US3411709A - Flexure-interposer - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 19, 1968 E. E. MASTERSON 3,411,709

FLEXURE-INTERPOSER Filed July 14, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. I

INVENTOR EARL E. MASTERSON ATTORNEY E. E. MASTERSON Nov. 19, 1968 FLEXURE-INTERPOSER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR EARL E MASTERSON Filed July 14, 1966 Nov. 19, 1968 E. E. MASTERSON FLEXURE- INTERPOSER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 14. 1966 INVENTO)? 54 RL 5. msrmsou Fig. 4

E. E. MASTERSON Nov. 19, 1968 FLEXURE-INTERPOSER Filed July 14. 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet E PCM-I m S R E R7 m MM M M E United States Patent 3,411,709 FLEXURE-INTERPOSER Earl E. Masterson, Newtonville, Mass., assiguor to Honeywell Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 402,412, Oct. 8, 1964. This application July 14, 1966, Ser. No. 565,309

19 Claims. (Cl. 234-115) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a selectively-actuated bent-flexure interposer arrangement, the improvement therewith of guide sheet means together with cooperatively engaged stripper means, with the flexure being mounted on a reciprocating bail and the stripper made a part thereof, these together with such particular design improvements as: forming a set of flexures from a single, .multi-fingered sheet; arranging opposed pairs of interposed/ guide sheet combinations on opposite sides of a single bail, together with symmetrically arranged pairs of stripper-feet; specifying an inner guide as a continuous, bent sheet, notched to clear punches; prebending co-acting guide sheets together with their intermediate flexure-interposers to be clamped onto the bail with a U-clamp arrangement; and dimpling the guide sheets to a prescribed flatness.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application, Ser. No. 402,412, filed Oct. 8, 1964 and now issued as US. Patent No. 3,279,690.

The present invention relates in general to improved actuator arrangements for selectively thrusting driven members; more particularly, it relates to flexible interposer means for selectively transmitting such thrust without involving abrading surfaces, such as characterize cams, rotary pivots and the like, and more especially to such means as associated with high speed punch elements for use with electronic computer systems.

Although those skilled in the art will perceive that the improved actuator arrangement of the invention is adaptable for many different applications, it will be described in an embodiment comprising an actuator/interposer arrangement in a high speed punch adapted to perforate computer records. The utility of this arrangement and the problems it solves in this punch embodiment will evidently be applicable in other related embodiments. High speed computer punches must perform rather complex operations at extremely high speeds and with unfailing accuracy. Some serious drawbacks of such mechanisms are that they make too much noise, that they are not reliable enough and are too difficult to service. The present invention provides a non-impacting, non-frictional, combination actuator/interposer arrangement for such punches which markedly alleviates these problems. More particularly, the invention eliminates the typical abrading-surface interposer components, such as cams, cam-followers, rotary pivots, etc. which tend to wear, thereby causing operational and servicing problems, especially at the high punching speeds required today. In so doing, the invention also dispenses with lubricants, thus greatly simplifying service needs and also avoiding the harmful aggregation of abrasive paper dust that typically collects around punch lubricants.

Prior art punch apparatus has typically involved interposer means which include an armature element to be solenoid-translated for effecting the actuation of selected punches, i.e. to coupling them with a driving means. The considerable mass of conventional armature interposers obviously complicates the interposer (solenoid) power "ice requirements and can severely limit the speed of operation. This is especially true when such armature elements are coupled with interconnecting mechanical linkages, such as cams and the like. The interposer arrangement of the invention greatly alleviates these problems by eliminating all rubbing parts, employing a simple flexure arranged to function both as an armature and as a thrustlinkage. Workers in the art may be somewhat surprised that such a simple, apparently fragile, spring element can, of itself, perform these functions. Yet they will surely realize that in so doing, the flex-ure spring interposed of the invention radically reduces the mass, the complexity and the wear of interposer parts, and also simplifies fabrication and maintenance, etc. to an impressive extent, as well as increasing the life of the interposer assembly. For instance, I have found that such interposer flexures can give billions of cycles of reliable operationan extraordinary increase over the usual interposer life; so much so that the interposer should likely outlast the overall punch apparatus. Further, such a flexure interposer is not only very easy to actuate, it may readily be made self-restoring to return itself without the need of restore means.

In yet another area, the invention has simplified the structure of prior art punch actuator arrangements, namely the area of timing and synchronization of the interposer elements to be synchronously engaged with the driving elements. Associated with this problem is that of providing fussy mechanical linkage between the interposers and their associated select means, the latter characteristically being spaced some distance from the interposing area, between driving and driven means. Both of these problems have been greatly reduced by the simplification effected according to the invention whereby the interposer element is mounted directly upon the driving means, i.e. on the punch bail, to be reciprocated back and forth therewith, one end of the interposer thus being constantly coupled to the driving means and the other end thereof being free to be selectably positioned for driving engagement with its associated punch. According to a further simplification, the interposer comprises a common stamped multi-fingered flexure sheet clamped to the driving bail in pre-flexing conforming contact with associated preflexed guide means. Thus, a common mounting and flexing means is provided for mounting the interposer and associated guide means in constant contact with the driving bail to be reciprocated therewith.

A further simplifying feature of the inventive interposer arrangement is effected by fabricating inner and outer guide means associated with a set of such interposer flexures each from a single non-magnetic sheet. In the case of the inner punching guide, this sheet includes stiffening terminal projections on the sheet, each projection extending adjacent the thrusting end of each fiexure finger. Thus, each flexure finger in the set is pre-flexed and guided along a common plane and at a common flexed attitude. According to a further improvement feature, these guide sheets are dimpled so as to be easily fabricated to a high surface flatness as well as to provide less aerodynamic drag when engaged closely against the associated flex-ure interposer sheet.

Yet a further simplifying feature is effected by mounting on the bail, in common with the aforementioned interposer assembly carried thereby, a novel stripper assembly arranged to be translated in common therewith and to both retract actuated punches as well as to space interposer guide means. It will be recognized that the stripper means must be actuated in precise synchronization with the punch bail and with the interposer arrangement. This is customarily effected by restore rods, bar linkage, cams and the like, having the aforementioned unwanted abrading surfaces. According to the invention, mounting the stripper means on the punch bail in common with the,

interposer assembly automaticaly effects such synchronization and avoids phase-adjustments and the like. Such a bail-hung stripper also simplifies mounting problems, since by eliminating the usual punch-restore apparatus surrounding the punches, it opens this area up for nearaccess by interposer elements, such as the aforementioned flexure guides, interposer actuators and the like. Thus, a unitary punch actuating assembly is provided according to the invention, whereby the interposer arrangements and the stripper arrangements are both mounted in common upon the punch bail to thus eliminate troublesome parts, simplify mounting problems and timing problems, provide access to interposers, and the like. Such a stripper arrangement allows the aforementioned interposer improvements and cooperates advantageously with the selfrestoring flexture interposer.

According to a further feature of the invention, a flexure interposer, like that above-described, is provided which solves the two, somewhat-counter-vailing, requirements that such an interposer be tough and yet readily magnetizable. According to one embodiment, a magnetic fiexure finger is provided with a hard wear-tip; moreover the finger is formed to, itself, comprise tough, elongate structural material along with softer ferromagnetic material. Another feature of the invention provides a modification of the punches associated with the aforementioned flexure interposer assembly whereby the punches may be provided with tough, non-magnetic tips.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a combined interposer/ actuator arrangement which overcomes the foregoing disadvantages and provides the aforementioned and related features. Yet another object is to provide such an interposer arrangement having reduced mass, fewer parts, and simplified design.

