US3784439A

US3784439A - Machine for forming and applying index tabs to file cards

Info

Publication number: US3784439A
Application number: US00221896A
Authority: US
Inventors: I Dorman
Original assignee: Bell and Howell Co
Current assignee: Bell and Howell Co
Priority date: 1972-01-31
Filing date: 1972-01-31
Publication date: 1974-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-08
Also published as: DE2260954A1; JPS4892100A

Abstract

A machine for automatically forming index tabs and for applying the tabs to file cards at selected points along the upper margin thereof. A file card to be tabbed is supported on a carriage, the margin of the card overhanging the carriage. The carriage is shiftable along a platform with respect to a linear scale, to align a selected point on the margin with a tab applicator station. At the station, the margin partially overlies the upper end of a hole in a die plate below which is disposed a strip of tab material. A reciprocating die punch cooperating with the die plate, acts in passing through the die hole to excise a tab from the strip and to press it against the underface of the margin whose upper face is backed by an anvil. To effect bonding of the tab to the card margin, the tab material may be provided with a pressure-sensitive layer or a hot-melt coating, in which latter event the anvil is heated to activate the coating when the margin is sandwiched between the pressed tab and the anvil.

Description

United States Patent [191 Dorman 1 MACHINEYFOR FORMING AND APPLYING INDEX TABS TO FILE CARDS [75] Inventor: Isidore Dorman, Whitestone, NY.

[73] Assignee: Bell & Howell Company, Chicago,

Ill.

[22] Filed: Jan. 31, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 221,896

Primary Emmi ner- -Edward G. V AttorneyMichael Ebert Jan. 8, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT A machine for automatically forming index tabs and for applying the tabs to tile cards at selected points along the upper margin thereof; A file card to be tabbed is supported on a carriage, the margin of the card overhanging the carriage. The carriage is shiftable along a platform with respect to a linear scale, to align a selected point on the margin with a tab applicator station. At the station, the margin partially overlies the upper end of a hole in a die plate below which is disposed a strip of tab material. A reciprocating die punch cooperating with the die plate, acts in passing through the die hole to excise a tab from the strip and to press it against the underface of the margin whose upper face is backed by an anvil. To effect bonding of the tab to the card margin, the tab material may be provided with a pressure-sensitive layer or a hot-melt coating, in which latter event the anvil is heated to activate the coating when the margin is sandwiched between the pressed tab and the anvil.

10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures 1 MACHINE FOR FORMING AND APPLYING INDEX TABS TO FILE CARDS RELATED APPLICATIONS BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention relates generally to file cards having index tabs thereon, and more particularly to a machine for automatically forming individual index tabs and for applying the tabs to selected points on file cards.

The term card as used herein is intended generally to cover any type of filing element which may be stacked in boxes or in any other form of file receptacle, and it includes oridinary single-sheet file or tabulating cards, aperture cards in which a microfilm slide is mounted within a card aperture, microfiches and microfiche jackets of the type disclosed in Engelstein US.

Pat. No. 3,238,655. The term card is therefore intended to encompass any existing form of filing element formed by one or more sheets of paper, cardboard or plastic material or combinations thereof.

In a random access system of the type disclosed in the above-identified patent applications, use is made of file cards each of which has an upstanding tab at a longitudinal point along its upper edge or margin which is determined by its index number. A distinct tab position is assigned to each card in the system in order to facilitate selection by a file clerk or by a selector mechanism.

These index tabs may be formed by die-cutting the margin of the card to define the profile of a tab, in which case the tab is integral with the card. Since the tab is relatively small, this type of die-cutting operation wastes most of the marginal material, for to create an upstanding tab at a selected marginal position between the ends of the card, one must cut away material on either side of the tab. Die-cutting to form tabs is only possible with file cards having margins with sufficient excess material to provide the desired tab. But with existing file cards which were not originally intended to be tabbed and having margins too narrow to pennit diecutting to define tabs, the only feasible way to tab is to add a tab to the margin and not to die-cut the margin.

Another objection to an integral tab is that its strength is determined by the nature of the card material. Where the card is fabricated of low-cost paper or paperboard, the resultant tab is weak and incapable of surviving repeated handling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing, the main object of this invention is to provide an automatic machine for forming individual index tabs and for applying the tabs to the margin of file cards at any selected point thereon.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide an automatic machine of the above type, which is adapted to excise tabs from a continuous strip of tab material and to apply the tabs so formed to the margin of a file card to effect bonding of the tab to the margin.

A significant advantage of the invention resides in the fact that the strip may be formed of a high strength syn- 2 thetic film material affording long-lasting tabs adapted to facilitate handling and selection, and capable of surviving under heavy use.

