Feed device for tape perforators

Claim 1

A tape feeding apparatus for perforators or readers of a punched tape, comprising: a frame; a supporting shaft rotatably mounted to said frame; a sprocket pulley mounted on said supporting shaft for rotation therewith for advancing the tape; a first lever pivotally mounted to the frame and having a first and a second slot and a tab on one end thereof, said second slot disposed between said first slot and said one end; a guiding element fixed to said frame and in cooperative engagement with said second slot; a saw toothed pulley integral with said sprocket pulley and coactive with said first lever to be jogged by said tab; spring means connecting said first lever to said frame, said spring means urging said tab into positive contact with a tooth of said saw toothed pulley to effect the rotation of said saw toothed pulley; and a circular cam rotatably mounted inside said first slot and acting positively in only one sense on said first lever in opposition to said spring means, to withdraw said tab from said saw toothed pulley and to impart to said one end movement along a substantially circular path, wherein in a first arc of said circular path said tab is moved away from a contacted tooth, in a second arc of said path, said tab is spaced away from the contacted tooth of said toothed pulley, and in a third arc of said path said tab returns towards the next tooth of said toothed pulley.