US3064882A - Tape perforator - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 20, 1962 E. A. I EvlN TAPE PERFORATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 9, 1960 M @wg/Maw ATTORNEYS Nov. 20, 1962 E. A. LEVIN TAPE PERFORATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 9, 1960 n ..l 5 4 RV v. y w me M ml. R .m WA r le A U y U Wy 3 .L 4 4| T l. Y. m n L H .rua u 4 Nov. 20, 1962 E. A. I EvlN 3,064,882

TAPE PERFoRAToR Filed Feb. 9, 19Go 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR- Euene A Lew/7 BY ATTORNE YS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Maf DRIVE PULSE /3 MS PER/0D 2000 RPM sw. Laseo TAPE FEED SW.TRAVEL a TAPE FEED Pu/ se +l50 MA- 0 nps F550 co/L cunkzN-r ttes ington Filed Feb. 9, 1960, Ser. No. 5,032 9 Claims. (Cl. 234-119) This invention relates to devices for forming data perforations in tape or cards, and has for its primary object the provision of a tape perforating device having a plurality of individual punches, each punch being immediately responsive to electrical signals and which can go through punching operations without signal retention or further signal excitation.

lAnother object of the invention is to provide a tape perforating device having a plurality of individual punches, a continuously rotating drive shaft, and individual clutches for each punch to apply power from Said drive shaft to the punches.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tape perforating device which can be operated by random unsynchronized input signals and which will automatically advance the tape after each perforating operation so that the tape will always stand ready to be perforated by the next input signal.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of clutch mechanism whereby the power from the drive shaft can be transmitted to the punch operators of the above tape perforator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tape perforating device in which the punches are operated by frequency doubling toggle devices so that the input drive for the punch operators can be decreased to result in less wear and greater component life.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description.

In the drawings, yforming a part of this application and in which like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout the same,

FIG. l is a front elevational view of a tape perforator embodying the principles of the invention, with the front plate and oil pan being removed to show the details of the device.

FIG. 2 is a Side elevational view of the tape perforator of FIG. l, illustrating the tape perforator as mounted on a panel, together with the drive mechanism for the tape advancing capstan used with the tape perforator.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the tape perforator, taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1, with parts broken away and portions removed yfor purposes of illustration.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of one of the clutch assemblies used in the invention.

FIG 5 is a sectional view of the clutch illustrated in FIG. 4, taken on line 5 5 thereof.

FIG. 6 is an operational view of the punch and tape advance components.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of the electrical connections of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart, illustrating the operation of the device.

In general, the disclosed embodiment of the invention provides a die member having a plurality of punch recesses into which punch members may reciprocate. A tape is supported between the die and punches so that when selected of the punches are reciprocated, coding perforations will be formed inthe tape.

A plurality of continuously rotating drive shafts are provided, with a plurality of escapement members being carried by said shafts. Each escapement member is latched against rotation by and with the drive shafts, but pulse-operated electromagnetic devices are provided to hdmi-,82 Patented Nov. 2t), 1962 icc unlatch each escapement member. spring clutches drivingly connect the bers for rotation by the drive shafts, and cam operated drive linkages convert the rotation of the escapement members into reciprocal motion of the punches.

Thus, each punch is adapted to be reciprocated by the drive shafts, with a separate clutch being provided for each punch. Since the clutches are individually controlled by electrical pulse operated devices, then any desired pattern of punched holes may be formed by pulse initiation of the proper clutches.

By the above briefly described mechanism, it is possible to form a plurality of coded perforations simultaneously by the use of a plurality of simultaneous electrical input pulses, without mechanisms for signal retention during intermediate operating preparatory to punching, and without lfurther signal excitation of the device.

After the punching operation has been completed, a tape advance mechanism will move the tape to its next position adjacent the die recesses so that the tape will be in position to be perforated immediately upon the next group of input pulse signals.

