US2391773A - Record controlled tape punching machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. A25, 1945. c. R. Do'rY 2,391,773

RECORD CONTROLLED TAPE PUNCHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. 2.

vznssnslamzmsmm 2 INLIEO AToRNEY U66. 25, 1945. c, R DTY 2,391,773

RECORD CONTROLLED TAPE PUNCHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 t ab FIG 4 W I www S m wmv m5: :ya uefa c ,9o14w57 elwtg owe-#mss ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZhwwk 1 oo ooo oo o o o oooo oo 2 o o o oooo ooo ooo ooo O00 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCOOOOOOOOOO a o o oo o oo oo o oo oo o o 4 ooo oo oo ooo o o o 'o oo 5 o oo oo ooo o ooooo oo FIG. 5.

1203s 45oo @o 200 ooo o oo OOOO OOO OOOOOOO O OOO GOO FIG. 6o

INVENTO M BY RECORD CONTROLPED TAPE PUNCHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1945 e shee'ts-sheet s f i i l l l wl- 1i INVENTOR c. R. no1-Y l RECORD GONTROLLED TAPE PUNCHING MACHINE Filed Feb'. 15, 145 6 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEY is b Dec. 2.5, 1945. c. R. DoTY RECORD CONTROLLED TAPE PUNCHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IEE wo: Y o mw W mmm O G o o o o O mmw\ YNVENOR A f ATTORNEY Dec. 25, 1945. Q R DOTY 2,391,773

RECORD CONTROLLED TAPE PUNCHING MACHINE Ai'ToRNEY Patented Dec. 25, 1%45 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE MACHIN Doty, Yonkers, N. Y., assigner to In- Charles R.

ternatonal Busines This invention relates to tape punching machines, and more particularly to the type in which data on a record card punched according to one code is converted to another code and punched on a tape.

The main object of the invention is to record space designations on the tape as the latter is being punched under control of zero punched record columns which consist of those at the left of the highest ordered significant digit 1-9, in order that when said punched tape is utilized to control a tape-controlled printing machine, such as a typewriter, space designations will appear vat such column positions of the tape instead of zeros to thereby separate the successive printed groups on the tape and render the printed result more intelligible.

As an explanation of the above, it is well known that the punching of a tape in the combinational code may be derived from data punched on a record card according to another different or statistical code. Such record card may have previously been utilized to control record-controlled accounting machines and the like and accordingly such cards are made up with aplurality of card columns,'one or more making up a card field. Such card elds are usually adjacent and when utilized in tabulating systems it is desirable'that the left hand columns of each field which are not perforated to represent any of the significant digits l-9, inclusive be, however, perforated to represent zeros. This is the customary practice and such zeros are perforated to have each card field completely punched, and since no omissions occur it indicates that al1 punching operations for a card field have been made. One example would be two adjacent card elds punched to represent 00120/004500. If a record card so per'- forated controlled a tape perforating unit and left hand Zero designations were punched on the tape, it would appear as above and the gures would be run together without the desired separation or demarcation into the numbers when such tape controls a tape-controlled printing machine. n the present machine, when such left hand card columns are zero perforated, the corresponding columns of the tape will be perforated to represent blank spaces. Then, when the tape controls a tape controlled printing or recording machine, such as a typewriter, such positions will not bear any recording because spacing operations of the platen carriage will be effected. Hence, with the above example, Vthe result would be printed as follows:v 120 4500.

A broad object of the invention is to provide s Machines` Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Appucanon February 15, 1945, serial-N6. 578,107

15 claims. (criar- 115) in'a' record controlled tape punching machine automatic means topunch the tape with one or more space designations between successive data groups. .A v. v

A more speccobject of the invention is the provisionof Yr'neansresponsive to the sensing'of a predetermined positionof a supplemental card to conditionthe machine so that in the event of zero perforations in left hand card columns of the selected field, space designations will/be eiected onthetape. Y"

Another object ofthe present invention is the provision of meansfor converting ormodifying the normal Zero tapepunching operations toV an operation whichrwill effect punching of spacedesignations instead.'

