Patent GB-282581-A (GB)
Abstract: 282,581. Webb, C. F., and Black, H. D. April 12, 1927. Type-wheel machines for printing tickets; driving-mechanism; roller-impression arrangements; web feeding and cutting arrangements; line-spacing mechanism; roller-inking arrangements.-In a motor-driven machine for printing railway, admission, or other tickets of the kind described in Specification 277,147, [Class 100 (ii), Printing processes, &c.], and comprising a single type-cylinder co-operating revolubly with an impression-roller, printing-surfaces for different tickets are arranged around the type-cylinder, and manually-controlled means is provided for effecting impression by a selected printing-surface; the type-cylinder may be provided with dating and numbering printing-surfaces; the tickets may be printed on a strip, a ticket length being fed forward, severed, and issued at each operation: the manually-controlled means may be arranged to effect the printing and issue of two or more identical tickets at each operation. In the machine shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 10, a typecylinder a secured to a shaft b carries printing- surfaces a<1> - - a<6> for denominations or fares, hand-set dating-wheels d, and numbering-wheels c set automatically by means of stationary cams c<2>, c<3> adapted to reciprocate a, roller c<1>. Keylevers j<1> - - j<6> mounted on a shaft j<0> co-operate with a universal bar on a catch-lever k normally engaging a tooth k' on a rocking quadrant k<2>. A rocking arm k<4> abutting on a pin l<6> on the quadrant is connected by a link k<5> to a rocking switch-arm k<6> arranged over contacts k<7 >in circuit with a driving-motor. The key-levers have notches j<8> for engaging a locking-bar j<9> connected to the switch arm. A loose sprocket-wheel k<8> on the shaft b is connected to the motor and is provided with a toothed wheel co-operating with a coupling-pawl l<1> on an arm l<2> which is loose on the shaft b and is resiliently coupled to the typecylinder by means of springs l<3>. The arm l<2> is forked and normally engages a tooth l<5> on the arm k<4>, the tooth engaging also the pawl l<1> and holding it out of engagement with the wheel l. On depressing any key-lever the quadrant is released by the catch lever and is swung forward by a spring k<9> until a tooth m engages the catchlever. Simultaneously the arm k<4> is drawn forward by a spring l<7>, the key-lever is looked by the bar j<9>, the switch-arm closes the circuit of the motor, the arm l<2> is released, the pawl is permitted to engage the wheel l, and the typecylinder makes one revolution. Towards the end of the movement a tooth n on the shaft b engages a tooth n<1> on the quadrant and the quadrant and arm k<4> are restored to normal position, the switcharm being thereby opened, and the bar j<9> being released and permitting the key-lever to rise and the catch-lever to re-engage the quadrant. At the end of a revolution the tooth l<5> arrests the arm l<2> and releases the pawl l', the type-cylinder being thereby arrested. The bottom tine l<0> of the arm l<2> yields on passing over the tooth l<5>. An impression-roller f for moving the ticket strip into contact with the numbering and dating wheels, and the printing-surface selected by the operative key-lever, is carried by rocking arms p<4> mounted on a, shaft p<5> and connected to arms supporting a roller p<3> co-operating with cams g, h, f<1> - - f<6>, secured to a drum i on the shaft b. The cams g, h extend across the drum i, and the cams f<1> - - f<6> are arranged in different vertical planes. The roller p' is normally in register with the cam f<1> and is moved axially into register with the cams f<2> - - f<6> by means of a slide p moved differentially by the key-levers j<2> - - j<6>. For this purpose, the slide p is connected by means of a lever o<5>, link o<4>, and arm o<3>, to an inclined universal bar o<1> arranged under the key-levers. An inking-roller r, Fig. 1, is carried by rocking arms q<1> provided with a roller q which engages a fork p<6> on the slide p and is moved axially thereby into the path of the operative cam f <1> - - f<6>. The inking-roller normally rests on a skew roller r<1> which receives ink from a duct r<2> and is driven by gearing. The ticket strip e, formed with feed-holes at intervals equal to the length of a ticket, passes through a guide e<1> and is fed by means of a finger w<2> co-operating with the feed-holes, the finger being carried by a bellcrank w' rocked by means of a bell-cranlw and a cam v on the shaft b. A pivoted knife v<1> for severing the ticket is connected by a link v<5> to a lever v<3> operated by the cam v. The severed ticket is received by a guide v<6> having an adjustable spring blade v<7> for holding the ticket. The ticket is issued through a slot x in the casing by means of a lever w<x> having a spring gripping- finger w<3> and connected by a slotted link w<5> to the lever w<1>. The slot is furnished with a plate x<2> and spring finger x<1> for holding the protruded ticket. On depressing any key-lever the typecylinder is, as described above, caused to turn through one revolution, and the following operations occur. The cam g and one of the cams f<1> - - f<6> move the inking-roller into contact with the numbering-wheels c and the selected one of the printing-surfaces a<1> - - a<6>. The finger w<2> is lowered from one feed-hole to the next, the feed-lever w<x> is lowered, and the knife v<1> severs the ticket. The cam g and the operative cam f<1> - - f<6> cause the impression-roller to press the ticket successively into contact with the numbering-wheels and the selected printing-surface, the ticket being fed forward during impression and being received by the gripping-finger w<3> on the feed-lever w<x>. The cam h causes the inking- roller to move into contact with the dating-wheels d and then causes the impression-roller to press the ticket into contact with the dating-wheels. Finally, the feed-lever w<x> protrudes the printed ticket through the slit x and the finger w<2> feeds the strip a distance equal to the length of a ticket. For printing and delivering two or three identical tickets, each of the key-levers j<1> - - j<6> is provided with two auxiliary key-levers u, u<1> having arms u<2>, u<3> for engaging the universal bar of the catch-lever k. On depressing any of the auxiliary key-levers u the associated main key-lever is depressed and the catch-lever is raised abnormally into position for engaging a notch m<1> on the quadrant after abnormal movement thereof. The type-cylinder is thereby permitted to make two revolutions and two tickets are printed and issued. At the end of one revolution of the type-drum the quadrant is moved towards the normal position by engagement of a tooth n<2> thereon with the tooth n, and at the end of the second revolution the quadrant is returned to normal position by engagement of the tooth n with the tooth n', the type-cylinder being thereupon arrested in the above-described manner. On depressing any of the key-levers u<1>, three tickets are printed and delivered, the quadrant being arrested by cooperation of the catch-lever with a tooth m<2>, and being returned by successive engagement of the tooth n with a tooth n' and the teeth n<2>, n<1>. Counters y for indicating the number of tickets printed by means of each of the key-levers j<1> -- j<6> have slotted actuating-arms y<1> engaging arms y<6> which are connected by links y' to the key-levers and are mounted on a rocking yoke y<4> connected by a link y<3> to the cam-actuated lever y<2>. The movements of the arms y<1> is normally insufficient to actuate the counters but when any key-lever is depressed the associated arm y<6> is lifted and is effective to operate the counter. The total number of tickets issued is indicated by a counter z having an actuating-arm z<1> connected to the rocking yoke y'. Key interlocks.-Depression of more than one key at a time is prevented by pivoted or sliding plates t, Fig. 1, arranged between the key-levers j<1> - j<6>, Fig. 2, and having a limited movement for permitting the passage of only one key-lever.