US1944659A - Printing counter - Google Patents

Description

Filed Feb. l5, 1929 13 Sheets-Sheet l Gm@ www 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. A. FORD PRINTING COUNTER Filed Feb.

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PRINTING COUNTER Fiied Feb. 15, 1929 15 sheets-sheet e LL gnou/16oz M4 @513, @HOM/wij Jan. 23, 1934. E A, FORD 1,944,659

PRINTING COUNTER Filed Feb. l5, 1929 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 Jan. 23, 1934. v E. A. FORD 1,944,659

PRINTING COUNTER Filed Feb. 15, 1929 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 Jan. 23, 1934. E. A. FORD 1,944,559

PRINTING COUNTER Filed Feb. l5, 1929 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 vwentoz E. A. FORD Jan. 23, 1934.

PRINTING COUNTER Filed Feb. l5, 1929 13 Sheets-Sheet 10 Ilm U .om @E Jan. 23, 1934. E, A, FQRD 1,944,659

PRINTING COUNTER Filed Feb. l5, 1929 13 Sheets-Sheet ll Jan. 23, 1934. E, A. FORD ll@ PRINTING COUNTER Filed Feb. l5, 1929 13 Sheets-Sheet l2 som SORT AND ADD 'Ill lIH

@www/Moz Jan. 23,1934. E. A. FORD PRINTING COUNTER Filed Feb. 15, 1929 l5 Sheets-Sheet 13 NVENTOR mf Mw ATTORNEY Patented Jan. Z3, 1934 UNITED STATES PRINTING COUNTER Eugene A. Ford, Scarsdale, N. Y., assigner, by mesne assignments, to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 15, 1929. Serial No. 3401.191

l Claims. (Cl. 235-92) 'I'his case relates to mechanical accounting systems wherein record cards bearing index point designations are adapted to control accounting machines and is an improvement on Patent No. 1,830,756, and may be termed a continuation in part of application Serial No. 234,329, filed November 19, 1927.

In particular, the invention relates to a combined sorter and counter with printing mechanism for making a record of the result of the sorting and counting operation of record cards.-

The invention also has as an object, the provision of a total and grand total counter, the former of which makes a record of the number of cards in each stack assorted and the latter of which may make a record of the total number of cards in a plurality of such stacks operated on by the sorter.

Another object is to provide zeroizing mechanism by means of which the grand total counter may or may not 'at will be zeroized together with the remaining counters.

Still further, an object of the invention is to prevent operation of the sorter when the counter parts are in position to effect a printing operation.

Other objects of the invention will be disclosed in the following parts of the specification and in the annexed drawings. in which;

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the counter unit with parts sectioned to show the interior structure;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the counter unit;

Fig. 3 is a detail of the means for adjustably mounting the analyzing brush of the sorter unit;

Fig. 4 is a section through the paper carrier of the counter unit;

Fig. 5 is an enlargedvsection on line 5-5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 5 with the printing frame in a different position;

Fig. 7 is a detail section through the grand total counter bank;

Fig. 8 is a view of the right side of the counter unit;

Fig. 9 is a section on broken line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Figs. 10 and 11 are sections respectively on lines 10-10 and 11-11 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a detail of Fig'. 9;

Fig. 13 is a section on line 13--13 of Fig. 21;

Fig. 14 is a detail of the unit wheel of a counter bank;

Fig. 15 is a detail of the highest order wheel of a counter bank;

Fig. 16 is a section online 16--16 of Fig. 21

Fig. 17 is a detail of the counter card lever contact-making device;

Fig. 18 is a detail of the ribbon mechanism on the left side of the counter unit;

Fig. 19 is a detail taken at right angles to Fig. 18; l Fig. 20 is a longitudinal sectional view of the sorter;

Fig. 21 is a section through the rear of the sorter, and;

Fig, 22 is the circuit diagram.

Fig. 23 is a detail view of a unit counter wheel and coacting pawl of the next higher order looking at these parts from the left hand side as viewed in Fig. 1,

Fig. 24 is a detail of the highest order wheel of a bank similar to Fig. 15 but with the pawl removed, and

Fig. 25 is a detail of the highest order wheel with disk '10 removed to show the coaction of the pawl 66 of this wheel with the stop lug of the Wheel.

The sorting machine with which the printer `counter cooperates is provided with a magazine 10 (see Figs. 20 and 21) for holding a stack of cards 11, the bottom one of which is engageable at the rear by picker blades 12which feed it from the magazine through the card throat 13 into the grip of feed rolls 14. Each picker blade is mounted at the rear of a slidable arm 15 reciprocated by an oscillating arm 16 pinned to a shaft 17. One of the arms 16 is pivotally connected to a link 18 which is journalled on a stud 19 fixed to a crank arm 20 on a shaft 21. The right hand end of the shaft 21 has fixed to it a gear 22 which is rotated by a worm gear 23 fast to a shaft 24 which is driven by the shaft of the sorter motor M (Figl`22) in any suitable manner.

