Patent GB-1255842-A (GB)
Title: Guide device for recording tapes and cards of different widths
Inventor: CERUTTI GIOVANNI
IPC: G06K13/24
Filed: 1969-02-11
Abstract: 1,255,842. Feeding sheets and webs. ING. C. OLIVETTI & C. S.p.A. 11 Feb., 1969 [1 March, 1968], No. 7428/69. Heading B8R. [Also in Division G4] A guide device for the feeding of cards and tapes of varying widths comprises two surfaces between which the cards and tapes are advanced, the surfaces bearing on the faces of the cards or tapes, a shoulder guiding one side edge of a tape or card as it advances between the bearing surfaces, a transversely adjustable guide element guiding the opposite side edge of a card, and a pair of guide members spaced from each other in the direction of advance, each being resiliently biased to project through one of the bearing surfaces to provide a guide for the opposite side edge of a tape. General arrangement.-Fig. 1 illustrates a teleprinter comprising a data perforator 1 and a data reader 2, which may handle tapes of differing widths, e.g. five-track and eight-track, cards punched along a marginal strip, or fanfolded webs. Feeding (perforator).-The input unit 98 comprises two guide shoots 106, 107 leading to a single guide 108, the whole unit being pivotable manually about shaft 99; guide 106 serves for the insertion of paper tapes, while guide 107 is open at one side for the insertion of cards of varying widths. The items being perforated then pass between roller pair 78, 87, through a slit 79 in a die 81 including perforator punches 93, between roller pairs 163, 164 and out of opening 97. Pivoting of the input unit 98 also lifts roller 83 away from roller 78 through pin 102 and lever 86. One side edge of a card or tape is  aligned by side wall (122) of guide 108 and by a  shoulder (126) of die 81 (Fig. 2, not shown). If a five-track tape is to be perforated, it is guided by surface (127) of a lever 128 which is housed in guide 108 and is spring-biased towards a recess 134, and by a surface 129 of a lever 131 which is made of thin flexible material and urges the tape against the shoulder (126); the lever 131 is also spring-biased so that surface 129 is housed in cavity 136 in die 81. If an eight-track tape is to be perforated, the manual introduction of the tape through guide 106 and between rollers 78, 83 displaces levers 128, 131 against their bias, and the side edge of the tape is acted on by a second pair of levers (128<SP>1</SP>, 131<SP>1</SP>) (Fig. 2, not shown), lever (131<SP>1</SP>) urging the tape against shoulder (126). If cards are being perforated, levers 128, (128<SP>1</SP>), 131, (131<SP>1</SP>) are all moved against their bias, and the cards are aligned between side wall (122) and shoulder (126) on one side and manually adjustable gauge 162 (Figs. 2, 3, not shown) on the other. The gauge 162 is adjustable by means of a transverse slide (153) and pin (152) with a locking knob (156), and is urged by compression springs (147) towards shoulder (126). Feeding (data reader).-The data reader 2 also incorporates a guide device according to-the invention. Before the introduction of a card or tape, the bearing surfaces or plates 3, 4 are raised together so that sensing elements 11, feed pins 12, and the guide pins 44, 46 (44<SP>1</SP>, 46<SP>1</SP>) (Fig. 4, not shown) are all below their respective slots and holes in the plates. If a five-track tape is being read it is slipped laterally between the plates up against a shoulder (43); the plates are then lowered so that elements 11 and pins 12 project through slots in the plates and through data and feed perforations in the tape. Pins 44, 46 guide the other side edge of the tape; pins 44 and 46 are in front of, and behind the sensing station but are linked to operate together when only pin 44 is contacted. If an eight-track tape is inserted, pin 44 and hence pin 46 is depressed by the tape and the edge is guided by pins (44<SP>1</SP>, 46<SP>1</SP>). If a card is inserted, both sets of pins are depressed and the opposite side edge is aligned by a guide bar (64) and a plate (67) which are spring urged and manually adjustable.