Patent GB-637394-A (GB)
Abstract: 637,394. Ticket-issuing machines. HELSEL, R. H. July 31, 1947, No. 20891. Convention date, April 23, 1940. [Class 106 (iii)] A ticket-issuing machine comprises means for feeding and issuing tickets, means for indicating the number of tickets issued, and means for automatically recording the indications at predetermined time intervals. Ticket-issuing units of known type include ticket counters 10, 10<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 2, which, through shafts 18, 181 drive corresponding type-bearing counter units in an accounting device arranged at one side and comprising also clock-driven type drums 76, 80 for recording the time. The clockwork or synchronous motor 46, Fig. 3, drives a cam 50 at one revolution per minute which, through a spring-urged bell-crank 54 carrying a pawl 60, steps on a ratchet-wheel 68 together with the type drum 76 for printing minutes 00 to 59. Transfer to the hour drum 80 is provided by a deeper notch 72 in the ratchet 68. When the nose 62 of the pawl 60 enters the deeper notch a shorter nose 66 engages and steps on a second ratchet-wheel secured to the hour drum 80. This drum carries 48 type faces comprising the number 1 to 12 in four series. An additional pair of type faces for printing "A.M." or " P.M." are carried by an extension 110 from a pinion 100 which is driven by a sector 98 secured to the same shaft 96 as a bell-crank 94, Fig. 1, which is moved alternately to the two positions by a cam 92 driven from the clock mechanism. A window is provided for observing the time drums. The record is printed on a member (Fig. 7, not shown) comprising a card having a sheet of carbon paper sewn or otherwise secured to its face. A cam 144, Fig. 1, turning with the time drum 76 co-operates with a roller 146 on a lever 148 to initiate every hour the printing of the time and a record of the numbers standing on the various ticket counters. A link 154 pivoted to the end of the lever 148 is gradually lifted until a step in the link is spring-urged over a leaf contact 162, and when the cam 144 releases the-lever 148, the link is spring-urged downward, closing the contacts 162 and completing the circuit of a solenoid 112, the armature of which rotates a bell-crank 118 clockwise causing a bar 120 thereon to strike the record member against the type wheels. Towards the end of this movement, a projection 192 on the bell-crank engages a depending lug on the link 154 releasing it from the contacts 162 which open and allow the bell-crank 118 to return in a counterclockwise movement, during which a pawl 124 steps on a ratchetwheel 126 together with a roller 128 to feed the record member to the next printing line. In addition to the time-controlled printing actions, the machine is arranged to print a record at the end of the ticket-issuing period, when a door 188, Fig. 1, is unlocked to remove the printed record member by pressing in a link (143, Fig. 4, not shown) to move the feed roller 130 away from the roller 128 and insert a new record member between guides 134. Opening of the door 188 releases a spring- urged slide 184 for longitudinal movement to the position shown dotted. A bell-crank 172, having pin-and-slot connection with the slide, is spring-urged clockwise as the slide begins to move and, being toothed to co-operate with a similar bell-crank 168 to which is pivoted a link 164 similar to the link 154 described above, the link 164 moves upwards until its stepped portion is spring-urged over the leaf contact 162. As the slide 184 continues its outward movement, the left-hand end of the slot 180 engages with a pin 176 on the bell-crank 168 and reverses the movements of the two bellcranks, causing the link 164 to be lowered and the solenoid to be energized for printing a record of the time and the items standing on the ticket counters. A link (194, Fig. 5, not shown) attached to the door 188 serves to open a snap switch when the door is opened to change the record member, but closing of the door does not restore the switch. This is done at the commencement of a new ticket-issuing period by a lug on the operator's lock, the circuit being so arranged that operation of this lock subsequent to insertion of a new record member causes another energization of the solenoid 112 to print the items standing on the ticket counters. Zeroizing of the counters 28, although usually not desired, may be provided for by a knob 38, Fig. 2, driving through bevel gears 36, a shaft geared to the counter units for zeroizing in known manner. The completion of the operation will be felt when a spring-urged lever 40 enters a notch in a cam 44. U.S.A. Specification 2,176,966 is referred to.