The tape perforator disclosed in the present application is designed for use with other tape handling mechanisms and is designed to be mounted on a common panel with such other mechanisms. In addition, the tape perforator of the present invention is designed for use with a tape transporting unit of the type disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 813,716, tiled May 18, 1959, and entitled Incremental Bidirectional Drive Mechanism, the disclosure of which is incorporated in this application.

Referring now to the details of the invention, the tape perforator, designated generally by the reference numeral 10, includes a base plate 11 adapted to be secured by conventional means, such as screws (not shown), to a front panel 12 of a tape handling apparatus. Four drive shafts 13a, 13b, 13o and 13d are journaled for rotation in base plate 11 and front plate 14 and are supported by these plates. Spur gears 15a, 15b, 15C and 15d are Xed to the drive shafts and are all in mesh with idler gear 16 which is supported on shaft 17, also supported by and between plates 11 and 14.

'Shaft 13a extends rearwardly through base plate 11 and has a ribbed pulley 18 thereon. This pulley is driven by rib belt 19 from an auxiliary power take-off pulley 20 of the incremental bidirectional drive mechanism 21. In turn, this mechanism is belt-driven by motor 22 secured to panel 12.

'I'he drive mechanism 21 is also secured to the common panel 12 as by screws 23, and has an output shaft 24 carrying tape capstan 25 thereon. lSince the drive mechanism 21 is illustrated in detail in my above referred to application, it is thought that it is only necessary for the purpose of the present invention to describe the general operation of this mechanism. The output shaft 24 is connected by suitable gearing (not shown) to the escapement wheels 26 and 27 (FIG. 7) in such manner that the output shaft will rotate in a oounterclockwise direction (as viewed from the front of panel 12) when escapement wheel 26 is free to rotate, and will rotate in the opposite direction when escapement wheel 27 is free to rotate. The escapement wheels are adapted to be rotated in opposite directions by friction drive rneans (not shown) continuously driven by the input shaft, but are normally held from rotation by latch levers 28 and 29. These levers are adapted to be moved from holding engagement with the wheels 26 and 27 by pulse energization of the electromagnetic devices Sii and 31. Accordingly, whenever the switch 32 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 7, a pulse applied' to the drive mechanism input terminal 33 will energize magnet 30 to cause the output shaft 24 to ro- VVhen unlatched, escapernent memtate the capstan 25 and the sprocket pins 35 thereon in a direction to advance the tape one step through the tape perforator 10.

The auxiliary power take-off 20 is gear-connected inside the drive mechanism 21 for continuous rotation whenever the drive mechanism is driven by motor 22 .and belt 34.

The tape perforator has a die member 40 and a stripper block 41 both secured to one another and to the base plate 11, as best seen in FIG. 3. These two members have opposed portions spaced from each other to form a tape guide slit 42 therebetween for the reception of a paper tape (not illustrated). The punches 43 are disposed for longitudinal reciprocatory movement in stripper block 41 so as to move into and out of the punch recesses 44 in die 40 that are aligned with the punches. As the punches move through the tape guide slit 42 into their punch recesses 44, they will punch holes into a tape disposed in the guide. The upper portions of the punch recesses are enlarged so that the accumulations of punched chad will not plug the recesses but will be free to be pushed up easily into the chad hopper 46. As the hopper lls, the chad will empty down the chad hopper chute 47.

T he tape is threaded through the tape guide 4S and the guide slit 42 and over the capstan 25. The resilient leaf spring 49 holds the tape against the capstan with the sprocket holes of the tape being firmly engaged by the sprocket pins 35.

Since it is conventional for the sprocket holes in a tape to be smaller in diameter than the data holes therein, the sprocket punch 43s has a reduced diameter upper shank portion, best seen in FIG. 3, cooperable with a reduced diameter die recess 44s to form sprocket holes in a tape. The sprocket punch, of course, lies in the plane defined by the sprocket pins 35 on capstan 25.

