Patent GB-363049-A (GB)
Abstract: 363,049. Punching statistical cards. MERCEDES BœROMASCHINEN-WERKE AKT.-GES., Benshausen, Post, Zella-Mohlis, Thuringia, Germany. Oct. 21, 1930, No. 31533. Convention date, Nov. 21, 1929. [Class 31 (ii).] Selective punching machines.-Calculating or other value-registering or recording apparatus, for example a card-punching machine, is controlled by the keys of a typewriter or other keyboard through a commutator the setting of which determines whether the actual key value or its complement shall be registered. The invention is described as applied to a typewriter adding machine the numeral keys of which are adapted also to control the punches of a card-punching machine. Typewriter adding machine. Depression of a numeral key 1, Fig. 1, releases at 1a a spring-controlled slide 8 mounted on a cam-plate 9. The slide thereupon moves radially to engage its nose 13 with a constantly rotating ratchet wheel 14 so as to cause the cam-plate to perform one revolution and vertically reciprocate a spring-controlled bar 17 corresponding with the particular key depressed. The movement of this bar acting through a differentially shaped slot 39 produces the registration of the key value in the column and line counters 28, 34 released for this purpose by a universal bail mounted on arms 22 fixed to a shaft 26. A projection 40 on each bar 17 serves to depress a numeral type key lever 41 a pawl 42, Fig. 3, on which thereupon lowers another pawl 43b into engagement with a constantly rotating toothed wheel 45. The pawl 43b and consequently the type lever 53 are thus operated until the pawl runs on to a fixed rail to be disengaged from the wheel and return under spring action. Electric control by the keys. Arranged below the typewriter is a T-shaped bar 57 carrying pairs of contact blades, each pair being closed by depression of its corresponding numeral key 1 acting through a bell crark 123 rocked by descent of the actuating rod 17. One of each pair of blades is in contact with a common bus-bar Z, Fig. 9, and the other is wired at L1 .. L9 to screws 64, .. 649 arranged along a bar 66 and serving to clamp to it a series of spring blades 69. A similar set of blades 70 are opposed to these and both sets bear upon a rotatable cylindrical commutator 71 provided with corresponding contact studs 76, 77 connected by a quadrantal bridge plate 78. Disposed along the middle .ine of the bar 66 is a further series of screens 79 securing blades 80 adapted to bear upon the commutator. By turning the latter through 90‹ the plates 76 may be caused to connect the blades 80 with either the blades 69 or the blades 70. If the blades 69 and 80 are thus connected the circuit say from blade 58 corresponding with key value 3, passes through lead 13, Fig. 9. to screw 643 and thence through the blades 69, 80 and lead 79a3 to the operating means for the punch having the value 3. If however the commutator is set in its other position the circuit will extend from screw 643 through a lead L3c to screw 657 and thence through the blades 70, 80 and lead 79a7 to effÚct punching of a hole with value 7, the complement of 3. In the case of the nought key the circuit is direct and does not pass through the commutator so that with either setting of the latter a nought is registered. Special keys. The case-shift key T. Fig. 1, when operated depresses a rod 85 to open a pair of normally closed spring contacts 58a, 59a, wired as shown in Fig. 4 to further pairs of plates 81, 81a; 82, 82a ; 83, 83a supported on a bar 87, Fig. 3, and controlled respectively by special keys T1, T2, T3 of which T1 only is shown. These plates tend to close contact but are normally maintained apart by plunger rods 94 engaging levers 49 connecting the type-levers with the operating pawls 43b. When key T3 is used and the plates 83, 83a thus engaged, circuit is closed from bus-bar Z, through lead 83r to the card-carriage shifting means of the punching machine. If case.shift key T is simultaneously operated the above circuit is still effective as the blades 58a, 59a are not included therein. If either key T1 or T2 is used for the purpose of typing the date 11 or 12, corresponding circuits 81r, 82r are closed to punch the necessary hole, but if key T is depressed at the same time to shift the case to the punctuation character the circuit is broken at 58a, 59a by the rod 85 as stated above.