Patent GB-585905-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to printing mechanism for statistical, accounting and like machines
IPC: G06K15/04
Filed: 1944-12-29
Abstract: 585,905. Statistical-apparatus. REMINGTON RAND, Inc. Dec. 29, 1944, No. 26138. Convention date, Dec. 30, 1943. [Class 106 (i)] In an accounting or like machine, to enable numbers to be printed both in the ordinary style, including zeros only at the right of the highest digit, and in another style, ineluding zeros at the left of the highest digit (e.g. when printing cheques), the printing mechanism includes, in combination, a series of denominational type bars, a train of devices individual to each type bar for causing the selected type on that bar to print, and a connector between each train and the next, each connector being settable into and out of position to transmit the action of one train to the train of next higher order. The invention is described as applied to the tabulating machine fully described in U.S.A. Specification 2,323,816. When any type bar 22, Fig. 3, rises above its zero printing position, a link 42 moves downward, as described in Specification 559,358, and allows a clockwise movement of a lever 44 by a spring 43, thus bringing a step in the lever into engagement with the flange of a print bar 45. At the printing time in the cycle the bar 45 moves to the right carrying with it those levers 44 which have been engaged. This rocks the corresponding latches 40 and releases hammers 33 which strike pins 36 and drive the appropriate type 32 against the platen 31. To the latches 40 are pivoted connectors 47, see also Figs. 8 to 12, which constitute the main feature of the invention. Each connector 47 is adapted to engage a lug 50 off-set from the latch of the next lower denomination, so that when the connector is in the position shown in Fig. 9 or Fig. 10-but not Fig. 8-the rocking of the latch will rock also the next lower latch, and so on, so that all zeros to the right of the highest digit will be printed. To print zeros to the left of the highest digit, a sleeve 54, carrying a slotted flange 53, is rocked clockwise to depress a link 51 pivoted to the connector 47 and so move the latter into a lower position. The flange 53, through whose slots 56, Fig. 12, the links 51 pass, is adjustable in relation to each link which can be located in any of three positions-as in Figs. 8, 9 and 10-between pairs of lugs 58. In the lowest position, Fig. 10, the clockwise rotation of the sleeve 54 engages a lug 65 on the connector 47 with the lug 50. In this manner the latch of the highest digit carries with it the next higher denomination and thus zeros are printed both to the left and right of this digit. In the example shown in Fig. 13, no zeros are to be printed in the first line. With the mechanism set as in Fig. 9, the sleeve 54 is rotated anticlockwise to lift the connectors 47 clear of the lugs 50. This movement is initiated by the sensing of a special perforation in the card by a pin 20, Fig. 1, which, through Bowden cable 80, rocks a bell-crank 82 and shifts a vertical member 70 (see also Fig. 3) so that a pin 74 on a horizontal member 76 moves across the lower portion of an L-shaped slot 73 in the member 70. The member 70 is periodically given a vertical movement by a cam 66 and follower 67, and after the shifting, this movement is transmitted through the pin 74 to rock the member 75 and, through a link 84 rock anticlockwise the shaft 55 carrying the sleeve 54. The above movement is suppressed during total-taking by a linkage 90 ... 98 from the control unit 87, the link 98 pulling the vertical member 70 in opposition to the link 83, the attachment of the link 83 to the member 70 including a spring-urged pin-andslot connection which allows the pin 74 to remain in the ineffective portion of the L- shaped slot 73. Also, a link 108 moves downward pulling a link 102 slotted to slide on a pin 85 on arm 86 of the shaft 55. A plunger 104 can be manually set to overlie the upper end of the link 84, in which case the shaft 55 and sleeve 54 are rocked clockwise to print zeros to the left of the highest digit as in the last line of Fig. 13.