As iS best seen in FIGS. l and 3, the punches 43 are grooved at their lower ends for engagement with slide blocks 51 which can slide freely up and down in the space between stripper block 41 and retainer plate 52. In FIG. 3, the retainer plate is shown removed in order to see the slide blocks 51 more clearly.

Each slide block 51 has a drive link 53 pivotally connected thereto, the other end of the link 53 being pivotally connected to another link or toggle 54. All toggles 54 are `freely journaled on shaft 17 for rotation relative thereto.

Each toggle 54 has a connecting rod 56 pivotally connected thereto, the connecting rods being each associated with one of the clutch mechanism 60, in a manner to be hereinafter described, so as to receive a generally reciprocatory motion from the drive shafts'upon operation of the clutch associated therewith.

The clutches 6l) are all identical with one another, and consequently, only one unit will be described. This clutch is best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5, and comprises an escapement wheel 61 and camming eccentric 62 mounted freely on one of the drive shafts, as for example, drive shaft 13b. The escapement wheel member 61 has two diametrically spaced escapement teeth 63 thereon releasably engaged by one of the latch levers 64 to restrain rotation of the escapement wheel 61 by and with the continuously rotating drive shaft 13b.

The escapement member 61 and camming eccentric 62 are preferably formed from molded nylon plastic in order to provide these members with high strength and lightness in weight. A coil clutch spring 65 has one end 66 thereof embedded in the eccentric 62 during the molding thereof. As best seen in FIG. 6, the clutch spring 65 is rectangular in cross-section and has a flat surface adjacent shaft 13b to provide a maximum bearing area therebetween and to reduce any tendency of the spring to score the shaft when it grips thereonto.

The clutch spring 65 has a relaxed inner diameter slightly less than the diameter of shaft 13b. A thin steel sleeve 67 around the clutch spring provides working clearance 4 for the winding and unwinding of the spring relative to the shaft. The other end 68 of Spring 65 is also bent at right angles to the coil and is inserted into a radial slot 69 in escapement member 61.

The eccentric 62 has a circular exterior hub portion 72 eccentrically disposed relative to shaft 13b, supporting the circular yoke end 71 of connecting rod 56 thereon. Rebound coil spring 73 wound around the hub 72 has one end 74 thereof secured to rod 56. A rebound coil retaining plate 76 retains spring 73 in place on hub 72, and snap rings 78 hold the escapement member and eccentric against movement axially of drive shaft 13b.

Rebound spring 73 has a relaxed inner coil diameter slightly less than the diameter of hub 72 and is wound around the hub in a direction to prevent rotation of eccentric 62 in the yoke end of connecting rod 56 in a direction opposite to the rotation of drive shaft 13b.

In operation of the clutch, the elements have an at-rest position wherein the escapement member 61 and eccentric 62 are held in a position wherein they have been rotated relative to each other so as to unwind the coil spring 65 from gripping contact with drive shaft 13b. This is the position illustrated in FIGS. l and 6.

By means to be hereinafter described, the latch lever 64 is removed from rotation restraining engagement with escapement tooth 63. The spring 65 is now free to return to its relaxed position and contracts into gripping engagement with the rotating drive shaft 13b, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. With spring 65 gripped onto the drive shaft, escapement wheel 61 and eccentric 62 will be forced by the drive shaft to rotate therewith. Due to the direction of winding of the rebound spring '73 on hub 72, the eccentric is free to slip around in spring 73 in the direction of rotation of drive shaft 13b, since this direction of rotation of the eccentric tends to unwind the spring 73 from gripping engagement therewith.

The disposition of the eccentric hub 72 in the connecting rod yoke 71 converts the rotary motion of the eccentric into generally longitudinal motion of the connecting rod.

Assuming that the latch lever 64 is free to return into engagement with the escapement wheel 61 right after it is removed therefrom, the escapement wheel will rotate through until the other tooth 63 engages the latch lever, bringing the escapement wheel to an abrupt stop. The mass of the escapement wheel alone is relatively small and has little inertia. Thus, the abrupt stop thereof does not exert a particularly damaging inuence on latch lever 64.

