Patent GB-776577-A (GB)
Title: Data recording machine
Filed: 1955-04-28
Abstract: 776,577. Recording-apparatus. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. April 28, 1955 [May 4, 1954], No. 12279/55. Class 106 (4). [Also in Group XVI] A data recording-machine comprises a data entry register 285 which receives identity and information where that identity is to be printed, and data recording apparatus, e.g. a wire printer head 11, which, under the control of the register, plots the data in required location on a recording surface attached to a table 10. This comprises a flat platen surface in which there are two rectangular grooves 47 with an aperture 48, disposed at the apex of each, which are connected to a vacuum pump 50 so that the evacuated grooves secure a paper to the table 10. The printing-head 11, comprises thirty-five fine printing wires 275, Fig. 11, which are selectively shifted, to form a required character (see Group XVI). Upward movement of the plate 283, to effect printing impression, is derived from links 349, 351 and a cam-follower action on a powershaft 305. The printing-head is moved in the directions of arrows 18, 19, Fig. 1, by rods 13 and 14 which are mounted in sliders 15. Rod 13 has, attached to each end, tapes 23 which are joined to a single tape 26 which is driven by a type head positioning mechanism B, Fig. 1, and which is adjustably anchored to the frame at 269. The other ends of the tapes 23 are taken to a piston 35 disposed within a cylinder 36 connected to a tank 39 maintained in vacuum by a pump 40. Thus the tape 26 is maintained in tension. Rod 14 has a similar tape arrangement and drive mechanism. Each of these positioning mechanisms, shown in Fig. 4, have coarse, intermediate, and fine adjusting sections. The coarse adjustment effects travel of the head by amounts 5.12, 2.56, 1.28, 0.64 inches and comprises pulleys 97a-97h which are normally latched outwardly from a pair of cam-oscillated arms 72, 73. In accordance with the position code sensed in a record by brushes or recorded in the keyboard, electromagnets 90a-90h are operated and armatures 86 axially move relative to the pulleys 97 so that selected ones drop into notches 103 of the arms 72, 73 and the tape 26 is moved in the direction of the arrow 192; tension of the tape is maintained by the vacuum cylinder 36. Intermediate adjustment of the tape 26 by amounts 0.32 and 0.16 inches is effected by pulleys 137, 119, 139 and 138, mounted on levers 131, 114, 133, 132 controlled by arms 107, 108 oscillated from the ends of the arms 72, 73. In a manner similar to the coarse adjustment the pulleys do not move unless the arms are released by the operation of electromagnets 140, 124, 142, 141. Fine adjustment of the tape 26 by amounts 0.08, 0.04, 0.02 and 0.01 inches is controlled by a pulley 168 on an arm 160 oscillated by a follower and cam 162, 163. The swing of the arm is determined by a stop 171 which is positioned by actuators in a manner similar to the positioning of slides 171P associated with the printing mechanism. A second positioning mechanism for the tape 46 is provided. The identity of the data, and its position on the recording surface is entered on the register 285 either manually or by the sensing of perforations in record cards and a unit C, Fig. 1, converts data into a binary code required to drive the positioning mechanism for the tapes 26, 46. Conversion is accomplished by gating an electronic multivibrator to generate a number of pulses equal to the decimal coded value of the two movements of the printing head required. These pulses are entered into a binary counter which selectively controls the electromagnets for the coarse, intermediate and fine sections of the positioning mechanism. Specification 638,935, [Croup XVI], is referred to.