US3250166A

US3250166A - Portable card punch device

Info

Publication number: US3250166A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alfred W Stewart
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-01-22
Filing date: 1964-01-22
Publication date: 1966-05-10
Anticipated expiration: 1983-05-10

Description

May 10, 1966 A. w. STEWART PORTABLE CARD PUNCH DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 22, 1964 INVENTOR.

y 0, 1966 A. w. STEWART 3,250,166

PORTABLE CARD PUNCH DEVICE Filed Jan. 22, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet B INVENTOR y 966 A. w. STEWART 3,250,166

PORTABLE CARD PUNCH DEVICE Filed Jan. 22, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

QXQQ MX N m United States Patent 3,250,166 PORTABLE CARD PUNCH DEVICE Alfred W. Stewart, New Paltz, N .Y. (107 Boulevard, Mountain Lakes, NJ. 07046) Filed Jan. 22, 1964, Ser. No. 339,429 Claims. ((31. 83-214) a punch apparatus for use on conventional data processing punch cards which is portable and which will readily fit into a pocket or briefcase.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable punch apparatus which is versatile and asprecise and accurate as the conventional non-portable punch'apparatus.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a portable punch apparatus which will expedite the processing of data normally entered on data processing punch cards.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a portable punch apparatus which will make it pos sible to enter data on conventional punch cards without requiring the transfer of the information from handwritten records.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a portable punch apparatus which is relatively inexpensive, simple in design, rugged in construction and easy to use.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of a portable punch card device and showing data processing punch cards before and after passing through the device;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom perspective view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view through the lines 3.-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a top perspective view of the key mechanism assembly;

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view of one of the punch elements employed in the key mechanism assembly illustrated in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the punch card ad- 88 of FIGURE 2, showing the card adjustable stop mechanism; and

FIGURE 9 is a top perspective view of the card adjustable stop mechanism. Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numeral 10 represents a portable punch card apparatus according to the present invention wherein there is a housing 11 comprised of a case 12 and a cover 13 which are attached together by means of screws 14, and which enclose a central compartment 15 for containing therein the mechanism assembly 16 for selectively punching openings 17 into data processing punch cards 18. The case 12 has a punch card receiving opening 19 on one side, and a punch card outlet opening 20 on the opposite side, thereby allowing the punch card to travel through the compartment during the punching operation.

The mechanism assembly 16 comprises a punch assembly unit 21, a key mechanism assembly 22, advancing roller assembly 23, an advancing roller drive mechanism 24 and a card adjustable stop mechanism 77.

.in the same direction.

3,250,166 Patented May 10, 1966 ICC The punch assembly unit 21 includes a longitudinal block 25 provided with a plurality of spaced apart vertical openmgs 26 of rectangular cross sectional configuration, extending through the block, for slidably receiving therein a plurality of punch elements 27, each having a rectangular shank 28 and an enlarged head 30. A compression coil spring 31 is fitted around each shank between the head and the upper side 32 of the block normally urging each punch element upwardly. A space 33 is provided below the block through which punch card 18 may pass. An anvil 34 immediately therebelow is provided with openings 35 to receive the lowermost ends of the punch element shanks during the'punching operation. Enlarged openings 36 immediately therebelow in the case are provided to allow punchings from the cards to be disposed of from inside the housing.

The key mechanism assembly 22 includes a pair of end plates 37 on opposite sides of the compartment between which there are supported cross shafts 38 and 39. A plurality of levers 40 and 41 are attached pivota'bly free at one end to cross shafts 38 and 39 respectively, the opposite ends of the levers resting on a U-shaped lever 42 which is mounted pivotably free on pins 43 mounted in each end plate 37. Between each opposite end, each of the levers bears against the top of one of the punch element heads 30. A plurality of openings 44 are provided through cover 13 and slidable keys 45 extend there tional key 49 provided with the legend space on its head 50 extends through the case and rests on a platform 51 affixed to the U-shaped lever 42. v

A pair of additional shafts 52 and 53 are mounted pivotably free between the end plates, each of the shafts having a pair of rollers 54 afiixed thereupon in a position so that the rollers engage the upper side 55 of the punch card relatively near the side edges thereof. Leaf springs 56 are mounted on the bottom Wall 57 of the case and bear upwardly against the underside 58 of the punch card immediately below each roller. Grooved guides 59 are mounted on wall 57 near each roller for the purpose of receiving therein the edges 60 of the punch card and guiding it during its travel through the compartment. Gears 61 and 62 are fixed on each of the shafts 52 and 53, and an idler gear 63 mounted on pin 64 meshes therebetween the gears 61 and 62, thus transmitting motion and causing the shafts 52 and 53 to turn at the same time All the rollers rotate together in the same direction to advance the punch card.

