Item scheduling system and apparatus therefor

Claim 2

In a scheduling system, the combination of, a card marked in certain unpunched areas thereof with light absorbing material and having other previously punched areas, said unpunched areas and said punched areas both being arranged in a column extending transversely of said card, means for moving said card in steps along a predetermined path, optical sensing means individual to both said punched areas and said unpunched areas in a given column and positioned along a line transverse to said path, means controllable by said optical sensing means for developing individual output signals corresponding only to said marked unpunched areas in a given column, punching means positioned across said path and spaced from said optical sensing means by an amount equal to a predetermined number of steps along said path, shift register means for storing said output signals, means for pulsing said shift register each time said card is moved one step, and means connecting the output of said shift register to said punching means, whereby said marked unpunched areas in a given column are simultaneously punched in said card during a single pass along said path.

Claim 3

An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the areas surrounding said marked areas are of a shade approximately halfway between the marked areas and the background of said card.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2, wherein said predetermined reference level is halfway between the maximum and minimum output levels of said optical sensing means.

Claim 5

A scheduling system, comprising a master card having a series of vertical columns representing days, each of said columns having vertically spaced areas representing months, certain ones of said areas in a given column being unpunched and containing marks of light absorbing material and certain other ones of said areas containing punches, a unit record card having unpunched areas corresponding to both said punched and unpunched areas of said master card, optical means for sensing said master card and producing output signals corresponding only to unpunched areas in a given column thereof containing light absorbing material, and means controlled by said output signals for substantially simultaneously punching said master card and said unit record card in areas corresponding only to said unpunched areas containing light absorbing material in a given column on said master card.

Claim 6

A scheduling system, comprising a master card having a series of vertical columns representing days, each of said columns having vertically spaced areas representing months, certain ones of said areas in a given column being unpunched and containing marks of light absorbing material and certain other ones of said areas containing punches, a unit record card having unpunched areas corresponding to both said punched and unpunched areas of said master card, optical means for sensing said master card and producing output signals corresponding only to unpunched areas in a given column thereof containing light absorbing material, and means controlled by said output signals for substantially simultaneously punching said master card and said unit record card in areas corresponding only to said unpunched areas containing light absorbing material in a given column on said master card.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 4, wherein said master card has punches in another area thereof identifying a particular unit, second sensing means for sensing said last named punches, and means operative after said marked areas have been punched for punching said unit record card in areas corresponding to said last named punches in said master card.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 5, wherein separate punching means are employed for punching said master card and said unit record card, an amplifier for driving said unit record card punching means, and means for selectively applying the output of said first and second sensing means to the input of said amplifier.

Claim 9

In a scheduling system, a plurality of solenoids, a silicon controlled rectifier for each of said solenoids, means individually connecting one end of each of said solenoids to the anode of a different one of said rectifiers, means for applying an energizing potential to the other end of said solenoids in common, means for selectively applying control signals to the control electrodes of said rectifiers thereby to cause current flow of predetermined magnitude through the solenoid connected thereto when said control signal and said energizing potential occur simultaneously, and means independent of said solenoids for continuously supplying a potential to the anode of each of said rectifiers without exceeding the minimum holding current of each of said rectifiers.

Claim 10

In a scheduling system, a plurality of solenoids, a silicon controlled rectifier for each of said solenoids, means individually connecting one end of each of said solenoids to the anode of a different one of said rectifiers, means for applying an energizing potential to the other end of said solenoids in common, means for selectively applying control signals to the control electrodes of said rectifiers thereby to cause current flow of predetermined magnitude through the solenoid connected thereto when said control signal and said energizing potential occur simultaneously, and means independent of said solenoids for continuously supplying a potential to the anode of each of said rectifiers without exceeding the minimum holding current of each of said rectifiers.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 7, wherein said potential continuously supplied to the anodes of said rectifiers is of substantially the same magnitude as said energizing potential.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 7, wherein said means for continuously supplying a potential comprises resistances of high value individually connected to the anodes of said rectifiers.

Claim 13

A scheduling system, comprising a master card having a plurality of areas corresponding to different periods of time, certain of said areas being unpunched and marked by a layer of light absorbing material within the area and certain of said areas containing punches, said unpunched marked areas and said punched areas being interspersed in columns extending across said master card, a unit record card having areas corresponding to both said unpunched marked areas and said punched areas of said master card, optical sensing means individual to both said unpunched marked areas and said punched areas in a given column for sensing only said unpunched marked areas of said master card and developing control pulses in response thereto, first and second punching means, means controlled by said control pulses for actuating said first punching means to punch said master card in said unpunched marked areas, means for enabling said second punching means a predetermined time interval after said first punching means is actuated, means for delaying said control pulses, and means controlled by said delayed control pulses for actuating said second punching means during the interval of said enabling pulses, thereby to punch said unit record card in the same areas as said unpunched marked areas of said master card.