The pickers 12 feed a card each cycle to the feed rolls 14 which advance the card over the analyzing contact roll 25 and under the analyzing brush 26. The rolls 27 continue to feed the cards to the pockets one edge of one pocket being indicated at 28 in Fig. 20 in accordance with the analysis by the brush 26 of the index points of a selected column of the card. The brush may be adjusted to sense any desired column of the card. It is fixed in a holder 30 (see Figs. 3 and 20) which has .narrowed ends 31 fitting in notches 32 of a pair of opposing frame members 33. The notches are numbered in alignment with the columns of the cards as they pass under the holder. To keep the holder from moving upwardly' in the notches, a shaft 34 (Fig. 20) is rotatably mounted in slidable blocks 35 which are pressed downwardly by a spring-pressed pin 36. The intermediate portion of the shaft 34 is flattened and as shown in Fig. 20 bears on the top of the holder 30 to keep it in place. When the holder is to be moved to mother pair of opposing slots 32 to sense a different card column, the shaft 34 is rotated clockwise as viewed in Fig. 20, as a result of which the intermediate portion of the shaft moves oif the top of the holder releasing it and permitting the operator to lift it by the hole 37 completely out of the notches it is occupying and replace it in the desired set of notches. The shaft is then rotated counterclockwise to again position it over the holder to keep the latter in place.

The action of the sorter in selecting the pocket for a card may be briefly outlined. As already stated, a card is fed each cycle between the analyzing contact roll and brush by the feed rolls 14. As the card moves between the analyzing contacts. the brush successively senses the index point positions of the selected card column. In correspondence with the sensing of the index point positions of the card, the forward edge of the card moves over the table 40 (Fig. 20) to positions in front of the successive guide blades 4l. If a perforation occurs, for example, in the fourth position of the card from its leading edge. the latter will be in front of the fourth guide blade from the right. When the analyzing brush makes contact with the roll 25 through the perforation, a circuit is completed through sorting magnets 42, in a manner to be further explained in connection with the circuit diagram (Fig. 22). 'Ihe magnets thereupon attract an armature 43 rocking it counterclockwise on its pivot 44 as viewed in Fig. 20 and thereby unlatching the upper end ofthe armature from a ledge 45 on a member pivoted at 46. When the ledge is released, the member 50 rocks clockwise on its pivot. The table 40 which rests on ledge 45 follows the movement of the ledge and accordingly drops to a lower position. 'Ihe blades 41 resting on table 40 tend to follow the table but the first three guide blades from the right, in the example taken, are now on top of the card which restrains them from following the movement of the table. The fourth guide blade not being restrained from following the table is lowered and as the card advances. it moves over the fourth blade which leads it to its corresponding pocket. Near the end of the cycle, cams 48 and 49 fixed to the shaft of lower feed roll 27 (Fig. 20) first engage the left end of member 50 and rock the ledge 45 upwardly. The cams then engage a lever 5l to rock its lower end fixed to a slidable adjustable rod 52 to the left. The lower end of armature 43 is also attached to the rod and upon movement of the member 52 to the left rocks clockwise positioning its upper end beneath the ledge 45, thereby latching it and the table 40 in upper position in preparation for the next card cycle.

In order to count the number of cards sorted into each pocket 28 of the sorting machine, the

latter is constructed to control a counting mw chine which also has provi ons for making a printed record of the earn :rted into tach pocket, the total number' si' so ing run of the mac sorted in several ser rted in one sort shaft 56 through sul has a key-way 56 :ir '(Fig. 6l integral with.

designation counter bank 61 has a set of five wheels 62 while the total counter bank 63 and he grand total counter bank 64 (Figs. 7 and 9) have six wheels. A friction disk 60 is located on each side of a counter wheel. Between adjacent banks of counters, compression springs 65 attached to the outer friction disks of the banks urge the counter wheels and disks into close frictional contact. As the friction disks keyed to shaft 56 rotate, they tend to rotate the wheels. The latter are prevented from following the disks by pawls 66, the nose 67 of the pawl engaging the longer side 68 of the notches 69 in the escapement wheel plate 70 to prevent the latter moving clockwise as viewed in Fig. 14. The plate 70 is rigidly attached to the counter wheel which has ten type lugs 0 to 9 disposed around its periphery. The escapement plate is within a recess formed by the periphery of the printing wheel which extends as an annular flange 71 from the side of the wheel. On the inside of the flange of each unit wheel of a bank (see Fig. 14) are equally spaced lugs 72 each adjacent a corresponding type lug and escapement notch. The pawl nose 67 is sufficiently narrow where it protrudes into the recess of the wheel to pass with clearance between the top of lug 72 and the periphery of plate 70, and when engaging the notch side 68 is a slight distance above the top of the adjacent lug 72. The pawls 66 are pivoted on a rod 75. Each unit pawl has a lateral extension 76 comprising the armature of an actuating magnet 77 (Fig. 5), which is provided for each designation counter bank and similarly an extension 76 comprises the armature of an actuating magnet 77 (Fig. 9) provided for each of counter banks 63 and 64.

