Patent GB-912473-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to control systems for printing machines
IPC: B41L45/00
Filed: 1960-11-24
Abstract: 912,473. Addressing-machines. ADDRESSOGRAPH-MULTIGRAPH CORPORATION. Nov. 24, 1960 [Dec. 7, 1959], No. 40427/60. Class 100 (2). [Also in Group XIX] A system for controlling the operation of a cyclically-operable addressing machine in response to code markings on a master print member comprises photo-sensitive scanning means for generating a plurality of individual actuating signals, each indicative of the presence of a code marking at a given one of a corresponding plurality of code positions on said master print member, a plurality of logical control devices, each operable independently of the others and in response to the said actuating signals and each effective to generate an independent control signal, means for modifying the effective logical function of each of said control devices independently of the others, said modifying means including means for selectively applying said actuating signals to said logical control devices, a plurality of output control devices each independently effective to carry out a control operation in response to an applied control signal, and to which the control signals are passed from the logical control devices. As indicated in Fig. 13, the tape forming the master print member 25 carries code marks 48 which are substantially square black areas in positions corresponding with the lines of print and at the commencement of sections 43 of the tape. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the tape 25 is fed from a supply drum 24, over feed reels 26, 27 and a tensioning roller 28 to a driving sprocket 33 moved in steps and having teeth spaced according to distance between holes 42 defining the information sections of the tape 25 which is similarly fed in steps through the printing position 35 by a second driving sprocket 37. The printing is effected by a heated platen 44 pressing the tape 25 against a stationary paper supporting platen 45. The code marks are detected by an assembly comprising four photocells aligned with the possible positions of the code marks which are illuminated by lamps in an enclosure 54. The sprocket 33 is provided with a circumferentially adjustable shutter 58 having apertures radially in line with the teeth, or approximately so, and allowing light to pass from a light-source to a photo-cell 56 to produce synchronizing or control pulses. The code mark pulses detected may be required to provide an immediate action at the printing position or a delayed action corresponding to a number of addressing machine cycles, each represented by the time taken for a feeding step of a section 43 of the tape 25. The outputs from the four photo-cells 71 . . . 74, Fig. 5, are fed to associated coincidence circuits 81 . . . 84 which provide a pulse only when a pulse from the synchronizing cell 56 coincides with a pulse from a photo-cell 71 . . . 74. A pulse produced by a coincidence circuit 81 . . . 84 is passed to an associated core driver circuit 91 . . . 94, and a fifth driver circuit 95 is also operated when any of the circuits 81 . . . 84 produces a pulse. The outputs of the driver circuits 91 . . . 95 are passed over conductors 101 . . . 105 to input terminals of a plug board 106 with interconnections to five rows 111 . . . 115 of terminals, each row having ten pairs of terminals, of which the first six pairs are connected to a logical core circuit 121, the seventh pair connected to a read-out winding, the output of the core being connected back to the ninth pair of terminals, and from the tenth pair by terminals a pulse can be passed to an adjustable delay register 131 from which a pulse can subsequently be passed to an output control circuit 141 . . ., which may operate a relay, solenoid, counter or other member to perform a function in the addressing machine. The interconnections between the input terminals of connectors 101 . . . 105 and the pairs of terminals of the rows 111 . . . 115 may be such that the circuits 141 . . . 145 are selectively operated for various predetermined combinations of the code marks in the four positions in the master print member, and the connections of the input terminals to the rows of terminals 111 . . . 115 can be varied so that the circuit 141 may be operated to control specified functions. In a core-driver circuit described in detail in connection with Fig. 7 (not shown), and comprising two thyratron valves, the first valve is made conducting by a pulse from the coincidence circuit 81, but the pulse is passed via the second valve to the output conductor, such as 101, under control of a switch member closed for a predetermined portion of the printing cycle. In a similar manner, the adjustable delay circuit, described in detail in conjunction with Fig. 9 (not shown), and comprising seven pairs of core members operable for input and output respectively and in which a predetermined delay is obtained by connecting an output conductor to the output coil of the appropriate core, the " reading-in " and " reading- out " operations for the cores are controlled by switches operated at predetermined instants during the machine cycle. The contacts of these switches are in series with contacts controlled twice during a machine cycle from a relay in the output circuit 141, Fig. 8 (not shown), by a cam controlling the opening of the circuit of a relay in the circuit 141 providing the control for the desired function and contacts closed later in the machine cycle by a separate cam. Various interconnections between the input terminals 101 . . . 105 and the pairs of terminals in the rows 111 . . . 115 of the plugboard 106 for deriving pulses from the separate logical circuits 121 . . 125 in accordance with different combinations of code marks on the master printer member are indicated and described in connection with Figs. 10, 11 (not shown). Specification 703,336 and U.S.A. Specification 2,740,354 are referred to.