US2115760A

US2115760A - Ticket issuing machine

Info

Publication number: US2115760A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1938-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 1955-05-03

Description

May 3, `1938. H. D. BLACK ET A1.

TICKET ISSUING MACHINE Filed 001. 31, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet l EQ Si 3 'Sheets-Sme?, 2

H. D, BLACK ET AL TICKET ISSUING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1955 May 3, 1938.

May 3, 1938. H. D. BLACK ET A1,' 2,115,760

TICKET ISSUING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet Z5 vrai/vans.

Patented May 3, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TICKET ISSUING MACHINE Application October 31, 1935, vSerial No. 47,582

ll Claims.

This invention relates to ticket issuing machines and more particularly to machines for issuing tickets or checks for theatres, restaurants, amusements, railways, busses or the like. The invention is primarily directed to a type of mechanism which, with slight modifications, is adapted for various uses, for example, in the issuance of preprinted tickets or the printing and issuing of tickets accomplished either by selective operation of keys or by automatic operation initiated by the removal of a ticket presented by a patron of, for example, a cafeteria.

One of the primary objects of the invention is the provision of a general type of mechanism which will form the basis for various types of machines with relatively minor changes; From the standpoint of economical manufacture' the advantages of this are obvious, since a number of parts of the mechanism may be made in largeV quantities to enter into the construction of various types of machines.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved selecting means whereby various numbers of tickets or checks may be issued upon depression of selected keys. This mechanism is specically tied up with the control of a clutch and is under the control of means for preventing its actuation if there is a failure ofl ticket stock.

A further object of the invention relates to the provision of an improved cutting mechanism having associated with it means for controlling a motor-energized switch.

Still another object of the invention is to pro-v vide an improved means for aligning the proper portion of a ticket strip with a knife and also with a printing mechanism to insure printing of substantially an entire ticket so that no material is wasted, while avoiding the necessity for having a knife at the point where printing takes place.

Other objects of the invention particularly relating to details of construction will be apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a vertical longitudinal section taken through a multiple ticket issuing unit illustrating the principal elements of such unit;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation showing details of the motor controllingswitch;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section showing details of the clutch;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the plane indicated at 4-4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane indicated at 5-5 in Figure 1; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through a restaurant check type of machine showing particularly the modifications of a key operated machine necessary to transform the machine into this type.

Referring first to the key operated machine of- Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, there is illustrated only a. single unit which, it Will be understood, is receivable within an outer casing which may con-Y tain a plurality of similar units designed to issue tickets of different denominations. A single/motor carried by the outer casing may be used to drive the several units through a transverse shaft, indicated at 89, carrying pinions 88, each of which'is designed to drive the mechanism of a single unit. Such arrangement for the drive of a plurality of units by a single motor is well known and need not be described in detail.

Each of the units comprises a frame formed of side plates 2 and suitable connecting members. A transverse plate 4 is provided with a plurality of finger openings. A flexible diaphragm of rubber is secured to the under surface of the plate 4 underlying the openings and has printed on its upper surface, so as to be visible through the openings, numbers indicative of the tickets which will be issued upon depression of the portions of the diaphragm aligned with the openings. 'Beneath the diaphragm. and in line with each of the openings is a key member 8 secured to an individual key lever I0 journalled upon a transverse pin I2, the several key levers being properly spaced from each other by spacers (not shown). When the key levers are in, their upper position, the keys are so arranged as to press the portions of the diaphragm 6 aligned with the openings slightly upwardly. If such portions of the diaphragms are depressed, the corresponding key levers are rocked clockwise as viewed in Fig. l. The forward ends I4 of the key levers are suitably guided in Vertical slots formed in the downturned forward edge of plate 4. Individual springs I6 normally urge the key levers toward upper position, these springs being attached to downwardly extending fingers I 8.

