US2234262A - Sheet feeding means - Google Patents

Description

March 11, 1941. c. D. LAKE SHEETFEEDING MEANS Y t E n n e m 7 6 9 l l. l e n .w .0% l w if--- .1... mm QQ. l .W .w v... n www .w1 www Qw n Il mh .......LLVE f2.. M il.-. 1- Jr- ---uw w wh i @n Sm .www mmh MG www@ S m@ oh huw mmm, Q ne" nmmm www mum mmh QQ mm Q {WM'M .hu\\\\ x. u mmh. wh .h wmh www www mmm En 7 Sheets-Sheet Y2 ATTORNEY C. D. LAKE SHEET FEEDING MEANS Filed June ll, 1936 March 11, 1941.

March 11, 1941. c. D. LAKE SHEET FEEDING MEANS Filed June ll, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Y 'Il n M-I ATTORNEY March l, 1941. c. D. LAKE SHEET FEEDING MEANS Filed June ll, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 4- L INVENTOR a @M BY ATTORNEY March 11, 1941. l C. D. LAKE 23,234,262

SHEET FEEDING MEANS Filed June ll, 1936 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. a.

Zia/IR fari/5222 MMA ATTORNEY Mrch 1l, 1941. c. D. LAKE SHEET FEEDING MEANS Filed June ll, 1936 '7 Sheets-Sheet S ATTORNEY March 11, 1941.

`c. D. LAKE SHEET FEEDING MEANS Filed June l1, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 'T /PE VERS- 57A WOW/Vl? Y GRIPPE@ l ,\L43 563 m L lNvENTOR Plana. f@ @ai ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 11, 1941 UNITED I. STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,234,262 SHEET FEEDING MEANS Application June 11, 1936, Serial No. 84,676

13 Claims.

This case relates to means for feeding a record sheet on which a record is made by a tabulating vmachine under control of record cards.

The record cards are perforated according to a selected code to represent information. The cards are arranged in groups and are fed through the machine in succession. The machine has tabulating cycles during which items from a card being analyzed are entered Yin accumulators and also listed ou the record sheet. When a card group change occurs, a total of the items accumulated from the group of cards which has last passed through the machine is printed on the record sheet.

For printing information such as the data of a bill or invoice, each group of cards includes some which contain the head data; that is, the data which makes up the heading of the bill; for example, the name and address. The re- ,20 maining cards of the group contain the data to be filled as, for example, articles sold and their price. 'I'he latter data may be referred to as the detail data. The total data are the accumulation, say of the individual prices of the arti- 25 cles.

It is desirable to print the head, detail, and total data within predetermined portions of a bill form. 4The bill forms may be pre-printed with indicia for classifying the information 30 printed under control of the record card. The

successive bill forms may be separated by a perforated line or the forms may be in a continuous sheet uninterrupted by perforated lines and may be cut into individual forms later.

An object of the invention is to provide improved means for printing the head data in a predetermined location of the sheet.

Another'object is to provide improved means for printing the first detail item on a definite 40 line of the sheet at a predetermined line spacing from the head data.

Still another object is to print the total data on a predeterminedline of the sheet.

An object also is to provide for overflow of 45 detail data on one bill form by automatically feeding the first detail line of the next bill form to the printing position to receive the first overflow item, and to also print the total on the predetermined total line of the latter bill form. 50 Still another object is to provide sheet feeding means powered by a motor separate from the tabulating machine.

Ancillary to the latter object is the provision of sheet feeding means in the form of an at- 55 tachmentv removable at will from the tabulat- (Cl. 23S-61.9)

ing machine Without disturbing the tabulating equipment.

It is also an object to provide a reciprocatable sheet feeding device controlled by the tabulating machine. 5

A further object is to provide means for causing the sheet feeding device to feed the sheet on the forward stroke and to return without influence on the sheet.

Auxiliary to the latter object is the provision l0 of means to hold the sheet against movement while the feeding device is returning to the starting point.

The object is further to provide a feeding device comprising a rectilinearly movable carriage l5 with grippers to clamp the sheet and advance it with the carriage.

