Patent GB-836111-A (GB)
Abstract: 836,111. Recording-apparatus. GREGORY, R. L. March 1, 1956 [March 1, 1955], No. 6088/55. Class 106 (4). A machine for recording the occurrence of events and the times thereof comprises switches CB (1 to 6) operable upon the occurrence of the associated event to close a direct current electric circuit containing a relay RL/4(A to F) controlling energization of a solenoid CS (1 to 6), a capacitor C (1 to 6) and a resistor R (1 to 6) constituting a leak around the capacitor C (1 to 6) whereby closing of the switch CB (1 to 6) causes a short capacitor-charging surge or impulse sufficient to energize the relay RL (A to F) to operate or condition for operation means for printing a symbol or a group of symbols representing the event, the impulse also effecting operation of time printing means. The automatic or manual actuation of, say, switch CB1 upon the occurrence of its associated event closes the circuit from alternating current mains 84 through a full-wave rectifier 85, capacitor Cl and relay RLA/4, which closes contacts RLA/1 in its holding circuit, RLA/2 in the circuit of solenoid CS1, RLA/3 in the circuit of presser bar solenoid 34 and RLA/4 in an external indicator circuit. The solenoid CS1 slides a type-bar bearing the symbol a into line with the type faces of the wheels of a four-figure counter 44, which is driven by a synchronous electric motor 45 through a gear train and Geneva motion, incorporating in the gear train a speed change for reducing the counter step-bystep advance from one unit each 0.1 sec. to one unit per sec. A commutator 50 rotates with the Geneva motion and completes the circuit of a relay RLG/5 only while the counter 44 is stationary. The relay RLG/5 closes contacts RLG/5 in its holding circuit and contacts RLG/1 to prepare or complete the circuit of the presser bar solenoid 34, which when energized raises the presser bar 24 to press the paper strip 25 (Fig. 8) and ink ribbon 36 against the event and time type. When the presser bar 24 is near the top of its travel, micro-switches 75, 76 are momentarily opened, thus opening the holding circuits of relay RLA/4 and relay RLG/5. Thus an event of any length is recorded once only and if it occurs while the counter is advancing it is stored until the advance is over and then recorded. When the counter reaches the value 9999 it closes a switch 60 which event is recorded through a similar arrangement of relay RLH/3, solenoid MS1, capacitor C7 and resistor R7 causing printing of the symbol *. To increasethe number of events which can be recorded, additional switches CB may be provided and arranged to operate two or more " channels " simultaneously according to a code. Alternatively or in addition, slave machines having additional channels but without time printing means may beplugged into the machine at sockets SK3, SK4. Each slave machine has its own paper and ribbon feeding means which operate in synchronism with the master machine so that an event recorded on any machine advances the paper of all and records the time on the master record strip. An asterisk is printed on master and slave strips at the beginning of a series of recordings by manual operation of ganged switches SW2 (a, b, c), SW2a being in parallel with switch 60, SW2 (b, c). taking the place of switch 60 in the slave machines. Paper-feed mechanism. The return idle stroke of the presser bar 24, which is carried by a bell-crank lever 100 (Fig. 7) secured to a rockshaft 101, provides the feeding movement for both paper 25 and ink ribbon 36. The rockshaft 101 carries an arm 102 hooked to engage behind an upright 103 pivoted to the base at 104, spring-urged against a stop 106 and carrying a pawl 107 engaging a ratchet-wheel 108 on the shaft of paper-feeding sprocket-wheels 26, a spring blade 109 preventing return movement. Ink-ribbon-feed mechanism means are provided for advancing. the ink ribbon and the operation of inserting a new reel of paper involves a movement which effects reversal of the ink-ribbon movement (see Specification 836,113, [Group XVI]). Specification 836,112 also is. referred to.