' However in the broader aspects of the inven` tion the punching of spacer designations is merely illustrativeV of one form of the invention and for space designations other designations can be substituted such as punctuation marks, or other characters like the asterisk symbol, symbol, etc. Such form of recording at the left of the first significant digit 1-9 will distinguish and separate the `printed numbers; just as if spaces were used,` and similarly prevent confusion in interpretation of the recording. f

A stil1'further feature of the invention is to render the above designated punch converting or modifying mechanism ineffective upon the sensing of the first significant digit 1-9 of the number in the eld and to maintain such modifying or convertingmechanism ineffective so that zeros which appear to theY right of the significant digit may be properly recorded on the'tape.

Additional specic features of the invention consist in the provision of electrical control means under control of a master card which, when perforated at X index point positions, will render the zero tape punch selecting mechanisml ineffective when zero perforations are sensed in left hand columns of the record card, and further means under controlof the record sensing means when digits 1-9 are sensed to normally condition the' tape punch selecting'mechanism to be operative to select tape punches which will record zeros in the .event that columns at the rightof the rst signicant digit ofthe record card are so designated.

Inv more ldetail the apparatus consists of a'record sensing unit4 capable, of sensing columns of perforatons on a statistical card and also a master card of a wellknown forni." The record sensing unit senses successive columns of the record;

tape perforatinaoperation the .tape is spaced to the next column and the-record card correspondingly. Repetitions of the above operation are carried out for successive record card columns. The master card is provided with a conventional X index point position and when the initial col umn of a selected card field is X punched, a conditioning relay is energized which modifies Ythe W zero tape punch selecting circuits se thatY whenever a column of the statistical card'is zeroperforated, punches will be selected which will effect perforation of the tape at a code position which represents a space. Hence, for each sensing of the initial and successive record columns which are ,aero perforated, .space desienationsap.- pear onthe tape .until ai `column of the record card is Vsensed 'which represents a digit 1-9` Sensingy of sncndieits will energize relays which select ponches to-puncn corresponding digit. desisnations on the tape and also will render the conditioning relay instinctiveJ enabling the enersizins of tane-nunon magnets for perforatins a Zero. .representation whenever a card colnrnnto the right of the first significant digit l-Qis zero perforated and sensed. Reconversion of; tape panchine to. the. normal nianner will tnen enable tape punching to proceed .in the nornialan'd customarymanner; Itis explained that .tnezero suppressing and zero insertionoperation is comT pletely automatic and is earned out Without, attentionof the operator:

Y@liner objects of tno invention Will; leenointed out inthe following descriptionand'claims and illllstlated in the` Yaecomoanying drawinssgwhioh disclosey by War of example the principle. of the lnyention and tnev best/inode Willen llas -been.

contemplated, of applying. that.' nrinefinle. l

tnedrawlnssr l is a plan view ofthe apparatusshowing dagrammatically the lectrically connected record sensing and tape perforating units.

Fuigggis fragmentary portion of a statistical card shown perforated to 'represent three numeral data groups in adjacent cardfields, two fields having left hand'columns Zero perforated, and the other field representing all zeros,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary portion of a patternlor.

master card shown as a matterof illustration perforated to initiate punching of the tape to represent spaces whenever left hand columns, or all columns of a field are zero perforated.

Fig. 4 is a portion of a punched tape showing the coded designations for the characters and' functional operations represented.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary portion of a tape which would be perforated under control of the statistical card of Eig. 2 indicating the manner in which space designations appear on the tape instead of zero designationswhenever the corresponding card columns at the left of the first significant digit or all columns of a field are perforated to'represent zerol Fig. 6 is a timing diagram of the cam controlled contacts utilized in connection with the electrical wiring.

Fig l is a sectional view taken on the line lvl off a, well known fonnV oi statistical card sensing nait snowing. nrincinallr-y the; inetrelnentalities utilized in connection with the present improvement.

Fig. 8 is a detail of the escapement mechanism of the record sensing unit.

Fig. 9 is a view in side elevation of the tape perforating unit.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the analyzing means for the pattern o r master card, forming part of the record sensing unit.

Fig. 11 is a diagram of circuit connections of the parts of the apparatus comprising the present improvement.

Before describing in detail the construction and operation of the present improvements, it shouldbe observed that for the purpose of illustration the present improvement is shown in connection with a record controlled tape perforating apparatus of-the form shown and described infull detail in the patent to C. R. Doty, No. 2,340,800, granted February 1, 1944.

The individual record sensing and tape perforating units ,shown in detail in this patent are diasrarnniatleally .shown in Fis. 1 wherein it will be seen that they are interconnected by a cable connection CC. To understand the operation of such apparatus, a general outline of the ,functional operations thereof will be set forth briefly.