When the magnet of a bank is energized, as

-will be further explained in connection with the circuit diagram (Fig. 22), the armature 76 is attracted and the unit pawl is rocked counterclockwise on rod against theresistance of the spring 78 connected thereto. The pawl nose 67 thus moves oil the notch side 68 permitting the unit counter wheel to rotate with the friction disks clockwise as viewed in Fig. 14. The magnet 77 is energized only momentarily and spring 78 is intended to immediately rock the pawl nose upwardly to engage the next notch 68 and stop the wheel. Suppose, however, that the deenergization of the magnet and the action of the spring 78 lag to the extent that, unless means were provided to prevent it, the wheel would move more than one step after its release by the pawl thereby adding more than one to the wheel reading. The means for preventing this occurrence comprise the pawl nose itself and lugs 72. Thus when the pawl nose is released from one notch 68 it drops and as the wheel rotates, the lug 72 adjacent the next notch 6B contacts with the right '-'F side oi the pawl nose thereby preventing further movement of the wheel. The latter has thus 4far moved slightly less than the distance between adjacent notches. When the spring 7B succeeds in moving the pawl upwardly the pawl nose releases the lug' 72 which. it is engaging and Athe Wheel advances until the pawl nose engages the notch adjacent salti lug. 'lin this manner the unit Wheel can move only one stop cach. time it is releaset by the pawl.

Each vuisten.' Wheel except the highest order witlecis has listed to its leit hand side (as viewed n Fig. itl) o. transfer lug Si). 'Flite "iu eel 'moves in a ci the higher o. nel' Wheel projects. titane lower order wheel moves from 9 to 0 relative to index position R (Fig. 14) its lug engages a projection 81 on the pawl 66 of the adjacent higher order wheel. The lug cams said pawl out of engagement with its coacting and higher order wheel which moves one step before the pawl under action of its spring 78 moves back into wheel holding position. In this manner a lower order wheel in going from 9 to 0 effects a transfer to the next higher order wheel.

Fixed to the highest order printing wheel 62 of each bank, shown in Fig. 15, is a lug which is adapted to engage the right side of the nose 67 of its restraining pawl to prevent said wheel from moving all the way from 9 to 0 position which latter position would give an incorrect reading. The lug 85 stops the wheel 62' after the wheel has moved relative to the index line R about midway between the 9 and 0 positions. Therefore, the wheel will not present any type lug at the index or printing position R. When a record is printed on a sheet from the wheels, as will be explained in detail hereinafter, the wheel 62' which is mid-way between the 9 and 0 positions at the index line R will not print on the sheet. This indicates that the counter bank containing this wheel 62 has exceeded its counting capacity and therefore that the count of this bank is in error.

To zeroize the counter wheels the rotation of shaft 56 is reversed by means hereinafter explained. The movement of a wheel with the shaft in reverse rotation is not prevented by its restraining pawl nose 67 but during such movement a straight surface S6 of the transfer cam lug 80 of a particular lower order wheel engages the left side of the nose 67 of the pawl of the adjacent higher order wheel. This engagement tends to move the engaged pawl 66 clockwise (as viewed in Fig. 14). Since this cannot be done, the pawl nose 67 being in contact with the periphery of escapement wheel 70, the lug 80 and consequently the wheel carrying it are stopped'from further movement in a reverse direction (counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 14). The position of the pawl nose 67 of a wheel is such that it stops the adjacent lower order wheel in its 0 position relative to the index line R. The highest order wheels 62 are stopped with their 0 type in index position R duringthe reverse movement of the shaft (which is counterclockwise in Fig. 15) by contact of the right side of lug 85, as viewed in Fig. 15 with the right side of the nose of its own restraining pawl.

Means are provided to selectively permit or prevent at will the zeroizing of the grand total counter bank 64 when the other banks are zeroized. Referring to Figs. 7 and 8 shaft 56 is seen j to extend past total counter bank and terminate in a reduced circular bearing end seated in a corresponding hole of shaft 56 of the grand total counter bank. Shaft 56 releasably drives shaft 56' by the following means. Shaft 56 has a sleeve 91 fixed thereto encircling the reduced end rod 90. The peripheryof the sleeve 91 has a notch 92 therein into' which a ball 93 is yieldably urged by a spring 94 adjustably held in a collar 95 surrounding the shaft 56'. The collar 95 has a portion entering the key slot 59' of the shaft thus forcing the shaft to rotate with it. lNormally the rotation of shaft 56 in any direction will rotate shaft 56 through the sleeve 91 the notch 92 therein, the ball clutch 93 and the collar 95.

However, during the reverse or zeroizing movement of the shaft 56, shaft 56' may be prevented from moving. The outer end of shaft 56' has pinned to it a notched vwheel 96. The nose of a pawl 97 pivoted to the side of the counter housing is adapted to engage with the notches of wheel 96 and stop movement of the wheel and the shaft 56 rigid therewith. The pawl 97v has a pin 99 seated in a notch 100 in the lower end of a lever 101 the hub of which is freely rotatably mounted on the terminal portion of shaft 56. A coil spring 102 having one end xed to the terminal portion of shaft 56 and tightly encircling the hub of the lever 101 tends to rotate said lever with said shaft. During the forward motion of the shaft the lever 101 tends to rotate clockwise with the spring 102 but as seen in Fig. 8 this action is prevented by the lever forcing the side of pawl 97 against an adjustable stop screw 103. During the reverse movement of shaft 56 the spring 102 tends to rotate the lever counterclockwise swinging the pawl 97 clockwise and forcing its nose into engagement with the notched periphery of wheel 96 thereby preventing the wheel and shaft 56' from rotating in a reverse or Zeroizing direction. The relative movement between shafts 56 and 56 will be permitted by the ball clutch 93 yielding and slipping out ofthe notch 92 of sleeve 91. The counter bank 64 driven by shaft 56 is thus normally not zerclzed together with the other counter banks. However, if desired, the counter bank may be Zeroized together with the other counter banks during reverse motion of shaft 56 by the operator grasping the handle of lever 101 and pressing the lever in a clockwise direction to force it to remain in the position shown in Fig. 8 thus keeping the nose of pawl 97 out of contact with wheel 96. The latter not being restrained will not restrain shaft 56. The ball clutch driving connection between shafts 56 and 56' will then drive shaft 56 in a reverse direction so that counter bank 64 actuated thereby will be zeroized in the same manner as the other counter banks.

