US2131919A

US2131919A - Record controlled printing machine

Info

Publication number: US2131919A
Application number: US158938A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert W Mills; Edward J Rabenda; Frank J Furman
Original assignee: International Business Machines Corp
Current assignee: International Business Machines Corp
Priority date: 1937-08-13
Filing date: 1937-08-13
Publication date: 1938-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 1955-10-04
Also published as: DE716659C; GB523832A; FR842030A

Description

.4, 1938. A. w. MILLS ET AL 2,131, 9

RECORD CONTROLLED PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 13, 1937 I0 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORN EY Oct. 4, 1938.

A. w. MILLS EI' AL 2,131,919

RECORD CONTRQLLED PRINTING MACHINE I Filed. Aug. 13, 1957 1o Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR$ RL/EERT Ml, MALI-5 FRHIVK J-F MR BY 50/0510 7- 2559/95 ATTORNEY Oct. 4, 1938; A. w. MILLS ET AL 2,131,919 RECORD CONTROLLED-PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 15, 1937 l0 Sheets-:Sheet 5 FIG.3. r

llll I] I 10 INVENTORS FILBEQT W- -A 2014/9217 J; 12565005 B FKQ/VK J7 FUIZMHN ATTORNEY" Oct. 4, 1938. A w, s ET AL 2,131,919

RECORD CONTRQLLED PRINTING MACHINE Fil ed Aug. 13, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 4.

ATTORNEY A. w. MILLS' ET AL 2,131,919

RECORD CONTROLLED PRINTING MACHINE I Filed Aug. 13,1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY:

Oct. .4, 1938. A. w. MILLS ET AL v 2,131,919 I RECORD CONTROLLED PRINT INQ MACHINE Filed Aug. 13, 1937- l0 Sheets$heet 6 Q 6'. 2. if

I '///l//// 5 I FIG. 2 4

INVENTOR3 HLBLRT W. MILLS FEE/W1 1. Pam/RN BY EDWH-f! A. w. MILLS ET AL RECORD CONTROLLED PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 13, 1937 FIG. 8.

10 Sheets-Sheet '7 NSEURE NEW YORK B5 [I I] v mamas v m] [m MREET [I ll [I l U l D II I] ll 11 I! l I] B I] v wrorv DRUG ca.

1400 EAST 102 ST DUGANSBURG NEW YORK Ql/l/vr/TY U/T Rf/CZ; "ll/713F155 GIJSJJMZ' 5 LB ALUMINUM CHLORIDE 2,4 1 20 1 oz CARBON OISULPHATE 12 12 5 oz cos/nus uvueom. usP a so 32 50 INVENTORS HuaEz'r w. MILA$ FRm/K J Fae/v Iv B /"06 194755 an .ZaX

ATTORNEY Oct. .4, 1933. A. w. MILLS ET AL 2,131,919

RECORD CONTROLLED PRINTING MACHINE W I FIG. 10.

Filed Aug. 13, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 MCR75 U 74 I INVENTORS HLBERT mN/us FEHAK J. FIIRMHII BY ion/Hen 072952141 ATTORNEY Oct. 4, 1938. A. w. MILLS ET -AL.

V RECORD CONTROLLEDPRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 13, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet .10

Patented Pet. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES 2,131,919 anooan CONTROLLED PRINTING monma Albert W. Mills, Endicott, Edward J. Rabenda, Binghamton, and Frank J. Fur-man, Vestal,

N. Y., assignors to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 13, 1937, Serial No. 158,938

9 Claims.

This invention relates to printing machines and more particularly to printing machines of the type controlled by perforated record cards.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a printing machine for preparing statements or invoices in which the name and the address of the addressee, are printed at the head of the statement or invoice and various detail items are listed in the body of the invoice.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved card feeding mechanism for handling groups of cards, each group including at its head, name and address cards followed by detail cards and in which provision is made for automatically separating the name and address cards from the detail cards after they have passed by the analyzing stations of the card handling section.

A further object. of the invention is to provide an improved card feeding mechanism wherein record cards are advanced one byone in succession to pass a plurality of sensing stations and in which provision is made to cause name and address cards to completely traverse all the sensing stations before the following card is fed and to permit detail cardsto follow one another past the sensing stations in closer proximity so that as one detail card is passing one of the stations, the following detail card is at the same time passing the adjacent station.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide'a novel card ejectingmechanlsm controlled by special perforations on the name and address cards and operative to deflect such cards from the normal discharge hopper to a special hopper so that after all cards have been run through the machine, one hopper will contain all the detail cards and the other will containthe name andaddress cards.

A further specific object is to provide a pivotally mpunted discharge hopper to receive the name and address cards, so-arranged that the weight of thecards'in the hopper,*when the same is approximately filled, wil cause rocking of the hopper to operate a pair of contacts to terminate a further operaticn of the machine.

