GB896410A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for acting in turn on sheets - Google Patents

Abstract

896,410. Selective printing. ABELL, G.E.B., PRICE, P. R., CHADDER, H. L., and HEALEY A. C. Aug. 11, 1958 [May 9, 1957; Aug. 28, 1957], Nos. 14824/57 and 27161/57. Class 100(4) [Also in Group XIX] Record documents 50, Fig. 5, such as bank account cards are permanently mounted radially in a file which can be rotated by shaft 52 to bring the documents in turn into contact with sensing and recording units 53, 54, the sensing and reading operations being effected without detaching the document from the file. Transaction documents or cheques 55 are sensed by senser 56 and the sensing unit 53 searches through the documents 50 until the corresponding account number is found. The amount sensed from the cheque 55 is then added or subtracted in unit 57 and the new balance is recorded by unit 54. The sensing and recording units each comprise a separating device which consist of a suction tube 12, Fig. 3 rotating to curl the end of the document round itself. The first document is then separated from the next by a bar 13 carrying a blade 14 which rotates on the dotted line path, passes behind the document and causes the trailing end to be drawn across an arcuate backing member 15. This carries sensing or recording means in a row of holes 16. The member 15 is of insulating material and may have further suction ports holding the moving document closely to itself. For a marking unit each hole 16 may contain a capillary tube 17, Fig. 2, surrounding a glass fibre 18 having a beaded end 19. The tube is filled with ink for example a magnetic ink and a high potential is applied to the ink which is accordingly transferred from the bead 19 to the document. By using rapid short pulses the nib can be so placed in spots as to write the desired character. Alternatively the member 15 may have a depression for a carbon ribbon and a series of pins or stylii operated by solenoids making legible marks. These marks may be magnetic. The marks may be formed merely by electrical energization of the pins. The ribbon may be dispensed with, the marks being made in specially treated paper by electric pulses applied to the pins. Instead of a single row of pins actuated in successive positions along the line of movement of the paper, an array of pins may be provided, e.g. in five rows. Selected pins are operated to print the required characters, the operation being so quick that the relative movement of the paper does not cause smudging. In another modification the use of an oscillating stylus is suggested which is actuated at appropriate points to make the desired marks and the use of ordinary type or a magnetic recording head is mentioned. In the last case the documents 50 may carry a magnetic tape, be of magnetic material, or a film coated with such material. Specifications 606,130, 606,133, 707,736, 784,209 and 876,626 are referred to.