Paper tape reader

Claim 2

Guide means for a paper tape reader adapted to accommodate tapes of differing hole patterns and/or tape widths comprising: first and second spaced parallel tape guide plates for receiving and guiding a punched paper tape therebetween; a tape reader comprising: a light source assembly mounted upon said first plate; a sensor assembly mounted upon said second plate and having a sensor means at each channel position of the tape adapted to generate a pulse when illuminated by the source assembly; a paper tape guide member rotatably mounted to the input end of one of said guide plates; said guide member having a plurality of guide slots arranged about the periphery of the guide member, the size and position of each of said slots being adapted to receive a particular punch tape; each of said slots being adapted to be selectively positioned into alignment with the guide surface of one of said guide plates to align the channels of the tape passing over the slot with the source and sensor assemblies.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising cam means mechanically linked to said rotatable guide member; switch means having a switch arm; said cam member being adapted to move said switch arm to either a first or a second position dependent upon the angular position of said guide member; said switch means being adapted to disable selected ones of said sensors when said switch arm is in a first position and being adapted to place said selected ones of said sensor in operative condition when said switch arm is in said second position.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising releasable detent means for locking the rotatable guide member into position

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said detent means comprises: a bracket secured to one of said guide plates; said guide plate having a pin extending toward said bracket; said bracket having an arm positioned adjacent said rotatable guide member; said arm having a plurality of apertures equal in number to the number of guide slots and each adapted to selectively receive said pin when each of said guide slots in said rotatable guide member is aligned with the guide plate to lock said rotatable guide member in position.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 further including a shaft extending through said bracket; said rotatable guide member being secured to one end of said shaft; said shaft having a projection; spring biasing means being positioned between said bracket arm and projection for normally urging said guide member toward said arm so as to maintain said pin in one of said apertures; said guide member being movable in a direction opposite the biasing force of said biasing means to release said pin from the apertures to enable repositioning of the guide member.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said bracket is a U-shaped bracket having a second Arm secured to said one of said guide plates; said shaft projection comprising a circular shaped disc secured to said shaft and positioned between the arms of said bracket; said biasing means comprising a helical spring positioned about said shaft and having first and second ends respectively abutting said first arm and said disc.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said detent means comprises: a bracket secured to one of said guide plates; said guide plate having a plurality of openings each associated with one of said slots; said bracket having an arm positioned adjacent said rotatable guide member; said arm having a pin secured thereto and extending toward said guide member and adapted to be selectively received by one of said openings when each of said guide slots in said rotatable guide member is aligned with the guide plate to lock said rotatable guide member in position.

Claim 9

Feed means for punch paper tape reading or punching devices adapted to feed tape having feed holes comprising: a motor; a rotatable drive shaft operated by said rotor; a drive sprocket assembly mounted upon said shaft, said assembly comprising a drive sprocket having drive teeth arranged in spaced fashion about the periphery of said drive sprocket; first and second cylindrical members being mounted upon said drive shaft and positioned on opposite sides of said drive sprocket; a swingably mounted tape hold down member; a pin for swingably mounting a first end of said hold down member remote from said drive sprocket assembly; the opposite end of said member having a curved contour generally conforming to the shape of said cylindrical members; biasing means for normally urging said hold down member in a first direction to urge said curved end toward said drive sprocket assembly; the teeth of said sprocket assembly extending beyond the peripheries of said cylindrical members; the curved end of said hold down member having an elongated slot to provide clearance for said sprocket teeth; said drive sprocket assembly and said hold down member curved end being adapted to receive a punch paper tape therebetween; said sprocket teeth being adapted to enter the feed holes of the paper tape and thereby advance the tape through said device; said biasing means being adapted to urge said hold down member against said tape to provide frictional engagement between said tape and said cylindrical members which frictional engagement facilitates the driving action of the feed means upon the tape.

