US2473437A - Mechanical perforator - Google Patents

Description

June 14, 1949. R. F. MALLINA MECHANICAL PERFORATOR Filed Jan. 2o, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l /Nt/ENTOR B y R.F.`MALL/NA Q12 a/,M

June 14, 1949. R. F. MALLINA MECHANICAL PERFORATOR 5 Shee'ts-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 20, 1947 coat 7:4PE [Perf/0n) FIG. 4

Rvs/@marron NoLJ.

REPERFURATOR Na.

THRU REFERFORATORS NOS. 2 T08.

zeno EPE/ametro@ x REPEPFURTOk NOJ- RERFORTOR HVL-A0E@ /Nl/E/VTOR A, R. E MALL /NA Q a? M 'FIG' zsno REPEnFo/Mro.

ATTORNEY R. F. MALLINA MECHANICAL PERFORATOR June 14, 1949.v

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filved Jan. v2O, 1947 m m w I..

4A Rw mL a VCM wn R..

if ZZ@ A AT TORMF'V Patented June 14, 1949 UNITED ySTAT ES PATENT "GfFFIfCE MECHANICAL PERFORATOR- New York Applicationlanuary 20, 197417, Serial N10. 7225977 l1 Claims.

f1. This invention relates to Atape,perforators and particularly to a-stape'perforator of `the type ydesigned to .funotionfas 'one ofwaggroup ofv perfo- Irators, under theselectivefoontrol of a code-sensinsdeve, in va Vsystem ,for sorting code entries recorded in mixed-up-iashion-on a `primary-recording medium, Isuch-,as .a Vcode tape.

--in' a system :of thegabovedescribed general character disclosed inlm'y copending application,

`Serial No. :'635',355,zfiled December 15, 19'45, a primary recordingzmediuzm. such Las a codetape has recordedfthereon a multiplicity. of Unsorted Amultidigit numberseach digit of whichis symbolized by a Vdifferent,'.patern f or :two aperforations Vderived from a xed pattern of five. A- `group :oi-ten repeifforators:functions under control -of a 'common `code-esensirig :device fto selectively reproduce, on ,individual code etapes, the lcode-psymbolized numbers fof fthe iprimary tape :in :numerical order,

each .reperforator being :conditioned `to reproduce on its Atape' `only-those numbers which'` contain 4a particulardigitalicode patern. 'The reperforators areindividually.'designatedlas the Nos.1,2,i3 9 and zero reperforator and each `is physically -characterizedrby the codepa'tternof thefdigittby ywliichlit is individuallydesignated; .physical those numbers `which containfthedigital pattern of the rnumeral l; Similarly, the No. 2 repertorator operates to reproduce only 'those numbers containing/the .digitalpattern of the numeral-.2; and so on.

Furthermore, the system provides means whereby fthe reperorators-:are rendered operable to reproduce numbers containing .their individually characterizing digitalf'patterns `only when the l digital -pattern appears 2in .a particular digital position. Thus, `afmultiplicity ofcode-symbolized rumbers'appearing on fthe'primary tape maybe subjectedto vsorting operations corresponding in number tothe numberof digital positions 4the 'numbers sorted. ForA example, in sortingv five- `digit numbers, fthe sorting operations Yare undertaken successively in 'thefunits tens, "hundreds, ctc. channels, ler1-digital positions, :and vwhen the nal sort is completed -the'tape ofzeachrreperlforater wil contain a series -of code-symbolized numbers arranged inwnumerical order, the :numbers .reproduced on :each reperforator .tape bearing, rin the 'highest digitalposition thereof, :the

digital pattern Aby which ,thereperforator -is physically characterized.r Thusythe tapeof the No. 1 reperforator Wil lhave reproduced thereon, in .nwnerical,ordery all thenumbers of` the ten thousaudi-series `recorded on. the lprimary tape; the tape of the No. 2 reperforator vwill .have reproduced thereon, in numerical order, all the `nurnbers of the twenty thousandseries; andsofon.

It vis the object of the inventiondisclosed herein to provide annimprovedperforatory unit, ror yreperorator of `the typeidisclosed lin Ythe above- 4ident-ined copending application, 4which is .fully .mechanical in operation and control; .is simple and A compact in desgn/andfpositive .in operation; and which otherwise IendsitSeItto-gang .operation :under 4control, of/ a common code-sensing device, lor reader.

The freperforator of this.inventioncoinprises agplurality -of ltape fperforating-leversranda cor- :responding` number. Jof4 cede levers vmounted .for `limitedrotation, about their longitudinal axes under control foie `code-.sensing device. yEach .code lever iis rprovided fat. lone endl witha code pin and at -iits other `end with .anl integral projection constituting an interference or interponent mem- -ber for `normally Ainhibiting a `'corresponding perforating 'lever against operation. Disposed immediately above each-group of.: `iive code pins isa select lever provided with,v two code-holes patterned tozsymbolize a yparticular digit. When the code y,leversyare operated :in -suoh a ,manner asrto :bringtwo of the codeqpins thereof into alignment :with the two 'holes Ainthe -select -lever and :the selectleverzis otherwise enabled to-operlate, it does spo-.to `permit rthe operation of afcorresponding ipair :of perforating` flevers, fit. being yunderstood that, inoideu'tztothe :operation -ofany code lever, its `associatedinterponent lmember is movedout of -thezline of rtraveLof thefcorrespondinaperiorating.lever; "llhus,` each of ,agangof reperforators'is physioallyqcharacterized ftoldeteot the operation of a particular pair of code levers 'correspondingrto a particular -digit randl -isenailoled to operate a ,corresponding pair of perioating vlevers and thereby eieot a coresponding pe'foration -orra .recording tape. `Each `reperfuvrat'or 'is provided with as ymany 'select levers -as lthere-are ,charactersor digits-in the items which are 4recorded on a primary 4tapeand which, are `tobe reproduced by the reperforators and manually foperablewmeans is .providedfor selectively enabling the selectzleverslso thatan item on .the primary ,tape `landrincluding faicode pattern ,corresponding tothe code pattern by which .the