A further object of the invention is tdprovide improved mechanism for causing two different items of information recorded on a single record card to be printed on two successive lines of a statement or invoice.

Further objects of the instant invention reside in any novel feature of construction or operation or novel combination of parts present in the embodiment of the invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings whether within or without the scope of the appended claims and irrespective of other specific statements as to the scope of the invention contained herein.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an outside view of the card feeding and handling mechanism of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a section taken centrally through the card feeding and handling mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a central section of the printing mechanism of the machine.

Fig. 4 is an outside view of the printingmechanism.

Fig. 5 is a detail of the operating mechanism for the printing type bars.

Fig. 5a is a detail of the cams for operating the zoning mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a detail of the control mechanism for thename and address card eject hopper.

Fig. '7 is a detail of the contact cams driven from the card feeding mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a typical group of cards. l

Fig. 9 is a sample of an invoice prepared under control of the group of cards of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is awiring diagram of the electric circuits of the machine.

Fig. 11 is a timing diagram of certain of the cam controlled contact'devices.

Fig. 11a is a similar timing diagram of differently timed cam controlled contact devices.

Fig. 1?. is a diagram illustrating the sequence of operations involved in handling a group of record cards.

Fig. 13 is a diagram showing the manner of interconnecting the various units in carrying out the operations of the machine.

Before explaining the manner in which the machine operates in its entirety, the various mechanical units will-be separately described, after which a typical problem will be considered and thevarious steps involved in preparing a statement will be explained to set forth the coordination of the separate units. I

I Cant feeding mechanism Referring to Fig. 1, the main drive shaft of the machine is shown at 10 and this,may be driven I and maintained in constant operation through any suitable connection to a driving motor or other source of energy. Secured to shaft I0 is a clutch driving disk H cooperating with a dog It mounted upon an arm l3 to which is fixedly connected a gear l4 to drive the card feeding and analyzing mechanism through an idler gear l5. The engagement of these clutch elements is con- .disk ll.

trolled by a magnet l6 and armature latch l1. The armature latch I! normally holds dog l2 out of engagement with the driving disk II and in the position shown in Fig. 1. Magnet l6, upon energization, rocks armature latch l1, releasing dog l2 so that its spring 18 may bring it into engagement with driving disk ll. Upon deenergization of magnet I6, armature I! will be moved by its spring into the path of a projecting toe of dog l2 to throw the dog out of engagement with Arm l3 will be similarly engaged by armature I! to prevent further movement of gear l4 in a clockwise direction.

The idler gear I5, through a further intermediate gear l9, drives a large gear 20 from which the feed rollers, picker mechanism, and stacker are driven, as will be explained.

Referring to Fig. 2, the record cards are fed singly from the supply magazine 2! by the usual card picker mechanism comprising a. slidably mounted plate 22 carrying a picker knife 23 for cooperation with the record cards. -The plate 22 has a pin and slot connection with an arm 24 secured to a rod 25 which has secured at its end (see Fig. 1) an arm 26 which is normally urged in a counterclockwise direction against a stop 21 by a spring 28. Arm 26 has pivoted thereto a dog 29 arranged for engagement in a suitable notch in an arm 30 which is freely pivoted on rod 25. Arm 30 has connected thereto one end of a link 3| whose opposite end is eccentrically connected to a gear 32 driven by the large gear 20. The arm 30 is thus invariably oscillated once for each cycle of the machine.

If, during the counterclockwise or return stroke of arm 30, magnet 33 is energized, the free end of its armature will lie in the path of the short arm of dog 29 so that when the dog reaches its home position it will be rocked to the dotted line position shown and, if magnet 33 is held energized, arm 26 will not follow arm'30 on its next operating stroke. Consequently, the picker mechanism will not advance a record card during the next operation of arm 30. Gear 32 is arranged to make one revolution for each card cycle of the machine and as long as dog 29 remains in engagement with arm 30, a card will be fed for each cycle. When magnet 33 is energized, it will cause the picker mechanism to skip a cycle so that the machine will go through an operation without advancing another card. The manner in which magnet 33 is controlled will be explained in connection with the circuit diagram.

The picker knife 23 advances the record cards singly from the bottom of the stack through. throat 35 (Fig. 2) to the first of a series of pairs of rollers 36 which convey the card in an arcuate path between suitable guide plates. The pairs of rollers 36 are driven through the gearing indicated in Fig. 1 from the large gear 20. Disposed in the path of the record cards are three analyzing stations at the first of which upper brushes UB, cooperating with a contact roller 31, sense the perforations; then, intermediate brushes IB, cooperating with contact roller 38, sense the perforations, and, finally, the third set of lower brushes LB, cooperating with contact roller 39, read the card a third time. The brushes are so spaced that when brushes LB sense a particular index point position of a record card, the brushes IB sense the corresponding index point positions of the next following card and brushes UB sense the same position of the second following card.