Yet a further object is to provide such an arrangement including flexure interposer means, eliminating abrading surfaces and associated lubrication and wear problems, while also simplifying fabrication and maintenance requirements. Still another object is to provide such an interposer means together with flexed guide means. Another object is to provide such an arrangement incorporating a plurality of flexure interposers fabricated from a common metal sheet to be attached to a drive means in common with associated pre-flexing guide sheet means.

Still another object is to arrange such interposer and guide means to be mounted in common upon a punch bail. Another object is to provide stripper means projecting from said drive means.

Yet another object is to provide such an arrangement wherein the guide means for a imulti-interposer flexure sheet comprises a metal sheet clamped pre-flexingly upon a punch bail in common with said interposer sheet. Still another object is to provide such an arrangement wherein such guide sheets are dimpled for simplified provision of high flatness and reduced aerodynamic drag.

Yet another object is to provide such interposers comprised of nonmagnetic structural portions together with magnetizable portions formed to be integral therewith. Still another object is to provide such an interposer arrangement in conjunction with associated punches whereby engaging surfaces are formed of tough durable nonmagnetic material.

Further objects of the invention, together with the aforementioned and other features and advantages thereof, will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like parts:

FIGURE 1 is an idealized perspective showing of high speed card punch embodiment of the present invention, some parts being omitted and some simplified for clarity;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the arrangement in FIGURE 1 in the up, or non-punching, phase;

FIGURE 3 is an isometric exploded view of one of the interposer assemblies of FIGURE 1 t g ther with associ- In general With reference now to the drawings, the invention will be explained by way of an embodiment which implements an interposer arrangement for a two' column (12 punches per column) high speed serial punch apparatus. This arrangement, as best seen in FIGURE 1, is a combined interposer-actuator unit A, shown in operative relation with a pair of associated m-ulti-punch magnetic selection arrays ML, MR. Unit A includes a pair of like multipunch interposer assemblies IL, IR, each being arranged to drivingly connect a driving means, in the form of a punch bail (bail frame H being shown) with selected punches in an associated aligned set of punches P, P (FIGURE 3). These elements, generally, implement the high speed serial punch, the functions of which are known and more particularly described in parent application, Ser. No. 402,412, referred to above. In essence, an eccentric drive shaft (not shown here) is arranged to rotate at high speeds (for instance, about 5,000 r.p.m.) so as to constantly reciprocate the bail (frame H) in a nearlylinear punching motion, as understood in the art. This bail is preferably flexure-coupled to the drive shaft and also is preferably flexure-suspended from a mounting support, as indicated in the aforementioned application. Bail frame H includes a shaft-coupling header portion ,I-IF. According to a feature of the invention, frame H is arranged to be integral with a set of projecting, subtended multi-punch-pair stripper means com-prising stripper array ST (FIGURES 1, 3).

Paired interposer assemblies IR, IL are mounted on bail H to be relatively symmetrical about stripper array ST. Assemblies IR, IL are identical, each including a multi-fingered interposer flexure sheet 30, 30' respectively (only 30 is shown in FIGURES l, 3), each finger 3 thereof being arranged to be selectively positioned to drive an associated one of punches P, P respectively when the latter is selected. In the illustrated punch unit, two columns or sets P, P of 12 punches each, are shown, being understood as actuable for selectively punching associated rows and columns in a passing computer record such as a punched card. It will be understood that the record medium is to be moved in a conventional manner below the lower punch ends, as is 'well understood in the art.

Thus, actuator unit A, being operatively arranged between left and right magnetic assemblies ML, MR, respectively, comprises a bail frame H, a stripper assembly ST projecting integral therebelo-w and a pair of left and right interposer assemblies IL, IR, respectively, the latter being attached to H to be symmetrical about stripper assembly ST. Assembly ML is shown exploded laterally away from unit A only for illustration purposes. Thus, the left columnar row (set) of punches, P1 through P12, is disposed so that each punch may be selectively engaged for punching actuation by an associated one of interposer flexure fingers 3-1 through 3-12 respectively (only a portion being shown in FIGURE 3) of associated interposer flexure sheet 30 in left interposer assembly IL. Similarly, for companion set of punches P1 through P12, which are disposed in operative relation with respective fingers 3'-1 through 3'-12 (not shown) of interposer flexure sheet 30 in right interposer assembly IR.

As seen in FIGURES 1 through 3, the stripper array when current-pulsed, are each adapted, as seen below, to substantially cancel out the aforementioned flexure-attracting permanent magnet flux from their respective pair of poles to selectively translate the associated flexure finger to ON (punching) position. Thus, a bucking solenoid winding is provided on each of upper pole pieces 27-1 through 27-12, namely windings 27-31 through 27-312, respectively; while, similarly, on lower pole pieces 29-1 through 29-12, windings 29-31 through 29- 312, respectively, are provided, as is best seen in FIG- URE 3. Select means (not shown) will be understood as provided to apply suflicient select current to each such pair of pole windings at times when the associated flexure interposers are selected, i.e. to he released to ON for punching a selected associated punch. The field generated by this current thus bucks, and cancels out, the corresponding permanent magnetic flux, releasing the preflexed, pre-biased flexure finger to be returned by its natural internal resilience to the ON or punch position. Punch position is where the flexure engages the associated inner (punching) preform so as to be stiffened thereby while thrusting the associated punch through the record when carried down by bail H.

Thus, for example, when bail H is in UP (START) position of the punching cycle thereof (i.e. at its upward extreme and ready to start downward in a new punching cycle), if the record were to be punched at the position thereon under punch P'-2 (FIGURE 4), a punch-current (Select) signal would then be applied through associated bucking coils 29'-32/27'-32 to oppose the permanent magnetic flux emanating from associated pole pieces 29- 2/27'-2 and holding associated interposer finger 3'-2 in OFF position, i.e. engaged against outer preform 1. In this OFF position, interposer 3'-2 is flexed a maximum and is biased to snap back against inner preform 5' when released, thus bridging slot C'-2 therein as shown in FIGURE 4. Application of the aforesaid select-current signal so releases interposer 3-2 to assume this ON position so that when bail H next descends the free tip IT of the interposer, as stiffened by preform 5, will engage the head PP-2 of punch P'-2 to drive it down for punching that (selected) position in the record. When bail H, thereafter, ascends to complete this punching cycle, the associated pair of stripper heads sit-2, sh-3, engaged about head PP'-2 (in slots pg therein) will, of course, return P-2 toward UP position for beginning the next punch cycle. Punch P-2 may be similarly selected in the next cycle; or it may be not selected, in which latter case the permanent magnet field from poles 29'-2/27'-2 will be allowed to retain flexure interposer 3'2 back in OFF position as indicated for interposer 3-1 in FIGURE 5.