The inertia of the eccentric 62 causes this member to continue to rotate after the abrupt stop of the escapement member. This relative rotation of the escapement member and eccentric causes the coil spring 65 to unwind from gripping engagement with drive shaft 13b.

After the eccentric 62 comes to rest, the force of the now unwound clutch spring attempts to rotate the eccentric in the opposite direction so that the spring 65 wilI again grip onto drive shaft 13b. However, this counterrotation of eccentric 62 is prevented by the coil spring 73 wound around eccentric hub 72, since this direction of rotation of the eccentric tightens the grip of spring 73 thereon.

Thus, in the at-rest position, the escapement wheel 61 is held by the latch lever 64, the eccentric is held against reverse rotation by the friction of spring 73, and the shaft gripping spring 65 is held in an expanded diameter posi tion by the escapement member and the eccentric. As isl apparent, spring 73 will prevent eccentric 62 from rebounding, regardless of the angular position between eccentric 62 and shaft 13b or escapement wheel 61.

As best seen in FIGS. l and 6, each latch lever 64 is mounted in operative relationship to one of the electromagnetic devices 80. These devices comprise an armature 81 disposed in an electromagnetic coil 82 and mounted in a U-shaped frame 83. The frames 83 are secured to mounting brackets 84 to hold the device in iixed relation to the base plate 11. Each latch lever 64 is biased about its pivot point 05 on brachet 84 by spring S6 so as to normally engage the escapement teeth 63 of the escapement wheel 61 associated therewith. When the coil 82 is energized, the armature iii will attract the latch lever 64, pivoting it out of engagement with the escapement wheel.

The latch lever will then return to holding position with the escapement Wheel after the coil 82 is deenergized. In order to provide a rapid drop-out, an antiresidual shim S7 is interposed between the latch lever and armature. This shim is bent at 8S to serve as a non-linear leaf spring which has its greatest force when the latch lever is in its attracted position. As the latch lever is attracted to the armature, 'the shim 87 will be iiattened out. As soon as the coil is de-energized, the spring of the shim will force the latch lever away from the armature. This construction is advantageous in the present device, since the operating parts are disposed in an oil bath and the suction of the oil would otherwise prevent a fast dropout.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3W, an oil pan 90 encases the above described clutch mechanisms and drive gears and issecured to the rear of the base plate 11 as by screws 91. An oil gear 92, driven by idler gear 16, runs in the oil sump at the bottom of the oil case 90 to throw up a iine spray of oil. This provides an effective oily mistlubrication and cooling to all of the operating mechanisms, and eliminates fretting corrosion in the clutches. The top of the oil case 90 is enclosed by baffle 93 which allows the oil mist to lubricate the toggles and slide blocks, butdoes not allow the mist to rise out of the oil case. A suitable decorative cover 9.4 encases the tape perforator 10.

The electromagnetic operator $0, illustrated in FIG. 6 as typical of any of these operators, is shown specifically in FIG. 6 as being associated with the transport switch 95 used to advance the tape after a punching operation. The operator 80 is associated with a clutch 60t as above described, and the connecting rod 56 thereof is connected to the lower end of toggle 54, the upperY end of whichis connected to link 96. Arm 97 pivoted to bracket 9S, which is iixed to base plate 11, is connectedto link 96, and has a recess therein to receive pin 99, threrupperend` of which is connected to thelower leaf spring Contact 1-00 of switch 95. The two leaves 100and 1-01 are securedin` insulating block 102 xed in turn to base plate 11;.