Auxiliary to the latter object is the provision of electrical, magnetic, means to operate the grippers.

The invention also includes spacing controls to control ythe amount of forward movement of the carriage and the corresponding feed of the Vsheet to bring the successive portions of the sheet 25 to printing position.

The invention in the spacing controls contemplates provision of a line spacing control to control sheet feed from one line space to the next; also the provision of a head and total space control to determine the feed of the sheet to the proper positions for receiving head or total printing; and also provision of an overflow control to determine the feed of the sheet in the event the number of detail items exceeds the space allotted thereto on one bill form.

. Further, an object of the invention is to prevent initiation of a machine cycle until movement of the sheet feeding carriage has been completed.

More specifically,V the latter object contemplates means to prevent initiation of a machine cycle until an overflow feed has been completed.

Further, means are provided to prevent initiation of a machine cycle until a reverse movement of the feeding carriage is completed.

Further, the object is to prevent the initiation of a total taking operation until the total line of the sheet is in printing position.

Likewise, the object is to prevent initiation of a new series of tabulating operations following a total print cycle until the first line of the head portion of the next bill form is in printing position.

Other objects will appear from the following parts of the specication and from the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the printing and sheet feeding mechanism; l I

Fig. la is a detail of the tabulating machine showing the list cam contacts. and their operating means;

Fig. 2 is a planvview of the sheet feeding means:

Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and '7, are respectively sections taken along lines 3 3, 5-5, 6 6, and 7-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, partly sectional, detail view of the driving mechanism of the sheet feeding means;

Fig. 9 diagrammatically illustrates the contour of the spacing control bars in relation to the information printed on a plurality of bill forms;

Fig. 10 is a timing diagram;

Fig. 11 shows part of the circuit of the tabulating machine, and

Fig. 11a, which is a continuation ci Fig, 11, .shows the circuit of the sheetl feeding mechanism.

'Ihe invention is applicable to any suitable recording machine in which a sheet or the like is to be fed, but is preferably applied to a cardcontrolled tabulating machine, which may be one such as shown in either Patent No. 1,965,975 or 1,976,617. For purposes of the disclosure, the,

invention will be explained in connection with the machine disclosed in Patent 1,976,617, and thefollowing parts of the description will refer to elements of the latter machine by the same reference characters as in the patent, while other elements may be referred to as special and will be given other reference characters.

As disclosed in Patent 1,976,617, the machine 4 'goes through tabulating cycles and total taking accumulators is printed and the accumulators reset.

Near the end of a total taking cycle, cam

ntacts Pl and/P8 Aclose to form the following /oogeontmi circuit (rig. 11):

rcl

Circuit a-Mz'nor control From the left side, through cam contacts Pl, major control relay 3io, camcontacts L9, line 353, and to the right side.

Circuit a energizesrelay 363 to close holding contacts Staa which by-pass cam contacts Pl and P3. Similarly, circuit b energizes relay 3l@ oy close contacts Sita to by-pass cam contacts Circuit a also energizes relay 3391150 close contacts 339g for normally establishing the follow and to the left side.

From the right side, through contacts 33811.

stop key contacts SP, lower card lever relay contacts LCLa (now closed), cam contacts P2, normally closed special relay contacts H-I auto start switch 353 (closed), relay 3 39, contacts 21,

tabulating clutch magnet 22, cam contacts Pl,v

Energization of magnet 22 opens contacts 2l to shunt the circuit through relay 340. The relay 340 is energized, closes contacts 34M and forms a circuit .through motor` TM which sets the latter in operation.

With tabulating clutch magnet 22 energized andthe tabulating motor TM running the machine goes through a tabulating cycle.

After cam contacts P2 open, circuit c is maintained through a by-pass circuit path cl which extends from the stop key contacts SP, through relay contacts 339e (now closed), upper card lever relayvcontacts UCLa, special relay contacts 1 2, line 345, relay contacts 339g, relay 339, and

as before in. circuit c.