Leaf springs 56 provide asurface for the card to slide upon and because they are springs they provide loading between the rollers 54 and the top surface of a card in position.

A ratchet gear 65 is additionally fixed on shaft 52, and a pawl 66 mounted .pivotably free at the end of a rocker arm 67 is urged by a spring 68 into engagement normally therewith. The opposite end of the arm 67 is mounted pivotably free on a pin 69 aflixed in one of the end plates. Between its opposite ends the arm is mounted pivotably free on a pin 70 afiixed to one of the leg elements 71 of the U-shaped lever 42. A stop pawl 72 is urged by spring 73 to prevent reverse rotation of the ratchet gear.

Stops

74 and 75 are provided to limit the travel of the rocker arm and as a result the respective amount of travel between pawl 66 and the ratchet gear will in turn limit the advance of the punch card to a single digit on the numerical scale 76 on the punch card.

A card stop mechanism 77 serves to arrest the forward edge 78 of the punch card for the purpose of aligning the punch with a preselected digit column on the numerical scale 76. The mechanism includes a slot 79 having a counter-slot 80 in which a slide 81 is movable. A scale 82 on the underside 83 of bottom wall 57 indicates digit units on the scale 76 of the punch card, and an arrow 84 on the slide serves to align the slide with the scale 82. A screw 85 extending through the slide, the slot 79 and a block 86 on the upper side of the bottom wall serves to secure the slide in a selected position. A leaf spring 87 attached to the block 86 has an upturned lip 89 that engages the forward edge 78 of the card. A button 90 having an enlarged head 91 and an upstanding shank 92 bears against the underside of spring 87 to maintain proper relationship of lip 89 to the punch card so as to serve as a card stop when the button is pressed, but which will return to its normal position under the force of spring 87 to allow the card to override the same when the button is not pressed.

On operative use, the card is inserted into the housing to the selected position on scale 76, and the desired keys are depressed. When the key bearing the legend space is depressed, the U-shaped lever is pivoted downwardly about pins 43. At the same time the rocker arm is pivoted downwardly about pin 69. At the lowermost position of the U-shaped lever and the rocker arm, the pawl 66 engages under one of the teeth of the ratchet gear. When the key is released, the U-shaped lever and the rocker arm pivot upwardly again and at the same time the pawl rotates the ratchet gear causing the rollers to advance the punch card one digit. When one of the keys designating a numeral is depressed, the same operation as above occurs, except that upon the downward movement of the key, the selected lever 40 or 41 is additionally depressed causing the lever topush down on the respective punch element 27 which causes opening 17 to be punched into the card.

Thus, a portable card punching device has been provided having the versatility and accuracy of a large, nonportable card punching apparatus.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a portable card punching device for punching holes in a card, the combination of a housing comprising a case and cover, a compartment within said housing, an inlet opening and an outlet opening in said case for allowing said card to travel through said compartment, a longitudinal block within said compartment, a plurality of vertical rectangular openings through said block, a punch element within each of said openings, each of said punch elements comprising a rectangular shank, an enlarged head at the end of said shank,,a compression coil spring around said shank between said head and said block, a space member under said block to receive said card, an anvil under said space, said anvil having rectangular openings therethrough in alignment with said openings in said block, a pair of spaced apart end plates, a pair of parallel shafts between said end plates, at plurality of levers, one end of each of said levers freely pivoted on either one of said shafts, said levers extending across said heads of said punch elements, theopposite ends of said levers resting on a U-shaped lever mounted pivotably free at its terminal end within said case, a plurality of first keys extending outwardly above said housing, each of said first keys resting on one of said levers, a second key resting on a platform affixed to said U- shaped lever, an advancing roller assembly for moving said card through said compartment, an advancing roller drive mechanism for driving said roller assembly and a card adjustable stop mechanism for halting movement of said card.

