Patent GB-426059-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to zero-suppression mechanism for printing mechanism
IPC: G06K15/04
Filed: 1933-09-27
Abstract: 426,059. Printing-mechanism; statistical machines. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd., Victoria House, Vernon Place, Southampton Row, London. Sept. 27, 1933, No. 26622. Convention date, Sept. 29, 1932. [Class 106 (i)] Controlling printing of zeros. - Printing- mechanism in which there is a set of numeralprinting type (a type bar 10) for each denomination, has two zero-printing-control devices (two sets of pawls 32) and means for selectively bringing one or the other device into co-operation with the type members. The invention is shown as applied to a record-cardcontrolled statistical machine and the selection is achieved by a special hole (34, Fig. 3) which is present in address cards but not in the ordinary data-bearing cards. The type bar 10 for each denomination is raised synchronously with the card-reading and carries numeral and alphabetic type 23. For numeral-printing, a magnet 25 is energized when a card hole is read and releases its pawl 26 which differentially arrests the bar 10 with the correct numeral opposite the platen 24. For letter-printing the magnet 25 is energized a second time from a second hole in the card-column concerned and releases a pawl 28 on a bar 30 into engagement with teeth 29 on bar 10. Subsequently bar 30, and therefore bar 10, is moved downwards to set the correct letter type opposite the platen 24. Specification 426,058 is referred to for this action. A drum 33 carries two sets of pawls 32, Figs. 1, 7 and 10, which may coact with lugs 31 on the type bars 10. One set of pawls is normally in position for numeral-printing and to rotate the drum to bring the other set into action the magnet 42 is energized. If an address card is read (prior to the normal reading which takes place at the dotted position shown in Fig. 3) the special hole 34 and brush 35 energize a relay 38 which closes holding-contacts 38a and also contacts 38b which energize magnet 42. An arm 46, actuated from the means which reciprocate the type bars 10, is pivoted at 47 and integral with a toothed sector 48 which latter rocks a gear 49 on shaft 61 connected to the drum 33. As bars 10 rise, gear 49 rocks clockwise. A clutch piece 50 is rigid with gear 49 and the second part of the clutch, 54, is pivoted to an arm 55 which is rigid with a sector 57 and locking plate 58. When the address-card hole 34 is read, magnet 42 rocks its armature 51 and a latch arm 53 to release the ends of dog 54 and arm 55; the clutch engages and as part 50 moves clockwise from the full-line to the dotted line position, sector 57 rocks wheel 59 and drum 33 counterclockwise to bring the second set of pawls into coaction with the type bars. The plate 58 coacts with a plate 60 rigid with wheel 59 and shaft 61 to lock wheel 59 against rotation when plate 58 is in either of its extreme positions. At the other end of shaft 61 is a driving connection between it and the drum 33 which may be broken manually, so that the drum may be rotated by the operator for inspection of its pawls 32. Each pawl 32, Fig. 7, is pivoted on a separate member 74 and pulled counterclockwise by a spring 75. The members 74 of one set are pivoted on a rod 76 and have notches 77 engaged by a common latch bar 78 pivoted at 79 to cross-piece 69. A toggle between members 69 and 78 may be broken manually so that each member 74 may be set with one or other of its three notches at the latch bar 78. After setting of members 74 the bar 78 is relocked to hold them in the adjusted positions. Each pawl 32 has a lateral lug 86 which projects into the plane of the next higher pawl. With the right-hand notch 77 on the bar 78, if the end of a pawl 32 can pass into the recess 87, Fig. 7, of its type bar, the latter rises beyond the zero-printing position, but if the pawl is held to the left so that it abuts the top of lug 31, then the type bar is held arrested in zero-printing position. If any type bar 10 has been arrested to print a significant figure then its pawl 32 is held to the left, Figs. 7 and 10, by the face 10a of the bar 10 and this pawl, through the lugs 86, holds out to the left all the pawls of lower denomination to the right of it, so that if no significant figures are set for these lower demoninations, zeros are printed. For the highest significant number, the lug 86 of this pawl will not prevent all pawls for higher denominations from moving to the right, Figs. 7 and 10, so that these higher pawls 32 pass into their notches 87 and no zeros are printed. For splitting the control device, any appropriate member 74 is adjusted with its central notch 77 on the bar 78 so that the carrying of zeros to denominations lower than the pawl thus adjusted, is prevented since the lug 86 of this pawl no longer coacts with the next higher pawl. In the second set of pawls 32 used for alphabetic printing, the printing of zeros (e.g. between words) is entirely suppressed by adjusting the members 74 with their left-hand notches 77 at the bar 78. The pawls 32 are then raised beyond reach of the lugs 31 on the type bars. If, however, numbers are used in the address-printing, then certain pawls 32 may be left adjusted for zeroprinting-control as described above for the first set of pawls 32.