Patent GB-406175-A (GB)
Abstract: 406,175. Checking transactions ; typewriters &c. ERRERA, A., 11, Corso Sommeiller, Turin, Italy. June 10, 1933, No. 16675. Convention date, June 11, 1932. [Classes 106 (i) and 106 (iii).] Key actions; voucher-issuing.-In a machine for registering fares and other transactions and provided with means for issuing a ticket printed with the item-value with or without itemcharacterizing symbols, means are provided whereby a complete item is set up by actuation of a single operating member that passes through and acts upon the edges of openings in a series of plates mounted for individual movement in parallel relationship to each other, the plates each corresponding to a digit or symbol and having a number of identical openings to receive the operating members, a combination of plates corresponding to the item being moved to active position by the actuation of the selected operating member. The invention is described as applied to a machine having four vertical banks of amount keys, each key 13, Figs. 2 and 6, being connected to its stem 5 through a horizontal plate 9 provided' with openings 18. The shape of the openings is the same for all the plates of a bank but differs for plates of different banks. The plates 6-9 for the four banks are superposed as shown. A number of vertical keys 83, each corresponding to an item to be set up on the machine, pass downwardly through the openings in the plates and are provided with cam surfaces 23-26, Fig. 7, to co-operate with the right-hand stepped edges of the openings. Upon the depression of an item-key 83, the plates of the amount keys corresponding to the item are cammed to the right to set up the item. Additional plates adapted to control the operations of the machine may be provided to co-operate with special item keys. The action of an itemkey is independent of the vertical set of openings through which it passes. A special itemkey is provided to shift all the plates to allow the removal and replacement of any or all of the other item-keys. The item-key shown in Figs. 7 .. 9 is formed of four rigidly connected parts. Other constructions of key are shown in section in Figs. 11 and 13. The amount keys, as shown in Fig. 19, may be formed separate from their plates 9 and are controlled by a detent plate 61 and an interlock plate 62 operated by a plate 59 apertured to receive the tails 54 of the item-keys. Similarly, the item-keys are controlled by a detent plate 57 and by the interlock plate 59 operated through a plate 67 by the amount keys. Differential mechanism.-A differential rack 36, Fig. 2, is provided for each bank of keys and meshes with pinions on indicator drums 33, type-wheels 34 and totalizer-wheels 35. An actuator 37 is given upward and downward excursions at each operation. During the upward excursion, the differentials are returned to zero by the engagement of the tails 49 of latches 46 with notches 48 in the actuator. During the downward excursion, the differentials are unlatched from the actuator by the abutment of pawls 52 on the latches with zero stop pawls 53 or with the key stems 5, tripped latches engaging recesses 50 in a bar 51. Item-counters.-The number of times each item-key 83 is depressed is indicated by the corresponding one of a series of counters 70 .... 73, Fig. 21, to which the key is connected through a lever 74, link 79 and pawl 80, the pawls being pivotally mounted on a bar 81 rocked during each machine operation.