2. In a portable card punching device, the combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said advancing roller assembly comprises a pair of cross shafts between said end plates, a pair of rollers on each of said cross shafts, a gear on each of said cross shafts, and an idler gear between and in engagement with said gears.

3. In a portable card punching device, the combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said advancing roller drive mechanism comprises a ratchet gear on one of said cross shafts, a pawl in engagement with said ratchet gear, said pawl being carried pivotably free on one end of a rocker arm, the opposite end of said rocker arm being attached pivotably free on a pin mounted on one of said end plates, and said rocker arm between its opposite ends being attached pivotably free to said U-shaped lever.

4. In a portable card punching device, the combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said card adjustable stop mechanism comprises a slot through the bottom of said case, a slide under said slot, a block about said slot, a screw through said slide, slot and block, said block carrying a leaf spring having an upturned lip for abutment with the forward edge of said card, and a button within said slide extending through said slot and abutting the bottom side of said leaf spring.

5. In a portable card punching device, the combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein a pair of leaf springs are respectively disposed beneath said pair of rollers to provide a surface for said card to slide upon and to provide loading between said rollers and said card.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 682,197 9/1901 Hollerith 83-213 X 918,412 4/1909 Anderson 83-588 X 1,266,230 5/1918 Dosch 83-213 X 1,272,089 7/1918 Powers 83'633 X 1,439,184 12/1922 Meyers 83-213 X 1,778,155 10/1930 Hildreth 83-633 2,146,291 2/1939 Ehrt 83-371 X 2,619,172 11/1952 Flittner 83467 WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner. J. M. MEISTER, Assistant Examiner,

Claims

1. IN A PORTABLE CARD PUNCHING DEVICE FOR PUNCHING HOLES IN A CARD, THE COMBINATION OF A HOUSING COMPRISING A CASE AND COVER, A COMPARTMENT WITHIN SAID HOUSING, AN INLET OPENING AND AN OUTLET OPENING IN SAID CASE FOR ALLOWING SAID CARD TO TRAVEL THROUGH SAID COMPARTMENT, A LONGITUDINAL BLOCK WITHIN SAID COMPARTMENT, A PLURALITY OF VERTICAL RECTANGULAR OPENINGS THROUGH SAID BLOCK, A PUNCH ELEMENT WITHIN EACHOF SAID OPENINGS, EACH OF SAID PUNCH ELEMENTS COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR SHANK, AN ENLARGED HEAD AT THE END OF SAID SHRANK, A COMPRESSION COIL SPRING AROUND SAID SHANK BETWEEN SAID HEAD AND SAID BLOCK, A SPACE MEMBER UNDER SAID BLOCK TO RECEIVE SAID CARD, AN ANVIL UNDER SAID SPACE, SAID ANVIL HAVING RECTANGULAR OPENINGS THERETHROUGH IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID OPENINGS IN SAID BLOCK, A PAIR OF SPACED APART END PLATES, A PAIR OF PARALLEL SHAFTS BETWEEN SAID END PLATES, A PLURALITY OF LEVERS, ONE END OF EACH OF SAID LEVERS FREELY PIVOTED ON EITHER ONE OF SAID SHAFTS, SAID LEVERS EXTENDING ACROSS SAID HEADS OF SAID PUNCH ELEMENTS, THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID LEVERS RESTING ON U-SHAPED LEVER MOUNTED PIVOTALLY FREE AT ITS TERMINAL END WITHIN SAID CASE, A PLURALITY OF FIRST KEYS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY ABOVE SAID HOUSING, EACH OF SAID FIRST KEYS RESTING ON ONE OF SAID LEVERS, A SECOND KEY RESTING ON A PLATFORM AFFIXED TO SAID USHAPED LEVER, AN ADVANCING ROLLER ASSEMBLY FOR MOVING SAID CARD THROUGH SAID COMPARTMENT, AND ADVANCING ROLLER DRIVE MECHANISM FOR DRIVING SAID ROLLER ASSEMLY AND A CARD ADJUSTABLE STOP MECHANISM FOR HALTING MOVEMENT OF SAID CARD.