The clutch, 60t` is identical in all respects to the clutch- 60 illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, except forA the angular disposition of theclutch springanchor'slot 68 in the escapement wheel 61 relative to the escapement teeth 63. The disposition of the anchor slot 68 in the escapement wheel 61 of FIGS. 4. and 5, usedwith all the punches, issuch that when the latch lever is in engagement with the escapement teeth 63, the eccentric members 32 will be disposedl so that the toggles 54 connected thereto will be in either of the two extre-me positions illustrated in FIG. l, and the punches 43 will be intheir lowermost, or retracted, positions.

The anchor slotv 68 inthe escapement member` 61t is displaced from the anchork slots inthe other escapement members 61 so that the toggle 54 associated therewith will come to rest just after having passed through its vertical position when an escapement tooth 63t is again engaged by the latch lever 56. Then, when the latch lever 64 is next pulled out of restrainingengagement with escapement Wheel 61t, the toggle 54 will iirst bemoved to one of the extreme outermost positions shown in FIG. l, and will then move back, to and through a vertical position and will again come to rest. The switch 95 will be closed near the end of this cycle, but will be opened just before the cycle is complete. This timing will be more fully discussed in connection with the timing chart of FIG. 8.

In connection with the operation of the tape perforator 10, the circuit diagram of FIG. 7 should lirst be described. All of the coils 82 of the various electromagnetic devices S0 are electrically connected together to terminal 105, which is adapted to be connected to a zero volt, or ground, terminal of a suitable electrical pulse generator. The other leads from these coils are connected to the various input terminals 106, identified by the reference letters a through h, s and t. These terminals are all adapted to be connected to a suitable electrical pulse generator 107': for independent energization. Suitable conventional interval circuits will be provided in such a pulse generator so that input terminal s will be energized whenever a pulse appears on any of the input terminals a through h.

Also included in the circuit is a normally closed switch 108 connecting input terminal s to. the coil 82s. This switch is provided for instances when the tape perforator l@ is being used for perforatingy cards rather than tape.. In such case, suitable card responsive means (not shown) will open switch 108 to prevent energization of the coil 82s, thus disabling the sprocket hole punch 48s.

The reference letters a through h and s` are also used in FIG. 3 to indicate the arrangement of the punch drive linkages which are actuated in response to energization of the coils 84 having the reference lettered input terminals.

Input terminal 109 is designed to be connected to a continuously positive voltage. This voltage will appear on the outputl terminal 110. as pulses having a pulse. length4 equal to the length of time that switch isv closed by arm 97 and pin 99.

In operation, an electrical pulse is generated in the pulse generator 107 and is applied to selected of the input ter. minals 106. The selection of these terminals will of course depend on the data to be punch-recorded and the code for such data. As illustrated, anyl combination of eight data channels may be punched simultaneously. The following times and voltages are those measured in the operation of a practical embodiment of the invention.

The initiating, or drive, pulse from the pulse generator is illustrated in the. topk line of FIG. 8 as a 48` volt pulse having a 41/2 millisecond duration. The pulse generator generates 60 pulses a second, with an interval of 16% milliseconds between the leading edges of successive pulses. The current in the selected electromagnetic coils 82 produced by the pulse applied thereto4 isV depicted in the second line. of FIG. 8. The dip in current at approximately 3 milliseconds occurs when the latch lever 64 strikes the armature 81. This time also represents the time that the latch lever freesthe escapement member. 61 for rotation.

With the escapement member now free, theV clutch spring 65 will grip onto the drive shaft associated there! with, causing the eccentric 62 to. rotate. There is an approximate time delay of one millisecondf between the unlatching ofthe escapement member and the gripping of the drive. shaft by. the clutch spring.

As has been mentioned, whenever. onev of the coils 82a through 82h is energized, a pulse is also applied to input terminal 106s to energize both the coil 82s associated with the sprocket punch and the coil S21* associated with the transport switch 95.

During the of rotation of an eccentric 62, the connecting rod 56 mounted thereon will be cammed'from one longitudinal position thereof to the. other longitudinal positionl thereof, causing. its toggleV 54 to move from one of the toggle positions shown in FIG. l to the other. In passing through a vertical position, the toggles and drive links 53 will drive thefslide blocks 51 and punches 43 upwardly through a tape disposed in tape guide` slit 42; The punches will retract as the toggle 54A comes to rest in its new position.