Intermediate the brushes DB and IB is a card \lever 40 which, as a record card approaches the brushes IB, will close intermediate card lever contacts ICL. Similarly disposed in advance of the brushes LB is a pivoted card lever 4| which, under the influence ofa record card, will cause closure of lower card lever contacts LCL as the card approaches the lower brushes LB.

As the cards continue in their travel after having passed the last brush station, they are advanced to the stacker drum 42 upon which are pivoted spring-pressed clips 43 which cooperate with a fixed cam roller 44, so positioned that as the clips pass a point tangent to the end of the circular card path they open to permit the lead ing edge of the card to enter between the periphery of the drum and the clips which thereafter close upon the card and draw it into the discharge stacker 45.

Drum 42 is geared to rotate once every four card cycles. In the discharge hopper the cards are stripped from the clips in the usual manner and as the cards accumulatetherein the pusher plate 46 is urged toward the left. When the magazine is filled to capacity, the plate 46 engages the handle 41 of a snap-switch which controls a pair of contacts to stop the operation of the machine.

Disposed in the path of the record cards is a deflector plate 48 secured to a rod 49 and normally lying in the position shown in Fig. 2. When plate 48 is rocked to its dotted line position, as indicated, the-cards, instead of proceeding to the stacker drum clips, will be deflected by plate 48 into engagement with pairs of rollers 50 driven through suitable gearing from gear 20 and the card will be advanced to a tray 5|. Tray 5| is pivotally suspended from pins 52 and balanced so that it bears against a pin 53 (see Fig. 6) carried by the blade of a pair of contacts 54. The tension of the contact spring is such that when the tray is nearly full, the weight of the cards will bear against pin 53 sufiiciently to cause opening of contacts 54 whose function is to cause the machine to stop.

The mechanism for causing plate 48 to rock from its full line position to its dotted line position is shown in Fig. 6 wherein shaft 49 has secured thereto an arm 55 having a roller 56 in cooperation with a cam 51 mounted on the stacker drum shaft 58 which, as explained, makes one revolution for each four successive card cycles.

A magnet 59, when energized, will attract its armature 60 at a time when cam 51 is holding arm 55 in the position shown to relieve the pressure against the free end of armature 60. Thereafter, as the cam 51 rotates, arm 55 will be permitted to follow the contour of the cam and rock clockwise, carrying with it the deflector plate 48. At the end of the cycle the succeeding rise on the cam will restore arm 55. to its latched position.

Referring to Fig. 7, the gear l5, through gearing designated 6|, drives a shaft 62 which, in turn, through gears 63, drives a further shaft 64, the ratio being

such that'shafts

62 and 64 make one revolution for each card cycle. On these shafts are carried various cams which operate their respective contacts during card feeding operations of the machine. These cam controlled contacts are designated in the circuit diagram with the prefix CF and their timing is shown in the timing diagram, Fig. 11.

Above shaft 64 is a further shaft 65 driven from shaft 64 through reduction gearing designated 66. On this shaft are also contact controlling cams prefixed CF, but these cams are driven at a ratio of 1:4 withrespect to the card feed cycle; that is, they make one revolution during four revolutions of the card feeding mechanism. The timing of these contacts is shown in the circuit diagram, Fig. 11a.

Printing mechanism 1 Referring to Fig. 4, the main drive shaft I9 of the machine carries a notched disk 61 ad'- jacent to gear 68, which disk is adapted to be engaged by a dog 69 pivotally mounted upon an arm 19, which arm is integral with the gear 68. Through an intermediate gear 1I meshing with a gear 12, the printing drive shaft 13 is driven. Driving connection is established upon energization' of print clutch magnet 14 which rocks its armature 15 counterclockwise torelease dog 69 for engagement with the constantly running notched disk 61. Secured to the shaft 13 (Fig. is a pair of complementary cams 14 which is adapted to oscillate a bifurcated follower arm 15 secured to a rod 16 upon which is also attached an arm 11 which has link connection 18 to an arm 19 secured upon a shaft 89. In Fig. 3, shaft 89 carries arms 8| which have depending link connection 82 with a bail 83 pivoted at 89. Also pivoted at 89 are type carrier actuating arms 85 which are connected at their free ends to the lower extremity of type carriers 96 through link connections 81. Arms 85 are urged in a clockwise direction by springs 88 which are connected at their upper ends to a cross bar extending between arms 8I. Thus, as the arms ill and bail 83 are rocked in a clockwise direction through the action of cams 19, the springs 68 will rock the arms 85 in the same direction and will cause elevation of the type carriers 86 which are suitably mounted for vertical movement.