Magnet 23 is comprised of a high retentivity, permanently magnetized ferromagnetic (high mu) material, while projecting pole pieces 27, 29 are comprised of a low retentivity easily magnetizable material. According to a feature of the invention, magnetic assembly ML is also provided with a flux-shunt 25, movably clamped between upper pole piece set 27 and upper magnet pole 23-1 to be adjustably positionable between poles 23-P, 23-PP to assume various flux-shunting positions therebetween and establish a variable shunt-gap dy (shown full-open in FIGURE 1 and partly closed in FIGURE 2). Thus, shunt 25 is a high permeability, low-reluctance material mounted fiux-couplingly between pole 23-P and pole piece set 27 while being set to return a variable portion of the magnetic flux from pole 23-P to magnet 23, this portion varying inversely with the length of gap dy. Such shunted flux is prevented from passing through, and between, paired ones of pole pieces 27, 29. Shunt 25 thus adjusts the permanent magnet strength of the field emanating from pole pieces 27, 29 and may control the force exerted thereby to pull associated flexure fingers 3 into the OFF (no punch) position. Slots 25-S are provided in shunt 25 to accommodate clamp means for allowing this variable shunt positioning. As recognized by those skilled in the art, such an adjustable shunt is an extremely convenient means for adjusting the net magnetic force upon the interposer flexures and thus is convenient for standardizing the pull of the magnetic assemblies (MR, ML) either during fabrication or in the field, this makes the manufacturing tolerances and positioning tolerances less critical, both for assemblies ML, MR and for the overall actuator unit A. Of course, other equivalent (e.g. purely mechanical) means may be provided to perform these interposer-positioning functions of magnetic assembly ML. For instance, tiny cams might be mounted behind each flexure 3, on the bail, to translate it to OFF position selectively, in

advantageous location with the light, self-restoring flexure. It will also be understood that magnetic assembly MR, arranged symmetrically on the opposite side of actuator unit A and having similar parts (with same numerals, but primed) is arranged identical to companion assembly ML described above, MR being adapted to control the ON, OFF (punch, no-punch) positioning of associated interposer flexures 3 in the corresponding interposer assembly IR.

Interposer Only one of the interposer assemblies, IL, will be particularly described, it being understood that the companion assembly IR is similarly constructed and arranged. Interposer assembly IL will first be generally described with respect to FIGURES l, 2 and 3, there being seen to comprise a thin, resilient, multi-fingered, interposer flexure sheet 30 surrounded by a pair of spaced inner and outer guide sheets 5, 1 respectively. A spacer 13 separates outer sheet 1 from flexure sheet 30. According to a feature of the invention sheets 1, 30, 5 are clamped together and conjunctively flexed (deflected) inwardly against stripper ST between a pair of inner and outer clamp bars 7, 15 respectively. Bar 15 is attached to bail H, as indicated more particularly in FIGURE 2. It will be generally understood that interposer sheet 30 comprises 12 interposer flexure fingers 3-1 through 3-12 and is so disposed upon bail H that each of these fingers 3 may be engaged punchingly with an associated one of the punches (P-l through P-12 respectively) when carried by bail H into the downward punching phase of the punch cycle.

According to another feature, outer, non-punching preform sheet 1 (sheet 1' similar) comprises a flexible, nonmagnetizable metal sheet adapted to be deflected by clamp bars in a prescribed manner so the free end thereof is engaged guidedly along one side of all the stripper heads sh as indicated in FIGURES 1 and 2. It is found that the magnetic flux from the pairs of pole pieces 27/29 is able to pass relatively unafl'ected through the crosssection of such a sheet to attract associated ones of fingers 3 there-toward. Preform 1 thus serves as a guiding stop for the set of interposer flexures 3-1 through 3-12 which, in the non-punching (OFF) positions thereof are held somewhat conformingly thereagainst and out of drivjing engagement with the associated (non-selected) punch when bail H is depressed. Preform 1' is similarly related to associated flexures 3'-1 through 3-12. This conforming contact is indicated in FIGURE 5 for nonpunching flexure 3-1, the latter being pulled by the permanent magnetic flux from associated poles 29-1/27-1 to curve against preform 1. Such conformed flexing of sheet 1 allows it to contact a flexure finger 3 very smoothly and evenly along its vertical length without distorting it, stressing it, shearing it, or vibrating it (no bounce).

So forming the outer preform of a single integral sheet for guiding a set of interposer flexure fingers is obviously convenient. Moreover, the solid sheet was found surprisingly effective in transmitting magnetic flux from magnet assembly ML to the fingers, where it had been supposed previously that flux-notches in the sheet were required for this. Avoiding such notching of preform I obviously strengthens it, as well as simplifying its fabrication. However, one or several holes, such as hole 1-11 in sheet 1 (FIGURE 3) may be provided to view the tips of adja- ST projects integrally from frame H to comprise a central body portion of actuator unit A and includes a plurality of stripper extension STl through ST13, each terminating in an enlarged head portion sh. Adjacent pairs of heads sh are adapted to engage opposite sides of respective paired punches, as seen hereinbelow. Stripper extensions ST1 through ST13 are separated by prescribed cut-out slots SC1 through SC-12 fashioned to be just about wide enough to admit an associated pair of punches therealong, such as paired punches P1, P'1 in slot SC-l (FIGURE 4). As detailed in FIGURE 4 stripper heads sh are engaged along associated slots pg formed along opposite sides of each punch. Slots pg are arranged so that heads sh may travel therealong and may engage the upper limit thereof just after punching is completed, i.e. when bail H has bottomed in its downward thrust, the unselected punches being held up (by retainer meanssee below) while heads sh begin to return the selected punches as bail H returns upwardly. Thus, a surrounding pair of confronting heads sh will engage a punch after it has bottomed to retract it (strip it) and return it to the unactuated (or Up position shown in FIGURE 2), being thus automtically returned upward with bail H.

Punches As is somewhat conventional in the art, punches P are aligned in prescribed lateral positions by guiding bores in a die means D, so as to be drivenly engaged by respective ones of flexure fingers 3-1 etc. Punches P are also arranged to be maintained in the aforementioned Up, or rest, position when not selected, being so maintained by retainer means (SP, FIGURE 2) engaged therewith. More particularly, as FIGURE 2 shows, a retainer flexure spring SP is provided in a slot ps in each punch P, for instance, spring SP-l being provided for punch P-l, spring SP'1 for companion punch P'-1, etc. Slots ps have their upper limits offset between paired punches (those in punches P offset from those in punches P) to allow associated retainer spring SP, SP to be similarly offset, and non-interfering, while projecting from a common base. The upward thrust of these retainer springs may be stoplimited to establish a prescribed up-plane R-R (FIG- URES 2, 5) for the tops thereof, just below the driving interposer flexures 3, and out of engagement therewith. A simple stop means as indicated at stop bar SX (FIG- URE 2) projects from the rigid frame to efifect this, being stoppingly engaged by the lower end of stop grooves ps of paired punches along a common plane. Thus, slots ps will be of different lengths to accommodate the different engaging position for retainer springs SP. SP, yet terminated along a common plane by stop SX. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, other equavalent retainer and stop means may be provided.

Each punch is also provided with a magnet MG for punch vertification purposes. Magnets MG comprise permanently magnetized material carried by the punches and adapted to be brought operatively adjacent an associated verification detector PCM when the punch is properly driven to its maximum bottoming excursion (down position). Thus, by sensing the presence of the magnets, each detector PCM provides a vertifying indication that its associated punch has perforated the record.

Punches P are comprised of tool steel or other tough metal. Preferably, the top portions PT of punches P are separately fabricated to comprise a high durability, wearresistant, non-magnetic material, such as Stellite (trade name), and are afiixed, such as by welding or the like, to the main shank portion of the punch. This provides a durable, impact-resistant tip for driven engagement with the associated flexure interposer finger. This tip material is also specified as non-magnetic to prevent false punch-translations (explained below), i.e. not to be carried downward to activate detector PCM when bail H descends if the-punch is not selected. Such may occur if a punch becomes magnetized and is magnetically attracted CFl to follow a moving magnetized part. For instance, stripper heads sh may become magnetized by the adjacent fields from the magnetic assemblies MR, ML, etc. and, in turn, might attract an adjacent punch tip to follow them toward the down position. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that such false translations of a nonselected punch P are intolerable; for instance, they interfere with the transport of a passing record and also can induce a false punch echo (punch verification signal) from detector PCM. In this connection, it will also be appreciated that stripper projection ST, including stripper arms ST-l through ST13 and associated heads sh, is preferably comprised of a non-magnetic, preferably demagnetized, tool steel or the like so as to be tough and strong, and yet retain no magnetization such as might falsely translate one of the punches, as aforesaid.