Figs. l, 2, 5. 6, 8. and 9 illustrate the means for taking a printed reading from the type lugs of the counters at the index line R (see Figs. 8, 14. 15, 18, and 25). Rising from the base 120 of the counter frame at each side thereof are standards 121 which carry stub shafts 123 on which the side plates 122 of the movable printing fr'ame are journalled.

The plates 122 support between them a hollow substantially cylindrical paper roll holder comprising a lower half 125 rigid with plates 122 and an upper half 126 hinged to the lower half. A pair of arcuate strips 127 are provided having a broad portion 127 which when moved to embrace the lower half of the holder does not interfere with movement of the upper half of the holder on the hinge to open position shown in Fig. 4. When the strips are moved by handles 128 thereon so that Athe broad portion 127 moves over the upper half of the holder it will prevent the upper half from moving and keep the holder closed.

In front of the paper holder the side plates 122 fixedly carry a table 130 (Figs. 1, 5, and 6) having an intermediate elongated slot 131 through which projects an elastic strip 132 preferably in the nature of a rubber band the ends of which are held between clamp plates 133 rigid with a index position by a roller 135 when the latter me is moved along the back of the strip. The roller is rotatably mounted between the top and bottom plates of a frame 137 to the rear of which the handle 136 is fixed. The frame is slidably mounted on a rail 138 fixed to the side plates 122. Rollers 139 journalled between the top and bottom plates of f rame 137 serve to reduce the friction between the rail and the frame. Near each end of the rail a notch 140 is provided with which a spring-pressed ball 141 (Fig. 6) carried in the handle 136 cooperates to yieldingly hold the frame 137 at each end of its movement.

The paper sheet 124 from the roll of paper in the holder -126 is brought through the front thereof over the table past the platen strip 132 and between a plurality of rubber or felt covered feed rolls 145 and cooperating rolls 146. After passing between these rolls the paper is led between guide plates 147 and 148 rlgidily carried between the side plates 122 on bars 149 and 150 respectively. The edge 151 (Fig. 5) of the plate 147 serves as a cutting and straight edge along which the sheet of paper may be out olf.

To permit the paper edge to be inserted initially between the rolls 145 and 146 the latter are rotatably mounted between the upper ends of plates 152 which are freely journalled at the lower ends upon a common shaft 153 (see Fig. 1) carried by the side plates 122. Adjacent shaft 153 is a second shaft 154 rotatably journalled between the side plates and having fixed thereto outside the left hand plate as viewed in Fig. 1 a handle 155. The portion of the shaft 154 between the side plates is formed with a flat side engaging straight edges 156 on the plates 152 (see Figs. 5 and 6). Springs 157 wound around shaft 153 have one end fixed to the plates 152 and the other end bearing on shaft 154. The effect of the springs is to yieldinglyhold the flat side of shaft 154 in contact with the straight edges 156 of the plates 152 in which position the rolls 145 and 146 grip the paper. By depressing handle the shaft 154 is rotated thereby camming plates 152 outwardly and separating rolls 145 and 146 between which the paper may now be inserted.

The sheet of paper is automatically fed forward a predetermined, adjustable, distance during the printing operations. The printing frame including the side plates 122 and the entire mechanism carried thereby is adjustable to three different positions about its axis. Fig. 5 shows the lower position which it occupies when the sorting operation and the counting operation is taking place. In this position. there is no possibility of accidental interference with the motion of the counter wheels. The weight of the printing frame holds .it in the lower position which is fixed by contact of studs 160 carried by each plate 122 with the top of projections 161 of concave'ly curved bars 162 fixed to the base 120 adjacent each plate 122.

The second position of the printing frame shown by dotted lines in Fig. il and indicated hy the reference character S is designed to place the table 11i() in a convenient position for the operator to write upon the paper resting on the table. In order to reloasably hold the p frame in this position a notch 153 (17' 8) is formed in the top oi cach. bar 2 in i. is sr.- t a cavity in, a member 165 attached to each p te 122. The pin. i. urged outwariilly by springs in the plates and. upon marching the notch .i during n'iovement ci? the printing frame w'lii. snap pawl isi with the collar lilo 4fecting rotation of shaft 170 (Figs. 1, 5, 6 and 9) to which feed rolls 145 are fixed.