The timing of thepunch movement is illustrated in line 3 of FIG. 8. As indicated, the punches will start upwardly as soon as the eccentric 62 is clutches to the drive shaft, i.e., at 4 milliseconds time after the beginning of the drive pulse. In the time between 81/2 and 15 milliseconds, the punches are in guide slit 42. The punches return to rest at 19 milliseconds time.

If the next drive pulse is applied to the same coil 82, the latch lever will be pulled at'l92/s milliseconds and after a one millisecond delay the same punch will again start through a punching cycle.

At the same time that the punch starts through a cycle of operation, the tape transport switch actuating mechanism will start into operation. As explained previously, the toggle 54 comes to its at-rest position shortly after passing through vertical. Thus, when the eccentric is clutched to the shaft, the toggle will first move to one of the extreme positions shown in FIG. l, allowing the leaf spring contact 100 to move downwardly, as shown in line 4 of FIG. 8. At 81/2 milliseconds time, the leaf spring contact 100 begins to move upwardly, until at 141/2 milliseconds time it comes into electrical contact with leaf spring contact 101. These contacts remain closed for about 31/2 milliseconds, and then open. The contact 100 comes to rest at 19 milliseconds time.

The tape feed pulse, generated by the closing of contacts 100 and 101 and illustrated in line S of FIG. 8 is applied to the coil 30 of the tape drive mechanism 21, causing a current therethrough as indicated in line 6 of FIG. 8. At 163/2 milliseconds time the latch lever 28 is attracted to magnet 30, freeing escapement wheel 26 for a single tooth advance, causing the capstan 25 to be advanced through a single sprocket pin advance. The capstan rotation will end at 24 milliseconds time, which is before the next movement of a punch through the tape guide slit 42.

As will be noted from the above, the tape is always stationary when it is being punched, and the tape will be automatically advanced to the next position after it has been punched. Although the pulse generator 107 has been described as operating at 60 cycles per second, it will `of course be realized that the pulses could be randomly generated as long as the time between the leading edge of two successive pulses is not less than approximately 16 seconds.

It will be realized that the above iigures are not critical, but are merely illustrative. However, the time sequence of operation is necessary so that the tape will be motionless when the punches are actually punching the tape.

In the event that it is desired to advance the tape without an input of data, the manually operable switch 112 is closed to connect input terminal 106i to coils 82s and 82t. All pulses of the generator 107 appear on the input terminal 106t, and thus the coils 82s and 821? will be successively energized as long as switch 112 is closed. As above described, a sprocket hole will be first formed and the capstan will be then advanced each time coils 82s and 82t are energized.

In some cases, the switch 112 could be used to turn on an auxiliary pulse generator which would then feed pulses to the coils 82s and 82t to punch sprocket holes and advance the tape.

An important aspect of the invention resides in the use of the toggle drive for the punches 43. The toggles 54 have the two static positions, illustrated in FIG. 1, and drive the punches through a full punching cycle as the toggles move through half a cycle, from one static position to the other. Since the toggles move through only half a cycle, the eccentric cam 62 need only rotate through half a cycle and thus the speed of rotation thereof need be only half of that which would be required if there were not the frequency multiplying effect of the toggles. The decrease in speed of rotation of the drive shafts 13a-d greatly reduces the Wear and tear on the clutches and increases the life of the perforator.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention illustrated and described above is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes may be made in the shape, size and arrange- 35 ments of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the attached claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A clutch comprising a unidirectionally rotating drive shaft, first and second members freely mounted on said shaft, a rst coil spring wound around said shaft and having its ends secured one to each of said members, said spring having a relaxed inner coil diameter slightly less than the shaft diameter, an escapement tooth on said first member, a latch removably engaged with said tooth to restrain rotation of said rst member in the direction of shaft rotation, said second member having a circular exterior portion, a second coil spring wound around said second member exterior portion, means securing said second spring from rotation around said second member exterior portion, said second spring having a relaxed inner coil diameter slightly less than the diameter of said second member exterior portion and being wound therearound in `a direction to prevent rotation of said second member in a direction opposite to the direction of shaft rotation.

