Patent GB-868489-A (GB)
Abstract: 868,489. Ticket-printing and issuing machines. BELL PUNCH CO. Ltd. Jan. 10, 1958 [Jan. 16, 1957], No. 34572/56. Class 106 (3). A ticket printing and issuing machine, particularly for use with a totalizator and with forms of betting employing a number of combinations, comprises means for effecting printing of a part of a ticket during a first machine cycle, and for printing again on another part of the ticket during a second machine cycle, a settable printing device which is set by key-operated means prior to each printing operation. As described, the invention is applied to machines substantially as disclosed in Specifications 325,873, 330,264 and 332,942. The printing-head spindle 21 is driven by a motor 10 through gears 14-17, a chain 19 passing over sprockets 18, 20, and a clutch device comprising a gear 20a rotatable with the sprocket 20, and a catch pawl device 73, 74 under the control of a solenoid 50, which connects the gear 20a to the spindle 21. The spindle 21  drives, through a 2: 1 reduction gearing 24, 25, a lay-shaft 26, and a crank-p in 27 on the gear 25 is adapted to drive a Geneva wheel 28 secured to a shaft 29 geared to a further shaft having knurled ticket-feeding rollers 34, 35 (not shown) thereon; these rollers have notched peripheries. The ticket strip is fed by the rollers through a guide 37 to the printing head, and a guillotine, actuated from a trip on the layshaft 26 is arranged about mid-way of the guide. The layshaft 26 also carries a control-cam 41, Fig. 1, with which co-operates a roller 42 on a two-armed lever 43 pivoted on a rod 48 which rocks with the lever, the other end of the rod 48 having mounted thereon a roller 129 (not shown) which presses the ticket strip at the appropriate times against the printing-head 130. A cam 140 on the shaft 26 operates an arm 141 to actuate a link 145 whereby a counter 147 is operated. This counter is only operated during the latter part of the rotation of the shaft 26, and hence after the second printing on a ticket. The counter 147 cannot be operated when a test key is depressed to cause a " test " ticket to be issued since a test key selector unit 150 is then lifted to prevent the longitudinal movement of the link 145. The " test " ticket is printed in two separate phases as is an ordinary ticket by depressing the test key twice in succession. The machine is operated in known manner by manually depressible keys 75 against the action of springs 77. When a key 75 is depressed, a cam 100 thereon closes contacts 103 thereby sending an impulse to the totalizator, and if the bet is accepted a return impulse energizes the solenoid 50 which releases a clutch trip-plate 55 to rotate about its pivot 56 whereby the switch of the motor 10 is closed and the drive to the shaft 21 of the printing-head 130 is established. At the beginning of the first machine cycle; the ticket is severed from the strip by the guillotine, and the upper part of the ticket is printed in the first cycle. At this time, the layshaft 26 has only completed a halfrevolution due to the 2: 1 reduction gearing 24, 25. When the same or another key 75 is depressed, the second machine cycle is started and further printing takes place on the ticket. Control of the printing is effected by the cam 41 which is provided with high and low portions 45, 46, 47 whereby the lever 43 and pivot-rod 48 are rocked; such rocking determines when the ticket is to be pressed by the roller 130 (not shown) on to the type faces. The complete printed ticket is fed upwardly in the machine by a delivery roller and ejected during the last 20 degrees of the rotation of the cam 41 during the second machine cycle. The machine includes a known inking device 155, and a warning buzzer 160 and a light 161 which warn the operator, when one key has been depressed, that a further key depression is necessary to complete the ticket. The machine is locked when a solenoid 170, Fig. 5, is energized so that complete depression of any key 75 is prevented. A cam 172 on the solenoid plunger operates through a system of linkages and a latching unit to limit the rocking movement of a key tube 185, Figs. 2 and 5. This tube has a longitudinal slot 186 therein which is engaged by the abutment 187 of each key 75 so that the tube is rocked. Thus, when one key 75 has been fully depressed, another key cannot be fully depressed; or when the solenoid 170 is energized, no key can be fully depressed. A row of balls 84 is arranged in known manner also to prevent the depression of two keys at the same time. When a solenoid 210, Fig. 5, is energized and when the printing- head spindle 21 is rotated, the race numbering head is rotated and the machine prints and issues a ticket relating to the new race. A movable armature 211 of the solenoid 210 causes, through levers 212, 214, 215, a starwheel associated with the race numbering head to be engaged by a toe on the lever 215. A contact-plate mounted on the layshaft 26, which rotates through 180 degrees during the first machine cycle and stops, has a contact thereon which co-operates with two contact-arms arranged, respectively, to prepare the electrical circuit for transmission and subsequent storage of intelligence relating to the first and second printing operations.