IBM 3505
| Company type | Computer hardware |
|---|---|
| Industry | Data processing equipment |
| Founded | 1971 |
| Headquarters | Rochester, Minnesota , United States |
| Products | IBM 3505 card reader, IBM 3525 card punch and printer |
The IBM 3505 is a rapid card reader designed for 80-column punched cards, capable of handling cards encoded in EBCDIC or column binary formats at speeds reaching 1200 cards per minute (CPM). The IBM 3525 functions as a versatile unit that can read, punch, and print on punched cards. The 3505 includes a control unit that interfaces with an System/370 byte multiplexer, selector, or block multiplexer channel. An optional feature allows the 3505's control unit to operate a 3525 device, although each device maintains its own address.
Both models are compatible with the System/370 Model 135 and subsequent systems, as well as the System/360 Model 195. Introduced in 1971 by IBM's General Systems Division located in Rochester, Minnesota, these devices exemplify IBM's ongoing commitment to punched card technology within enterprise data processing environments.
3505
The 3505 functions primarily as a card reader and controller for the optional 3525 punch unit. It is equipped with an input hopper that holds up to 3000 cards and two output stackers each capable of holding 1750 cards; when one stacker becomes full, the reader seamlessly switches to the other to ensure continuous operation. An additional third stacker was available as an option. Cards are read through optical scanning, with the B1 model achieving a maximum speed of 1200 CPM and the B2 model operating at up to 800 CPM.
An optional feature enables the reading of optically-marked cards. The "read column eliminate" function permits selective exclusion of data from specified columns—including those that might otherwise cause errors—thereby increasing adaptability for particular business requirements.
3525
The 3525 connects to the host system via a control unit integrated into the 3505.
It includes an input hopper with a capacity of 1,200 cards and two output stackers, each capable of holding up to 1,200 cards. Cards can be routed to either stacker under program control; if a stacker becomes full, punching stops until the operator intervenes. A third "reject stacker" is provided to hold up to 200 improperly punched cards. The punching speed varies by model: P1 at 100 CPM, P2 at 200 CPM, and P3 at 300 CPM.
Additional options include pre-punch card reading and printing on cards after reading or punching. Printing supports up to 25 lines of 64 characters using interchangeable character sets containing 64 characters each.