Patent GB-190827806-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Taximeters.
Inventor: OHMER JOHN FRANCIS
Filed: 1908-12-21
Granted: 1909-12-21
Abstract: 27,806. Ohmer, J. F. Dec. 21. Fares &c., registering &c.- Taxameters having "fares" and " extras " indicating-wheels which are zeroized on raising the Hag to the free position, are provided with means for issuing and printing a passenger's ticket and .making a similar record on a strip, which is retained in the apparatus. The matter printed consists of the driver's identification number, the date, the time when engaged and discharged, aconsecutive number, the fare and extra fares, the number of the vehicle, and the name of the company. The driver's number is carried on a key which must be inserted and turned before the flag can be lowered and which is retained in the taxameter until the ticket has been printed and delivered and the flag raised to the free position again. Interlocking-devices are provided in the instrument which necessitate the performance of the operations in the order described. Flag &c. mechanism ; transfer mechanism. The revolution of the flag-shaft 3, Fig. 15, to the engaged position removes cams 11, from the actuating-levers and allows the indicating-drums to be engaged by their locking-pawls and the units' actuating-lever 13 to engage with a vehicle or clock rotated cam 27. The cam shaft is driven from the vehicle through a lever and cam, and ratchet mechanism, the pawl being disengaged by a pin on the flag-shaft when placed at ' free.' The markings on the centimes drum are repeated four times and on the francs drum twice, transfer thereto being effected by a four-pointed cam 46 and an arm 45, which rocks a shaft 44 bearing a lever and pawl acting on the ratchet teeth of the francs drum. Transfer to the tens drum is effected by a doubly notched disk 56, Fig. 16, with which engages a projection 54 on a lever carrying a pawl. Overthrow-preventing pins 81 are provided for all the transfer mechanisms, and all the transfer pawls are raised by fixed pins 80 when in the "free" position. Additional charges. The extra-fares drums are actuated from a band-operated bell-crank 64 and ratchet mechanism, transfer being effected by a second ratchet and a notched disk 72. The device is locked when the flag is at 'free' by a pin on the flag-shaft engaging an arm on the hand-operated shaft 68. Resetting-mechanism. The various indicators are returned to zero on raising the flag, the tens drums by springs, and the others by heart-cam and lever devices, the levers being held out of gear while the taxameter is working by spring-controlled levers and cams on the flag-shaft. The lever acting on the heart cam of the franc drum is provided with an extension to engage with projections on the retaining-pawls 78 of the extras drum to disengage them on zeroizing. Recording devices. The various printing-wheels, carried in a frame 144, Fig. 1, mounted between plates 142, 143, comprise date-printing wheels 145, 146, 'engaged' and 'disengaged' time-printing wheels 154-156, 165-167, consecutive-numberprinting wheels 176, fare and extras printing wheels 179-181, 186-187. Permanent matter is printed by a type plate 191, Fig. 6, carried on the bottom of the frame 144, and the driver's identification number is printed by type carried by the key. The date and time indicating and printing wheels are set by hand through telescopic shafts and milled heads 153, 164, 172. The fare and extras printing-wheels are driven from the indicating- drums through toothed gearing and telescopic shafts, and the number-printing wheels 176 are operated by a shaft 198, Fig. 7, of the printing- mechanism, which carries a single-toothed gear 219 operating a gear 220, which rotates the counter through a link 222. The printing-platen 192, Fig. 6, is carried by a standard 193 projecting from a cross-piece 194, Figs. 1 and 6, supported in guides in the side plates 142, 143 and by forked plates 197 embracing the printing-shaft 198. The platen is raised to print by cams on the shaft 198, which is rotated by gearing 201, 200, Fig. 3, from a hand operated crank 210, Fig. 1, the gearing being arranged so that a full movement of the crank produces a complete rotation of the shaft 198. The gear 201 carries a notched disk 203, Fig. 3, which engages with and carries round a pawl 211 mounted on a full-stroke device 206 mounted on the stud 202 carrying the wheel 201. The plate 206 carries a second pawl 212, which rotates a notched disk 205, secured to a gear 204 mounted on the stud 202. The wheel 204 engages with a pinion 48 driving the paper feed rolls 128, 129, Fig. 6, the upper roll 128 of which is carried by a spring-depressed lever 135, Fig. 3. Two record sheets, one adapted to form tickets and the other to remain within the instrument, are drawn by the rolls 128, 129 from a pivoted frame 120. One sheet 127 passes over the platen 192 and below a plate 231, and the other passes over a second plate 230, both plates being slotted to receive the type. Carbon paper for printing on the sheet 127 is carried in a box 225 mounted to slide in a plate 226, Fig. 1, so that it can be removed through a door. in the back of the casing. The plate 226 is carried by pins 227 passing through bosses on the cross-piece 194, the pins being normally supported by brackets 241, and arranged to give a lost motion between the plate 226 and the cross-piece 194. The carbon is carried by a reel 228 and is drawn by rolls between the plates 230, 231. The rolls are operated by a spring- depressed lever and a ratchet 236, Fig. 6, which is released by a projection 239, Fig. 1, on the part 193 when the platen rises. The paper between the carbon strip is drawn off by a roll 244. An inking- roller 115, Fig. 6, is carried by two spring-controlled arms 113, Fig. 3, pivoted to two other spring- retracted arms 111. One arm 111 is situated on the outside of the plate 142 and the other on the inside, the plate 142 being slotted at 141, Fig. 3, to allow the shaft carrying the roller to pass through. The roller is caused to move along the slot under the printing-types during the time the printing-cam is inactive by a pin 118 on the shaft 198 striking a projection 117 on the arm 111. Interlocking devices provided between the key, the flag-shaft, and the various parts of the apparatus necessitate the performance of the operations in the following order, (1) the key is inserted and given a quarter turn, (2) the flag is lowered, (3) the printing-mechanism is operated, (4) the flag is raised, and (5) the key is withdrawn. The key 252, Fig. 1, is inserted in a slot in a cylinder 251, Fig. 3, mounted in a housing 250 carried by the plate 142 and is given a quarter turn, which depresses a lever 254, Fig. 26<a>, and thus rocks a shaft 255, Fig. 7. The movement of the shaft 255 removes an arm 256 from a notch 257 in a disk 258 on the flag-shaft 3 and allows the flag to be lowered. The unlocking of the printing-apparatus is effected on the rotation of the disk 258 through the removal of a lever 260 from a notch 262 in a disk 263 on the printing-shaft 198. The flag is locked in the lowered position until the printing- shaft has been operated, by a lever 265, which engages with a shoulder 267 formed on the disk 258. This lever is removed from the disk 258 when a pawl 268 thereon is struck by a pin 269 near the end of the revolution of the printing- shaft. Withdrawal of the key before the flag is raised is prevented by a notch in the key, Fig. 26<a>, which engages the edge of the housing, and by a projection 280 on a pawl 274 pivoted to the housing. The pawl is secured in this locking position by the end 277 of the lever 254 engaging with the end 276 of the pawl, and complete rotation of the flag is necessary to allow the normal position to be taken up. A pawl 281, Fig. 25<b>, is provided to limit the turning movement of the key.