US2179698A

US2179698A - Totalizing system

Info

Publication number: US2179698A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1939-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 1956-11-14

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 www@ g U Mk m. H @m m m msnm@ mm m m Hilf O. C. LEVY ET AL TOTALIZING SYSTEM Filed Feb.

Nov. 14, 1939..

Nov. M, 1939. o. c. LEVY Er AL ToTALIziNG sYsTEM.

Filed Feb. l5, 1937 v2 Sheets-Sheet .2

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mm @mi a Si Patented Nov. 14, 1939 UNITED lSTATES PATENT OFFICE aliases 'roi-Ammo. SYSTEM Application February 15, 1937, Serial No. 125,792 1o claims. (ci. zas-'sai This invention relates to totalizing systems and has for its principal object the provision of a new and improved system of this kind which is cheaper to build and maintain and is more rapid 5 and more certain in its operation.

In a totalizing system of the kind to which this invention refers, there is provided .an electrical device that is adapted to be momentarily connected to any one of a plurality of machines,

through a collector Vand also there is provided a plurality of electrical devices adapted to be connected with the said one of said machines simultaneously with said rst device by means independent of saidv collector, the two devices and machines being controlled over the connection thus formed in au inter-related operation.

The present invention relates particularly to the collector for systems of this kind and provides as a main object a. direct acting collector operating to connect the device with a selected machine without performing a searching operation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a direct acting collector that is locked in connecting position until the devices ano machine have performed certain operations which effect a release ofthe collector.

Another object of the invention provides a direct acting collector arranged to connect the electrical device to the machines one at a time in deiinite sequential order in the event of a simultaneous operation of two'or more ot the machines.

Still another object of the invention provides a direct acting collector equipped to restore itself to a normal position after each single operation and after the last one of a plurality of operations simultaneously initiated.

Further objects of the invention not specifically mentioned here will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the detailed description and claims which follow, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of example and in which: l

Figure 1 is a schematic wiring diagram of a collector and its associated electrical device; and,

Figure 2 is a schematic wiring diagram of the electricalmachines and associated apparatus.

Totalizing systems of the kind to which the present invention refers are frequently used in connection with ticket machines that have a plurality of keys and are adapted to print and issue a ticket corresponding to an actuated key. The system includes individual adding'machines associated with the ticket machines and connected Athereto one at a time by the actuation of a key therein and arranged to count the total number of tickets, of the denomination corresponding to the key, issued by the machine.l The system also includes a total adding machine adapted to be i;v

connected to any one of the ticket machines by a collector and to count the total number of tickets of all kinds issued by the machines. In an installation of this kind twenty-live or more ticket machines may be grouped together in one 10 group and be made available to the total adding machine by the collector, and each machine may have as many as 40 keys in which case there will be provided 40 individual adding machines adapted to be associated with a corresponding 15 key of each of therticket machines independently of the collector.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail. we have shown a collector indicated generally at I0 and comprising a. plurality of relays including 20 a pair oi relays for each ticket machine with which the collector is adapted to establish a connection. Figure 1 also shows a total adding machine indicated generally at 20 and comprising a stepping switch, indicator means and associg5 ated control relays.

Figurel` 2 shows a ticket machine bearing the legend, "First ticket machine in group, and a second and similar ticket machine Il. bearing the legend Last ticket machine in group. Figure 2 30 also shows an individual adding machine SII. bearing the legend, Counting device first key", and also shows a second individual adding machine 60, bearing the legend, Counting device last keyn- In Figures 1 and 2 there are shown a plurality of batteries, as is the custom. in schematic wiring diagrams. In an installation of the system, there will be but one battery ordinarily, preferably of about 50 volts potential and having its '40 positive pole grounded. 1f desired, the ticket machines may be operated from commercial current of about volts potential, although the battery connection shown may well be used.

As shown in the drawings, the total adding ma- 45 chine includes a stepping switch consisting of magnet 2 l that is arranged to drive

wipers

22 and 23 over their respective banks of contacts, and a second stepping switch consisting iof magnet 24 that is arranged to drive wipers 2i and 26 over 50 their respective banks of contacts. Stepping switches of this type are well-known to those skilled in the art and preferably are arranged so that the wipers are advanced upon de-energization of the magnet. 55

the teachings of the invention, such as, for example, a relay counting chain or a magnetically operated mechanical counting device.

