US1882766A - Printing mechanism for tabulating machines - Google Patents

Description

goet. 18, .1932.

J. w. BRYcE PRINTING MECHANISM FOR TABULATING MACHINES Filed June 20, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 18, 1932.

J. w. BRYc'E Y 1,882,766

PRINTING MECHANISM FOR TABULATING MACHINES Filed June 20. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Suva/Roz $512,254, aff/M3 Oct. 18, 1932. v J, w, BRYCE 1,682,766

PRINTING HECHANISH FOR TABULATING MACHINES Filed June 20. 1928 Y4 Sheets-Sheet 3 A FIGS 53 F|G.8. .u j o o R i Oo o "X" i o E 5 5 4 o c 6 o v o f//l//l// \45 "Il Wx" Qd. 1s, 1932.

J. w.. BRYCE PRINTING MECHANISI FOR TABULTING MACHINES FiledAJune zo, 192e Y 4 sheets-sheet 4 MMM-@7% Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES W. BRYCE, F BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE TABULATING MACHINE COMPANY, OF ENDICOTT, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY" PRINTING MECHANISM FOR TABULATING MACHINES Application led June 20, 1928. Serial No. 286,8405.

point perforations may e indicated by print- Ying upon a record strip, and, in addition thereto, such printing mechanisms are alsol employedto represent the result ofsome'couiputation, such as a total of a series of items. It frequently happens that it is desirable to identify the printed items or computations by printed words, abbreviations or the like,

and in some instances this can readily be ac,- complished by substituting letter type for the numeral bearing type so that the index points will represent alphabetical or other cha-racters. Due to the limitations in the number of index points in a card column, which is usually ten, a limited number of characters may be printed detracting from the-usefulness of such an expedient.

It is then the main object of thepresent invent-ion to extendthe usefulness of such printing mechanisms whereby they may .be

i called up when occasion requires to print either numerals, or substantially all of the alphabetical characters and under control of a single card column.

It is a further object to provide an improved mechani m designed to be controlled by a single oar column which may print either alphabetical or numeral characters arranged in groups, which characters are far in excess of the number of index points Ain a card column.' l

It is a further object of the invention to devise an improved means whereby characters in 'certain groups may be selected by perforations in a particular field of the card.

It is a further object of the present invention to devise means` whereby group selection and type selection voccur during successive card feeding cycles and by separate analyzing means this delayed action permitting one set of brushes to control group selection during one card cycle and another set of brushes to select a desired type of the group during thenext card cycle.

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It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a mechanism employing a card having index points, each index point representing a numeral or a pluralit of letters of the alphabet whereby such index points will select numerals alphabet for printing, or b meansof an additional index point may given a differential alphabetical meaning.

In carrying out the present invention, the preferred means com rises a type carrying member providedv with) a. pluralityof groups offtype, one group for example, meral type, the second, letters of the alphabet and the last, if so desired, other letters of the alphabet. The numeral group `of type are normally presented to the rinting point so that as the usual card per with the analyzing brushes differentially selected. If a perforation should register with an upper or the type will be controlling brush the corresponding group of alphabetical characters will be selected prior to the differential selection of the ty e as controlled bythe usual index oint perfporations. In this manner the car controlling columns may differentially control a number of type tomake up, for example, either a er, word, or abbreviation.

These and other incidental objects which will be pointed out hereinafter will be clear from the following detailed description, 'in which; v

Fig. Y 1 is a transverse sectional view through the printing mechanism illustrating a single embodiment of the invention;

' Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the position of the parts for differentially selecting a type of the upper or alphabet group of type;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 `illustrating the position of the parts for dif- Y ferentially selecting a type of the lower or second group of alphabet type;

Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram of the machine to which the present improvements are applied;

being nuorations register oup selectingA or letters of the Fig. '5 is a fragmentary representation of a L part of a regular Hollerith card illustrated as punched for selecting either numerals or letters by means of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, drive shaft driven by the tabulating motor T. M. (Fig. 4) carries a box cam 27 the race of which reciprocates a bell crank lever 28 one endof which is attached by a link 29 to a reciprocating cross head 30. A pair of levers 28 is provided to carry the cross head, the latter carrying a series of clutch pawls 31 adapted to engage with angular notches 32 formed in slidably mounted plates 33, one being provided for each printing order.