Another shunt path c2 for relay 339 and tabulating clutch magnet 22, which by-passes. motor control relay contacts 338a, extends from the right side of the line, through cam contacts' L2,

special relay contacts I2, line 345, and as before in shunt path ci and circuit c.'.

The purpose of the shunt path through cam contacts L2 is to maintain the tabulating motor in operation and cause completion of atabulating cycle after contacts 338a openas av result of a change in card group. During the first tabulating cycle, the rst car of a group is fed to the upper analyzing brushes UB (Fig. 11). During the second tabulating cycle, the lfirst card is fed to the lower analyzing brushes LB. During the third tabulating cycle,

the rst card Amoves past the lower brushes LB.- concurrently, the second card is passing'the upper brushes UB. Corresponding brushes'UB and LB sense the group control items of thel pair of cards. These ,corresponding brushes are plugged to opposite sides of duo control relays 359-360. If agreement of group designating perforations is found, then the control relays are energized, contacts 359D are closed during l sol wire 3M, upper card lever relay contacts UCLe.

lline v363, and -to the'right side of the line.

Major controhcircuit b is maintained through a shunt path which extends from the lower bladeof contacts L9, through plug Wire 326, the serially connected contacts 359D above Wire 320, plug wire 32E, contacts UCLe, and as `before.

in above manner, Whenever the upper and lower cards are found by brushes UB and LB to have the same group classiiication items, then the minor and major group controlfcircuits remain energized. When the last card of a minor group is passing the lower brushes, then the first card of the next group is passing the upper brushes. Disagreement of minor group classification items will be found, one of contacts 35911 below plug wire 320 (Fig. 1l) will not close, and when cam contacts L9, L|0 open, circuit a will break thereby detecting a minor group change. Similarly, if a major group change occurs, then one of contacts 35917 above plug wire 320 will be open, and when contacts L9 and L|0 open, both circuits a and b will break.

When circuit a breaks, motor control relay 338 is deenergized and contacts 339a open while contacts 93917 close.

Opening of contacts 336a breaks the tabulating circuit path cl and when cam contacts L2 open to break shunt path c2, then tabulating operations cease and the cards stop feeding.

The closing of contacts 338k normaly forms the following auto reset circuit (Fig. 11).

Circuit d-Auto reset From the right side of the line, through contacts 33817, auto reset switch 346 (closed), special normally closed relay contacts H-2, cam contacts L3, relay 348, cam contacts P3, and to the left side of the line. V

Circuit d energizes relay 348 to close relay contacts 348a, leading current directly from the right side of the line through relay 34'6, which remains energized until cam contacts P3 open.

Closing of relay contacts 346a also forms the following circuit:

Circuit df-I: Reset clutch From the right side of the line, through contacts 340a, cam contacts L4, reset clutch magnet |91, normally closed relay contacts 334e, contacts P3, and to the left side ofthe line.

Circuit d--I energizes reset clutch magnet |91. Energization of magnet |91 causes contacts 281 to close and form a circuit through the reset motor RM, as follows:

Circuit e-Reset motor From the left side of the main line, through reset motor RM, relay 350, line 35|, contacts 231, line 352, and to the other side of the main line.

Circuit e sets the reset motor in operation and with the reset clutch magnet energized, the machine now goes through a total print and reset cycle, during the first half of which the total printing operation is effected and during the latter half of which the accumulators are reset.

Near the end of vthe reset cycle, circuits a and b through the major and minor control relays 310 and 366, 361 and through motor control relay 339 are reestablished. Asa result of energization of. relay 338, contacts 338a close again to form auto start circuit c.

During tabulating cycles, the lower card analyzing brushes LB sense the items on the cards, and energize add magnets 11 (Fig.` ll) to enter the items into accumulators. At the same time, operation of the accumulators correspondingly sets total read-out commutators ||0-|||-||2. In the present case, the machine is set for listing, so that the lower brushes LB when they sense items in the cards to control add magnets, also simultaneously energize print magnets 223 (see Figs. l and 11) to control the positioning of type carriers 2|2.