The

ticket machines

30 and 40 .form no essential part of the present invention and are shown as examples of machines with which the collector may be conveniently used. The ticket machines per se are shown and described in Patents 1,886,626 and 1,886,627, issued to H. D. Black on November 8, 1932, to which patents reference is here made for the details of construction and operation of the machines.

That part of ticket machine 30 which pertains to the present invention consists of a control relayv 3| having a low sensitivity winding and a locking winding 32. The machine is equipped with a plurality of keys consisting of

main springs

33, 34, 35 and 36 and associated make contacts.- A latching lever 31 is arranged to engage each one of the main springs 33 to 3S inclusive of the keys to hold it in operated position so that when once depressed, the key will remain' locked until4 released by a subsequent operation of the machine, as will 'presently appear. 'Ihe operation of the keys prepares the machine to issue a ticket of corresponding denomination, in the manner described in the foregoing patents, and initiates theoperation ofthe device of the present invention in the following manner.. v

Assume that theiirst key 33 in ticket machine 30 is depressed to prepare that machine yto issue a ticket of the number 1 denomination. Associated with and insulated from the key 33 is a main spring |00, which when operated 'into engagement with its grounded make contact, closes a circuit from the main spring overconductor `|0| through the normally -closed contacts |02 controlled by relay 3|, conductor |03, through.

the winding of start relay |04 vof the collector to battery, and relay |04 operates over this circuit. Relay |04, at springs ||2, closes a circuit which may be traced from ground through the normally closed contact HI, controlled by relay H0, through springs ||2, conductor ||3, through normally closed contacts H4, normally closed contacts I5, conductor H5, normally closed contacts normally closed contacts H8, through spring H9 of relay |04 and its make contact, through the winding of relay |20 to battery. Re-

lay |20 operates over'this circuit and locks itself in operated position over a circuit which may be traced from ground at normally closed contacts |2|, over the chain circuit through normally closed contacts |22 and |23, through the make.

contact of and main spring |24,` through the winding of relay 20 to battery.

The operation of relay |20 closes springs |25 without eiect at this time. Relay |20 also closes Springs |26, which operate to separate normally closed contacts I I8 to break the previously traced ment for the reason that relay |20 is locked in operated position over a separate circuit.Y The against its make contact to establish a connection between the total adding machine 20 and the first ticket machine 30.

l 3| and |35, is sufficient to operate relays H0 and |35 but isinsuilcient to operate low sensitivity relay 3|,. i

Relay |`|0 upon operating opens normally closed contacts to remove ground from the chain extending through normally closed contacts* I |4, H5, and 8 of the collector device,

l thereby to lock the collector against further operation at this time.

The operation of relay 0 operates the total adding machine in the following manner. At springs |40, relay H0 closes a circuit from ground through magnet 2| to battery, and the magnet operates to prepare to advance

wipers

22 and 23 one step. With -the total adding machine in the normal position in which it is shown in the drawings, a circuit may be traced in ground from wiper 22 through the zero indicating device at battery to actuate that device to indicate zero. The indicating devices, 10 in number and designated by numbers 0 to 9 inclusive, may be lamps provided with caps containing the numbers or may be any other of the preferred type of visual indicating devices. Upon subsequent de-energization of. magnet 2|,

wipers

22 and 23 will be moved one step from their normal positions, and the circuit just traced to the zero indicating device willv beV broken and a circuit will be closed to the number 1 indicating device in lieu thereof. The indicator is thus caused to indicate number l. Successive operations of the magnet steps the wiper 22 over its bank to light the indicators in consecutive order until the indicator 9 is energized', at which time, a parallel circuit may be traced from the ground through the number 9 contact engaged by wiper 22 through the winding of magnet 24 tofbattery, and magnet 24 is open. ated over this circuit preparatory to advancing wipers 25 andv 26 one step. Thus when magnet 2| is again de-energlzed to extinguish the number 9 indicator, and -to reoperate the number v0 indicator; magnet 24 will be simultaneously deenergized and wipers 25' and 26 advance to cause wiper 24 to de-energize the zero indicator and energize the number 1 indicator in lieu thereof, so that the totalizer indicating device will indicate 10. Three indicators are shown connected to the bank engaged by wiper 25, but it will be understood that ten indicators will be provided and that they will be connected in the same manner as in the units indicator.

