Static punch card reader

Claim 2

In a device for switching a plurality of electrical circuits, an array of contact members each comprising a cantilevered leaf spring having a mounting portion, an end-projecting portion carrying a contact surface thereon, and a thin flat spring portion supporting said end portion to provide substantial deflection and spring action therefore; an insulating block fixedly mounting said contact members with their spring portions extending at an appreciable angle outwardly from said block to permit movement of the end portions of said contact members toward and away from said block under a spring force developed by said spring portions; first means comprised of a thin plate of insulating material having a pluraliTy of holes therein, including an individual hole for each contact member aligned therewith to receive the corresponding contact member; an array of conductive members disposed upon and carried by said thin plate, said array of conductive members having portions complementary to the array of contact members; drive means for moving the array of contact members and the array of conductive members disposed on said plate relatively together to effect a switching action therebetween; guide means to guide and position a data card having holes therein into a predetermined reading location in which the holes in said card permit an engagement between certain of said contact members and certain of said conductive members and portions of said card apart from said holes preclude switching action between the remainder of said contact members and said conductive members; and second means for mounting said plate for movement by said drive means to a position in which each hole in said plate surrounds the said end portion of the corresponding one of said contact members to receive said end portion and to preclude damage to said contact members by said card.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 including means to limit the position of said first means relative to said block to limit deflection of said contact member spring portions and prevent overstress of said contact members in use.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1 wherein there is included a further means operable to effect a wiping action between said certain of said contact members and certain of said conductive members during a first portion of relative movement therebetween to provide a wiping under reduced contact pressure.

Claim 5

The device of claim 3 wherein there is included means to position said block and said array of contact members in a position relatively fixed to cause a deflection of said contact members resulting in a second wiping action causing the contact surfaces carried on the end portions of said contact members to reside in a prewipe zone of contact with said conductive members responsive to a final portion of relative movement.

Claim 6

The device of claim 1 wherein there is included a further plate positioned between said drive means and said card, said further plate including an array of recesses complementary to the end portions of said contact members and positioned to receive said end portions to facilitate the use of said device with cards of different thicknesses.

Claim 7

The device of claim 1 wherein there is included a trigger means operated by engagement with said card to actuate said drive means and effect an automatic operation of said device responsive to the full insertion of a card therewithin.

Claim 8

The device of claim 1 wherein said conductive members are disposed on said plate adjacent the holes therein and the end portions of said contact members have the said contact surfaces positioned to engage said conductive members with a further portion positioned to extend through the said plate.

Claim 9

In a switch assembly having an array of individual contact members each including a contact surface and an array of conductive members each including a second and larger contact surface, means to effect an engagement between contact members and conductive members in a first zone of contact engagement therebetween to effect a switching action and adjustment means coupled to one of said arrays for positioning said array of conductive members relative to said array of contact members wherein said engagement occurs in a fresh zone of contact between said members to increase the life of said device.

Claim 10

In a switch assembly having an array of individual contact members each including a contact surface and an array of conductive members each including a second and larger contact surface, means to effect an engagement between contact members and conductive members in a first zone of contact engagement therebetween to effect a switching action and adjustment means coupled to one of said arrays for positioning said array of conductive members relative to said array of contact members wherein said engagement occurs in a fresh zone of contact between said members to increase the life of said device.

Claim 11

In a device for switching a plurality of electrical circuits, an array of contact members each including a mounting portion, a spring portion and an end portion carrying a contact surface thereon, an insulating block fixedly mounting said contact members with the spring portions extending at an appreciable angle outwardly from said block to permit movement of the end portions of said contact members toward and away from sAid block under a spring force developed by said spring portions, an array of conductive members having portions complementary to the array of contact members, drive means operable to move the array of contact members and the array of conductive members relatively together to effect a switching action therebetween, means to guide and position a data card having holes therein between said array of contact members and said array of conductive members, the holes therein permitting an engagement between certain of said contact members and certain of said conductive members and portions of said card apart from said holes precluding switching action between the remainder of said contact members and said conductive members, further means comprised of a thin plate of insulating material having holes therein in an array complementary to the arrays of contact members and conductive members, said plate being driven by said drive means so that the holes thereof surround the said end portions of said contact members to receive said end portions and to preclude damage to said contact members by said card, and including an adjustment means coupled to said array of conductive members for positioning said conductive members relative to said contact members so that the engagement between each contact member and a conductive member occurs in a different zone on said conductive member to provide a fresh area of contact therebetween and extend the life of the device.

