Patent GB-624597-A (GB)
Title: Improvement in record punching machines
Filed: 1947-07-31
Abstract: 624,597. Punching statistical cards. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd. July 31, 1947, No. 20814. Convention date, Aug. 24, 1946. [Class 31 (ii)] A statistical-card punching machine of the type having a storage unit in which data is set up from a keyboard, is provided with means for reading out simultaneously the same index point position in all columns set up in the storage device, means for feeding the card through the punching device synchronously with the reading out, the punching device being arranged to punch simultaneously in the same index position in all columns. The card feed through the punching device is preferably continuous, the punch carrier being oscillated during punching synchronously with passage of the card. The storage unit is cleared after each punching operation, but the clearing means may be rendered inoperative for selected columns by means of a punched control card, and such columns in the storage unit are automatically skipped when data is set up from the keyboard. A master card may also be provided from which data is automatically reproduced in selected columns. The storage device has indicator means visible to the operator showing what data has been set up, thereby facilitating the location of errors, and the whole set-up or five columns at a time may be cleared and re-set. General layout.-Cards placed in the hopper 28, Fig. 1, are fed to a glass-fronted visible reading station 33 whereby the operator can read data on the card. The keyboard 585 is actuated accordingly and the data set up in the storage unit SU. The latter is driven by shaft 412 and is pivotally mounted about the axis of the driving shaft 422, so that when the machine is not in use the storage unit can be swung bodily into a recess in the machine. At the completion of the set-up the first card is fed vertically downwards to the punching station, where it is positively aligned by fingers and punched horizontal row by horizontal row whilst moving continuously past the punches the latter being mounted on a carrier which oscillates synchronously with the movement of the card as each row of holes is punched. At the conclusion of punching, the card is fed vertically down, then to the left, and is finally ejected towards the operator into hopper 221. In the meantime the next card has been fed to the visible reading station 33 and the storage unit re-set, except for any columns which are to be retained as previously set. The control card which determines which columns are to be retained is inserted vertically into a slot in the top of the storage unit SU; the latter is provided with sixteen buttons 461, depression of any one of which clears out five columns of the storage unit. The master card analyzing unit, (not shown in Fig. 1), is located just in front of the storage hopper 221, and data thereon may be repeated on each card. The keyboard includes a number of switches which enable various operations to be performed, such as dual card type of punching, gang punching, automatic re-set of all columns of the storage unit when a new set-up is to be effected for each card, a master card switch which renders the master card unit operative, and an auto-start switch which automatically initiates punching when the last column of the storage unit has been set up. Card feed and positioning for punching, Figs. 7, 10 and 12.-Cards are fed singly from the hopper 28, Fig. 7, by a picker 31 actuated by a rack and toothed segment from the shaft 27 which oscillates once per card cycle. The card passes down between rotating rollers 34, 35, driven by a one-revolution clutch, and stops behind the glass panel 33. After the operator has read any data written on the card and has set up the storage device accordingly, the onerevolution clutch is again engaged to feed a second card to the glass panelled position and to feed the first card by pairs of rollers 37, 38 between vertical plates 67, 70 to the rollers 71, 72, at which position the card is aligned vertically and horizontally before proceeding past the punches. Horizontal alignment is effected by the arrangement shown in Fig. 10, wherein 15 is a camshaft which rotates one revolution per card cycle. When the card has reached the position for alignment, cam 142 rocks lever 143 pivoted on shaft 117 and permits the three-armed lever 138, 139, 140 to rotate anti-clockwise under the influence of tension spring 136, and through displacement of screw 620 permits the two-armed lever 144, 145 to rotate anti-clockwise under the influence of tension spring 136, the spring being connected to the ends of a pair of links 134, 135 which are articulated to the arms 144 and 139 respectively. The outward movement of the links 134, 135 causes the pivoted fingers 130,131, which project through slots in the card-guiding plates 69, 70, to approach one another and engage the vertical edges of the card to position it horizontally. Vertical alignment is effected by the arrangement shown in Fig. 12, wherein a stop 110 is interposed in the path of the card by cam 115 and lever 116, Fig. 10, and immediately afterwards a pair of cams 129 rock the spring-loaded levers 128, Figs. 10 and 12, to cause the ends 126 of the levers to engage the top edge of the card and press it against the stop 110, whereby the card is positioned vertically, after which the fingers 126 and stop 110 are withdrawn. The card is then moved past the row of punches and punched as follows. Card punching, Fig. 8.