The type carriers are provided with type elements for printing the letters of the alphabet 'as well as the digits and is substantially that shown in the Patent No. 2,016,682, granted to A. W. Mills, October 8, 1935, so that a brief description herein will sufiflce to explain its manner of operation. It includes the usual platen 89 past which the type carriers 86. are reciprocated. The head 86a of each type carrier 86 has type elements 99 adapted to print the numerals 1 to 9 and the letters A to Z. The type elements are arranged in nine groups in the following order: 9, I, R, Z; 8, H, 121,11; '7, G, P, 2;; 6, F, O, W; 5, E, N, V; 4, D, M, U;'3, C, L; T; 2, B, K, S; 1, A, J. Near the bottom of'the type head are twozero type elements. The numerical type elements 99 correspond to the usual numerical type elements of a conventional'Hollerith type bar, but are spaced far enough apart to make room for three alphabet type elements between successive numeral type elements which are selected for a printing operation in the same manner as in conventional Hollerith tabulating machines, for instance, as in Patent No. 1,822,594, under control of a perforation in one of the index point positions 1 to 9 of a record column. The alphabetic type elements are selected under control of combinations of perforations, each of which may comprise a perforation in one of the

index point positions

9, 11,

appropriate position corresponding to the valueother perforation of the combination necessary v for a selection is in the 12, 11, or 0 position.

The mechanism which eifectsrelative movement between each carrier 86 and its type head 86a may be termed the zoning mechanism. Each carrier is provided with a series of stops 9| which represent the corresponding index point positions 0 to 9 on the record card. As the carrier is moved upwardly, the stops 9| move in succession to pass a-stopping pawl 92. The latter is held in the position of Fig. 3 by a latch 93 which has connection 94 with'the armature of the usual printing magnet 96. When a carrier is used to print numerals only, it will, of course, be controlled by a single perforation in one of the index point positions 0 to 9, inclusive. In such case, each type head and its carrier 86 is maintained in the relationship shown in Fig. 3 and as the card is analyzed, a circuit is completed through a perforation in the card which will energize the magnet 95 in the Well known manner and will effect a release of pawl 92, causing it to engage the stop 9| corresponding in value to the location of the single perforation in the record card column. This operation results in bringing the corresponding numeral type element to the printing line.

The carrier 86 is provided with a slot 96 and a guide 91 which are adapted to receive a slotted block 98 and the lower end 99 respectively of the type head 86a, the block sliding within the slot 96 and the lower end 99 sliding in the guide 91.

A spring I99, whose lower end is anchored to the carrier 86, is provided at its upper end with a hooked member which engages the lower edge of an opening in the shank of the type head, the spring I99 tending to resiliently hold the head in cooperation with the carrier 86. Mountso that the lower end 99 thereof engages the 55 slide I9I. It is plain that, if the slide MI is moved upwardly relative to the carrier 86, the type head 8641 will move likewise. A springpressed latch I96 pivoted at the lower end of the carrier 86 is adapted to cooperate with three shoulder stops I91 formed in the lower end of slide I9I. When the slide is moved upwardly one or more steps with respect to the carrier, the latch 196 will cooperate with one of the stops I91 to hold the parts in their displaced relationship.

Associated with each alphabetic type bar assembly is a vertically slidable comb I98 which is adapted to be moved downwardly and then upwardly during each cycle of the machine. Each comb has a series of three stops or lugs I99 which, on the upward movement of the comb, pass 'a stopping pawl H9 in synchronism with the passage of the

zone perforations

0, 11, and'12 by the upper analyzing brushes of the machine. Each pawl H is controlled by a zone magnet I I I, the energization of whicli operates its armature to release pawl I I0, allowing the latter to be moved by its spring into engagement with one of the stops I09. By this action, further upward movement of the comb I08 is prevented for the time being. The combs I08 are moved upwardly by means of springs H2 and moved downwardly by a bail II3 secured'to a shaft H4. The bail engages the upper ends of the combs and moves the latter downwardly whenever the. shaft I I4 is rocked at the proper time. n

