US2043231A - Keyboard perforator and counter - Google Patents

Description

June 1936. s, BRACKEN ET AL 2,043,231

KEYBOARD PERFORATOR ANb COUNTER Filed Nov. 17, 1935 INVENTORJ STANLEY BRAC/fE/V MAORI/,5 7. 60572 Patented June 9, 1936 KEYBOARD PERFORATOR AND COUNTER Stanley Bracken, La Grange, and Maurus T.

Goetz, Chicago, Ill., assignors' t0 Teletype Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application November 17, 1933, Serial No. 698,430

30 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in composing systems and apparatus therefor and particularly to perforators and counters which may be utilized for preparing a perforated strip for the automatic-control of composing machines.

As is commonly known in the typographical art, composing machines of the linecasting type are provided with matrices which consist of small brass units carrying indented characters or intaglios in their edges, and which are of different thicknesses due to the fact that the characters vary in width the length of line, therefore, is

dependent not alone upon the number of characters in the line, but also upon the thickness of 'the several characters or matrices composing each line or included in the line. During the preparation of a perforated strip representing lines of composed matter, it is necessary to totalize the various thicknesses of matrices corresponding to the code perforations made in the strip, so that the operator will know at all times the length of a line remaining as each key is operated and can thus judge the justifiab ility of the line.

Besides the usual character matrices, composing machines of the particular type to which the present invention relates are also provided with expansible space bands or justifying matrices which comprise a portion analogous to and having the contour of a character matrix and which are positioned in the line of matrices usually between each series of character matrices comprising a word, and this portion has slidably articulated thereto and depending therefrom a wedge portion. By means of these wedge portions the justifying matrices are expanded or adjusted between certain ranges of thickness before the casting operation is performed. It is essential therefore, that an indicator be provided which denotes not only the totalization of the character matrices, but also the expansibility of the space bands, and that these two functions be performed simultaneously, and that the resultant effect be apparent to the operator at all times.

In the design of new fonts of type, either to 1 supersede prior designs or to provide or create new designs, each character is assigned to' a certain definite group; for example, the widest characters may be divided into eighteen units and thirteen groupings may be established on the basis of unit sizes ranging from 6 units to 18 units, inclusive; In the present system eighteen units are equivalent to the set or em quad size of the font of type. The lower case/a? would, for example, be assigned to group II regardless of the font or style of type, signifying that a lowercase a is 11 units in width, a unit being not a fixed dimension but merely a proportion of the quad size in the particular font of which it is a part.

Experience has demonstrated that a very large number of fonts cannot be classified in accordance with an 18-unit system. However, nearly all fonts can be classified by using a system of 32- units where the em-space is 24 units in thickness and in which all the other matrices range from 5 to 32 uni-ts in thickness; the matrices greater in thickness than an em space being designated by unit thicknesses greater than 24 units. With this system employing a greater number of units more accurate grouping of the various characters of a font of type can be attained, and hence more accurate counting or totalizing of the thicknesses of the matrices composed in a line can be achieved.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an extremely simple and very accurate counting arrangement for counting cumulatively the matrix widths.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a differential device for adding a definite increment to selected oneso'f unit measurements having a variable nature.

The above and other objects of the present invention are accomplished by the provision of a keyboard device similar to that disclosed in copending application of Howard L. K-rum, Serial No. 613,706, filed May 26, 1932, which completely describes and illustrates a keyboard perforator and counter adaptable particularly for the present invention and to which reference may be had for a full and comprehensive disclosure thereof and designed to prepare a perforated tape in which the perforations represent lines of composed matter, and also designed to take account of the number of characters or matrices composed so that in a line of predetermined length, the amount or length of the line remaining to be filled or completed will always be ascertainable.

Briefly, the keyboard includes keylever's, arranged in a manner characteristic of typewriters, which operate through a permutation selector mechanism contained in the housing of the perforator and counter apparatus to position permutably a series of code discs of a selector, to select one of a circumferentially arranged series of rods. A stop member or counting barrel, to which a constant torque is imparted, cooperates with the selected rods to determine the degree of rotation of the counting barrel. The selector rods being thirteen in number, represent a series ranging from 6 units to 18 units inclusive, since it is not necessary in practice to employ matrices small than 6 units in width. Thus, as the stop member or counting barrel is rotated through variable angles according to the selector rod operated, like rotation is imparted to a spiral gear operatively associated with the counting barrel, and through a suitable gear train variable motion is imparted to a matrix pointer associated with an indicator dial. Hence, as the keys are depressed, the matrix pointer is moved through variable cumulative distances corresponding to the widths or thicknesses of the matrices represented by the keys. According to the present invention, an auxiliary counting device is interposed in the gear train between the aforementioned counting barrel and the matrix pointer so that the matrix pointer may be dually controlled, either variably by the counting barrel or definitely and invariably by the auxiliary counting device, or variably by the dual or combined action of both counting devices. In other Words, the counting device may have its action imparted directly to the indicating element or its action augmented under certain conditions where an increased count is required.

