Patent GB-801191-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to cheque endorsing and sorting machines
IPC: B07C3/04
Filed: 1956-07-30
Abstract: 801.191. Number-printing apparatus. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. July 30, 1956 [July 30, 1955]. No. 23487/56. Classes 100(2) and 100(4) In a machine for endorsing and sorting cheques and the like of the kind having an edorsing unit including one or more typewheels movable into contact with successive cheques fed past the unit to print endorsements thereon and feed rollers movable in synchronism with printing movements of the type-wheels to feed the cheques past the unit, at least one of the type-wheels is arranged to be stepped a predetermined amount upon each feeding movement of the feed rollers whereby successively different portions of the stepped type-wheel is presented, for printing on successive records. As shown the machine is substantially as described in Specification 435,139, and comprises a desk structure beneath which is a sorting drum 1 provided with a number of pockets, a particular pocket being selectable from a keyboard 2. A keyboard 3 controls an accounting mechanism which records the amounts, and gives the totals, of items appearing on the cheques. A cheque is inserted in a receiver 4, Fig. 2, in a unit comprising an endorsing device 5 and feed rollers 6, 45 which moves downwardly and then upwardly, the endorsed cheque being guided into a selected pocket in the drum 1. The device 5, Figs. 2, 4 and 7, comprises a shaft 10 provided with two spaced cheque-feeding rolls 6 between which is a drum housing 12 carrying two printing- plates which are spaced apart circumferentially to leave a gap through which protrude type &c. wheels 7, 8 and 9. There are four wheels 7 for the date, two wheels 8 for reference letters, and five wheels 9 for printing consecutive numbers on the cheques. All the wheels 7. 8, 9 are on a shaft in a support frame 11 on the main shaft 10, and the frame 11 is supported by the housing 12. The wheels 7, 8 are set - up by ratchet - wheels 40 in known manner. The numbering wheels 9 can be advanced for consecutive numbering by means of a spring-actuated comb 14 having five teeth thereon in mesh with ratchetwheels associated with the wheels. The comb 14 is connected to gear segments 16 and 17 arranged on the outside of the wheels 9, and these segments are engaged by bails 18 connected with each other by pins 19. Fig. 7, one of which projects beyond the frame 11 and the drum housing 12. The bails 18 are oscillated by means comprising a two-armed lever 20 on the shaft 10 and connected to the extended pin 19, a planetary wheel 21 having a connection with the lever 20, and a sun wheel 23 rotatable on the shaft 10. So long as the sun wheel 23 is stationary, the wheel 21 rolls on the wheel 23 once for each revolution of the endorsing drum, during which the lever 20 is oscillated to transmit motion through the pin 19, the gear segments 16, 17, and bails 18, to the comb 14, so that normally on each revolution of the endorsing unit the type wheels 9 are advanced one unit. The wheel 21 is mounted on an adjustable disc 24 to allow adjustment of the wheel relatively to the comb 14. The sun wheel 23 can be locked against rotation by a radially-displaceable pin 25 which can enter a hole in the hub 26 of the wheel. The pin 25 is mounted in a block, movable with the bodily movements of the endorsing unit, and is adapted to be displaced to lock or release the sun wheel 23 by means of a rockable lever operable by a fixed solenoid. This solenoid is controlled by a hand switch 36, which determines whether the type-wheels 9 shall print the same or consecutive numbers. Since during printing on a cheque, the endorsing unit is rocked bodily downwardly from its home position, taking the solenoid-operated lever with it, latching means for this lever is provided during this rocking movement. The pin 25 is withdrawn from the hub of the sun wheel 23 during the above rocking, and is returned in the home position. A second solenoid, in known manner, controls the overall starting and stopping of the endorsing operation. An electric circuit for controlling the machine is described. An electrically-operated clutch in the drive from the machine to the endorsing unit is automatically rendered operative.