Patent GB-688383-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to record-card-controlled machines
IPC: C04B35/38
Filed: 1950-01-30
Abstract: 688,383. Typewriters &c. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd. Jan. 30, 1950 [Jan. 31, 1949; Jan. 31, 1949; Jan. 31, 1949; Jan. 31, 1949], No. 2371/50. Class 100(iv) [Also in Group XIX] A record-card-controlled machine for census and like statistical purposes (see Group XIX) includes mechanism for printing on a record sheet, Fig. 42, amounts read out from unit counters and a foursection accumulator and a " group number " held in an electronic storage unit. The functions of the machine are controlled by a plugboard, Figs. 49A -R (not shown). Type-bar machines; hammer impression arrangements.-A record sheet is divided into half-sheets Fig. 42, which are printed simultaneously, two columns at a time by four printing banks each comprising four type bars 161, Figs. 13 and 20, carried by a fixed plate 160. The half-sheets are carried on typewriter-like carriages comprising platens 155 and the banks are so spaced that, e.g. columns 1, 16, Fig. 42, and like columns 31 and 46, are printed together. Each set of bars 161 is slidably mounted in a vertically slidable frame 169 and supported by spring-urged arms 172. The frames 169 are raised during each printing cycle by cams 182 on shafts 183, Figs. 3 and 20, and carry the bars 161 with them until the latter are stopped by spring-urged pawls 175 released from the armature of magnets PM, Fig. 13, energized at times depending on the digits to be printed. The subsequent relative movement of a bar 161 and frame rocks an interposer 300 which closes checking contacts CKC through a T-member 301 for entry of the value printed into the accumulator. The bars 161 have-pawls 167 which cause automatic printing of zeros to the right of a significant figure. Printing hammers 189 are guided in comb slots in an operating frame 192 secured to a shaft 190, Figs. 3 and 13, which is rocked under control of a cam (not shown) fixed to a gear 196a. An inking ribbon 197 is provided for each carriage and feeding and reversing mechanism therefor.including spools 198. After printing, the pawls 175 are returned to latching position by a bail 178 secured to a shaft 179 which is rocked by a pin on a gear 186, Fig. 3. The gears 196a, 186 are driven by gears 188 on shafts 183 which are driven from a main print shaft 220, Fig. 20, when clutched to a co-axial shaft 216 connected to the motor shaft 120 and rotating at a slower speed than the card feed shaft 117. The shaft 216 carries a notched collar 222, Fig. 23, which co-acts with a dog 223 pivoted on an arm 219 fixed to the shaft 220. When the clutch magnet PCM is energized its armature releases the dog and the clutch is engaged for one or more revolutions. Letter-spacing, carriage-return, and line-spacing mechanism.-Each carriage is fed step by step by spring motor 350 and tape 351, Fig. 20, under control of spring-urged escapement pawls 353, Fig. 17, and a rack 352. The pawls have slots engaging a pivot 354, and the one engaging the rack is pulled leftward, Fig. 17, by the motor 350 so that its tail is in the path of an operating member 356. When the escapement solenoid (not shown) is energized it pulls down this member through linkwork 361, 358 and the rack is stepped one half tooth space into engagement with the other pawl, the functions of the pawls then being reversed. The carriages are coupled by a tie rod 362, Fig. 20, to ensure movement in unison. Each carriage is returned by a tape 409 wound on a pulley 408 normally loosely mounted on a shaft 406, Fig. 18, driven by worm gearing from the high speed shaft 117, Fig. 3. When the solenoid CRS, Fig. 13, is energized a lever 424 is rocked and a cam 422 is rotated by a spring-operated arm. 423 so that its serrated tread engages the resilient surface of a roller 407 on the shaft 406. The cam is then rocked with its supporting lever 420, thus pulling down a lever 416, Fig. 18, connected by a toggle link 415 to a twopart lever 412. The lever 412 actuates a disc friction clutch 411 to couple the pulley 408 to shaft 406, and the clutch engagement is maintained by the toggle action. The clutch is released when the carriage has been returned by a lug on the appropriate marginal stop (not shown) which rocks a trip lever 454, Fig. 20, connected by a link 455, lever 456 and link 458, Fig. 13, to a toggle-restoring lever 459. The marginal stops are adjustably mounted on a rack 450 and those for the carriage shown in Fig. 20 carry cam plates 461 which operate switches MS1, MS2 having roller-carrying operating levers 462. The switch MS1 is used for indicating that the carriage is in the returned position. The operation of switch MS2 initiates carriage return and other operations (see Group XIX). A third switch MS3 is operated when the carriage is in the first three positions for printing the amounts on the accumulator and the group number in the " Amount " and " Sort " columns respectively of the record sheet, Fig. 42. When a carriage is returned, the tape 409 operates the line-spacing. mechanism, Fig. 19, by rocking a bell-crank 479 which pulls down a spring-returned slide 477 so that a pawl 476 steps on the line-spacing ratchet 475. The pawl is normally held away from the ratchet by an arm 481 which can be set in three different positions for different line-spacing movements by a control lever 484 engaging one of three notches therein. The carriage shown in Fig. 20 carries contact brushes 506- which pass over contact strips to control the sequence of printing operations.