US1768665A - com ley - Google Patents

Description

July 1, 1930. c. w. A. COMLEY TICKET PUNCHING APPARATUS '5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 3, 1928 lg {2081110 .Olffi y 1930- c. w. A. COMLEY 1,768,665

TICKET PUNCHING APPARATUS File 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 1, 1930.

C. W. A. COMLEY TICKET PUNCHING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 3, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 v y 1930- c. w. A. C OMLEY TICKET PUNCHING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Even Z701? type described, and provide an improved ma- Patented July 1 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES WILLIAM ABREE COMLEY, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T COMLEY TICKET REGISTER COMPANY COMPANY LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, A BRITISH TICKET-PUNCHING APPARATUS Application filed January 3, 1928. Serial No. 244,232, and in Great Britain January 14, 1927.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to ticket-punching apparatus of the type comprising a punchin mechanism, comprising one or more puncliing elements for punching a ticket to indicate thereon any one of a predetermined set of values, such as currency values, with or without one or more other punching mechanisms, comprising each one or more punching elements, for punching the said ticket to provide thereon one or more additional indications, such as the distance or time for which the ticket is issued, and/or a particular group of a set of groups for which the tickets may be issued.

In ticket-punching apparatus of this type proposed heretofore comprising a plurality of punching mechanisms, wherein counting mechanisms were associated with the punching mechanisms for totalling the value of, and counting the number, of, tickets issued, the various punching mechanisms were actuated independently one of another in succession, and feed mechanism for feeding a strip of uncancelled tickets past the punches was also actuated independently of the punching mechanisms, so that the process of issuing a single cancelled ticket involved a series of manipulations which had to be performed in a correct order, whereby the operation of the machine was rendered complicated and occupied a considerable length of time.

This invention has for one of its objects to simplify the construction of apparatus of the chine which can be operated in a more simple manner and more rapidly than heretofore. Other objects are concerned with mechanism for feeding the tickets in strip form through the apparatus, and an improved construction of punch-actuating mechanism. A further important object is to provide that although a single punch is used for cancelling tickets punched to indicate fares of various values, the total of such values shall be added up and registered on a single counting device. Yet another object is to provide further improvements in apparatus of the kind referred to, so as to ensure simplicity and reliability of operation and to provide a machine comprising relatively few parts Which can be manir factured at a low cost.

According to an important feature of the invention, there is provided ticket-punching apparatus of the type described, wherein a said punching mechanism comprises a punching element, for example a currency punch, that is movable at will to any of a plurality of situations on the ticket where, when operated, it will designate different values, for example currency values, represent-ing fares, one for each situation, on the ticket that is punched, in combination with a counting device, and connecting means so operatively connecting said punching element with said counting device that at each punching operation of the punching element in any of said situations the counting device will register and totalize the values corresponding to the situations at which the punching element is operated. Such a single currency or fare punch serves the purpose of a plurality thereof used herctofore and contributes greatly to the simplification of construction of the machine by greatly reducing the number of component parts in the apparatus.

The actuating means aforesaid conveniently comprises a single actuating member, for example a manually-opcrated lever, so that a ticket can be punched in more than one place by a single operation of one actuating member.

The invention further provides ticketpunching apparatus as set forth above, where in a said punching mechanism having a single punching element operatively connected by connecting means with a single counting device, characterized in that the said connecting means is in the form of transmission mechanism having a variable ratio of transmission which is automatically adjusted when the punching element is moved from one situation to another.

Other features of the invention relating to specific constructions of the actuating means, operating mechanism, feed mechanism, arresting means, and connecting means aforesaid will be described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

The invention is illustrated diagrammatically and by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of ticketpunching apparatus having some features according to the invention, some parts of the apparatus being shown removed and others broken away;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 22 in Figure 1 as viewed when looking towards one end of the apparatus, and

Figure is a vertical section taken on the line 33 in Figure 1 as viewed when looking towards the opposite end of the apparatus;

Figure '-1 is an end elevation of the righthand end of the apparatus as viewed in Figure 1, a partof tl e cover being shown removed to expose the feed mechanism;

Figure 5 is a view corresponding to Fig ure 1 but showing only parts of the feed mechanism in a position diti'erent from that in which the same parts are shown in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a front elevation, parts being shown broken away and parts in section on 'the line 6-45 in Figure 7. illustrating one form of ticket-punching apparatus according to the invention comprising only one currency punch;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional elevation taken on the bent line 77 in Figure 6, and

Figure 8 shows a portion of a ticket strip for use in the apparatus.

