Patent GB-243444-A (GB)
Title: Taximeters
IPC: G07B13/00
Filed: 1924-08-28
Abstract: 243,444. Kings Patent Agency, Ltd., (Taximetres MÚcanique de PrÚcision). Aug. 28,1924. Taximeters with ticket apparatus and recording devices.-In a printing taximeter adapted to issue a ticket and to make a printed record, the printing mechanism and the registering mechanism are controlled by a crank 24 which, in a complete cycle, makes four revolu,tions for one revolution of the flag 36, the flag acting only as an indicator, and not being capable of being turned excepting by the crank. The first turn of the crank 24 sets the meter into operation, and the last turn in the cycle throws it out of operation, and actuates the printing and recording apparatus, the two intermediate turns being relatively idle. Interlocking devices are provided. The time-and-distance actuated registering or meter section, which is shown to the right of Fig. 7, is of the type described in Specification 243,443. The type wheels, which are set in the printing section, are shown in Fig. 13, and provide for the following items : main fare wheels K, detector segment L, extras wheel M, date wheels N, ticket number O, vehicle number P, paid mileage Q, total mileage R, and elapsed time T. All items are printed on the record strip, which is retained in the machine, and items K to P are, printed on the record strip, which is dlivered from the machine and severed automatically. The detector segment L records whether the vehicle has been run with the flag in an improper position, and a register is provided for counting the mileage of such improper use. An indicator on the face of the machine shows the serial number of the next ticket to be issued. The crank 24 drives a shaft 19 which is coupled to a shaft 31 of the flag and spindle setting mechanism, and is also geared to a shaft 63 in the printing section, so that. this shaft is set in accordance with the position of the crank. A second shaft 62 in the printing section is driven in accordance with the distance travelled by the vehicle by gearing 61, 60, 11 from the main distance drive 12. Main fare printing unit. The type wheels 41, 42, 43 of the main fare unit K are set by gearing connecting them with the fare indicating drums A<1> - - A<3>, Fig. 5. The intermediate gears are mounted on 'sleeves 42<c>, 43<c>, and a central shaft 41<c>. Detector register and printing unit. To operate the detector counter a cam is arranged so that is clutched to the mileage. shaft D<8> by a lever actuated by a cam in the motor section when the crank 24 is improperly set. The detector printing unit L comprise a segment 66, Fig. 20, having a dash mark 67 to record proper running, and a star 68 to record improper running. The segment is thrown over by a lever 80 actuated by a cam which is clutched to the mileage shaft 62 when the crank 24 is not properly set by a lever 88 co-operating with a cam 94 on the shaft 63. The action of the clutch is delayed by a lost-motion device, but the printing segment cannot be reset without opening the meter casing. Extras indicating and printing unit. The extras indicating drum B is set by turning an external knob E, the spindle of which carries a cam 120 adapted to rock a lever 100. One end 102 of the lever engages a lever 15 to set the extras drum, and the other end 103, Fig. 4, engages a lever which has a pawl arranged to set the type wheel M through ratchet and wheel gearing 129, 126, Fig. 5. The lever 100 is locked in certain positions of the flag by the engagement of a toe 106 with a cam on the flag spindle 35, and is also looked until the knob is actuated, by a pawl 108 which is knocked out by a pin 115. Ratchet teeth 119 compels continuous forward movement of the knob E. and retrograde movement of the type wheel M while the meter is in tariff position is prevented by a pawl controlled by the shaft 63. Date printing unit. The date wheels 136, 137 are set by gearing actuated by knobs 144, 155, Fig. 5, detents being provided to lock them. Ticket numbering and indicating mechanism. The type wheel 170 of the serial numbering unit O is set by a pawl 174, Fig. 16, carried by a lever 175 which is actuated by a cam 180 on the shaft 63. The drums which indicate the number of the next ticket to be issued are situated in the meter section and are actuated by pawl and ratchet gearing from the flag spindle. Car number printing device. The car number type 185 is formed on a removable. key 181 which is passed down a slotted tube 187, Figs. 10 and 13, and then turned into printing position, where it is locked by the engagement of a pin 183 with a hole in the frame 16. A spring 183<c> holds the key in position. The key may be changed as desired. Paid-mileage printing unit. The type wheels 190 - - 192 of the unit Q are set by u pawl 194 on a lever 197, Figs. 5 and 17. The lever is adapted to be actuated by a cam 204 on a clutch sleeve 205 slidably mounted on the mileage shaft 62. The sleeve is clutched to the shaft 62 when the flag is ir. a tariff position by a lever 210, which is moved by a cam 214 on the crankdriven shaft 63. Total mileage printing unit. The type wheels 216 - - 219 of the unit R are set by a pawl mounted on a lever 224, Fig. 5, which is actuated by a cam 226 on the mileage shaft 62. Elapsed-time printing unit. The unit T comprises two "hour" printing wheels 230, 231 which move together, and two " minute " printing wheels 233, 234 which also move together. An impression making a record of " time engaged is taken from the outer wheels 230, 233 when the actuating crank 24 is given its first turn, and an impression recording " time disengaged " is taken from the inner wheels 231, 234 on the last turn of the crank when impressions are taken from the other type wheel units K to R. The time wheels are driven by a clock housed in the printing section, and knobs 238, 240, Fig. 5, are provided for adjusting them. Feeding ticket and record strips and ink ribbon. Fig. 9 shows the arrangement of the ticket strip x, the record strip y, and the multicoloured ink-ribbon 267 with relation to the shaft 40, upon which all of the type wheels are mounted. The back of the record strip which faces the ticket strip has a carbon surface so that impressions may be transferred from the type wheels to the ticket strip. The feeding sprockets 274 which engage marginal perforations in the ticket strip, the feeding roller 265 for the record strip, and the spool 270 for the ink-ribbon are all driven by a gear 280, Fig. 10, which is rotated by the master 24 through a gear 20. The sprocket shaft 273 is driven intermittently by mutilated gearing 284, and the feeding roller 265 by a geneva gear 290 which is engaged by a tooth 289. A ratchet clutch in the feed roll drive permits a length of record strip to be drawn out by hand and torn off against the edge of the opening 264. The inkribbon spool spindle 270a is driven from a gear 297 on the geneva gear 290 by intermediate gears 298, 300, 302. Impression mechanism. The impression hammers 325 are carried by springs 324, and all hammers excepting that for the " time in " type wheels 230, 233 are raised and dropped by a slotted cylinder 327 which is driven from the main feed gear 280 by a mutilated gear and a pinion 332. The hammer for making the " time in " impression is separately actuated by gearing including a geneva wheel 339. Tickets, cutting off. The spring-pressed shearing knife 351, Fig. 9, is actuated by a cam on a shaft driven by the shaft of the master crank 24. Bell mechanism. A four-pointed cam on the flag shaft 35 is arranged to actuate a bell. Locking devices. During the first and last revolutions of the master crank 24, retrograde movement is prevented by a pawl 26 engaging a ratchet 25, Figs. 4 and 31, on the crank shaft. During the second and third revolutions, however, the pawl 26 is lifted by a cam 360 carried by the gear 280, Fig. 10, so that backward rotation of the crank is permitted. A key lock 374, Fig. 35, is also provided for the crank spindle. The crank cannot be operated until the key has been turned, and the key must be actuated at the beginning of each cycle. The lock comprises a double-armed lever 369, 370 co-operating with a toe 380 on the rotary part 376 of the lock barrel, and a notch in a disc 367 on the crank shaft. The lock is re-set at the end of each shaft by a pin 382 engaging a star wheel 383.