Patent GB-238553-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for perforating sheet material
Filed: 1925-08-13
Abstract: 238,553. British Tabulating Machine Co., Ltd., (Assignees of Schaaff, J. T.). Aug. 14, 1924, [Convention date]. Type - lever machines; keyboard operators.-A machine for punching holes in statistical recordcards has a plurality of punches arranged for actuation either by manual or by automanic means, a carareading device, a connection between the automatic means and the card-reading device which is rendered operative or inoperative by adjustable stops in a predetermined position of a carrier, which moves a pattern card and a blank step by step past the cardreading device and the punches. A typewriter may be combined with the machine with an operative connection between the typewriter keys and the punch - aotuating means. The automatic means for operating the punches comprises electromagnets 21, Fig. 3, with armatures 198 carrying manually-operated levers 201. Each punch 209 has an interposer 204, connected by links to the levers 201, and moved beneath a punch-actuating bail 206, operated by an electromagnet 221, the circuit of which is closed automatically by means of a switch S<11>, connected by a bail and linkage to the switch. The typewriter, Fig. 20, has a frame 10, type-bars 26, letter and numeral keys 12, 13 pivoted on a bar 24, and a space bar 14. The numeral keys 12 and some others control switches 15 connected to the electromagnets 21 and a selector switch S<5>. The escapement rod 27 of the numeral keys is connected by a link 29, to a bell-crank 30 carrying a contact-operating finger 32 of a switch S which is closed on depression of a key, but immediately opened by a slow-acting solenoid M. Push-buttons 58, through rods 55 and levers 51, project fingers 52 into adjustable stops 53, and turn a bail 60 to release the carriage. The rods 55 carry cams 61 which control levers 63, pivoted to an adjustable slide, and displaced to engage stops 24 on the blank carrier, so that the typewriter-platen and the blank-carrier move together. To permit the typewriter working without punching, a switch S<1>, normally closed, is opened by depression of a plunger 89. The card-reading device consists of spring-held plungers 307 connected to contacts 304 and completing circuit through the magnets 21, a hole in the card, and the switch S<5>. This switch S<5> controls the electromagnets 21 through the numeral and November and December keys of the typewriter or through the contact-plungers 307. When an electromagnet 309 is energized, through core 310, lever 311, and a crescent-shaped bar 313 swing- ing over contacts 314. 315. it connects contacts 315 to earth wire 317, and the magnets 21 are actuated through the card-reading mechanism. When the magnet 309 is de-energized, the contacts 314 are earthed and the magnets 21 are operated from the typewriter. The magnet 309 is controlled through switches S<6>, S<7>, normally open when working from the typewriter. S<7> is held open by card-retaining flap 319 released through a hand latch. S<6> is closed by the carriage as it goes rearwardly for a new card by a bell-crank 321 in the path of a stop 324 adjustable on a graduated bar 325 on the carriage. When the stop 324 engages bell-crank 321 during the forward movement an arm 327 with pivoted switch actuating member 328 is lowered so that a shoulder 329 engages the switch. Immediately the magnet 309 is energized and the bar rooked, the switch S<6> is opened. The switch S' is thrown to the card-reading position at a moment depending on the position of the stop 324. When the stop 324 rides off the lever 321 trip mechanism operates to restore the parts to typewriter actuation. A switch S<8> is opened when the cardcarrier is moved backwards for the correction of error through a dog riding out of a notch on a rod 132. A normally closed switch S<2> in circuit with the electromagnets 21 is opened immediately after the circuit has been closed by a key or an electromagnet 21. An additional key is provided on the typewriter for operating type such as the letter l, used for the numeral 1, and is connected to the punch of the numeral 1. A plate connected to the zero punch is positioned above the typewriter space-bar so that the plate actuates the space-bar. To suppress automatic action of the card-reading device and permit punching of data in certain card fields under control of the typewriter a special typewriter key is held down to open a switch S<10>. When the machine is used independently of the typewriter the levers 201 operate plungers 202 and actuate the interposers to close the switch S" which completes the punch magnet 221 circuit through wires a, e, f, magnet 221, switch S", and wire g. When punching and card-reading mechanisms are used for automatic duplication of holes in a pattern card, the switch S<5> has circuit through solenoid 309 closed through wires a, a<2>, switches S', S<6>, S<10>, wire h, solenoid 309, and switches S<8>, When the punches are operated from the typewriter depression of a key closes switch 15 and completes circuit through wires a, a<2>, switches S<2>, 15, magnet 21, wires c, d, selector switch S<5> to earth 316 and wire d<1>, switches S<1>, S<9> to the other side of line. When switch S" is closed by movement of interposer circuit is closed through wires a, e, solenoid M, wire f, magnet 221, switch S", and wire g. This completes the circuit of punch magnet. If in automatic punching a plurality of stops 324 are used to punch automatically certain fields and permit others to be hand-punched switch S<6> is closed until lever 321 rides off cam stop when a dog releases the magnet 309 to free the contact bar to permit operation of selector magnets through typewriter keys for punching data in the fields not controlled by stops. The cards are moved from a hopper 123 by a picker 127 actuated from a rod 132 and carrying a rack 130 cross-connected by a rod 172 through a ratchet connection to a rack attached to the card carriage. The escapement mechanism for controlling the movement of the card carriage is similar to that described in Specification 199,422, [Class 106 (i), Calculating &c.].