Like reference characters designate like or similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring first toFigures 1 to 5, a vertical rectangular metal casing designated generally 10. having two end walls 11, 12, a bot tom wall 13. 11-3, at back wall ll and an apertured front wall 15 contains the punching mechanisms aforesaid. The back wall 14 constitutes part of a vertical base plate 16 on which are mounted below the casing 10 a pivot-pin 17 for a spool 18 carrying a paper strip 19 constituting tickets in strip form and to one side of the spool a second pivotpin 20 for a feed disc 21 having three sprockets for feeding the ticket strip 19 to beneath the punching mechanisms. Two parallel bars 21 25 spaced apart between the 7 top and bottoizi of the casing 10 extend between the end walls 11, 12 and lie just behind the front walllo, and serve as pivoted supports for twelve punch keys 26, six on each of these bars, those on one bar being arranged alternately with those on the other bar.

Three punching mechanisms each comprising one or more punching elements are accommodated in the casing 10 and are referred to hereinafter as the currency, stage and classification punching mechan sms, respcctivel v.

The crrrenc} punching mechanism coniprises twelve currency punching elements which are movable vertically in twelve holes,

one for each punch, in the bottom of the casing which is made in two superposed parts 13, 113 spaced apart, between which the ticket strip 13 is fed as described hereinafter. The lower of Ll two parts 13 constitutes a die plat-c. and tn.- upper 113 a guide plate for the punches ll". in order to economize, these punches 3t) are arranged in two rows six in each row, those in one row being staggered in relation to those in the other row; the keys 26 a'l'ori ail are allotted each to one of these punches 34? and ma he designated with various ciirzciu t value (f JI'I'C- sponding to the val e of l'ltl' fares punched by them. Such dos other; ma; be either on the key heads or on the casing.

Mechanism tor actuating each punch 331) selected by P1 g a key 2e comprises a frame having two end plates 3-), 91 and two cross bar an upper 3.3 and a lower 30. both of L-se vton. mounted to reciprocate vertically in s id casing, t e end members 33, 31 of the frame 7. l by pins and slots to slide again i d walls l1. 12 of the casing 10. A. uir .crsal ha. 3!.) lying parallel with but above the upper Lshapcd ar is mounted to rock vcrtirwlllv l ill.)

means of horizontal arms 10 at 1 ends pivoted to lu 's on the rear of the pat cw 33. 31-. One of these arms 40 (sec liigure 3) which tend to rock down under the action of a spring 11, has at its pivoted end an u nvardlv directed horn -12 arranged to co Ji )(u-at" for the pur; o described hereinaftcr, with a stop -.3 in the form ol. a rod extending between the end walls 11. 12 of the casing i l.

A horizontal rod of circular cross; cc-- tion secured in the end wal of the casing 10 lies parallel with and lnihiur'l the L- hapcd bar 3 TL"; rod 15 pivoiall" car .c in side twelve arms to constitizl 111g rockt one for each punch ll). and each T06R01 pivotailv carries a spr rig-controlled tiimbl'zr 17 which bears against a curved sh'mldcr on the stem of the key allotted. to the much of its associated rocker twelve o t 'erse HIIIIJlCIS heing provided.