The comb I08 has pivoted thereto an arm H whose free end lies in the path of movement of the associated slider IM and whose lower edge rests upon a bail H6 which is pivoted at II1. Under control of the zone perforations the pivot point of arm II5 may take one of three positions below that of Fig. 3. In this figure, the parts are shown with the comb in the position it assumes when no zone holes are present in the card, that is, when numerals only are to be printed. When the carrier 86 is in its lowermost position, the bail H6 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction to move the arm H5 in a similar direction into engagement with the lower extremity of slide IOI. It will be apparent that the distance which the free end of arm I I5 is moved upwardly under control of the bail H6 depends upon the location of the pivot point of arm I I5 at such time. Thus, if

the pivot point is located as shown in Fig. 3, the

free end of arm H5 will be moved upwardly to. a position 'where it barely touches slide IOI. A zone perforation in the zero index point position I will result in the movement of the free end of arm H5 three steps upwardly from the position of Fig. 3. A perforation in the 11 position will cause it to move two steps while a perforation in the 12 position will cause it to move only one step above the position in Fig. 3. These steps of movement. are, of course, transmitted to the slide I M and it, in turn, will be moved upwardly 1, 2, or 3 steps in accordance with the setting of the related comb I 08, the latch I06 carried by the carrier 86-serving to hold the slide in its displaced position with respect to the carrier.

It will be understood from the foregoing description and the more detailed explanation found in Patent No. 2,016,682, that in the case where a perforation occurs in one of the 1 to 9-index point positions only, the mechanism controlled by the zone magnets III will not be-efiective to shift slide IOI relative to carrier 86 and the type bar assembly will be arrested differentially, purely by the operation of print magnet 95, as in former Hollerith tabulating machines. 2

Ball I I6 is actuated through the medium of a -toggle mechanism. comprising links I10 one of which is pivoted to the bail H6 and the other is pivoted to an arm "I. The point of connection of the links carries an arm I12'which is alsov pivoted to an arm I13 secured to a shaft I14. Referring to Fig. 5a, shaft I14 also carries an arm I15 which has link connection with an arm I16 secured to a rod I11. A follower arm I18 on rod I11 is actuated by a cam I19 on shaft I 80.

Referring to Fig. 3, an arm I8I carried by a rod I82 is adapted to be rocked from its dotted to its full line position prior to the straightening of the toggle links I10 so that when shaft I14 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction under control of its cam I19, the arm "I will be restrained against movement and the straightening of the toggle will move the bail H6 upwardly. In Fig.

5, rod I82 carries an arm I83 whose upper end is adapted to be engaged by the free end of an armature I84 of magnet I85. Energization of magnet I85 will permit arm I83 to rock in a counterclockwise direction under the influence of its spring, and thereby carry with itrod I82 and the arm I8 I.

Referring to Fig. 5, the shaft H4 hasarm and link connection I86 withan arm I81 on a shaft I88 which carries a bail I89 (see also Fig. 3); through this connection rocking of shaft H4 to restore the combs I08 will also cause clockwise rocking of bail I89 to restore the latches of pawls H0. Shaft I88 has arm and link connection I90 with an arm I9I on rod I82 to cause relatching of arm I83-against the free end of armature I84.

As the type carrier 86 descends from printing position with the slider IOI held in displaced posi tion by latch I06, it is necessary to first restore the slider to its lowermost position before effecting -a new zone setting thereon. To this end a bail I92 is provided which is moved to the dotted line position of Fig. 3 before the carrier reaches the lower extremity of its movement. In such position the bail I92 is in the path of an extending arm of latch I06 and as the carrier continues its descent the extension will engage bail I92 and cause clockwise rocking of latch I06 to release slide I M. Following this action, the bail I92 is lowered and the slide IN is in readiness to receive a new setting under control of arm H5.

In Fig. 5a, bail I92 is carried by a shaft I93 which through arm and link connection I94 is connected to an arm I95 secured upon shaft I98 which shaft also carries a follower arm I91 cooperating with a cam I98 on shaft I80. Shaft I I4 of bail H3 also carries an arm I99 whose free end has a roller in cooperation with an arm 200 secured upon a shaft I. Shaft 20l also carries a follower arm 20 2v in engagement with a cam 203 mounted on shaft I80. The shaft I80 is driven from the main shaft I0 61' the machine through gearing designated 204 in Fig. 3.

Mounted on the main drive shaft I0 or geared thereto are various cam operated contacts whose timing is indicated in Fig. 11 and which are designated with the prefix CR, indicating that these are contacts operated by constantly running cams making one revolution for each cycle of the machine. A cam operated contact pre-. fixed PM is carried by the print shaft 16 and operated only when the shaft 13 is in operation.

Paper line spacing In Fig. 5, the constantly running gear 121 on shaft I0 has afllxed thereto a double cam I28 engaging a lever I29 urged by a spring into contact with the cam. An upwardly extending arm of lever I29 carries a stud I30 which moves in an L-slot of link I3I. A nose I32 of link I3I rests upon armature I33 of a magnet I34. The magnet I34, energized at a time when the follower roller of lever I29 is on the lower-portion of cam I28 and stud I30 is to the right in the L-slot will permit link I8I to be drawn down into operating relationship with the stud so that tion I40.