Magnetic selection FIGURES 1 and 3 show the environment in which interposer assemblies IL, IR are arranged, being clamped on bail H to be symmetrical about stripper assembly ST, and also to be symmetrically surrounded by the left and right magnetic assemblies (ML, MR, respectively). Leftward magnetic assembly ML includes an elongate, strongly magnetized, permanent bar magnet 23 enclosed in a non-magnetic (preferably aluminum) casing 21 to which upper and lower sets of pole pieces, 27, 29, respectively, are attached. Magnet 23 comprises a strongly ferromagnetic material and includes a pair of opposite-polarity, upper and lower projecting poles 23P, 23PP, respectively. Upper and lower sets of pole pieces 27, 29, respectively, comprise a number of vertically-paired, low-reluctance, flux-conducting members mounted on casing 21 so as to be in operative flux-conducting relation with upper and lower magnet poles 23-P, 23PP, respectively. Lower pole pieces 29 comprise fourteen spaced, relatively identical, projections 29-0 through 2913 (a portion being shown in FIGURE 3 as well), all cantilevered out relatively orthogonal from lower magnet pole 23PP to be reatively orthogonal to the vertical bail (driving) axis V. Similarly, upper pole pieces 27 comprise a set of fourteen projections 270 through 27-13, all cantilevered out from upper magnet pole 23P at the same oblique angle, being also oblique to axis V. Casing 21, preferably aluminum, is adapted to direct the flux from magnet 23 to pole pieces 27, 29.

Upper pole pieces 27 thus extend downwardly toward a corresponding one of the lower pole pieces 29 to be verticaly registered therewith, thus forming fourteen identical pole pairs. Each of the twelve in board pole pairs 27-1/29-1 through 27-12/29-12 are thus disposed so that each pair may project a permanent magnet flux somewhat normally toward the respective one of the twelve magnetic interposer flexure fingers 31 through 312 with which it is operatively associated, being spaced therefrom in opposing flux-coupled relation. Thus, each such pole pair can attract (and repel) a corresponding flexure toward (and away from) themselves, out of (and into) the thrust-transmitting, ON position (and the OFF, or no-punch, position). These ON/OFF positions are indicated for flexures 3'2/3'-3, respectively, in FIGURE 4 and 31/31 in FIGURE 5. The two outboard pole pairs of assembly ML, namely pole pairs 270/29-0 and 27-13/29-13 (FIGURE 3) are not operatively associated with any interposer flexure, but are provided (as detailed below) to help balance the magnetic fluid for the outboard flexures, 31, 312 respectively, in cooperation with the outboard strippers ST-l, ST-13. As shown, all the pole pairs (27-0/29-0 through 27-13/2913) are normally set to apply flux from permanent magnet 23 to pull flexure fingers 3-1 through 3-12 toward themselves, i.e. to be set normally OFF. The twelve inboard, interposer-actuating, pole pairs are also each provided with a bucking solenoid iwinding about each (upper and lower) pole piece. These winding pairs,

cent interposer fingers (e.g. 3-1) for alignment thereof relative the tops of associated punches.

Similarly, inner punch preform may be comprised of a flexible, non-magnetizable metal sheet adapted to be deflected between calmps 7, 15 against the side of stripper ST with flexure sheet 30 bendingly engaged relatively coplanar and conformingly thereagainst, thus establishing a pre-flexed static condition thereof. Flexure fingers 3 are thus spring-biased to be urged into the ON position. The free end of preform 5 may be slightly beveled (surface S-F, FIGURE 4) for flatter, low pressure engagement against the stripper. Punch preform 5 is believed to function as a preformed deflected beam curved to provide a prescribed stiffening reinforcement of associated interposer fingers 3, extending coextensive therewith almost to their tip so as to prevent them from buckling when thrust against an associated punch. However, with sheet 5 so disposed just above the tops of associated punches P-l through P-12, it becomes necessary to provide for clearing such punches when they are non-selected since sheet 5 is carried down therepast with bail H during punching phase (FIGURE 5). Thus, a set of 12 clearance cutouts, C-1 through C-12, (FIGURES 3, 4) are provided at this free end of sheet 5, each being disposed and dimensioned to clear" an associated punch. Thus, cutouts C-1, etc. are slightly wider than the enlarged punch heads PP and are cut deeply enough to admit heads PP when bail H, with attached interposer assembly IL, descends to its bottom-most (Down) position. Punch phase (or Down position) is indicated in FIGURE 5 where nonselected punch P-1 (head PP-l thereof) is indicated as having entered a corresponding cutout C-l in punch preform 5. Sheet 5 may thus be stamped out to include cutouts C. Companion inner preform 5' is similarly formed and related to flexures 3'1 through 3'-12.

Preferably, the flexure fingers are arranged to be sufliciently wide to bridge associated ones of cutouts C (but little wider), being dimensioned to overlap successive ones of the lands therebetween and thus be guided on both sides. Thus, the fingers will be somewhat wider than associated punch heads (cf. FIGURE 4) which must fit within the cutouts.

Thus, according to a feature of the invention, a set of flexure interposers associated with a row of punches, as well as the associated inner and outer preforms therefor, are each formed from a single flexible metal sheet, the sheets being mounted in common upon the punch bail and being clamped there to be pro-flexed in common (biased) in a common integral bending arrangement. The outer preforms (1,'1') may be formed to comprise a sheet about 3.125 by 2.359 inches with a thickness of 1820 mils found satisfactory for this embodiment. Both pairs of preforms (1, 1, 5, 5) are formed from a non-magnetic material having a high degree of flatness (at least adjacent the interposer sheets 30, including fingers 3, 3 which are also very flat) being about twice the thickness of sheets 30, 30'. For instance, a flatness in the neighborhood of 0.003 TIR- has been found acceptable. It is preferred in this embodiment to make inner preforms 5, *5 about 25 mils thick and outer preforms 1, 1' about 19 mils thick. Evidently, the preforms (1', 1, 5', 5) must be somewhat thicker than the interposer sheets 30, 30' to exhibit somewhat more stiffness. Sheets 30, '30- will be magnetizable, light and highly resilient. For instance, it may preferably be about mils thick, with spacers 15, about the same. Sheets 30, 30' may comprise 1010 cold-rolled steel or blue spring (1095) high-carbon steel, or'other hard non-magnetic steel and will also include ferromagnetic material, inserted therein or clad thereon, as indicated below with respect to FIGURE 4.

Workers in the art will appreciate many advantages from mounting the interposer assemblies IR, IL on the bail H. One such advantage is that the stripper ST may project from bail H to guide interposer elements, yet with no rubbing between these members at any time. Moreover, the stripper heads sh and the surface of the stripper body may also act to position the preform guides.