Relay I0, upon energizing, closes springs |42 and magnet 2| upon energizing closes springs |43 to extend a circuit from ground through Q10 winding 32 of the relay to battery.

arrange I 3 those springs and the resistor |44 to the spring |45 of acknowledging 4relay |46. The circuit extends no 'farther at the moment for the reason that the acknowledging relay is not operated.

5 In the individual adding machine 50, Figure 2, the operation of relay |35 over the above traced circuit, closes springs |50, thereby to close a circuit through magnet 5| to operate that magnet preparatory to advancing

wipers

52 and 53.

Wiper 52 in its normal position closesva circuit through the zero indicator of the rst key individual adding machine, which is the same as the total adding machine and need not be explained further herein. To avoid an unnecessary complication of the drawings, but 3 indicators are shown connected to the bank of contacts engaged by wiper 52, but it is to be understood that 10 indicators will be used and will be connected in the manner shown in Figure 1. The operation of magnet 5| closes springs |5| to extend a circuit from ground through this spring, through spring |52, which are closed by relay |35, over a conductor |53, through the winding of acknowledging relay |46 to battery, and relay |46 opcrates over this circuit.

The operation of relay |46 extends the .pre-

viously traced circuit to ground through resistor |34 to spring |35 to conductor |30, and thence over the previously traced circuit extending thru the upper winding of relay 3| and relay |35 in series. The resistance of resistor |44 is less than the resistance of relay ||0, and the closing of theabove circuit in shunt of relay ||0 increases the current ilowing through the winding of low sensitivity relay 3|, causing that relay to operate.

Relay 3| upon operating, locks itself over a circuit extending from the grounded start conductor |0|, through springs |54 and the lower Relay 3| opens normally closed contacts |32, thereby to break the previously traced circuit for relays ||0 and |35 to permit thoserelaystode-energize. Relay 3| opens normally closed contacts |02 to re- 45 move ground from start conductor |03, thereby to cause start relay |04 to de-energize. Relay 3| closes spring |55 against its make contact to complete a circuit from ground through the motor |56 of the ticket machine to battery to operate that motor. 'I'he operation of the motor |56 causes the ticket machine to print and deliver a ticket of the denomination corresponding to key 33 in the manner set forth in the above mentioned patents, and rotates cam |51 in the direction indi- 55 cated bythe arrow to cause the hill of that cam` to engage the push rod |58 and to move that rod to the right, Figure 2. Push rod |56 moves latching lever 31 to the right against the tension of springs 36 and releases key 33 to permit 60 it and spring |00 controlled thereby to restore to their respective normal positions. Restoration of `spring |00 removes ground from the locking conductor |0| thereby to break the circuit of locking wind 32 of relay 3|, to permitthat relay to de-energize and open the circuit of the motor |56 to stop the motor. The de-energization of relay |35 operates the associated stepping switch causing it tocomplete the operation of counting the issuance of the ticket corresponding to key 33. The de-energization of relay |46 is witl. out eiect at this time.

The de-energization of relay ||0 breaks the circuit of magnet 2| to permit the magnetto de-energize, and as explained above, to adva'ifice the switch wipers. The de-energization of relay ||0 also re-closes spring against its break contact, thereby to extend a circuit to the collector for the purpose of restoring the collector to normal, it being'assumed at the moment that no other keys in any of the ticket machines are 5 operated.

A circuit may now be traced from ground through normally closed contacts through spring |25 and its make contact, conductor III, over the previously traced chain through con- 10 tacts ||4 and ||5, conductor ||6.'contact II'I, through spring |26 and its make contact and thence through a chain of normallyclosed contacts extending through spring |60, conductor |6|, spring |62, through the winding of release 15 relay |63 tothe battery. Relay |63 operates over this circuit and at springs |64, closes a locking circuit for itself which may be traced from ground through spring |65 and its break contact, spring |64, through winding of relay |63 to bat- 20 tery. The operation of relay |63 moves spring |2| from its break contact thereby to break thepreviously traced locking circuit over which relay |24 is maintained, to permit that relay to restore. Spring |2 moves into engagement with its 25 make contact and closes a circuit from ground through the upper Winding of yrelay |66 to battery, to operate relay |66. Relay |66 upon operating, opens contacts ||4 to break the above mentioned chain circuit, an'd at spring |65,\locks 30 itself and breaks the locking circuit of relay ||3` As soon as relay |20 has restored and relay |63 has restored, a circuit may be traced from ground through spring |2| and its break contact, 35 over the previously` traced chain circuit through normally closed contacts |22 and |23, through normally closed contacts |61 controlled by spring |24 of relay'|20,conductor |66, through spring |66' of relay |66 and its make contact, through 4o the lower winding of relay |66 to battery. Relay |66 is differentially wound and when both windings are energized, the flux set up by one winding opposes the flux set up by the other winding and the relay restores to normal.