When lever 28 is actuated, the engagement of pawl 31 with notch 32 will cause the movement of plate 33 the latter then initially rising upwardly to a differentially stopped position. Plate 33 may rise until arrested by a pawl 34 operated by its associated magnet 35 and engaging in one of a series of notches 36 in the side edge of plate 33.

The spacing of notches 36 corresponds with the spacing of type bars 37 constituting, for example, numeral type bars of group A. It will be clear that as plate 33 rises differentially a rack portion 38 thereof will roll a pinion 39 counterclockwise over the rack teeth 41 of an impositively held plate 42. Pinion 39 is pivotally carried by the lower end of a slidably mounted plate 43 which carries at `its upper end the set of numeral type 37 constituting group A. lThe movement of plate 43 is, therefore, synchronous with the differential movement of plate 33 bringingl the desired type bar 37 in correspondence with a printing platen 44. The movement of plate 33 is also synchronous with the movement of perforated cards 45 (Fig. 5) through the machine so that when a perforation is encountered by a brush in the tabulator, the corresponding magnet 35 is energized, as will be hereinafter set forth, and the plates 33 and 43 are stopped at a point in their upwarrd travel which brings the type corresponding to such perforation into the printing position and holds it there until after printing.

The plate 33 may be stopped prior to the time that the cross head 30 completes its upward movement in which case pawl 31 merely rides out of engagement with the related notch 32 permitting an upward independent movement of the cross head 30. As the cross head is moved reversely downwardly the pawl 31 will re-enter the notch 32 to positively restore the plate 33 to its normal position.

Any suitable means may be provided for impelling the selected type against the platen 44 to perform the printing function, and may constitute hammers-46 each of which -impels an associated plunger 47 against the s electcd type. The hammers are adapted to be struck by a bail 48 lhaving suitable connections to the operating parts of the machine. Since the hammer details form no part of the present invention they are not shown or described in detail herein and for details of a preferred construction, reference may be had to the application of C. D. Lake, Serial No. 541,347,

filed March 6, 1922.

In the manner just described any of the numerals may be selected for printing, the particular one selected depending upon the position of the index point in the card column. It is desirable, at times, to print letters to form words, abbreviations or the like and to this end plate 43 carries two other sets of alphabet type, the alphabet group B being arranged above the numeral group A while the alphabet group C is arranged below the numeral group A. The group of type B are selected for printing by an index omt in the R position (see Fig. 5) while tiie group of type C are selected for printing by an index point in the X position. The type in the particular group selected are selected. for printing by th'e usual index points in the card column.

The selection of the groups of t pe B and C in` the present instance is contro led'by the positioning of the slidably mounted plate 42 c hereinbefore mentioned. It will be clear that if plate 42 is moved downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 2 the rack teeth 41 will cause pinion 39 to roll over rack teeth 38 in a counterclockwise direction drawin plate 43 downwardly to present the type o group B lto the printing platen. Plate 42 1s impositively held in its normal position by a plunger 49 engaging a notch 50 but when the late 42 is moved to the position shown in ig. 2 the plunger 49 will engage anotch 51 in the side edge of the plate.

The extent that pinion 39 will roll over rack teeth 38 depends upon the upward differential arrested movement of plate 33, as hereinbefore described, so that by a-composite opposite movement of plates 42 and 33 plate 43 may be adjusted to any intermediate position to select any type for printing. From .Fig. 1 it will be observed that an equal and opposite movement of plates 33 and 42 during the time that the perforations are being analyzed will result in no movement of bai' 43 but when' a perforation in a card column causes the energization of a magnet 35 the pawl 34 engaging one of the notches 36 (Fig. 2) will stop the upward movement of plate 33. Plate 42 continues, however, to its lowermost position rolling pinion 39 counterclockwise over rack teeth 38 thus drawing plate 43 downwardly to select the third type from the top for printing. In a similar manner other type of group B may be selected for operation.