2. A device for forming data perforations comprising a die having a recess thereinto, a reciprocable punch aligned with said recess, a continuously rotating drive shaft, an escapement member mounted freely on said shaft for rotation relative thereto, a latch removably engaged with said escapement member to restrain rotation of said member with and by said shaft, clutch means for connecting said escapement member to said shaft for rotation thereby when said latch is out of rotation restraining engagement therewith and for disconnecting said escapement member from rotation by said shaft when said lever is in rotation restraining engagement therewith, a camming eccentric mounted for rotation on said drive shaft integrally with said escapement member, a rst link pivotally connected at one end to said punch, a second link pivotally mounted forlimited pivotal movement about a point fixed relative to said die, said first and second links being pivotally connected to each other, and a connecting rod secured at one end thereof to one of said links, said rod being engaged at the other end thereof with said eccentric for generally longitudinal movement of said rod by rotation of said eccentric.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 further including means for incrementally moving a tape adjacent to and past said die recesses, and means operative a predetermined time after the operation of said escapement member for actuating said tape moving means.

4. A device for forming data perforations comprising a die having a recess thereinto, a reciprocable punch aligned with said recess, a continuously rotating drive shaft, an escapement member mounted freely on said shaft for rotation relative thereto, a latch removably engaged with said escapement member to restrain rotation of said member with and by said shaft, a rst coil spring wound around said drive shaft with one end secured to said escapement member and the other end secured to said eccentric, said coil spring having a relaxed inner coid diameter slightly less than the shaft diameter, said eccentric having a circular exterior portion, a second spring Wound around said circular portion of said eccentric, means holding one end of said second spring against rotation around said eccentric, said second spring having a relaxed inner diameter slightly less than said circular portion of said eccentric and being wound therearound in a direction to prevent rotation of said eccentric in a direction opposite to the direction of shaft rotation, a cammingeccentric mounted for rotation on said drive shaft integrally with said escapement member, and punch actuating means operable by said eccentric for reciprocally moving said punch into and out of said die recess upon rotation of said eccentric with said escapement member.

5. A device for forming data perforations comprising a die having a recess thereinto, a punch aligned with said recess and arranged to move into said reess t form a data perforation in a tape or card disposed adjacent said die, a drive shaft, means for continuously rotating said drive shaft, an escapement member mounted on said shaft for rotation relative thereto, s-aid escapement member having two diamet-rically opposed escapement teeth thereon, a latch lever alternately engageable with one of said teeth to restrain rotation of said escapement member with and by said shaft, an electrical pulse operated electromagnetic means operatively associated with said lever to move said lever out of rotation restraining engagement with said tooth, clutch means for connecting said escapement member to said shaft for rotation thereby when said lever is out of rotation restraining engagement with said tooth and for disconnecting said escapement member from rotation by said shaft when said lever is in rotation restraining engagement with said tooth, a camming eccentric mounted for rotation on said drive shaft integrally with said escapement member, a first link pivotally connected at one end to said punch, a second link pivotally mounted for limited pivotal movement about a point fixed relative to Said die, said first and second links being pivotally connected tof each other, and a connecting rod secured at one end thereof to one of said links, said rod being engaged at the other end thereof with said eccentric for generally longitudinal movement of said -rod by rotation of said eccentric.

