US3337717A

US3337717A - Double head station for card reader

Info

Publication number: US3337717A
Application number: US287975A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cerf Gustave David; Gonzalez Gilbert Trevino; Rosenthal Erwin Wilhelm; Breitschwerdt Kurt
Original assignee: Remington Rand Division Of Spe
Current assignee: Sperry Corp
Priority date: 1963-06-14
Filing date: 1963-06-14
Publication date: 1967-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 1984-08-22

Description

A082 22, 1967 G. D. CERF ETAL 3,337,717

DOUBLE'HEAD STATION FOR CARD READER Filed June 14, 1963 2 sheets-sheet 1 IN VENTORS. Afl/er 6W5/f5 A from/y G. D. CERF ETAL DOUBLE HEAD STATION FOR CARD READER Aug. 2 2, `1967 United States Patent Oiice 3,337,717 Patented Aug. 22, 1967 3,337,717 DOUBLE HEAD STATION FR CARD READER Gustave David Cerf, Ambler, Pa., Gilbert Trevino Gonzalez, Danbury, and Erwin Wilhelm Rosenthal, East Norwalk, Conn., and Kurt Breitschwerdt, Bernville, Pa., assignors to Remington Rand, Division of Sperry Rand Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed .Iune 14, 1963, Ser. No. 287,975 11 Claims. (Cl. 23S-61.11)

ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A device for the photoelectric sensing of perforated data cards or tape. The device comprises a single light source and a pair of curved reflectors which form two separate light beams. Each of the beams is detected by a plurality of photocells corresponding to the number of hole portions in a card row. Each portion of the data card is read once by each of the light beams.

This invention relates to a machine for photoelectric sensing of data records, particularly perforated records such as punched cards or paper tape.

In general terms, the object of this invention is to provide an improved device for photoelectric record-reading. More specifically, for situations where considerations such as the need for accuracy may require double reading, this invention provides a compact machine which reads a record twice within the confines of a single read station unit. In addition the unit employs a stream of air both for cooling the reading lamp and for keeping the optical channels free of dust particles. The unit is also readily mechanically land electrically disconnectable and permits simple adjustments and servicing and replacement of components. Moreover it provides easy access to the record path to relieve jams, without danger of dropping any subcomponent that must be moved out of the way to accomplish this. All these features are in addition to the inherent advantages of photoelectric reading, such as the absence of moving parts and the fact that the speed of the sensing apparatus does not limit the record feed rate.

In carrying out this invention, there is provided a photoelectric record-reader comprising a lower unit having radiation-sensing means therein. An upper unit is hingedly mounted for opening and closing movement relative to the lower unit, and means are provided for releasably latching the upper unit to the lower unit in the closed position. The upper and lower units define a passage therebetween for a record such as a tabulating card. There is a chamber in the upper unit for receiving a reading lamp which is elongated for row-by-row reading. The lamp chamber contains mounting means for the lamp which are also adapted for movement to align the lamp. There is 'an air passage adjacent the lamp, and a vent for distributing the air from the passage substantially uniformly over the length of the elongated lamp for cooling purposes. An opening in the upper unit communicates with one end of the air passage for delivering a flow of cooling air thereto, 'and there is a conduit on the lower unit which is adapted for connection of an air line thereto and positioned to communicate with the upper unit air-delivery opening. After the air has served its cooling purpose, it reaches the region between the upper and ,lowerunits and is there released and directed over the machines optical pathways for cleaning thereof. There are also means for adjusting the amount of radiation reaching the sensing means. Finally, there are means which direct the radiation over two reading pathways so as to effect double reading of the cards.

The invention will now be more fully explained in the succeeding detailed description, which incorporates the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section, taken along the lines 1-1 of FIG. 2, showing the short dimension of an illustrative photoelectric tabulating-cardreader in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and sectioned, showing the long dimension of the card-reader of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective View of one type of lightadjustment member for use in the apparatus of the preceding figures;

FIG. 4 is an elevational View of an alternative form of light-adjustment member for use with the foregoing apparatus;

And FIG. 5 is a vertical section, taken along the lines 5--5 of FIG. 2, showing the friction brake assembly of the same card-reader.