A more comprehensive understanding of the present invention may be had from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein like reference characters represent similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawing;

Fig. l is a perspective view of a perforator and counter with parts broken away showing so much of the apparatus as is necessary for an under standing of the present invention, and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the difierential device according to the present invention.

Having reference to Fig. 1, it is noted that most of the parts shown have their counterpart in the structure illustrated in the aforementioned copending application, the entire perforating mechanism not being shown herein, but which is .nevertheless considered as operably associated with the present invention. In Fig. 1 a plurality of keylevers ll, of which one is illustrated, are

vpivoted on a common rod l2 and are normally upheld by individual springs I0. These keylevers extend over a number of pairs of permutation bars 2 and 3 included in the perforator selecting unit indicated generally by the numeral 4, and pairs of bars M and 15 included in the selecting unit of the counting mechanism indicated generally by the numeral it. Each keylever H is arranged to depress one of the bars 2 or 3 of each pair of bars, and through the medium of rocker arms 5 lifts the other bar of the pair to reciprocate longitudinally a member 6, cooperatively associated with and subjacently disposed to each pair of bars 2 and 3, to impart corresponding movement to the associated pivoted member I.

The function of members 1, as disclosed in the copending application, is to control the operation of punch interference elements 8 in the tape perforating unit 9. The members 6 are set in characteristic combinations, and for this purpose the bars 2 and 3 are provided with notched upper edges, the bars of each pair being complements; that is, the high portions of one bar are opposite the low portions of the other bar of the same general pair.

The keylevers allotted to the letters and numerals are each provided with a slidable code bar [3,

which coacts with the pairs of permutation bars l4 and I5 of the counter selecting unit [6. Each code bar I3 is slotted at its forward end so as to admit a pin l1 secured to the keylevers II and is pivoted at its rear end to a rocker member l8, which extends transversely of the keylevers II and is pivotally mounted on trunnions l9 journaled in the base or frame 2|, as more clearly disclosed in the copending application. Subjacently disposed to each pair of bars l4 and I5 is a bar 22 which is operatively related thereto through the medium of rocker arms 64 in such manner that the depression of one element of each pair of elements, through the depression of a keylever causes the operation of the other element of that pair in a reverse direction, and causes the bar 22 to be reciprocated longitudinally upon the alternate actuations of said pair of bars, as in the case of member 6 associated with bars 2 and 3. Inasmuch as it is desired to operate the longitudinally movable members 22 in difierent permutations, there is provided an individually shaped code bar 13 for each of the keylevers H, having its code projections 23 and 24 in difierent positions with respect to the bars l4 and i5, so that these bars upon the depression of the respective keylevers II will be operated in combinations peculiar to each keylever. It may be noted at this point that the projections 23 and 24 are arranged in varying permutations and accomplish the same result as though the upper edges of the bars l4 and I 5 were notched in varying permutations for effecting the corresponding movement of the permutation bars. Inasmuch as each keylever I I usually represents two char-. 1

acters (except special function keylevers), one in the upper case and one in the lower case, and since the width of the upper and lower case characters assigned to a key may vary, it is therefore desired to distinguish between these widths and to effect a corresponding operation of the counting mechanism by providing shiftable code bars of the kind represented by the code bar [3.

As previously mentioned, the code bars l3 are secured at their rear end to the rocker member [8, and the latter is adapted to be rocked to either of its two positions upon the depression of a shift or unshift keylever in a manner clearly described in the copending application, depending upon whether the selection is in the lower or upper case position.

When any key lever II is depressed, the permutation bars l4 and 15 will be positioned to cause the movement of the permutation bars in varying permutations, and simultaneously therewith the bars l4 and [5 will be moved in accordance with the position of the projections 23 and 24 on the code bars l3 and will cause the movement of the permutation members 22 in varying permutations.