HIndividual. vrecord cards C (Fig. 2) having .columns of either alphabetical or numerical'data orV both recorded thereon in the Helleritn code are presented to a sensing station by means of a reoiprocalole card carriage comprising a pusher I3 (Fig. 7). The record card C is fed column by eoliflrnn to .the group of individual sensing brushes l2.. one sensing, brush l2. being provided for each index point position.l The sensing brushes .I2 (Fig. 1,1) are electrically connected to individual translating relays of the group RR, RX, RO, RITRS, which relays are energized selectively in vaccordance. with the sensed data designations on, the record cards. A plurality of controlrelaysRlU, RH, R12, RI3 and RM are connected to certain ones of the translating re.- laysscasto be energized selectively in accord.-Y ance with the datasensed on the cards. Howevensuch control relays are not involved in tnenresent invention, and this alsoapplies to the Rlfand .lliiielarsl Tneeiorelenentioned patent discloses incornnlete detail the translating: mechanism controlled bythe translating relays which, through their associated contacts, are effective to transf late and convert alphabetic, numerical designations in'the statistical code to the combinational codebut. herein the showing is confined to a part of the translating and converting mechanism which controls selectively the energization of the tape punch control magnets 290 in different code combinations, for punching the tape 200 to represent numerals corresponding to the numerical data'sensed on the record cards.

The card sensing'mechanism will only be de-v scribed in suicient detail for a. full comprehene sion of the present invention, since details of the sensingpunit are disclosed in the patent to Doty, No. 2,340,800. Furthermore, in view of the fact that the mechanical arrangement of the card feeding andejectingmechanism is substantially the same as that embodied in the machine known as the International Duplicating Key Punch and Alphabetical Veriiier," such as shown, for example, in U. S. Patent No. 14,772,186, dated August l'930, and U. S, ,Patent No.

2,107,161, dated February 1, 1938, a condensed description is deemed toibe suicient.v

Referring to Fig. 1 the record cards C to be sensed or analyzed are placed in the magazine I from which they are advanced singly by a picker II toward the left, to present the first column of perforations to a card sensing position above the sensing brushes designated I2 in Fig. 7. In this position the reciprocable card carriage comprising a pusher I3 and a guide I4 engages the card and advances it column by column under control of the escapement mechanism to be described later. Y

The operation of the card feeding mechanism for feeding a card from the magazine I0 and placing it upon the card carriage to the initial sensing position is fully explained in Patent No. 1,772,186, granted to EL. Lee et al. for Duplicating punching machine. Y A y The escapement mechanism of the record sensing unit is of the same general nature as that disclosed in the Schaaff Patent No. 1,426,223, modified for electrical control as in the Shafer Patent No. 2,315,741, and a brief description thereof will now be given.

When the card is in a position above the sensing brushes I 2, the column by column advance of the card carriage is controlled by an escapement mechanism which in turn is responsive t0 the energization of the escape magnet 4I) (Fig. 7). Upon energization of magnet 40 its armature 4| will be rocked about a pivot in a clockwise direction and through a screw 42 secured to an arm secured to rod 43 will rock 4the rod 43 counterclockwise against the tension of a spring 44. The rod 43 is rocked as an incident to each spacing operation and has secured to one end thereof oppositely extending arms 45, 46 (see `also Fig. 8) of which arm 46 is provided with a laterally extending pin for engagement with an enlarged opening in a stepping dog 41 which is loosely pivoted on rod 43. Opposite arm 45 is provided a pin extending into a slot formed in the locking dog 4S. When rod 43 is rocked, arm 46 will, through its pin and slot connection with .dog 41, lift the latter out of one of the notches of the escapement rack I5 movable with the card carriage and at the same time arm 45 will depress locking dog 48 into a notch between the ratchet teeth. At this time, spring v49` advances the loosely pivoted dog 41 a short distance just sufcient to permit this dogto move over the top of the next tooth. When the locking dog 48 is again raised, stepping dog 41, due :to the movement of the rack I5 and the card carriage, will ride down along the next tooth until it strikes the bottom thereof and the spring driven card carriage is thereby arrested.V It is suiicient to know thereof that for each energization of the escape magnet 40 the escapement rack I5, and therefore the card carriage, is moved the distance of one card column through the action of the pusher I3 and the forward guide I4 on the statistical'card. Also in Fig. 8 are shown .the floating cam contacts |49 which are well known in the type of machine now being described. One blade of contacts |49 is shifted by an arm |50 which is loosely pivoted on the rod 43 and which has a depending extension resting upon the upper edge of the stepping dog 41 sol that during escapement from one column Ito another the incidental raising of the stepping dog 41 and the elevation of arm |50 will cause theopening of the contacts |49 yduring the period that the dog 41 is raised. When the card carriage has come to rest after column, contacts |49 will come'tonormalpostion in which they are closed. V f