Also journalled upon the pin I2 is a stirrup member 2Q, engageable by the fingers I 8 of the key levers and normally urged in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. l; by a spring 2|. The stirrupI 26 is provided with a depending arm 22 to which is pivoted, through a pin 24, a member 26 provided with a turned end 39 engaging a step 32 formed on the upper edge of a link 34, which is guided at its forward end -by a slot engageable with a shaft 36 and at its rear- Ward. end by a slot 28 engageable over the pin '.ZII.l 55

A spring 40 normally urges the link 34 in a forward direction into engagement with the shaft 36. Ashoulder 42 on the link 34 engages a detent 44 normally urged in a counterclockwisedirection by a spring 45 to engage its active end with one of a series of teeth 46 formed on a ratchet member 48 carried by the shaft 36. A yoke 56 carried by the ratchet member 48 is urged in a counterclockwise direction by one or more of the springs |6, to which reference has already been made. 'Ihere is pivoted to this yoke at 5| a plate 52 guided between a transverse pin 54 and stud pins 56 secured to the side plates so that as the yoke 50 rocks a forward and rearward movement will be imparted to the guided plate 52. The plate 52 has formed thereon a plurality of downwardly extending projections 58 located in staggered relationship, each of which is designed to be engaged by a laterally extending portion 66 of a corresponding key lever. The plate 52 is slotted from its rearward end in line with each of the stop projections 58. Accordingly, if a key is depressed and the plate 52 thereby caused to move rearwardly as hereafter described, the lateral projection 60 of the depressed key will be located in the path of one of the stops 58, the vertical portion of the key lever carrying the lateral projection being located in the corresponding slot. On

' the other hand, the arrangement is such that the other slots will not permit the downward passage of the lateral projections `6|! of the other key levers and consequently, while the depressed key lever will be held in such position, other key levers cannot be depressed to interfere with the operation. Y

The member 48 is provided with a finger normally engaging the forwardly projecting portion 65 of a member 64 to prevent the member 64 from rocking clockwise about its pivot 66. A pawl 6l, urged clockwise by a spring 1|, is pivoted to the forwardly projecting portion 65 of the member 64. The turned end 30 of member 26 normally lies in front of the extension 69 of this pawl.

There is pivoted to the member 64 above its pivot 66 a link 68 extending toward the rear of the machine, where it is pivotally connected to a clutch control member 'l2 pivoted on transverse pin 'I4 and provided with a clutch releasing element '|6 in the form of a cam engageable with a head 'I8 secured to a clutch pin 80 slidable in a member 82 journalled upon a transverse pin B5. A spring 8| urges the pin toward the right, as indicated in Fig. 4., tending to cause its free end to enter one of a series of openings 84 in a disc 83 secured to a gear 86 which meshes with a corresponding one of the pinions 88 secured to the transverse motor-driven shaft 88 to which reference has previously been made. The hub 32 of the clutch arrangement is secured to a gear S0 and cam disc 92. The position of rest of the gear 90 and the driven clutch elements is determined by a detent 94 which is pulled by a spring 06 into a notch in the plate 02, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

A cam |00 is carried by hub 82 and is arranged to rock the clutch control member 12 at the proper times by engagement with a follower roller |02 carried by the latter. The clutch control member is provided with a switch controlling arm |04 designed to engage an adjustable screw |65 carried by a lever |08 secured to a transverse shaft ||2 and urged in a counterclockwise direction by a spring I0. A spring |06 secured to the arm |04 normally urges the clutch control member clockwise about its pivot I4` A shaft I|6 extends across the rearward portions of all of a plurality of associated units and at the rear of each unit carries a depending arm I4 engageable by the upper end of the lever |08. This arm is also engageable by a rearwardly extending projection |8 carried by the knife-operating lever |96, which will be described in more detail hereafter. The shaft I6 at one side of the casing is arranged to control the switch mechanism through an arm IIS having a loose pin and slot connection with a member |20 pivoted at |23 to one of the units or the housing and urged in a clockwise direction by a spring I2 l. A conducting contact element |22 carried by a spring |25 is designed to be engaged with both of a plurality of spring contact members |24 whenever the shaft I I 6 is rocked clockwise. Connection is thus made to energize the driving motor when any one of the units is operated.

The gear referred to above meshes with a gear |26 which in turn meshes with a gear |23 carried by a type drum |30 pivoted upon a transverse pin I3 I. The drum |30 is arranged to carry type indicated at |32 and also dating and numbering heads |34 and |38. The dating head may be manually changed, while the numbering head may be automatically changed by engagement with a iiXed element during each rotation of the drum |30. Both of these are conventional in type and need not be further described.