These members 22 are, as clearly described in the copending application, operatively connected with a corresponding series of Y-shaped members 25 which will be positioned in accordance with the operation of the permutation members 22 and will control the setting of a plurality of notched discs 26, forming a part of the code disc selector 20. Individual to each of the members 25 and notched code discs 26 is a transfer lever 21 which is pivotally mounted on a rod 28 journaled in a bracket (not shown), which is operated to reciprocate the transfer levers vertically by means of a cam mounted on an operating shaft 29, which is analogous to shaft I80 shown in the copending application. Also,

the cams mounted on shaft 29 and operatively associated therewith through suitable clutch; mechanisms are provided with two symmetrical cam surfaces. to permit a complete cyclic operation of the. device for each one-half revolution of the cams. For each operation of the bracket carrying the transfer levers 21,.the latter will be moved intooperative relation with the Y-sha-ped levers 25; that. is, whether the members 25 are at the right or left as viewed in Fig. 1, the transfermembars 21 will engage or be free of the upper end of the Y shaped members 25 to cause the discs 25, to be rocked in either a clockwise or a counterc ockwise direction. With the Y-shaped. members 25 operated in varying permutations in accordance with the movement of the permutation members 22, the discs 26 will likewise be rotated in varying permutations and will correspondingly cause the alignment of. the various groups of notches formed in the periphery of the discs. Cooperating with the notches in the discs are a plurality of rods 31, there being a rod individual to each set of notches (when aligned) and arranged with anti-friction rollers 32. Each of the. rods 3| is centripetally biased by an individual spring 10. In this manner the rods 3| normally tend to move radially toward a common center into the notches of the discs 26, but

inasmuch as the notches are arranged so that for, each setting of the discs only one group thereof will be in transverse alignment, only one of the rods 3| at a time will be moved into the notches. Also, the notches in the discs 26 are arranged so that when the discs are moved for a subsequent selection, the previously selected rod 3| will be cammed outwardly against the action of its associated spring. Operatively secured to the right-hand end of each of the rods 3| is a stop member 33 which slides in suitable slots formed in a circular member 34.

, position are operated invariably by a lever (not shown) while a previously operated slide is simultaneously restored to its normal or unoperated positionby a collar 38, to accomplish through the coaction of an operated slide 31 and a selected stop member 33 the'incrementally progres- Sive movement of the counting unit 35. The

counting unit 35 includes a shaft 39 on which is formed a worm or spiral gear 4|. Attention is directed herein, to the structural feature of counting unit 35 in that it is of a very small diameter, thereby permitting of a high speed of rotation. By having the parts near the axis of rotation, the centrifugal action is reduced and the moment of inertia is materially less, which makes possible the rotation of the parts at very high speeds. it

As previously mentioned, the slides 31 cooperate with the slidable stop members 33 associated with ,the rods 3| to arrest the rotation of the counting unit 35 which, as previously indicated, is driven through a friction clutch 36 to cause a corresponding degree of rotation to worm gear 4|. The rotation of worm gear 4|, which meshes with a gear 42 secured toa shaft 43,

wheel 48 associated with a matrix pointer 49,

completing a gear train betweenthe counting unit 35 and the matrix pointer 49.

As shown in Fig. 1, the dial 36 is provided adjacent its arcuate edge with a scale or series of graduations representing the number of ems in a line of maximum length. The reverted end of the matrix pointer 49 moves along this edge of the dial from left to right, toward zero, in response to the totalization ,of the matrix thicknesses by the counting mechanism. Thus, the distance from the pointer 49 to zero indicates the amount of space left in the line to be filled with matrices, when the line contains no spacebands. However, when spacebands are inserted in the line, the space remaining to be filled varies with the number of spacebands inserted. So, to indicate the justifiability of the composed line a pair of spaceband pointers 43 and 54 are provided, the distance between the pointers 49 and 53 indicating the amount of expansibility of the spacebands. Since the distance from zero on the scale to pointer 45 represents the sum of the thin edges of all the spacebands (whether one or more) in the line, and the distance from zero to pointer 53 represents the sum of the thickest ends of the spacebands, it is manifest that the distance be tween the pointers 40 and 50 represents the difference between these sums, which is the amount of expansion, or expansibility, of the space bands contained in the line. Therefore the space left in the line to be filled, when spacebands are inserted, is represented by the distance between the matrix pointer 49 and any point between spaceband pointers 43 and 54. The manner of effecting the differential or proportional movement of pointers 40 and 50 toward the left (from the zero'position) is fully set forth in the copending application and need not be reiterated here.

