Digitally operable magnetic reed switches

Claim 1

Switching apparatus sensitive to changes of magnetic field configuration to provide an on-off type digital signal, comprising in combination, a reed switch having a pair of magnetically responsive planar blade members held in generally axial alignment with faces overlapping in a region providing freedom of movement between the blades to open and close electrical contacts between the two blades, means providing in a stable position an axial magnet with one pole directed substantially normally to the generally axial alignment of said reeds and disposed toward the faces of said blades at the overlap region to provide magnetic flux in such intensity and so balanced between said blades to open the electrical contact between the two blades, means reorienting said magnet to unbalance the flux in said blades enough to close the electrical contact between the blades, wherein the means reorienting said magnet comprises a permanent magnet and movable pivoted lever carrying said magnet, thereby responsive to a small physical pivoting displacement to unbalance the flux provided in said stable position and including punched document processing means, wherein the pivoted lever is positioned to sense apertures in a punched document and is so proportioned to move the switch contacts from open to closed position in response to presence and absence of punched code positions in said punched documents.