Claim 12

In a device for switching a plurality of electrical circuits, an array of contact members each including a mounting portion, a spring portion and an end portion carrying a contact surface thereon, an insulating block fixedly mounting said contact members with the spring portions extending at an appreciable angle outwardly from said block to permit movement of the end portions of said contact members toward and away from sAid block under a spring force developed by said spring portions, an array of conductive members having portions complementary to the array of contact members, drive means operable to move the array of contact members and the array of conductive members relatively together to effect a switching action therebetween, means to guide and position a data card having holes therein between said array of contact members and said array of conductive members, the holes therein permitting an engagement between certain of said contact members and certain of said conductive members and portions of said card apart from said holes precluding switching action between the remainder of said contact members and said conductive members, further means comprised of a thin plate of insulating material having holes therein in an array complementary to the arrays of contact members and conductive members, said plate being driven by said drive means so that the holes thereof surround the said end portions of said contact members to receive said end portions and to preclude damage to said contact members by said card, and including an adjustment means coupled to said array of conductive members for positioning said conductive members relative to said contact members so that the engagement between each contact member and a conductive member occurs in a different zone on said conductive member to provide a fresh area of contact therebetween and extend the life of the device.

Claim 13

In an assembly for reading data cards having data defined therein by the position of holes therein or the lack thereof, an array of contact spring members, one for each possible bit position in said card, and each including a contact surface and a projecting portion, a plate member carrying a series of conductive pads, one for each contact member in alignment therewith, a driving plate and means to drive said driving plate, means positioning said driving plate relative to said plate member carrying said conductive pads so as to receive and position a data card therebetween with the bit positions thereof aligned with said contact members, the contact pad carrying plate member further having a series of holes therein in alignment with said bit positions on a card inserted in said assembly with portions of said contact members extending outwardly to pass through said holes upon operation of said driving plate to drive said card against the rear of said contact pad carrying plate member and drive said contact pad carrying plate member toward said contact members whereby the projecting portions of the contact members extend through holes in said card causing the contact surfaces of said contact members associated therewith to engage the conductive pads to effect switch action, said projecting portions of said contact members being of a configuration relative to the holes in said card and to the holes in said conductive pad carrying plate member to facilitate a slight transverse movement of said plate member to provide a wiping action between said contact members and said contact surfaces, means to effect said slight movement during operation of said driving means, and including an adjustment means coupled to said conductive pad carrying plate member to adjust the position thereof so as to cause an engagement between said contact surfaces and said conductive pads in a fresh zone of contact to increase the life of said assembly.

Claim 14

In an assembly for reading data cards having data defined therein by the position of holes therein or the lack thereof, an array of contact spring members, one for each possible bit position in said card, and each including a contact surface and a projecting portion, a plate member carrying a series of conductive pads, one for each contact member in alignment therewith, a driving plate and means to drive said driving plate, means positioning said driving plate relative to said plate member carrying said conductive pads so as to receive and position a data card therebetween with the bit positions thereof aligned with said contact members, the contact pad carrying plate member further having a series of holes therein in alignment with said bit positions on a card inserted in said assembly with portions of said contact members extending outwardly to pass through said holes upon operation of said driving plate to drive said card against the rear of said contact pad carrying plate member and drive said contact pad carrying plate member toward said contact members whereby the projecting portions of the contact members extend through holes in said card causing the contact surfaces of said contact members associated therewith to engage the conductive pads to effect switch action, said projecting portions of said contact members being of a configuration relative to the holes in said card and to the holes in said conductive pad carrying plate member to facilitate a slight transverse movement of said plate member to provide a wiping action between said contact members and said contact surfaces, means to effect said slight movement during operation of said driving means, and including an adjustment means coupled to said conductive pad carrying plate member to adjust the position thereof so as to cause an engagement between said contact surfaces and said conductive pads in a fresh zone of contact to increase the life of said assembly.