.select levers are physically` characterized may be caused to be reproduced on a reperforator tape depending upon the digital position in which the particular code pattern appears. In other words, the perforator of this invention through the media of code patterned select levers can beI enabled to reproduce on its code tape only items which contain a particular code pattern and may be selectively enabled to reproduce such item only when the particular code pattern appears in a particular digital position. The code employed in the present case is the well known, so called two out of live code used in the system of the above-identified copending application. However, in the present case the ve points on the 'tape allocated to any digital position are arranged in two rows instead of in one row, the positions in the two rows being staggered relative to each other. This does not, in any way, distinguish the code from that employed in my earlier application since the code is determined in each case by the transverse positions on the tape.

The features which characterize the tape perforator of this invention will be readily understood from the following detailed description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a reperforator embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the reperforator shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section of a primary code tape illustrating the manner in which each of the digits 1 to 9, and zero is symbolized, in code, by two perforations derived from a fixed pattern of ve;

Fig. i is a top plan view of three reperforator units and a code-sensing device showing particularly the ve select levers of each reperforator and their corresponding channel select cylinders; the manually operable means for variably setting the select cylinders; the metal tapes which operate under control of the code-sensing device to set the reperforator code levers, and the common motor means for driving the cam shaft of the reperforators;

Fig. 5 illustrates the metal tapes employed to operate the reperforator code levers under control of the code-sensing device, or reader;

Fig. 6 is a front view schematic corresponding to the top plan schematic of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged schematic view illustrating a portion of each of two select levers of each of ten reperforators. This gure is primarily an explanatory schematic view employed particularly to illustrate the manner in which the select levers are individually characterized by a distinctive code pattern of two perforations, or holes derived from a fixed pattern of five.

The reperforator of this invention is designed to reproduce five-digit numbers, each digit of which is symbolized on the primary code tape 80 (Fig. 3) by two perforations. In Fig. 3 the tape portion illustrated is fragmentary and shows only the areas thereof which are allocated to the units, tens and hundreds digital positions or channels. This limited showing is for purposes of simplicity only. Each digital position is allocated five points transversely positioned on the tape. The three digital channels, the units, tens and hundreds channels, are designated by the letters F, E and D, respectively. The code employed to identify each digit is the well known two out of rive code, it being understood that ten different combinations of two perforations may be derived from a fixed pattern of five. In the illustration, the five points at which a perforation may be made are shown occupying two parallel transverse lines, the rst, third and fth positions occupying one line and the second and fourth positions occupying a second line. Zero is illustrated as symbolized by two perforations appearing in the rst and second transverse positions; digit l is symbolized by two perforations appearing in the second and third positions; digit 2 by two perforations appearing in the third and fourth positions; digit 3 by two perforations appearing in the fourth and fifth positions; digit 4: by two perforations appearing in the rst and third positions; digit 5 by two perforations appearing in the second and fourth positions; digit 6 by two perforations appearing in the second and ith positions; digit 7 by two perforations appearing in the first and fourth positions; the digit 8 by two perforations in the second and fourth positions; and the digit 9 by two perforations in the first and fifth positions. As will be described more fully hereinafter, each of the ten reperforators which operate under the control of a code-sensing device is provided with five select levers which are physically characterized by a five-code hole pattern in which two of the holes identify a particular digital pattern, the digital pattern of the select levers of the No. l reperiorator corresponding to the pattern of the digit 1; the digital pattern of the select levers of the No. 2 reperforator corresponding to the pattern of the digit 2; and so on. The select levers control the operation of the corresponding reperforator in accordance with the digital pattern carried thereby.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the reperforator of this invention is housed in a suitable housing comprising front and rear walls I0, one of which appears in Fig. 1 and the other in Fig. 2, and end walls I 2, only one of which appears in the drawings.

Two pairs of clamping brackets I3 are suitably mounted in spaced relation between the front and rear walls I0. Between each pair of upper and lower brackets I3 there is clamped a selector tape supporting block I4. This member may be constructed as a unitary element as disclosed, or it may consist of a plurality of superposed layers. The inner face of each block id is provided with a plurality of slots I5 which extend the entire length of the block. The slots of each block are spaced vertically equidistant from each other and the slots of one block are staggered with respect to the slots of the other block. As illustrated, the right block (Fig. 2) accommodates thirteen slots and the left block twelve slots. Each slot accommodates a at nieta] tape Iii, which, as will appear from a later description. moves longitudinally in its particular slot under control of the code-sensing device and against the restraining iniiuence of a coil spring I'l. The coil springs II normally bias the ta es I ii in their home positions, each spring having one end anchored to the front wall I0 and the other hooked, or otherwise secured to one end of the tape as shown in Fig. l. It is to be understood that the tapes I5 are common to all ten reperforators and each is secured to the upper end of a code lever 20 (Figs. 4 and 6) of a code-sensing device so as to individually respond to the movement of such code levers.