Dimpling According to another feature of the invention, indicated in FIGURES 3 and 6, preforms 1, 5 (1, 5' similar) are dimpled to present an array of small similar protrusions (e.g. DP) on the surfaces thereof facing the intermediate flexure sheet 30. Protrusions DP are to be spaced relatively homogeneously across sheets 1, 5 to define a flat engaging plane conforming with the rather precisely-flat sheet 30. Such dimpling has been shown in FIGURE 3 but not in FIGURES 1 and 2. This dimpling, or heading, of the preform surface is quite simple to provide in a number of ways; for instance, it may readily be stamped therein. One of the important advantages of such a dimpling is that it greatly simplifies the task of forming preforms 1, 5 to a very high, repeatable flatness, such flatness being required for proper guiding conforming engagement between the preform sheets and interposer sheet 30. For instance, a preform might typically be formed with some flatness discontinuities (e.g. warping, low spots, protuberances, etc.). Flatness would conventionally 'be provided by expensive, complicated buffing, polishing, etc. treatments. By contrast, this may be provided by dimpling according to the invention. Thus. simply squeezing the preform in a dimple press and then flat-pressing the raised (dimpled) reference surface can produce a flat engaging plane across the top of the dimples which has a remarkable flatness, such as to within 0.001 to 0.002 TIR flatness. As described below (regarding FIGURE 6) this dimpling enables the flattening press to selectively depress the dimples to a greater or less degree according to whether their locus on the preform surface constitutes a high spot or a low spot, respectively. To achieve such a high flatness, and so conveniently, was highly advantageous and unexpected.

Another important advantage results from such dimpling. When an interposer sheet (e.g. 30) is pressed intimately against a preform, both surfaces being flat and conforming, parting forces which tend to separate the two surfaces, e.g. the select, solenoid field, will tend at least initially to establish a partial vacuum therebetween which resists this parting. Such a drag obviously slows down and obstructs inter-poser actuation. It has been found that when the interposer flexure is engaged against a preform having dimples as aforementioned, this aero dynamic drag is radically reduced. The dimpling evidently assures a constant minimum air pressure at the interface of the parting surfaces to resist creation of such a vacuum and thus alleviate any substantial air drag. This makes interposer translation both quicker and easier.

FIGURE 6 is an idealized, purely illustrative, sectional view through a fragment of the dimpled outer preform sheet 1 in FIGURE 3, being taken across a pair of annular dimples therein. FIGURE 6 is provided simply to generally describe how such a dimpled surface may preferably be formed and used. This view is enlarged and rather exaggerated, indicating a somewhat exaggeratedly-uneven engaging surface of preform 1, for illustration purposes. Sheet 1 will be understood as having been provided with a plurality of like, pre-stamped dimples DP, DP, etc. distributed uniformly across its surface. Each dimple comprises a cavity (117, 107) surrounded by an annular mounding, or protrusion, (111, 101, respectively), these being formed, for instance, by pressing a corresponding array of like projecting studs against surface 100. These protrusions (101, 111 etc.) will thus project above the engaging surface (100, Le. on the side thereof which engages interposer sheet 30). This pressing is such as to produce thesurface mounding which raises annuli (111, 101, etc.) surrounding the associated cavity and, in some cases, also produces a slight rise in the surface opposite the cavities (indicated at mounds 115, 105). However, the latter mounds will in most cases not result if the sheet is properly bottomed against a flat reference surface during dimpling. In any case, the mounds are not problematical since it is the engaging face 100 of the preform sheet that must be dimpled and flattened.

Assume that plane FF represents a reference engagement plane of a precisely prescribed flatness to be effectively presented by surface 100 of sheet 1 for optimum engagement with interposer sheet 30 and fingers 3 thereof. It will readily be appreciated that a flat press surface of high prescribed flatness may now be depressed against protrusions 111, 101, etc. until all the tops thereof register along plane FF. Plane FF is defined to engage all protrusions so as to flatten them all to some degree, depending upon the flatness of their locus on surface 100. Protrusions 111 etc. when flattened will be made to deform and flow outward, e.g. somewhat into the associated cavity (e.g. 111 into 117). With dimples DP etc. so flattened along reference plane F-F, sheet 1 will then present a very flat engaging surface for mating with interposer sheet 30, this surface comprising the flattened tops of an array of somewhat-depressed annular protrusions 111, 101, etc. which relatively precisely register along reference plane FF, having the precise flatness desired. The ease, and yet the precision, of so forming a flat engaging surface will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Preforms 5, 1' and 5' may, of course, be similarly dimpled.

Clamp According to another feature of the invention, the three sheets comprising interposer IL (IR is similar), namely flexure sheet 30 and preform sheets 1, 5 are clamped together to be deflected in a common prescribed manner with respect to the surface of bail H, and especially of stripper portion ST, thereof. As best seen in FIGURE 2, this clamping means preferably comprises an inner clamp bar adapted to be aflixed on bail H (such as with bolts along terminal fiat portions), the central sheet-engaging portion of bar 15 being beveled to a prescribed angle a with respect to the surface of bail H (axis V) sufliciently to establish the prescribed deflecting of preforms 5, 1, as detailed below. This central portion of bar 15 also preferably includes a central groove 15-G, extending longitudinally therealong, being, for instance, a few mils deep. Outer clamp 7 is provided to attach the sheets to this central portion of bar 15, such as with bolts in the registering bores therethrough, as indicated in FIGURE 3. Clamp 7 is provided with a longitudinal grove 7-G adapted to be in relatively close registration with groove 15G when clamp 7 is attached to bar 15. These grooves locate a constant deflection zone, along axis TT (FIGURE 2), for bending the preforms and interposer sheet from a fixed point thereon to thereby guarantee a prescribed uniform flexing thereof despite variations in the surface flatness, the coupling mode, etc. along the clamping surfaces of bars 7, 15. Such variations can easily occur in the fabrication of different interposer units and might vary the flexing action, and thus the operation, of the interposer assemblies from unit to unit.

Outer clamp bar 7 is also provided with a pair of locating pins lp (FIGURE 3) adapted to be inserted through registering bores (not shown) through the sheets and companion bar 15 for quick, accurate relative positioning thereof prior to securing them together. Spacer 13, between outer preform 1 and interposer sheet has a width close to that of sheet 30 (the drawing is not to scale) and is provided to establish sufficient spacing therebetween so that fingers 3-1 etc of sheet 30 may clear an associated punch P-1 etc. when the former are in the OFF (no punch) position. It has further been found that clearances d (1 between outer preforms 5 and upper and lower pole pieces (27, 29, respectively) may be somewhat close to the width of the interposer sheet 30, for instance, being about 16 mils here.

F Iexure characteristics FIGURE 4 will be seen to supplement FIGURES 1 through 3, showing a portion of right interposer assembly IR (IL is similar) in illustrative operating relation with associated portions of stripper ST and respective punches. It will be here assumed that the entire assembly is in Bailup phase where the punches and flexure interposer fingers are all disengaged. Thus, those punches that punched in the preceding cycle will be understood as having just been returned to Up position by the stripper. The punches are all understood as being retained Up, offset above stripper heads sh a prescribed clearance (e.g. about 4 mils) by the retainer means (e.g. springs sp) as aforesaid. The punches thus present their top surfaces aligned along a prescribed Up-plane R-R (FIG- URE 2) by stop means SX (above). Plane R-R is arranged to be spaced below the engaging tips of the interposer flexures 3, 3' a prescribed amount (gap d here about 10 mils). With this arrangement, there will be no appreciable impact between an interposer flexure and the associated punch head when the two are engaged since engagement will occur very close to the top of the bail stroke where relative velocity (along V axis) is close to zero. Thus, a gentle, smooth engagement of interposer with punch is achieved, something very desirable in the art. For illustration purposes, it will also be understood that one of the interposer flexures (3-3) is nonselected, i.e. has been pulled out of punch position and into no-punch position (from ON to OFF position, as indicated by the arrow) where it may clear (not engage) associated punch P'3 when the bail/stripper mount supporting it begins to descend for the next punch cycle. On the other hand, flexures 31, 3'2 are seen selected, i.e. allowed to snap to ON position by select-current fields. As aforesaid, punches P are indicated as having separately formed heads PT of a high durability, non-magnetic material welded thereon.