-Incorporated Ain the record sensing unit shown in Fig. 1 is an additional sensing device adapted to sense the perforations on the master card M as i-t will be called hereinafter (Fig. 3). The record sensing unit shown in the aforementioned Doty Patent No. 2,340,800 is intended to have such supplemental master card sensing device and since the details thereof arenot disclosed in this patent, a description will be given of -this arrangement.

The master card sensing device is shown in Fig. 10 and is Well known as part of the International Duplicating Key Punch. This master card sensing deviceis `fully shown and described in the U. S. patentV to Lee and Daly, No. 1,976,618, granted October 9, 1934 to which reference may be had for further details of construction.

For a general understanding thereof it will be observed that the escapement rack I5 is provided with extensions or arms 31 (Fig. 10) between which the master card M is positioned in columnar alignmentwith Athe statistical card C. This comprises, therefore, a card carriage for the master card which is adapted to be moved back and Y forth with the escapement rack 5. Positioned having escaped through the distance `of a card about the master card M is a contact roller 50 which is insulated from` the frame of the machine and supported by a door 5| pivoted at 52. Directly below the roller 50 are brushes 53 carried by a bar 54 which is normally in the position shown in Fig. l0, holding the brushes down out of engagement with the master card M. The magnet 55, upon energization, will attract its armature 55, actuating linkage 51 to cause movement of the brushes 53 into engagement with the mas-ter card M. Y

It is well known that'a series of brushes 53 is provided to analyze all the index point positions of the master card M but in Fig. 11 only one sensing brush 53 for analyzing the X index point p0- siton of the master card is utilized to cause space designations to be punched on the tape instead of zeros represented in left hand card columns, and which would be normally punched. It should be observed that p-rior to the beginning of the concurrent analysis of a master card M and a statistical card C, the magnet 55 is energized to elevate the sensing brushes 53 and by circuit connections described inthe Doty patent the magnet 92 (Fig. '7) is also energized to elevate the brushes I2 for sensing the statistical card C. Thereafter, there is a concurrent step-by-step escapement of the master card M and statistical card C and whenever the brush 53 encounters a perforation at the X index point positions in which it is aligned, a circuit will be closed through such perforation to effect certain functionsin the tape sensing unit, as will be described hereinafter.

The ytape performing umt 2,340,800. In general, the perforating portionv includes individual punch elements 2|0, one for each unit of the telegraphic code, which punch elements are reciprocable in a die block 2|| to perforate the tape elements selected for operation.

interposers' individual to' punch 2 I1 represents elementH '2 I Il,

V20|)Y according to thel punch each of which has a strap 2lwhichisol1erated.

by an eccentric cam 2|9. carried the .drive shaft 220 of the tape perforating unit; Normally, during the rotation ofthe veccentric cam 2|9, each interposer is moveddownwardly. and upwardly by the supporting eccentric about the pivotal connection 2|6 formed by the end of the interposer engaging the recess of the. related punch element.

For each interposer 2|`| there is provided'an individuallatch arm 222. Whenever it is des sired to select a punch element 2||| for operation the related latch arm 222 is rocked infa clockwise direction so that its latch fingers 224 en-. gage andlatch the free end of the related inter.-Y poser 2|l. Thus, upon latching of an interposer 2|l' and rotation of Vtheeceentric 2|9 the said interposer is positioned by. the eccentric about the pivotal connection formed bythe. latch army 222 and the latched endof the interposer to force the related punch element 2 0 downwardly, thereby causing the tape B: interposed between the lowerends of the punch elements 2|l and the die block 2|| to be perforated.

The control means forselectively positioning the latch arms 222 and thereby select the punch elements 2li! for operation consists of the punch selecting magnets 290. The armature 29| of each magnet 290 has connected thereto anarm 222 and the latter has `a call wire connection 293 between the related arm 292 and the latch arm 222. Hence, thefenergization of each magnet 290 positions the related latch arm 222 so as to effect the operation of the related punch element 2|U.