Each tape It, as illustrated in Fig. 5, is provided with one notch I8 per reperforator, so that in a sorting system involving ten reperforators each tape Iii` is provided with ten equispaced 5 notches. The `dimensions-of the slots :L5 :and: loi' theY tapes lili` are 'suchthat La -notchebearing--strip of each tape projects beyond -thev conneszfof its corresponding slot. As Vwill appear presently, .the tape notches serve l:to-'couple -the tapes withcorresponding reperforator code levers i9.

Within the area between the two inner .faces of the blocks IllL therel are located 4twenty-tlve codelevers I8. Eachcode'lever .Wis essentially a vertically mounted rod-like structure withe`4 recessineach of its vupper fandlower ends. v'Each of these recesses accommodates la -pin 281 which projects through a suitable hole in :the overhanging portions of a pair of'upper 'and lower mounting brackets i3V whereby the .code l-ever iis 4pivotally mounted thereon and adapted 'to rotate about its longitudinal axis under Athe inuence of a corresponding flat metal tape zl. The movementor ya tape-l B'lis yimparted to its corresponding codelever 'I9 by virtue of the engagementzof .a tape notch `I8 lwith a projection 23 extending -laterally from one edgeofthe code lever. Since there are twenty-five ltapes ri each 'individual to a code 4lever I9 there are twenty-five code levers arranged in two oppositely disposed groups, with individually engageable by a different notch its Y* in lthe `tapes lli, the notches l'of the tapes being similarly arranged in Vstepped array-topermitthis engagement. 'It is apparent from the description `thus far advanced that whenever any-of thetapes I6 is slid `longitudinally in its corresponding slot l5 by the code levers .26' of the code-sensing device, or reader (Figs. 4'and 6), alcol-responding reperforator vcode lever fI-9l .is pivotally .moved about its pivot pin 20 because of the .coupling eiected by its lateral projection 23 'andithe Acorrespending tape notch i8.

Each'eode lever I'ipat` its upper-.endis provided vwith a vertically projecting integrally liormed code pin 2| and at its lower .-endffwitha :laterally projecting integrally formed member .'22 1which-is i Ator lever in aliclockwise direction, andiit isnperF able toan alternate position in -vzhichnit .clears the pin At6 to permit' .the operation .-.o'f rthe correspcndingperforator ilever. Normally, eachiinterponent member :221 of a code .fleverfis located- :ln-the line oi travel of -a pin :E6 of. a corresponding perforator lever 47 so that when in :their-normal positions .the interponent members 212. Vprevent zthefoperation .of their corresponding perfor-atar levers. zobviously, whenl a :code lever .l 9 is yactuated by Yits respective tapeiI-- :under /control of the code-sensing device, its .corresponding-.interponent member 22 is moved out of fthelineof travel ofzapin irof a corresponding perforator Ilever 141'! V.thus :enabling the peri-crater .lever -for operation.

,A shaft 12a-t, `horizontally mounted -between-the front and rear walls l0;of lthe reperioratortcarries `ivelselect leversx; This shaft may besecured `to the walls lll in Aany suitable manner as vby means-of screws .25, one of whichfagpcears in Eig; l. u

Asillustrated. in- Figs. l. ande, `the select levers 1-2 6' are Vmounted--in horizontal spaced relation and .each is irregularly contoured tol lprovide .a- .-rela ftivel-y large areafsubstantially midway@i its i. ends. :Upon :this `area teach lselect lever bears yve .codc

.foratoix bones28: These-codeholes.areschematicallrxindi-.

cated .infFigl 4 andare more Aclearly illustrated in iFig. 'T. iin Fig. 4 only the :two holes 4whichiconstituteithephysical characterization, iin accordance with a particular digital code pattern, are showncornplete whereas all .ve code .holes .are illustratedinFigf?.

`Theselect 1evers SZ'Elextend to the -fleft (Fig. 112) from the supporting shaftv 2d soaslto bridge the code :pins .2l yof :the `code levers :.I Quand have their endsresting on the periphery of .a select `cylinder '29. `Substantiallymidway ofthe code hole bearing portions andthe 'left ends, the select levers arevsupported innormal positions on .the bariBB which is integrally formed with two right angu larly disposed arms .34 which are mounted vfor rotation yon the horizontal i shaft .35. `One arm 3.4 appears iin Fig. '1 andithe other .in .Fig-2.

yAslpreviously indicated, each select :lever fis vprovided-.with iivezcode holes .28 and is -allocatedto Jive codelevers :l'9. @ne select lever is allocated tothe vrlvecode levers .which correspond rtcithe units digital position of a number; ,anotherzato the `i'ivecode levers which correspond to the; tens digital position. of'a number, and so on, Nor mallyand1as clearly illustrated Ain Fig. 7, three oftthe code holes of each select lever are vin -ver-- ticalalignment lwith three code'pinsZll of ycorresponding code vlevers .I9 andtwo` of .the code holes aref out' of .alignment .with the remaining .twocode lever pins. It is apparent therefore that :unless all'ivescode holes 23 of a select llever are :inxvertical alignment-with the corresponding code-pins 21, .the said select lever is precluded from operation in the directionof the code Ipins. Thus-itis that with the code levers i9 in their normaliunactuated positions the selectleversiare inhibited from operating. and can be operated only when the two misaligned vcodel pins .are brought vinto `alignment with the corresponding select lever code holes.

