Patent GB-191502383-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Perforating Machines.
Inventor: WILLIAMS ROBERT NEIL
Filed: 1915-02-15
Abstract: 2383. Williams, R. N. Feb. 15. Selective punching machines.-Relates to apparatus for use in the perforation of cards for tabulating and like machines. A group of punches under the control of the operator from a keyboard has associated with it an auxiliary punch, the operation of which is dependent upon the operation of the punches in the group, some of them serving to set the auxiliary punch for operation and others to prevent such setting. The invention is described in connexion with the machine set forth in Specification 23,908/12, and as applied to punching cards for a census in the United States, the operation of the auxiliary punch indicating that the card represents a legal .voter. The above-mentioned Specification describes a machine comprising a series of rows of normally free punches and a movable die-plate which carries the card towards the punches; above each row of punches is a slide having on its lower surface a projection; the slides are set from a keyboard with the projections lying above the selected punches in the various rows, the upward movement of which is thereby prevented, so that when the die-plate is moved upwards, these punches pass through the cards. According to this invention, the operation of the auxiliary punch is controlled by an auxiliary slide, the position of which is determined by the main slides referred to .above. In Fig. 1 each main slide d, d<2>, d<3> is shown with a projection on its lower edge and a cam-surface on its upper edge. Co-acting with the cam-surfaces are a series of plungers guided in the plate 1 and having inclined or cam-shaped heads. The auxiliary slide 10c is guided on the upper surface of the plate 1 for movement transverse to the main slides, and is provided with inclined shoulders against which the heads of the plungers are adapted to bear in such a manner that upward movement of the plungers causes an endlong movement of the slide. In the position shown, the slide obstructs the upward movement of the auxiliary punch d<11>, so that when the dieplate is moved upwards, this punch will form a hole; if the slide is moved to the right, to bring the recess 25 above the punch, the hole is not formed. The first slides d<2>, d<3> on the left control the " age " punches, tens and units; the " pauper " and " veteran " slides come next and their plungers co-act with a short slide y, separate from the slide 10c. but coupled with it by a pin-and-slot connexion, composed of upper and lower members held together by a strong spring, which tends to pull the upper member longitudinally against a stop on the lower member. Assuming that the slide 10c has been set by the " age " plungers in a position such that a perforation indicating a legal voter would be produced in the card, the operation of the " pauper " plunger acting upon the slide y moves the slide 10c further to the right and prevents the formation of the perforation; the subsequent operation of the " veteran " plunger acting upon the tooth 36a of the upper member of the slide y, however, neutralizes the effect of the " pauper " plunger by moving the slide 10c to the left.