Other elements shown in Fig. 9 are involved in the punching operation but they are not described herein since full details of their construction and operation may be had by reference to the aforementioned patent to Doty No. 2,340,800.

By means more fully described in the aforementioned patent, substantially centrally located feed perforations 202 (Fig. 4) are formed as the tape is perforated. The paper tape 200 is drawn from a supply roll (not shown) to the punching station by a feed roll 24|! secured to a drive shaft 24|. Said feed roll 240 is formed at its periphery with teeth 243 which cooperate with the feed perforations 202 of the tape 280. The step-.by-step rotation of the feed roller 240 feeds the tape 20|! so as to present successive columns of the unperforated tape 200 to the punch elements 2|0.

The operation of the punching mechanism of the tape perforating unit,- as well as the operation of the tape feeding mechanism performed in the necessary sequence, is effected upon energization of the tape clutch control magnet 280, shown only in the wiring diagram of Fig'. 11. In the Doty patent, completev details are shown of the manner in which such magnet initiates the operation of the tape perforating unit. For understanding the present improvement it is sufficient to know that this initiates the operation of the drive shaft 22|), the shaft 24| for feeding the tape and other operating elements of the tape perforating unit to eiect the tape punching and feeding operations.

The general operation of the` machine will now be given in connection with the circuit diagram of Fig. 11.

It will be assumed that the cardcarriage of the record sensing unit card column 1 position, contacts 35 and floating cam ,contacts |48 (Fig.

11) are both closed. It will also be assumed1 that a tape is to be perforated in the ,combinarV it thesametime a circuit is Completed 1114031' contacts l|43 throughl the tape clutch magnet- 280,

arideam controlled contacts Cl...enerezinz..the-

clutch magnet. This initiatesa cyclic opera?, tien Qfthetape perferaten BQ relay will @lose the R92, R03, Roareig Contacts andupon closure o f C5 cam contacts a circuit will be closed from line 30|) through C5 cam contacts, wire 305, thence through the R02, R03, R05 relay contacts to the punch mag: net selecting circuits 3|2, 3|3 and 3I5 (assuming that the DQ relay is unenergized), from the aforesaid circuits, to the tape punch magnets 29|) which condition the tape perforating vmechaf nism for perforating the tape at the 2, 3 and 5 code positions to represent the numeral 0.

I-lQWever, in the assumed example, column 1 of the, master card M has a perforation at the X index point position and concomitantly with vthe energization of the RO relays a. circuit 1s closed from line 3D0, through latch contacts 33, floating cam contacts |49, contact roller 50, brush 53 of the master card sensing means, through the DC relay to line 30|. A holding circuit is immediately established through the DCI holding contacts, the ACI relay contacts now closed, through latch contacts 35, back `to line 300. The DC relay opens the DC2 and DC5 contacts so that tape punch magnets 290 for punching at the 2 and 5'code positions vare now disconnected nd only the circuit 3|: for thetape punch magnetv 290 for punching at the 3 code position will becompleted when cam contacts C5 close. Hence, the tape punch selecting circuits are modified upon the energization of the DC relay. The energization of the ltape punch magnet 290 for perforating the tape at the 3 code position will perforate the first column at such position (see Eig; 5-), instead of perforating the tape at the 2,l Q and 5 code positions which would represent 0.

When such tape is utilized to control a tapecontrolled typewriter, for example, thelcontrolling circuits can be devised or arranged to initiate the operation of the platen carriage spacing.

mechanism, so that a blank space will be provided in this column.

During the first tape perforating cycle and when cam contacts C2 close, a circuit will be closed from line 300, latch contacts 35, escapement control magnet 40 vto line 30|. Uponenergization of the escapement magnet an operation of the above described escapement mechanismv of the sensing unit spaces the record card to ce1- umn 2 and during such operation oatingeamcontacts |49 open to cause the deenergizatign et the previously energized translating and control relays. Upon closure of the oating cam con tacts |43, when nthe*cardcarriage comes to re s t at card column 2, the RO translating control relay-will again bel-energized under control ofthe has been returned to. at which time latch` perforation at the index point position. Since the stick circuit for the DC relayis still maintained, the repeated energization of the RO relay will result in the second perforating of the tape at the 3 code position of column 2 to again Arepresent a space designation. Of course, a seoond cycle of operation of the tape punch is effected by the energizing circuit for the tape clutch magnet 280 previously described.