vReferring specifically to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show the overall structure of a photoelectric reading station for perforated tabulating cards.. Although a tabulating-card-reader is shown by way of example, it will readily be appreciated that many aspects of this invention are equally applicable to the photoelectric sensing of other types of perforated records, such as perforated paper tape, and the photoelectric sensing of data records generally. Where tabulating cards in particular are concerned, however, the structure must be particularly adapted in certain ways to their requirements. Such cards are elongated in one direction, referred to as the length direction. The information-bearing locations, i.e. the punched or unpunched hole locations on the card, are arranged in columns extending across the width of the card and rows extending along the length of the card. For the sake of speed in reading such cards, they are commonly fed width-wise through the reading station so that the device scans a wide area in a short feed time instead of a narrow area over a long feed time. This is known as column-wise or row-by-row feed, and it requires a laterally elongated reading station which is Iadapted to accommodate the entire length of a card across the breadth of the station. In the device of FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 2 shows the long dimension of the reading station which accommodates the length of the tabulating card, and FIG. 1 shows the short transverse dimension of the reading station across which the card is fed.

The general organization of the reading unit is best seen in FIG. l. There it is seen that the -device includes a lower unit 14 and an upper unit 16 directly above. The two units are spaced lapart to dene a tabulating card passageway 18 therebetween. The card is fed through the passageway in the direction of the arrow Ztl by a pair of feed rollers 22. On emerging from the passageway 18 the card is extracted by further feed rollers 24 on the far side of the read station. The distance between the two sets of feed rollers 22 and 24 is slightly less than the columnwise dimension of a tabulating card so that the rollers keep control and the card does not stall in the passageway 18. The upper unit 16 contains the illumination sou-ree and optical system which shines reading light down on the card as it passes through the passageway 18, while the lower unit 14 contains the photosensitive elements which read the light as modulated by the tabulating card to sense the holes therein.

The lupper unit 16 -comprises a housing 26 which encloses the optical system. At the bottom of the housing 26 is a metal partition block 28 machined to the shape hereinafter described. At the entrance end of the card passageway 18 the partition block 28 is formed with a slope 28a for greater ease of ca-rd entrance. An illumihating lamp 30 is centered immediately above the partition block 28. Flanking the lamp 30 on either side are two metal reflector blocks 32 each of which has a polished curved mirror surface 32a adjacent to the lamp. Thus, pairs of light beams 34 and 36 emitted from the lamp filament 38 are reected from the respective mirror surfaces. The reflected light beams then cross each other and pass through a common port 40 formed in the partition block 28. This port is divided up .into individual light channels by a series of partitions 42 formed in the partition block 28 and spaced in the lengthwise direction, as lbest seen in FIG. 2. These partitions serve to break the light beams 34 and 36 into a series of separate light paths, one for each hole location along the tabulating card row. In this way the partitions help prevent crosstalk between channels.

The lower unit 14 comprises a housing 50 provided with cover member 51 which fits over the housing. A gasket 58 between the housing 5t) and cover member S1 serves to seal out dust that might otherwise enter the lower lunit 14. The cover member 51 is formed with a slope at 51a which co-operates with the slope 28a to form a widened entrance opening for the card passageway 18. An opening in the central region of the cover 51 is closed by a transparent aperture plate 54 cemented in place. The plate S4, which may be made of glass, admits the light beams 34 and 36 into the lower unit 14 after they have passed through the holes punched in the card, but prevents dust from entering. In order to prevent stray light from entering the lower unit 14, however, the aperture plate 54 is plated on the underside thereof with an opaque metal film 56 which serves as a mask. The latter, however, is formed with light-passing apertures at the proper locations, which serve as windows to admit the respective light beams 34 and 36. The curvature of the reflector surfaces 32a is designed to bring each light beam to a focus near its respective aperture. Each focus represents a location for scanning the tabulating card. In order not to disrupt the progress of the card through the passageway 18, the edges of the cover 51 adjacent the plate 54 `are bent below the top sur-face thereof, so that the plate lies substantially flush with the surface of the cover 51 to form a smooth floor for the card passageway 18. Moreover, the leading edge of the plate is relieved at 54a so as to avoid catching the edge of the card as it slides thereacross.