If the punches ll) are spring-pressed u wards the rocker it; may hear on i preferablv the rocker" '.lu,-s are in terlockcd by means of engmgin;- in T- front end of lower edge of vented from be" p the punches from t:

Each tumbler 1-7 between the ends of t wardlv-dirccted a spring i9 aft: per end of each The .lcr ilic thereby prel to remove :plate 1' to its wicker laii; J: 1 has a re arm l5 oiillcd upwards h}? l "l. The 1 3,-

lll'llshaped bar enters into a notch formed in the rear edge of the tumbler above its arm 48. In this position the tumbler and its associated parts are ready for punching operation which is effected by driving said frame 32 downwards asdescribed hereinafter. During this movement the universal bar 39 is kept in engagement with the engaged tumbler owing to the action of the spring 41, whilst the upper L-shaped bar 35 exercises a downward thrust on the punch through the pivotal connection of the tumbler 47 and rocker 46 of the selected punch 30. When the bar 39 is lifted owing to pressure on a key 26 any tumbler 47 that has previously been engaged by the bar will be released.

The stage punching mechanism aforesaid comprises a single stage punching element 50. This stage punch 50 is associated with the lower L-shaped bar 36 and is movable vertically in a horizontally slotted bracket 51 providing a die plate and a guide plate between which the marginal portion of the ticket strip 19 is fed. This bracket 51 is adjustable by means of a screwthread along a screwthrcad ed spindle 52 that is ournalled in the two end walls of the casing 10 and is rotatable by means of a crank handle 53 fast on the spindle outside the casing. By rotating this spindle one complete revolution, which may be indicated by a clicking pawl or the like, the stage punch 50 and its bracket 51 are caused to travel along the spindle 52 to a position for punching the ticket in the correct space corresponding to the stage or time in question.

Conveniently one revolution of the spindle traverses the stage punch 50 through unit distance corresponding to the distance be tween the stages indicated on the tickets. The head of this stage punch has an annular groove which is always in engagement with the lower L-shaped bar 36, so that whenever a currency punch 30 is used the stage punch 50 is also used.

The classification punch mechanism aforesaid is situated close to the end wall 12 and may comprise any number of classification punching elements. As illustrated, the frame 32 comprises a transverse bar 59 ar- 1.: ranged to reciprocate towards and away from a row of five classification punches 60, and a slider 61 movable along sald bar 59 1s arranged to be operatively engaged with one of said classification punches 60 in any position into which it may be adjusted along said bar. These five classification punches may represent, for example, an ordinary ticket, a return ticket, a childs ticket, a special ticket and a workmans ticket, the tickets being marked 0, R, C, T, W correspondingly (see Figure 8). Each. punch 60 is spring-pressed upwardly and has a head having an annular groove adapted to be engaged by the slider 61 movable along the bar 59 of H-section,

135 rod 62 mounted in the frame 32 parallel with the bar 59 prevents the punches 60 from leaving the guide plate 113. Any convenient means may be provided for shifting the slider 61. As illustrated the slider has a lug 610 which lies between the prongs of a forked end of a lever 611 which is pivoted on the easing at 100 and has its other end formed as a handle 612. The forked end of the lever 611 is curved, and coacts with a notched edge of a segmental plate 613 so arranged that when the lever is in one of the notches, the slider 61 is engaged with the corresponding classification punch 60, as indicated by marks on the casing near the handle.

There are thus three punching mechanisms comprising the currency punches 30, the stage punch 50, and the classification punches 60, and at least one punch of each of these punching mechanisms are normally in use and operated simultaneously prior to the feed of a ticket.

The actuating means for reciprocating the frame 32 to punch a ticket and for feeding the ticket strip 19 after each punching operation will now be described. The upper ends of the end plates 33, 3 1 of the frame 32 are formed as horizontal slots, and the actuating means comprises a shaft 63 that is journalled in the end walls 11, 12 of the casing 10 and carries two cams or eccentrics 64, one in each slot, for vertically reciprocating the frame 32. Outside the casing 10 the cam shaft 63 carries a pinion 65 which meshes with a spur gear 66 that is pivoted on the casing and has a holding pawl 68 for preventing rotation in one direction. The spur gear has on its outer face four pins 69 arranged at the four corners of a square having its centre at the centre of the gear wheel 66. A vertical. feed pawl 70 having an upward extension 71 beyond its notch 7 2 for engaging the pins 69 is operatively connected by a hooked tail-piece 73 to a sliding plate 7-1 mounted on the base plate 16 below the casing 10. A quarter of a revolution of the spur gear 66 corresponds to one complete revolution of the pinion 65 and cam shaft 63, so that when the feed pawl 70 dri vcs one of said pins 69 QlO'WXHXTtlClS through the punches 30, 50, 60 are driven through the ticket to perforate it and returned to their normal position above the perforated ticket which is then free to be ejected from the ma chine by the feed of a new ticket into register with the punches.