Claim 15

In an assembly for reading data cards having data defined therein by the position of holes therein or the lack thereof, an array of cantilevered leaf spring contact members, one for each possible bit position in said card, and each including a mounting portion, an end projecting portion having a contact surface thereon, and a thin flat spring portion supporting said end portion to provide spring action therefor; a movable plate member carrying a series of conductive pads, one for each contact member in alignment therewith; means comprising a driving plate for imparting a transverse motion to said movable plaTe member with respect to said contact members; means positioning said driving plate relative to said movable plate member so as to receive and position a data card therebetween with the bit positions thereof aligned with said contact members; the movable plate member further having a series of holes therein in alignment with said bit positions on a card inserted in said assembly; and means to drive said driving plate to in turn drive said card against said movable plate member and displace said movable plate member transversely toward said contact members into a predetermined reading position in which the end-projecting portions of the contact members extend through holes in said card, causing the contact surfaces of said contact members associated therewith to engage the conductive pads to effect switch action.

Claim 16

In an assembly for reading data cards having data defined therein by the position of holes therein or the lack thereof, an array of cantilevered leaf spring contact members, one for each possible bit position in said card, and each including a mounting portion, an end projecting portion having a contact surface thereon, and a thin flat spring portion supporting said end portion to provide spring action therefor; a movable plate member carrying a series of conductive pads, one for each contact member in alignment therewith; means comprising a driving plate for imparting a transverse motion to said movable plaTe member with respect to said contact members; means positioning said driving plate relative to said movable plate member so as to receive and position a data card therebetween with the bit positions thereof aligned with said contact members; the movable plate member further having a series of holes therein in alignment with said bit positions on a card inserted in said assembly; and means to drive said driving plate to in turn drive said card against said movable plate member and displace said movable plate member transversely toward said contact members into a predetermined reading position in which the end-projecting portions of the contact members extend through holes in said card, causing the contact surfaces of said contact members associated therewith to engage the conductive pads to effect switch action.

Claim 17

The assembly of claim 11 wherein the shape of said end projecting portions of said contact members relative to the holes in said card and to the holes in said movable plate member permits a slight transverse movement of said plate member to provide a wiping action between said contact members and said contact surfaces; and means are provided to effect said slight movement during operation of said drive means.

Claim 18

In a switch assembly an array of individual contact spring members each including a contact surface, a complementary array of conductive members each including a second and larger contact surface, means to effect an engagement between contact members and conductive members in a first zone of contact engagement therebetween to effect a switching action which establishes a selected pattern of interconnections between members, means to cause a wiping engagement between the selected pattern of interconnections which occurs during engagement under light wiping pressure followed by a second wiping action due to deflection of said contact spring members, and adjustment means coupled to one of said arrays for positioning said array of conductive members relative to said array of contact spring members wherein said engagement occurs in a fresh zone of contact between said members to increase the life of said assembly.

Claim 19

In a switch assembly an array of individual contact spring members each including a contact surface, a complementary array of conductive members each including a second and larger contact surface, means to effect an engagement between contact members and conductive members in a first zone of contact engagement therebetween to effect a switching action which establishes a selected pattern of interconnections between members, means to cause a wiping engagement between the selected pattern of interconnections which occurs during engagement under light wiping pressure followed by a second wiping action due to deflection of said contact spring members, and adjustment means coupled to one of said arrays for positioning said array of conductive members relative to said array of contact spring members wherein said engagement occurs in a fresh zone of contact between said members to increase the life of said assembly.