Within the lower housing 50 the light-sensing apparatus is supported on a center block 60 fastened at its end to any convenient locations on the framework of the lower unit V14. On either side of the center block 60 are mounting blocks 62 molded of a plastic material. Each of the mounting blocks is located in the path of a different one of the light beams 34 and 36. The blocks 62 are each molded with a series of partitions 64 which further serve to define the individual light channels allocated to the respective card hole locations. Appropriate surfaces are also formed on the mounting blocks 62, against which photocell carrier strips 66 are `clamped by means of spring clips 68. The spring 68 and the mounting blocks 62 are all secured to the center block 60 by means of appropriate bolts, as shown in FIG. 1. There is one photocell '70 on each side of the reader unit for each hole location along the length of a card row. Each photocell 70 is connected to -a carrier strip 66 and positioned so that it is aligned with its individual light channel. Individual electrical leads 72 are connected to the photocells 70, while the photocell carrier strips 66 `are made of a conductive material so that each of them serves as a common return conductor for the entire row of photocells 70 thereon. Common return leads 74 are then connected to the strips 66. As seen in FIG. 2 all the photocell leads 72 and 74 are brought out to plug receptacles 76 at the base of the lower unit 14. There are two such receptacles,

4 one for the bank of photocells on the left of FIG. 1 and another for the'bank on the right. Connection is made thereto by a pair of plugs 78.

FIG. l shows the advantageous double reading feature of this card reader. As the card is fed through the passageway 18, each individual hole location will rst be scanned by the light beam 34 coming from a first one of the reectors 32, so that the presence or absence of a hole at this location can be sensed by one of the photocells 70 in the right photocell bank. Subsequently, the same hole location continues to the left where it is again scanned, this time by the light beam 36 coming from a second one of the reflectors 32, and sensed by one of the photocells 70 in the left photocell bank. In this manner, the device of this invention achieves double reading of every bit of .information on the tabulating card. This has obvious utility as a means of double-checking lthe information to insure accuracy, and thus increases the reliability of the unit. Yet, such double reading is achieved within the confines of one read station, Without the necessity for duplicating all components to provide -an identical second station, which would be more expensive and require more space. By using only one of the plugs 78 the unit can be employed as a single read device if desired.

Another of the features of this invention is the provision of means for adjusting the amount of reading illumination which reaches the photocells 7 (l. This feature makes it possible for the photocell output current levels to be maintained with a greater degree of uniformity from one photocell to another, and also as to the same photocell at different periods of time as the illuminating lamp 30 and the various other components of the reader deteriorate. The adjustment is accomplished by means of members 80, one for each photocell '70 on both sides of the reader. Each of the adjustment members comprises a generally cylindrical barrel 82 which is rotatably received within an individual bore 84 formed in the associated mounting block 62. From this barrel 82 projects a at' blade 86 which is interposed in the path of the individual light beam channel for a particular photocell 70 so as tO block a certain portion of the light which would otherwise reach that photocell. By rotation of the adjustment member 80, the blade 86 can be turned so that it presents its broad dimension to the light beam, thus blocking a maximum amount of light, or so that its thin dimension is presented to the light beam, thus blocking a -minimum amount of light. To restrain unintentional rotation of the adjustment member 80, the barrel 82 preferably makes a frictional engagement With the interior of the bore 84.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate alternative embodiments of adjustment members in accordance with this invention. The adjustment member of FIG. 3 is conveniently formed of a single sheet of an elastic material such as hardened and tempered steel. The main body of the sheet is curled into a partly cylindrical shape to form the barrel 82. It is partly cylindrical in the sense that it is curled somewhat less than a full 360, thus leaving an axially extending gap 92 in the barrel. As a result of this gap and of the inherent flexibility of the thin sheet, the barrel can be compressed slightly upon insertion into the bore 84. Thereafter the barrel expands against the inside walls of the bore 84, keeping the necessary frictional fit therebetween to restrain accidental rotation. An integral extension tab adjoins one end of the sheet along an axially extending edge 88 of the partly cylindrical barrel 82; projects substantially diametrically into the interior of the barrel; and also extends axially out of the barrel to form the blade 86.

From FIGS. 1 and 2 it is apparent that an adjusting tool can be inserted into the outer end of any of the bores 84- to turn the adjustment member 80 mounted therein for adjusting the amount of light. In the case of the adjustment member 80 of FIG. 3, an appropriate driving tool would be a key which engages the central tab 90. The key 100 is seen in FIG. 3 to have a central cleft 101 adapted to receive the central tab 90, while on either side of the cleft are projections 102 which fit into the interior of the barrel 82 and embrace the central tab 90 for exerting the turning force on the adjustment member 80.

The alternative ladjustment member 80 of FIG. 4 is also preferably made of a metallic material and comprises a generally tubular barrel 82" which is cleft and spread at one end. This permits the barrel to be compressed for insertion into one of the bores 84, after which the tendency of the cleft to expand provides the requisite frictional engagement with the interior of the bore. A flat vane extends axially from the barrel 82 to serve as the light-blocking blade 86". The cleft at the end of the barrel 82 does not close completely upon insertion into the bore 84, and thus provides a convenient notch into which to insert a conventional screwdriver for use in rotating the member 80" for adjusting the illumination.