This plate 74 has a feed-arm 740 integral with it and bent at right-angles thereto extending up behind the pawl 70. This pawl 7 0 is pivoted on the arm 7 10 by means of a screw 700, and its tail-piece 73 lies under a leaf-spring 7 41 secured on the plate 74. This arrangement enables the feed-pawl 7 0 to rock on the arm 740 and engage a pin 69 on the spur-gear 66 immediately the arm 740. is driven downwards as described hereinafter. After the spur-gear 66 has rotated through a small angular distance the pin 69 engaged by the paw YO enters also into a notch 74:7 in the arm 740 which then relieves the pawl 70 of the drive of the spur-gear 66 and the )zilts driven thereby. Near the middle of the downward stroke of the members 70 and 7&0 both of them are automatically disengaged from the downwardly-driven pin 69 ano dnrin g the remainder of the said downward stroke an edge of the extension 71 of the pawl T0 slides against two of the pins 69 and thereby holds them in a position of rest wherein the cam 64 is at the end of its upward stroke, so that the punches 30, and are held in their upper position withdrawn from the ticket strip 19. The pawl-and-ratchet mechanism constituted by the feed members 70, HO and pins 69 form part of the operating mechanism of the punches and is associated with the teed mechanism of the tie \et strip 19 as described hereinatter.

The feed disc 21 is situated at the side of the sliding plate Tl remote from the spool 17 and its three sprockets are spaced equally apart. The sliding plate it is guided by a pin 75 and slot to more towards and away from the casing 10 is notched at one side 77 -t'or the purpose described hereinafter, and pivotally carries at the opposite longer side the lower end of a second teed pawl 78. This pawl has an upward extension 79 beyond its notcii S0 for engagement by a spring 800 which normally holds the pawl in its forward position ready for engaging one of three pins 81 of the disc 21 spaced equally apart around the pivot-pin 20. The pawl 78 has a lug T which lies at right-angles to the length of the pawl and abuts against a shoulder 781 on the plate Tl in the normal position of the pa *l. The disc 21 has a circumference equal to tl r e times the length of one ticket and has a spring-controlled holding pawl 82 for preventing rotation in one direction.

A. single actuating member in the form of a lever 81- pivoted to rock at 85 on the base plate towards and away irom a handle member 86 xed on the latter is pivotally connected by means of a link 87 to said sliding plate 74:. A spring 88 tends to hold the lever Si rocked away' from the handle 86. A full stroke de ice is so associated with the actuating memhe' Sl that when the latter has been moved from it one end position towards its second end po. on, it is prevented from returning to its first end position before the completion oi its stroke towards the second end position. As illustrated this full-stroke device comprises a reciprocatory member constituted by said sliding plate Ti, and a spring-pressed holding pawl 89 arranged to co-operate therewith, which reciprocatory meml er has one or more projections that extend so far towards said pawl 89 and are so arranged in relation to the pawl that at each end position of the said member, the pawl 89 is free at one end of the projections, whilst in intermediate positions the pawl 89 is swung out of its straight-line or deadcentre position into such engagement with the projections as to permit the plate 74 to move in only one direction and hold it by jamming engagement against movement in the opposite dir ction. Such a projection may be in the term of a rectangular lug but is preferably constituted by teeth T7, and the holding pawl S9 conveniently lies horizontally at the lower end of the lug or teeth when the plate Tl is in its upper end position, as shown in Figure '1. When the plate Tl is in its upper end position, as shown in Figure 1 its horn 745 having a straight edge serves to prevent the feed disc 21 from rotating. whilst when the plate T1 is in its lower end position, as shown in l igure the straight edge of the upper part of the plate so aligns two of the pins 81 that rotation of the disc 21 prevented and a ticket is in register with the punching niechanis s. The plate Tl has a notch Tl; into which a pin 81 can enter during the rotation of the disc 21.