An arcuate rack 171 (Figs. 8 and 9) has an opening receiving stub shaft 123 and is fixed to the right hand standard 121. The rack teeth are on an are formed about shaft 123 as a center. Shaft has rigidly connected thereto at its right hand side a concentric shaft 172 (Fig. 9). Freely encircling the shaft 172 is a pinion 173 (Figs. 8, 9 and 10). Rigid with the pinion is a sleeve 174 within whichds pivoted a pawl 175 normally urged clockwise by a spring 176 connected at opposite ends to the pawl and the i sleeve. A ratchet wheel 177 located within the 100 sleeve and freely mounted on shaft 172 is adapted to cooperate with pawl 175. During the movement of the printing frame which is Journalled on shaft 123 from the upper to the lower position the pinion 173 rolls on rack 171 and rotates counterclockwise on its axis as viewed in Figs. 8 and 10. The sleeve 174 and pawl 175 rotate with the pinion and consequently the nose of pawl idly rides over the teeth of ratchet wheel 177.

The outer end of pawl 175 protrudes through a slot 178 in sleeve 174. Surrounding the sleeve is a ring 179 having a long slot 180 in its periphery into which the outer end of pawl 175 projects. As the pawl moves counterclockwise its outer end encounters at'point 181 the inner periphery of ring 179 which cams the pawl clockwise on its pivot moving the pawl nose out of the locus of the ratchet teeth. The ring 179 is provided with notches 182 and 183 cooperating with a pin 184 on the end of a pawl 185 pivoted to the frame plate 122 and urged towards the ring by a spring 186 (see Fig. 10). The ring 179 is freely movable on sleeve 174 but is releasably retained in set position by coaction of pin 184 of pawl 185 with either of notches 182 or 183. Notch 183 is shaped so that pin 184 restrains ring 179 from clockwise movement beyond the position shown in Fig. 10 but permits counterclockwise movement. Notch 182 is shaped so that when pin 184 is seated therein, the pin prevents further counterclockwise movement (Fig. 10) but permits clockwise movement. The ring 179 is accessible to be turned by the operator (see Fig. 9). When the ring is moved by the operator counterclockwise i" that pin 184 seats in notch 182 the point 181 of the ring encounters pawl 175 during its counterM clockwise movement later than when the pin 1434 is in notch 183. The pawl 175 is therefore pci-m mittcd to move :further than dotted line po fifi" sition shown in Fig. li) by a. distance equal to that between notches 1:32 and 133.

.'.Fiiccci 'to the right of the ratchet wheel 1.7i' e. collar iiiii (Figs. i), ii., and il?) which has s` notches 159 in :its periphery corresponding to i' seven teeth of ratchet wheel! Lii'i'. The not coast with a pin Zifii on the end ci a pawl pivcteii to plate i222 and yieldii urged tow collar by a spring Z192. Th igagei'nen es to hold t..

ratchet wheel stationary during the movement of the pawl 175 counterclockwise with sleeve 174.

During the movementl of the printing frame from the lowest position to the highest or printing position the gear 173* rolls on rack 171 and rotates clockwise. The sleeve 174 and pawl 175 carried by the gear also rotate clockwise. During this movement as soon' as the outer end of the pawl is free of the point 181 of ring 179 the pawl lnose moves into engagement with a tooth on ratchet wheel 177. Continued clockwise movement of the pawl 175 results in actuating the ratchet wheel clockwise. It is obvious that when pin 184 is in notch 182 the wheel will be moved further during the pawls clockwise movement than when the pin is in notch 183. In the former case, the point -181 is closer to the pawl and as a result the latter will be released sooner to engage the wheel.

The parts and movements are so proportioned that the pawl 175 will always move the ratchet Wheel a distance equal to a multiple of the space between teeth so that when the movement of the wheel is completed the pin 190 will be engaged with a notch 189 in the collar 188 fixed to the wheel. Due to this engagement when the pawl 175 during its next counterclockwise movement rides over wheel 177 it will not frictionally and undesirably move the wheel Ycounterclockwise.

The collar 188 has rigidly fastened thereto a sleeve 200 within which is a coil spring 201 (Figs. 9 and 12) loosely surrounding the shaft 172. A disk 202 loose on the shaft 172 is urged outwardly by the spring 201 and acts on three equally spaced dogs 203 to keep them in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 12. The outer ends of the dogs when in the dotted line position grip the interior annular surface of the sleeve 200 which thereby forces the dogs 203 to rotate withV it. The dogs are pivoted at 204 to a collar 205v to which a knob 206 is attached by a pin 207 passing through a slot in shaft 172. Rotation of the dogs with sleeve 200 will through the collar 205 and the latters pin connection to shaft 172 cause the shaft to rotate. Thus rotation of ratchet wheel 177 clockwise by the pawl 175, sleeve 174, and gear 173 will rotate the collar 188 and sleeve 200 rigid with the ratchet wheel and through the dogs 203 engaging sleeve 200 rotate collar 205 and shaft 172. Shaft 172 being rigidly joined to shaft 170 on which are mounted feed rolls 145, the latter will be rotated clockwise to feed the paper forward.

Within the collar 205 a member 208 is slidably mounted on shaft 172 within limits prescribed by contact of the ends of slot 208' in member 208 'with pin 207. The knob end 209 of member 208 may be pushed forward to cause the inner end of member 208 to engage the inner ends of dogs 203 and move them against spring 201 to the full line position shown in Fig. 12. In this position, the outer ends of dogs 203 are released from the inner surface of sleeve 200. Thus rotation of sleeve 200 can have no effect on dogs 203 when the member 20B is moved inwardly. The knob 206 may be grasped by the operators hand with the palm pushing knob 209 inwardly and shaft 172 turned through collar 205 independently of sleeve 200 and the actuating means for the sleeve.