It is important that the illuminating lamp 30 be maintained in a position of accurate alignment with the lightpassing apertures formed in the opaque masking film 56, and with the photocells 70. In order to maintain such alignment this invention provides a lamp mounting which is capable of adjustment to vary the position of the illuminating lamp 30 in both the vertical and horizontal directions. As best seen in FIG. 2, the illuminating lamp has at each end thereof a terminal cap 120 which is used for physically mounting the lamp 30 and also for making the requisite electrical connections to its filament 38. Each of these terminal caps 120 is resiliently gripped by a spring clip 122 (FIGS. l and 2) which in turn is secured to a movable plastic block 124 by means of a.bolt 126. A lead strip 127 for supplying energizing potential to the lamp-mounting block '124 is pivoted to the housing 26 by a pin 128. One end of this pin ts tightly within a bore formed in a metal block 130 which is secured to the housing 26 at the end of the upper unit 16. The other end of the pivot pin 128 projects from the block 130 and is rotatably received within a channel 134 formed in the upper end of the lamp-mounting block 124. The channel 134 furthermore is vertically elongated. Thus, the lower end of the lamp-mounting block is able to rotate about the pivot pin 128, and the entire block can move vertically relative thereto. The rotational movement of the lower end of the lamp-mounting block 124 provides horizontal adjustment of the lamp 30, while the vertical movement provides vertical adjustment.

A leaf spring 136, which is bolted to another plastic b lock 137 secured to one side of the housing 26, operates compressively against the lower end of the lamp-mounting block 124 to bias it to the left as seen in FIG. 1. A horizontal adjustment screw is threadedly mounted in a plastic block 139 secured to the other side of the housing 26, and bears against the lower end of the lamp mounting block 124 to establish the horizontal limiting position. As seen in the cut-away portion of FIG. l the head of the horizontal adjustment screw 138 is accessible from outside of the upper unit housing 26, and can be turned by means of a screwdriver to make horizontal adjustments.

The vertical adjustment is controlled by a pin 140 (FIG. 2) which is also formed with a screwdriver head 141. A cylindrical barrel 142 formed on the pin 140 is concentrically and rotatably received within a bore formed in the block 130. A flange 146 formed at one end of the barrel 142 helps to retain the pin 140 in the bore and also serves to space the block 124 from the block 130. A spring 148 in the form of a cupped disk is nested within a hollow of the block 130 and engages the head 141 to cooperate in positioning and retaining the pin 140 in the bore. Beyond the flange 146 the pin 140 is formed with an eccentric projection 150 which is rotatably received within an opening 151 (FIG. l) formed in the lampmounting block 124. The opening 151 is elongated horizontally to permit horizontal adjusting movement of the block 125. A C-c1ip is engaged over a narrow neck of the eccentric projection to retain the lamp-mounting block 124 thereon. As the vertical adjustment pin 140 is rotated by means of its screwdriver head 141, the eccentric projection 150 thereof moves up or down by virtue of its eccentricity, thus moving the lamp-mounting block 124 vertically to adjust the lamp 30. The same type of adjusting structure is found at the other end of the upper unit 16, so that both ends of the illuminating lamp 30 can be adjusted.

The upper unit 16 of this reader is pivotally mounted on the lower unit 14 so that it can be swung up and away to permit access to both units for such routine servicing functions as replacement of the illuminating lamp 30` or photocells 70, or relieving of card jams in the passageway 18. lFor this purpose, the lower unit 14 is formed with fa rearward extension to which is bolted a pair of spaced, rearwardly extending arms 162, one of which is seen in the prole view of FIG. 2. See also FIG. 5. An axle pin 164 is supported -between these arms 162, and passes rotatably through la suitable bore formed in the 'block 130, to mount the upper unit 16 rotatably thereon. When the upper unit 16 is swung upwardly about the axle pin 164, this opens up the card passageway 18 to permit relieving of card jams, and also permits access to the upper unit 16 for replacing the illuminating lamp 30', as well as to the lower unit 14 for the replacement of the photocells 70.