A platen roller |38 is carried by brackets |39 arranged for fine adjustment lby eccentric and strap elements, indicated at |40. The brackets |39 are pivoted to a carrier |42 and are adjustable in such fashion as to cause platen |38 to be movable radially toward and from the drum |30. The carrier |42 is pivoted upon the pin |44 and may be located in the active position shown by manipulation of a lever |48 secured to a pin |56 pivoted in the carrier and provided with nonecircular ends receivable within circular lower ends of slots |52 formed in the upper edges of the side plates 2. The ends of the pin |50 will not pass through the upper portions of the slots |52 when the manipulating pin |48 is in the position shown, but may pass therethrough when the pin is moved to the dotted line position indicated in Figv l, whereupon the carrier |42, together with the platen and knife, may turn upwardly to afford access to the mechanism located therebelow. By such movement of the carrier, the connection between the knife and lever |96 is interrupted, to be restored when the carrier is returned to normal position.

Feed of the ticket strip between the guides 53 is effected in a fashion similar to that described in our prior application Ser. No. 756,554, filed October 2, 1934. Improved ticket grippers, however, are provided. The mechanism just referred to comprises a slide |68 mounted to slide along the guides |56 and arranged to be moved by a lever'll pivoted on a pin and provided with a follower |12 movable within a cam groove '|14 f in the disc 92 and held to avoid'play by a spring Properly timed reciprocatory movements which are mounted gripper members and |82 provided with gripping points, as shown, designed to press the ticket strip against a backing plate |83 carried on the slide below an elongated central opening formed in the guides |56. Springs |84 and |86 engage pins |81 and |88 to cause the members |80 and |82 to grip the ticket strip. A cam |99 located adjacent the lower portion of the guides is arranged to engage the pin |88 at proper times to disengage element |82 from the ticket strip. The operation of this mechanism will be described hereafter. There is provided means (not herein shown) for freeing both grippers to facilitate entry of a ticket strip through the guides, this means being similar to that of our prior application. The pointed grippers herein disclosed are more durable and reliable in operation than those shown in our prior application.

The movable knife |94 in the form of a flexible blade is held downwardly against a fixed blade |92 by means of adjustable screws |93 engageable with the edges of an upwardly arched portion thereof. The rear end of the flexible blade |94 is provided with an opening within which there engages a pin projecting upwardly from the knife-operating lever |96, which is pivoted at |98 and urged in a counterclockwise directionv by a spring |99. The lower end of the knife-operating lever |96 is provided with a projection 200 engageable by a roller 202 secured to the .gear 90. A nger 204 formed on the lever |96 is'engageable within a socket in a lever 296 pivoted at 201 and provided with an end 298 also engage-- able by the roller 292. Counterclockwise rocking of the lever 206 will impart clockwise movement` to the knife-operating lever so that the latter will impart to the knife a cutting stroke. i

Inking of the type is effected by means of an inker generally indicated at- 2|!! and comprising a removable frame within which is jcurnalled an ink cylinder 2|2 against which there may be adjustably pressed an inking roller 2 |4 carried by a bracket 2|5, adjustment of the position of which is controlled through the medium of a screw and nut arrangement indicated at 2|'|. The cylinder 2| 2 is arranged to carry a supply of ink on its interior and is provided with a soft facing through which the ink may exude. The amount of ink delivered to the roller 2 |4 is determined by the pressure of the latter upon the cylinder, The inker unit is guided into position by tracks Zhi and 2|8 and is latched in such position hyengagement of a transverse member 229 by the turned end 222 of a latch 224 pivoted to the inker assembly and urged into latched position by a suitable spring. By pulling upon the member 224. with the finger, it may b-e disengaged from the transverse member 220 and the inker thereby vremoved from the machine.

The operation of the multiple ticket issuing machine heretofore describedcan be best Aunderstood by considering the events occurring in the issue of two tickets. The various figures illustrate the parts in their initial positions.

Depression of the key 8 corresponding to the issue of two tickets serves through the extension |8 of its key lever to rock the stirrup 29 `and thereby move rearwardly the pin 24. Assuming that ticket stock |58 is between the guides |56,

the finger |60 will be raised and accordingly the end 3|)v of member 26 will be forwardly of the extension 69 of detent 6l and the shoulder 32 of the link 34. As the pin 24 moves rearwardly, itcarries with it the member 26, the turned end 30 of which causes a rearward movement of the link 34. The step 42 of this link pushes the detent 44 free of the tooth 46 of ratchet 48 beneath which it was previously located. At the same time the detent 61 is pulled rearwardly out of the path of the teeth 46 and as a consequence the ratchet, together with the yoke 59, will snap counterclockwise'under the action of spring I6.