Restoration of relay |66 closes contacts ||4 to close the chain circuit in readiness for the next operation.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the operation of, a key in one of the ticket machines associates an individual adding machine with that ticket machine and closes a starting circuit to a start relay in the collector that is individual .to the ticket machineto preselect that particular machine, and prepares an operating circuit that extends through the total adding machine, ticket machine and individual adding machine, in series. The collector is operated to complete this circuit without performing a selecting or hunting operation, and is locked in operated position 60 to maintain that circuit closed so long as the same is needed. The individual and total adding machines are each operated to jointly control the ticket machine to initiate an operation thereof, and the ticket machine operates to restore the 65 total adding machine to normal and to initiate the restoration of the collector to normal. The collector operates to restore itself if there are no other ticket machine keys depressed at the moment. 70

Assume now that key 33 in ticket machine 30 is depressed to initiate the operations hereinabove described and that simultaneously key 36 in ticket machine 40 is depressed. Associated withkey 36 is, a. spring |10 which upon being 75 operated. closes a circuit from ground to start conductor 1| through spring |12 and its break contact, conductor |13, through the winding of start relay |14 to battery, over which circuit start relay |14 is operated. Spring 38 upon being actuated prepares a point in a series circuit through relay |80 of the last key individual adding machine, conductor iti, conductor |82 through the upper winding of relay |83, springs |80, conductcr |85 to the make contact engaged by spring |88 of collector relay |81, but since the collector relay is not yet energized this circuit is not completed.

Start relays |04 and |16 being simultaneously 15 energized, the previously traced circuit from ground at contacts through the normally closed contacts, controlled by the collector relays to the main spring H9 of start relays |00 is not interrupted by the operation of relay |14, and

collector relay |20 isl operated as'before, and

relay |81 as follows:

the hereinabove described operations are completed. Upon the de--energizationof relay ||0 responsive to the operation of relay |3| as explained above, a circuit may now be traced for ground at springs through spring |25 and its make contact, and thence over the previously traced circuit to normally closed contacts ||1, thence through spring |26 and its make contact spring |60 and its 30 break contact, vconductor |8I, spring |82 and its make contact, through the winding of relay |81 to battery.A Relay |81 operates over` this-circuit and closes springs |80 to extend the above traced circuit of relays '|80 and |83 through conductor |30 and the winding bf relay I0 to ground, thereby to establish the series circuit through those relays, to operate those relays in a manner identical to the previously explained operation of relays H0, 3| and |35.k Relay |81 closes springs |88 which are in multiple with springs |89 on the'` start relay |14. Relay |81 also operates spring |90 which serves to break the previously traced chain circuit by opening normally closed contacts |5 and to close a substitute circuit to the reset relay |83. At springs |91, relay |81 locks itself to'ground at spring |21 and its break contact, and by opening normally closed contacts f |22, breaks the previously traced locking circuit for relay |20 to permit that relay to restore.

Relay ||0 is operated over the series circuits through spring |85 to remove ground from the chain circuit and is subsequently restored to reapply ground thereto, with the result that the circuit of reset relay |63 is completed as before except 'that it is ,now |90 and its make contact,.whereupon relay |63 operates to operate relay |68 and reset the chain as before,

Upon the operation of relay |81 and subsequent restoration of ground to the chain by restoration of relay H0 reset relays |63 and |68 are operated veven .though other start relays in the chain may be operated at the moment. Thus it will be seen that in the case of a simultaneous operation of .two or more start relays in the collector the start relay associated with the lowest number ticket machine of the group will be operated rst, after which each other ticket machine will be picked up in consecutive order, and when the last ticket machine of the group is operated the reset'mechanisxn is actuated to restore the collector to normal so that subsequent operations of the ticket 'machines will again be picked up in consecutive.v

order.

