Patent GB-531922-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to check endorsing machines
IPC: B07C3/04
Filed: 1939-08-01
Abstract: 531,922. Sorting or filing cheques. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. Aug. 1, 1939, No. 22301. Convention date, Aug. 12, 1938. [Class 146 (i)] [Also in Group XVI] A machine for sorting and endorsing cheques comprising manually controlled means for feeding the cheques to key-selected sorting compartments is provided with an additional control for causing the cheques to be fed without being endorsed. The endorsing-means may comprise a roller provided with adjustable type-wheels for printing the date &c. and plates for printing constant matter, means being provided for moving the plates into non-printing position when it is desired to print only part of the endorsement. Ink may be fed to the endorsing- roller by a pump having means for reducing the feed when part of the endorsement is printed. As applied to a machine of the kind described in Specifications 435,139 and 498,429, [Group XIX], a rocking frame 54, Figs. 5 and 8, supports feed-rollers 110, 111, 52, an endorsing-roller 50, and an impression-roller 51. The feed-rollers 110, 111 are secured to shafts 55, 56 which are geared to a driving-shaft 34, Fig. 2, and the shafts of the feed-rollers 52, the shafts 55, 56 making two revolutions during one revolution of the shaft 34. The endorsing-roller is loosely mounted on the shaft 56, and the impression roller is loosely mounted on a rod 125 supported by brackets 126. On depression and release of a motor-bar 20, Fig. 2, an electro-magnet 25 is energized and de-energized, the shaft 34 is driven through one revolution by a pawl 36 and ratchetwheel 27, a cam on the shaft rocks the frame 54 to move the feed-rollers 52 into the key-selected compartment 17 of the drum 10, and a cheque is fed through a shoot 19 and into that compartment. The endorsing-roller 50 is provided with a disc 84 carrying a clutch-pawl 82 for engaging teeth 86 in a disc 81 on the shaft 56, engagement being normally prevented by an arm 87 on a bail 90 which is mounted on a rod 89 on the frame 54 and is connected to a spring 94. An arm 91 pivoted on the rod 89, is formed with a lug 96 which is held by a spring 93 in engagement with an extension 92 of the bail 90, and a cam 97 on the shaft 56. An endorsing-key 80 is provided with a pin 107 for rocking a hooked arm 104 which normally latches the bail 90 by co-operation with a lug 105 thereon. If the motor-bar 20 only is depressed, a cheque is fed but the endorsing-roller is not operated. If, however, the key 80 also is depressed, the latch 104 is released, the cam 97 permits the arm 91 to drop, the bail 90 and arm 87 are rocked by means of the spring 94, the clutch-pawl 82 engages one of the teeth 86. and the endorsing- roller makes one revolution to endorse the cheque. The arm 91 is gradually raised by the cam 97 and moves the arm 87 into position for releasing the clutch-pawl after one revolution of the endorsing-roller. The endorsing-roller is held in normal position by co-operation of a recess in the disc 84 with the V-end of the spring-urged arm 120 mounted on the rod 89. The key 80 can be locked down by co-operation of a tooth 101 thereon with a plate 102. To prevent operation of the endorsing-cylinder unless a cheque is fed, the bail 90 is formed with an. arm 118 co-operating with a stud 117 on a bail 114 provided with lugs 116. The cheque, if properly inserted in the feed-rollers engages the lugs 116, the bail 114 is rocked and, ori depression of the key 80, the endorsing-roller is rotated. If however, the cheque is not fully inserted, the bail 90 remains locked, and depression of the key does not cause the endorsing-roller to rotate, smearing of the impression-roller and consequently of the following cheques being thereby avoided. The endorsing-roller comprises a body consisting of two U-members 130, 134, Fig. 12, which are mounted on bushes on the shaft 56 and are connected by a tongue. Manually set type-wheels 137, 138, Figs. 5 and 12, for printing the date and a number for identifying a block of cheques are mounted on a rod 136 in the member 134 and are provided with star-wheels 140 co-operating with spring-urged aligning- pawls 139. The type-wheels are arranged in a frame 157 for printing a border. Constant matter such as the name and address of the bank is printed by means of plates 140, 141 mounted on supports 142, 143 which are pivoted on rods 144, 145. Studs 149 on the supports are connected to springs 151, 152 and engage cams 148 which are pivoted on the shaft 56 and are connected by a bar 152. Adjustment of the cams sets the printing-plates in printing or non-printing position, thus enabling a full or part endorsement to be printed. The cams are preferably adjusted by means in connection with the inking-mechanism described below. The endorsing-roller 51 is inked by a roller 160 running in contact with a roller 161, the shafts 164, 165 of the rollers being mounted in slots in plates 162 secured to the frame 54, and the shaft 165 being engaged by spring-urged levers 167. A container 170 is provided with a pumpt comprising a piston 184 and spring-ball. valves 189, 190, for supplying ink through a pipe 192 to the roller 161. The piston is operated by a bell-crank 180 having a cam 182 in the path of pins 179 on a ratchet-wheel 173 co-operating with a pawl 175 on a lever 174. When the endorsing-roller is operated, the detent arm 120 displaces a bell-crank 176, and on descent of the frame 54, a lug 177 on the bell-crank engages the end 178 of the lever 174, and the ratchetwheel 173 is operated. The piston is periodically raised by co-operation of one of the pins 179 with the cam 182, and when the pin rides off the cam, the spring 185 in connection with the bell-crank depresses the piston and ink is fed through the pipe 192. Since the lever 174 is operated only when the endorsing-roller is operated, excessive feed is prevented. The feed is regulated by means of a hand-lever 198 provided with stopscrews 196, 197 co-operating with wings 204, 205 on the bell-crank to determine the home position of the piston 184 for full or reduced feed. The hand-lever is held in either of two positions by an over-centre spring 200. The full or reduced feed is employed when the endorsing- cylinder is set for full or part endorsement respectively. The hand-lever 198 may be connected to a slide 225 engaging a pin 154 in connection with the cams 148, 149, the arrangement enabling the ink-feed and endorsing-roller to be adjusted. simultaneously. For indicating that the key 80 has failed to effect operation of the endorsing-rollers 50, a buzzer 215, Fig. 2, is arranged in circuit with contacts 211 closed by 'the key, contacts 213 normally closed by the lever 174, and cam-controlled contacts 217. If the clutch fails to engage, the contacts 213 remain closed, and the buzzer-circuit is completed.