The turned projection 69 on the depressed keyv lever will, in the meantime, have been. located below the plate 52 Y jection 58, which corresponds to the issue of two tickets. In the present case, this projection will be the middle one. The plate 52 may, therefore, move rearwardly until projection 56, just mentioned, engages the turned end 69 lying below the plate. This corresponds to a movement of the ratchet corresponding to the angular spacing of two teeth. The plate 52 will now underlie the turned ends 69 of the other keys, there being three indicated in the present case, although it will be understood that any reasonable number may be incorporated in the machine. The other keys therefore canno-t be depressed. The depressed key, on downwardly.

As the ratchet 48 rotates counterclockwise, the member 64 is free to rotate clockwise and carries with it the pawl 6l', the lower tail of which drops into engagement with the stop 63. The movement of the member 96|. clockwise is effected through the link 68 by reason of the action of the spring |96 upon the clutch control member '52. The clutch controlling cam 'i5 moves rearwardly, freeing the head 'E8 of the pin Sil. Limitation Vof motion of cam 'i6 occurs due to engagement of roller |92 with the periphery of cam |96. The pin 80 is forced to the right, as viewed in Figs. 3 and fl, ready to engage one of the openings 84 in the disc 83 secured to gear 86. K

As the clutch controlling member 'i2 rocks clockwise, the member |98 is released and its spring H9 causes it to force the depending arm ||4 rearwardly, producing a closure of the motor circuit through the electrical joining of conta-cts |24 by the wedge-shaped contact The motor immediately starts to rotate, driving the shaft 89 and, through pinion 8B, the gear 85. As soon as the pin 89 snaps into one of the holes 84, drive is established through the gear 99. The gears 88 on companion units will also be rotated by their pinions 88. However, they effect no1 action in their units inasmuch as the clutch pins remain retracted.

The Lipper end of the ticket strip will now be located at the cutting point. As the rotation starts, the roller 262 engages the follower end 29D of the knife-operating lever, withdrawing the movable blade, uncovering the ticket exit. At the same time the carriage |68 moves downwardly, pulling with it the ticket strip by reason of the action of the gripperl 82, Thegripper |82 is released from the ticket strip at the endof the downward motion of the slide owing to the action of the cam |99 upon the pin |88. As such release occurs, thel upper end of the ticket strip is located at the position of the platen roller |38,` and the 'iirs't-`portio`n of the advancing type immediately thereafter engages the ticket, this comprising the numbering head |36. vThe 'type and in the path of the prothe other hand, isv held now effects the movement of the ticket strip by frictional engagement therewith, and until the printing action is finished, the ticket strip is fed solely by the engagement of the type therewith, the feed being intermittent if type is not continuously engaging the strip. Since the gripper |82 is now released, and since the gripper |80 is so arranged by reason of its mounting that the ticket strip is free to move upwardly, this action takes place without hindrance from the gripper mechanism.

The roller |02 is now engaged by the cam |00 so that the clutch control member 12 is rocked counterclockwise. As the result of this action, the member 64 is rocked counterclockwise, raising the pawl 61, which engages one of the teeth 46, after clearing stop 63, to cause the ratchet 48 to have imparted thereto a single clockwise step. As the pawl 61 rises, it engages the turned end 30 of the member 26, pushing it upwardly to release the step 32 on the link 34. This action is not prevented by the rod |66 relative to which the left-hand end of the member 26 is free to move downwardly. As soon as the link 34 is released by the member 26, it is moved to the right under the action of spring 40, permitting the detent 44 to move below the tooth 46 which has been moved above it in the ratcheting process.

At the end of the first step the tail 62 of the ratchet 48 is not yet restored to its original position and consequently, as the roller |02 is permitted to fall by the cam |00, there is nothing to prevent the member 64 from rocking to its extreme clockwise position which it occupied irnmediately following the tripping. The pawl 61 is thus retracted, the ratchet being now held by the detent 44 and the turned end 30 of member 26 will now lie upon the upper edge of the link 34 rearward of the step 32. At the same time the cam 16, which was rst moved forwardly, will again move rearwardly so as topermit the head 18 on the pin 80 to pass freely without being withdrawn from the hole 84 into which it projects.

