Patent GB-664358-A (GB)
Abstract: 664,358. Record-card-controlled printing-apparatus. KEEN, H. H. April 21, 1949 [May 14, 1948], No. 13283/48. Class 100 (iv), [Also in Group XIX] An interpreter for printing data derived from record cards on to blank cards, comprises a primary feeding and sensing device for the record cards, a secondary feed device for the blank cards to be printed upon, and presettable means for adjusting the timing of the entry of the blank cards into the secondary feed device relative to the timing of the entry of the data bearing record cards into the primary device so that data read thereby is printed upon a blank card at a presettable line position. The machine also has a sensing means in the secondary feed device so that (a) data punched on the record cards and sensed in the primary device can be printed on the blank cards (b) data from a group of record cards sensed in the primary device may be printed at line space intervals on one blank card (c) the secondary device can be set up to sense data and print on the same punched " blank " card as in Specification 483,665 and (d) a blank card can be doubly printed from data on itself and on the record card. In cases (a) and (b) the position of the printing of the first line on the blank cards can be varied by adjustment of the time at which a blank card is taken from its hopper by a picker 23, Fig. 1, relative to the feeding of a record card from its hopper by a picker 23a. Picker 23 is actuated by a lever 21 oscillated by a link from a crank on a shaft 17 which has a coarse and a fine rotational adjustment with respect to a main shaft 12, Fig. 2, with which is associated the record card feeding picker 23a. The coarse adjustment determines whether the blank is printed upon its upper or lower half, and is effected by the engagement of a detent pawl 502, Fig. 3b, pivotally mounted on a gear wheel 501 freely rotating on the shaft 17 and driven from the main shaft 12, with either of two indentations 513 in a disc 508. The disc 508 forms a driving part of a one revolution clutch R12, 526, 509 to 516, Figs 3a, 3b, having a driven disc 518 also freely rotatable on the shaft 17, and containing six holes 520 into which a projection 521 on an arm 519, fixed to the shaft 17, engages to form the fine adjustment. The fine adjustment determines the printing position within each half of the blank card. A full rotation of a feed drum 33a, Fig. 1, passes a record card into a stacker 72a and under condition (a) a blank card is fed by a feed drum 33, printed and passed directly into a stacker 72 but when working under condition (b) listed above with the machine set up to print a group of codes on one card, the feed drum 33 advancing the blank cards is rotated in line space steps. Drum 33a is rotated by a ratchet 534a, Fig. 2, and pawl 535a secured on a pinion 45a driven by a rack 46a reciprocated by a follower 47a of a cam 548 so that each cycle of rotation causes a record card to pass through the primary device. A similar rack driving mechanism for advancing the blank cards, however, has a pawl 532 which engages a detent 533 in the top of a rack 46 so that the return stroke thereof is limited causing only a line spacing advance of the drum 33. Adjustment to the actual amount of line space is effected by moving the mounting for the pawl 532 to the right or left on its slotted fixings. The mounting also carries an electromagnet 530 which when de-energised allows a spring to maintain the pawl 532 clear of the rack 46 in which case a full stroke is imparted to the pinion 45 and a blank card is passed through the secondary device necessary when using the machine under condition (a). For operation under condition (d) cards are fed to both primary and secondary sensing devices and printing from data partly on the punched " blank " cards and partly on the record cards is effected on the blank " cards. Operotion.-The depression of the start button energises relays R1, R2, R3, clsing contacts R1a, R1b, R2a, R2b which start the driving motor M. Safety contacts SC1, SC2, HC1, HC2, JC1 and JC2 are provided which operate respectively to stop the motor if there are too many cards in the stackers, their hoppers are empty, or the machine becomes jammed. The starter button also energises relay R10 which is held by its own contacts. Contacts R10a of relay R10 close to operate the clutch magnet R12 operating the one revolution clutch 509-516 connecting the drive to the shaft 17 to advance the blank card. Relay R10 is disengaged by cam contacts CB1 in the relay R10 holding circuit before shaft 17 completes one revolution so the drive is again declutched. As a record card is fed into the primary device, upside down and "Y" edge leading, contacts CL1 (contacts 31a, Fig. 1) are closed which operate a relay R6 having contacts R6d in series with the relay R10 which is thereby prevented from operating. Relay R6 is held operated through its own contacts R6b and cam contacts CB1 that have a make time overlapping the break time of CL1 so relay R6 is held operated until such time as there is no blank card present. Sensing now takes place by the primary reading brushes 32a, 532a and the desired printing magnets R17 are operated; alphabetic data is expressed by two lines of coding, one code in the 1-0 range and the other in the eleventh and twelfth row of perforations in the record card. A special circuit comes into operation when a coding utilizes the row O singly or in combination. If the start key is held depressed a second cycle commences and a card is fed from the primary device but not from the secondary device since relay R10 cannot be operated, but a relay R11 (530, Fig. 2) is energised through contacts R6c, R5c, plugs SP, HS and cam contacts C6. The operation of R11 causes the pawl 532 to engage rack 46 so that only a line spacing advance is given to feed drum 33 and the blank card. The record card is at this point ejected from the primary device and closes contacts JC1 to set up a holding circuit for the motor control relays R1, R2, R3, and allows the start button to be released. The motors continue to run until the last card in each group is sensed which has a special designation " Y " causing the operation of relay R10 and clutch magnet R12 and the shaft 17 to be given a single revolution. The blank card closes card lever contacts CL2 (reference 31 on Fig. 1) operating relay R5 and thereby breaking the holding circuit of relay R11 (530) so that the feed drum 33 makes a full movement to eject the blank card. A further control circuit compares certain specified control columns in successive cards to ensure they are similar. If for any reason the " Y " on the last card does not cause the printed card to be ejected and a new one fed in, the control circuit will find disagreement in successive cards and cause the machine to stop. Specifications 389,143 and 595,417, [both in Group XIX], also are referred to. The Provisional Specification also describes a means for varying the feed of the blank card by use of a number of the detents 533 on the rack 46 and the particular detent being engaged by a pawl actuated by a timed impulse derived from a sensing of the record card. This specification also referred to revolution counters which check the number of record cards fed against the total number of lines printed on the blanks.