FIGURE 4 also illustrates a modification of the interposer flexure structure whereby flexures 3 (companion flexures 3 would be similar) are fabricated in a compound structure having a tough, durable, resilient structural portion I-A (e.g. of a hard spring steel) and a high mu, ferromagnetic (e.g. soft iron) portion IB, bonded intimately to portion IA. For instance, it has been found that cold-rolling such a sheet of soft iron onto a sheet (high carbon) blue spring steel under high pressure can molecularly bond the two together into a satisfactory compound interposer flexure. These layers must be very intimately bonded so that, when flexed, they deflect as a substantially integral beam element, without experiencing any appreciable internal stresses, such as different shear stresses which might tend to part the layers, especially at the clamping point. In an alternate form, the flexures may comprise a three-part sandwich having a pair of outer spring steel sheaves molecularly-bonded to an intermediate ferromagnetic iron layer. It has been found that the mechanical strength and durability of compound flexures so fabricated is improved without sacrificing any appreciable magnetic-attraction characteristics. Workers in the art will visualize other equivalent ways of providing these two different materials in such a composite interposer flexure.

According to another feature which may be used either instead of, or together with, the aforementioned multi-layer construction of flexures 3, 3 is the provision of a wear tip IT on the free end of the flexure fingers to be engaged with the top of a respective punch as FIG- URE 4 shows. More particularly, it has been found that welding a relatively thin layer of wear material, such as Stellite, onto the tips of interposers 3, 3' and thereafter machining, or otherwise forming, these tips to conform to the desired precise dimensions, squareness, etc.

reduces the likelihood of abrading wear thereof by the punch. Such wear is especially troublesome in tending to make the tips non-square so that they engage the top of a respective punch unevenly. Such oblique engagement can quickly lead to misaligned punching actuation and also accelerate the further wear of the two parts, e.g. by gouging out of the top of the punch because of the reduced engaging area, etc.

Interposer operation FIGURE is somewhat similar to FIGURE 2 showing roughly the same cross-sectional area, but at a different phase in the punch cycle, that is, at the punching (or bail-down) phase of the cycle, where FIGURE 2 illustrates res phase (Bail up). FIGURE 5 illustrates selected? and non-selected interposers and punches. Thus, interposer 31 is seen in the selected (interposed, punch-thrusting) condition, as is associated punch '-1. Conversely, companion interposer 3-1 is seen in the non-selected (non-interposed) condition, and assor ated punch P-1 is non-selected and non-punching.

The interposed assemblies are seen here arranged symmetrically about central bail H and stripper frame ST projecting therefrom as in FIGURES 1-4 above. Initial stripper head sh-l is shown engaged with outer preforms 1, 1' to space and flex them properly. Inner preform 5' is seen as guiding interposer 3-1 to thrust associated punch P'1 downward suflicient to effect punching, bail H and stripper ST having bottomed at the punching phase in this driving cycle. Selected flexure interposer 3'-1 is thus understood to be in conformed, guiding, stiffening engagement against preform 5'. The magnetic interposer-select means is fragmentarily indicated by lower pole pieces 29, 29 and their associated solenoids 29-31, 29'-31 respectively. It will be understood that selection of flexure 3'-1 was effected by effectively nullifying the pull of the permanent magnet flux from associated pole pieces 27'1, 29'-1, thus preventing these from pulling flexure 3-1 into non-selected (OFF) position against outer preform 1'. As aforesaid, this is done by applying a select current pulse through coils 29'-31, 27'31. The resultant bucking (select) field thus releases flexure 31 to return itself into engagement against inner preform 5'. The pre-flexing of the interposer flexures assures this self-return action. On the other hand, companion flexure 3-1 will be seen as pulled outwardly against associated outer preform 1 by the permanent magnet flux from associated pole pieces 27-1, 29-1, there evidently being no bucking (select) field from associated solenoids 29-31, 27-31. Thus, flexure 3-1 is kept clear of punch head PP-I of associated punch P-l when it is depressed with the ball assembly, as shown in this punching phase. Head PP-1 avoids contact with inner preform 5 by riding up into the associated slot C-l therein provided for this, as indicated. It will further be appreciated that non-selected punch 3-1 will be maintained in this UP condition (by retainer spring sp), being ready, when the bail assembly has returned upwardly, to begin the nextpunching cycle. However, selected punch P'1 will be there while engaged in stripper grooves pg, by associated surrounding stripper heads sh-1, sh-2 (sliding along these grooves) and will be returned to the up position for beginning the next cycle. It will be recognized that it is thus a feature of the invention that the magnetic interposer selecting means are relatively failsafe, in that, being held normally-off, they are less likely to produce erroneous punching, e.g. as might occur if no punc pulses were required to clear the interposers and failed to occur.

The features of the above-described improved interposer arrangements may be summarized as follows, with particular referencev to FIGURES 2 and 5. As aforesaid, a feature of the invention is that the interposer flexures do double duty, serving both as the armature of the selecting solenoid means and as the mechanical interposer linkage. Furthermore, this linkage function is provided without any abrading parts and with a small, compact, lowmass unit. Each row of interposers may be considered as being clamped between a pair of relatively stiif (preform) guide means, the overall assembly being mounted on the stripper-bail frame so that these guide means are preformed into a prescribed flexed curvature and carry the interposer flexure with them to be similarly pre-flexed. Thus, in the non-punching position an interposer will be held against the outer preform so that it cannot engage the top of the associated punch. When bail-stripper ST is in Up phase, starting a punch driving cycle, selected interposer flexures are released to snap into engagement with the inner preform where as the down stroke of the bail begins, they may engage the top of the associated punch as to thrust them punchingly. As the punching load is applied and stripper ST thrusts downwardly, toward the die D and the perforatable record therebeneath, the thin selected interposers transmit this thrust to respective punches smoothly and firmly, being reinforced and stiffened by the inner preform. The deflected, guided flexures thus react like a rigid column to transmit the required punching force without buckling. Since both the preforms and the flexures have a common point of attachment (to bail H) there can be no relative sliding motion or resultant abrasion, etc. between them and therefore no relative wear.

The deflected beam preforms 1, 5 are a feature of the invention that provides convenience as well as efiiciency since they avoid the fussy manufacturing problems that would be inherent in providing the bail frame with contoured guide surfaces. That is by deflecting preforms 1, 5 in common with their associated intermediate flexure interposer, a pair of guiding, conformingly contoured surfaces is automatically provided.

Since the interposer assemblies IL, IR are carried by reciprocating bail assembly and since selection is performed magnetically, the relative motion and abrasion which normally exists in prior art machines between the reciprocating and fixed members is eliminated, as is any resultant wear. The interposers, being held in a normally non-punching position by a permanent magnet field, move to punch position in a snap-flexing action because of their initial flexing pre-load, doing so, of course, when the (bucking) releasing field is applied from associated solenoid coils. Translation of the interposer from non-punching to punching position will be understood to occur at the top of the up-down stroke of the bail when a clearance is established between the punch and the interposer, for instance, when the punches are in the condition shown in FIGURE 4. Thus, the punch selecting interposer system of the invention has only one moving part, and that part a simple flexure means which has no sliding, abrasive pivoting or impacting motions. No prior art interposer system is known which can claim these highly desirable characteristics.

Equivalent interposer systems may be provided according to the invention for other actuator arrangements where the selectable actuation of driven members is accomplished by selectable coupling thereof with a driving flexure member. Such systems may be provided for the actuation of print hammers in a high speed computer printer apparatus or the like. Equivalent interposer means and selection means will occur to those skilled in the art.