2,131,919 as lever I29 is rocked counterclockwise, shaft I26- will be actuated to cause spacing of platen 09. A spring I restores shaft I26 and connected links. Following each paper spacing operation, a pin I36 in the gear I21 coacts with bell crank I3!- to positively raise link I3I' out of active engagement with the stud in the L-slot and latch it on armature I33. The double rise on cam I28 permits a second paper spacing operation of the above described instrumentalities. Thus, if duringthe same cycle magnet I34 is energized a second time, an additional paper spacing operation will be effected. The manner in which the magnet I34 is controlled will be explained in connection with the circuit diagram.

Referring now to Fig. 8, there is shown a typical group of cards which is to control the preparation of-the statement shown in Fig. 9. At the head of the group is a so-called "name and address"card in which perforations, representing the name, are made in the left portion of the card, and perforations representing the street address, are made in the right hand portion. The card is identified as an address card by a perforation designated I40 made in the 9" index point position of the last or eightieth column of the card. The second card is known as a city and state" card and contains perforations in its left hand portion representing city and state. This card also contains the identifying perfora- As will be explained'herelnafter, the sensing of this special perforation will cause these cards to be passed-to the special eject hopper after they have been sensed by the analyzing brush'es. Following the two heading cards is a group of detail cards, each of which contains perforations representing information relating to various items to be billed.

In Fig.. 9 is shown the manner in which the group of cards is to control printing on the invoice with the lefthand portion of the first record card controlling printing on the first line,

the right hand portion controlling printing on the second line, and the second card controlling printing on the third line, after which a spac-- ing operation is brought about to skip over the pre-printed column'headings. Each of the detail cards, in turn; will control printing on successive lines, there being one line for each card.

the problem indicated in Figs. '8 and 9 and also with reference to the diagrams shown in Fig. 10.

Before initiating operation of the machine, it is necessary to effect certain preliminary plug connections. These are represented diagram- -maticall'y in Figl 13 where a single plug connectionis indicatd to represent the plugging ,of an entire field or group of card columns. The plug sockets I4I related to the upper analyzing brushes UB which traverse the left hand portion of the card are connected through suitable plug connection I42 to plug sockets I43. The brush sockets I of the intermediate brushes 13 which sense the. left hand portion of the cards are a connected through plug connection I44 to plug sockets I45 and the sockets I4I of brushes IB which traverse the right hand portion of the card are connected through plug connection I46 nections I48 to plug sockets I43. The'various sockets I43, I45, I41, and I49 are wired to contact devices whose function and manner of operation will be set-forth hereinafter. A further .plug connection I50 is made from the upper brush MI traversing the last card column to a socket I5I and fromv here afurther connection I52 is made to a socket I53.

With these preliminary plug connections established and the main line switch closed so that there is current on the left side of line I and on the right side 01. line I6I and a group of cards, such as that shown in Fig. 8, placed in the feed hopper in the machine, the apparatus is in readiness to commence operation, which is initiated by operation of the start key which closes contacts I 62 and establishes a circuit traceable from right .side of line I6I, through stop key contacts I63, eject hopper contacts 54, start key contacts"l62, cam' contacts CR20 (which time the completion of the circuit), relay-magnet R6, to line I60. Relay R6 closes its contacts R611 and R61), the latter completing a circuit through the card i'eed clutch magnet I6- whereupon the card feed mechanism is released for a cycle of operations. o

, During thisfirst card feed cycle, the first card of the group is advanced to the feed rollers which convey it to the brushes U B. In starting the machine, it is necessary torepeatedly depress the start key or',,,as an alternative, hold the start key depressed for several cycles until the leading card has reached the intermediate brushes 1B. During the second card feed cycle, the first card passes brushes U3 and as it approaches brushes .13 it operates the intermediate card lever 40 to close contacts ICL which establish a circuit from line I6I through contacts ICL, relays R6 and R5, to line I60. Relay R4 closes its contacts R411. to provide a holding circuit through cam contacts CR23 which overlap the period that the card lever contacts are opened sothat as long as cards continue to feed in succession, relays R6 and R5 will remain energized. Contacts R lb of relay R4 will accordingly .be closed to short-circuit the start key contacts I62 and maintain relay R6 Energized, which in turn will keep the card feed clutch magnet It in operation.