In order to avoid the damage that might occur if the upper unit 16 were laccidentially allowed to drop from the open to the closed position, there are provided a friction brake and a mechanism for counterbalancing the upper unit to the open position. Above the casing 26 of the upper unit 16 there is mounted a second enclosure 180 which houses -a counterbalancing spring 182. One end of this spring is anchored to a bolt 184, which in turn is supported in a bracket 186 (FIG. 1) bolted to the top of the housing 26. The other end of the counterbal-ancing spring 182 is stretched by means of a cable 188 (FIG. 2). The end of the cable 188 passes about -a yoke 190 engag- Iing the end of the spring 182 and is clamped back on itself by means of a crimped sleeve 1192. The tensioning cable 188 extends rearwardly out of the open end of the enclosure and passes over a pulley 194 which is journ'aled on a shaft 196. This shaft is mounted between a pair of rearwardly extending arms `197 and 198 (FIGS. 2 and 5) which are integral extensions of a backplate 199 secured to the block 130 at the back end of the upper unit 16. Note that a cut-out in the backplate 199 (revealed by the sectioning) enables the vertical `adjustment screw head 141 to be reached externally of the reader. After passing over the pulley 194 the tensioning cable 188 passes through a hole in a locking pin 202. The end orf the cable on the far side of the locking pin is then fitted with a crimped sleeve 204 which prevents the cable from pulling out of the locking pin hole. The locking pin 202 is received within bights 162a formed in the lower unit arms 162, and is held therein by the tension of the counterbalancing spring 182. In this way the pin 202 serves to anchor the end of the tensioning cable 188 relative to the lower unit 14, so that t-he cable tenses the counterbalancing spring 182 whenever the upper unit 16 is moved downwardly into the closed position. Thus the spring 182 opposes a downward movement of the upper unit, to prevent accidental dropping Ithereof and to hold the unit in the open position. Reentrant cuts such as 198@ are formed in both the upper unit arms 197' and 198 to hold the anchor pin 202 when the upper unit 16, of the reader is removed. This prevents the spring 182 from pulling the pin 202 into the upper enclosure 180 during initial assembly and any subsequent disassembly.

A friction bnake assembly, FIGS. 2 and 5, cooperates with the counterbalancing mechanism to prevent precipitous raising or dropping of the upper lunit 16, and to enable it to remain in any open position. The brake mechanism, generally designated 300, operates by frictionally engaging a pair of tabs 197b and c which `depend from one of the upper unit arms 197. The brake mechanism includes a mounting pin 302 which passes through and is supported between the two lower unit arms 162. The pin 302 is secured Iin place by C-clips 304, land is accommodated within an arcuate slot 197d formed in the depending tab portion of the upper unit arm 197. This slot 197d forms the separation between the two tabs 197d and c, and its -arcuate shape is designed to avoid contacting the mounting pin 302 when the reader upper unit 16 -is swung open or closed. -Mounted on the pin 302 is ya sleeve bolt 306 which is yalso accommodated with the arcuate slot 197d. This bolt is threaded at one end and formed with a holding head 306a at the other end (see FIG. The bolt 306 has mounted on Iit a row of washers for various purposes. A pair of plastic friction washers 310 are located on either side of the depending tabs 197i: and c, to exert the frictional retaining force thereon. As seen in prole in fFIG. 2, these tabs 197 b and c intrude from opposite sides within the outline of the friction washers 310, `and slide substantially vertically between the washers upon opening or closing movement of the upper unit 16. The friction washers are flanked on either side by metal washers 311 for spacing purposes. In order to press the plastic washers 310 frictionally against the tabs 19719 and c pairs of Belleville washers 312 are also mounted on the sleeve bolt 306. These washers are in effect cupped compression springs, with each pair arranged concave side to concave side, and several such pairs arranged back-to-back along the sleeve bolt 306 as shown. An adjusting nut 314 threaded on the bolt 306 is used to compress the Belleville washers 312 to the desired degree as a means of adjusting the frictional braking force exerted on the tabs 197b and c. A lock nut 316 is tightened against the nut 314 for maintaining the desired adjustment. A depending tab of the other upper -unit arm 198 is trimmed short along an edge 198b in order not to interfere with the brake mechanism 300.