-During punching, the cards are moved continuously downwards between rollers 71, 72 and 76, 77 whilst the punch carrier is oscillated as each row of perforations is made, synchronously with the passage of the card. The punches 164, which are guided in a box-like guide 162, and the die 165 are carried at one corner of a pivoted triangular frame, whose other two corners carry cam followers 161 which co-act with a pair of cams 163 driven by the shaft 96 to oscillate the frame, punches and die about shaft 158, the gearing being such that the shaft 96 rotates once and the punches complete one down and one up stroke during the time that it takes the card to move downwards by one row. During the downward stroke the punch plate 155 is swung to the right about axis 152 by another pair of cam followers and cams (not shown) on the shaft 96, whereby selected punches perforate the card as the latter moves vertically downwards. The eighty punches are selected according to the data read out from the storage unit (see below) by energization of corresponding punch-operating magnets 173, of which there is one for each punch. When an impulse is received by one of the punch magnets 173, its armature 174 depresses plate 175 which rocks lever 176 to lift link 178 to rotate the interposer 179 clockwise about its pivot 166 on the end of the punch 164. This lifts the end of the interposer 179 off the shoulder 168 of the latching member 169 on to the shoulder 168a, in which position it is held by rotation of the latching member 169 about its pivot 170 under the influence of spring 169a. The slot 172 of the interposer now engages the punch plate 155 so that on the next stroke of the punch plate the selected punches perforate the card. At the end of the punching stroke the latch 169 is prevented from following the punch by its lower end 169b engaging the underside of the plate 171, so that its related interposer is unlatched, and return springs cause the interposer to rotate about its pivot 166 back to normal. To ensure that all the interposers return to normal a depending portion 181 of each interposer is engaged by a cam 180 if it has not fully returned, the shaft 104 carrying the cam being rotated once at the end of each punching operation. The card is punched row by row and is then ejected as follows. Card eject, Figs. 7, 14, 18.-The punched card is fed vertically down by rollers 76, 77 and 87, 85, Fig. 7, until it reaches the bottom of the guiding slot. It then moves card contacts (not shown) to complete a circuit to solenoid 199, Figs. 7 and 14, which rocks the lever 206. This causes the two pairs of rollers 87, 85 (Fig. 14) to separate and free the card whilst another pair of rollers 200, 109 are brought into contact with the card to move it laterally to the left between guides 227. This is achieved by mounting the roller 200 and two rollers 87 on a frame 210 pivoted on a vertical pin 209, the left-hand end 212 of the frame bearing against the upper end 207 of the solenoid operated lever 206. The card then passes through a second pair of rollers 225, 226, and stops in front of the pivoted ejector plates 228, 229. At an opposite stage in the cycle the solenoid 234 receives an impulse which attracts its plunger 223 to rotate the spindle 230 and, by a pair of intermeshing toothed sectors 232, 233, the spindle 231. This causes the ejector plates 228, 229 to assume the dotted line position and eject the card into the hopper 221 towards the operator. Master card analysing unit, Figs. 20, 21, 22, 23.-The unit is shown in front sectional elevation in Fig. 23 and in cross-sections on different planes in Figs. 20 and 22. The card is placed horizontally on its fixed table 264 and is then gripped at each side by a number of fingers 277 on to members 275 which move the card forward across the table and over brushes 266, one for each column of perforations, which contact the contactor roller 287 whenever a perforation is encountered. The brushes 266 are then lowered, the card carriage returned to starting position and the fingers 277 lifted so that the card may be removed if desired. This is repeated for each card cycle. The arrangement for moving the card carriage past the brushes comprises a rotating shaft 250, Fig. 22, having a pair of cams 297 which rack lever 298 and so cause the toothed segment 299 to oscillate shaft 301, gear 272 fast therewith, and the toothed card carriage 269. As shown in Fig. 23, this arrangement is duplicated at th