Patent GB-938612-A (GB)
Abstract: 938,612. Checking receipts; transfer mechanism. BELL PUNCH CO. Ltd. Feb. 13, 1961 [Nov. 12, 1959], No. 38419/59. Class 106 (1). A machine, more particularly for recording the payment of instalments in respect of credit sales, has a record web on which an impression is made by the hammer mechanism from a type face introduced into the machine and another impression is made by a further hammer mechanism from type faces contained within the machine. The machine described has a carrier 9, Fig. 3, adapted to receive a token t, Fig. 2, carrying a type face bearing an account number, and a carrier 6 for a record card, Fig. 25, both the token and the record card being presented by the customer. The card may be kept in a wallet to which the token may be pivoted as shown in Fig. 2. The machine is set initially in accordance with the old balance outstanding and is then set according to the amount of the instalment whereupon, on operation of the machine, the customer's account number and the amount of the instalment are printed upon two record strips retained in the machine and the amount of the instalment, the new balance and the date are printed on the inserted customer's record card. The amount of the instalment is also added into a totalizer. The machine is arranged in two readily detachable parts A and B, Fig. 1, and may be operated by a handle 13 on the release of a pin 120. Setting mechanism.-A manually settable lever 11, provided for each of several sterling denominations, is connected to a corresponding rack bar 19 constantly geared to item-indicating wheel NW, Fig. 3, and to type-wheels 8. The latter gearing 41 is so arranged as to allow the type wheels to be more closely spaced than the racks 19. Teeth 38 on the racks 19 are engaged by the totalizer mechanism F during part of their forward stroke in an instalmententry operation. The racks 19 are locked in their set positions during printing by camoperated arms 140 which block detent levers 130 and are later restored by a bail 98j. Subtraction unit; transfer mechanism.-In order to print the new balance, the old balance is first set by means of the levers 11. A control lever 12 is then moved to a lower " instalment " position and this causes secondary racks 46 pivoted on the main racks 19 to be raised into engagement with wheels 47 of a subtraction unit. The wheels 47 (see also Fig. 9), are geared to further type wheels arranged on the same shaft as, but to one side of, the type wheels 8. The levers 11, and consequently the racks 19 also, are then moved from their positions corresponding to the old balance to positions corresponding to the instalment amount, so that when units have been borrowed where necessary from the next higher orders by the transfer mechanism to be described, the type wheels of the subtraction unit are set to the difference between the old balance and the instalment, i.e. to the new balance. A borrow is required if, in any given denomination, the instalment digit is greater than the old balance digit. If this is so, a cam CC will be so moved as to present a high surface to the feeler end of a latch AA which will release a plate P of the next higher order for movement to the right, as seen in Fig. 9, under the urge of a camcontrolled arm AM. The plate P carries an arm RK which is depressed at this time by a cam CCC so as to mesh a rack thereof with a wheel GG of the corresponding gear train. Thus, the latter is moved through one step of rotation to subtract one from the corresponding type wheel of the subtraction unit. The gear trains of this unit are zeroized after printing by the action of cam-operated arms XX against zeroizing cams ZC. Hammer mechanism.-A hammer 1 pivoted on a shaft 110c is provided for each of the type wheels 8 and for each character of the type member carried by the token. Cams rock the shaft 110c and arms 110d fast thereon, so that springs 110h raise the hammers, and then release the shaft so that strong springs 110f restore the arms 110d. When the arms 110d engage stops 110g, the hammers continue their downward movement against the action of the light springs 110h to effect printing. Feeding record webs and carbon strips.-Two record strips 3, 4, with a carbon strip 5 between pass from a supply roll RL, over guide rolls, and over a feed roll 213 driven by a pawl-andratchet mechanism, Fig. 24 (not shown), to respective take-up rolls 225, 217 and 226. The latter are also driven from the feed roll 213 through spring-loaded friction drives. A further carbon strip 240, for effecting printing on the inserted record card, is endless and is fed one step during each machine operation. Record card carrier. The customer's record card is placed on a carrier 6 where it is located by pins 6a. A knob KB is set by hand to position the card for printing on the next available printing line. Interlocks.-The token t, Fig. 2, has a slot 260 and its carrier 9, Fig. 3, has a co-operating slot. If the token is not correctly positioned in its carrier, a feeler is blocked and a mechanism, Fig. 20 (not shown), prevents a full machine operation. A similar arrangement, Fig. 22 (not shown), blocks the operation of the machine if a record card is not placed in the carrier 6. The control lever 12, Fig. 3, cannot be depressed to render the subtraction unit effective unless at least one of the levers 11 has been moved from zero position. For this purpose, a plate 310 on a link 70 coupled to the lever 12 is normally blocked by a portion 311 of a lever 312 supporting a rod 314 by which it is rocked when any rack 19 is moved from its zero position. The lever 312 also co-operates with a lever 315 connected to a cancel button 314 to prevent operation of the latter which resets the control lever 12, unless all of the setting levers 11 are in zero positions. Date printing.-Three date type wheels 59, Fig. 17, coaxially mounted with the wheels 8, Fig. 3, are set by respective knobs 300, 301, 302. Modification.-In a simplified apparatus, Fig. 26, the racks 5 are directly set by knobs 1 and the operation is divided into two parts, effected by two corresponding handles. This machine is adapted for use with record cards which, as described in Specification 938,611, are formed with type corresponding to the account number. The card is first inserted to place the type in proper printing position and the first handle is actuated to print that number. Then the card is re-inserted to enable a set instalment value to be printed upon it by actuation of the second handle.