Claim 10

Feed means for punch paper tape reading or punching devices adapted to feed tape having feed holes comprising: a motor; a rotatable drive shaft operated by said rotor; a drive sprocket assembly mounted upon said shaft, said assembly comprising a drive sprocket having drive teeth arranged in spaced fashion about the periphery of said drive sprocket; first and second cylindrical members being mounted upon said drive shaft and positioned on opposite sides of said drive sprocket; a swingably mounted tape hold down member; a pin for swingably mounting a first end of said hold down member remote from said drive sprocket assembly; the opposite end of said member having a curved contour generally conforming to the shape of said cylindrical members; biasing means for normally urging said hold down member in a first direction to urge said curved end toward said drive sprocket assembly; the teeth of said sprocket assembly extending beyond the peripheries of said cylindrical members; the curved end of said hold down member having an elongated slot to provide clearance for said sprocket teeth; said drive sprocket assembly and said hold down member curved end being adapted to receive a punch paper tape therebetween; said sprocket teeth being adapted to enter the feed holes of the paper tape and thereby advance the tape through said device; said biasing means being adapted to urge said hold down member against said tape to provide frictional engagement between said tape and said cylindrical members which frictional engagement facilitates the driving action of the feed means upon the tape.

Claim 11

The feed means of claim 8, wherein the concave surface of the curved portion of said hold down member is polished to minimize frictional engagement between the hold down member and the paper tape.

Claim 12

The feed means of claim 8, wherein the sides of said teeth are curved and taper to a point at the free ends thereof; the diameter at the base of each of the teeth being substantially equal to the diameter of the tape feed holes; the diameters of said cylindrical members being adapted to cause the paper tape to ride slightly above the bases of the teeth to prevent tearing or enlargement of the feed holes.

Claim 13

The feed means of claim 8, wherein said hold down member is provided with first and second arms both extending outwardly from said first end; each of said arms having an opening for receiving said pin.

Claim 14

The feed members of claim 11, wherein said first arm is longer than said second arm; the free end of said first arm having a projecting pin; said biasing means being secured to said projecting pin for urging said hold down member toward said drive sprocket assembly.

Claim 15

The feed means of claim 12, wherein said hold down member is further provided with a third arm extending in a direction opposite said first and second arms for swinging said hold down member away from the drive sprocket assembly for inserting a paper tape into the feed means.

Claim 16

Guide means for a papEr tape reader adapted to accommodate tapes of differing hole patterns and/or tape widths comprising: first and second spaced parallel tape guide plates for receiving and guiding a punched paper tape therebetween; a tape reader comprising: a light source assembly mounted upon said first plate; a sensor assembly mounted upon said second plate and having a sensor means at each channel position of the tape adapted to generate a pulse when illuminated by the source assembly; a paper tape guide member rotatably mounted to the input end of one of said guide plates; said guide member having a plurality of guide slots arranged about the periphery of the guide member, the size and position of each of said slots being adapted to receive a particular punch tape; each of said slots being adapted to be selectively positioned into alignment with the guide surface of one of said guide plates to align the channels of the tape passing over the slot with the source and sensor assemblies; feed means for advancing the tape through said reader comprising: a motor; a rotatable drive shaft operated by said motor; a drive sprocket assembly mounted upon said shaft, said assembly comprising a drive sprocket having drive teeth arranged in spaced fashion about the periphery of said drive sprocket; first and second cylindrical members being mounted upon said drive shaft and positioned on opposite sides of said drive sprocket; a swingably mounted tape hold down member; a pin for swingably mounting a first end of said hold down member remote from said drive sprocket assembly; the opposite end of said member having a curved contour generally conforming to the shape of said cylindrical members; biasing means for normally urging said hold down member in a first direction to urge said curved end toward said drive sprocket assembly; the teeth of said sprocket assembly extending beyond the peripheries of said cylindrical members; the curved end of said hold down member having an elongated slot to provide clearance for said sprocket teeth; said drive sprocket assembly and said hold down member curved end being adapted to receive a punch paper tape therebetween; said sprocket teeth being adapted to enter the feed holes of the paper tape and thereby advance the tape through said device; said biasing means being adapted to urge said hold down member against said tape to provide frictional engagement between said tape and said cylindrical members which frictional engagement facilitates the driving action of the feed means upon the tape.