Forexample the misaligned code holes of the select-leversV of reperforator No. l occupy the second ,and .third positions which identify the digit '1; `,the misaligned-code holes of the select ,leversof reperiorator No. 2 occupy,7 the third and :fourth positionswhich identify the digit 2; land sexen .down to ythe IZero reperforator, the select 'lever code holes of which occupy the -rst and second positions which identify zero. 'perorator is therefore physically7 ycllaracterized Each reby a code pattern which lcorresponds .to thepat tern of the .digit by which the reperforator is designated.

code-levers inl all ten reperforators throughthe interconnecting-tapes It. If the code `pattern encountered, -for example, is that corresponding to Vthe-digit 2, code levers corresponding to .code .povsitions 3 and 4 will be `operated in each .reper- I-Iowever, since it is only in reperforator No. 2 that Athe Voperation of the ccdeleverscorresponding to code positions 3 and 4 results in the alignment of all five code lever pins with their corresponding select lever code holes, only a select lever of the No. 2 reperforator will be enabled for operation, It is apparent therefore that by virtue of the identification of the select levers of each reperforator, in accordance with a diierent digital code pattern, the reperforators are rendered selectively operable to reproduce only those digits which contain their particular identifying digital code pattern, it being understood, and as will be more fully described hereinafter, that one of the reperforator select levers must be enabled in order for the reperforator to perform a punching operation.

Reverting back to Figs. l and 2, each reperforator is provided with a select cylinder 29 mounted on a common shaft 3|] so as to be disposed immediately below the free ends of the select levers 26. The select cylinder is provided with ve flat sections 3| disposed seventy-two degrees apart in spirally staggered relation on the cylinder periphery so that the cylinder may assume any one of ve positions, in each of which it presents one flat surface to the underside of a different one of the select levers 2E. The setting of the cylinder 29 is attained through the medium of a hand crank 32 (Fig. 4) mounted on one end of the shaft 30. The flat portions 3| of the select cylinder 29 are of suflicient depth to permit the free ends of corresponding select levers 25 to move thereinto under the action of individual coil springs 45, unless otherwise restrained from doing so. The shaft 39 is common to all ten reperforators and bears ten select cylinders 29, one for each reperforator.

Normally the ve select levers 23 are restrained against counter-clockwise rotation about the shaft 24 by the common stop bar 33 previously referred to. This bar is horizontally disposed beneath the left ends of the select levers so as to provide a rest therefor. The resting edge of the bar 33 is in substantial alignment with the periphery of the select cylinder at its uppermost portion so that, when the bar moves downwardly in a manner to be described hereinafter, iour of the five select levers will be incapable of following the bar because only one select lever at any one time is located directly above a ilat portion on the cylinder. Thus by rotating the cylinder 29 to its various positions any one of the ve select levers may be selected for operation. Selection of a particular select lever in this manner determines in which digital channel, or position a code sorting operation is to be undertaken.

The stop bar 33 is controlled in its movement through a pair of link rods 36 (only one of which appears in Fig. 2) which connect with the horizontal rod 31 formed integrally with the end pieces 38 which are mounted for pivoted movement about the shaft 39. A shaft 49 disposed immediately below the rod 31 supports a roller 4| which functions as a cam follower, being in constant engagement with the periphery of the rear cam 42. The cam 42 and a second cam 43 are mounted on a common shaft 44. The shaft 44, like shaft 3|] is common to all ten reperforators and has its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of shaft 30. Obviously, as the cam 42 is rotated, the bar 33 is moved downwardly during one part of the cycle of cam rotation and is then moved upwardly during the second part of the cycle. The bar 33 therefore is moved out of the path of the select levers 26 at regular intervals as the cam 42 is rotated, thereby permitting the one thereof whose free end is located opposite a at surface on the periphery of select cylinder 29 and whose five code holes are in vertical alignment with the code pins 2| of the ve corresponding code levers I9, to be moved in a counter-clock- Wise direction under the action of its individual coil spring 45.

A horizontally disposed shaft 45 supports twenty-five perforator levers 41 in equispaced relation and a common control member comprising three angularly disposed radial arms 48, 49 and 53. The arm 48 is connected to a similar arm (not shown in Fig. 2) by means of a common horizontal latch bar 5|. The latch bar 5| extends substantially the entire depth of the reperforator and is normally in engagement with a common latch lever 52. The latch lever 52 is integrally formed with a yoke-shaped member 54 which is mounted on shaft 55 and whose crosspiece is designated by the numeral 53. The latch lever 52 is held in tensioned engagement with the common latch bar 5| by means of a coil spring 55 which has one end anchored to the front wall |0 at 51, and the other end in hooked engagement with the lever 52, as illustrated. Each of the live select levers 26 is provided with an integral offset projection 5S all of which normally abut the bar 53. Thus when any one of the select levers is operated in the manner previously described, its integral projection 53 serves to rotate the common latch lever 52 in a clockwise direction against the restraining influence of spring 56. This movement of the latch lever 52 unlatches the latch bar 5|. As will be described presently, the unlatching of latch bar 5| enables the common control member comprising arms 48, 49 and 50 for operation under control of cam 43, it being observed that roller 55 carried by arm 49 of the control member is held in communication with the periphery of cam 43 by the action of spring 60.

