Patent GB-451024-A (GB)
Abstract: 451,024. Ticket printing machines. SALTER, E. G., 65, Reigate Hill, Reigate, Surrey, RAY, J. S., 59, Pemberton Road, Harringay, London, and LONDON PASSENGER TRANSPORT BOARD, 55, Broadway, Westminster. Nov. 28, 1934, Nos. 34149/34 and 22560/35. [Class 100 (iv)] [See also Group XIX] Index type-wheel machines.-The invention relates to portable ticket printing and recording machines for use on passenger transport vehicles, wherein the date-printing drums 12, 13 are pre-set daily by the issuing clerk before sealing the machine, and the conductor by a first operation of turning a dial 14 pre-selects both the fare-printing drum 11 and the recordprinting drum 22, and by a second operation of depressing a push 9 simultaneously prints the ticket and makes the record. The ticket, which has fare stages spaced longitudinally thereon, is inserted by the conductor over a platform 7A into a horizontal slot in a direction parallel to the axis of the drums and is adjusted selectively in a direction at right angles to the first direction to enable a mark to be printed at any selected stage zone of the ticket. The mechanism operated by the push 9 is housed as a unit below the plane of the ticket slot, and includes spring transmission for the upwardly moving printing platen and preventive means for mechanically controlling the operability of the printing mechanism. A cash totalizer may be included in the machine, and a clipper or punch 5 for cancelling a ticket of the transfer type. The upper part of the casing contains the printing drums 11, 12, 13, the pre-selective mechanism, and reels for the ink tapes and for the record ribbon, while the lower part contains the operating devices. To facilitate the authorized removal of the rear casing plate 2 and top plate 3, an interlocking device is provided, Fig. 10, which locks the rear plate 2 in position by a plunger 2A pressed by a spring 2B so that its catch end 2C engages a recess in a hinged gate 2E on the plate 2. Between the plate 2 and the gate 2E is inserted a paper seal 2F which must be perforated by a tool inserted through a hole 2G before the plunger 2A can be forced back for unlocking the plates. The pre-selecting dial 14, which is used as described above, is secured to a spindle 15 carrying a disc 16 having, for the purpose of preventing wrong assembly, two asymmetrically disposed sockets adapted to register in one angular position only with two pins 17 projecting from the drum 11. Projecting elements may be provided on one of the drums adapted to lie across the ticket slit to prevent the entry of a ticket if the dial is not positioned properly, and also to prevent re-setting of the pre-selected parts after the insertion of a ticket. After the top plate 3 has been removed by the issuing clerk the date drums 12, 13 may be rotated by means of a spike engaging serrated parts 12A, 13A. Ink - ribbon mechanism; line - spacing mechanism hammer-impression arrangements.-The ticket-inking tape 31 is wound from a reel (not shown), on to a reel 34, passing between the printing drums 11, 12, 13 and a pad 30 which is lifted when the push 9 is depressed and presses the ticket on to the tape 31 and also the paper record ribbon 50 on to the record ink tape 35, which is fed from a reel 36 to a reel 37 having its spindle rotated by a worm-wheel 38 and a worm 39 on a skew shaft 40. Spring-loaded brake elements 32B prevent too free unwinding of the reels. The reels 43, 44 for the paper record ribbon are detachably held in position on their spindles by a plate 43B pivotally mounted and having an asymmetrical central aperture 43D, which is shown in Fig. 5, on the right as freely registering with a collar or the spindle, and on the left in the engaging position for reel 44. Upon each complete operation of the machine, a pivoted lever 47 is allowed to be pulled down by a spring 47D, a pawl 46 thereby advancing a ratchet 45 driving the record ribbon, and the skew shaft 40 being turned to advance the ink tapes by a very small amount. To prevent cockling-up of the ink tape by the ticket, the tape may be stretched taut over curved guides to produce a downward convexity, the printing drums being also slightly curved, and the edges of the tape being protected by flanges. The pad 30 is carried by a vertically-sliding plunger 51, Fig. 7, adapted to be raised by a bell-crank 53, 54 having a hump 55 engaged by a cam block 63 moving with the push 9. The limiting pressure which can be applied by the pad 30 against the type is that determined by the compression in a spring 61. The final part of the rise of the ramp 65 of the block 63 effects final compression of the spring 61 which is used to do the actual work of printing. A partial or full movement of the push 9 allows the lever 47, referred to above, to drop under the urge of the spring 47D, which thus actuates the whole of the reel mechanism. According to the first Provisional Specification, the final upward movement of the printing pad may be effected by the quick release of a spring. For preventing operation without ticket insertion, a feeler is provided comprising a slidable rod 80, Figs. 6 and 8, urged upwards by a spring 82 and positioning a lever 85 carrying a detent 87. When the push 9 is up, the tail of the detent 87 rides on the flat part 66, and if in the absence of a ticket, the plunger 80 is free to rise under the pressure of the spring 82, as the push 9 is depressed the tail 87A falls into a notch 88 in the cam block 63, and the push is held against further movement. When the push 9 is right up, the nose 90A, Fig. 7, of a double-acting pawl lies horizontal and below the lowermost of a series of three projections 91 on the cam block 63. As the cam block descends, the pawl clicks past the two lower projections 91 and prevents upward movement of the push, such movement being allowed only after the pawl passes the uppermost projection 91 and its nose 90A has registered over the notch 88. The device also prevents depression of the push before it has risen to its upward limit.