While in accordance with the provisions of the patent law, the above has illustrated and described preferred forms of the invention and their modes of operation, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the apparatus described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims, and that, in some cases, certain features of the invention may be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features and certain features may be changed or substituted for, equivalently, as appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Having now described the invention and what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a card punch unit, a bail including inner guide surface means and corresponding outer limit guide surface means facing said inner surface means and spaced therefrom; elongated interposer flexure means disposed between said surface means and having a rest position in flexibly conforming contact with said inner surface means; translate means arranged to selectively move said flexure means into flexibly-conforming contact with said limit guide surface means; drive means adapted to reciprocate said bail periodically to drive said flexure means in a lengthwise direction jointly with said bail and said guide means; punch means disposed in alignment with said flexure means only when the latter is in said rest position, said punch means being adapted to be driven from its normal position by said aligned flexure means when the latter approaches one extreme of said reciprocation, but remaining in said normal position when said flexure means makes contact with said limit guide surface means; said bail further including stripper means extending lengthwise therebeyond toward said punch means, said punch means including recess means adapted to be engaged by said stripper means to return said punch to its normal position when said bail approaches the opposite extreme of said reciprocation; said stripper means being engaged in cooperative relation with said outer limit guide surface means.

2. The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein said inner guide surface means comprises a pair of concave contoured guide sheets disposed in back-to-back relationship, pre-deflected, against said bail and convergingly toward one another; wherein said flexure means comprises two sets of elongated, spaced interposer flexures positioned between one of said pairs of guide surface means, said flexures having a rest position in flexibly conforming contact with a corresponding one of said inner guide surface means; wherein said punch means comprises two sets of spaced punches, each set being aligned with one of said flexure sets, each of said punches being adapted to be driven from a normal position by an associated one of said flexures approaching one extreme of said reciprocation when said flexure is in contact with said corresponding inner guide sheet, but remaining in said normal position when said associated flexure makes contact with the oppositely positioned limit guide surface means; and wherein said bail further includes a central extension terminating in stripper means positioned to engage said recess means in said punches intermediate thereof to return said punches to their normal position when approaching the other extreme of said reciprocation; said outer guide surface means comprising a pair of deflected outer guide sheets, each of said sheets being clamped and deflected, at one end, in common with a corresponding one of said inner guide sheets, against one side of said bail with a corresponding set of said flexures therebetween, said outer sheets being engaged at the other end with said stripper means for prescribed spacing thereof from said associated punches.

3. In a data processing punch apparatus, a bail adapted to impart a drive thrust periodically along a prescribed drive path; at least one pair of inner and outer guide means clamped in common, at a first end thereof to a first portion of said bail to be commonly deflected; the other end of said inner guide means being deflected to engage a second portion of said bail; stripper means projecting from said bail relatively along said path to engage the other end of said outer guide means positioningly for spacing thereof a prescribed amount from said corresponding other end of said inner guide means, each said guide means comprising a planar spring member; an elongate interposer flexure means clamped at a first end thereof between each said pair of guide means against said first bail portion and deflected in common therewith so as to normally assume a prescribed first deflected condition in flexibly-conforming engagement relatively coextensive along said associated inner guide means; flexure actuation means disposed operatively adjacent each said flexure means adjacent the other free, end thereof associated outer guide means, said actuation means being adapted to attract said free end away from said inner guide means into a second condition to be engaged with said outer guide means; and also being adapted to selectably release said free end from said outer guide engagement to automatically return to said first condition; drive means for reciprocating said bail, with said guide means and said flexure means carried thereon between a first extreme rest position and a second extreme punching position, and punch means disposed in registry with said free end of each of said flexure means only when the latter has assumed said first condition, said punch means being adapted to be driven by said respective flexure means for perforating a record medium in a prescribed manner when said bail approaches said punching position, said punch means also including stripper recess means adapted to be so engaged by said stripper means for return of said punch means after said perforating, conjunctively with return of said bail to said rest position; each said punch means comprising a row of punches; wherein each said flexure means comprises a set of flexure strips, each strip being operatively aligned with a respective one of said punches; wherein each of said guide means comprises a curved metal sheet; pairs of said sheets being clamped and deflected in common with one another and with a respective set of flexure strips therebetween against said bail; and wherein clamp means is also provided and for each said pairs of guide means and intermediate flexure strips, each 'said clamp means including at least one relatively narrow, engaging surface arranged to secure a prescribed portion of said associated guide means and intermediate flexure strips against said respective first bail portion so as to thus establish a prescribed common bending axis therefor.

4. Apparatus for controlled, synchronous selectively reciprocation of prescribed driven means, said apparatus comprising: reciprocating frame means; elongate deflected guide means; elongate flexible interposer means clamped and deflected in common with said guide means against said frame means so that relatively similar deflected curvatures are induced therein; said guide means being so engaged against said interposer means as to deflect it relatively smoothly along a prescribed couple path, along said interposer means may selectively thrust said driven means; translation means for displacing said interposer means out of said path and out of said driving relation with said driven means; and return means projecting from said frame means to be reciprocated therewith, said return means projected from said frame means and adapted to engage said driven means for returning thereof after said thrusting to complete said controlled selective reciprocation thereof; said return means being arranged in cooperative relation with said guide means.

5. The combination as recited in claim 4 wherein said reciprocating frame means includes drive means adapted to translate said frame means along a prescribed thrust path between a prescribed rest and a prescribed fully-actuated position; wherein said driven means comprise a pair of reciprocable recording element :arrays and said interposer means and associated guide means comprise two opposed arrays thereof, each arranged in operative relation with a respective one of said recording element arrays; wherein said recording elements :are each arranged to be selectively thrust along a respective driven path, when coupled with said driving means by said interposer means; wherein each said interposer array comprises an aligned set of elongate flexure strips, each strip being aligned for such selectively coupling engagement with a respective one of said recording elements as said frame means approaches said fully-actuated position, each said flexure strip having a prescribed asymmetric cross-sectional resilience so as to be relatively stiff except along the thickness dimension thereof, and also being clamped upon said frame means so as to be flexed inwardly thereagainst whereby the free end thereof is presented adjacent said respective driven element to present said thickness dimension along a prescribed translation direction relatively normal to said driven path; and wherein said translation means is adapted to selectively displace said ends of nonselected ones of said flexure strips along said direction into a non-thrusting condition, away from said couple path-guide means, for a prescribed period, after which said flexure means will re-assume said couple path alignment, said couple path connecting said thrust path with a respective one of said driven paths.

6. The combination as recited in claim 4 wherein said driven means comprise at least one set of aligned recording elements; wherein said interposer means comprise a set of flexure means provided for each set of recording elements; and wherein said guide means comprise a single deflected guide sheet member provided for each set of flexure means for deflection thereof in common so that each one thereof is aligned along said associated couple path for thrusting .a respective one of said elements.

7. The combination as recited in claim 6 wherein each said set of flexure means comprises a set of spring strips projecting from a common spring sheet engaged against said associated guide sheet member.

8. The combination as recited in claim 7, wherein said translation means includes magnetic translation means; and wherein each said flexure strip is arranged to be of compound, flexible and ferromagnetic construction; wherein each said flexure strip is cantilevered out from said common clamping point of the associated spring sheet and guide sheet member thereof to present a free tip thereof operatively adjacent said translation means, said tip comprising non-magnetic high durability material adapted for thrust engagement with a respective one of said recording elements.