In order to hold the upper unit 16 in its iclosed position yet permit ready re-opening, there is provided a latching and releasing mechanism. This includes a latch pin 210 which projects from the side of the upper unit 16. A handle 212 mounted `on :the forward extension 168 of the lower unit 14 is formed with a reentrant latching surface 212:1. Thus the handle 212 can latch over the pin to hold the upper unit 16 in position, but can be pulled back and released from the latch pin to permit re-opening. The handle 212 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 214 which is received in a vertical channel 216 formed in a bracket 218 mounted at the front end of the forward extension 168. The shaft 214 oats vertically in the channel 216 to permit the necessary small upward movement of the handle 212 as it slips over the latch pin 210 during latching and releasing, but a compression spring 219 Within the channel 216 acts between the upper end of the channel and the handle shaft 214 to keep the shaft and the handle 212 biased downwardly. When the latching surface 212gv is positioned over the latch pin 210 in the manner illustrated in FIG, 2 the downward pressure of the spring 219 tends to keep the handle 212 pressed downwardly into engagement with the latch pin. To re-open the upper unit 16 the handle 212 is rotated about its shaft 214 in the direction indicated by the arrow 220, whereupon the latching surface 212a is released from the latch pin 210, permitting the upper unit 16 to rotate upwardly through its opening movement. A stop pin 222 in the channel 216 serves to limit the downward motion of the handle shaft 214 so as to keep the mechanism in assembly. In addition the bracket 216, which projects somewhat above the forward extension 168, serves to establish the limiting position of the upper unit 16 so as to fix the proper vertical height for the card passageway 18.

The filament of the illuminating lamp 30 dissipates a considerable amount of heat, which would raise the temperature in the confined space of the upper unit 16 considerably if some method of cooling were not employed. Therefore, a stream of cooling air is forced over the lamp 30. In providing 'this cooling stream, however, there are a number of design problems which must be met. For example, it is desirable that the hose which supplies the cooling air not be connected directly to the movable upper unit 16, otherwise the hose would be moved about each time that the upper unit was opened or closed, and might constitute an obstruction. Secondly the length of the lamp 30, which is elongated as seen in FIG. 2 to match the length of a tabulating card, makes it difficult to cool all portions of the lamp uniformly. In the solution of these problems, a coupling 260 for an air hose is mounted on the forward extension 168 of the stationary lower unit 14, thus avoiding the problem of moving the air hose about. This coupling communicates through an opening 261 with an air passage 262 in the upper unit 16 whenever the upper unit is in the closed position. A circular gasket 264 on the top surfaces of the forward extension 168 provides a seal between the lower unit coupling 260 and the upper unit opening 261 and air passage 262.

Within the upper unit 16 there is a partition 270 which curves upwardly from a point near the entrance to the air passage 262, and then extends parallel to the illuminating lamp 30 above the lamp. This partition 270 serves to divide the interior of the housing 26 in to the air passage 262 above the partition and the lamp-receiving chamber below the partition, Thus the air which is forced into the passage 262 flows over the top surface of the partition 270 and `rearwardly along the passage 262 as shown by the arrows 271. In order to permit the air then to flow downwardly over the lamp as also shown by the arrows, the partition is formed with a vent 272 best seen in FIG. l. In the design of this type of equipment it has been found that if the width of the vent is uniform along its length, differing :amounts of air reach the different portions of the lamp 30, resulting in non-uniform cooling. This problem is met by tapering from vent 272 from one end of the air passage 262 to the other. In the particular embodiment shown here, it has been found that a high pressure area develops at the rearward end of the air passage 262, resulting in a tendency for more cooling air to ow over that end of the illuminating lamp 30. Therefore, as seen in FIG. 1 the vent 272i tapers from la wider portion at the front end to a narrower portion at the back end, with the result that the cooling air is more uniformly distributed over the length of the extended lamp 30.

The arrows 271 also show (FIG. l) that after the air ows downwardly past the lamp 30, it exits through the port `40 formed in the center of the partition block 28, thus clearing this optical pathway of dust and dirt. The air is then released through a channel 280 at the side of the partition block 28. This directs the released air over the upper surface of the lower unit 14 so as to clear dust and dirt which might otherwise collect on the optical windows of -the aperture plate 54. In addition, the pressure of the `air in the channel 280 serves to press the tabulating card downwardly so that it lies ilat in the passageway 18. This is important because the slanted paths of the light beams 34 land 36 cause any vertical displace-ment of Athe tabulating card to result in a shift in `the timing of the card-reading process.

It will now be realized that this invention comprises a photoelectric reader unit having a multiplicity of advantages. In particular, this device accomplishes double reading for increased reliability and accuracy, yet it does so in a compact unit which occupies no more space than a single read device and does not require a full doubling of components. Moreover, the unit is easily openable for ready servicing access, such as clearing of card jams and the replacement of lamps or photocells. An improved cooling structure is provided which distributes the cooling air uniformly over the length of the elongated lamp,

and at the same time the cooling air serves to clean the optical pathways of the reader. In addition, a way is provided to prevent the air supply hose from getting in the way ofthe opening and closing movement of the unit. Also readily accesible means are provided for sensitive positioning adjustments of the lamp, and adjustments of the amount of light reaching each photocell.