As was noted above, the rst event which occurred was the rocking of the knife lever |96 rearwardly. As this occurred, the projecting member I8 engaged the arm l I4, serving to hold the switch closed even though withdrawal of member |08 occurred as the clutch control member 12 was rocked counterclockwise.

After the last type, in the present case |34, leaves engagement with the ticket strip, the carriage |68 again moves upwardly, advancing the ticket strip by the action of gripper |80 so as to bring the already printed portion above the cutting line and to align the portion of the strip which is to be out with the knives. As soon as the gripper |68 reaches its uppermost position, the roller 202 engages the portion 208 of lever 206, rocking it and thereby causing the knife operating lever |96 to move clockwise, producing a cutting stroke of the knife to sever the printed ticket. It may be noted that in the meantime the cam will have attained such position that the member |08 will again be released to hold the switch closed so that no opening of the motor circuit occurs.

The second cycle to issue the next ticket is now ready to occur. The carriage |68 again moves downwardly and the knife is retracted. Again the pawl 61 is moved upwardly imparting another step to the ratchet 48. Continuing to assume that two tickets are to be issued, the

ratchet 48 will now be moved to its initial position, bringing the tail 62 beneath the forward projection 65 of the member 64. The clutch control member 16 now moves forwardly but will be held forwardly because of the location of the tail 62. It is therefore in position to engage the head 18 and release the pin 80 from the hole in which it was previously engaged, thus breaking the connection between the driving gear 86 and the hub 82.

As the plate 52 is withdrawn from above the turned portion 60 of the depressed key lever, the lever rises, permitting the stirrup 22 to rotate under the action of its spring 2|, with the result that the pin 24 will move the member 26 forwardly, permitting its turned end 30to drop in front of the step 32 and extension 69 of the pawl.

Before the completion of the cycle, the knife is again moved to sever the ticket strip following the location of the ticket strip by the gripper in proper position for severance. This time, however, as the knife lever |96 moves forwardly and the element I|8 is withdrawn from arm I4, the arm ||4 may swing counterclockwise, since the element |08 is now held out of engagement therewith due to the position of the clutch control member 12. The switch is thus opened and the motor deenergized. A slight overrun will couse the parts to assume their final position, the detent 94 snapping into the notch of plate 92 to hold the various parts against reversev movement.

During the above operations the inker roller 2|2 is rotated through the meshing of a gear connected therewith with the intermediate pinion |26 in the drive train.

The restaurant check machine .illustrated in Fig. 6 closely resembles the multiple ticket issuing machine` described above, except that there are provided means whereby removal of a ticket held in a position for presentation to a taker initiates operation of the mechanism to cause itv to go through a single cycle. The clutch controlling means, switch mechanism, ticket strip` feeding and printing means, and inking devices, are the same as shown in the machine previouslyA described, and, in Fig. 6, only so much of these is shown as is necessary for an understanding of the different types of controlling elements.

The casing of the restaurant check machine is surmounted by a cover 240 provided with an opening through which a printed check projects,V as indicated at 242, this check being pressed against a support 244 carried by a member 246 similar to |42 of the machine previously described and carrying a platen roller 248. The pressure holding the check in the position indicated isv exerted by a finger 250 overlying an opening in the support 244 and secured to a member 252 pivoted to the supporting frame 246 at 254. A spring 255 urges the member 252 in a counterclockwise direction. Its motion is limited by the engagement of the nger 250 with the check, which is formed of paper of suicient rigidity to maintain the nger 250 in its upper position. There is pivoted to the member 252 at 268 a link 260 suitably guided by a pin and slot .connection 262 upon the supporting member 246. A downwardly extending lip 264 on the link 260 is arranged to be engaged and moved to the left, as viewed in Fig. 6, by a laterally projecting portion of the knife 266. This knife is operated, as in the previously described form, by a lever 268.

lgageable with an upper element 289 of a twopart lever, the upper element being pivoted to the lower element 289 at 299 and being adjustable relative thereto through the medium of a screw and slot connection indicated at 292.

iThe lower portion 288 of the lever is pivoted upon a pin 294 and has pivotal connection at 295 with a link 29B, which is in turn pivoted to the clutch controlling member 299 identical with 12 of the machine previously described.