The preferred means employed to position plate 42 downwardly to select the alphabet type of group B comprises a cam slide 53 the lower cam surface of which coacts with a stud 54 carried by plate 42 so that as slide 53 moves to the left its coaction with stud 54 will cause plate 42 to.be cammed downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2. Slide 53 is provided with rack teeth 54 normally out of engagement but adapted to engage the teeth of a mutilated gear 55 which l carries a clutch pawl 56 associated with a sequently driving. slide 53 to the left by the gear 55 and against the tension of a restoring spring 63. As slide 53 reaches the position shown in Fig. 2, a straight edge or dwell 64 coacts with stud 54 during which time printing from the selected type is effected. At the termination of the movement of slide 53 to the left and after the printing operation pawl 56 (Fig. 2) strikes the end of restored latchin pawl 60'resulting in the disengagement 0%' pawl 56 with notch 58. Spring 63 restores the slide 53 to its normal position Fig. l) and independent of gear 55 since t e teeth thereof clear the rack teeth 54 at the termination of the movement of slide 53.4

Restoration of the slide42to its normal position to cause Vthe numeral type of group A to again be normally selected isetfected by a cam 65 (Fig. 2) attached to a constantly rotating shaft 66 ,since shaft 59 (Fig. 1) carries a gear 67 (Fig. 1) meshing with a similar gear 68 attached to the shaft 66. The profile of cam 65 coacts with a roller 69 (Fig. 2) carl ried by a lever 70, a pair being provided to support a cross rod 71 adapted to engage u nder projections 72 of the plates 42 to restore them to their upward normal position when said levers are rocked by the cam 65. This restoring action occurs, of course, after the printlng operations again positlomng the type to normal position for selection in accordance with perforations of a successively fed record card.

A similar device is provided for selecting the type bars constituting fthe lowermost or group C, which are also preferably alphabetical character bearing type. The C group of type are selected by an index point appearing 1n the so-called X position, which is the eleventh index point position on the card. The desired type in group C selected for printing is controlled in accordance with the usual index points appearing in the same column as the X index point.

A slide 73 coacting with stud 54 is provided for the purpose of elevating plate 42 to select group C type for operation, since it will be apparent that as plate 42 risesthe rack teeth 41 will cause pinion 39 to roll clockwise over the rack teeth 38 to elevate plate 43 bringing the type of groulp C in correspondence with the printing p aten 44, (see Fig.

3). This position of plate 43 is impositively held by the pin 49 coacting with a notch 74 in plate 42. rIhe supplemental upward differential movement of plate 43 is controlled in the usual manner, that is, by the differential time energization of magnet 35 permitting pawl 34 to engage one of vthe notches 36 as plate 33 is elevated by bell crank lever 28. f

If plate 33 is arrested, the continued upward movement of plate 42 by the movement of Aslide 73 to the left will finally adjust plate 43 to select the desired printing. v

For the purpose of actuating plate'7 3 there is provided a mutilated gear 7 5V (Fig. 1) whose teeth are adapted to subse uently mesh with rack teeth 76 of slide 73. T e mutilated gear carries the usual clutch pawl 77 adapted to engage a notch 78 in the constantly rotated shaft 66, the effective action of the clutch pawl being established when a latching pawl 79 is operated bythe energization of magnet 80. Magnet'SGis energized when an index point appears in the X position. Slide 73 type of group C for 1s restored to normal by the usual spring 81' while a cam 82 (Fig. 2) attached to shaft 59 rocks a pair'of levers 83 vto restore each plate 42 to its central normal position. The levers 83 carry a cross rod 84 which is positioned over the projections 72 to depress the plates 42 to normal. Restoration of the arts brings them to the position illustrated) in Fig. 1 where the numeral type of group A may be normally selected for printing..

The construction and operation of the commutator mechanism for selectively controlling the energization of magnets 62 and 80 will be explained in connection with Fig. 4 of the drawings. The circuit diagram illustrated in this ligure is similar to that disclosed inthe co-pendin application ofG. F. Daly and R. E. Page, rial No. 6,980, filed Feb. 5, 1925, the circuits being altered to include the new mechanism to realize the present advantages.