In order to facilitate putting a new ticket, strip 10 in roll form into the iachine alter one l1 heen used up, the pivot-pin1Tis slidably mounted on the bas platrit? which cari s: channel guide 90. A ci solar cupshapcd ca g 91 carryi! g the pin 17 2*. its; a a re, hm at the rca tongue 92 ot Usectimi slid; into the pie in its longitudinal direction and forming a dovetailed eonnection therewith. ii flan-red c rcular cover plate )3 its over the casing ill and encloses the strip 19 wound on the spool 18. The pivot-pin l7 ho low and is of two diameters internally to provide a shoulde at 94- near the middle. A splitpin 5):) having a cont-d heat-i H1 is fast on the centre oi the cover plate .3 and ir.-rmally holds the cover in position by bearing with its head against the shoulder Sit. in order to remove the cover, a box key is inserted into the rear end of the pivot-pin l? alter the same has be "einovcd from the basc-i vlate wh reby the two parts o t the head 96 are p i hcr. so that the cover 93 An caitlet the ticket strip 19-is provided in the casing 91 at 9T, whence it pa. es over a curved twoq art guide plate 970 to the teed disc 21. An arcuate cover plate 98 pivoted at fl!) in the base plate 16 is provided for enclosing the strip 19 on the feed disc on its way to a hir ng mouth-piece 100 arran l to direct the ticket strip to the die-plate 13.

A tray divided into or provided with coml artmcnts 106. one for each currency punch 30 and one for the group of classifiedtion punches G0, is pre terably removably carried at the bottom of the casing 10 below the die-plate l3, and a receptacle 107 for the punchings made by the stage punch 50 is preferably carried by the bracket 51 in which the stage punch is mounted. This stage punch 50 may have an indicator that extends at the rear wall of the casing to the upper end thereof where grad nations may be provided for indicating the position of the stage punch.

Any convenient counting mechanism may be provided for counting the fares or other currency values indicated on the tickets by unching them, and to: counting the number of tickets issued from the machine. Conveniently, twelve counting devices 110, provided each with a one'way actuating device 111, have the latter operatively connected each' by an upwardlyextending spring-controlled bent rod 112- with a tumbler 47, the lower end of each rod 112 engaging under the arm 48 of the associated tumbler. Another counter may be operatively connected in any convenient manner with the frame 32. As this frame. is reciprocated once for each ticket that is issued, this additional. counter will register the number of tickets issued from the machine. Likewise, counters may be associated with the classification punches, for counting the number of tickets of each group or class issued. These additional counters are not shown in the drawing for the sake of clearness.

A portion of a ticket strip 19 suitable for use with the ticket-punching apparatus de scribed above is shown in Figure 8. This ticket has along one side marginal portion a nun'iber of currency denominations or fares 115 arranged in two rows, those in one row being staggered in relation to those in the adjacent row, corresponding to the currency punches 30, and at the opposite marginal portion a number of stage or time indications 116, also arranged in two rows, those in one row bein staggered in relation to those in the adjacent row. At one end of the ticket is a row of group or cla denominations 117, and the same end of the ticket is provided with a serial number. The illustration shows that a special. ticket has been issued in return for a penny fare, at stage 1, which indications were provided on the ticket simultaneously by a Flfiiflt operation of the actuating member 84.

