Patent GB-150377-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to card perforating machines
Filed: 1919-05-01
Abstract: 150,377. Thompson, W. P., (Schaaff, J. T.). May 1, 1919. Sclective punching and perforating machines.- Relates to a selective perforating - machine for perforating record and other cards in which the punches are operated by an electro-magnetic device of which the circuit is closed by depression of the various selecting-keys; a card-carrier, movable step bv step, a back-stepping device, a spacing and releasing device, and an indicator showing the column under the punches are also provided in the machine. (a) Card-support and shifting carriage. The card is placed on the inclined surface 1<a> of the base, being guided by flanges 201, 202, Fig. 1, and rests on supporting- plates 96, 97, Fig. 2, projecting through a longitudinal slot 205 in the base, and secured to a rack-bar 79 which is moved by a spring 184 and a cord 79a. Buckling of the card is prevented bv guiding its edges in grooves between the base and plates which support the keys, &c., and by a rod 124 along which the plate 96 slides. (b) Punches and supporting devices therefor. The punches 42. which are arranged transversely of the machine, are spring-pressed upwardly and are carried in sockets in a frame 40. (c) Electromagnetic motor device. The punches are actuated by means of a motor-plate 36, Figs. 2 and 3, pivoted to a transverse bar 39, and normally held raised by a spring 76. When the magnet 30 is energized, the armature 31 is drawn down and in and moves the motor-plate about its pivot. (d) Finger-keys for punches and devices controlled thereby. The keys 1, 2, &c., are each attached to a seperate guided rod 25 carrying a frame 24, Figs. 3 and 6. adapted to operate rock-shafts 10, 11, one for each key. The shafts actuate, through arms 12 thereon, interposing-members 14 having shoulders 15, 16 thereon, so that on depression of a key, the corresponding interposing-member is moved to bring the shoulder 16 under the bar 37 of the motor plate, Fig. 2. The interposing- members are in engagement with the end of a punch-lever 19, Figs. 2 and 7; movement of the motor-plate thus forces the punch-lever downwards. (e) Circuit-controlling devices. The .circuit of the magnet is closed by spring-contacts 60, 61, Fig. 7, the end of the spring 60 engaging an arm 54 mounted on a shaft 49 which also carries arms 50 connected by links 53 to a bail 52 extending over all the interposing-members and held down by a spring 51. On movement of an interposing-member, the shoulder 15 engages the bail, moving the lever 50 to the right and rocking the arm 54 thus closing the circuit at 60, 61. The punch then moves down as also does the interposing-member until the shoulder 15 comes below the bail which then runs on to the shoulder under the influence of a spring 55, thus also lifting the arm 54 and opening the circuit, and allowing the punch, &c., to return to the initial position whether the key is released or not. The duration of the circuit is controlled by an adjustable stop 197 on which the bail normally rests. (f) Escapement mechanism. The rack 79 is moved to the left, Fig. 2, step by step by a dog 80 having lugs 84, 84<a> and pivoted to a pivoted rocker 82, the dog being normally held spaced upwardly from the rocker by a spring. The rocker is moved downwardly by links 120 connected to a universal bar 121 adapted to be engaged by the punch-lever 19. When the rocker is depressed, the rack moves slightly and engages the lug 84a; on release of the rocker, the lug 84 engages the next tooth of the rack. A spacing-key is provided which actuates the universal bar 121 thus moving the carriage through one step for each depression of the key. (g) Skip key and releasing- mechanism. The carriage may be released for movement to set positions or entirely released for withdrawal of the card from the punches by means of the " skip " and " release " keys, the lower ends of which engage the ends of a plate secured to a shaft 116, Fig. 3, having an arm 113 engaging the releasing-bar 92. This bar has cam-faces adapted to engage the end 88 of the dog 80, Fig. 2, and thus withdraw the lugs entirely from engagement with the rack. The releasing-bar is engaged and returned by two arms 104, one on each side of a pin 107 in the bar and spring-pressed up to this pin; movement of the bar in one direction by depression of the " release " key thus allows the carriage to move to the extreme left. Depression of the " skip " key moves the releasing-bar in the opposite direction, allowing movement of the carriage and bringing a stop-interceptor 101, Fig. 2, into the path of a step which may be secured, by means of holes 99 at any desired tooth of the rack-bar. (h) Back-stepper. To step the carriage to the right instead of to the left, a key 25d, Fig. 3, is provided, carrying a spring-pressed frame 24, and connected at its lower end to a bell-crank lever, the other arm of which is connected by a link 147, Fig. 2, to a back-step dog-rocker 149 pivoted in a bracket 156. A holding-dog 151 is pivoted at 155b to the rocker, and a pushing-dog 150 is also pivoted to the rocker; a spring 152 draws the rocker to the left, to rest normally against a stop 161, so that the dogs are clear of the rack-bar. The holding-dog has a shoulder 153 engaging the rocker, and a spring 154 lifts the pushing-dog against the holding-dog. On a short depression of the key 25<d> the frame 24 is engaged by a spring-pressed lever 162, Fig. 3, which prevents the full return of the key, and the link 147 is moved, rocking the pushing-dog 150 and the holding-dog to engage the teeth of the rack-bar. Further depression of the key moves the pushing- dog to the right, Fig. 2, thus moving the carriage through one step for each full depression of the key; full return of the key is allowed when the lever 162 is released. (k) Index-card and operating mechanism therefor. An index-card 182, Fig. 1, shows to an enlarged scale all the symbols to be punched, and the column under the punches at any time is the column of the indexcard immediately to the right of a travelling indicator 174. This is moved along a guide-rod 173 by a cord 179, having its ends attached to the machine-frame, and passing round pulleys 168, 168<a>, 170, 170<a> and a pulley secured to the rockbar. This arrangement gives the indicator steps corresponding to, but double the length of, the steps of the carriage; other rates of movement of the indicator may be obtained by other arrangements of the cord, &c.