A card column controlling numeral printing does not contain the perforations X or R, and has only theusual index point perforation for differentially selecting a particular numeral type bar of the group A. These perfor-'ations are sensed by the lower brushes 85. The machine .circuits are, as usual, energized from a source of energy indicated at 86 connected to line Wires 88 and 89 by a double pole switch 87. As the record cards are fed through they are first presented 'to upper fed during a subsequent card cycle to lower 13 Y brushes 85.' These perforations I close the through upper counter magnet circuits traced as follows for one column, from the left side of the line 88, wire 91, contacts 92, counter magnet 93, brush 85, common bar 94, wire 95 to the rlght side of contacts T2, T-3, and when .the first card is being listed through contacts T-4,

T--5, by wire 96 to binder post 11.

If a tabulating operation is being performed on a card other than the first group the currentv instead of passing through T-4 and T-5 will pass through T-2, and T-3, wire 97, brush 98, segments 99, throughcommutator 100, brush 101, wire 96 to binder post 11.

A After the machine has operated a certain amount contacts T-1 close, extending the circuit ]'ust described from binder p'ost 11 and lower card lever contacts 102 and 103, closed contacts T1, binder post 9, closed contacts P-3gto the other side of the line. The energization of counter magnet 93 sets up a `supplementary circuit-as follows: from the left side of the line 88, .contacts 104, printer magnet 35, common bar 105, wire 106 to non-list switch 634 closed when listing is desired. When this switch is closed, during the first card cycle, and with the commutator circuit 101, 100 and brush 107 closed during the same card cycle, current would be supplied from binder post 11 to the common bar 105 through wire 10C), contacts LP-1 now closed and through switch 634. In this Way printer call magnets are provided with a return path for the current which, as will be understood, is a secondary circuit which has been completed by the energization of the counter magnets from the brushes and the subsequent closing of contacts 104. i

It will be understood that if no other perforations appear in a card column aside from the usual perforation in one of the ten designated points the immoral type in group A will be controlled differentially the particular type selected depending upon the differential time that printing magnet 35 is energized.

The upper brushes 90 which search the record cards for perforations at the X or R positions are energized through cam contacts 110 which close during the feeding of cards and open between successive card feeding cycles. Brushes 90 are, of course, electrically connected in some suitable'manncr to sockets 111 connecting the pairs of magnets 62, 80, and in the present instance this connection is exemplified by the jumperconnections 112 thus electrically ,connecting a brush 90 and one of a pair of magnets 62 or 80, depending upon the perforation presented t0 the upper analyzing brush.

The commutator arrangement preferably provided for selectively controlling the energization of magnets 62 or 80 comprises a 'ver 28 is elevating plate 33.

cylindrical body of insulating material 113 rotating synchronously with the card feeding mechanism so that as an X perforation reaches a brush 90 a metal point 114 contacting with a brush 115 will cause the energization of magnet 62. But when a perforation at the R position is presented to a brush 90 another point 116 will simultaneously contact a brush 117 to cause the energization of magnet 80. The points 114 and 116 are electrically connected to a metal ring 118 against which a brush 119 bears. By either of the spots 1.14 or 116 the circuit extends from the magnets 62 or 80, through ring 118, brush 119, wire 120 to the usual cam contacts 121 t0 the other side of the line 89.

If the group controlling perforation should be at the 12th or R position magnet 62 will be energized and the energization of the magnet occurs when point 114 reaches brush v 115 during the first card feeding cycle. This y results in the subsequent engagement of pawl 56 (Eig. 1) with the notch 58 of the driving shaft 59 so that substantially at the time the analyzing brushes 85 search the usual index peints durng the second card feeding cycle the teeth of gear 55 will engage the teeth 54 of slide 53 thereby actuating slide 53 to depress plate 42 during the same time that le- The latter will be arrested differentially when a particular magnet 35 is energized in accordance with the second or t 7pe selecting perforation. As the dwell 64 o slide 53 coacts with the stud 54 printing will be effected from the selected type of'group B after which slide 53 is immediately restored. During thei last part of the second card feeding cycle'cam 65 (Fig. 2) rocksA lever 70 and through the medium of rod^71 plate 42 'is restored to normal.

