Patent GB-743996-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to punched card machines
Inventor: BALDE ULYSSE
Filed: 1952-12-22
Abstract: 743,996. Selective punching machines. MITHRA AKT.-GES. Dec. 22, 1952, No. 32446/52. Class 31 (2). [Also in Group XIX] In a machine for sensing punched cards and for punching such sensed cards, the elements for the sensing operation and the elements for the punching operation are arranged in such a manner that between the sensing and punching operations there is no relative movement between the cards and the sensing and punching elements perpendicularly to these elements. In the form shown, the sensing pins 23 pass through axial bores in the punches 20. The punches are guided by plates 21 and the upper ends of the punches are provided with enlarged portions 22 which limit the downward movement of the punches by abutting against the upper plate 21. The sensing pins are guided by members 24, 25 and carry at their upper ends members 27, Fig. 2, which are acted on by spring-pressed leaf springs 31 forming extensions of doublearmed levers 29 each pivoted at 30 to a plate 26. The left-hand end of each lever 29 carries an insulating head 33. Arranged above and below each lever are contact springs 34, 35 having electric contacts which engage each other in the normal position of the sensing pins. When a sensing pin is raised, the lower spring 35 is depressed by the associated head 33 to break the electric contact. Between some of the adjacent levers 29 are arranged two further contact springs 37, 38 provided with electric contacts. Each spring 38 is coupled to the next higher contact spring 35 by means of insulating pins 39, 40. Each of the contact springs 34, 35, 37 and 38 is connected to an associated terminal strip 41, Fig. 1. Between the punches and the members 27, the pins are each surrounded by two tubes 43, 44 screwed into each other. The upper end of each tube 44 is provided with an enlarged portion 45, Fig. 2, which can rest on the lower guide member 25. The tubes 43 are each surrounded by a compression spring 46 the lower end of which bears against the enlarged portion 45 and the upper end of which bears against the upper guide member 25. The upper end of each tube 43 is provided with a sleeve 47. Pivotally-mounted pawls 49, Fig. 2, are connected by means of links 50 to pivotally mounted spring-influenced armatures 51 of electromagnets 52 so that on energization of one or more of the electromegnets, the corresponding pawl or pawls swing(s) towards the sleeves 47 to lock the tubes 43, 44 and hence the corresponding punches against upward movement. The coil of each electromagnet is connected to two terminal strips 41. The strips 41 co-operate with contact strips 60, Fig. 1, provided on a hinged insulating strip 58. From the strips 60, electric conductors lead to further parts of the machine for the evaluation of the sensed punched cards and for controlling the electromagnets 52 according to the holes to be punched. A card A is brought into contact with the sensing pins and punches respectively by means of a perforated plate 61, Fig. 1, which can be raised. Operation.-A card A to be sensed is laid on the plate 61 which is then raised from the dashdot line position to the full line position shown in Fig. 2. The lower ends of some of the pins 23 will have passed through the holes already punched in the cards. The remainder of the pins are pushed upwardly by the card to actuate the contacts 34, 35, 37 and 38. If, for example, the second electromagnet 52 from the left is energized, the pawl 49 coupled to its armature swings into the path of motion of the second sleeve 47. If the card is raised still further into the position shown in Fig. 3, the second punch 20 is prevented from partaking of this movement because of the associated pawl 49. It therefore punches a new hole in the card and as soon as the hole has been punched, the sensing pin returns to its normal position and thereby closes the associated electric contacts. The machine re-senses the card immediately after a punching operation so that the punching can be verified. The cards need not be moved between the first sensing operation and the punching operation which take place consecutively. The sensing pins and punches may be moved relatively to the card which remains stationary. Specifications 704,796 and 707,283 are referred to.