US3136481A

US3136481A - Perforating apparatus for perforating the elements of a signal combination

Info

Publication number: US3136481A
Application number: US167876A
Authority: US
Inventors: Handley John
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-09-28
Filing date: 1962-01-22
Publication date: 1964-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 1981-06-09
Also published as: GB853988A; BE572335A; FR1210988A; FR1242307A; US3069057A; GB853989A; CH371620A; CH365402A; DE1078167B; BE571549A

Description

June 9, 1964 J. HANDLEY 3,136,481

PERFORATING APPARATUS FOR PERFORATING THE ELEMENTS OF A SIGNAL COMBINATION Filed Jan. 22, 1962 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 A Home y June 9, 1964 J HANDLEY 3,136,481

PERFORATING APPARATUS FOR PERFORATING THE ELEMENTS OF A SIGNAL COMBINATION Filed Jan. 22, 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2.

'1 V F| G.8. I F n lnuenlor J HAND LEY Attorney June 9, 1964 J HANDLEY 3,136,481

PERFORATING APPARATUS FOR PERFORATING THE ELEMENTS OF A SIGNAL COMBINATION Filed Jan. 22, 1962 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGS.

Inventor J HANDLEY Attorney J- HANDLEY June 9, 1964 FORATING THE BINATION PERFORATING APPARATUS FOR PER ELEMENTS OF A SIGNAL COM 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan, 22, 1962 Inventor J. HANDLEY Attorney June 9, 1964 J. HANDLEY 3,136,481

PERFORATING APPARATUS FOR PERFORATING THE ELEMENTS OF A SIGNAL COMBINATION Filed Jan. 22, 1962 v 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.5.

i Z-SMS. 2'5M.S.

Inventor J HANDLEY A Horn e y June 9, 1964 J. HANDLE PERFORATING APPARATUS FOR PERFORATING THE! ELEMENTS OF A SIGNAL COMBINATION Filed Jan. 22, 1962 O O y '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Q Inventor J. HANDLEY )3y way Attorney June 9, 1964 HANDLEY 3,136,481

PERFORATING APPARATUS FOR PERFORATING THE ELEMENTS OF A SIGNAL COMBINATION Filed Jan. 22, 1962 A 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 S/Tw A I nuenlor JOHN HA NDLEY 7 A torne y United States Patent Ofiice 3,136,481 Patented June 9, 1964 3,136,481 PERFORATING APPARATUS FOR PERFORATING THE ELEIVENTS (IF A SIGNAL COMBINATION John Handley, Little Marland, Briar Hill, Purley, Surrey, England Filed Jan. 22, 1962, Ser. No. 167,876 Claims priority, application Great Britain Oct. 26, 1957 5 Claims. (Cl. 234-115) This invention relates to perforating apparatus for perforating the elements of a signal combination, and is a continuation in part of my application, Serial No. 764,555, filed October 1, 1958, now abandoned.

When information stored in a computer is to be recorded as signal combinations in a punched tape, it can be supplied from the computer at very high speeds. Furthermore it may consist of a long sequence of combinations to be perforated or occasionally of single combinations. It is therefor desirable that the perforating apparatus should be a flexible mechanism which runs at very high speeds and stops and starts on a single character.

In my co-pending application Serial No. 582,718, filed May 4, 1956, now Patent No. 2,960,163, issued Nov. 15, 1960, I described and claimed a flexible perforating apparatus which was designed to raise the speed of perforating to the region of 2,500 words per minute. The present invention proposes a perforating apparatus which is flexible and which is capable of perforating at speeds approaching 5,000 words per minute.

This is achieved, according to the present invention, by keeping the mechanism which performs the actual perforating operation moving continuously, so that there is no idle period between successive punching operations. The punches therefore have to be positioned independently of the actual perforating operation. According to the preferred embodiments of the invention this is done by a set of punch selector magnets which move respective punches at very small amount with a very small effort.

Either a punch is wanted for the next character or not, so that practically the Whole cycle time is available for setting up a punch or allowing it to restore. In practice the selection of the punches for the succeeding punching operation begins as soon as the tape and the punches have been separated after the last punching operation.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the punching operation is performed by lifting and lowering the die or anvil over which the tape is fed, so that the tape is forced up against the selected combination of punches. The lifting and lowering operation is carried out with a uniformly accelerated and decelerated motion under control of a cam. The cycle time for one complete operation in the embodiments which will be described is 2.5 milliseconds, of which the actual punching operation when the tape is in contact with any selected punches occupies 1 millisecond. The time available for feeding the tape is therefore 1.5 milliseconds and the time in which the flux in each punch selector magnet can build up to its maximum or decay away to nothing is 2 milliseconds. The movement of a punch during selection is of the order of 12 thousandths of an inch.