The operation of the described ticket punching and ticket issuing apparatus is as follows :-Assuming that a penny special ticket has been issued on the first stage of a journey and that a sixpenny return ticket is to be issued on the next stage, the spindle 52 will. be turned one revolution whereby the stage punch 50 will be adjusted to its second position. The slider 61 of the classification punches 60 will be moved to disengage the special punch and engage the return punch and the currency key 26 marked Sixpence will be depressed, whereby its associatcd tumbler 47 will be engaged with the universal bar 39, and the tumbler 47 associated with the key 26 marked One penny disengaged therefrom. It is then only necessary to grip the actuating lever 84, rock it towards the fixed handle 86 and allow it to return under the action of its spring 88 to its normal position when a ticket will be punched in three places. and ejected from the apparatus and a new ticket placed in readiness for perforation by the punches. During the first part of the first stroke of this reciprocatory movement of the actuating lever 84 the selected punches 30 and 60 and the punch 50 are driven down and up positively by the downward movement of the feed pawl and feed arm 740, and only after this movement has been completed does the feed pawl 78 operate to rotate the feed drum 21 one third of a revolution and thereby feed a new ticket into position for punching. During this movement of the feed disc-21 the spur gear 66 is held against rotation by the upward extension 71 of the feed pawl 70 and by the holding pawl 68, and at the end of the driving stroke of the actuating lever 84 the feed disc 21 is held by the plate 74 and by the holding pawl 82 against rotation, and the sliding plate 74 is at the end of its downward stroke and released from its holding pawl 89, as shown in Figure 5. Consequently, when the actuating lever 84 is released it returns under the action of its spring 88 into its normal position, the two feed pawls 70, 78 are lifted and the sliding plate 74 is lifted into its upper end position, when the apparatus is ready for a fresh operation with the same punches or a different selection thereof.

Referring now to the ticket-punching apparatus shown in Figures 6 and 7, this is similar to that described above with reference to Figures 1 to 5, except that instead of the plurality of currency punches 30 provided in that machine, only a single currency punch 300 is now used. In this modified construction a lever 120 having a slot 121 extending nearly from end to end thereof is fulcrumed at 122 on a fixed part of the end of the casing 10 from which the tickets issue, and has its other end extending upwards towards the opposite end wall of the casing 10, where it is operatively connected to actuating means described hereinafter. A bar 123 having a slot 124 extending nearly from end to end thereof is arranged parallel with the lever 120, and a pin 129 extends slidably through the slots 121, 124. This bar 123 has at its opposite ends two vertical limbs 224, 125 and constitutes part of a Z-shaped member so guided in the casing 10 as to cause the bar 123 to move vertically when it is reciprocated. Conveniently, the

limbs 224, 125 are grooved on their outer edges and embrace frame members 126, 127 that carry anti-friction rollers 128 for cooperating with the said limbs. The lever 120, bar 123 and pin 129 constitute part of connccting means in the form of transmission mechanism operatively connecting the punch 300 with a sin 'le counting device 110, the ratio of nsn ion of which mechanism is automat y ad usted, as described hereinafter. when the punch 300 is moved from one situation on the ticket "to another.

The pin 129 is carried slidably on a vertical rod 130 that lies in front of the said bar and lever and is movable in the direction of length of the same. Conveniently, the pin 12?) is f on a sleeve 131 surrounding the rod 130 w rllCll is of angular section to pre vent the sleeve from rotating. Alternatively. a saddle t table along but non-rotab able on the rod 130 may carry the pin 129 which thus constitutes a floating connection of the lever 120 with the bar 123, and when it is moved along the same it varies the ratio of transmission of the rocking motion of the lever to the bar dependin on the varying distance oi the pin from the fulcrum of the lever.

The single currency punch 300 is movable along the L- haped bar 35 which is reciprocated once at each punching operation of the apparatus as described above. When the punch 300 is in one position it will punch a ticket lIKllt ting one fare, and when in another 3 moi: it will indicate another tare. A notched bar is fixed in the casing 10 parallel with the L-shaped bars 35, 36, on which notched har runs a carriage 13-3 which carries a horiZontally-slotted plate 131, 135 for the pa ige of the ticket strip 19. These 131. are similar to the corresponding parts of the bracket 51 of the stage punch 50, and a guide bar 136 for aligning them is provided in enga ement with the perforated guide plates of the same. Anti-friction members in the form of rollers 138 may be provided on the carriage 133 for causing it to run smoothly.

