Patent GB-674343-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to printing machines
Inventor: WOCKENFUSS WILLIAM
Filed: 1949-12-19
Abstract: 674,343. Record-card-controlled printing-machines. CONTROL INSTRUMENT CO., Inc. Dec. 19, 1949, No. 32516/49. Class 100 (iv). A printing machine controlled by record cards, tape or the like comprises a part section 40, Fig. 9, having a number of printing heads 44 arranged in one or more rows for single- or multi-line printing, each head 44 being provided with a number of character-forming elements selectively operable in various combinations by the sensing of both a zonal and numerical designation in the record at a single sensing station, the printing is effected before the next succeeding record reaches the sensing station. Operation. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, each printing head 44 comprises thirty-five printing elements in the form of Bowden cables 46, Fig. 7, the inner wire of the cable being selectively operated to effect printing on an envelope &c. as it is fed from a hopper 76, along guides 79 to the printing section 40 across which is also fed an ink ribbon 82. Selection of the elements is controlled by record cards 47, Fig. 1 having perforations sensed by column brushes 51 in the usual way. Letters are represented by a perforation in one of the rows 12, 11, 0 together with a perforation in one of the rows 1-9, numerals being represented by a perforation in latter rows only. If for example a letter A is to be printed the record card has perforations in rows 12 and 1. Row 12 is sensed firstly and a circuit is made through roller 52, common brush 62, contacts 63 which are opened if no card is present, distributer 49, to relay 12 of a group of decoding and storage relays 48, which is energised and remains so by means of contacts 12a until commutator 59 disengages from its wiper 60 at the completion of one complete sensing cycle. This relay 12 also closes contact 12c preparing operative circuits for a group of relays 53 (A-I), so that when the second perforation of the "A" code, viz., perforation in row 1, is sensed decoding relay 1 operates, closes its own holding contacts 1a and contacts 1b which prepare an operative circuit for relay A which is operated at the end of the decoding or analysis of all columns by a commutator 66 engaging wiper 67. The operation of numeral relay 1 in group 56 is prevented by contacts 12b being opened by relay 12 in group 48 when the first perforation of the " A " code is sensed. The operation of the A relay closes a number of contacts 57, Fig. 2, energising the selected solenoids 58 effecting operation of wires 46 which correspond to the elements required to form the letter A. Similar arrangements apply to other letters, perforations in rows 11 and 0 controlling group of relays 54 (letters J-R) and group of relays 55 (letters S-Z) respectively. When a numeral is to be printed, relays of rows 12, 11, 0 are not operated so that letter relays remain isolated and relays in group 56 have a prepared operating circuit so that the single perforation representing the number operates the required relay within the group 56. The letter O is also used to print the number 0 the former requiring two perforations (rows 11 and 7) and the latter one perforation (row 0), which when sensed operates the letter O relay via, contacts Oa, contacts 1c, 2c &c., which remain closed and wire 68 to the relay O in group 54. Construction. The printing heads 44, Fig. 10, are mounted between spaces 85 in a unit 84, fitted by its pin 86 into notches 87 on an end plate 88, Fig. 9, so that the units form banks 41, 42, 43 of type representing, in example shown, three lines of type. Brackets 89, 90, fixed to the plate 88, pivotally carry a lock bar 91 having a flange 92 adapted to engage blocks 93, which separately hold the units 84 in position, and which have affixed thereto mounting plates 94 extending upwardly through comb plates 98, Fig. 7 fastened to end members 95 supporting the print sections 40 by straps 100. The mounting plates 94 are attached, through resilient straps 104 to panels 102 arranged in diverging fan-like planes, each panel carrying one hundred and five solenoids 58 i.e., three banks of 35 from which the Bowden wires are led below clamps 108 to the printing elements of each printing head. One side of the panel carries twenty-two on each side sector and eighteen on its top sector while the other side carries thirteen on the side sectors and seventeen on the top sector.