In this manner without disturbing the relation between the pawl 175 and ratchet wheel .177 and between pin 190 and notches 189 of detent wheel 188 the shaft 172 may be manually rotated to `be rotated manually. During such manual opfeed the rolls 145 and the paper forward any desired distance. When the paper is again fed automatically the relation between the pawl 175 and wheel 177 not having been disturbed the completion of the automatic feeding movement will find the pin 190 in a notch 189 to lock the ratchet wheel against accidental reverse rotation. The amount of motion of gear 173 and the pawl 175 is obviously the same each downward movement of theprinting frame and the same each upward movement o f the frame but due to the adjustability of the ring 179 the pawl 175 engages the ratchet wheel 177 during the upward movement of the frame at adjustable times so that the amount of rotation of the wheel 177 is variable and the paper accordingly may be fed forward different amounts. To the left hand end of shaft 170 is pinned a knob 210 by which said shaft and the feed rolls 145 carried thereby may 05 eration the ratchet wheel 177 and collar 188 rotate with the shaft and the operator hearing the click of the pin 190 entering the notches 189 in the collar is enabled to stop the rotation of the shaft when the pin 190 is in one of the notches 189 thereby preserving the correct relation between the ratchet wheel 177 and the pawl 175 for an automatic feeding operation.

Ribbon mechanism is provided to support a ribbon 211 in front of the counter wheels at index posltion R (Fig. 14). Each time that the printing frame is moved from the upper to the lowest position the ribbon (Figs. 1, 8, and 9) is wound on the right hand spool 212 and during the reverse movement of the frame the actuating means for winding the ribbon on the spool is set in readiness for another operation. The spool 212 is freely mounted on a shaft 213 carried by the left hand side 214 of the counter housing 215. f A ratchet wheel 216 is also loosely mounted on shaft 213 and coupled to the spool 212 for common rotation.

The teeth of the ratchet wheel are engaged by a detent pawl 218 urged clockwise by a spring 219 having its fixed end attached to a stud 220 rigidly fixed in the wall 214. An actuating pawl 221 is pivoted to an arm 222 and urged to engage the ratchet wheel by a spring 223. The upper end of arm 222 freely encircles the hub of the ratchet wheel 216 while its lower end has a slot 250 engaging a pin 249 xed in the upper end of a link 224 loosely mounted on a pivot pin 225.

A lever 226 is also pivoted on 225 and the upper arm of the lever is connected to the link 224 by a spring 227. The lower arm oi the lever is piv- 1S@ oted to one end of a link 228 the other end of which is pivotally connected to the right hand plate 122 as shown in Fig. 8. When the printing frame is moved from the full line position shown in Fig. 8 to the lower position the linlrl 135 228 moves to the right and rocks lever 226 counterclockwise. The spring 227 causes link 224 to follow the movement of the upper arm of the bail. Through its pin and slot connection with arm 222 link 224 thereupon rocks arm 222 clockwise causing pawl 221 to rotate ratchet wheel 216. The ratchet wheel is coupled to the spool 212 hence rotation of the wheel results in similar rotation of the spool to wind the ribbon thereon. The purpose of the yielding drive provided by 11k spring 227 between link 224 and lever 226 is to permit link 224 to remain stationary when the ribbon, ratchet wheel 216, or spool 212 is prevented by some accidental cause from moving.

In this manner there is no danger of breakage of the ribbon or other parts when for some reason movementof the ribbons or associated parts is interfered with.

The pawls 218 and 221 may be simultaneously held disengaged from wheel 216 by means of an annular member 230 manipulable by a handle 231 and loosely embracing the hub of ratchet wheel 216 (see Fig. 9). A spring blade clasp 232 by which the handle is clasped in the position shown in Fig. 8 holds the member 230 releasably against movement. This position is maintained while the ribbonis being wound on spool 212. When the spool is fully wound and it is desired to unwind the ribbon therefrom the handle is moved to engage a spring blade latch 233 (Fig. 8). In this position the periphery of member 230 is between the pawls 213 and 221 and the ratchet wheel 216, thus preventing cooperation of the pawls with-the wheel.

Rotatably supported on the left hand side 235 (see Figs. 1, 18 and 19) of the counter housing 215 is a second ribbon spool 236 provided with a handle237. A flat metal strip 238 is urged by a spring 239 to constantly frictionally engage the ribbon roll on the spool 236 thereby keeping the ribbon taut as it is unwound by the action of spool 212. When the ribbon is entirely unwound from spool 236 the aforementioned member 230 is actuated to disengage the pawls 218 and 221 from association with the ribbon spool 212 and the spool 238 is rotated by its handle counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 18 to freely unwind the ribbon from spool 212 and rewind it on spool 236. When this operation is completed the member 230 is moved to release the pawls for cooperation with spool 212. The ribbon is led from' the spools over flanged guide rollers 240 (Figs. 1, 18 and 19) at the sides of the housing 215. From the rollers 240 the ribbon passes over the angular side 241 of a vertical guide member 242. The side 241 turns the ribbon as it comes from roller 240 at right angles so as to dispose it vertically in front of the counter wheels as shown in Fig. 19.