Claim 17

Guide means for a papEr tape reader adapted to accommodate tapes of differing hole patterns and/or tape widths comprising: first and second spaced parallel tape guide plates for receiving and guiding a punched paper tape therebetween; a tape reader comprising: a light source assembly mounted upon said first plate; a sensor assembly mounted upon said second plate and having a sensor means at each channel position of the tape adapted to generate a pulse when illuminated by the source assembly; a paper tape guide member rotatably mounted to the input end of one of said guide plates; said guide member having a plurality of guide slots arranged about the periphery of the guide member, the size and position of each of said slots being adapted to receive a particular punch tape; each of said slots being adapted to be selectively positioned into alignment with the guide surface of one of said guide plates to align the channels of the tape passing over the slot with the source and sensor assemblies; feed means for advancing the tape through said reader comprising: a motor; a rotatable drive shaft operated by said motor; a drive sprocket assembly mounted upon said shaft, said assembly comprising a drive sprocket having drive teeth arranged in spaced fashion about the periphery of said drive sprocket; first and second cylindrical members being mounted upon said drive shaft and positioned on opposite sides of said drive sprocket; a swingably mounted tape hold down member; a pin for swingably mounting a first end of said hold down member remote from said drive sprocket assembly; the opposite end of said member having a curved contour generally conforming to the shape of said cylindrical members; biasing means for normally urging said hold down member in a first direction to urge said curved end toward said drive sprocket assembly; the teeth of said sprocket assembly extending beyond the peripheries of said cylindrical members; the curved end of said hold down member having an elongated slot to provide clearance for said sprocket teeth; said drive sprocket assembly and said hold down member curved end being adapted to receive a punch paper tape therebetween; said sprocket teeth being adapted to enter the feed holes of the paper tape and thereby advance the tape through said device; said biasing means being adapted to urge said hold down member against said tape to provide frictional engagement between said tape and said cylindrical members which frictional engagement facilitates the driving action of the feed means upon the tape.

Claim 18

Guide means for a paper tape reader adapted to accommodate tapes of differing hole patterns and/or tape widths comprising: first and second spaced parallel tape guide plates for receiving and guiding a punched paper tape therebetween; a tape reader comprising: a light source assembly mounted upon said first plate; a sensor assembly mounted upon said second plate and having a sensor means at each channel position of the tape adapted to generate a pulse when illuminated by the source assembly; a paper tape guide assembly movably mounted to the input end of one of said guide plates; said guide assembly having an adjustable guide slot adapted to receive punch tapes of varying width; said adjustable guide slot being positioned in alignment with the guide surface of one of said guide plates to align the channels of the tape passing over the slot with the source and sendor assemblies.

Claim 19

Guide means for a paper tape reader adapted to accommodate tapes of differing hole patterns and/or tape widths comprising: first and second spaced parallel tape guide plates for receiving and guiding a punched paper tape therebetween; a tape reader comprising: a light source assembly mounted upon said first plate; a sensor assembly mounted upon said second plate and having a sensor means at each channel position of the tape adapted to generate a pulse when illuminated by the source assembly; a paper tape guide assembly movably mounted to the input end of one of said guide plates; said guide assembly having an adjustable guide slot adapted to receive punch tapes of varying width; said adjustable guide slot being positioned in alignment with the guide surface of one of said guide plates to align the channels of the tape passing over the slot with the source and sendor assemblies.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said tape guide assembly comprises first and second L-shaped plates each having at least one elongated opening; fastening means passing through said openings for securing said L-shaped plates to said guide plate; said L-shaped plates being arranged one upon the other to cooperatively form a guide slot for receiving and guiding a paper tape whereby the elongated slots enable the guide slot width to be adjusted To receive paper tapes of varying width.