In the form of the invention which will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, the punch selector magnets cam the selected punches into position and then look them in the selected position. Other details of some embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation in part section, with some parts removed, of a perforator operating in response to received signals according to the invention;

' FIG. 2 is a view of the perforator of FIG. 1, taken 7 again in part section;

FIG. 5 is a timing diagram of the operations carried out in the perforator of FIGS. 1 to 4;

'FIG. 6 is a side view in part section, i.e. similar to FIG. 1, of a modified form of perforator according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a front view in part section, i.e. similar to FIG. 2, of the perforator of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a detail view of the armature and punch arrangement of the modified perforator of FIGS. 6 and 7; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of means for effecting control of the selection punches of the perforator during perforating operations.

Referring first to the perforator of FIGS. 1 to 4, there are provided eight punches 1 (FIGS. 1 and 2), the perforator shown being one for perforating a tape with information supplied from a computer in the form of an eight element code in which eight signals, one for each element, are supplied simultaneously. These punches 1 are each acted upon by an individual leaf spring 10 (FIG. 1) which tends to keep each punch 1 in its uppermost position. The top end of each punch 1 is shaped to be engaged by a cammed end on a corresponding lever or interposer 3 (FIG. 2), each interposer 3 being mounted on a shaft 5 associated with a punch selector magnet 4. The eight punch selector magnets 4 are laid out, as shown in FIG. 4, four on each side of the punches 1 with the associated shafts 5 from each side controlling alternate punches 1. The movement of the interposers 3 to position their respective punches 1 is made in opposite directions for successive punches 1, as can be seen in FIG. 2. Furthermore the shaped portions on which the interposers 3 engage on the top ends of the punches 1 are staggered, as can be seen in FIG. 1, in order to provide room for the setting-up movements of the interposers 3 to take place.

The type of punch selector magnet 4 used in the embodiments of the invention shown here is illustrated in FIG. 3. The armature 50 of the punch selector magnet 4 is of the kind known as centrally-pivoted, i.e. the pivot 51 is some distance from both ends of the armature 50, if not exactly at its centre. The punch selector magnet core 52, which is made in two parts, is arranged so that, when the punch selector magnet 4 is energised, the poles formed at both ends of the core 52 act to gether to move the armature 50' in the same direction about its pivot 51. In the view of the punch selector magnet shown in FIG. 3, this movement of the armature 50 is clockwise about the pivot 51, and this is achieved by having the top end of the core 52 acting upon the right hand side of the armature 50 above the pivot 51, and the bottom end of the core 52 acting upon the left hand side of the armature 50 below the pivot 51, as seen in FIG. 3. In this Way the punch selector magnet 4 is arranged to give the maximum angular movement with the minimum air gap between the ends of the core 52 and the armature 50.

The shafts 5 which carry the respective interposers 3 are fixed directly to the armatures 50 and co-axial with the pivots 51 thereof, so that the movement of an armature 50 causes the associated shaft 5 to turn and the associated interposer 3 afiixed to the end thereof to move with it, with the result that the associated punch 1 is moved downwards through the action of the cammed end of the corresponding interposer on the cammed top end of the punch and against the action of its leaf spring 10. This movement of the shaft causes torsional displacement of a coil spring 11 (FIGS. 1 and 4) which is located on the shaft 5 and affixed at its free ends to this shaft and a portion 85 of the framework of the perforator. When the punch selector magnet 4 is de-energised, the torsional energy stored in the coil spring 11 restores the armature 50 to its inoperative position, causing the interposer 3 to be also restored and the punch 1 to be freed to return, under the action of its leaf spring 10, to its upper, inoperative position.

To give simple adjustment of the punchselector magnet 4, a back stop 12 (FIG. 3) controls the travel of the armature 50, packing 13 controls the width of the residual air gap when the punch selector magnet is operated, and-these clearances may be adjusted by inserting shims between the back stop 12 and the packing l3, and between the packing 13 and the punch selector magnet housing 14.

The movements of the punches 1 under control of the punch selector magnets 4 should be accurately controlled to get the depth of penetration of the operated punches 1 right according to the timing sequence which will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5. In order to control this accurately, the punch selector magnets 4 and their associated shafts 5 and interposers 3, must be movable relative to the punches ll. To this end the housings 14 of the punch selector magnets 4' are mounted on swivel bearings and are adjusted by screws 15 which have an eccentric pin. The housings 14 are then clamped in the desired position by screws 16.