Claim 14

A scheduling system, comprising a master card having a plurality of areas corresponding to different periods of time, certain of said areas being unpunched and marked by a layer of light absorbing material within the area and certain of said areas containing punches, said unpunched marked areas and said punched areas being interspersed in columns extending across said master card, a unit record card having areas corresponding to both said unpunched marked areas and said punched areas of said master card, optical sensing means individual to both said unpunched marked areas and said punched areas in a given column for sensing only said unpunched marked areas of said master card and developing control pulses in response thereto, first and second punching means, means controlled by said control pulses for actuating said first punching means to punch said master card in said unpunched marked areas, means for enabling said second punching means a predetermined time interval after said first punching means is actuated, means for delaying said control pulses, and means controlled by said delayed control pulses for actuating said second punching means during the interval of said enabling pulses, thereby to punch said unit record card in the same areas as said unpunched marked areas of said master card.

Claim 15

In a schedulinG system, the combination of, a master card having a plurality of areas corresponding to different periods of time, said card being marked in certain unpunched areas with a light absorbing material within the area and having other ones of said areas punched, means for moving said card in steps along a predetermined path, light responsive means positioned above said path, a pair of light sources positioned above said path on either side of said light responsive means, means directing light emanating from said sources and reflected from unmarked areas of said card to said light sensitive means, means controlled by the output of said light sensitive means for punching said card in said marked areas thereof, and means for preventing the operation of said punching means in said prepunched areas of said master card.

Claim 16

In a schedulinG system, the combination of, a master card having a plurality of areas corresponding to different periods of time, said card being marked in certain unpunched areas with a light absorbing material within the area and having other ones of said areas punched, means for moving said card in steps along a predetermined path, light responsive means positioned above said path, a pair of light sources positioned above said path on either side of said light responsive means, means directing light emanating from said sources and reflected from unmarked areas of said card to said light sensitive means, means controlled by the output of said light sensitive means for punching said card in said marked areas thereof, and means for preventing the operation of said punching means in said prepunched areas of said master card.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 11, wherein there is provided an additional light source positioned beneath said path and arranged to direct light therefrom upwardly through punched areas of said card to said light sensitive means.

Claim 18

The combination of claim 11 wherein said light sensitive means includes a light sensitive field effect transistor.

Claim 19

The combination of claim 11, wherein the areas of said card which surround said time period areas are of a shade approximately halfway between the shade of said marked areas and the background shade of said card.

Claim 20

In a scheduling system, the combination of, a master card having a plurality of areas corresponding to different periods of time, said card being marked in certain of said areas with a light absorbing material, means for moving said card in steps along a predetermined path, light sensitive means positioned above said card and responsive to different areas thereof as said card is moved along said path, means controlled by said light sensitive means for developing an output signal in response to positioning of one of said marked areas beneath said light sensitive means, a reference area on said card and having a predetermined shade which is different from said marked areas of said card, and means operative when said reference area is positioned beneath said light sensitive means for adjusting said output signal to a predetermined reference level and independently of the output of said light sensitive means.

Claim 21

In a scheduling system, the combination of, a master card having a plurality of areas corresponding to different periods of time, said card being marked in certain of said areas with a light absorbing material, means for moving said card in steps along a predetermined path, light sensitive means positioned above said card and responsive to different areas thereof as said card is moved along said path, means controlled by said light sensitive means for developing an output signal in response to positioning of one of said marked areas beneath said light sensitive means, a reference area on said card and having a predetermined shade which is different from said marked areas of said card, and means operative when said reference area is positioned beneath said light sensitive means for adjusting said output signal to a predetermined reference level and independently of the output of said light sensitive means.

Claim 22

The combination of claim 15, wherein said reference area is ahead of said marked areas on said card and said reference level of said output signal is maintained as the marked areas of said card are moved beneath said light sensitive means.

Claim 23

In a scheduling system, the combination of, a master card having a plurality of areas corresponding to different periods of time, said card being marked in certain unpunched areas with a light absorbing material within the area, means for moving said card in steps along a predetermined path, light responsive means positioned above said path, a pair of light sources positioned above said path on either side of said light responsive means, means directing light emanating from said sources and reflected from unmarked areas of said card to said light sensitive means, an additional light source positioned beneath said path and arranged to direct light therefrom upwardly through punched areas of said card to said light sensitive means, and means controlled by the output of said light sensitive means for punching said card in said marked areas thereof.

Claim 24

In a scheduling system, the combination of, a master card having a plurality of areas corresponding to different periods of time, said card being marked in certain unpunched areas with a light absorbing material within the area, means for moving said card in steps along a predetermined path, light responsive means positioned above said path, a pair of light sources positioned above said path on either side of said light responsive means, means directing light emanating from said sources and reflected from unmarked areas of said card to said light sensitive means, an additional light source positioned beneath said path and arranged to direct light therefrom upwardly through punched areas of said card to said light sensitive means, and means controlled by the output of said light sensitive means for punching said card in said marked areas thereof.