In adapting the keyboard perforator and counter mechanism shown in the copending application to a 32-unit count, in accordance with the present invention, it is contemplated to maintain the existing arrangement of parts so far as possible, and to this end the change contemplated by the present invention is the substitution of a differential gear arrangement shown in Fig. 2 for the gear 2l4 shown in Fig. 1 of the copending application. In Fig. 1 the shafts 43 and 44 and gear 45 are analogous to shafts 2H and ZIZ and gear 213 thereof and, as previously indicated, gear 45 is loosely mounted on the shaft 44, and is analogous to gear 244. To gear 46 is affixed by means of studs 5| an internal gear 52. Also loosely mounted on the shaft 44 is a ratchet wheel 53 which carries a pair of planetary gears or pinions 54 and 55 diametrically opposed to each other and in mesh with a gear 56 fixed to and concentric with the shaft 44, and with the internal gear 52.

Associated with ratchet wheel 53 is a pawl 51 pivotally carried at the extremity of one arm of a lever 58. (Fig. 1) loosely mounted on shaft 44. A spring actuated detent member 59 (Fig. ,2) is (iii bracket '54 mounted on the base 2i.

provided for ratchet wheel 53. Pawl 51 is normally urged into coaction with ratchet wheel 53 by a spring distended between a spring post secured to pawl 57 and a spring post secured to lever 58 (Fig. 1). Pawl 5'! and the arm of lever 58 on which it is carried are connected through a linkage train to a code bar 6! in the selector mechanism l6 so that, upon each actuation of code bar 6|, a relative movement is imparted to pawl 51. The linkage train comprises an arm pivotally connected to and depending from a pivot 66 common to pawl 57 and lever 58. Arm 65 is provided at its lower extremity with a laterally disposed portion 61 (Fig. 2) which is connected by spring 68 to the laterally disposed portion 69 formed at the upper extremity of a lever H. Also carried on portion 69 of lever H is a set screw 12 the inner end of which abuts portion 6'! of lever 65. By this arrangement a resilient connection is provided between arm 65 and lever ll so that, as will presently appear, the operation of the differential gear mechanism can be effected in accordance with the actuation of a previously depressed keylever and while a succeeding keylever is being operated. Lever H is U-shaped at its pivotal point to provide a substantial bearing on a short shaft 13 carried in a To the extremity of the horizontal arm of lever H is pivotally secured one end of a link 15, the lower end of which is connected to code bar 6!. The upward movement of the code bar 5|, as will presently become apparent, and the consequent upward movement of link 15 will rotate lever H in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 1) to impart, through set screw 72, counterclockwise rotation to arm 65 to bring a shouldered portion l6 thereof into cooperation with an extension l'? on the spacer bail or bell crank 18. Upon the operation of bail l6 pursuant to the operation of any keylever II (which trips a clutch mechanism to start shaft 29 and consequently'spacer cam 59 carried thereon into rotation), the arm 65 will be given a downward movement whereupon pawl 51 will cause ratchet 53 to rotate an angular distance equivalent to one tooth, or any other amount depending on the distance through which arm 1'? is moved. In accordance With the construction shown in Fig. l, lever 58 continually tends to rotate in a clockwise direction due to the tension of a spring 8| against a back stop 62.

Bar 6| is one of a pair of bars 65 and 62 comparable to the four pairs of bars l4 and I5, previously mentioned. The operation of bars 6.] and 62 is determined by the location thereabove of a projection 63 on slidable code bar 13; that is, when it is desired to actuate the matrix pointer 49 only in accordance with the operation of the counting unit 35, count bars l4 and 15 will be operated permutably in accordance with the noted arrangement of projections 23 and 24, a projection 63 being associated therewith in such a. manner that it will coact with bar 6| to effect in turn the disablement of the pawl and ratchet components of the differential gear arrangement. On the other hand, when it is desired to superadd 14 units to the movement of matrix pointer 49 in addition to the movement imparted thereto by the counting unit 35, the projection 63 is aligned above the bar 62, so that upon the depression of a keylever H projection 63 will engage bar 62 depressing it in a manner clearly set forth in the copending application, through T-lever 64, thereby causing bar 6| to move up- Wardly. Thus, the depression of bar 62 upon actuation of a key-lever ll effects the elevation of bar 6| so as to effect through the linkage train, comprising link 15, lever H and arm 65, the cooperative engagement of the pawl and ratchet components of the differential gear arrangement so that matrix pointer 49 will be dually'operated; that is, both by the counting unit 35 and I the ratchet 53.

gear 46 and internal gear 52 fixed thereto in the direction indicated by the arrows, and this movement is imparted through pinions 54 and 55 (ratchet wheel 53 remaining stationary) to the gear 56, causing gear 56 to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow shown thereon, which movement is imparted through shaft 44 and the gears 41 and 46 to the matrix pointer 49.