Pivoted on the carriage 13 3 is a detent 139 in the form of a pawl which is pressed upwards by a 'ing 1 10 into the notches of the bar 132. so as temporarily to hold the carriage in any osition of adjusment according to the p0 1011 where the punch 300 is to operate. A handle member 111 for shift-- ing the carriage 133 depends from its lower edge and extend through a longitudinal slot 112 to the ntside of the casing 10, and a second handle member 143 attached to the wl tends downwards through the same above the handle member we c: iriage can be simultaneously moved to a. y desired situation along the latter for punching a ticket in a new place to represent a different fare. The carriage is preferably provided with an indicator visible outside the casing 10 for indicating the fare that will be punched atthe various situations thereof. For this purpose the rod 130 may be extended upwards outside the top of the casing 10 where it may be provided with an arrow head mo able along a graduated scale on the top of the casing.

Any convenient actuating means may be provided for rocking the lever 120 a predetermined angular distance about its fulcrum 122 at each operation of the punch 50. If desired, the lever 120 which constitutes an actuating member for the counting mechanism, may extend through the end wall 12 of the casing, 10 and be connected in any convenient manner with the feed pawl 70 described above.

As the lever 120 actuates, not the punch 300 but only the counter 110, its angular movement may occur during the whole time occupied by punching a ticket, withdrawing the one or more punches from the ticket and feeding a new ticket into register with the one or more punching mechanisms. whereby steady and reliable operation of the counting mechanism is assured.

A vertical toothed rack 1 1:3 is fixed on the feed arm 740 by means of a bracket 146 and drives a spur gear 117 which is free to rotate on the shaft 118 of the spur gear 66. This gear wheel 117 constitutes an idler and meshes with a pinion 149 that is journalled in the end wall 12 ol the casing. Fast on the same axle the pinion 149 is a second pinion 150 which meshes with an arcuate toothed rack 151 fast on the adjacent end of the slotted lever 120. this rack 151 being curved about the fulcrum 122 of the lever 120. Consequently. whenever the feed arm T is driven down ards the lever 120 is rocked downwardly through a predeterminwl angle.

The upper end of the limb 125 formed as a bearing 152 shaped as a horizontal slot in which is freely slidable a pin carried by a lever arm 153 of a toothed segment 154: fulcrumed at on a frame member of the casing 10. The segment 154 meshes with a pinion 155 arranged to drive the counter 110 by means of a one-way device of any conven e t construction such that the co operated only when the segment 15? .wings in one direction. For example. a one-way clutch may be incorporated in the hub of the pinion If desired. a comb-like member 160 having teeth that gradually increase in length from one end of the comb to the other may be fixed on the frame of the apparatus so as to lie parallel with the lever 120 and to re eive the pin 129 in its slots 161 when the lever 120 is rocked downwards. The guide 160 is so n'iountcd that each of its slots is in register with one of the notches ot' the notched bar .132. the shorter slots being placed at the end oi the notched bar where lower currency values are punched. Preferably a spring is inserted in the driving connection between the feed mechanism and the slotted lever 120 who such a guide 160 is provided. In this ,ase the lower ends of the slots 161 form slots for the downward movement of the pin 129 and ensure that the counter 110 will not be overrun owing to the lever 120 being rocked through too great an angular distance at the several positions of the single currency punch 300. The comb-like guide 160 also ensures that the pin 129 shall move rectilincarly when the lever 120 is rocked and relieves the carriage 133 from stresses which would otherwise tend to shift it along the notched bar 132.

The operation of this modified construction will be readily understood from the above. \Vhcn a ticll'et is to be issued the punch 300 is placed in the desired position corresponding to the fare to be paid, the lever M rocked towards the handle member 86, reciprocates the feed members and 7 40 for actuating the punching mechanism, and therein, rocks the slotted lever 120. At each punching operation this lever 120 is rocked through the same angular distance and the slotted bar 123 is thereby reciprocated a distance which varies according to the distance of the floating pin 129 from the fulcrum 122 of the lever 120. The counter 110 is thereby actuated to register an amount depending on the posi ion of the floating-pin 129 which, in turn, depends on the position of the punch 30. The invention thus provides a single punch 300 for indicating different fares and a single counting device 110 for totalizing the value of all such fares designated by the punch 30. The desired mechanism comprises very few parts, can be made very accurately at a low cost, is reliable in operation and results in a greatly simplified ticketpunching apparatus as compared with those lTDOWIl heretofore.

