Patent GB-489414-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for preparing records for controlling composing and typecasting machines
IPC: B41B25/00
Filed: 1937-10-28
Abstract: 489,414. Type-making machines. TELETYPESETTER CORPORATION. Oct. 28, 1937, No. 29418. Convention date, Nov. 20, 1936. [Class 100 (iii)] Strip-perforating machines; keyboards; justifying type.-In machines for preparing recordstrips for the control of type-composing machines, and especially line-casting machines, the matrix thicknesses are measured in increments of À001 inch by the use of a decimal method of counting. Three counting-ratchets, one for each of the tenths, hundredths, and thousandths decimal positions, are employed, and the combined movement is imparted to a matrix-pointer in a manner similar to that described in Specification 420,084. A unitindicator informs the operator at any time whether the unfilled part of the line measures an exact number of ens, and a " thousandths " indicator shows in figures the accumulated thickness of the matrices, or, alternatively, the shortage of the line, in thousandths of an inch. (1) The key-levers 34, Fig. 2, which act through pairs of code-bars 55, 56 to control the perforator, are each connected by links 76, 77 to levers 78, 79, the sets of levers being mounted in a shift-member 83, which can be rocked by shift-keys to bring either set into operative relation with sets of levers 91, 96, which actuate two sets of slidable counting- elements 126. The levers 91, 96 can each actuate either of a pair of adjacent counting- elements, and are mounted in a case-shift member 101, which is adjustable endwise by means of two key-levers. The counting- elements 126 are carried in two magazines 35, 36, which are removable and interchangeable, as described in Specifications 411,845 and 457,727, in accordance with the fount of type in use. In a modification, four counting- magazines are employed, and are selectively brought into use by means of two rocking shift-members 83 and two additional shiftkeys. Each counting-element 126 has three projections 137, each of which serves to rock one of a series of pivoted vanes 138, which are arranged in three groups corresponding to tenths, hundredths, and thousandths respectively, there being nine vanes in each group. The vanes act through rods 141 and levers 143 on three sets of stop-bars 146. One stop-bar in each set is thereby moved into the path of one of three ratchet-feed levers 153, 154, 155, which are operated from the main shaft of the machine. A rotation of from 0 to 9 steps is thereby imparted to each of three counting ratchet-wheels 157, 158, 159. The stop-bars 146 are evenly spaced, and the free ends of the feed-levers 153, 154, 155 are suitably curved to translate the'even spacing into even angular steps. In a modification, this is effected by stop-pins arranged at varying heights on the stop-bars. The movements of the three ratchet-wheels are combined by means of a differential accumulator mechanism comprising planetary gearing, the gear ratios being such that a unit movement of one ratchetwheel is reduced to a tenth of that of the ratchet-wheel of next higher denomination. A movement proportional to the decimal value of the matrix thickness is thereby imparted to a shaft 252, from which the matrix pointer is driven. (2)A unit-indicator, to show whether the unfilled part of the line is an exact multiple of ens, comprises a dial 276, Fig. 4, and a pointer 272, which are connected by gearing to the tenths and hundredths ratchet-wheels respectively, in such a manner as to be turned in opposite directions, in order to convert the decimal system into a system in which the em is divided into eighteen or other number of units. The graduations of the dial indicate the number of units to be added to or subtracted from a line in order to bring it to an exact number of ens. A relative rotation of the pointer and dial through an angle of 180‹ represents nine units, or one en. (3) The " thousandths " indicator, which supplements the pointer method of measuring, comprises four dials 368, Fig. 7, which record up to an amount of 9À999 inches. The three dials of lower order are driven from the tenths, hundredths, and thousandths counting-ratchets respectively, and each dial has a carry-over mechanism, which functions when the dial passes through zero to advance the dial of next higher order by one unit. The carry-over mechanism is timed to follow the principal actuation of the dials by a holding-latch, which is tripped by a cam on the main shaft. The units dial is driven only by carry-over mechanism from the dial of next lower order. Four additional dials 372 enable the indicator dials 368 to be re-set at the end of a line, either to zero or to the value of the full line length, so that they operate subtractively during composition. The " re-set " dials 372 are mounted on a common shaft 344, to which they are normally locked, but they can be disengaged therefrom by an axial movement of the .shaft, effected by a key-lever 378, to enable them to be manually set to show any desired indication. A spring 385 on each dial 372 is adapted to engage a pin 375 on a loose gear 343 connected to each dial 368, so as to effect a one-way drive of the dials 368 for re-setting, although the dials 368 can turn during counting without affecting the dials 372. On depression of a " return " key, the shaft 344 makes one rotation, and the dials 368, whatever their positions, are rotated by the springs 385 to the predetermined return positions. The indicator can be used either additively or subtractively by changing the sequence and location of the numbers on the dials. Specifications 425,020 and 431,146 also are referred to.