In. parallel with the card feed clutch magnet I6- is relay magnet'MCRI which is accordingly energized concurrently therewith. Cam contacts CFI9 close as soon as the card feed mechanism --tion of cards from the supply hopper. During the first cycle contacts CF9 close and energize relay R2 through a circuit from line I6I, contacts I54, RIa, CF3, relay R2 to line I60. Contacts'RZa establish a holding circuit -through contacts CF8 which will keep the relay energized until the first card has passed the brushes UB in the following. cycle. I

As the leading edge of the first card commences to pass brushes U13 during the second cycle, the "9 perforation I40 ,in the last card column will complete a circuit traceable from line IBI, con-" tacts CFII, R2b (now closed), RI5b, roller-31, '9 hole, brush UB, socket I4I, connection I50,

socket I5I, relay R31, contacts CFI5, impulse distributors CRI to CR4, to line I60. A parallel circuit from socket I5I connection I52 and socket I53 will at the same time energize relay RI3.

Relay R31 controls a delayed operation mechanism to eject the first card when it reaches the stacker mechanism. This will be explained later. Relay RI3 closes its contacts RI3a to complete a circuit from line I6I, contacts CF20, contacts RI3a, relay coil RHI3 and magnet 33 in parallel to line I60. Coil RH I3 has its core'common with coil RI3 and acts as a holding circuit for the contacts RI3a, keeping them shifted after coil RI3 is deenergized. Relays of this type are well I known and reference to Patent No. 2,987,343, issued to G. Lowkrantz, .will show their mechanical arrangement.

Energization of magnet 33 will declutch the picker knife so that during the next cycle as the first card is passing the brushes IB there will be no card passing the upper brushes UB.

During the second cycle as the first card is passing the upper brushes UB, contacts CF25 close as the zone positions 0, 11, and 12 are sensed, completing a circuit from line I6I, contacts CF25, upper contacts Rl4b, relay magnet MCR2I to line I60. Relay MCRZI closes its sets of contacts MCR2Ia so that as the zone holes are sensed circuits may be completed to control setting of the zone selecting combs in the printing mechanism. A representative zone selecting circuit may be traced as follows: from line I6 I, contacts CFI I, R2b (now closed), Rl5b, roller 31, zone hole brush UB, socket I4I, connection I42, socket [43, contacts MCRZIa, zone magnet III, contacts CFI6, contacts CRI to CR4 to line I60. In this manner the zoning of the type bars-for the first card is effected.

After the zone hole positions have passed brushes UB, cam contacts CF26 close to energize relay magnet MCRI2 and the consequent closure of contacts MCRIZa will complete a circuit, provided a 9 hole has previously been sensed, which is traceable from line I 6I, contacts CF20, RI 3a, MCRIZa, relays RI4 and RI5 in parallel to line I60. Relay I4 closes its contacts RI4a to provide a holding circuit through contacts CF2I which will maintain relays RI4 and RI5 energized while the first card is passing the brushes IB.

The first card has now passed the brushes UB and the name has been zoned. As this card' passes to the brushes IB, card lever 40 closes contacts ICL and causes energization of relays R4 and R5. Relay R4 closes its contacts R411 to provide a holding circuit through contacts ICL and CR23 in parallel. This circuit will be held until the card has passed the brushes IB and will then break if the next card does not follow immediately behind.

With contacts R517 closed, due to energization of coil R5, circuits to the type bar magnets will be completed from line I 6|, contacts R5b, CF2, roller 38, digit holes in the card, brushes IB, socket I4I, connection I44, socket I45, normally closed contacts MCRI3a, print magnets 95, contacts CRI to CR4 to line I60. In this manner the "name from the first card is listed.

"While the zone positions are passing brushes 113 contacts CF25 close to energize relay MCR23 through the now closed lower contacts RI4b and contacts MCR23a will' consequently be closed during this period so that zone selecting circuits will be completed from line I6I, contacts R5b, CF2,' roller 38, street zone holes, brushes 13,

sockets I4I, connections I46, sockets I41, contacts MCR23a, zone magnets III, contacts CFI6, CRI to CR4 to line I60. Thus, during the same cycle that the name is listed, the street" is zoned. At this time, a pair of contacts MCR23b are closed and a circuit will becompleted from line H, contacts CF28, CR21, contacts MCR23b, relays MCR25 and RI6 in parallel to line I60. Relay RI 6 closes its contacts RIBb to energize a relayMCRI3 and contacts RIGa provide a holding circuit from line I6I, contacts CF28, contacts I6a, relays RIG and MCR25 in parallel to line I60. Relay MCRI3 is held energized through contacts RIGb. These holding circuits are maintained throughout the sensing portion of the fourth cycle when the first card is passing the brushes LB. At such time circuits are completed from line I6I, contacts CFI2, roller 39, street" perforations, brushes LB, sockets I4I, connections I48, sockets I49, contacts MCR25a, left hand contacts MCRI3a to magnets 95, thus effecting listing of the street data.

