Patent GB-398535-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to tabulating machines
Filed: 1932-03-15
Abstract: 398,535. Tabulating-machines. THOMAS, A., 11, Sandy Lane South, Wallington, and BLAMEY, R. C. E., 39, Grange Road, Purley Oaks, both in Surrey. March 15, 1932, No. 7682. [Class 106 (i).] Total-taking.-A tabulating-machine comprises denominational type-setting members (16 or 88) differentially arrested by stops (15) on their forward movement and connected on their return stroke to settable members (27 or 102) which carry type or are geared to type members, the type-setting members being returned by a common restoring bar (20 or 119) so as to transmit their settings to the settable members and being clamped, at the end of their return, against a fixed stop whilst still connected to the settable members, so that during the subsequent printing, the parts are held rigidly to give a clear impression. As illustrated, the stops 15 are set mechanically by the card-reading pins of a record-cardcontrolled statistical machine &c., but they may be set by electromagnets energized from card-reading brushes. Also the type members may be set by manual keys or by levers. Fig. 1 shows the type-setting means for a single denomination. A card is fed from magazine M to stop 13 and read by pin box 1 so that the appropriate stop 15 is raised. A bar 16 for each denomination has a rigid finger 21 with a latch 22. Rack 27, which meshes with type disc 30, being raised clockwise about pivot 34 and restoring bar 20 (common to all denominations) being on latch 22, the bar 20 moves to the right and bar 16 follows it by reason of its spring 25 until it is arrested by shoulder 19 meeting the raised stop 15. Bar 20 continues to move to the right and wipes free of latch 22. As bar 20, which is driven from shaft 3 by linkage 62 .. 66, commences its return to the left, the rack 27 is rocked counterclockwise about its pivot 34 by link 56 which is controlled by cam 55 on shaft 3, and its teeth 28 engage the finger 21 on the differentially-set stop 15. Bar 20 moves to the left, picks up finger 21 and returns slide 16 to the left, at the same time moving rack 27 to the left and setting disc 30 so that the correct type 31 is set opposite the hammer 67. At the end of its movement, the restoring bar 20 holds finger 21 hard against a fixed rubber stop 21a and as link 56 holds rack 27 and teeth 28 down on to finger 21, the type 31 is held firmly during the subsequent impression by hammer 67 on the card. Before bar 20 moves once more to the right for a new setting of slides 16, the teeth 28 of the restored racks 27 are raised clear of fingers 21. Alphabet printing. In a modified construction, Fig. 2, for printing letters, each denominational bar 88 (equivalent to bar 16 of Fig. 1) is geared to its slide 102 in a 2: 1 ratio by gearing 88b, 104, 106, 107. The rack 102 is pivoted at 101 and meshes with type disc 103 on which the type for the two halves of the alphabet are inter-arranged as shown. Bar 88 has pivoted to it a latch 89 with a shoulder 89a which is in advance of the shoulder 88a by half the pitch of stops 15. The " 9 " stop is marked 15a and is only wide enough (at right-angles to Fig. 3) when it rises to lift latch 89 but does not obstruct shoulder 88a; whereas stops 15 have offsets adapted to arrest shoulder 88a. Card holes in the positions 8, 7, 6, ... 1, 0, 11, 12 represent letters K, J, I, ... D, C, B, A while the same holes with a " 9 " hole in addition represent letters Y, W, V, ... O, N, M, L. Letter V serves for letter U, letters Q and X are omitted and the letter Z is represented by a " 9 " hole alone. If a single hole (without a " 9 " hole) is read, say "4", the bar 88 advances until shoulder 89a meets the " 4 " stop 15 and " G " is printed. If a " 9 " hole is also present, " 9 " stop 15a raises latch 89 and bar 88 moves slightly farther than before until shoulder 88a meets the " 4 " stop 15, so that the disc 103 is rotated slightly more on the return stroke of bar 88 and " S " is printed. Fig. 2 shows the disc 103 bearing numerals as well as letters so that by altering the angular position of the disc on its axis, the machine may be used for printing either letters or numbers. For tabulator working, the racks 27 or 102 may be provided with type and paper feeding, and known printing mechanism may be associated with the type for printing upon a continuous paper sheet. The machine may also accumulate by using adding wheels associated with the type carrying or setting bars, means being provided to engage these wheels with the bars at the correct times to effect total printing.