Patent GB-737549-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in selector arrangements for addressing machines
Inventor: FRISK NILS PONTUS WILHELM
IPC: B41L47/58
Filed: 1953-12-28
Abstract: 737,549. Addressing - machines. AKTIEBOLAGET CITONOM. Dec. 28, 1953, No. 35978/53. Class 100 (2). Plate selector arrangements.- In an addressing - machine, address plates are selected for printing by a selector arrangement, governing a control relay controlling the printing mechanism in the machine, and comprising sensing means for signals carried by the plates by which signals cause primary contacts 1a-1e, Fig. 2, to close, thereby energizing relays 2a-2e. Each of these relays is independent of the others and when energized closes a series of secondary contact groups a1, a2 ... an, b1, b2 ... bn, &c. The contacts 4 of each of these groups have sockets 5, 6 whereby connections can be made by means of coupling cords to other contacts so that the contacts can be coupled together in selected combinations. In the form shown in Fig. 3 there are eight groups of contacts a1-a8, b1- b8, &c. Each alternate group 1, 3, 5 and 7 is associated with a relay coil 9 adapted when energized to close a contact 14 in the circuit supplying the machine control relay 18. Each of the other groups 2, 4, 6 and 8 is associated with a relay coil 19 adapted when energized to open a contact 10 in the supply circuit to the relay coil 9. The relay coils 9, 19 together form a relay group adapted to control the closing of the contact 14 governing the relay 18. The coils 9 and 19 have contact sockets 7 and 8 connected to one end and are connected at the other end to one pole R of a source of electricity 13 through leads 12, 11, the contacts 10 being interposed in the circuit to the coils 9. Associated with each group are supply sockets s1-s8 connected by lead 15 to the other pole S of the source. Connections are made by coupling cords from supply socket s1 to selected ones of the contacts 5 in the groups a1, b1, &c., e.g. as shown in Fig. 4. The other sides 6 of the contacts are coupled to the sockets 7 of relay coil 9. By this means whenever a signal or combination of signals is sensed by the contacts 1a-1e corresponding to the contact or contacts (e.g. c1, d1, as in Fig. 4) which are coupled to the relay coil 9, the contact 14 closes and causes energization of the control relay 18. But whenever a signal or combination of signals is sensed which correspond to the coupled-up contacts in the alternate groups 2, 4, 6 and 8 the relay coil 19 will be energized to open contact 10 and prevent relay 9 being operative to close contact 17. In these cases the control relay 18 will not be energized. The contact groups 1, 3, 5 and 7 therefore act in a positive manner and groups 2, 4,. 6 and 8 act in a negative manner. The positive groups select a number of possible classes of address plates for printing while the negative groups exclude certain of these possibilities. With five signal marks a, b, c, d, e, there are thirty-two different combinations and therefore thirty-two possible classes of address plates. The selection of desired ranges of these classes is achieved by suitable coupling combinations of the positive and negative contact groups as described. Examples are given, for a particular arrangement of combinations of signals, of the couplings necessary in the positive and negative contact groups to select various ranges of classes. By using the four relay groups I, II, III, IV, Fig. 3, four separated ranges of classes may be selected. The number of control relays 18 may be increased to govern other apparatus, e.g. apart from one which controls the printing operation, one may control an independent calculating mechanism and another may regulate sorting of the address-plates after they have passed through the machine. To this end the whole arrangement may be repeated, the addressplates being sensed several times along their path of movement, or the part of the circuit in Fig. 3 to the right of the dotted line may be repeated only. In a modification a number of further relay groups similar to those I-IV may be provided having contacts 10 interposed in series in the supply line 11 of the relays 9 of groups I-IV. By this means excitation of the coil 19 of any one of these further relay groups not only renders itself inoperative but also relay groups I-IV and all additional relay groups further away from the supply source 13. By this means, by suitable coupling, all combination couplings which have been made can be successively rendered inoperative. The disconnecting contacts in this modification may alternatively be arranged in series with each other and with the supply lead 17 to the control relay 18.