If it is desired to increase the angular movement of the slotted lever 120 multiplying gear may be provided between it and the feed members 70, 7 10 or similar parts serving for driving it.

Various modifications may be made in the details of construction described above without departing from the invention as defined in the claims.

I claim 1. ln ticket-punching apparatus of the character described, a punching mechanism comprising a punching element that is movable at will to any of a plurality of situations on a ticket Where, when operated, it will designate different values, one for each situation on the ticket that is punched, in combination with a counting device and connecting means operatively connecting said punching element with said counting device, which connecting means comprises a counteroperating member, an actuating member arranged to be moved through a predetermined distance at each operation of the punching element, and a connecting member that adjustably connects said counter-operating member with said actuating member, is adjusted in position by the movement of the punching element from one situation to an' other, and thereby varies the amount of movement imparted to the counter-operating member by the actuating member during a punching operation according to the situation of the punching element.

2. In ticket-punching apparatus of the character described, a punching mechanism comprising a punching element that is movable at will to any of a plurality of situations on a ticketwhcre, when operated, it will designate different values, one for each situation, on the ticket that is punched, in combination with a counting device and connecting means comprising a bar that is mounted to reciprocate and is arranged to actuate the counting device once during each reciprocation, a lever adapted to be rocked to and fro through a predetermined angular distance at each punching operation, and a floating connecting member that is adjustable along the lever by said punching element and operatively connects the bar with the lever at ditlerent distances from its fulcrum according to the situation of the punching element.

3. A combination of parts as set forth in claim 2, wherein the said bar and lever are arranged parallel to one another extending in the direction of movement of the punch ing element and having each a slot extending in the direction of length of the same, a rod movable with the punching element in its adjustment extends transversely of the said bar and lever and is movable in the direction of length of the latter, and a floating-pin is mounted to slide on said rod and extends through the slots in the bar and lever,

4:. In ticketpunching apparatus of the character described, a punching mechanism comprising a punching element that is movable at will to any of a plurality of situations on a ticket where, when operated, it will designate ditlerent values, one for each situation, on the ticket that is punched, in combination with a. counting device, a notched bar extending in the direction of movement of the punching element along the ticket, a carriage that is operatively connected with the punching element and is movable parallel with said notched bar, a detent carried by said carriage and arranged to engage notches in the notched bar, and transmission mechanism that operativcly connects said carriage with said counting device and has a variable ratio of transmission which is automatically changed when said carriage is moved along the notched bar.

5. A combination of parts as set forth in claim 4, wherein a handle member is attached to the carriage, and a second handle memher is attached to the said detent, which handle members are arranged one close beside the nth to be operable in unison. 1; col on of parts as set forth in claim 1, wherein guide means is arranged to guide the said connecting member to move rectiiiuearly in its various positions of adjustment when driven by said actuating mem- 13 her.

'1'. In ticket-punching apparatus of the character described, the combination of a punching mechanism for punching a ticket to indicate an of a predetermined set of values, teed mechanism for feeding tickets into register with said punching mechanism, and actuating means comprising operating mechanism arranged to actuate said punching mechanism and said feed mechanism, 3 which actuating means comprises a pivotally nounted actuating member, and the operative connection between the said operating mechanism and feed mechanism comprises a rectilinearly-guided driven member to which the said actuating member is pivotally connected.

8. In ticket-punching apparatus of the character described, a punching mechanism comprising a punching element that is mov- 30 able at will to any of a plurality of situations on a ticket where, when operated, it will designate ditl erent values, one for each sitnation, on the ticket that is punched, in combination with a counting device and transo5 mission mechanism that operatively connects said punching element with said count-- ing device and has a variable ratio of transmission which is adapted to be automatically adjusted when said punching element is 40 moved from one situation to another, feed mechanism for feeding a ticket strip constituting a series of tickets to said punching mechanism, and actuating means comprising a pivotally mounted actuating member 45 and an operating mechanism that is arranged to actuate said punching mechanism and said feed mechanism in succession, the operative connection between which operating mechanism and feed n'iechanism comprises a rec- 50 tilinearlv-guided driven member to which said actuating member is operatively connected.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES WILLIAM ABREE COMLEY.

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