9. The combination as recited in claim 8 wherein each said flexure strip is composite being constructed of ferromagnetic material and of relatively strong structural material joined together to present an integral magnetic spring strip.

10. The combination as recited in claim 6 wherein each said flexure means is fabricated to exhibit a prescribed high degree of flatness on engaging surfaces thereof; and wherein said guide sheet member is effectively flattened to a conforming degree of flatness on portions thereof engaging associated ones of said flexure means, said portions being flattened according to a dimpling treatment.

11. The combination as recited in claim 6 wherein said guide means also includes a second associated limit sheet member clamped in common with each of said guide sheet members and with said associated flexure means therebetween on said frame means at first ends thereof, said limit member being adapted to present the other end thereof adjacent said return means to be engaged thereby for spacing a prescribed distance from said associated recording elements and wherein said guide sheet member is arranged to present the other, free, end thereof adjacent the other, free end of said associated flexure means for stiffening engagement therealong and is :also arranged to be notched for clearing associated non-selected recording elements in said associated set thereof, each said associated flexure means being arranged to span a respective one of said notches.

12. The combination as recited in claim 6 wherein a substantially U-shaped clamp member is provided to so clamp each flexure means between associated ones of said sheet members against said frame means to thereby establish said similar deflected curvature in all thereof, reliably.

13. The combination as recited in claim 11 wherein each pair of said associated sheet members are clamped between mating, beveled U-shaped clamp means; and wherein spacer means are disposed between said limit member and said associated flexure means, having a prescribed thickness sufficient to promote adequate separation of said flexure means from each of said members, each said clamp means comprising a pair of U-shaped clamps beveled along a member-engaging surface thereof at a prescribed common angle with respect to said frame means to establish said prescribed curvature.

14. The combination as recited in claim 13 wherein said driven means comprise two rows of punches; wherein said frame means comprises a punch bail member, said rows of punches being arranged symmetrically about said bail frame; and wherein said flexure means comprise two sets of flexure strips, each set being clamped on one side of said bail so that respective flexure strips thereof are aligned to be selectively engaged with respective ones of said punches for said thrusting thereof.

15. In an arrangement for selectively applying thrust impulses from a given driving member, periodically reci rocating along a prescribed drive path, to any of a plurality of prescribed record marking elements spaced therefrom and adapted to be reciprocated along prescribed driven paths to prescribed marking positions, the combination therewith of improved interposer means arranged to selectively transmit said impulses from said member to selected ones of said elements, said interposer means comprising:

a plurality of non-frictional, constantly-flexed flexure means attached at one end thereof to said driving member; bending means attached at one end to said driving member to be deflected thereagainst in common with said flexure means whereby each said flexure means is biased to normally assume a prescribed thrust condition in driving alignment with a respective one of said marking elements for thrusting engagement therewith during reciprocation by said driving member, thus coupling said impulses along prescribed respective transmitting paths between said driving and associated driven paths; translating means arranged to selectively displace the other, free end of each of said flexure means out of said associated transmitting path and into a prescribed passive condition; limit means attached to said driving member and adapted to define said passive condition by limiting contact with said flexure means; and return means projecting from said driving member and engaged with each of said marking elements for return thereof from said actuated position along with said driving member; said return means being arranged in cooperative relation with said limiting means to establish the position thereof.

16. An improved multi-punch arrangement for selectively thrusting selected ones in a plurality of aligned reciprocable punches, said arrangement comprising: continually reciprocating bail means, a plurality of thrust fleX- are means carried on said bail means, each being adapted to be non-frictionally, flexingly translated along a prescribed cross-sectional axis thereof and to apply force from said bail means along a prescribed rigid elongate axis thereof to define a respective transmitting path; bending plate means coupling one end of each of said flexure means to said bail means and arranged to be deflected in flexing engagement with each thereof for biasing thereof with said elongate axis kept stiffened along said respective transmitting path to assume a force-transmitting condition; holding means arranged operatively adjacent each said flexure means for maintaining the other free end thereof normally displaced along said flexing cross-sectional axis, out of said transmitting-condition; a plurality of release means, each operatively disposed adjacent a respective one of said flexure means to selectively overcome said holding means and release said free flexure end into said transmitting condition at indicated punch times, said flexure means being bent flexingly so as to automatically return to said transmitting condition when so released and engage said bending means so as to increase its force-transmitting capabilities along said transmitting path; and stripper means mounted to project from said bail means to so engage said punches as to return selected ones from punching actuation in synchronization with said bail means; said stripper means also being adapted to determine the position of said flexure means in a nontransmitting condition.

17. The combination as recited in claim 16 wherein said flexure means each comprise elongate strip extensions from a single stamped flexure plate; and wherein said bending plate means is slotted to receive non-selected punches clearingly, said flexure strip extensions comprising fingers, the free ends of which are arranged to gap respective ones of said slots in said transmitting condition; said punches comprising two aligned sets thereof and said fiexure means and associated bending plate means and stripper means being similarly arrayed in two opposed sets, each set being aligned with one of said punch sets.

18. The combination as recited in claim 15 wherein said arrangement comprises a high-speed punch assembly for selectively and encodingly perforating data processing records in response to prescribed character-encoded punch signals, said punch assembly comprising a periodically reciprocating bail member; at least one array of aligned punches, each being arranged to be selectively displaced along an associated punch path in response to occurrence of associated ones of said character signals; said bail member also including stripper means projecting therefrom to be periodically reciprocated in synchronism therewith, said stripper means comprising a plurality of punchretractor heads disposed in alignment to be in retracting engagement with associated ones of associated punches; an array of fiexure means operatively associated with each said punch array and mounted on said bail member to be reciprocated therewith, said array comprising a plurality of aligned fiexures each being associated couplingly with :a respective one of said punches and comprising an elongate planar spring member pre-deflected to normally assume a first condition adapted for coupling engagement with said associated one of said punches also being adapted to be selectively flexed and translated out of said first condition into a second non-coupling condition; each said flexure array also including a guiding sheet member associated deflectingly with said fiexures, being clamped in common therewith against said bail means to deflect them together, conformingly and stiffeningly; and interposer actuator means comprising an array of actuator elements associated with each said array of fiexure means, each element thereof being disposed in operative relation with one of said flexures for selective translation thereof into said second condition responsive to occurrence of a prescribed one of said punch signals.

2'0 19. The combination as recited in claim 15 wherein said arrangement comprises an improved high-speed recording apparatus for impressing character information upon a record medium in response to applied record signals, said apparatus comprising:

a source of mechanical energy including drive means and a frame member driven thereby to be periodically translated along a prescribed drive path; a plurality of displaceable recording elements each being adapted to be selectively displaced along a prescribed respective record path to effect said recordation in re sponse to occurrence of a prescribed one of said signals; and interposer means for coupling said energy selectively to so displace selected ones of said recording elements, said interposer assembly including an array of flexure members, each being adapted to so couple said energy between said paths along a respective intermediate coupling path and a translation unit disposed in operative relation with said fiexure members and adapted to transduce said prescribed ones of said signals for initiating said selective displacing by moving selected ones of said flexure members into and out of said coupling path to thereby effect selective interposition of coupling means between said driving source and an associated recording element; said fiexure members being mounted on said frame member to be reciprocated therewith and each comprising a flexure member biased fiexedly to normally assume a first configuration along said coupling path, also being selectively, fiexingly, translatable by said associated translation means into a second configuration out of said coupling path; said assembly also including pre-defiected guide means comprising a metallic sheet member deflected to conformingly engage and stiffen each said array of flexure member into said first, normal configuration.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS WILLIAM S. LAWSON, Primary Examiner.

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