While the street is being listed, the second card is passing the brushes UB and as before the presence of a 9 hole causes energization of relays RI3 and R31 resulting in declutching the picker knife again and the sequence of operations described is repeated with the state zoned at the upper brushes and listed at the intermediate brushes. Since there is only one section of the second card to be printed from,

there is no zoning of this card at brushes IB and no listing from brushes LB. During the passage of the card by the brushes LB, the platen is spaced and the preprinted heading of the detail items is thus skipped.

As the first card is passing the lower brushes LB there is no card at the brushes IB and consequently contacts ICL are open. However, contacts LCL are closed and with contacts MCRI3a closed during this period, contacts ICL are shunted and relays R4 and R5 energized through the second path.

When the first detail card arrives at brushes UB there will be no hole present and so for this and subsequent de ail cards, relays RI3 and R31 will not be energized and the picker will advance the following cards in succession so that as one detail card is passing the brushes 18 the next.

is passing brushes UB. Each card in turn is zoned at the upper brushes and listed at the intermediate brushes as already explained, and will pass the lower brushes without completing circuits therethrough. The various operations and their sequence are indicated in Fig. 12.

The manner in which the address cards are ejected from the main file will now be explained. As pointed out above, the sensing of a 9 hole by the upper brushes U'B will cause energization of relay R31. This will close its contacts R31a and energize the holding coil RH31 from line I 6I, contacts CF20, R31a, coil RH31 to line I60. CF20 will hold this circuit until near the end of the cycle and before it opens contacts CF26 close to energize magnet MCRI2 causing closure of its contacts MCRIZb. During the time contacts CF26 are closed, one of the contacts CF31, CF39, CF4I or CF43 will close. The contacts as explained operateat a 1 to 4 ratio with the card feed cycles and are timed so they close in succession, one each cycle so that at any time of closure of contacts CF26, one of these four contacts will also close. Assuming that contacts CF31 close, there will then be a circuit traceable,

,. CF20, Rlla, MCRiIb, CF31, double wound relay R38 to line I60. Relay R38 will close its contacts R380 establishing a holding circuit from line IGI, contacts CF45, R3811, holding coil of relay R38 to line I80. This circuit is maintained for over two and a half cycles at which time the leading edge of the card will be at the last pair of feed rollers 36 (Fig. 2). At such time, cam contacts CF49 close completing a circuit from line Iii, contacts R3812, eject magnet to line I60. This causes rocking of the deflector plate 48 to direct the card into the elect stacker 5|. v

There are four sets of circuit delaying relays R34, R39, R40, and R4l,each with related holding contacts CF45, CF46, CF41, and CF48 and related tripping contacts CF49, CF50, CFSI, and CF52 so that a 9" hole sensed by the brushes UB during any card cycle will cause tripping of the eject stacker deflector plate three cycles later to separate such card from the detail cards.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

I What is claimedis as follows: l

1. In a machine of the class described, three record analyzing stations, means for feeding a record card past said stations in succession, said.

card having alphabetic data represented thereon in the form of combinational perforations, printing mechanism for printing upon a bill, means jointly controlled by the first two stations for causing said printing mechanism to print alphaof the card.

2. In a. machine of the class described,- three record analyzing stations, means for feeding a record card past said stations in succession, said card having alphabetic data represented thereon by combinational zone holes and digit holes,

printing mechanism including zone control devices and digit control devices, means controlled I end analyzing station to control the zone control devices fromone section of the card and cancurrently therewith control the digit control ,devices from another section of the card.

4. In a machine of the class described, three record analyzing stations, means for feeding a perforated record having combinational hole perforations representing alphabetic data, past said stations in succession, printing mechanism for printing upon successive lines of a bill, means controlled jointly by the first two stations for causing said printing mechanism to print alphabetic data upon one line of the bill, data derived from one section of the record card, and means controlled jointly by the last two stations for causing said printing mechanism to print upon another line of the bill alphabetic data derived from another section of the record card.

5. In a machine of the class described, record card analyzing means including three sensing stations, means for feeding a group of record cards comprising detail cards and address cards, each station, a second analyzing station, and a third analyzing station, said first and second stations forming a 'control means for causing alphabet printing, said second and third stations forming a further control means for causing further alphabet printing, printing mechanism, means noranism to be concurrently controlled by a part of I each of said two control means.

8. In a printing machine, a trio of record analyzingstations, means for feeding a record card past said stations in succession, printing mechanism controlled by each of said stations as the card is advanced past the same, a pair of receiving stations for the card, means controlled by the first station for determining to which receiving station the card is to be advanced and means controlled by said determining means for selecting oneof said receiving stations to receive the card.

9. The invention set forth in claim 8 in which means is provided and controlled by said determining means for delaying the selection of the receiving station until the card has traversed all of the analyzing stations.

- ALBERT W. MILLS.

EDWARD J. RABENDA. FRANK J. FURMAN.

perforated to represent alphabetic data, past said