It will also be observed that since magnet 62 is `momentarily energized to cause the clutching action between notch 58 and pawl 56 that a flat spring 122 (Fig. 1) is provided to restore latching pawl to-normal prior to the completion of the cardfeeding cycle in which the tripping action occurs. Thus the magnet 62 is held in readiness to control type group selection during the next card feeding cycle.

The action of the parts for selecting the type of group C is similar to that described heretofore wlth the exception that a perforation at the X or 11th position willl cause ma et to be energized rendering the upper or R clutch operative. Thus when slide 73 is actuated the type carrying plate 43 will "be elevated to select a particular type of group C for printing.

A relatively important phase of the invention is that the particular means provided for controlling group selection is active during -a different card cycle than that in which type selection occurs. This permits the upper brushes to be used for performing the a plurality of `groups of type,

`:function of group selection while during the subsequent card cycle the type to be selected may be-controlled by the lower brushes. It will also be observed that a minimum movement ot' the type carrying plate is required to select the group of type not normally presented to the printing platen.

While there hasbeen shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features ofthe 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:

1. In an accounting machine comprising in combination with a movable printing bar carrying a plurality of groups of type common to a card column, means whereby index points in a certain field of a controlling card controls the selection of a particular type in a group and means whereby other index points in another card field preliminarily controls the selection of the groups of type.

2. In an accounting machine comprising in combination with a movable printing bar carrying a plurality of groups of type common to a card column, controlling means whereby index points in a certain cardufield controls the selection of a particular giiup of type, and additional controlling means whereby other index points in another card field controls the selection of a particular type in a group. both said controlling means operating in alternating sequence.

3..In an accounting machine comprising in combination with a movable printing bar carrying a plurality of groups of type common to a card column, controlling means whereby index,points in a certain card field controls the selection of a particular group of type, and additional controllingmeans whereby other index points in another card field controls the selection of a'particular type in a group, said group selecting means operating prior to said type selecting means.

In an accounting machine comprising in combination a movable bar provided with a reciprocating member adapted to present a preselected group of type to a printing point and card controlled means for subsequently selecting a particular type of the pre-selected group.

In an accounting machine comprising in combination groups. of type common to a card column and each type having a common printing point, card analyzing means for selecting a group of type, and additional card analyzing means subsequently effective for selecting a type of the pre-selected group.

6. In an accounting machine 'comprising in combination groups of type common to a column of a controlling record card and each .type having a common printing point, card analyzing means for selecting a group of type, additional card analyzing means for selecting a type of the pre-selected group, said analyzing means being operable in alternating sequence.

7. In a tabulating machine comprising in combination with a movable bar carrying a. lurality of groups of type, of analyzing brushes for analyzing a certainvfield of s record -card in motion to control the selection of a group of type and an additional set of brushes for analyzing another `card field of the same record card while in motion to control the selection of a type of the selected group. f c

8. In a tabulating machine comprising in combination with a bar carrying a plurality of groups of type, of analyzing brushes for analyzing a certain field of a record card to control the selection of a group of type and an additional set of brushes for analyzing another card field to control the selectionof a type of the selected group, said analyzing means being operable in alternating sequence. 9. In a tabulating machine comprising in combination withabar carrying a plurality of groups of type the aggregate type being in excess of the number of index points in a column of a controlling record card, and electricallyactuated analyzing means for controlling the moving of said bar to preselect during one cycle a group of type and to select during a later cycle type of the selected group in accordance with the indexlpoints of the card. 10. Ina tabulating machine comprising in vcombination with a reciprocable member having a normal starting position and carrying a pluralityof groups of type, a printin platen cooperating therewith, and recor card controlled means operable in successive machine cycles whereby said member is differentially adjusted from a normal starting position to select a particular type of a group as the preselected group of type advances toward the printing platen.