'Alsopivoted upon the pin 294 is ar controlling member 399 provided with a projecting portion 392 designed at proper times to engage the lower extension 394 of the lever 218. 'I'he controlling member 399 has a laterally extending portion through which there slides a rod 396 connected to a block SID pivoted at SI2 and urged in a counterclockwise direction by a spring 3I4 to bring a finger 3|9 into engagement with the check strip 3l8 extending into the guideway 329. A pin 398 on the rod 398 is adapted to engage and move clockwise the controlling member 399 when the check strip supply fails, resulting in the 'downward movement of the finger 3I6 through aligned openings in the guideway 329. There is pivoted to the right-hand end of the controlling member 399 a link 322 normally urged upwardly by a spring 324. The link 322 is providedl with a turned end 329 engageable by the finger of an operator who-may pull the link downwardly to engage a stud 329 thereon beneath a transverse member 339 carried by the frame. When this is done and the link is brought to the full line position indicated, the portion 392 of the controlling member 399 is brought upwardly into the path of the extension 394 of lever 219 with the result that the lever cannot be rocked in a counterclockwise direction and operation of the mechanism is prevented. This same action occurs if there is a failure of the check strip at the entrance to the guideway. In such case the finger Sie drops, causing the rod 395 to move upwardly and locate the element 399 in its full line position. At such time the stud 328 is forced below the transverse member 339 and snaps in front of it to the full line position under the action of spring 324. It may be remarked that both springs 324 and 282 are light ones which do not serve to interfere with motions imparted by the stronger springs Sie and 255, respectively.

In the operation of the restaurant check machine, assuming that the controlling elements are in the dotted line positions, the removal of a presented printed check 242 will result in dropping of the finger 259 through the support 244 and the forcing of the member 219 to the right under the action cf the finger 256. This causes a counterclockwise movement of the lever 218, releasing its detent portion 284 from the upper end of the link 285-238 which,v rocking counterclockwise under the action of spring 332 connected to the clutch-control member 298, permits the clutch control member to effect engagement of the clutch and closure of the operating switch. The machine is thus set into operation to pass through a cycle similar to that described .in connection with the multiple ticket issuing knife isrretracted and by engagement with the link 269 causes the member 252 to be rocked clockwise, lifting the linger 259 outof the path of the advancing check strip. The rearward position of the knife is maintained until the end of the cycle and accordingly there is no interference by the finger 259 with the proper `advance of the strip until the fee-d is ended. When the knife moves to cut the strip, the nger 250 is again permitted to drop against it. The knife, in its cutting movement, moves considerably beyond the iinal position'of the extension 264 so that dropping of the finger may take place to initiate a new cycle when the presented check is removed.

Uponwithdrawal of the finger 256 from the link 219, the lever 218 is permitted clockwise movement under the action of spring 282 as soon as the link 286-298 is moved clockwise by the action of a cam corresponding to I 99 upon the clutch controlling member 298. When the clutch controlling member 295 is thereafter released, the upper end of the lever 286-288 will engage the detent portion 284 of lever 218 to prevent initiation of another cycle except by removal of a check.

The relative adjustability of the portions 296 and 289 of the composite lever provides for the attainment of a tripped condition for the apparatus serving to positively insure its operation without fail upon removal of a check.

It will be clear that numerous Variations may be made in the specificV embodiment of the invention withoutdeparting fromits scope as defined in the following claims.

What we claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for feeding a ticket strip to issue one or more tickets in a cycle of operation; a knife for severing individual tickets from the strip, said knife being in its strip-'severing position at the beginning of a cycle; a motor; connections through which the motor may drive said strip feeding means and actuate the knife, said connections including a clutch; clutch controlling means; a switch controlling operation of the motor; means whereby said switch is closed by the clutch con: rolling means at the beginning of a cycle; means for moving the knife toits inactive position during the early part of the portion of the issuing operation for each ticket; means whereby the knife in such position is operative to maintain the switch closed; means for moving the clutch controlling means during the issue of each ticket to the position which it occupies in disengaging the clutch and in which it is inoperative to maintain the switch closed, said position being occupied during the issue of the tickets of a series preceding the last only when the knife is in its inactive position; and means for actuating the knife to out the strip.

2. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for feeding a ticket strip to issue one or more tickets in a cycle of operation; a knife for severing individual tickets from the strip; knife actuating means; a motor; connections through which the motor may drive said strip feeding means and actuate the knife, said connections including a clutch; clutch controlling means; a switch controlling operation of the motor; means whereby the switch is closed by the knife actuating means when the knife is in inactive position; and means whereby the switch is closed by the clutch conmachine- As soon as the operation starts, the

trolling means when the latter is in clutch-engaging position; said last two means being alternately effective during a multiple ticket issuing cycle to maintain the switch continuously closed until the end of the cycle.

3. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for feeding a ticket strip to issue one or more tickets in a cycle of operation; means for severing tickets from the strip; a motor; connections through which the motor may drive said strip feeding and severing means, said connections including a clutch; clutch controlling means effective to disengage the clutch; means for oscillating the clutch controlling means during the issue of each ticket between the position which it occupies in disengaging the clutch and its inactive position; and means for holding the clutch controlling means in the former position after it assumes it during the issue of the last ticket of a series.

4. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for feeding a ticket strip to issue one ormore tickets in a cycle of operation; means for severing tickets from the strip; a motor; connections through which the motor may drive said strip feeding and severing means, said connections including a clutch; clutch controlling means; means for oscillating the clutch controlling means during the issue of each ticket between the position which it occupies in disengaging the clutch and its inactive position; means for holding the clutch controlling means in the former position after it assumes it during the issue of the last ticket of a series; and means actuated by the clutch controlling means for rendering said holding means operative.

5. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for guiding a ticket strip; means for feeding the ticket strip; a knife for severing a ticket from the strip; means for actuating the knife; a carrier for the knife pivotally movable to a position to carry the knife away from the feeding means; and connections between the knife and its actuating means arranged to be interrupted when the carrier is moved to said position and restored when the carrier is returned to its normal position.

6. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for feeding a ticket strip to issue one or more tickets in a cycle of operation; driving means; and means for controlling actuation of the feeding means by the driving means, said controlling means comprising a ratchet member variably movable at the beginning of a cycle to predetermine the number of tickets to be issued, means for restoring the ratchet member step by step to its initial position, and means whereby the ratchet member in its initial position holds the restoring means in the position it assumes in moving the ratchet member to such initial position.

7. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for feeding a ticket strip to issue one or more tickets in a cycle of operation; driving means including a motor and a clutch located between the motor and the feeding means; and means for controlling actuation of the feeding means by the driving means, said controlling means comprising clutch controlling means, a ratchet member variably movable at the beginning of a cycle to predetermine the number of tickets to be issued, means for restoring the ratchet member step by step to its initial position, said restoring means being connected to the clutch controlling means, and means whereby the ratchet member in its initial position holds the restoring means in the position it assumes in moving Y the ratchet member to such initial position and whereby the clutch controlling means is rendered effective to disengage the clutch.

8. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for feeding a ticket strip in a cycle of operation; driving means; means for controlling actuation of the feeding means by the driving means, said controlling means comprising a key, an element arranged to trip the machine into operation, and an interruptible connection between the key and element; and means effective upon exhaustion of the strip supply to interrupt said connection whereby manipulation of the key in normal fashion is rendered ineffective to start an operation.

9. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for feeding a ticket strip in a cycle of operation; driving means; severing means; means for holding a severed ticket in position for removal from the machine; means for controlling actuation of the feeding and severing means by the driving means, said controlling means including a finger resting on said severed ticket and tripped when the severed ticket is removed to initiate a cycle of operation; and means whereby movements imparted to the severing means effect movement of said finger out of the path of the advancing end of the strip.

10. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for feeding a ticket strip in a cycle of operation; driving means; severing means; means for holding a severed ticket in position for removal from the machine; means for controlling actuation of the feeding and severing means by the driving means, said controlling means including a finger resting on said severed ticket and tripped when the severed ticket is removed to initiate a cycle of operation; and means whereby the severing means moves said finger out of the path of the advancing end of the strip, and releases the finger to hold the end of the strip prior to a severing operation.

11. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for feeding a ticket strip in a cycle of operation; driving means; severing means; means for holding a severed ticket in position for removal from the machine; means for controlling actuation of the feeding and severing means by the driving means, said controlling means including a finger resting on said severed ticket and tripped when the severed ticket is removed to initiate a cycle of operation; means for preventing initiation of a cycle of operation in the absence of a ticket strip; and means for latching said preventing means in Vits active position after automatic location therein.

HORACE DRUMMOND BLACK. ALEXANDER A. C. DEGEN.