Patent GB-806354-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in cyclically operable printer
IPC: H03M7/12
Filed: 1955-11-17
Abstract: 806,354. Selective printing. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. Nov. 17, 1955 [Nov. 18, 1954], No. 32938/55. Class 100(4) [Also in Group XXXVIII] A cyclicly-operable printer comprises a number of type-members 860, Fig. 28a, selectively actuated at digit cycle time intervals to print digit values, a switch 272 associated with each type member, a pair of gating contacts and a bit count relay circuit associated with each switch to count the number of operations of the respective gating contacts during the entry of data to be printed, so as to generate a bit count value corresponding to said data, the bit count value transmitted from a remote source for example a calculating machine, and the bit count generated in the printer being compared and means being provided for interrupting the printing operation if the generated and the transmitted bit count values disagree. In the embodiment described, the type members carry the digit 1 to 0 and one pair of the bit count gating contacts are closed at 1, 2, 4, 7 and 8 digit cyclic times, and the other pair being closed at 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9 digit cycle times the closure of any gating contacts being elective to gate a pulse to the bit count relay circuit in accordance with the bit count value defined to each digit. The bit count relay circuits comprise a plurality of bit count lines having 0, 1, 2 and 3 bit count values, and a number of bit count relays each having a number of contacts in said lines and which are operated according to the binary bit count of a digit or numeric value and other control circuitry to provide a means for generating a bit count for each ordered position of the printer wired in the circuit. Each line of information is divided into seven words with seventeen ordered positions for each word and a bit count remainder is provided at position 1 in each word. Since the line is divided inito seven words each with a separate bit count, there is provided seven different groups of checking or bit count comparing means. A circuit under the control of each type member, or, as shown, each type wheel 860, must be completed and a decimal to binary bit count generating arrangement, operated in timed sequence with the type wheel cycle points, gates the pulses from the print wheel circuit at predetermined intervals to the proper bit count relays, and, referring to the lower right-hand side of Fig. 28a, each detent or latch arm 896, whose upper end carries a hook to engage the shoulder 897 on a rotatable plate 898 carried by each type wheel gear 870, is also provided with an outwardly projecting arm or extension 269 having a contact engaging abutment end 271 disposed adjacent a normally open echo or print wheel contact 272 There is one such contact for each ordered position, that is, 120 separate contacts. Each contact 272 is connected to a 40v supply and cam contacts which cyclicly make and break in timed relation with the selector shaft Clutch digit position release, and such movement due to analysers 800A, B, C and D occurs after a 150 degree machine cycle delay. The other side of each contact 272 is wired via a plug board to the gating contact in the bit count circuit of the matrix generator 24 and a decimal to bit count code is provided for each word. The groups of contacts for each index position in the bit count generator are connected in cascade and cross connected to provide bit count remainder checking or network circuits which are based on a modulus 4 to agree with the bit count modulus utilized in a calculator. This involves the dropping of every bit count divisible by four and conducting the remainder to the bit count comparing relay over the proper bit count lines. In the numeric example given for word 1, the actual bit count remainder, based on the modulus 4, is a 1 and this provides a pulse at the exit side of the 1 bit line of the bit count generator and this pulse is directed to a pick-up relay. If the bit count transmitted from the calculator agrees with the actual bit counter remainders generated in the printer, the checking contacts in the generator signify a correct bit count and the printer operation is permitted to continue. If an error develops due to improper setting of the bit count contacts or improper movement of the type wheels, the test circuit through the word 1 bit count contacts will come out on one of the other bit count lines, rather than the one bit line. However, only the one bit line can complete the comparing circuit, therefore, the checked pulse supplied prior to the printing operation cannot get across or through the comparing contacts, but via other circuitry a bit count error coil is operated and a printed stop magnet operates to stop the printing operation, and a check light is nergized, and flow of data from the calculator is interrupted. Further, contacts are opened at the print test circuits 138 and 139 respectively, Fig. 2 to prevent the conditioning of the diode switches 157 and 158 respectively: This thus supplies a double check against delivery of data from the calculator. This whole circuit is maintained in this position until the error has been corrected and the circuit reset. There are two printers A and B which may be chosen by a signal I or II from the calculating machine, and either A or B can be connected by plug connections and operating either by signals I or II. For the printers to receive the data from a storage device over the binary 1-2-4-8 lines 16-17- 18-19 respectively, the printers must be in their proper cycle point positions to receive such data, and other conditions must be met; that is, the printers must be operative, a ready signal must be sent to the calculator, a selection for printer A or B must be made and the proper circuit checking must be accomplished which operates a control pulse when the machine is at its proper machine digit cycle point to transmit a digit cycle point or row signal to the calculator to indicate that everything As in order to receive at data. When all these conditions are satisfactorily met, the data from the storage device is transmitted to the translator 15, group shift pulses are delivered to the shift pulse terminal 96, Fig. 2, and gate pulses to the terminal 113. In addition to the printing of numeric data from the storage device, the printer may be instructed at random by the calculator to print a special character or characters. This instruction is designated as a "special function" and when desired, the special function signal is applied to operate carriage operations such as double spacing, margin release, and so forth. Assuming the previously mentioned condition where the print I signal connects to the print A trigger 145, Fig. 2, and a print II signal to the print B trigger 148 and a print I instruction or signal is received to print in printer A, the print A trigger 145 is turned on and applies a positive potential to its related cathode follower to raise the potential of the line 155. This conditions one element of the four-element diode switch 157. However, the positive potential cannot operate this diode until other conditions are met. At the time the line 155 goes positive, due to the print 1 in printer A instruction, this positive level.is applied by means of the conductor 166 to the inverter follower 169, Fig. 25b (not shown), which in turn causes the ready line to go negative so that no other print instruction signal can be received. At the same time a power amplifier whose grid is connected to line 155 and to contacts in a test circuit, renders another diode in the switch 157 positive. Only one printer at a time can be operated, and further if the bit count of a previous line of printed data was incorrect the delivery of the next line of data is interrupted. Each printer, as shown in Figs. 28a and 28b, is of the type normally used for processing data recorded in tabulating cards, but is provided with a modified data processing means which receive data to be processed a line at a time from the calculator or other external source. Each line of data is divided into groups of words comprising a plurality of ordered positions, each having numeric characters 0 to 9 inclusive. The data processing means includes the binary to decimal translator 15 operated in timed relation with the normal machine digit cycle point positions. With a translator of this type, the entire line of data to be printed is serially delivered to the translator in binary code at each machine cycle point 9 to 0, only the binary code pulses corresponding to the particular digit cycle point of the printing mechanism are however accepted and serially transmitted from the translator as single pulses. All pulses, when selected, pass from the translator 15 over a single conductor which in turn is connected to a word data switch 85 forming part of a print matrix 24 comprising a group or array of valves arranged in rows and columns to represent words and ordered positions in the word respectively. The timing of the matrix is controlled by shift pulses delivered from the calculator to a closed fast ring 86 for driving the columns which in turn drive an open slow ring 88 for driving the rows. These two are interconnected so that any point where coincidence occurs therebetween and with a pulse received by the word switch from the translator that valve is fired. Firing of the valve energizes a print magnet connected to it which in turn, after a mechanical delay, results in actuation of printing apparatus to cause the selected order in the word to initiate printing the desired numerical data or digit. As the machine moves to its next digit cycle point the entire line of binary data is again delivered to the translator and the binary code for that cycle point is translated to its decimal value and transmitted in a like manner to fire the proper valve. in this manner the entire line is delivered to the trans