The actual punching operation is performed from cams 9 (FIGS. 1 and 2) on each of which there are eight lobes. Maintained in contact with a respective one of these cams 9 by tension springs 53 are two rollers '8. These rollers 8 are mounted on a rocker 7 which carries an anvil or die 6. The tape on which the combinations are to be perforated passes over the die 6 between the die 6 and a stripper 54, also mounted on the rocker7. Dowels 23 are provided to give the correct alignment between the die 6 and a guide block above it (FIG. 2).

The cams 9 are kept rotating at a constant speed which may be of the order of 3,000 revolutions per minute. The die 6 is therefore raised and lowered by the cams 9 24,000 times per minute. If one or more of the punches 1 has been moved downward against the action of its leaf spring 10, as already described, then the upward movement of the die 6 will bring the tape up against such punch or punches 1 and cause a combination tobe perforated in the tape. If no punches 1 have been moved downward, the operation will be an idle one. The bits of tape resulting from a perforating operation fall into a chute 83.

The cams 9 have their contours shaped so that a motion of uniform acceleration and deceleration is imparted to the die 6 in its continuous movement.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a timing diagram for the sequence of operations carried out by the perforator. The continuous movement of the die 6 is indicated by the curve marked A, showing how the die 6 is moved continuously up and down by the cams 9. Immediately above this curve are shown three punches 1, those at the times t and t being in the normal, upper position of the punch, while that at the time t is in the lower, selected position, so that a punching operation takes place. This is indicated by the fact that the punch 1 at t is crossed by the curve and is within the black portion at the crests of the curve, which indicates the time limit of 1 millisecond, out of a cycle time between successive punching operations of 2.5 milliseconds, which is allowed for the actual punching. The die 6 is therefore clear of the selected punches for 1.5 milli seconds between every two punching operations.

Control of the selection of punches l for a perforating operation is effected by distributing electric signals, representative of the elements of a particular code combination, to corresponding ones of the punch selector magnets 4. This distribution is achieved by the use of a rotary switch 27 (FIG. 3) shown schematically in FIG. 9. The switch comprises eight stator contacts SC and a wiper contact WC carried on the shaft on which cams 9 (FIGS. 1 and '2) are mounted. The stator contacts SC are commonly connected to the commoned inputs to one side of the windings of all the punch selector magnets 4, the other input sides of which punch selector magnets are connected individually to signal input numerals a, b, 0 etc. from external equipment. .Another signal input terminal SI from the external equipment is connected to the wiper contact WC. Since the cams 9 (FIGS. 1 and 2) effect eight perforatoiy operations for each rotation of the shaft on whichthey are mounted, it is arranged that the wiper contact WC engages with one of stator contacts SC as soon as the die 6 and stripper 54 (FIGS. 1 and 2) with the tape therebetween are separated from the selected punches at the conclusion of one punching operation i.e. at the times marked on FIG. 5 by the lines X which represent times t +0.5 millisecond, t +0.5 millisecond, and t +0.5 millisecond. It will readily be understood that if, for example, signal inputs are present only on signal input terminals SIT a, b, and c and on common signal input terminal SI then only the punch selector magnets 4 particular to those terminals will be energised when the wiper contact WC engages with a stator contact SC, and thus only those punches particular to those punch selector magnets will be selected to perform the next perforating operation. Considering the punch 1 indicated at time 2 which was not selected for the one punching operation, if this punch 1 is required for the next punching operation to be performed at time t the flux in the punch selector magnet 4 controlling it will start to build up at the time t +0.5 millisecond, denoted by the left-hand one of the lines X in'FIG. 5, and will reach its maximum at time t or just before that time. In theory there is no reason why the flux in the punch selector magnet 4- should not start to build up at time t because, if the punch 1 starts to move downwards between that time and the time t +0.5 millisecond, it will be following the tape which is being moved away from it and will not overtake the tape, so that there is no danger of a perforation being made when it is not desired. In practice, however, there is, with the timing employed, sufficient time for the flux to build up to its mam'mum between t +0.5 millisecond, and t The possibility of using the full time between t and t for the flux change, however, provides the opportunity of increasing the perforating speed further if the feeding of the tape can be carried out satisfactorily in a shorter time than that allowed for it in the timing arrangement being described, i.e. 1.5 milliseconds.