The hooked end of a member 245 which is Journalled at its other end on stud 220 fits over shaft 213 at the outer side of the ribbon spool 212 to hold it releasably on the shaft. By moving the hook of! the shaft the spool may be removed.

During the printing operation when the printing frame is in its upper position it is desirable to positively prevent accidental operation of the sorting and counting elements. For this purv pose the side 214 of the counter housing 215 has secured thereto within the housing as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 a pair of spring contact blades of which blade 246 is longer than blade 247. The blades have coacting contact points 248 which are in the sorting motor circuit as will be further explained in connection with the circuit diagram (F18. 22)

As previously explained in describing thewribbon winding mechanism the movement of the frame to its upper position rocks the arm 224 counterclockwise through its yieldable connection with bail 226 actuated by link 228. The upper end of arm 224 is provided with the pin 249 engaging the slot 250 of the pawl-carrying arm 222 associated with `the ribbon mechanism. The pin projects through the slot 250 and through a curved elongated opening 251 in the housing side 214 and is connected to a bell lever 252 (Figs. 8 and 9) freely Journalled on a bearing member 253 concentric with shaft 213. The bell lever 252 has an insulated projection 254 extending perpendicularly therefrom to beneath the free end of contact blade 248. When the arm 224 moves clockwise as viewed in Fig. 8 the pin 249 thereof compels the bell lever 252 to rock counter clockwise as viewed in Fig. 8 projection 254 moving upwardly and lifting the free end of contact blade 246 as shown in Fig. 8. The contact points 248 are thus separated and the sorting motor circuit is open thereby preventing operation of the sorter and consequent operation of the counter while the printing frame is in printing operation. When the frame is lowered arm 224 moves the bell lever clockwise and the projection 254 moves downward permitting blade 246 to drop and contact points 248 to engage.

By referring principally to the circuit diagram (Fig. 22) the operation of the machine may be made clear. After placing a stack of cards to be sorted and counted in the magazine 10 (Fig. 20) the operator depresses the start key 260. A circuit is thereupon established from the positive side of the power supply through stop key contacts 261, contact points 248 of the counter, start key contacts 262, magnets 263, 264, and 265, to the negative side of the power supply. Energization of magnets 264 and 265 attracts their respective armatures 268 and 267 to establish a circuit directly from the plus line through the contacts 268, sorter motor M, and contacts 269 to the minus lines. Motor M is thus set in motion to rotate shaft 24 and through gears 22 and 23 (Fig. 21) to operate shaft 2l for reciprocating the pickers 12 to feed a card from the magazine into the bite of feed rollers 14 which advance the card to the analyzing brush 26 (see Fig. 20). Before the card reaches the analyzing brush it engages and depresses the usual card lever contacts 270 of the sorter.

A circuit is thereby established through the card lever contacts and contacts 271 previously closed by energization of magnet 263 which shunts the start key contacts 262. The operator may then release the start key without stopping the operation of the'sorting motor. As long as cards are fed the contacts 270 will be closed but when the cards are not fed the contacts 270 will open and interrupt the motor circuit. To stop the motor at will the operator depresses stop key 272 to open contacts 261.

The motor rotates the usual sorting commutator 273, the contact points 274 of which engage the feeler 275 in synchronism with the successive sensing of the card index positions by the analyzing brush 26. Assuming, for example, a perforation in the 5 position of the card the brush 26 will contact roll 25 therethrough simultaneously with contact of brush 275 with the 5 contact point 274 of the sorting commutator. A circuit is thereby completed from the plus line through the analyzing contacts, lead 276 in cable 277 (see Fig. 20), plug 278, either contact blade 279 or 280 depending on whether the plug is inserted in socket 281 or 282, lead 283, common contact ring 284, the 5 contact point 274. brush 275, resistances 285, sorting magnets 42, to lead 286, brush 287, a contact segment 288 of a commutator 289, brush 290, lead 291, and contacts 282, closed by magnet 293, to the minus side. The purpose of the contact segments of commutator 289 is to break the circuit before the analyzing contacts after sensing a perforation are separated by the card thereby avoiding sparking of the analyzing brush.

If plug 278 is placed in socket 281 there will be no connection to the counter and the combined sorter and counter will operate only to sort cards.

If the plug is inserted in socket 282, the counter also will be operated and count cards fed to the sorting pockets. A counter commutator (Figs. 13, 21, and 22) is provided, the stator 296 of which carries the contact studs 297 arranged circumferentially around the opening 298.

The rotor 299 is operatedby the sorter motor M so as to cause the brush 300 carried thereby to engage the contacts 297 synchronously with the feed of the cards.. A second brush 301 carried by the rotor engages a commo-n contact ring/ 302. Thus if a 5 perforation is sensed by the analyzing brush 26 a circuit is completed from the plus side through the analyzing contacts, plug 278, line 303, line 304, resistances 305, counter magnet 77 operating the 5 counter bank, the contact stud 297 connected to said magnet by one of the leads 306, the brush 300 then engaging said stud, the brush 301, contact ring 302, lead 307, brush 287, a contact segment 288, brush 290, lead 291, and contacts 292, to the minus side. The counter magnet of the 5 bank being energized, it will attract the associated armature 76 and therefore the pawl 66 of the unit wheel ofsaid bank will be released from the wheel permitting it to rotate and add one to the total on the 5 counter bank in the manner previously explained.