Conductors |6| and |88 are indicated by dotted extended through spring the chain circuits through the device, and the number of ticket machines that can be grouped together is limited only by the capacity of the total adding machine to handle them and not by the capacity of the collector.

By the foregoing it will be seen that the collector restores itself to normal automatically if no additional ticket machines are to be picked up, the ticket machines restore themselves to normal automatically and in order to restore the total adding machine to normal, there is provided a key 202 which upon being closed, closes a circuit from ground to the contacts of the bank over which Wiper 23 of the stepping switch 20 passes, closing the circuit through that Wiper and spring 203 through the winding of magnet 2| to battery. 'Ihe magnet energizes over this circuit to open springs 203 to break its own circuit, deenergize and advance the wipers. The magnet operates in a buzzer-like fashion until normal position contact 201i is engaged by wiper 23 at which time thecircuit of the magnet remains open since this contact is 'not connected in the multiple with the other contacts. Key 202 also closes a similar circuit from ground to a bank of switch wiper 26 through normally closed contacts 205 controlled by the motor magnet 24 of that switch through the winding of that magnet to battery, and that magnet is operated in a buzzerlike manner to restore-that switch to its normal position.

In the individual adding machine a similar restoring circuit is provided and consists of a restoring key 208 which upon being closed, grounds the contacts of switch 50 over which wiper 53 @passes and then contacts of the bank of switch 3 0 over which wiper 63 passes. The circuit is extended through spring 209 through switchy 50- through the winding of magnet thereof to operate that magnet in buzzer-like fashion to restore switch to normal. The ground picked up by wiper 63 is extended over the circuits through contacts 2| 0 through magnet 8| lto operate that magnet in buzzer-like manner to restore switch 60 to its normal position,

Having thus complied with the statutes and shown and described our invention by illustrating l a preferred embodiment of new and desire to have Patent is pointed out in appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. In a collector comprising aplurality of start relays and collector relays one of/each for each device with which the collector is adapted to make connection, means for operating said relays in preferential order in the event of simultaneously initiatedl operations, comprising a chain lcircuit extending through contacts on said direction and then through contacts on said start relays in a reverse direcit, what we consider ,for shunting a part of said chain, means including a second .chain circuit extending through contacts on said collector relays in said reverse protected by Letters,

means controlled by said collector relays` corresponding start relay, means responsive to.

the operation of said start relay for operating the corresponding collector relay to establish a connection to the' ticket machine, means for locking said collectorvrelay in operated position, means for connecting the countingdevice corresponding to the operated key to the ticket machine, and means controlled by the ticket machine for unlocking said collector relay and for restoring said counting device connecting means.

3. The combination with an electric device adapted to be connected to a plurality of electric machines one at a time and, having a high speed control relay that is energized upon the completion of said connection, of a collector for establishing said connection having a normal position occupied when not in use and comprise'- ing, a start and a collector relay individual to each machine, means individual to each machine for closing a circuit to the start relay of the associated pair to operate the same, .means controlled by said energized start relay for operating the collector relay of the pair over a circuit extending from normally closed contacts controlled by said high speed relay through a chain of normally closed contacts controlled by said pairs of relays, means controlled by said collector relay for establishing said connection, means for locking said collector relay in operated position, reset means common to said pairs of relays, means controlled jointly by saidireset means.

and high speed relay and including a reset chain through said collector relays for restoring said collector to normal.

4. In combination, a plurality of electrical machines, an electrical device, a control relay in said device, a collector for connecting said -device to said machines one at a time, comprising, a start relay for each machine, a collector relay foreach machine', a chain circuit extending serially through normally closed contacts on said collector relays thence through normally closed contacts in said start relays thence in multiple through'normally openV contacts on said start and collector relays, means including contacts closed by said control relay in normal position for energizing said chain, means in each of said machines individual thereto for energizing `the associated start relay to break said chain and divert the same to the associated collector relay to operate the same thereover, a locking circuit closed by said collector relay for holding the same operated, means controlled by said collector relay for establishing a connection between said device and machine over which said control relay is operated to open the normally closed contacts controlled thereby, reset relays in said collector, means controlled by said operated collector relay ior extending said chain circuit around said operated start and collector relays to said reset relays, means in said machine for breaking said connection between the device and machine to restore the said relay andre-energize said chain to operate said reset relays, and

means controlled by said reset relays for breaking the locking circuit for said collector relay.

