Patent GB-854504-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in power-actuated typewriting calculating machines with tape-punch attachment
Filed: 1957-02-20
Abstract: 854,504. Calculating-machines. LAPP, E. Feb. 20, 1957, No. 5746/57. Class 106 (1). [Also in Group VIII] In a power-actuated typewriting calculating-machine provided with tapepunching mechanism, the punches are selected by members operated by means connected to the type levers and to total-sensing members. Punching-mechanism.-The selecting members are in the form of five toothed bars 17-21, Figs. 3 and 4, adapted to be carried leftwards in various combinations by the rearward movement of any one of a number of slides 22 corresponding respectively to the various digits and other characters, so as to cause the latter to be punched in code. The bars 17-21 are so toothed that on operation of one of the slides 22, any bars not required to be effective are restored. Each slide 22 is pivoted to an intermediate lever 26 coupled to the corresponding type lever 27 and to the usual snatch pawl 25 which on depression of the corresponding key 23 is depressed by an arm 24 into engagement with the drivingratchetwheel shaft N. Each slide 22 is also pivoted to a link 28 connected to total-sensing mechanism such as is described in Specification 496,720. Thus, during the entry of an item or total-taking, the slides 22 are moved rearwardly in a sequence corresponding to the digits of the item or total. A further bar 16 is actuated each time any one of the slides 22 is moved, and rocks a release lever 31 to cause the engagement of a onerevolution clutch 8-10 driving a shaft 9 and a cam 50. An eccentric 9c on the shaft 9 reciprocates a plunger 11 and its end 11a engages pivoted fingers, e.g. 17b, of those bars which have been moved leftwards to rock the fingers and so actuate the corresponding punches 12a-12e with which the fingers are aligned. A punch 12f is invariably actuated to punch a feed-hole in the tape. The punches are restored by a portion 11b of the plunger 11. Tape-feeding arrangements, Fig. 6.-The tape passes from the punch round a feeding pin wheel 36 into an exit channel 37. The wheel 36 is fast on a shaft 39 carrying also a detent wheel 51 and advanced during each operation of the punch by a pawl 41, carried by a plate 42 rocked by the cam 50, and engaging a ratchet-wheel 40. A manually-operable slide 140, Fig. 3, withdraws the punch clutch release lever 31 and also, through a slide 146 resets the selector bars 17- 21 so that the tape is fed repeatedly and feedholes only are punched. Punching skip perforation for decimal point.- When an amount is entered, the carriage skips a letter space automatically in the decimal point position in known manner and this must be represented on the punched tape. For this purpose, when the paper carriage is in position for the typing of the digit to the left of the decimal point, contacts are closed under carriage control to energize a magnet 53, Fig. 6, which shifts a selector piece 67 into an operative position so that when the digit being entered is punched, the plunger 11a, Fig. 3, will also act through the selector 67 on a punch 68. Thus a hole is punched in the next digit now in the position corresponding to the punch 12c, to represent a carriage skip of one letter space. An offset portion of the plunger end 11a always acts on an additional feed-hole punch 69 in the same row as the punch 68. To provide for the extra tape-feed required, the magnet 53 also rocks a blocking-plate 44 for the feed-pawl 41 to enable the pawl to engage the wheel 40 earlier in its stroke. Punching skip perforations in accordance with decimal tabulation.-When one of the decimal tabulator keys T, Fig. 8, is depressed to cause a carriage tabulation to a position corresponding to the highest order of the amount to be entered, corresponding bars 72, 73 are moved rearwardly. The bar 73 rocks a flap 94, common to all of the bars 73, which shifts a slide 96 rearwardly and this slide cams the selector bar 19 to the left to cause a punching cycle in which the punch 12c will be operated, as described above, to represent a carriage skip. The bar 73 also cams a corresponding one of a set of bars 75 to the left and a finger 88 of the bar rocks a pawl 87a, 87, 84 from engagement with a ratchet-wheel 83 on a shaft 80. The shaft 80 is urged counter-clockwise by a spring 82 and carries also a set of discs 79 with staggered shoulders 81. These rotate until the corresponding shoulder 81 engages a finger 78 of that bar 75 which has been moved to the left. Thus, the shaft 80 is set counter-clockwise by an amount corresponding to the tabulator key depressed. The shoulder 81 shifts the bar 75 rearwardly on engagement with it and the pawl 87a, 87, 84 is released to maintain the shaft 80 against further counter-clockwise movement. When the first punching cycle takes place, the release-lever 31 for the one-revolution clutch is held in its releasing position by a latch 97 freed at this time by a pin 100 offset from the shaft 80. Thus, the punch continues to cycle and to punch " skip " perforations. At each cycle, the cam 50 reciprocates a pawl 89 to restore the shaft 80 by one step and, after a number of steps corresponding to the tabulator key depressed, the shaft 80 is fully restored and the pin 100 withdraws the latch 97 to allow the clutch release lever 31 to return to its normal position. Punching " Letter Shift " and " Figure Shift " symbols.-To distinguish between letters on the one hand and figures and other signs on the other hand, the punching of letters is preceded by operation of a Letter Shift key 103, Fig. 9, and that of figures by a Figure Shift key 102. These keys act on cam-shaped ends 110, 119 of locking-bars 104, 105 interconnected by pins and slots so that the setting of one resets the other. Each has a series of projections to block operation of the keys of the other group. The keys 102, 103 also shift corresponding slides 117, 126 to the rear which act on the selector bars to cause appropriate symbols to be punched. Disabling punching mechanism.-A lever 127, Fig. 13, may be moved by hand, or electromagnetically under carriage control, to rock the tip 16b of the control-bar 16 so that the punch clutch release lever 31 will not be actuated. At the same time, a lever 137 is rocked which acts on parts 138, 139 of the locking-bars 104, 105 to move them to ineffective central positions.