11. In a tabulating machine comprising in combination with a plurality of groups of type common to a column of a record card and each type having a common printing point. analyzing brushes operable during a card feeding cvcle for controlling` group selection. and additional analyzing brushes operable during a subsequent card feeding cycle for controlling the selection of a type of a selected group.

12. In an accounting machine comprising in combination, with a printing bar carrying a plurality of groups of type common to a card column, means whereby index points in one card field are analyzed during one card cycle to control the selection of a group of type, and means whereby index points in anacters and a group of numeral type the latter` being normally presented to the printing point, card controlled means including index points analyzed during one card cycle for selecting a group of alphabetical type, and additional index points in another card field analyzed during a subsequent card cycle for selecting either a type of a preselected group of alphabet type or a type of the numeral oup. 14. Ina tabulating machine comprising in combination with movable member carrying a plurality of groups of printing type, record card controlling means effective during one card cycle whereby said member is adjusted to' select a group of type, record card controlling means effective during a subsequent card cycle for selecting a type 'in the selected group, and means for posltively restoring said member'subsequent to type selectin operations.

' 15. In a ta. ulating machinecomprising in combination with a member carrying a plurality of groupsg-of printing type, record card controlledmeans for adjusting saidV memberto bring apreselected group of type to the printing point, additional record card controlled means forsupplementally and differentially adjusting said member while' said selected group of type is presented to the printing point, and means for positively restoring said printing member subsequent to diiferemtal type selecting operations.

16. In a tabulating machine comprising in combination with a movable member carrying a plurality of alphabetical printing type divided into groups, means whereby a particular field of a card analyzed during one card cycle controls the selection of type in either and additional means controlled by group, another eld of the card analyzed during a preceding card cycle for preselecting a group of type.

17 In la tabulatingmachine comprising in combination with a member carrying a plurality of groups of type, a printing platen cooperating therewith, and means controlled by the fields of a record card analyzed during successive machine cycles for differentially adjusting said member to select a type of a preselected group.

18.l In a record controlled machine, in combination, a reciprocable member carrying a plurality of groups of type, record controlled actuating means for shifting said member in a certain plane to select a group of type, and separate actuating -means controlled from a separate field of a card for combination, a mem er carrying mei-al type, means controlled shifting said member in the same plane to select a type of the selected group. A

19. In a tabulatin machine comprising in a plurality of groups of type each group eing in the normal printing line, actuating means for selecting a group of type, separate actuating means for selecting a type of the selected group, and means controlled vby separate fields of a record card for controlling the operation of the group and type selecting and actuating means.

20. In a tabulatin machine, comprising in combination, a mem er carrying a plurality of groups of type, means for actuating sai member to select a group of type, means for actuating said member to select a type of a selected group, and means controlled by separate tieldsot` a record card analyzed during successiveoperations for controlling the separate actuating means. v

21. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a platen, a member carrying three groups of type in the same plane, one group being normally positioned to the platen, and se arate record controlled actuating means or adjusting said member in the plane of` the type to present either of the remaining groups of type to said platen.

22. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a platen, a member carrying a plurality of groups of type in the same plane, A

and record controlled'actuating means for shiftin said member oppositely but in the same ane to present either group. of type to the aten 23. In a machine of the lclass described, in combination', a platen, a member carrying a plurality of Uroups of ty e in the same plane, the intermediate group being normally presented to the laten, and record controlled means for shi tin said member oppositely from the intermedlate grou but in the same plane to present either of t e two remaining oups to the platen.

24. A tabulating machine comprising in combination with means for eedmg record cards-having separate card fields representing groups of type and individual type of the groupss, of means whereby said separatecard tiel re analyzed during different card feeding cycles, and electrically controlled means wherebygroup and type selections occur contemporaneously. i

25. In an accounting machine, in combination, a bar plrovided with a pluralit of groups of alp abet type and a roup o nucards in motion for selecting the numeral7 type, and other card controlled means for selecting the groups of alphabet ty e, the alphabet type in the selected group elng selected by the first named card controlled means.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature.

JAMES W. BRYCE.

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