What has been described is Ia preferred embodiment and is believed to be the best mode of practicing the invention, but it will be clear to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made therein without departing from the principles of the invention, the scope of the invention being stated in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A record-reader comprising:

a lower unit;

an upper unit hingedly mounted for opening and closing movement relative to the lower unit;

means for releasably latching the upper unit to the lower unit in the closed position;

means for counterbalancing and braking the upper unit in the open position;

the upper and lower units defining a record passage therebetween when the upper unit is in the closed position;

a chamber in the upper unit for receiving an elongated lamp having a radiationand heat-producing element for directing radiation toward the record passage and the lower unit;

a pair of radiation-sensing means in the l-ower unit;

means for directing the radiation in two pathways to the respective sensing means in a manner to effect double reading of the record information locations;

means adjacent the record passage to admit radiation to the sensing means;

means for mounting the lamp in the chamber, said mounting means being adapted for movement to align the lamp with the radiation-sensing means and radiation-admitting means;

means defining an air passage adjacent the lamp chamber;

means for distributing air from the passage substantially uniformly over the length of the lamp for cooling purposes;

an opening in the upper housing communicating with the air passage for delivering a ow of air thereinto;

a conduit on the base unit adapted for connection of an air line thereto, said conduit being positioned to communicate with the upper unit air-delivery opening for supplying air thereto when the upper housing is in the closed position;

means at the lower surface of the upper unit for releasing air therefrom and directing the released air over the radiation-admitting means for cleaning thereof;

and means for adjusting the amount of radiation reaching the sensing means.

2. A record-reader comprising:

means for receiving a lamp for directing a radiation beam;

means for sensing radiation;

means mounting the sensing means in the path of the radiation beam;

means for interposing a record across the radiation beam;

means adjacent the path of the radiation beam formed with a cylindrical bore extending transversely to the path;

an adjustment member including an at least partly cylindrical 'barrel rotatably received within the bore, said 'barrel being frictionally engaged with the bore to restrain unintentional rotation, said adjustment member including a substantially planar blade projecting axially from the barrel out of the bore and into the path of the said radiation beam for at least partial interruption thereof.

3. A record-reader as in claim 2 wherein:

the adjustment member comprises a sheet of material curled to form the barrel;

and an integral extension of the sheet projects from one axially extending region of the barrel surface substantially diametrically into the interior of the barrel and also extends axially from the barrel to form the blade. i

4. A record-reader as in claim 2 wherein:

the part of the barrel remote from the blade is cleft to cooperate with a screwdriver blade;

and the opposing parts on opposite sides of the cleft are spread to bias themselves apart to provide a friction t Within the bore, the cleft permitting compression of the opposing parts together to facilitate insertion into the bore.

5. A record-reader comprising:

means for directing radiation toward the information locations of a record;

radiation-sensing means aligned with the radiationdirecting means;

a housing for a lamp capable of providing the radiation;

and means for mounting the lamp in the housing, said means being movable for aligning the lamp with the radiation-directing means and radiation-sensing means, including- 4a pivot pin secured to the housing and projecting internally therefrom,

a lamp-mounting block in the housing formed with a channel rotatably and slidably receiving the pivot P111,

adjustment means driveable from outside the housing for advancement relative to the housing against the mounting block to rotate the mounting block about the pivot pin for adjustment in a selected direction,

means resiliently biasing the mounting block against the adjusting means,

and an adjusting pin mounted for concentric rotation relative to the housing and formed with an eccentric projection,

the mounting block being formed with a channel receiving the eccentric projection, the channel 'being elongated in the selected direction and sized for ysliding of the mounting block relative to the eccentric projection during adjustment in the selected direction and for rotatably clasping the eccentric projection for adjustment of the mounting block transversely to the selected direction in response to eccentric rotation thereof.

6. A record-reader comprising:

a lower unit;

radiation-sensing means in the lower unit;

an upper unit hingedly mounted for opening and closing movement relative lto the lower unit;

the upper and lower units defining a record-passage therebetween when the upper unit is in the closed position;

means in the upper unit dening an air passage extending substantially parallel to the lamp-receiving chamber, said means including a partition separating the air passage from the lamp-receiving chamber;

an opening in the upper unit communicating with the air passage for delivering a flow of air thereinto;

a vent formed in the partition, said vent being tapered toward one end of the air passage to provide a substantially uniform flow of air to the lamp for cooling purposes;

a conduit on the lower unit adapted for connection of an air line thereto, Vand positioned to communicate with the upper unit air-delivery opening for supplying air thereto when the upper unit is in the closed position;

means adjacent the record passage for passing radiation from the lamp to the sensing means;

and an exit path at the lower surface -of the upper unit for releasing the cooling air therefrom and directing the said air at the radiation-passing means for cleaning thereof.

