Patent GB-177475-A (GB)
Abstract: 177,475. Johnson Fare-Box Co., and Tanner, A. J. Oct. 18, 1920. Tickets, issuing and cutting-off; printing-arrangements.-In a stage fare system for passenger vehicles, strip tickets are printed by an apparatus on the vehicle with single characters representing, according to their position in relation to spaces on the tickets, the stage at which the tickets are issued and the fares payable for various lengths of journey from the stage of issue. A rotary drum bearing rows of type is set by the conductor at each stage so as to bring a particular set of characters into printing position, and one of several fare or destination keys is depressed to raise a corresponding platen to print a selected member of the type in the row. Further depression of the key effects feeding and severing of the ticket strip. A series of counters for the several keys and a total-value counter are provided. The type-drum 54 is set by means of an external knob 55, the casing of the machine having a notch 57, Fig. 1, exposing an indication of the stage for which the drum is set. The values of the keys change with the stages of the journey. The ticket roll 21 is mounted on spring bearing brackets within a hinged cover 101, and the strip passes through a slot in a plate 25 and between feed-rollers 27, 28. The platens 42 are carried by spring plungers 118, any one of which engages a bell hammer 127 on its downward movement. The keys 112 are pivoted at 43 to levers 34 mounted on a frame pivot 35. In its initial movement a key moves independently of the levers 34 to raise a corresponding plunger to effect printing, while in its further downward movement it bears on a crossrod 128 and carries with it the levers 34, the ends of which carry a pawl 29 to advance the feeding- ratchet 30. The end of the key engages a notch 39 in the platen plunger, and passes out of the notch to release the plunger when the key is fully depressed. In this position it bears on the feed-roller 28 and serves as a brake. The severing-knife 72 has a serrated edge and is carried by a slotted plate 74 engaged by the end 82 of the levers 34, and is mounted so as'to be capable of an oscillatory motion. For this purpose a camslot 134, Fig. 4, in the knife engages a pin 135 on the support, and a spring 136 connects a pin 84 on a knife with a pin 137 on the support. The knife enters a recess 132 in a block 81, Fig. 3 The tickets are only partially severed, to prevent accidental removal. The inking-ribbon passes over feed-rollers 108, Fig. 4, which may be advanced by a dog 100 on the lever 34. A series of separate counters 114 carried by a transversely adjustable member 113 are actuated by extensions 116<1> of the key-levers 112, the member 113 being adjusted by a screw 121 with an external knob 120. This adjustment brings the counters successively into engaging position with the keys. The setting of the printing-drum is indicated through an opening 138, Fig. 4, having a mask bearing or uncovering destination characters. while the changing values assigned to the keys are indicated in another opening 119, Fig. 2. The number of adjustments of the set of counters is registered on a counter 124, Fig. 4. A totalizer 131 of ordinary kind registers the total value of all tickets issued, and a counter 130, Fig. 2, the total number of tickets. The type-drum is rotated in one direction only, reverse movement being prevented by a pawl 59 and ratchet-wheel. The apparatus is removably mounted on a pillar 108<1>, and the top of the casing is provided with a recess 96 forming a till.