the same order, a sensing mechanism having a set of sensing elements equal in number to the number of units of said code and each one engageable by a predetermined one of the set interponents of each plurality, means for moving said sensing mechanism order by order in a transverse path with respect to said storing device for causing the set interponents of said pluralities to sequentially engage said sensing elements, an interposer connected to each sensing element and shiftable thereby upon engagement of said sensing element by one of said interponents, a punch pin connected to each interposer, power means cyclically engageable with each shifted interposer in timed relationship with the movement of said sensing mechanism to operate the connected punch pin, a stepped member mounted on the machine and movable toward a position corresponding to a predetermined machine function, said punch pins being conditionable to punch the code combination of said function, a sensing means adapted to sense said stepped member, and a plurality of code shaped members each one connected with one of said interposers, said code shaped members being selectable by said sensing means according to the position of said stepped member for shifting the connected interposer to condition said punch pins to punch the code combination of said function.

8. In an accounting machine having a set of actuators arranged in denominational orders, each of said actuators being movable from a normal position to a position representing a significant digit to represent a multidigit amount, means for predetermining a program of machine functions, traveling means for selecting a machine function of a predetermined program, a tape punching apparatus for sequentially punching a code combination for each digit of said amount according to a predetermined multiunit code, said apparatus comprising a coding device including a code member connected to each of said actuators, said code member being formed with code projections arranged according to said multiunit code to represent a different code combination in each of the positions of the actuator to which the code member is connected, a multiorder storing device including in each order a plurality of interponents equal in number to the number of units of said code and selectively settable by the projections of the code member of the same order according to the represented code combination, means for moving one of said devices toward the other device thereby causing the projections of each code member according to the represented code combination to set the interponents of the plurality of the same order, a sensing mechanism having a set of sensing elements equal in number to the number of units of said code and each one engageable by a predetermined one of the set interponents of each plurality, means for moving said sensing mechanism order by order in a transverse path With respect to said storing device for causing the set interponents of said pluralities to sequentially engage said sensing elements, an interposer connected to each sensing element and shiftable thereby upon engagement of said sensing element by one of said interponents, a punch pin connected to each interposer, power means cyclically engageable with each shifted interposer in timed relationship with the movement of said sensing mechanism to operate the connected punch pin, a stepped member mounted on the machine and movable towards a position corresponding to said selected function, said punch pins being normally conditionable to punch the code combination of said selected function, a sensing means adapted to sense said stepped member to condition said punch pins to punch the code combination of said selected function, said stepped member being adapted to assume another position enabling said sensing means to sense said predetermining means, and a plurality of code shaped members each one connected with one of said interposers, said code shaped members being selectable by said sensing means under the control of said predetermining means for shifting the connected interposers to condition said punch pins to punch the code combination of said predetermining program instead of said selected function.

9. In an accounting machine having a set of actuators arranged in denominational orders, each of said actuators being movable from a normal position to a position repsenting a significant digit to represent a multidigit amount, a tape punching apparatus for sequentially punching a code combination for each digit of said amount according to a predetermined multiunit code, said apparatus comprising a coding device including a code member connected to each of said actuators, said code member being formed with code projections arranged according to said multiunit code to represent a different code combination in each of the positions of the actuator to which the code member is connected, a multiorder storing device including in each order a plurality of interponents equal in number to the number of units of said code and selectively settable by the projections of the code member of the same order according to the represented code combination, means for moving one of said devices toward the other device thereby causing the projections of each code member according to the represented code combination to set the interponents of the plurality of the same order, a sensing mechanism having a set of sensing elements equal in number to the number of units of said code and each one engageable by a predetermined one of the set interponents of each plurality, acycling mechanism, means controlled by said cycling mechanism for moving said sensing mechanism order by order in a transverse path with respect to said storing de vice for causing the set interponents of said pluralities to sequentially engage said sensing elements, an interposer connected to each sensing element and shiftable thereby upon engagement of said sensing element by one of said interponents, a punch pin connected to each interposer, means actuated by said cycling mechanism to engage each shifted interposer in timed relationship with the movement of said sensing mechanism to operate the connected punch pin, a stepped member mounted n the machine and movable from a home position toward a position corresponding to'a predetermined machine function,

said punch pins being conditionable to punch the code combination of said function, a sensing means adapted to sense said stepped member, a plurality of code shaped members each one connected with one of said interposers, said code shaped members being selectable by said sensing means according to the position of said stepped member for shifting the connected interposers to condition said punch pins to punch the code combination of said function, starting means conditionable to start said cycling mechanism, and an element on said stepped member adapted to condition said starting means when the stepped member is moved out of its home position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,920,237 Beach et a1. Aug. 1, 1933 2,206,640 Maul July 2, 1940 2,379,271 Bechtel June 26, 1945 2,664,951 Loudon Jan. 5, 1954 2,814,344 Oberem Nov. 26, 1 957 2,818,924 Lang Ian. 7, 1958 2,849,179 Pathe Aug. 26, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 856,084 France Mar. 4, 1940

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