Patent GB-333641-A (GB)
Title: Improved selective-printing apparatus, particularly for printing stock quotations
IPC: H04L12/18
Filed: 1929-05-21
Abstract: 333,641. Mackenzie, T. W. May 21, 1929. No Patent granted (Sealing fee not paid). Type-wheel machines; driving- mechanism; hammer - impression arrangements; keyboards.-Printing. mechanism, particularly for machines for printing and displaying stock quotations, comprises a type-wheel or carrier and an impression platen connected to two differential-gear elements which are normally rota.ting and stationary and are so arranged that when the first element is arrested for type-selection, the other element is started and operates the impression platen. The type-wheel may be provided with more than one row of types and be associated with more than one impression platen, means being provided for suspending paper-feed and operating the impression platens successively to print a quotation. Figs. 1, 2, and 11 show part of one of six sections of a machine for printing stock quotations, each section containing twenty-four type-wheels 12 printing quotations for individual stocks on separate webs 186, and the machine being controlled by a near or distant keyboard 99, Fig. 9, containing section-selecting keys C, character-selecting keys B, and typewheel selecting keys A. The keys are carried by plungers adapted to close contacts on the base of the keyboard. The type-wheels of each section are carried by a shaft 60, Figs. 1 and 2, connected to a shaft 58 which is coupled to the shaft 41 of a motor 40 by differential reductiongearing. The gearing comprises a planet-pinion 48 mounted on an eccentric part 42 of the shaft 41 and engaging an annular gear 46 in a revoluble housing 45, pins on the pinion engaging slots in a floating ring provided with other slots 53 engaging pins 52 on a spider 49 secured to the shaft 58. Drums 75, 76 secured to the housing 45 and shaft 58 engage brake-bands 77, 78 which are expanded alternately by means of rock-shafts 79, 80 secured to a yoke 82 connected to the core 83 of a solenoid 84. A ratchet-wheel 65 on the shaft 58 co-operates with a hook 68 formed on a spring-urged bell-crank 67 abutting on the yoke 82. A loose disc 172 on the shaft 58 is formed with opposite cams 173 for engaging a pin 179 on the bell-crank, and is provided with a pin 171 abutting on a spring mounted in an aperture 170 in a disc 165 secured to the drum 75. The keys B, Fig. 9, close contacts in circuit with contacts 90, Fig. 2, on an insulating-disc 88 clamped in a ring 86, an arm 94 on the shaft 58 being provided with contacts 95, 96 for engaging the contacts 90, and a contact-ring 92 in circuit with the solenoid 84. Each type-wheel is provided with circumferential rows 61, 62, 63, Fig. 1, of large types, the rows 61, 62 printing the numerals 10 to 19 and 0 to 9 in the hundreds and tens, and the units columns respectively, and the row 63 printing the numerals 1 to 7 to represent eighths. The rows 62, 63 are staggered and contain also types for printing a star or error-mark P.M., and other marks. Each type-wheel is associated with two platens 139, 140, Figs. 1 and 11, for printing from the rows 61 and the rows 62, 63 of types respectively. The platens are mounted on a shaft 138 and are provided with stems 142 having heads for engaging cams 150 formed on collars 145, 146 splined on a shaft 135 geared to the housing 45. Springs 151, 152 normally maintain the heads in engagement with flanges on the collars. AT-lever 155 arranged between the collars is connected to the cores of solenoids 157, 158, each pair of solenoids being in circuit with contacts associated with a pair of keys A. Depression of either key of a pair energizes the associated solenoid 157 or 158 and causes the T-lever to bring one of the cams 150 into position for operating the corresponding platen 139 or 140. To print a quotation showing, for instance, that stock No. 24 in section six is at 190.7, the operator depresses key 19 in set B, the left-hand key 24 in set A, and the key 6 in set C. The type-wheels of section six revolve until the types 19 are over the platens 139, whereupon the arm 94 closes the circuit of the solenoid 84, the hook 68 arrests the ratchet-wheel 65, the brake-bands arrest and release the drums 76, 75, the shaft 135 starts, and the platen 139 of type-wheel number twenty-four is operated to print 19 on the web. When the drum 75 has made a half-revolution, one of the cams 173 rocks the bell-crank 67, thereby arresting the shaft 135 and re-starting the shaft 58. Simi - larly, 0 and 0.7 are printed successively by depressing the appropriate keys in sets B and C. web-feed being suspended in the manner described below until the quotation has been completed. To amplify the wiring of the machine, the leads in connection with the keys in set C are arranged to serve one section each, and the pairs of leads in connection with the keys in set A are arranged to serve six or more pairs of solenoids 157, 158. Type-wheels.-To balance the type-wheels 12, Fig. 1, the single and double types in rows 61 are disposed alternately. Key interlocks.-Longitudinally movable grids 118, 119, 120, Fig. 9, associated with the abovedescribed sets A, B, C of plunger-keys, are provided with cross-pins 122 co-operating with coned pins on the plungers to lock the keys when depressed Release is effected by depressing other keys, and in the case of sets A, B also by means of solenoids 210, 211 having cores connected to the grids 118, 119. The solenoids are in circuits which are opened or closed by cams on the housing 45, the circuits being employed alternatively in the manner described below. Web-feeding arrangements; line-spacing mechanism.-Each of the above-mentioned webs 186, Figs. 1 and 11, passes from a roll 187, between feed and pressure rollers 185, 188, over the platens 139, 140, and downwards to display a. number of printed quotations. The web is wound into a roll 203 by means of rollers 201, 202 driven by a belt 207. The feed-roller 185 is revoluble on the shaft 138 and is provided with a mutilated pinion 190 co-operating with a driving-member 193 splined on the shaft 135 and abutting on the collar 146. The feed-roller is normally locked by engagement of one of four recesses 192 in the pinion 190 with a flange 195 on the member 193. When the solenoid 158 is energized to effect printing from the rows 62 or 63 of types, the collar 146 and the member 193 are moved axially and a toothed segment 197 on the member co-operates with one of the segments of the pinion 190 to turn the feed-roller one quarter of a revolution, the web being thereby line-spaced to bring the last-printed item into view. When a printed quotation does not include eighths, line-spacing occurs immediately after operation of the platen 140, but if eighths are included the platen is operated twice and it is necessary to defer line-spacing until after the second operation. For this purpose the abovementioned solenoids 210, 211 for releasing the keys A, B are arranged in alternative circuits selected by a pedal-operated switch. Before the first operation of the platen 140 the pedal is depressed, and the circuit of the solenoids is closed by a cam on the housing 45 before the segment 197 is operative, line-spacing being thereby prevented. Before the second operation of the platen 140 the pedal is restored, and the circuit of the solenoids is closed by another cam on the housing 45 after the segment effects linespacing.