The arm 49 of the control member carries a common stop bar 6I which, in the normal position illustrated, precludes the clockwise operation of the perforator levers 41, each lever 41 being provided with a depending radial arm 62 which abuts the lower edge of the common stop bar and which is held in tensioned engagement therewith by a corresponding individual coil spring 33. It is apparent that, when the latch lever 52 is actuated to clear the latch bar 5| incident to the actuation of one of the select levers 25, the control member, which includes the arm 49, is free to follow the cam 43 and when the cam 43 reaches a particular position in its rotation the bar Si is moved away from the arms 62 oi the twentyfive perforator levers 41. All twenty-five of the perforator levers 41 are therefore enabled but, as will be described hereinafter, only two of each group of ve, coresponding to the digital code patterns of the number sensed by the code-sensing device will operate.

Each perforator lever 41 is provided with a second integral radial arm 65 which carries at its outer end a vertically projecting pin 66 which is normally in vertical alignment with an interponent member 22 of a corresponding code lever |9. As previously indicated, each digit of a number recorded on the primary tape is symbolized by two particularly positioned perforations and when such a combination of code perforations is encountered by the sensing fingers of the codesensing device, or reader, a corresponding pair of code levers |9 are pivotally operated about their supporting pins 20. When the code levers |3 are thus operated, their corresponding interponent members 22 are moved out of the path of the pins 6B of the corresponding perforator levers 41. Thus it is that, though all twenty-live perforator levers 41 are enabled incident to the operation of a select lever 26 as described, only those perforator levers whosecorresponding code levers have been operated will operate.

From the description thus far advanced it is apparent that, when a five-digit number is sensed by the code-sensing device, iive groups of two flat tapes IB will be moved longitudinally in their respective slots I to cause the operation of five corresponding groups of twocode levers I 9 in each reperforator. The operation of the ten code levers I9 removes their interponent members 22 out of the paths of the corresponding perforator lever pins 66 so that only the ten corresponding perforator levers Will be'oapable of operation. Also, the operation of these ten perforator levers is dependent upon the operation of one of the ve select levers 26 which, in turn, operates only in the event the sensed number contains the controlling digital code pattern by which the select levers are characterized.

When the conditions set forth above are satisied and the ten perforator levers 41 are operated under control of their individual coil springs 63 and cam 43, the digital patterns of the sensed number will be reproduced on the reperforator tape 61. This code reproduction. is effected by means of punch pins 68, one of which is carried at the outer end of each perforator lever 41. Thus, when a particular group of ten perforator levers 41 is actuated, corresponding to five groups of two code combinations symbolizing live digits,

their associated punches 68 operate to reproduce, on the tape 61, ve identical code patterns symbolizing a five-digit number sensed by the codesensing device.

The perforator levers 41 and their integrally formed arms 62 and 65 are each individually guided in their direction of travel by common comb-like structures 10, 1I and 1-2, respectively. A similar device 13 serves the same purpose relative to the select levers 26.

The coil springs 4'5 and B3 which serve to actuate the select levers 26 and the perforator levers 41, respectively, have one end of each anchored to a transverse member 14A mounted between the front and rear walls I0 of the reperforator, the

other ends thereof being anchored to the select levers and perforator levers as illustrated.

The tape ofthe reperforator is fed over a perforated drum or cylinder 15 which is mounted on a shaft 16. Adjacent 'the inner face of the drum 15 and fixed thereto is a ratchet wheel 11 which is adapted to be Astepped in a counter-clockwise direction by the stepping pawl 18 which is carried on the outer end of arm 5U of the control member. A stop pawl 19 communicates with the teeth of ratchet Wheel 11 to preclude the possibility of play in the. wheel and to insure correct positioning thereof with respect to the perforator punches 68.

The cams 42 and 43 are individually mounted on shaft 44 and areindividually peripherally contoured to provide a denitetime sequence in the operation of the elements controlled thereby.

Operation In describing the operation ofthe perforator of this invention it will be assumed that the reperforator disclosed in Figs, 1- and2 functions, as the zeroreperforaton with-nine other similar reperforators. under the control of` a single codev reader, o1'- `sensing, device. The reader may be of theltype `disclosedin the copending application-hereinbetore-identied. This reader is designed to operate with `code tapes on which each digit of anumber is symbolized by two perforations out of a fixed straight linepattern of ve. The reperforator ot this invention is designed to reproduce code patterns made up of two perforations out of axed pattern of ve arranged in two lines,v as previously described. The reader of the above identied `copending application will, however, accurately control the reperforator of thisinventiomthoughfin actual-practice the sensing lingers zzoffthesaidreader would be arranged in staggered relation insteadl of in horizontal alignment as illustrated in the said copending application Also, to adapt the reader of the said copen'ding application- 'forv operation with reperforatorsvof thisinventionit isnecessary that it be positioned so that the. shafts thereof, such as 48, 3i, 21 and -2I assume vertical positionsv instead of `the. horizontal*positionsA illustrated. In this manner the twenty-five -code levers 20 of the reader will beindividuarlly aligned with the twenty-five flattapes -l'ofthe reperforators. However, the reader per se, does notconstitute a part of the presentinventionand*need not be disclosed other thanV in the schematic form shown in Figs. 4 and 6.

It will be further assumed. that the primary tape t showninlFig`.-3is yfed into the reader and that it carries, in-code perforations, the .code patternssymbolizlng the members shown in Fig. 3. For' purposes ofA simplicity the description of the operation of the Yreperforator will be confined to the reproductiorlcY a three-digit number, 019, it being. understoodthat the reperforator, as illustrated, is` 'designed to accommodate {ive-digit numbers.