Also an object of this invention is to provide an efficient, reliable and high-speed machine of the above type which is simple to operate.

Briefly stated, these objects are attained in a machine having a carriage for supporting the file card to be tabbed, the margin of the card overhanging the carriage to expose the under and upper faces thereof. The

carriage is shiftable along a platform with respect to a linear scale whose indicia represent the full range of tab positions along the margin, whereby an operator is able to align a selected position on the margin with a tab applicator station.

At the station, the card margin partially overlies the upper end of the hole in a die plate above which is mounted a stationary anvil. Cooperating with the die plate is a reciprocating die punch which enters the lower end of the die hole and passes therethrough to excise a tab from a strip disposed below the die plate, and to press the tab against the lower face of the margin at the selected point thereon, the upper face abutting the anvil.

To effect bonding of the tab to the margin, the strip is provided with a hot melt coating and the anvil is heated, thereby activating the coating on the tab when the margin is sandwiched between the pressed tab and the anvil. Alternatively, the strip may be provided with a pressure-sensitive layer to cause the tab to stick to the margin when it is pressed thereagainst.

OUTLINE OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the invention as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following detailed description to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a machine in accordance with the invention for forming and applying tabs to file cards;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section taken in the plane indicated by lines 3-3 in FIG.-l;

FIG. 4 shows a file card of the microfiche jacket type having a tab thereon as applied by the machine;

FIG. 5 is a section taken through the upper portion of the microfiche jacket;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the tab applicator station;

FIG. 7 is a section taken through the station at a point just prior to a tab punching operation;

FIG. 8 is a section taken through the station at a point when the punch is pressing the tab against the margin of the file card;

FIG. 9 shows the punch retracting at the applicator station after the tab has been applied to the card; and

FIG. 10 is an alternative form of tab applicator station, shown in perspective.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is illustrated a machine according to the invention, for applying index tabs to file cards. In the example shown, the card is in the form of a microfiche jacket, generally designated by numeral 10. In practice, the machine may be used with any known form of file card, for its operation is by no means limited to microfiche, jackets.

Each microfiche jacket card 10, as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, is constituted by two transparent

rectangular panels

11 and 12 in superposed relation, the panels being formed of clear, flexible plastic material, such as polyester film or any other suitable transparent sheeting having high tensile strength. Interposed between these panels and bonded thereto are spacer ribs formed by longitudinally-extending strips 13 in parallel relation to define parallel channels open at either end.

The channels in the microfiche jacket are of like width to accommodate microfilm strips of a given size, such as 16 mm. or 35 mm. film. The upper edge of the jacket is provided with a marginal band 14 whose surface'is adapted to accept typing so that identifying data may be applied thereto.

In order to facilitate file card selection, an index tab T is secured to margin 14 at a distinct. longitudinal position thereon. For example, assuming that the file cards are intended for a file card deck of 50 cards, tabs are applied at incremental points along a scale of to 49. Thus each tab in the deck is displaced from all other tabs to facilitate searching and selection.

Reverting to FIGS. 1 to 3, it will be seen that file card is supported on a rectangular carriage 15 which is slideable in a linear path along a raised platform 16 mounted on four corner posts 17. Linear carriage movement is assured by front and rear pairs of rollers 18 and 19, coupled to the underside of the carriage and running along the opposite sides of a guide bar 20 supported below platform 16 and extending the full length thereof. The shafts or roller pairs 18 and 19 pass through

parallel slots

21 and 22 in the platform which serve to limit the extent of platform movement in either direction.

Carriage 15 is shifted by means of depressible finger piece 23 formed of spring metal. One end of this piece is secured to the carriage, the other end being provided with a bent tongue whose tip portion goes under the platform. A locking tooth 25 mounted on the tip portion of the tongue is adapted to engage the teeth of a rack bar 26 mounted below the platform adjacent the front edge thereof. In order to shift the carriage, the operator presses down on finger piece 23, thereby disengaging tooth 25 from the rack bar and freeing the carriage for movement.

The carriage is shifted with respect to a linear scale 27 mounted on top of platform 16 adjacent the front edge thereof. The scale is provided with indicia in the desired incremental range of tab positions on the file card (i.e., 0-49). Carriage 15 is provided with a pointer 28 that scans the scale.

In order to apply a tab at a desired position on the margin of the file card supported on the carriage, the finger piece 23 is pressed down by the operator, and the carriage is shifted to align the pointer with the mark on the scale having the desired index number. The finger piece is then released to lock the carriage at the selected position.

Pointer 28 is aligned with a tab applicator station mounted on the rear edge of the platform, the station being generally designated by numeral 29. The applicator station includes a bracket 30 supporting a die plate 31 at a position slightly raised above platform 16 to create a passage admitting a continuous strip 32 of tab material. The strip is preferably formed of high-strength,

synthetic plastic flexible film material of a gauge imparting the desired degree of stiffness and durability to the tabs excised therefrom.