The reverse process of the flux holding a punch 1 in its lower position (as shown at time 2 decaying to nothing for the next punching operation (as at time 1 takes place in a similar manner between times t +0.5 ms, and t;,.

The feed mechanism is of the type described and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 762,828, filed September 23, 1958, now Patent No. 3,069,057, and in particular that of FIG. 3 of that application in which two gripping and feeding mechanisms are employed.

These two gripping and

feeding mechanisms

55, 56 in FIG. 1 of the present application are used alternately and it is found that the method by which they are used is the best way of feeding a tape satisfactorily at the speed required in the reperforator being described.

Referring again to FIG. 5, the timing of the movement of these devices is shown by the curves denoted B and C respectively. The times at which these devices grip and release the tape are indicated by the curves D and E respectively, the curves B and D being representative of one device and the curves C and E of the other.

Considering these curves, it can be seen that both the gripping mechanisms are at rest during each punching operation, i.e. the period covered by the black portion at however, the tape is gripped by the mechanism (curve E for the punching operation at the time t which is in its backward position (indicated by the lower horizontal position of the curve C) and is released by the mechanism (curve D) which is in the forward position (curve B). The gripping or clamping operation is indicated by the word CLAMP on FIG. 5.

When the punching operation is completed, the gripping mechanisms are moved from rest'in opposite directions and are brought to rest again before the succeeding punch ing operation commences. The forward movement of the gripping mechanism which is at that time holding the tape elfects the feeding of the tape (curve C), and is indicated by the word FEED on FIG. 5. The backward movement (curve B) of the gripping mechanism which is not at that time holding the tape brings this mechanism to a backward position from which to feed the tape after the succeeding punching operation. The tape is thus fed alternately first by one gripping mechanism and then by the other. i

The fact that the gripping mechanism which is feeding the tape comes to rest, and therefore brings the tape to rest, before releasing the tape ensures that the tape will not overshoot the position to which it is being fed. A tendency for the tape to overshoot its new position is a disadvantage which has been experienced with tape feeding devices working at high speeds.

Referring again to FIG. 1, two

gripping mechanisms

55, 56 are shown. Each consists of an upper block which is fixed against vertical movement and a lower one which is movable vertically upward under the influence of compression springs and downward against the influence of the same compression springs. The upward and downward movement of the lower block of the gripping mechanism 56 is controlled by cam 33 through'roller 32, lever 57, shaft 25 and the arm 60. Two compression springs 84 are provided for each gripping mechanism and these springs are disposed with respect to each other and the gripping mechanisms as shown in FIG. 3. A similar arrangement is provided for controlling the gripping mechanism 55; The lower block of each gripping mechanism has a number of teeth on its upper surface so that it will grip the tape against the smooth lower surface of the upper block when it is moved up to do so by its controlling cam.

The movement of the gripping

mechanisms

55, 56 about their pivots 80 and 81 to feed the tape and to restore are controlled from cams 86, one being on the same cam sleeve as the cams 9 for gripping mechanism 55 and the other on the same cam sleeve as the cam 33 for gripping mechanism 56. A compression spring 59 between the arms of the two

gripping mechanisms

55, 56 maintains rollers 58 engaging these cams and controlling the movements of the gripping

mechanisms

55, 56, in accordance with the curves B and C of FIG. '5.

When the perforator is operative, i.e. it still has power connected to it, but is not actually perforating combinations in the tape, the die 6 is still being moved up and down in accordance with the curve A of FIG. 5, and the two gripping mechanismsSS and 56 are still moved to and fro in accordance with the curves B and C of FIG. 5. However, as no perforations are being made, the tape must not be fed. The movement of the tape is prevented by preventing the gripping

mechanisms

55, 56 from engaging the tape, so that their forward movements are idle movements as well as their backward ones.

This is achieved in each case by a similar arrangement, but only the arrangement controlling the gripping mechanism 56 is shown in FIG. 1. This consists simply of a feed magnet 24, the tip 29 of whose armature is in a position to engage a corresponding tip 28 on the lever 57 to prevent the full anticlockwise movement of the lever 57 and the shaft 25 (as seen in FIG. 1) under the influence of a compression spring 90 when the feed magnet 24 is de-energised. In order to allow the feeding operation to take place when perforation is in progress, feeding pulses are sent to one or other of the feed magnets 24, whichever is the operative one at the particular moment to energise it and move its armature 29. Alternatively, feeding pulses may be supplied to both feed magnets 24 with each signal combination.