7. A record-reader comprising:

abase unit;

a second unit hingedly mounted for opening and closing movement relative to the base unit;

means in the second unit for receiving a lamp having a radiationand heat-producing element for directing radiation toward the record;

means in the second unit defining an air passage near the lamp-receiving location to conduct air for cooling purposes;

an opening in the second unit communicating with one end of the air passage for delivering a tlow of air thereinto;

and a conduit on the base unit adapted for connec tion of an air line thereto, and positioned to com` municate `with the second unit air-delivery opening for supplying air thereto when the second unit is in the closed position.

8. A record-reader comprising:

ahousing;

a chamber in the housing for receiving an elongated lamp having a radiationand heat-producing element;

means in the housing defining an air passage extending substantially parallel to the lamp-receiving chamber, said means including a partition separating the air passage from the lamp-receiving chamber;

an opening in the housing communicating with the air passage for delivering a liow of air thereinto;

a vent formed in the partition and tapered toward one end of the air passage to provide a substantially uniform iiow of air to the lamp for cooling purposes.

9. A record-reader comprising:

a lower unit;

radiation-sensing means in the lower unit;

an upper unit hingedly mountedv for opening and closing movement relative to the lower unit;

the upper and lower units dening a record passage therebetween when the upper unit is in the closed position; means in the upper unit for receiving a lamp having a radiationand heat-producing element for directing radiation toward the passage and the lower unit;

means in the upper unit defining an air passage near the lamp-receiving location to conduct air for cooling purposes;

means communicating with lthe air passage for delivering a ow of air thereinto;

means adjacent the record passage for passing radiation from the lamp `to the sensing means;

and an exit path at the lower surface of the upper unit for releasing the cooling air therefrom and directing the air at the radiation-passing means for cleaning thereof.

10. A reader as in claim 9, -wherein a port is formed at the lower surface of the upper unit, the said port comprising at least part of the radiation-passing means and also comprising at least part of the exit path whereby to be cleaned by the release of the cooling air therethrough.

11. A reader as in claim 9, wherein the radiationpassing means includes window means at the upper surface of the lower unit positioned in relation to the exit path to be swept by the cooling air exiting therefrom, for cleaning of the window means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,916,624 12/1959 Angel Z50-219 3,036,765 5/1962 Jones 23S-61.11 3,056,332 10/1962 Beregowitz 88-24 3,244,062 4/ 1966 Sweet 88-14 MAYNARD R. WILBUR, Primary Examiner.

R. E. COUNCIL, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A RECORD-READER COMPRISING: LOWER UNIT; AN UPPER UNIT HINGEDLY MOUNTED FOR OPENING AND CLOSING MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THE LOWER UNIT; MEANS FOR RELEASABLY LATCHING THE UPPER UNIT TO THE LOWER UNIT IN THE CLOSED POSITION; MEANS FOR COUNTERBALANCING AND BRAKING THE UPPER UNIT IN THE OPEN POSITION; THE UPPER AND LOWER UNITS DEFINING A RECORD PASSAGE THEREBETWEEN WHEN THE UPPER UNIT IS IN THE CLOSED POSITION; A CHAMBER IN THE UPPER UNIT FOR RECEIVING AN ELONGATED LAMP HAVING A RADIATION-AND HEAT-PRODUCING ELEMENT FOR DIRECTING RADIATION TOWARD THE RECORD PASSAGE AND THE LOWER UNIT; A PAIR OF RADIATION-SENSING MEANS IN THE LOWER UNIT; MEANS FOR DIRECTING THE RADIATION IN TWO PATHWAYS TO THE RESPECTIVE SENSING MEANS IN A MANNER TO EFFECT DOUBLE READING OF THE RECORD INFORMATION LOCATIONS; MEANS ADJACENT THE RECORD PASSAGE TO ADMIT RADIATION TO THE SENSING MEANS; MEANS FOR MOUNTING THE LAMP IN THE CHAMBER, SAID MOUNTING MEANS BEING ADAPTED FOR MOVEMENT TO ALIGN THE LAMP WITH THE RADIATION-SENSING MEANS AND RADIATION-ADMITTING MEANS;