When the primary tape isfed to the constantly operating reader, or sensing device the sensing fingers' 22` (Fig. 5 of the above-identied copending:4 application)` thereof encounter the co'de perforations symbolizing the number G19 and in themannerfully described in the said copending application; Athree'corresponding groups of tWo'code levers 20 .aref actuated. The reader code levers .are schematically 'indicated in Figs. 4 and Sand identified-bythe numeral 2li. More particular-1y; thecode levers "in the-first' and fth positions of the? units group of ve levers, the code leversin'thesecOndandtliird positions of the tens group-.of five leve'rsaand` thek levers in the iirst and secondV positionsl of the hundreds group of ive levers-arefoperatedinconsequence ofI the sensing fingersofthereader encountering the code perforations which symbolize the nurnber 019.

It will beA assumed,-` fo'r descriptivel purposes only, that' the selectcylindersv 29 'of all ten reperforators have been :set 'to condition'the reperforators to sortr intheliuhdred's column, or digital position D (Figi 3). UnderthisY condition there willbepresentedi-tofthe undersu-rf'ace of the free end of the-"select lever: 26'; .corresponding to the hundreds digitalfpos-ition; in 'each reperforator, a flat surface-3lVA of their respective select cylin- In respons'eto the-W actuation of the reader code leversfas-described, a corresponding group'ofwsixA actuating tapes'fl 6i are longitudinally displaced, .it being understood thaty each such 'tape iscommon to alllreperforators'iland is secured in any suitable mannen-'tofanlindividual one of the reader code leve-rs'Zllf. The-'displacement of the selected' sixtapes Itu causes` corresponding code levers I9 in each reperforator to be rotated about their pivots 20 to displace corresponding code pins 2| and interponent members 22 from their normal positions. Since the number 019 of the reader tape is being sensed and the sorting is being undertaken in the hundreds digital position, zero is the controlling digit. Zero is symbolized by two perforations appearing in the first and second code positions. Therefore only the preselected select lever 29 which is characterized by the perforation code symbolizing zero will be enabled. This is due to the fact that the code pins 2| of the code levers I9 of the hundreds digital position in each periorator have been set to simulate the code pattern of zero and only the zero reperforator has its select levers characterized by code holes symbolizing zero. Thus it is only in the zero reperforator that the actuated code pins 2 I, symbolizing zero, will be moved into alignment with their .corresponding select lever code holes. In this manner the zero reperiorator is selected to reproduce, in code, the number 019. In all other reperforators there will be code pins 2| out of alignment with their corresponding select lever code holes in the hundreds digital position, thus precluding the operation of the select levers and therefore of the reperforators.

The cam shaft 44 which is common to all reperiorators is constantly rotating in synchronism with the reader cam shaft under the control of motor BI, Fig. 4. Thus the cams 42 and 43 of the zero reperforator rotate to control the operation of the enabled select lever 26 and of the control member, respectively, the latter consisting of the arms 48, 49 and 50. As the cam 42 rotates from its illustrated normal position, the bar 33 is lowered permitting the preselected select lever 26 to move counterclockwise about the shaft 24. When thus freed, the spring 45 functions to pull the select lever downwardly so that the five code holes thereof register with the corresponding five code pins 2| of the code levers allocated to the digital position. As this select lever operates as described, the latch lever 52 is moved clockwise due to the action of the select lever projection 58 on the bar 53. The latch levers 52 therefore are moved out of engagement with the common bar 5| to enable the control member, comprising the arms 48, 49 and 59. The cam 43, due toits particularly contoured periphery, permits the now freed control member to move clockwise about the shaft 46 under the action of spring 60. The stop bar 6 I is then moved out of the path of the arms $2 of the perforator levers 4`| and the stepping lpawl 'I8 is retracted from the ratchet wheel 'Il for engagement with the next succeeding tooth thereof.

With the twenty-five perforator levers 41 thus freed for operation, those levers whose corresponding interponent members 22 of the code levers I9 have been moved out of the line of travel of the projections 66 will fully operate, all other levers being restrained from actuation by their normally positioned interponent members 22. Thus a group of six perforator levers, corresponding to the code pattern of the number 019, in the zero reperforator will operate under the action of their corresponding coil springs 63 to cause their respective punches |58 to perforate the tape 6l. It is obvious now, that the perforated code impressed on the tape 61 is an exact reproduction of the code sensed by the sensing device and symbolizes the number 019.

As the cams 42 and 43 continue to rotate, the control member, comprising arms 48, 49 and 59,

is forced back into its original positions against the action of spring 6|). 'I'he arm 48 rcoccupies a position in which the bar 49 is conditioned for reengagement by the latch level` 52. The bar 6 I, secured to the arm 49 acts to restore the actu ated perforated levers 41 to normal position, and the pawl l! secured to the arm 59 reengages the ratchet wheel 'Il and advances the tape cylinder l5 to the next punching position. The cam 42, through link 35 and bar 33 restores the operated select lever 25 to normal which, in turn, permits the spring 55 to restore the latch lever 52 to latching engagement with the common bar 5|. In this manner the zero reperforator is restored to its original condition and prepared to repeat the described cycle of operations under the control of the cams 42 and 43.

The description of the operation of the re perforator of this invention thus far has not dealt particularly with the time sequence in which the various elements thereoi` and of the controlling sensing device perform their functions. It is thought that this phase of the description may be better understood by enumerating the various steps performed during a complete cycle of operation in order of their occurrence.

Sequence of operation l. The reader sensing iingers enter the code perforations in the primary tape.