The paths of the two

tips

28 and 29 relative to one another, during perforating is shown in FIG. 5, the positions for the tips associated with one gripping mechanism being shown above curve D and for the other gripping mechanism above curve E.

' Considering the path for the

tips

28 and 29 shown above curve D, and assuming that the feeding pulse is supplied to the feed magnets 24 alternately and that the first signal combination of a sequence is received at time t +0.5 millisecond, then at time t the

tips

28 and 29 will have been in the position shown directly facing one another. As a combination of punches 1 is energised preparatory to the punching operation at time t so the feed magnet 24 becomes energised and its armature is moved so that its tip 29 is no longer facing the tip 28 on the lever 57 by the time the punching operation begins at time t +2 milliseconds. Then, during the punching operation around the time t the cam 33 allows the lever 57 to move, this movement not being impeded by the tip 29 of the armature, as it would have been had the relative positions of the

tips

28 and 29 at time t been preserved, and the gripping mechanism engages the tape. As the gripping of the tape takes place, the two

tips

28 and 29 become overlapped and this overlapped condition is maintained until the tape is released by the gripping mechanism approximately at time t The duration of the overlapped period is shown by the arrowed portion. The feed magnet 24 will become de-energised in the period from time t +0.5 millisecond, to time t but will not'be able to return to its rest position on account of the overlapping.

As soon as the overlapping ceases the armature of the feed magnet 24 is free to move back to the position directly opposite the tip 28. This would occur along the curved line after the overlapped portion, if no further combination had arrived to be perforated, the time taken for the armature to restore being due to its mechanical inertia. During a sequence of perforating operations, however, another signal combination will have arrived to be perforated at this time, and the accompanying feeding pulse will maintain the armature in the overlapped position.

When perforating is taking place and combinations are punched successively, one gripping mechanism (e.g. 55) will grip the tape as the other (e.g. 56) releases it. There is therefore no question of the friction of the return movement of one gripping mechanism causing the tape to move back,,because the tape is gripped by the otherone. At

the end of a sequence of perforating operations, however, the tape will not be gripped during the return movement after the last feeding operation, nor is the tape gripped by either feeding mechanism during an idle period. A pawl 61 (FIG. 1) is provided to hold the tape at such times.

Lubrication of the rotating mechanism of the perforator is carried out by a gear 34 (FIG. 3) which picks up oil from the base and throws it up against top plates 35. From the top plates 35 it splashes into a trough 36 and then feeds through two pipes 37 and out of holes 38 in these pipes onto the various cams.

A modified form of the punched-selecting arrangement described in conjunction with FIGS. 1 to 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. The detail of the arrangement is best seen in FIG. 8. The punch 1 is maintained in its upper position by its spring 10 which is not shown in FIG. 8. The top end of the punch 1 has its cammed or sloping portion 87 between two horizontal or level portions at dilferent levels. The interposer 3 has its lower end with a cammed portion and one horizontal or level portion at the lower end of the cammed portion as shown. When a punched selector magnet 4 is energised, its armature 56 pivots a small amount anticlockwise and turns shaft (as seen in FIG. 8) so that the interposer 3 is also moved in this direction, with the result that the lower end of interposer 3 moves from left to right (as seen in FIG. 8). The extent of this movement is such that the cammed portions on the punch 11. and the interposer 3 interact and the punch .1 is moved down against the action of the spring 10, and the horizontal or level part of the end 88 of interposer 3 moves past the cammed portion 87 of the punch 1 into contact with the upper horizontal or level portion 89 on the top of the punch 1.

In this condition, the punch 1 is said to be locked through the engagement of the end 88 of the interposer 3 and the horizontal and level portion 89 on the top of the punch in its selected position for perforating. During the perforating operation, when the tape is being forced upwards into contact with the punch 1, the fact that these two level portions are in contact at right angles to the direction in which the tape is trying to force the punch 1 precludes any possibility of the punch 1 being moved.

from its' selected lower position. Theoretically there is the possibility of this happening in the arrangement in the perforator of FIGS. 1 to 4.

Referring in particular to FIG. 7, there is shown a modified arrangement for guiding the die 6 in which the die 6 is pivoted on bearings 62 in the rocker '7. Then guide pins 63 with which the die 6 engages ensure exactly vertical movement of the die 6 as it is reciprocated during the perforating operation by the cams 9 (FIG. 6).