Thereafter, the tape is spaced to column 3 and the record card likewise and since a O is represented in column 3 of the record card C, the operation just described is repeated, resulting in the designation of a space in the third column of the tape.

After the third column of the record card C has controlled the tape perforating operation, the card carriage is spacedto card column position 4, at which time there is an analysis of the 1 digit representation in card column 4 of the record card C.

A circuit is now closed from line 300 through latch contacts 35, iioating cam contacts I49, sensing brush I 2 for sensing the I perforation through the RI translating relay, RIS and RI4 control relays to line 300. RI relay then closes its multiple contacts, and since such multiple relay contacts are connected to the 3II, SI2,v 3I3 and 3 I 5 tape punch selecting circuits, tape punch magnets 290, 1, 2, 3 and 5 will be energized to perforate the tape at code positions 1, 2, 3 and 5 to represent in the Baudot code the numeral 1.

The impulse circuit for energizing such tape magnets extends from line 30D through C5 cam contacts, wire 305, through the AC relay coil, thence through the multiple relay contacts closed by the RI relay, tape punch selecting circuits 3| I, SI2, 3I3 and SI5 to the related tape punch magnets 290 to line 30|. Energization of AC relay opens the ACI relay contacts to break the holding circuit for the DC relay and the DC2 and DCS relay contacts now cometa closed position for secting the tape punch magnets 29B for punching at the 2, 3, 5 code positions when the RO translating relay is subsequently energized.

After perforating card column 4 of the tape under control of the corresponding card column of the card, the tape and card are spaced to the next column and since a perforation is assumed to be at the 2 index point position, the R2 translating relay will close its 1, 2, 5 contacts, selecting tape punch magnets 290 for perforating the tape at code positions 1, 2 and 5 which in the Baudet code represent the numeral 2. Thereafter, the record card and tape both as.- sume the column 6 position and since it isassumed that such column of the card is perforated to represent 0, understanding that at this time the D05 relay is deenergized, energization of the RO relay will select tape punch magnets for perforating the tape at code positions 2, 3 and 5 which represent a 0.

summarizing, when the first master card column of any card eld is X punched, the tape punch selecting circuits will be conditioned and modif-led so that for each successive analysisy of a 0 representing perforation of the record card C, punch magnets will be selected to designate a space in each corresponding column of the tape until a record card column is reached where a significant digit 1-9 is represented.

'Referring to Fig. 2, according to the index point positions 9-I perforated a correspondingly designated translating relay will he energized and in each instance when a RII- RI (Fig. 11) relay is energized, the AC relay coil as previously stated is also energized to break the holding circuit for the DC relay so that intermediate zero or zeros to the right of the column in which the rst signicant digit appears will be perforated in a tape column to represent 0. When such tape controls a tape-controlled typewriter, the number will be properly recorded.

In the assumed example the. second eld of the card consisting of card columns "I-12 is perforated to represent 004500 and the corresponding initial column 'I of the master card is also X- punched. The above described operation will be repeated for this field in precisely the same manner, except that the two tape columns at the left will be perforated to represent two spaces instead oi two zeros, whereas the two extreme right hand columns of the tape will be perforated to represent 00, required in subsequent recording of the number 4500.

In the assumed example the third card field consisting of columns 13-1'7 are perforated to represent a 0 in each column. If the initial column of the master card,` namely, column 13 is X punched, there will be a suppression of Opunching in all corresponding columns of the tape and space designations will be substituted therefor.

In the sensing unit now under consideration it is common practice to skip the card to the last column position and circuits which are well known will be effective to set a motor into operation which will restore the carriage to the first column position and concomitantly feed a s econd card thereon. During such operation, latch contacts 35 open and open the` holding circuit of the DC relay in the event that the latter was previously energized. Hence, tape punches for punching a zero representation on the tape can be selectively energized in the event that it is required to select such tape punch magnets for punching 0 in the initial card column of the next card.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes inthe form and details of .the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims:

What` is claimed is:

1 In a recording machine of the class described, the combination of a tape punching mechanism including punch elements therefor, record controlled means for effecting the selection of tape punch elements to cause punching of columns of said tape to represent numerical data, andautomatic means operable for 0 representing record columns at the left of the record column representing a digit 1-9 of highest denominational order to suppress 0 tape punching for-corresponding tape columns and to select punch elements representing some arbitrary symbol other than 0.