2. The reader code levers operate, as do also the perforator code levers.

3. The select lever 26 of the reperiorator opcrates.

4. The perforator levers 4l operate and cause the reperforator punch pins E8 to perforate the tape 61.

5. The perfor-ating levers 41 and the select lever 26 restore to normal.

6. The reperforator stepping pawl 78 operates to step the tape cylinder l5, and the reperforator code levers restore as do the code levers of the sensing device.

7. The sensing fingers of the reader or sensing device restore.

8. The reader tape drum is stepped to the next position.

The zero reperforator has now been operated to reproduce the number 019 on its tape 67. It is deemed unnecessary to repeat the operations of the reperforators in reproducing the other numbers recorded on the tape 89 (Fig. 3). It is apparent from the foregoing description that, as long as sorting is carried out in the hundreds channel, the No. 1 reperforator will operate to record the number 123; the No. 4 reperforator will operate to record the number 456; the No. 7 reperforator will operate to record the number 789; and so on. Similarly, if sorting has been undertaken in the tens channel E (Fig. 3) the No. 1 reperforator would operate to record the number 019; the No. 2 reperforator would operate to record the number 123; the No. 5 reperforator would operate to record the number 456; etc. It is to be understood that in practice the sorting operations follow a definite sequence starting in the units column, and repeated in the tens, hundreds, thousands, etc. columns. These sorting operations are more fully discussed in the above-identified inst-mentioned copending application.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tape perforator, tape perforator means, means for enabling the perforator to perform a perforating operation, a group of code levers each having an integrally formed code pin, a select lever having code holes corresponding in number to the number of code levers vvand normally positioned relative to saidcode levers so that less than the whole oi the code pins thereof are in individual vertical alignment with corresponding code holes of` said select lever, means for selectively operating said code levers to variably position the code pins thereof relative to corresponding code holes of said select lever, and means, including said select lever, responsive to the selective operation of said code levers in a manner to effect the individual vertical alignment of the code pins of all thereof with corresponding select lever code holes for operating said perforator enabling means.

2. In combination with a codesensing device, a tape perforator including agroup of ve code levers each having a code pin, means including said code-sensing device for selectively operating said code levers inicombinations of two levers to cause the code pins of saidl code levers to occupy positions simulating anyv of ten diierent patterns, a select lever having a code hole for each of said code lever` code pins arranged therein to simulate a particular one of the said ten code patterns, means eiiective incident to an operation of said code levers in which the code pinsthereof occupy positions simulating the particular code pattern simulated by the code holes of said select lever for causing the select lever code holes to register with the code lever code pins, and means responsive to such rgistration` for enabling said tape perforator.

3. In combinationy with a code-sensing device, a tape perforator including ve groups of five code levers, each code lever having a code pin, means including said code-sensing device for se'- lectively operating the code levers of each'of said groups in combinations of two levers to cause the code pins or said code levers in each group to occupy positions simulating any of ten diierent code patterns, a select lever for each group of code levers each having a code hole for each of the code lever code pins of a corresponding group of code levers, the code holes of each of said select levers arranged to simulateV a particular one of the said ten codepatterns, means for selectively enabling one of said select levers to control the operation of said perforator, means effective incident to an operation of said code levers by which the code pins of the group of code levers corresponding to the enabled select lever occupy positions simulating the particular code pattern simulated by the code holes of the select levers for causing the code holes of the enabled select lever to register with the code pins of the corresponding group of code levers, and means controlled by the select leverv incident to the registration of its code holes With the code pins of the corresponding group of codelevers for operating said tape perforator.

e. In con'ibination,A anode-sensing device comprising a plurality of selectively operable code levers, a plurality of reperiorators each having code levers corresponding in number to the number of code levers of said code-sensing device, and means mechanically connecting each code lever oi said sensing device with a corresponding code lever in each of said reperforators comprising a nat metal tape having one notch foreach reperforator, and an integral projection on each of the said corresponding code levers of said reperiorators recessed in one of the notches in said tape, whereby the operation of the code levers of said code-sensing device iscommuni'- catedy to corresponding code levers in each of said reperforators through said tapes.v

' 5. In a code tape perforator, a group of ver'- tical parallelly aligned pivotally mounted code levers each having an integral projection extending laterally from one vertical edge thereof, the lateral projection of each of saidvcode levers being diiierently spaced from the upper vend thereof to effect a group of stepped projections occupying a common vertical plane, a mounting block located in a plane in parallel juxtaposition with the plane of said stepped code lever 'projections and having slot-s located therein, each in substantial horizontal alignment With a lateral projection of a different one' of said code levers, and a flat tape longitudinally slidably housed in each oi said slots, each of said tapes having.

a notch therein in constant communication with a lateralprojection. of a diierent one of said code levers, whereby -said code levers `are pivotally operated in response tothe longitudinal movement of their corresponding tapes.

6. In combination, a code-sensing device` comprising a group'of selectively operable' code levers; a plurality of reperforators each comprising a group oi code levers corresponding in number to the number of code levers inr said sensing'de'- vice, and each provided with an integral lateral projection, and means mechanically coupling each of the code levers of said sensing device with a corresponding code lever in each of said reperforators comprising a continuous ilat metal tape Xed at one end to a code lever of saidsensing device and extending. therefrom through all said reperforators, said tape having oner notch 'per reperforator in'which the lateral projection of a corresponding code lever in each `reperforator is recessed, whereby the operation of any ofthe code levers or" said sensing device is communicated to a corresponding code lever in each of' said reperforatorsby said continuous tape, and means for operating' the code levers of said sensing device.

