Patent GB-552166-A (GB)
Abstract: 552,166. Typewriters &c. BURROUGHS ADDING MACHINE CO. Sept. 23, 1941, No. 12322. Convention date, Nov. 26, 1940. [Class 100 (iv)] A calculating-machine, particularly of the portable class, is provided with signature-printing apparatus comprising a printing-cylinder movable towards and from and parallel to a platen by means of the driving- mechanism of the machine. The "Burroughs" machine on Figs. 3 and 11 comprises type-bars 22 for printing amounts on a receipt, cheque, or the like, which is placed in front of a rotary platen 20. The machine is now provided with signature-printing apparatus comprising a flat platen 30 for backing the signature-receiving part or stub of the receipt, and a signature-printing cylinder 110 revolubly mounted on a truck 115. The truck and cylinder are arranged in a housing 230 provided with a lock 235. The cylinder 110 bears one or more signature-types and is detachably secured to a cylinder 111, Fig. 7, which is revoluble on a vertical pin on the truck. The truck is mounted by means of rollers 119, 121 on rail 120 trunnioned in arms 122, 123 on a rock-shaft 124. The arms are urged rearwards by springs 126 but are normally restrained by a latch 129 which cooperates with an arm 127 on the rock-shaft. The latch carries a pawl 169 which is spring-urged into engagement with a pin 170 on an arm 171 which can rock on a pivot 172 and is connected by links 173, 175 to a rock-plate 176 on the main shaft. The truck is traversed towards the right by means of a tape 195 which passes over pulleys 196, 197 and is connected to an arm 200 mounted on a pivot 201, and provided with a coupling-pawl 207 for cooperation with a pin 210 on the arm 171. On depression of a key 160, a slide 145 is depressed to start the motor and initiate a cyle of operations, and a lever 165 is rocked to permit engagement of the pawls 168, 207 with the pins 168, 210. Thereupon, the latch 129 is released, the springs 126 rock the arms 122, 132 forward, the printing-cylinder 110 presses the receipt against the platen 30, and, during the first half of the cycle, the arm 200 causes the tape to pull the truck 115 towards the right, and the printing-cylinder rolls to print on the receipt through an ink ribbon 40. To prevent blank parts of the signature type, such as occur at the beginning and end, from pressing the ribbon against the receipt and thereby smudging the impression, the cylinder 111 is provided with a cam 220 which rolls on the receipt and has high parts for rocking the printing-cylinder backwards when the blank parts are presented. The truck 115 is provided with a roller which abuts on a ledge 222, to provide a fulcrum, when the high parts of the cam are effective. The cam is provided with a pin 227 which co-operates with a notch in a latch 225, mounted on the truck, to lock the printing- cylinder in the correct starting-position. When the printing-cylinder rocks forward the latch is released by a stationary pin 229, and is subsequently returned by a spring 226 into position for re-engaging the pin 227 at the end of a revolution of the printing-cylinder. To prevent the printing-cylinder from moving suddenly against the platen, the arm 171 is provided with a pawl 182 which engages a stud 180 on the arm 127. Towards the end of the first half of the cycle, a pin 184 releases the pawl 169, and a shoulder 211 on the pawl 182 engages the stud 180. During the second half of the cycle, the truck 115 and consequently the arm 200 are returned by a spring 190 in connection with the truck, the pawl 182 returns the arms 122, 123, and the printing-cylinder is thereby separated from the platen to prevent repeat-impression. During return of the pawl, a cam-face 212 thereon co-operates with a stud 213, and the shoulder 211 is released from the stud 180 slightly after the latch 129 has re-engaged. The stud 213 is carried by a spring- urged bell-crank 214 having slight play, limited by a pin 130. When the ordinary motor-bar 140 is depressed, the machine makes a cycle but the signature printing apparatus is not operated, since the lever 165 is not depressed and consequently the latch 129 is not released from the arm 127. When the housing is unlocked, and swung forwards upon pivots 231, a stud 240 on the housing permits a spring 244 to rock a bell-crank 241 for releasing the latch. The cylinders 110, 111 can then be readily removed and replaced. When the machine is used for printing on cheques, the higher order type-bars may be arranged to print safeguard characters at the left of the amount. Specifications 265,122, [Class 100 (iv)], 380,777, and 483,086, [both in Group XIX] are referred to. Ink ribbon mechanism.-The ink ribbon 40, Fig. 11, is wound on spools 38, 39 and passes over guides 41, 42, 45, 47 so arranged that two plies run in front of the platen 20, and one ply runs in front of the platen 30. The arrangement enables a duplicate of the amount-part of the receipt to be typed on a strip 24, Fig. 3. Ratchet-wheels 62, 59, coupled to the spools, co-operate alternately with pawls 61, 58 on a link 57 in connection with a bell-crank 56 operated by a lever 55. Ribbon-feed occurs during the second half of the cycle, that is when the printing-cylinder 110 is out of contact with' the ribbon. Automatic feed-reversal mechanism comprises a slide 70 which is coupled by springs 73, 74 to the link 57 and is held in forward or rearward position by a detent 75. Another slide 71, arranged below the slide 70 and coupled thereto by springs 78, 79, is formed with lugs 80, 81 for co-operation with fingers on bellcranks 85, 90 which are connected to the ratchetwheels 62, 59 and abut on the inside of the ribboncoils on the spools. When the ribbon has been wound off the spool 38, the finger of the bell-crank 85 engages the lug 81, the slide 71,is moved forwards, a lug 88 thereon obstructs the detent 75 and the spring 78 is tensioned. When the lug releases the detent, the spring 78 snaps forward the slide 70, the link 57 is swung forwards to engage the pawl 61 with the ratchet-wheel 62, and the feed is reversed. Similarly, when the ribbon has been wound off the spool 39 the finger of the bell-crank 90 engages the lug 80, the slide 70 is moved rearwards and the feed is again reversed. Detents 95, 98 for the ratchetwheels are disengaged by lugs on the slide 70.