2. In a recording machine of the class. described, the combination of a punching mechanism comprising punch elements for punching numerical data including 0 digit punching,v record analyzing means including 0 perforation analyzing means for successively ranalyzing the record column by column, means under control Vof said analyzing means to select punch elements and to effect the operation of said punching mechanism to punch equivalent Vnumerical data column by column, and means operable when a predetermined 0 representing record column or columns is analyzed to prevent the selection of the 0 digit punch elements under control of the 0 perforation analyzing means and to select punch elements which punch a representation of some other arbitrary symbol instead of 0.

3. In a recording machine of the class described, the combination of a tape punching -mechanism including punch elements, means for 4. In a recording machine of the class described, the combination of a tape punching mechanism including punch elements. record controlled means for effecting the selection of punch elements to punch columns of said tape to represent numerical data, automatic means for suppressing the selection of punch elements which punch said tape to represent 0 and alternatively select punch elements which punch columns of said tape to represent some arbitrary symbol other than zero corresponding to 0 representing columns of said perforated record at the left of the column representing the first significant digit 1--9. and means operable upon analysis of a digit l9 in said significant digit representing column for rendering said last named means ineffective l" whereby tape columns representing 0 to the right oi' the column containing the first significant digit are punched to represent intermediate zeros.

5. In a recording machine of the class described,

the combination of a tape punching mechanism i having tape perforating punches, record controlled means for selecting said punches and for effecting the operation of said tape punching mechanism to punch columns of said tape to represent numerical data represented on the perforated record, and automatic means for suppressing the punching ol' said tape to represent zero when controlling record columns at the left of the highest denominationally ordered significant digit represent zero and alternatively select punches of said tape punching mechanism to represent space so that when the tape controls a tape controlled recording machine a blank paper spacing operation will be effected.

6. In a recording machine of the class described, the combination of a tape punching mechanism including punch elements, means for analyzing a plurality of fields of a perforated record, each eld comprising a plurality of columns representing digits 1-9 and 0, said 0 being at one or more columns to the left of the rst significant digit 1-9, means under control of said analyzing means for effecting the selection of punch elements of said tape punching mechanism to punch columns of a tape to represent numerical data, means for analyzing a supplemental record to determine presence of a special perforation which designates each selected card field, and automatic means under control of said last named analyzing means for selecting punch elements for punching said tape to represent some arbitrary symbol other than a zero, when controlling record columns of a selected card eld at the left of the first signincant digit 1-9 represent a zero, and said supplemental record contains a special perforation for said selected card field.

7. In a recording machine of the class described, the combination of a tape punching mechanism, means for analyzing a perforated record representing digits 1-9 and means for analyzing a record perforation representing 0, means under control of said analyzing means for effecting the operation of said tape punching mechanism to punch columns of a tape to represent numerical data, automatic means under control of said means for analyzing 0 representing perforations for punching said tape to represent space when a corresponding controlling column of said perforated record at the left of the record column which represents the first significant digit 1-9 represents a 0, and further means under control of said analyzing means for digits 1-9 for rendering said last named means ineffective for each column at the right of the column which represents the ilrst significant digit 1 9, whereby said tape will be normally punched to represent zero whenever a column of the record representing an intermediate zero is sensed by said zero representing perforation analyzing means.

8. In a recording machine of the class described, the combination of a tape punching mechanism and punch elements therefor, means for analyzing a perforated record representing digits l-9 in one code including means for analyzing a record perforation representing 0 in the same code. means under control of said analyzing means for effecting the selection of said tape punch elements according to a different code to punch columns of a tape to represent numerical data corresponding to the numerical data on the pei:- forated record, automatic means under control of said 0 analyzing means operable for 0 representing record columns to the left of the column representing the first significant digit l-9 for selectingpunch elements according to said diiferent code to punch said tape to represent an arbitrary symbol than a zero, and further means under control of said record analyzing means for digits 1 9 for rendering said 0 record analyzing means ineffective to select punch elements to represent said arbitrary symbol for 0 record representing columns at the right of the column representing the first significant digit 1-9, whereby for such zero representing right hand record columns said tape will be punched in corresponding columns to represent an intermediate zero.