7. In combination in a tape perforation, a plu'- rality of perforating levers adapted to be operated from a normal position to a tape perforating position, each of said perforating levers hav'- ing a horizontally disposed arm carrying ari` integral vertical projection, a plurality of parallelly disposed code levers occupying a plane vertical to the plane of the horizontal arms ofsaid'vperforating levers, an interponent member integrally formed on each` of said code levers normally occupying a position in superposed alignment with a vertical projection ona correspondingperforating lever whereby said perforating levers are nor;- mally inhibited against operation to tape-perforating positions, a lateral projection on-.each of said code levers, and'means for selectively, operating said code levers to remove the interponent members thereof out of alignment with corre sponding vertical projections of said perorat ing levers to enable `corresponding periorating levers, comprising a slidablyv mounted longitudinally movable flatl metal tape for each of said code. levershaving a notch therein iny cooperative engagement with the said lateral projectionsoia :corresponding code lever.

8; Incom-bination in a tape perorator, means for enabling the periorator to perform a perforating operation, a, select lever having a multiplicity of code holes, two of which simulate a particular code pattern, a code lever corresponding to each of said select lever code holes and each having a code pin, means pivotally mounting said code levers relative to said select lever so that the code pins of two thereof are normally out oi vertical alignment with the select lever code holes simulating the said particular code pattern and the code pins of all other code levers are in individual vertical alignment with the remaining select lever code holes, means for selectively actuating said code levers to vertically align the code pins of two thereof with the' select lever code holes simulating the said particular code pattern, means effective subsequent to this alignment for operating said select lever to cause the code holes thereof to register with the code pins ci said code levers, and means responsive to the operation of said select lever for operating said perforator enabling means.

9. In combination in a tape perforator, means for enabling the perforator to perform a perforating operation, a plurality of select levers each having a multiplicity of code holes, two code holes in each of which simulate the same particular code pattern, a group of code levers for each select lever, each code lever having a code pin, means pivotally mounting the code levers of each group thereof relative to its corresponding select lever so that the code pins of two code levers in each group are normally out of vertical alignment with the two code holes of the corresponding select lever simulating the said particular code pattern and the code pins of the remaining code levers are in individual vertical alignment with the remaining select lever code holes, means for selectively actuating the code levers of all of said groups to vertically align the code pins of two in a particular group thereof with the code holes simulating the said particular code pattern in a corresponding select lever, manually operable means for selectively enabling the correspending one of said select levers, means effective subsequent to the alignment of the code pins of two of a group of code levers with the code holes of the manually enabled select lever for operating said enabled select lever to cause the code holes thereof to register with the code pins of the corresponding group of code levers, and means responsive to the operation of said select lever for operating said perforator enabling means.

l0. In a tape perforator, a group of pivotally mounted vertically disposed code levers each carrying at one end a code pin and at the other end a corresponding interponent member, a plurality of rotatably operable normally disabled perforating levers each provided with a code projection, means mounting each of said perforating levers horizontally relative to a corresponding coole lever so that the interponent member of the latter is normally disposed in the line of travel of the code projection of the corresponding perforating lever, a select lever for said group of code levers having code holes therein corresponding in number to the number of code levers in said group, means pivotally mounting said select lever relative to said group of code levers so that all but two of the code lever code pins are in vertical alignment with coresponding code holes in said select lever, means for pivotally operating the two code levers whose code pins are normally out of vertical alignment with their corresponding select lever code holes to bring the code pins thereof into vertical alignment with their corresponding select lever code holes and to simultaneously remove the interponent members thereof from the line of travel of the code projections of corresponding perforating levers and thereby enable said perforating levers, means eective subsequent to the operation of said code levers for operating said select lever to eiect the registry of the code lever code pins with their corresponding select lever code holes, and means effective incident to the registry of said code lever code pins with corresponding select lever code holes for operating the enabled perforating levers.

11. In combination in a tape perforator, means for enabling the perforator to perform a perforating operation, a plurality of perforating levers rotatably mounted in horizontal alignment on a common shaft, each of said levers having an integrally formed code projection on one end thereof and a perforating punch on the other end and adapted, when rotated to a periorating position to move its associated code projection vertically upwardly, a plurality of pivotally mounted code levers arranged in parallel alignment with their longitudinal axes in a common vertical plane, each of said code levers provided with a laterally projecting interponent member at one end and a vertically projecting code pin at the other end, said code levers being so disposed relative to said perforating levers that the interponent member of each of said code levers occupies a position in the vertical line of travel of a code projection of a corresponding perforating lever, a select lever disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axes of said code levers and having code holes therein, certain of said code holes being located in vertical alignment with a corresponding number of code lever code pins and certain others of said code holes simulating a predetermined code pattern and normally out of alignment with a corresponding number of other code lever code pins, means for selectively actuating a combination of code levers corresponding to the code pattern simulated by the said certain other code holes of said select lever whereby the code pins thereof are moved into alignment with the code pattern simulating code holes of said select lever and the interponent members thereof are removed from the line of travel of the code projections of corresponding perforating levers to enable said perforating levers, means effective subsequent to the alignment of the code pins with the select lever code holes simulating the said predetermined code pattern for actuating said select lever, and means responsive to the operation of said select lever for operating said perforator enabling means whereby the enabled perforating levers are operated to perforating positions.

RUDOLPH F. MALLINA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,112,951 Carpenter Apr. 5, 1938 2,204,957 Carpenter June 18, 1940

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