In the event that a count greater than an 18-unit count is required, the ratchet wheel 53 is actuated simultaneously with gear 45 to impart to matrix pointer 49 an additional movement equal to 14 units. Since the difference between 14 units and the unit-count over 18 (or in fact, from 19 units to 32 units, inclusive) is supplied by the movement of gears 45 and 46,

as previously described, the movement of ratchet Wheel 53 to supply the 14 units is imparted to matrix pointer 49 in the following manner: When a keylever H, having a code bar l3 whose projection 63 is disposed above the bar 62, is depressed, a corresponding depression of bar 62 is effected to impart in turn through member 64 the raising of companion bar 6!. Thus, a corresponding elevation is imparted to link 15 to bring, through the instrumentality of level II and arm 65, the shouldered portion 76 into cooperation with extension 11 of bail 18 so that upon the ensuing reciprocation of extension 71,

in a manner previously set forth, a downward movement will be imparted to arm 65 and consequently to pawl 51 to rotate ratchet wheel 53 an angular extent equivalent toone tooth thereof in the direction indicated by the arrow shown thereon. This movement of ratchet wheel 53, assuming gear 46 to be stationary, is imparted through pinions 54 and 55 to gear 56, causing gear 56 and shaft 44 to rotate in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 2). This movement of shaft 44 is imparted through gears 41 and 48 to matrix pointer 49. During operation, gear 45 and ratchet wheel 53 may be actuated concurrently, gear 45 being actuated to the extent determined by the code disc selector mechanism of the counting device, and ratchet wheel 53 being actuated by the pawl 57. Gear 46 and ratchet wheel 53 rotate in opposite directions, yet by virtue of the differential gear arrangement gear 56 rotates invariably in the same direction, viz.,

in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig.2; the

angle of rotation of gear 56 being the, summation of the angles of rotation individually imparted to it by gear 46 and ratchet wheel 53.

Thus it is seen from the foregoing description that unit-counts from 6 to 18 units are imparted to shaft 44 by gear 45 associated with the counting unit '35, and that an additional 14 units are imparted to shaft 44 by ratchet wheel 53. Therefore, when a count of 24 units, for example, is required, the gear 45 will be actuated to the extent of 10 units (which is the difierence between 14 'units and the '24 units), determined selectively by the code disc selector of the counting device. The ratchet wheel 53 will be actuated substantially simultaneously withgear 45 to supply the I4 additional units required to attain the 24 unit count. Hence, the summation of the movements imparted to shaft 44 by gear 46 and ratchet wheel 53 will be transferred through gears 41 and 48 to matrix pointer 49. Similarly, if gear 45 is rotated to an extent equivalent to the full 18 units and ratchet wheel 53 is also actuated simultaneously, the matrix pointer 49 will be moved a distance representing 32 units.

Afeature of thepresent invention is the control and operation of the matrix pointer 49 by either the primary counting mechanism, comprising the counting unit 35, or the auxiliary counting mechanism, comprising the diiferential gear arrangement, or both together. For example, if a fourteen-unit count is desired, that is, 'if it is desired to move the matrix pointer 49 a'distance of fourteen units, this may be accomplished by operating either the counting unit 35 alone to the extent of fourteen units, or by operating the differential gear arrangement alone to the extent of one step or tooth which, 'as previously indicated, will move the matrix pointer a distance representative of fourteen units. The control of the joint or individual operation of counting unit 35 and the difierential gear arrangement is accomplished through the medium of the coded arrangement of the projections on the code bars 13.

