Patent GB-420403-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in record-card controlled printing-machines
Filed: 1933-10-04
Abstract: 420,403. Typewriters &c. ACCOUNTING & TABULATING MACHINE CORPORATION, 205, East 42nd Street, New York, U.S.A. Oct. 4, 1933, No. 27336. Convention date, Oct. 12, 1932. [Class 100 (iv)] Record-controlled type-wheel machines; platenimpression arrangements.-A machine operating under control of record-cards to print thereon the data represented by the hole positions, the record-card being stationary when the hole positions are read, comprises an impressionplaten and means controlled by a record-card sensing-device for preventing operation of the printing-mechanism if a record-card is not present to receive an imprint. To permit use. of record-cards perforated on different systems, each column of perforations may be associated with an exchangeable plate supporting a typewheel and stop-mechanism therefor. The stopmechanism may include combination - stop arrangements for sectionalizing a column. In the machine shown in Figs. 3 and 4, cards are removed from a magazine 6 by a picker 7, and are fed into a reading chamber 9, on to a reciprocating platen 17, and discharged by means of feed-rollers 8. The reading chamber is provided with pins 14, and is arranged above a reciprocating box 10 provided with pins 11 and a card-stop 12. The box 10 is guided by posts 10<1> and engages rocking arms operated by cams on the driving-shaft 22. The pins 14 are provided with latching-bars 15, releasable by means of a universal bar 45 actuated by a cam 43. The pins 14 co-operate with pins 35 for controlling the position of spring-urged slides 36, Fig. 14, geared to type-wheels 37 which project through slots in a plate 16 arranged above the platen. The slides engage a retracting-bar 30 detachably connected to links 31 pivoted on bell-cranks 32 which are operated by cams 28 on the driving-shaft. The platen is provided with impression-pads 18, an ink ribbon 60 being arranged between the pads and type-wheels. The platen is provided with retractable card-stops 20 mounted on a bail 20<1> which is raised and depressed by a cam on the driving-shaft. The card-stops abut on spring- plungers in the platen, and are adjustable by means of an adjustable bar 49. The platen 17 is guided by posts and is connected to rocking arms 53 which are operated by cams on the driving-shaft and are supported at one end by toggles 53<1> on a shaft 52. An arm 47 on the shaft 52 is yieldingly connected to a link 46 having a slot engaging a pin on a cam 43 on the driving-shaft. The arm is also connected by a link 48 to a rocking arm 48<1> carrying a sensing-pin for engaging the card when the platen is raised. If a card is present, the link 48 is depressed, the arm 47 is blocked thereby, the toggles are prevented from breaking, the platen continues to rise, and impression is effected. If, however, a card is not present, the link 48 is not depressed, the arm 47 is rocked to break the toggles, the platen is prevented from completing its stroke, and fouling of the platen by the ink ribbon is thereby prevented. A key for starting or stopping the driving-motor depresses a plunger 74, Fig. 3, carrying an arm 75 which is connected to an over-centre spring and has hooks for engaging a spring-urged arm 76, and a bellcrank 79 connected to a latch 55 for the arm 76. A switch-member 77 is connected by a spring to the arm 76, and by a link 78 to the arm 75. On depression and release of the key, the switch-member is closed, and the arm 75 is latched, and on the next depression of the key, the latch is released and the switch-member is opened. The arm 47 may be connected by a link 54 to bell-crank arranged to release the latch 55, and thereby break the circuit of the driving-motor. To permit use of cards perforated on different systems, each column of stops 35, the associated slide 36 and type-wheel 37, a stop-retaining plate 40, and a stoprestoring lever 39, may be mounted on a separate plate 30<1> which is detachably mounted in the machine, and can be readily replaced by another plate carrying a different arrangement of stops. The overall width of each plate 30<1> and the members carried thereby is equal to the width of a card-column. In operation, a card is fed into the reading chamber and arrested by the stop 12, and the pins 9 transfer a reading to the pins 14 and 35. On descent of the box 10, the card is fed on to the platen and arrested by the stops 20, and the bar 30 recedes to permit the slides 36 transferring the reading to the type-wheels. The platen is then raised and lowered, the card-stops are lowered, the bar 30 is returned, the card is discharged, and the latching-slides 15 are released by means of the universal bar 15. For interpreting cards whereon each numeral is represented by a single perforation, each slide 36, Fig. 14, cooperates with one of the associated stops 35 to select a numeral-type. For interpreting codecards wherein certain letters are represented by single perforations, and others by two perforations, each slide 36 is provided with a pivoted arm 38 which projects one-half the space between successive stops. For selection of a letter represented by a single perforation, the slide is arrested by engagement of the arm with one of the stops. For selecting a letter represented by two perforations, two stops are raised, one of these being the 12 stop, the arm is displaced by the 12 stop, and the slide is arrested by engagement with the other stop. For interpreting code-cards having two fields and wherein a numeral is represented by one or two perforations, each set of stops 35, Fig. 15, is associated with two slides 36 and two typewheels 37, and the 3 stop and 9 stop are provided with lateral cam lugs normally abutting on pins. When one of the stops 5-9, or 3-11 is raised, it arrests the associated slide, and if the stop 9 or the stop 3 also is raised, the lug thereon rises above the abutting pin, the stops move laterally, and the slide is permitted to make an additional half-space movement. For interpreting code-cards having the normal twelve-position column split into two fields, and wherein a letter is represented by one, two, or three perforations, other series of stopping- positions are provided by arranging the stops 4 and 12, Fig. 24, to displace slides which abut on pivoted members 59 abutting on stops 3 and 9. The stop 3 can assume three positions, and each of the stops 11, 0, 1, 2 can assume four positions according as to whether they are projected alone, or with the stop 12 or 3, or wibh both those stops. The stops 4-9 can assume positions similar to those of the stops 12-3. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 comprises also automatic feed-reversal mechanism for an ink ribbon. The mechanism comprises racks 59, Fig. 22 (Cancelled), operated by a rock-shaft 58 and co-operating with ratchet-wheels 61<1> on the spools 60. Cranks 63, 63<1> for effecting engagement and disengagement of the racks are secured to shafts 60<1> and are controlled by feelers 64, 64<1> which rest on the ribbon on the spools and co-operate with pawls 65, 65<1> connected to fast and loose arms 67, 671 on the shafts 60<1>. The arm 67 has pin-and-slot engagement with an arm 68 which is pivoted on the framework and is connected to an arm 70 on the shaft, the arrangement causing the crank 63 and arm 67 to move in opposite directions. When either of the spools is empty, the associated feeler permits its pawl to engage an arm 66 on the shaft 58, the pawl is lifted, the shafts 60<1> are rocked, and the cranks 63, 63<1> effect engagement and disengagement of the racks associated with the empty and full spools respectively. This subjectmatter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.