Patent GB-254001-A (GB)
Abstract: 254,001. Aspinall, A. C., and Cowey, L. E. March 25, 1925. Tickets, issuing; ticket punches.-In a machine for issuing tickets from a strip, the fare paid, the stage or time, and the class of ticket, are marked by punch holes in appropriate spaces 14, 15, 16, Fig. 9. Separate punches are provided for the different values and classes. Locking means are arranged to prevent the operation of any punch until a sliding carriage in the machine has been set, or if there is no ticket beneath the punches, and to prevent the operation of two value or class punches at a time, or a second operation of any one punch on the same ticket. Grand total and individual counters are provided. The class and value punches are actuated by keys 18, 19 in the top plate of the machine, and the stage punch 39 by an external lever 17. The folded ticket strip, the printed sections of which are separated by perforations 105, is packed in a magazine 2, and the free end is led up a slot 4, over a die-plate 9, and under a movable punch-locking plate 67, a ticket-feeler 94, and sprags 106, 109 to an outlet 12. A clippings box 10 arranged below the die-plate 9 is divided into sections so that the clippings from each punch may be counted. The locking plate 67 is perforated to allow the punches to pass through, but before any punch can be operated, the plate, which is mounted on a sliding carriage 68, must be moved to the right by pressing a knob 74, Fig. 1. The feeling lever 94 is mounted on the plate 67, and if there is no ticket strip on the die-plate 9, the plate 67 and carriage 68 are locked in inoperative position by notches 97 engaging a stop 98. The carriage is locked in its set position until the punches have been operated by pawls 77, 78, Fig. 3. These pawls, which engage teeth on a fixed bar 69, are freed in turn by connections with slides 126, 127 operated by the punch keys. When the three selected punches have been actuated, the carriage is returned to initial position by pressing on a knob 86. During this movement the punched ticket is fed through the slot 12 a short distance by the sprag 109 mounted on the plate 67, and a pivoted gripping plate 100 having a toothed edge is allowed to fall on the ticket. The operator then draws out the ticket until the teeth on the plate 100 engage the perforations 105, when the ticket is torn off. The sprag 106 prevents backward movement of the ticket when the carriage is set. Stage punch. The stage punch 39 is slidably mounted in a bracket 40 carried by a screwthreaded shaft 41 by which the punch may be traversed across the machine above the stage markings 15 on the ticket. The shaft is rotated by an external knob 42 adapted to be locked by a spring-pressed ball 56, and an indicating pointer 43 is arranged behind a window 44. The head 48 of the punch 39 is engaged by a gapped arm 50 on a shaft 52 which is adapted to be rocked by the lever 17. The lever 17 is locked against actuation by a cam geared to the shaft 41 when the punch 39 is not properly set, and by a lever when the carriage @ is not set. Ticket value and class punches. The value and class punches 22 actuated by the keys 18, 19 are fitted with tubular ends 23, serrated at 24, and having spring-pressed centre pins 26. Each punch has a conical member 31 adapted to enter a corresponding hole or holes in a slidable plate or plates 33, 37, and the holes are so positioned that when a value and a class key have been actuated, it is impossible to actuate any other key. In order to lock a key which has been depressed against a second actuation before the carriage has been reset, a bar 30 having a hook 29 engaged by a spring 28 is provided for each key. Teeth 117 on the depressed bars are engaged and locked by member 136, 137 on the carriage 68 until the carriage has been returned to its initial position. Registering number and value of tickets. The bent end 121 of each key-actuated bar 30 has a finger 124 adapted to engage a ratchet 147 of a counter, a spring detent 150 engaging a pinion 149 being fitted to prevent over-running. These counters register the total number of tickets of each class and each value issued, and the grand total of tickets issued is registered by a counter actuated by the sliding carriage 68 through a bell-crank lever 143 and a rod 146. Casing locking means. The counters are covered by a dished plate 151 which is secured by a key lock 157. A sheet of glass 173 which protects the sight openings is held in place by a snap-on cover 174. When the plate 151 is removed, an arm 158 drops under the action of a spring, and frees the clippings tray 10 for removal. The screws 155 may also be set back so as to free catches 167 on the front cover of the machine, and when this has been removed, a catch 168 on the magazine 2 may be pressed down so that it may be withdrawn. The ticket slot 4 is covered by a plate 5 hinged at 7 and held by a spring clip 8.