As best seen in FIG. 3, strip 32 is unwound from a supply reel 33 held in a reel housing 34 supported below the platform. Reel housing 34 is attached to the platform by screws to facilitate removal thereof when a fresh reel is required. Strip 32, drawn from the reel, travels through the die passage between die plate 31 and platform 16, and enters the nip between an indexing wheel 35 and a spring-biased pressure roller 36. Thus as wheel 35 is advanced in a step-wise manner, the strip 32 is intermittently drawn through the die passage.

Cooperating with die plate 31 is a punch 37 having a cross-sectional formation matching that of the hole in the die plate. This formation may be trapezoidal, arched or in any other desired configuration. Punch 37 projects axially from the upper end of a piston 38 supported for reciprocal movement below platform 16 by a pair of spaced

piston rings

39 and 40. The lower end of piston 38 is pivotally linked to one end of a crank lever 41 supported on a fulcrum 42. The other end of lever 41 has a follower roll 43 thereon which engages the profiled surface of a cam 44 operatively coupled to a motor 45.

Cam 44, which is caused to make a single full revolution each time motor 45 is switched on by the operator, is provided with a drive pawl 46. This pawl, at the beginning of a cam revolution, engages one of the equispaced pins 47 in a circular series thereof mounted on the face of index wheel 35. Hence, for each revolution of the cam, the index wheel is advanced one step (the distance between the adjacent pins), thereby pulling the tab strip 32 a short distance to present a fresh surface to punch 37.

After the strip is advanced, cam 44 proceeds through the action of the follower roll on crank-lever 41, to cause piston 38 to rise, causing punch 37 to pass through an opening in platform 16 in registration with the shaped hole in die plate 31.

The relationship of the tab strip 32 to margin 14 on the card at the tab application station is illustrated in FIG. 6 where it will be seen that strip 32 moves stepwise in the die passage defined by the space between platform 16 and die plate 31. Margin 14 of the file card rests on top of the die plate under anvil 48. As the machine proceeds to form and apply tabs to cards placed on the platform by the operator, tab shaped openings T0 T0 T0 etc., are cut in the strip 32.

The sequence of actions taking place in the course of a single operating cycle is shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9.

In FIG. 7, a fresh section of strip 32 is presented between platform 16 and die plate 31. Margin 14 of the file card to be tabbed, partially overlies the hole in die plate 31 below anvil 48. Punch 37 is moving upwardly through the opening in platform 16 toward tab strip 32. This is the state of the machine just before a tab is excised from the strip.

FIG. 8 shows the position of punch 37 after it has excised a tab T strip 32 and raised the tab through the hole in die plate 31 against the underface of margin 14. The margin is momentarily sandwiched, under pressure, between tab T and heated anvil 48 to activate the hot melt coating on the tab, thereby effecting bonding of the tab to the margin. At this instant, the punch is at zero velocity, just before reversing direction.

In FIG. 9, the punch is undergoing its return stroke, and margin 14 of the card with tab T attached thereof is no longer pressed against the anvil; hence one may now remove the tabbed card from the machine.

Instead of using a hot-melt coating on the tabs, attachment may be effected without a heated anvil, as shown in FIG. 10, wherein anvil 48 is cold. However, in this instance, strip 32' is provided with a pressuresensitive layer so that the tabs, when pressed against the margin, adhere thereto.

While the machine shown in the drawing is manually set and loaded, in practice these procedures may be automated or computer-controlled.

While there has been shown and described preferred embodiments of a machine for forming and applying index tabs to file cards, it will be appreciated that many changes and modifications may be made therein without, however, departing from the essential spirit of the invention. For example, to expose the margin of the card to the applicator, it need not over-hand the platform, but the platform may be provided with suitable openings at selected points. Also, in practice, one may apply tabs to edges other than the upper margin.

I claim:

l. A machine for forming and applying tabs to file cards at selected positions along the upper margin thereof, said machine comprising:

a. a platform,

b. a carriage movable along the platform with respect to a linear scale having indicia therein in a range corresponding to the range of tab positions along the margin of the card, said carriage being adapted to support a card to be tabbed, and

c. an applicator station mounted on said platform, said station including a die plate raised above said platform to define therebetween a die passage for a strip of tab material, said plate having a die hole whose upper end is partially covered by the margin of the card on the platform, an anvil mounted slightly above said die hole, and a reciprocating die punch arranged to pass through an opening in said platform in registration with said die hole and to enter and pass through said die hole, thereby excising a tab from said strip and pressing it against the margin which is backed by said anvil, said tab having a coating thereon to effect bonding thereof to the margin.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said strip has a coating of hot-melting material thereon, and said anvil is provided with a heater to activate the coating on thetab to effect bonding.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said 5 jacket having a marginal band.

5. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said carriage is provided with rollers coupled to the underside thereof by shafts passing through slots in the platform, said rollers engaging the opposite: sides of a guide bar disposed below said platform to maintain the carriage on a linear path.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 5, wherein said carriage is provided with a depressible finger piece having a bent tongue provided at its tip with a locking tooth which engages the teeth on a rack bar placed below the platform, the tooth being disengaged from the bar by pressing down on the finger piece, thereby freeing the platform for movement.

7. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said strip is drawn incrementally from a supply reel by means of an index wheel, and means to coordinate the action of said wheel and said reciprocating punch, whereby first said strip is drawn to present fresh material to the punch, and then said punch is reciprocated to excise a tab from the strip and to apply it to the margm.

8. A machine as set forth in claim 7, wherein said c0- ordinating means includes a motor-operated cam having a drive pawl for engaging a series of pins on said wheel to advance the wheel one step for each cam revolution, said cam being engaged by a follower mounted on a crank lever for reciprocating the punch.

9. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said strip is formed of flexible synthetic film material 10. A machine for forming and applying tabs to at least one edge of a file card at selected positions thereon, said machine comprising:

a. an applicator including a punch and die arranged to perforate a strip of tab material and to carry the tab punched from the strip into pressure contact with said edge of the card, and

b. positioning means to selectively position the card relative to the applicator, whereby the tab is applied thereto at a desired point, said positioning means being constituted by a carriage supporting the card and movable along a platform supporting said applicator with respect to a linear scale having indicia thereon in a range corresponding to the range of tab positions along said edge of the file card.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 3,784,439 January 8, 1974 Patent No. Dated Inventor(s) Isidore Dorman It is certified that error appears in the above ident ified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 20 "over-hand" should have read over-hang Signed and sealed this 23rd day of April 197b,.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD MJ LETCHEILJIQ. O. I J'ARSHALL DAL-IN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents PO-IOSO (10-69) I USCOMM.Q 903175. 5

a grshcoytmviur wnlm'mg OFHCE Iago-355444

Claims

1. A machine for forming and applying tabs to file cards at selected positions along the upper margin thereof, said machine comprising: a. a platform, b. a carriage movable along the platform with respect to a linear scale having indicia therein in a range corresponding to the range of tab positions along the margin of the card, said carriage being adapted to support a card to be tabbed, and c. an applicator station mounted on said platform, said station including a die plate raised above said platform to define therebetween a die passage for a strip of tab material, said plate having a die hole whose upper end is partially covered by the margin of the card on the platform, an anvil mounted slightly above said die hole, and a reciprocating die punch arranged to pass through an opening in said platform in registration with said die hole and to enter and pass through said die hole, thereby excising a tab from said strip and pressing it against the margin which is backed by said anvil, said tab having a coating thereon to effect bonding thereof to the margin.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said strip has a coating of hot-melting material thereon, and said anvil is provided with a heater to activate the coating on the tab to effect bonding.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said strip has a pressure-sensitive layer thereon whereby said tab, when pressed to the margin, adheres thereto.

4. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said file card is constituted by a multiple-channel microfiche jacket having a marginal band.

5. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said carriage is provided with rollers coupled to the underside thereof by shafts passing through slots in the platform, said rollers engaging the opposite sides of a guide bar disposed below said platform to maintain the carriage on a linear path.

7. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said strip is drawn incrementally from a supply reel by means of an index wheel, and means to coordinate the action of said wheel and said reciprocating punch, whereby first said strip is drawn to present fresh material to the punch, and then said punch is reciprocated to excise a tab from the strip and to apply it to the margin.

8. A machine as set forth in claim 7, wherein said coordinating means includes a motor-operated cam having a drive pawl for engaging a series of pins on said wheel to advance the wheel one step for each cam revolution, said cam being engaged by a follower mounted on a crank lever for reciprocating the punch.

9. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said strip is formed of flexible synthetic film material

10. A machine for forming and applying tabs to at least one edge of a file card at selected positions thereon, said machine comprising: a. an applicator including a punch and die arranged to perforate a strip of tab material and to carry the tab punched from the strip into pressure contact with said edge of the card, and b. positioning means to selectively position the card relative to the applicator, whereby the tab is applied thereto at a desired point, said positioning means being constituted by a carriage supporting the card and movable along a platform supporting said applicator with respect to a linear scale having indicia thereon in a range corresponding to the rangE of tab positions along said edge of the file card.