During total print and reset cycles, print magnets 223 are energized through an emitter 219- 280-28l and the total read-out commutators ||,0-,|||-||2 to position type carriers 2|2 for printing the total of items entered in the accumulators under control of the group of cards which has just passed through the machine. After the total is printed, the accumulators and the total read-out commutators are reset to zero.

Referring to Fig. 1, type carriers 2|2 carry type 2|8 mounted for transverse movement relative to the type carriers. When the carriers 2|2 are selectively raised under control of print magnets 223, one of the type 2|8 is located at printing position in front of a special platen 500 rotatably carried by a special shaft 50|. At the end of the type carrier positioning portion of either the reset or tabulating cycle, a hammer 224 is operated to strike the type element 2|8 at printing position and cause the latter, through the usual ink ribbon, to print on the record sheet RS.

The following parts of the .description will be concerned mainly with the feeding and spacing mechanism of record sheet RS.

20 The mechanical construction of the feeding The right hand or rear end of the frame 504v mounts a motor M, the shaft 505 of which has a large gear 506 and a small gear 501 (see Fig. 6). The large gear 506 meshes with a gear ring 506 fixedto the periphery of a magnetic clutch disk 509 (Figs. 1 and 8) rotatably mounted on a shaft 5|0. The small gear 501 acts through an idler gear 5| to drive a gear ring 5|2 fixed to the periphery of another magnetic clutch disk 5|3 also rotatably mounted on shaft.5|0.

Mounted in recesses of clutch disks 509 and 5|3 are the exciting coils 5|4 and 5|5. Between the clutch disks is located a driven clutch wheel 5|6 keyed to shaft 5|0 to rotate therewith while being permitted to slide axially between disks 509 and 5|3. When coil 5|4 is energized, the wheel BIG is shifted to the left (Fig. 8) and clutched to disk 509 for rotation. Shaft 5||| is then driven by motor M through gears 506 and 508, disk 509, and wheel 5|6.

When coil 5|5 is excited,y then wheel 5|6 is shifted to the right and clutched to disk 5|3 for rotation. Shaft 5|0 is then driven by motor M through gears 501, 5H, 5|2, disk 5|3, and wheel 5|6.

Gearing 501, 5||, and 5|2 rotates disk 5I3 at half the speed at which disk 509 is rotated by gearing 506, 503 and in the opposite direction. Thus, when shaft 5|0 is coupled to disk 5|3, it

is driven at half the speed and in the opposite direction as when coupled to disk 509.

Shaft 5|0 extends along the left hand side of frame 504 (as viewed from the rear). The shaft is journaled at opposite ends in the frame and carries a worm 5|8 keyed to the shaft by a key bar 5|9 (see Figs. l, 7, and 8). The worm thus rotates with the shaft but is capable of free sliding movement along the shaft.

Straddling the opposite ends of worm 5|8 are the legs 520 of a bifurcated depending side 52| of a traveling carriage 522. The carriage extends across the width of frame 504 and at opposite sides carries rollers 523 riding on .rails 524 fixed to the frame and disposed exteriorly of and along opposite sides of the frame (see Figs. l, 2, 3, and 7).

Journaled between the opposite sides of the carriage 522' is a cross shaft '525 carrying pinions 525 at opposite ends meshed with racks 521 xed to frame 504 and extending, parallel to rails 524, along opposite sides of the frame. Adjacent side 52| of the carriage, shaft 525 rigidly carries a worm wheel 528 (Figs. 1 and 8) meshed with worm 5| 8. Rotation of shaft 5|0 rotates Worm 5|8 which, in turn, rotates worm wheel 528 to rotate shaft 525. Pinions 526 of shaft 525 thereupon rotate and as they do so, being meshed with fixed` racks 521, roll along the racks. This causes shaft `525 and the carriage 522 to correspondingly move with pinions 526 longitudinally of shaft '5|0 and of frame 504. As the carriage moves longitudinally, the legs of its side 52| force worm 5|8 to move with the carriage and slide along shaft 5|0.