5. In a direct acting collector for establishing connections between electrical machines and an electrical device one 'at a time, a start and a collector relay individual' to eachmachine, means in the machine for operating the associated start relay, a reset relay, a chain circuit extending in series from normally open contacts on said start relays and then'through normally closedcontacts on said start and collector relays to said reset relay, means controlled by an energized start relay for applying ground to said chain and for diverting the chain to the collector relay associated with said start relay to energize said collector relay', means controlled by said energized collectorrelay for establishing a connection between said machine and device, for locking said relay energized and Afor by-passing'said chain circuit around said start relay contactsv to said reset relay, and means controlled by said reset relay for unlocking said collector relay and restoring said collector to normal.

6.' The combination with a collector comprising pairs of relays with one relay of each pair adapted to be energized overa chain circuit selectively controlled by the other relay of the pair,

- tacts on the other relays of said pairs of relays for energizing the other wind of said differential relay to restore said relay and said collector to normal.

'7. The combination with a group of electrical j machines, of an electrical device adapted to be connected to said machines one at a time, a relay in said device operable to eiect an operation thereof, a collector, a plurality of start relays in saidcollector one for each of said machines, a plurality of switching relays in said collector one for each of said machines, a connection between said device relay and a contact on each oi said switching relays, co-operating contacts on said switching relays each connected to tlie corresponding machine, a chain circuit controlled jointly by said start'and switching relays, means on said device relay for applying potential to said chain, means in each machine for operating the associated start relay,.means including said chain circuit for operating the switching relayV associated with the operated start relay to connect said device to the selected machine, and

means for operating said device relay over said connection to operate said potential applying means to remove potential from said chain.

8. In a totalizing system, a plurality of ticket machines, a plurality of keys in each machine operable to control the machine, a total adding machine for registering the transactions of said machine irrespective of the key that is operated to initiate the transaction, an individual adding machine multiplied into a corresponding key in each of said machines, a collector comprising two relays for each of said ticket machines, a

relay in said total adding machine, means re' sponsive to the operation of a key in one of said machines for connecting the associated individual adding machine to said ticket machine, means also responsive to the operation of said key for operating the two collector relays associated with said Iticket machine to connect the total adding machine to said machine, vmeans for operating said total adding machine relay over said connection to maintain the connection, means in the ticket .machine operated under the joint control of said individual adding machine and total adding machine for breaking said connection to restore said total adding machine relay, and means in the collector operated upon the restoration ot said total adding machine 1elay for restoring the collector to normal.

9. The combination of a plurality of electrically controlled ticket issuing machines, key means in e'ach machine operable to prepare that machine for operation to issue a ticket, a total adding machine adapted tobe connected to said ticket machines to register the tickets issued thereby, a collector connected to said adding machine and adapted to connect the same to said ticket machines, said collector having a normal position occupied by said collector when not in use, means in the collector operated responsive to an operation of one of saidlkey means to preselect the ticket machine containing said key means, means in the collector controlled jointly by said preselecting means and adding machine for establishing a connection between the total adding machine and the preselected ticket machine, means for locking the collectorto maintain said connection, means controlled jointly by the ticket machine, total adding machine and collector for breaking said connection, and means in the collector for returning the same to normal.

10. In combination, a group -o electric machines arranged in a definite sequential order, means in each machine for preparing the same for operation, an electrical device, a collector connected to said device and having a normal position occupied when not in use, said collector comprising a start relay and a collector relay for each of said machines, means responsive to an operation of the preparing means .of a machine for operating the start relay associated with that machine, a release relay-in said collector, a normally open chain circuit extending from said release relay through contacts on said start relays in one order and thence through contacts on said collector relays in a reverse order, means including contacts closed by the operations of said start relays for closing said chain circuit, said collector relays being operated over said chain circuit to move the collector from normal in one step over` intervening non-prepared machines to the iirst pr'epared machine to establish a connection therewith and then to break that connection by moving in one step over intervening non-prepared machines to the next higher prepared machine to establish a connection therewith, and means for operating said release relay to return said collector to normal after a connection has been established to the highest order prepared machine.

OSCAR C. LEVY. AR J. JOHNSTON..