Claim 25

In a scheduling system, the combination of, a card marked in certain unpunched areas thereof with light absorbing material and having other previously punched areas, said unpunched areas and said punched areas both being arranged in a column extending transversely of said card, said card having a reference area ahead of said column, means for moving said card in steps along a predetermined path, optical sensing means individual to both said punched areas and said unpunched areas in a given column and positioned along a line transverse to said path, means controlled by said optical sensing means for developinG individual output signals corresponding only to said marked unpunched areas in a given column, punching means positioned across said path and spaced from said optical sensing means by an amount equal to a predetermined number of steps along said path, shift register means for storing said output signals, means for pulsing said shift register each time said card is moved one step, means connecting the output of said shift register to said punching means, whereby said marked unpunched areas in a given column are simultaneously punched in said card during a single pass along said path, and means operative when said optical sensing means is positioned over said reference area for automatically setting the output of said optical sensing means to a predetermined reference level.

Claim 26

In a scheduling system, the combination of, a card marked in certain unpunched areas thereof with light absorbing material and having other previously punched areas, said unpunched areas and said punched areas both being arranged in a column extending transversely of said card, said card having a reference area ahead of said column, means for moving said card in steps along a predetermined path, optical sensing means individual to both said punched areas and said unpunched areas in a given column and positioned along a line transverse to said path, means controlled by said optical sensing means for developinG individual output signals corresponding only to said marked unpunched areas in a given column, punching means positioned across said path and spaced from said optical sensing means by an amount equal to a predetermined number of steps along said path, shift register means for storing said output signals, means for pulsing said shift register each time said card is moved one step, means connecting the output of said shift register to said punching means, whereby said marked unpunched areas in a given column are simultaneously punched in said card during a single pass along said path, and means operative when said optical sensing means is positioned over said reference area for automatically setting the output of said optical sensing means to a predetermined reference level.

Claim 27

In a scheduling system, a plurality of solenoids, a silicon controlled rectifier for each of said solenoids, means individually connecting one end of each of said solenoids to the anode of a different one of said rectifiers, means for applying an energizing potential to the other end of said solenoids in common, means for selectively applying control signals to the control electrodes of said rectifiers thereby to cause current flow of predetermined magnitude through the solenoid connected thereto when said control signal and said energizing potential occur simultaneously, means independent of said solenoids for continuously supplying a potential to the anode of each of said rectifiers without exceeding the minimum holding current of each of said rectifiers, and a diode connected between each of said solenoids and the anode of the corresponding rectifier to prevent cross coupling between said solenoids.

Claim 28

In a scheduling system, a plurality of solenoids, a silicon controlled rectifier for each of said solenoids, means individually connecting one end of each of said solenoids to the anode of a different one of said rectifiers, means for applying an energizing potential to the other end of said solenoids in common, means for selectively applying control signals to the control electrodes of said rectifiers thereby to cause current flow of predetermined magnitude through the solenoid connected thereto when said control signal and said energizing potential occur simultaneously, means independent of said solenoids for continuously supplying a potential to the anode of each of said rectifiers without exceeding the minimum holding current of each of said rectifiers, and a diode connected between each of said solenoids and the anode of the corresponding rectifier to prevent cross coupling between said solenoids.

Claim 29

In a scheduling system, the combination of, a master card having a plurality of areas corresponding to different periods of time, said card being marked in certain of said areas with a light absorbing material, means for moving said card in steps along a predetermined path, a light sensitive field effect transistor positioned above said card and responsive to different areas thereof as said card is moved along said path, means controlled by said light sensitive transistor for developing an output signal in response to positioning of one of said marked areas therebeneath, a reference area on said card ahead of said marked areas and having a predetermined shade, means operative when said reference area is positioned beneath said light sensitive transistor for adjusting said output signal to a predetermined reference level and independently of the output of said light sensitive transistor, means for maintaining said reference level of said output signal as the marked areas of said card are moved beneath said transistor, means for supplying an energizing voltage to said transistor, and means for adjusting said energizing voltage during scanning of said reference area so that saturation of said transistor in the direction corresponding to a marked area of said card does not produce an output signal in unmarked areas of said card.

Claim 30

In a scheduling system, the combination of, a master card having a plurality of areas corresponding to different periods of time, said card being marked in certain of said areas with a light absorbing material, means for moving said card in steps along a predetermined path, a light sensitive field effect transistor positioned above said card and responsive to different areas thereof as said card is moved along said path, means controlled by said light sensitive transistor for developing an output signal in response to positioning of one of said marked areas therebeneath, a reference area on said card ahead of said marked areas and having a predetermined shade, means operative when said reference area is positioned beneath said light sensitive transistor for adjusting said output signal to a predetermined reference level and independently of the output of said light sensitive transistor, means for maintaining said reference level of said output signal as the marked areas of said card are moved beneath said transistor, means for supplying an energizing voltage to said transistor, and means for adjusting said energizing voltage during scanning of said reference area so that saturation of said transistor in the direction corresponding to a marked area of said card does not produce an output signal in unmarked areas of said card.