6. A device for forming data perforations comprising a die having a plurality of punch recesses formed thereinto, a plurality of reciprocating punches aligned with said recesses, a continuously rotating drive shaft means, a plurality of escapement members freely mounted on said shaft means, a plurality of latches individually removably engaged with said escapement members to restrain rotation of said members by and with said Shaft means, a clutch means operatively associated with each escapement member for connecting said members to said shaft means for rotation thereby when said latches are out of rotation restraining engagement therewith and for disconnecting said members from rotation by said shaft means when said latch levers are in rotation restraining engagement therewith, a plurality of camming eccentrics mounted `for rotation on said shaft means integrally with said escapement members, and a plurality of punch actuating means, each of which comprises a first link pivotally connected at one end to one of said punches, a second link mounted for limited pivotal movement about a point fixed relative to said die, -said first and second links being pivotally connected to each other, and a connecting rod secured at one end thereof to one of said links, said rod being engaged at the other end thereof with one of said eccentrics for generally longitudinal movement of said rod by rotation of said eccentric.

7. A device for forming data perforations comprising a die having a plurality of punch recesses formed thereinto, a plurality of punches each aligned with one of said recesses and disposed to move into said recesses to form data perforations in a tape or ca-rd disposed adjacent said die, drive shaft means, means for continuously rotating said shaft means, a plurality of escapement members mounted on said shaft means for rotation relative thereto, said escapement members each having two diametrically opposed escapement teeth thereon, a latch lever operatively `associated with each said escapement member, said levers being biased into engagement with said teeth to restrain rotation of said escapement members by and with said shaft means, a plurality of separately energizabl pulse operated electromagnetic means as'-l sociated one each with each of said levers for separately moving said levers out of rotation restraining engagement with said escapement members, a clutch means operatively associated with each escapement member for connecting said members to said shaft means for rotation thereby when said latch levers are out of rotation restraining engagement with said teeth and for disconnecting said members from rotation by lsaid shaft means when said latch levers are in rotation restraining engagement with said teeth, a plurality of camming eccentrics mounted for rotation on said shaft means with said escapement members, and a plurality of punch actuating means, each of which comprises a first link pivotally connected at one end to one of said punches, a second link mounted for limited pivotal movement about a point fixed relative to said die, said first and second links being pivotally connected to each other, a connecting rod secured at one end thereof to one of said links, said rod being engaged at the other end thereof with one of said eccentrics for generally longitudinal movement of said rod by rotation of said eccentric.

8. A device for forming data perforations comprising a die having a recess thereinto, a reciprocable punch aligned with said recess for movement into and out of said recess, a first link pivotally connected at one end to said punch, a -second link pivotally mounted for limited pivotal movement about a point fixed relative to said die, said first and second links ybeing pivotally connected to each other, a continuously rotating drive shaft, an eccentric freely mounted on said shaft for rotation relative thereto, a connecting rod secured at one end thereof to one of said links -and engaged at the other end thereof with said eccentric `for generally longitudinal movement of said rod by rotation of said eccentric, and clutch means for rotatingly driving said eccentric by said drive shaft.

9. A device for forming data perforations comprising a die having a recess thereinto, a reciprocable punch aligned with said recess for movement into and out of said recess, a first link pivotally connected at one end to said punch, `a second link pivotally mounted for limited pivotal movement about a point fixed relative to said die, said first and second links being pivotally connected to each other, a connecting rod secured at one end thereof to one of said links, a continuously rotating drive shaft, means rotatable with said drive shaft and engageable with said connecting -rod for converting rotary motion of said drive shaft into generally longitudinal movement of said connecting rod, and clutch means for engaging and disengaging said last named means to and from said drive shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 778,836 Ball Jan. 3, 1905 849,453 Ball Apr. 9, 1907 2,298,970 Russell et al. Oct. 13, 1942 2,475,432 Marihart July 5, 1949 2,851,888 Scholin Sept. 16, 1958 2,859,816 MacNeill Nov. 11, 1958 2,862,425 Swaim et al. Dec. 2, 1958 2,970,753 Lisinski Feb. 9, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,350 Great Britain June 2, 1353

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