In this form of the perforator, the coil springs 11 for restoring the punch selector magnet armatures 50 and the levers 3 when the punch selector magnets 4 are de-energised are replaced byleaf springs 64 which engage with fingers 65 on the shafts 5. Also the tension springs 53 maintaining the rollers 8 on the rocker 7 in contact with the cams 9 are replaced by a compression spring 66.

Fins 67 are provided to assist in cooling theapparatus.

The terms paper and paper tape, as used in the appended claims, are to be taken to cover not only those specific items but substitutes therefore which are suitable for use as media on which elements of signal combinations can be perforated.

' While the principles of the invention have been described above in connection with specific embodiments, and particular modifications thereof, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation on the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. Perforating apparatus for perforating the elements of a code combination in a tape, comprising a die and stripper between which the tape is arranged to pass during successive perforating operations; a plurality of perforating punches each arranged to engage with the die at a corresponding perforating position through the stripper;.

a corresponding plurality of punch selector magnets for selecting a combination of the punches particular to the elements of a code combination to be perforated; a shaft 8 its axis under the action of the armature of the associated punch selector magnet on energisation thereof to effect said selection, and to cause the interposer on the shaft to engage and move the corresponding punch to a selected position; cam operated means for moving the said die, stripper and the tape therebetween toward the selected combination of punches to effect perfonation of the tape, and for moving the die, stripper and tape therebetween away from the punches after such perforation; and means operatively connected to said shaft for energizing particular ones of the punch selector magnets, as the tape is being separated from the selection of punches after one perforating operation, to select a combination of the said punches for a particular code combination to be perforated in the tape during the next perforating operation, whereby the. selection of punches for the elements of a codecombination occurs whilst disengaging the die, stripper and the tape therebetweenfrom the punches after the perfonating of the elements of a previous combination.

2. Perforating apparatus,,as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a locking portion on said interposer for locking the corresponding punch in its selected position during a perforating operation.

3. Perforating apparatus for perforating the elements of a signal combination, comprising 'a plurality of punches, electromagnetic means for controlling the selection of a combination of the said punches, mechanical means for selecting and moving desired ones of the said punches to a selected fixed position under control of the said electromagnetic means, tape guiding means including a die and stripper, a punching mechanism including cam-operated means for reciprocally moving said tape guiding means and the tape carried by said guiding means in continuous cycles of movement towardsv and against said selected fixed punches and to effect perforation of the tape thereby and away from the said selected punches to disengage the tape therefrom after such perforation, and means for commencing the operation of the said mechanical means to move'the punches selected for one punching operation to the selected positions while the said tape is being moved away from the punches after the preceding punching operation.

' 4. Perforating apparatus, as claimed in claim 3, in which the said electromagnetic means comprises a plurality of punch selector magnets, and the said mechanical means comprises, for each punch selector magnet, a shaft and an interposer carried on the shaft for. each punch 6 selector magnet, said shaft being arranged to pivot about I during the perforating operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 761,132 Ball May 31 1904 2,761,513 Stram Sept. 4, 1956 2,956,740 McGregor Oct. 18, 1960

Claims

3. PERFORATING APPARATUS FOR PERFORATING THE ELEMENTS OF A SIGNAL COMBINATION, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PUNCHES, ELECTROMAGNETIC MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE SELECTION OF A COMBINATION OF THE SAID PUNCHES, MECHANICAL MEANS FOR SELECTING AND MOVING DESIRED ONES OF THE SAID PUNCHES TO A SELECTED FIXED POSITION UNDER CONTROL OF THE SAID ELECTROMAGNETIC MEANS, TAPE GUIDING MEANS INCLUDING A DIE AND STRIPPER, A PUNCHING MECHANISM INCLUDING CAM-OPERATED MEANS FOR RECIPROCALLY MOVING SAID TAPE GUIDING MEANS AND THE TAPE CARRIED BY SAID GUIDING MEANS IN CONTINUOUS CYCLES OF MOVEMENT TOWARDS AND AGAINST SAID SELECTED FIXED PUNCHES AND TO EFFECT PERFORATION OF THE TAPE THEREBY AND AWAY FROM THE SAID SELECTED PUNCHES TO DISENGAGE THE TAPE THEREFROM AFTER SUCH PERFORATION, AND MEANS FOR COMMENCING THE OPERATION OF THE SAID MECHANICAL MEANS TO MOVE THE PUNCHES SELECTED FOR ONE PUNCHING OPERATION TO THE SELECTED POSITIONS WHILE THE SAID TAPE IS BEING MOVED AWAY FROM THE PUNCHES AFTER THE PRECEDING PUNCHING OPERATION.