Patent GB-301733-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for perforating sheet material
Filed: 1928-12-01
Abstract: 301,733. British Tabulating Machine Co., Ltd., (Assignees of Peirce, J. R.). Dec. 3, 1927, [Convention date]. Selective punching machines.-In a machine for punching statistical record cards, the cards are fed on a movable punch carriage, carrying a plurality of rows of punches corresponding to the index positions of a Hollerith card, in front of a stationary column of punch selectors. Selected punches are latched, and, when the carriage reaches a punching position, automatic means effect a simultaneous punching operation. Means are provided for punching a succession of cards at a single set-up, for punching serial numbers on consecutive cards, for punching a predetermined number of cards, and for giving a. signal when the carriage has reached a predetermined position. Punch carriage. The carriage 18, Fig. 2, bears 45 vertical rows of 12 punches, and is moved on transverse rods 28 by the action of a spring and escapement mechanism in front of a single row of setting plungers 26. The carriage is restored bv a differential-driven drum 38 actuated from a constantly rotating gear 40. When an escapement pawl locks a ratchet 39 the drum is positively driven. A rack 46 is pivoted at 48 to the punch carriage for engaging a pinion 49 controlled by an escapement ratchet 50 in turn controlled by escapement pawls on a pivoted member 54 actuated by the punch setting keys 61. Depression of an operating key 78 rotates a cam shaft 13 and rocks a frame 86 to engage a pinion 87 with the rack 46 which by the same movement is freed from the pinion 49. A centrifugal governor, Fig. 11, not shown, controls the speed of the carriage which is arrested by a buffer and locked by a latch 108. The punch carriage 18 contains an inner spring-pressed carriage 128. Rotation of the shaft 13 holds the carriage and reciprocates the inner carriage to effect the punching. Near the end of the rotation of the shaft 13 the escapement pawl is engaged with the ratchet 39 to actuate the differential and the carriage is restored. A pin 149 releases the pawl. Repeat punching. Depression of a key 160 rocks the governor pinion into contact with the rack 46 and the punch carriage moves to the end of its travel and is latched. The shaft 13 rotates for repeat punching until a stop key 177 is depressed to release the latch 173 of the key 160. When the key 160 is depressed a shaft 185 is freed to release the escapement pawl, but a latch prevents the escapement pawl from engaging the ratchet. To return the carriage a key 188 is depressed to free the latch. The punches are restored by a pin on the cam shaft which releases latch plates 73. Gang punching. To lock a number of punches after setting up, a shutter 270 is provided for each vertical column of punches with lugs 271 engaging lugs. 272 on the punches 19. The shutters- 270 are controlled by levers 278. When the plates 73 are released at the end of a punching operation, the shutters 270 are not affected. Card feed. The cards are taken from a stack 200 by a picker 210 reciprocated by a cam on the shaft 13, and are fed to rolls 219 and thence to rolls 229, 231 on the punch carriage, normally clear of rotated rolls 228, 230 which are swung to engage them when the carriage is in punching position by a cam on the shaft 13. A cam-actuated stop 250 positions the cards which. are afterwards stacked by an arm 466. Back-spacing. A lever 285 (Fig. 33, not shown) on the punch carriage controls a pawl engaging a fixed rack. When the lever is actuated the pawl engages the rack and moves the carriage one tooth space or further. The rack 46 may be swung out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 49 by a hand lever. Column skip. Actuation of a key 299, Fig. 30, not shown, releases the clutch pawl to engage the ratchet and rotate a cam to lift rack 46 away from the pinion 49. The carriage is stopped after moving a number of column spaces by clips 329 adjustable on a notched bar 330. If a number of punches are locked, the carriage is caused to skip when the first is reached by a clip which releases the carriage as for the skipping operation, and a clip 329 which stops the carriage. Carriage return stop. To return the carriage to an intermediate point a clip 347 is mounted on the bar 330 and engages a pawl 348 on the bar 151. The carriage is allowed to move after it has been stopped by a lever 352 which rocks the pawl 348 away from the clip 347. At an intermediate position a pin 149 does not move bar 151 to declutch, but the clip 347 moves the pawl and bar 151 and a cam surface 157 declutches the carriage. The position of the punch carriage is signalled by a clip 361 on bar 330 actuating a bell. For stopping the machine after a predetermined number of cards are punched at a single setting, a counter with transfer mechanism of known type is actuated by a link 378. A lever 379 cams the counter out. A cam on the shaft 13 oscillates the link 378 and allows a bar to move at each rotation. When notches in the counter wheels are in alignment the bar moves forward and releases a latch holding keys 160 to stop the machine. A counter 406 is actuated from the link 378. When the card supply fails the machine is stopped by a pivoted finger which engages each card fed to punching position. If the finger does not rock, the link 378 is locked and an arm swings to stop the mechanism. Punching serial numbers. A cam 450 on the shaft 13 actuates at each rotation the units wheel of a counter with deep notch transfer mechanism geared to a double cam 432. The cam carries humps which position selector bars so that projections 429 or 430 actuate the punches. The frame carrying the punches is inclined normally and is rocked for setting the punches by a cam 450 on the shaft 13. The series of selector bars may be adjusted by a stop and rack to control any consecutive punches in the carriage. Individual slides are locked inoperative by pawls 459. The serial number mechanism is locked inoperative by a lever 463. If the wiping finger does not encounter a card a latch prevents the shaft 426 rocking and pawls 438 do not cause operation of the slides. A crowding lock is fitted to prevent double key actuation. A space key 525 rocks a bail 58 and actuates an escapement member 54 to permit the punch carriage to skip a column space when no punch is set up. the punchings are conveyed by a helix 482. rotated from the shaft 13, along a trough to a container at the side of the machine.