Patent GB-704634-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to column by column printing machines
IPC: B41J5/36
Filed: 1951-08-14
Abstract: 704,634. Record-controlled printing machines. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. Aug. 14, 1951 [Aug. 19, 1950], No. 19117/51. Class 100 (4) TyPe-bar machines.-A mechanism for printing characters simultaneously in a plurality of rows on a strip sheet comprises a series of type-bars mounted for both longitudinal and rotative selecting of a type character, both selecting movements occurring concurrently. As shown, the mechanism is included in a card-controlled printing machine in which four lines of printing Fig. 18, are effected column by column. All the characters necessary for printing are mounted on the four sides of each of four sliding bars 82, Fig. 1, which are moved longitudinally and rotatively to present a particular character in printing position in response to a code formed by a combination of perforations in a record card 132, Fig. 13. The card is divided into four areas 142, 144, 146, 148, representing lines 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, on the printed record, Fig. 18, travelling continuously past the type-bars. A switching device operated by the presence of a card in correct position ensures that rows of perforations in areas 142, 146 are sensed only by brushes 134, and perforations in areas 144, 148 only by brushes 136. In each area, the perforations are divided into two groups, R and L, having perforations numbered 2, 1 and 4, 4, 2, 1 respectively. A perforation in the top row will effect 180 degrees rotation of a type bar and the second row 90 degrees rotation, while, if both perforations are present, 270 degrees rotation is effected. The bar remains in original un-rotated position when no perforations are sent. The perforations, singly or in combination, in the group L are similarly represented by 0-11 lateral steps of selective movement of the bars. The machine comprises a rectangular framework 12, 14, 16, 18, shown in plan in Fig. 1 having supports 92, 94 for rotatively carrying four squared rods 90, along which the bars 82 slide to present a character to printing position opposite four printing hammers 20, 22, 24, 26. Between the hammers and the type bars 82 the strip sheet to receive the impressions, and an ink ribbon, are jointly fed as a unit 30 by a feed roller 44 and guided by rollers 38, 36, 34 and 32. The squared rods 90 each have an end sleeve formed with a helical groove 112 engaged by a pin 110 on a spring returnable slide 116 which when pulled by a steel wire 124 causes rotation of a rod 90 and hence the type bar 82. The bar 82 is moved along rods 90 by a frame 96 pulled by a steel wire 104, against the pull of a spring 100. Each wire 124 is trained over a series of pulleys and the path of the wire is lengthened by the movement of a series of levers 278, 284, Fig. 11, and the slide 116 is accordingly moved the appropriate dipstance according to the R code received. Each wire 104 is similarly moved according to the L code sent by the movement of levers 240, 220, 246, 232, Fig. 10. The movement of the levers 278, 284, 240, 220, 246, and 232, the latter only being shown in Fig. 3; is effected by a pair of combed bails 302, 320 having one tooth 300 and one tooth 322 for each lever. These teeth engage hooks 292, 294 respectively on each lever, having slotted connections with a pin 290 on the levers 232 &c., provided they have been rocked counter-clockwise into the path of the teeth by the upward movement of an armature 334 of a magnet 160 operated by the sensing of the associated perforation (see Fig. 13). Two hooks 292, 294 are needed for each lever to enable one column to be sensed while the previous column is being printed, and hooks 292, 294 are alternatively engaged by teeth 300, 302 at alternate halfcycles by followers 306, 324, Fig. 1, engaging cams 308, 326 whose operative portions are displaced 180 degrees from one another. If a particular lever 232 &c. is to be operated in a succeeding column it is retained in operation by means of a latch 296 moved by the armature 334 so that a projection 352 on the latch engages a bar 50. Hammer impression arrangement.-The paper strip and ink-ribbon unit 30 is impressed against the type by the hammers 20, 22, 24, 26, Fig. 1, rotatively mounted on arms 360 and which are swung to effect printing by a cam 374, provided it has been released by an armature 394 of a hammer magnet 170. Magnet 170 is in series with the code magnet 160, Fig. 13, and operates if any one of them is energized. Aligning for impression.-The type on the bars 82 are accurately aligned by a bell crank 402, Fig. 1, which engages in one of the indentations 98 formed on the frame 96 associated with each type bar 82. The crank 402, Fig. 3, is operated by its arm 401 engaging recesses 410 or 412 in a cam 408 driven by gearing from the machine drive. Machines with two or more sets of type.- Several of the above mechanisms may be ganged together, Fig. 12 (not shown) to print, e.g. as shown in Fig. 18, in four places 426z, 424z, 422z, and 420z at once. Various lines or parts of lines in each of the four places may be suppressed by control from additional perforations in the record card. Four perforations corresponding to the four places are associated with each line of printing and operate electromagnets controlling the hammer magnets of the four printing positions. Each column is treated in the same way so, that parts of each line may be suppressed at will. The hammer magnets may also be controlled by manual switches.