The matrix pointer 49 is shown in Fig. 1 as disposed between a flanged sleeve 85, carrying gear 48, and a disc 86, and, as fully described in the copending application, the matrix pointer 49 is rendered movable with the gear 48 by reason of the frictional resistance generated between it and. the disc 86 by a spring 81 through rod 88. To effect the return of the matrix pointer leftwardly -(as viewed in Fig. 1) to its initial or beginning of-line position against a stop (not shown), the rod 88 integrally formed with disc 86 is pushed forwardly by a suitable means against the compressive action of spring 86 to disaffect the holding action of member 86 and permit matrix pointer 49 to be returned to its initial position by a spring 89 acting on a cord 9 l It iis-apparent from the foregoing disclosure that a device has been provided whereby a definite unit-count may be superadded to a variable unit-count to increase the counting possibilities of perforators and counters which wouldotherwise havea lim'iteol range of counting possibilities. Because numerous changes and modifications may "be made without departing from the. spirit and scope of the present invention, it is intended not to be limited to the specific language of the foregoing description nor to the details of the accompanying drawing, but to be permitted instead a latitude of construction as indicated by the hereunto appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, an indicator, means operable under certain operating conditions for operating the indicator, other means operable under different operating conditions for augmenting the operation of said means, and means operable permutably for selectively controlling the operations of said pair of means for determining the extent of operation of said indicator.

2. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, an indicator, a counting mechanism operable under certain operating conditions, a supplementary counting mechanism operable under other operating conditions, and means for controlling the joint or individual operations of said mechanisms for determining the variable incremental amounts representative of matrix widths, a mechanism operated variably under certain operating conditions, another mechanism operated in variable extents under other operating conditions, a single source of control for said mechanisms, and an element dually operated in accordance with the operation of said mechanisms in response to said single source of control for determining the extent of operation of said device.

5. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, a counting mechanism operable under certain operating conditions, a supplementary counting mechanism operable under other operating conditions, a single source of control for said mechanisms, and a registering device for totalizing variable additive amounts representative of matrix widths operable responsively to said single source of control through the instrumentality of said mechanisms in-ac cordance with the resultant efiect of said operating conditions.

6. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, a counting mechanism operated in variable incremental amounts representative of matrix widths, a plurality of elements, means for controlling the operation of said elements in accordance with various widths of the matrices, means controlled through said means and coacting with said elements for determining under certain predetermined conditions the extent of operation of said counting mechanism, and means also controlled through said first recited means cooperable with said last recited means and effective under other predeter mined conditions to vary the operation of said counting mechanism.

7. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, an indicator, a counting mechanism, a plurality of pairs of members operable permutably tocontrol the operation of said mechanism, a supplementary counting mechanism, an additional pair of members adapted to control directly said supplementary mechanism, and means for controlling the joint or individual operations of said mechanisms for determining the action of said indicator.

8. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, a device, a counting mechanism, a plurality of pairs of members operable permutably to control the operation of said mechanism, a supplementary counting mechanism, an additional pair of members adapted to control directly said supplementary mechanism, and an element dually operated in accordance with the operation of said mechanisms for determining the extent of operation of said device.

9. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, a permutation code mechanism, means actuated through said mechanism in varying cumulative amounts representative of matrix widths, and supplementary means also actuated through said mechanism for varying the effectiveness of said means.

10. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, a primary counting mechanism operable under certain operating conditions, an auxiliary mechanism operable under other operating conditions, and an indicator operable through the instrumentality of said mechanisms in accordance with the joint and several eiTects of said operating conditions.

11. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, an indicator, a permutation code mechanism, a plurality of stop members selectively controlled through said mechanism, a counting organ adapted to coact with a selected stop member to actuate said indicator, and an auxiliary device also controlled through said mechanism to vary the actuation of said indicator.

12. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, an indicator, a selector mechanism, a plurality of stop members selectively controlled through said mechanism, a counting organ comprising a plurality of circumferentially arranged slides adapted to coact with a selected stop member to actuate said indicator, and an auxiliary device also controlled through said mechanism to vary the actuation of said indicator.

13. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, an indicator, a selector mechanism, a plurality of stop members selectively controlled through said mechanism, a counting organ comprising a plurality of circumferentially arranged slides adapted to coact with a selected stop member to actuate said indicator, and a difierential gear arrangement also controlled through said mechanism to vary the actuation of said indicator.

- 14. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, an indicator, a selector mechanism, a plurality of stop members selectively controlled through said mechanism, a counting organ comprising a plurality of circumferentially arranged slides adapted to coact with a selected stop member to actuate said indicator, and an auxiliary device including a ratchet and pawl component and a planetary gear component cooperatively related and also controlled through said mechanism to vary the actuation of said indicator.

15. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, a selector mechanism, means actuated through said mechanism in incremental amounts representative of matrix widths, and a differential gear arrangement also actuated through said mechanism for varying the eifectiveness of said means.

16. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, a selector mechanism,

- means actuated through said mechanism in incremental amounts representative of matrix Widths, and an auxiliary device comprising a ratchet and paw] component and a planetary gear component cooperatively related, and also actuated through said mechanism for varying the effectiveness of said means.

17. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, a device for totalizing variable additive amounts representative of matrix widths, a first mechanism including an internal gear, a second mechanism including a pair of planetary gears, a single source of control for said mechanisms, and a gear element operatively associated with all of said gears and dually operated in accordance with two independent conditions established through the instrumentality of said mechanisms in response to said single source of control for determining the extent of actuation of said device.

18. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, a device, a first mechanism including an internal gear, a second mechanism including a pair of planetary gears, a plurality of pairs of members operable permutably to controlthe operation of said first mechanism, an additional pair of members adapted to control directly said second mechanism, a gear element operatively associated with the others of said gears, and means for controlling the joint and/or several operations of said mechanisms for determining through said gear element the extentof operation of said device.

19. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, a registering device,

means for operating said device including a series of operable elements, a plurality of stop members,

means for operating an element invariably in a zero position, means for operating the elements to cause their cooperation with said members to effect under certain predetermined conditions the corresponding operation of said device, and means cooperable with said last recited means and effective under other predetermined conditions to vary the operation of said device.

20. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, an indicator, an index operating shaft for said indicator, means controlled from one source for moving said shaft through a distance commensurate with said source, means controlled from another source for moving said shaft through a distance commensurate with said other source, said two means including independently operative driving members, and a driven member responsive to said driving members individually and conjunctively.

21. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, an indicator, a permutation selector mechanism, a counting mechanism operated upon each selective operation of said mechanism for actuating the indicator an amount corresponding to the operation of the counting mechanism, additional means for deter mining the extent of actuation of said indicator, and means also selectively controlled by said selector mechanism for rendering said additional means efiective.

22. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, an indicator, a permutation selector mechanism, a counting mecha-- nism operated upon each selective operation of said mechanism for actuating the indicator an amount corresponding to the operation of the counting mechanism, additional means interposed between said counting mechanism and said indicator for augmenting the action of the counting mechanism, and means also selectively controlled by said selector mechanism for rendering said additional means effective.

23. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, a plurality of keylevers, a plurality of elements operated permutably upon the action of the keylevers, an indicator, a counting mechanism controlled by said elements for determining the extent of actuation of said indicator, and means also controlled by said elements for augmenting the action of said counting mechanism on said indicator.

24. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, a selector mechanism, means actuated through said mechanism in varying cumulative amounts representative of matrix widths, and additional means also actuated through said mechanism for augmenting the action of said means.

25. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, a plurality of key levers, an indicator, a counting mechanism operable under certain operating conditions, a further mechanism operable under other operating conditions, and means selectively operable from said keylevers for controlling the joint or individual operations of said mechanisms for varying the operation of said indicator.

26. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, an indicator, means operable under certain operating conditions for operating the indicator, other means operable under different operating conditions for modifying the operative effect of said means, and means operable permutably for selectively controlling the operations of all of said means for varying the operation of said indicator.

27. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, an indicator, a counting mechanism, a plurality of pairs of members operable permutably to control the operation of said counting mechanism, a further mechanism, additional members adapted to control directly said further mechanism, and means for controlling the joint or individual operations of said counting and further mechanisms for varying the action of said indicator. 28. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, a permutation code mechanism, means actuated through said mechanism in incremental amounts representative of matrix widths, and further means also actuated through said mechanism for varying the effectiveness of said means.

29. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, a plurality of keylevers, a plurality of elements operated permutably upon the action of the keylevers, an indicator, a counting mechanism controlled by said elements for actuating said indicator, and means also controlled by said elements for modifying the action of said counting mechanism on said indicator.

30. In an apparatus for preparing control strips for linecasting machines, an indicator, a counting mechanism, means for controlling the operation of said mechanism, a supplementary mechanism, means for controlling the joint or individual operation of said mechanisms for determining the position of said indicator, and. means controlled from the same instrumentalities as said mechanisms for applying symbols on the control strip.

STANLEY BRACKEN. MAURUS T. GOETZ.

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