Simultaneously with the establishment of a circuit through either of counter magnets 77E to 9, which occurs upon the sensing of perforations E to 9 in the card by the analyzing contacts, a circuit is also completed as follows: From the plus side through the analyzing contacts, plug 278, line 303, line 309, magnet 310, brush 311, circuit breaker 312, brush 313, line 314, brush 287, commutator 239, brush 291 and contacts'292 to the minus side. The energization of magnet 310 attracts its armature 315 to open normally closed contacts 316. The armature is latched in its open position for the remainder of the cycle in a manner well-known in the art. Circuit breaker 312 is timed to prevent closing of a circuit through magnet 310 when the analzing brush contacts the bare roll after the card leaves the brush 26. The closing of a circuit through magnet 310 at this time would undesirably open contacts 316. Contacts 316 are in a circuit established at the beginning oi the cycle before magnet 310 can be energized to open contacts 316. This latter circuit is from the plus side through line 345, brush 346, contact roll 347, brush 348, magnet 349, magnet 317, contacts 316, line 335, and circuit breaker roll 336 to the minus side. Magnet 349 closes armature contacts 350 thereby forming a circuit shunting the roll 347, through lines 345 and 351, contacts 350 and as before.

Magnet 317 when energized by the circuit just 'described closes armature contacts 318 in series with the reject counter magnet 77. Thus, assume that no perforation has been sensed during the cycle and the card consequently is to go to the reject pocketu Magnet 310 has not been energized and contacts 316 and 318 are closed. As soon as the rear edge of' the card leaves the analyzing brush 26, the latter engages the bare contact roll 25 and a circuit is established through the analyzing contacts, the lines 303 and 304, the

reject counter magnet 77, contacts 318, the connected commutator segment 297 now engaged by thek brush 300, line 307, brush 287, commutator 289, brush 290,` and contacts 292 to the minus side. Now assume that a perforation has occurred during the card cycle then contacts 316 in series with magnet 317 in the same circuit are opened by magnet 310 as previously explained. Accord' ingly magnet 317 is deenergized and contacts 318 are open so that the circuit through reject magnet 77 cannot be made.

The accumulating total and total counter magnets 77 are energized at the beginning of the cycle each time a card is fed. In order to prevent establishment of a circuit through magnets 77 when no card is fed card lever contacts 325 distinct from the ordinary sorter card lever contacts 270 are provided. Contacts 325 `are closed by the card as it moves towards the analyzing brush, engaging the horizontal arm 326 (see Fig. 17) of a bail and rocking the vertical downwardly extending arm 327 of the bail to the right' (as viewed in Fig. 17). The end of arm 327 moves contact blade 328 towards contact blade 329 to close the card lever contacts 325 carried by said blades. As a result at the beginning of a cycle a circuit is made from the plus line through brush 330, the conductive portion of contact roll 332, now engaging brushes 330 and 333, card lever contacts 325, magnet 334, magnet 293, line 335, and circuit breaker 336 tothe minus side. Magnet 334 upon energization closes contacts 337 establishing a circuit shunting card lever contacts 325 and roll 332 from the plus line through line 345, contacts 337, magnet 293, and roll 336 to the minus side. The purpose of making this circuit is to maintain contacts 292 operated by magnet 293 closed until broken at the end of the cycle by the circuit breaker roll 336.

Simultaneously with the making of the latter circuit at the beginning of the cycle another circuit is made from the plus line through line 345, line 338, total and accumulating total magnets 77', line 339, contact segment 340 of circuit breaker 341, line 342, line 291 and contacts 292, now closed due to energization of their controlling magnet 293 to the minus side. The total and accumulating total counters are thus operatedat the beginning of a cycle each time a card is fed.

When it is desired to count from a column without sorting, the plug 278 is inserted in socket 355 which connects the analyzing brush to the counter only. If it is desired to count from one columnl and sort from another a second brush 26 is provided, supported andadjusted as brush 26. 'I'he plug 278 connected to brush 26' is inserted in socket 355 while the plug 278 is inserted in socket 281.

Referring to the circuit diagram and Figs. 1, 2, and 5, the means for reversing the counter motor 55 to zeroize the counters as hereinbefore explained may be understood. When the counter wheels are rotating forwardly (see Fig. 14) the motor operating circuit is from the plus side through switch contacts .360. motor 55, contact block 361, spring blade 362, contact-posts 363 in a downward direction through motor iield 364, contact posts 365, blade 366, contact block 367, and switch contacts 363 to the minus side. i By moving blades 362 and 366 to the right (as viewed in Fig. 22) blade 362 will engage lower contact post 365 and blade 366 will engage upper contact post 363. The circuit is now from the plus side through contacts 360, motor 55, block 361, blade 362, lower post 365, in an upward direction through motor iield 364, upper post 363, blade 366, block 367, and contacts 368 to minus side. The direction of current in motor field 364 being reversed the motor 55 will reverse its rotation and the counters will be zeroized in the manner explained before. To move blades 362 and 366 to the right for reversing the motora manually operable lever 370 pivoted adjacent motor 55 to

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