Patent GB-902551-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to sensing devices adapted for use in sensing information recorded on a record
Filed: 1960-08-31
Abstract: 902,551. Selective punching apparatus. KIMBALL CO., A. Aug. 31, 1960 [Sept. 1, 1959], No. 29949/60. Class 31 (2). [Also in Group XIX] A sensing device adapted for use in sensing information recorded on a record and in passing such information to an information recording assembly comprises sensing means, certifying means and signal means, the device being so arranged that in one operation thereof the sensing means senses the information recorded on a record presented to the device, and provided that the record does not, before presentation to the device, bear a certification indication, the certifying means applies such an indication to the record and -causes the signal means to operate, which operation causes the information sensed by the sensing means to be passed to the recording assembly. The sensing device shown, which resembles that described in Specification 893,246, comprises a casing 20 having a handle 24 which is adapted to be held by an operator, the casing having mounted therein a plurality of sensing pins 50, four certifying punches 160, and signal means. Upper end portions of the pins 50 are slidably mounted in blocks 54, 55 and 56 secured to a U-shaped frame 62. The upper end portion of each pin comprises a head 80 of insulating material which abuts against a lower spring contact 82 associated with an upper spring contact 84. The frame 62 is moved down against the action of springs 116 when a lever 112 is moved towards the handle 24. Those pins which are aligned with holes 17 in a tag, Fig. 4, presented to the sensing device pass through the holes and the other pins are stopped and displaced relative to the frame 62 by portions of the tag; all the upper contacts continue to move down with the frame 62 and the lower contacts 82 associated with the pins which are stopped by portions of the tag are thus caused to close with their associated contacts 84. The certifying means comprises a punch bar 150 slidably mounted in a slot 152 of the frame 62 and recessed to accommodate a lug 158. The certifying means also comprises a leafspring 157 having portions 153, 155, the portion 153 connecting the lug 158 to the bar 150. The bar 150 is adjustable lengthwise, by means of a knob 169, to occupy one of five positions and in each one of four of these positions, the lug 158 is aligned with the selected punch. The signal means comprises a spring-pressed contact bar 163 mounted on the portion 155 of the spring 157 and a first set of contacts 167 which, when the signal means operates, are engaged by the bar 163. When an electrical circuit is completed through the contacts 167 and a second set of contacts 131, the recording assembly is set into its operative position and the information sensed by the sensing means is passed to the recording assembly. The contacts 131 are fixed relative to the frame 62 and when the frame 62 is moved down, a pin 136 slidably mounted in block 56 is displaced relative to the frame to close the contacts 131. In operation of the device, when the lever 112 is moved towards the handle 24 to cause the pins 50 to sense holes in a tag, the downward movement of the frame 62 causes the bar 150 and lug 158 to move relative to the punches 160; the lug 158 bears against the only selected punch and if the tag does not, before presentation to the device, bear a certification hole, the selected punch bears against the tag, the portion 153 of the spring 157 yields, and the bar 150 moves relative to the lug 158 causing the bar 163 to engage the contacts 167, thus causing the signal means to operate and the lug 158 then bears against the selected punch causing it to punch a certification hole in the tag. If, the tag does, before presentation to the device, bear a certification hole, the selected punch passes freely through the hole and the signal means is not caused to operate.