9. In a recording machine of the\ class described, the combination of a punching mechanism including punch elements, electrical record perforation analyzing means including 0 representing perforations analyzing means, a relay energized under control of the 0 analyzing means, means under control of said relay to normally select punch elements representing 0, a supplemental record, means for analyzing said supplemental record for ascertaining the presence of a perforation, and means under control of said supplemental record analyzing means upon ascertaining a perforation for preventing said relay when energized from selecting the 0 representing punch elements and to select instead other punch elements representing an arbitrary symbol.

10. In a recording machine of the class described, the combination of a tape punching mechanism including punch elements, record analyzing means, means controlled by said analyzing means for selecting said punch elements of said tape punching mechanism and to successively punch columns of numerical data on the tape beginning at the left, corresponding tc the columns of numerical data represented on the perforated record, said selecting means including means to normally selectl the punch element to punch said tape to represent a 0 under control of the 0 record perforation analyzing means, automatic means operable when the rst left hand column of a record is analyzed and represents zero to suppress the selection of the 0 punch elements under control of the 0 analyzing means and to select other punch elements representing an arbitrary symbol and to retain such alternative operation for all columns at the left When such zeros precede a significant digit 1-9, andx means to render said last named means ineffective When said record analyzing means analyzes perforations which represent the first significant digit 1-9 at the right of such zeros, Whereby said tape may be punched to represent intermediate zeros,

11. In a recording machine of the class described, the combination of punching mechanism for including punch elements for punching data representing the digit 1 9 and 0, record analyzing means including 0 representing perforation analyzing means, punch selecting means under control of said analyzing means to select punches of said punching mechanism to punch equivalent numeral data, and means operable when a predetermined 0 representing column of said record is analyzed to render 0 digit punch element selection ineiective under control of the 0 perforation analyzing means and to modify the punch selecting means to select other punch elements representing an arbitrary symbol.

12. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of tape punches, means to select said tape punches in coded combinations to punch data to represent the numeral series 0-9 inclusive, and means for modifying the tape punch selecting means for selecting punches representing 0 to select punches according to said code to represent other data outside of said numeral series.

13. In a tape punching machine, the combination with a cyclically operable record controlled machine including means for analyzing in each cyclic operation of the machine a column of a perforated record representing digits 0-9 of a number, a tape punching machine operable in cycles concurrent with said record controlled machine including punching selecting means controlled by said analyzing means for punching a tape column by column to represent digits 1-9 in successive columns, means for conditioning said tape punching machine for elimination of zero digit tape punching upon analysis of the rst zero representing record column of a eld of the record land retaining said condition for one or more co1- umns of tape punching, and automatic means for suppressing the punching of the tape to represent zero when one or more controlling record columns at the left of the iirst significant digit represent zero and alternatively select punches t0 punch said tape to represent an arbitrary symbol other than zero.

14. In a tape punching machine, the combination of a cyclically operable record controlled machine including means for analyzing in each cyclic operation of the machine a column of a perforated record representing digits 0-9 of a number, a tape punching machine operable in cycles concurrent With said record controlled machine including punch selecting means controlled by said analyzing means for punching a tape column by column to represent digits 1-9 in successive columns, means for conditioning said tape punching machine for elimination of zero digit punching upon yanalysis of the rst zero representing record column of the record and retaining said condition for one or more columns of tape punching, automatically operable means for suppressing the selection of punches to punch the tape to represent zero when one or more corresponding record columns at the left of the first significant digit represent zero, and alternatively select other punches to punch the tape to represent an arbitrary symbol, and means operable upon analysis of the record column representing said rst signicant digit to disable said conditioning means to prevent further zero elimination for zero representing columns at the right of said iirst significant digit.

.15. In a punching apparatus, the combination of a cyclically operable record analyzing machine including means for analyzing a record column by column in successive cyclic machine operations, a tape punching machine including punch selecting means controlled thereby to punch a tape in a dierent code column by column in cyclic operations concurrent with those of the record analyzing machine, la supplemental record in said rst named machine having perforations at selected columns corresponding to the designated fields of the record, means controlled by said supplemental record upon occurrence of a perforation for conditioning said tape punching machine for elimination of zero digit tape punching upon analysis of one or more zero representing columns at the left of the `irst signicant digit for a eld designated by said perforation, and means for suppressing the selection of punches to punch said tape to represent zero when record columns at the left of the first significant digit represent zero and alternatively select punches which represent lan arbitrary symbol in said different code.

CHARLES R. DOTY.

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