As explained before, clutch disk 5|3 rotates shaft 5|0 in the opposite direction to which it is rotated by clutch disk 509. When rotated by clutch disk 5|3, shaft 5|0 drives carriage 522 from left to right (as viewed in Fig. 1) or in a forward direction. Clutch 5|35|5 may, therefore, be -referred to as the advance clutch. When shaft 5|0 is rotated by clutch disk 509, the shaft drives carriage 522 in an opposite or reverse direction. Clutch 50S-5H may, therefore; be termed the reverse clutch. Further, the shaft is rotated twice as fast by the reverse clutch as by the advance clutch. Therefore, the carriage is driven twice as fast in the reverse direction as in the forward direction.

Carriage 522 carries a pair of transversely spaced sheet gripping assemblies TG. .Each assembly comprises a U-shaped housing 530 xed to the front and upper cross web 522' of the carriage. Each housing 530 encloses a solenoid 53| rigidly mounted on web 522'. The plunger 532 of the solenoid is connected by a link 533 (see particularly Fig. 4) to the pivot of a pair of toggle links 534 and 535.' Link 534 is pivoted at its upper end on shaft 536 carried between the sides of housing 530. Link 535 is pivoted at its lower end to an arm 531 journaledat the rear on a shaft 536 carried between the sides of housing 530 and pivotally carrying at its forward end a clamp shoe 540, faced with rubber gripping blocks 54|. The two jaws 540 of the two gripping assemblies are located above the upper surface of cross bar 542 of the carriage.

When the solenids 53| are energized, their plungers 532 move to the left (Fig. 4) ands-1f) straighten the toggle linkages 534-535 against resistance of springs 543. As the toggle linkages straighten, they depress arms 531 to move clamp shoes 540 dow'n towards bar 542 of the carriage. The sheet RS is thereby clamped tightly between the jaws 540 and the top of bar 542, and is thereafter constrained to move with the carriage 522.

A similar pair of statio ary gripper assemblies SG is xed to the frame 04 at the rear or right hand end, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3. 'I'he stationary gripper assemblies' SG are alike in every essential respect with the traveling gripper assemblies TG. Solenoids 544 of the stationary grippers, when energized, depress clamp shoes 545 of the stationary gripper assemblies to clamp the sheet RS against the top of the rear cross bar 566 of frame 504.

Contact rails 541 extend longitudinally of frame 504 and are carried by but insulated from the front cross' bar 548 and the rear cross bar 546 of the frame. Cross bar 542 of the carriage carries, through insulation, spring wipers 549, each riding on one of the contact rails 541. From two of these feelers suitable leads are directed to opposite sides of the coils of solenoids 53| of the traveling grippers.

At the right hand side, as viewed from the rear or in Fig. '1, the carriage 522 rigidly carries a plate 550 which through insulation rigidly supports three parallel spring blades 55|, 552,- and 553. Also rigidly supported by plate 550 through insulation are three spaced, parallel, legs 554. These legs pivotaily mount three levers 555, 556, and 551: Lever 555 face's blade 55| and at the upper end is provided with a contact point 558 companion to the contact point 558 carried by blade 55|. Lever 555 also has an insulating stud 555' (see Fig. 5) engaging a blade 555e facing a blade 55|a. Between them, blades 555a and 55|a carry companion contact points 558'. Similarly, lever 556 and blade 552 carry companion contact points 559, and lever 551 and blade 553 carry companion contact points 560. Suitable leads are directed from 4feelers 549 of contact rails 541 to the contacts 558, 558', 559, and 560 to connect the latter into the circuits to be described.

At their lower ends, levers 555, 556, and 551 are provided with rollers 562 of insulating material. Fixed to frame 504 and extending along the side thereof below the three rollers 562 are three rails 563, 564, and 565 (see Figs. 2, 5, and '1).

Roller 562 of lever 555 rides on rail 563 which has elongated notches 563 (see also Fig. 9). Roller 562 of lever 556 rides on rail 564 which has a series of notches 564'. Roller 562 of lever 551 rides on rail 565 which is formed with a series of short, equally spaced, notches 565'. As will be brought out later, rail 563 controls spacing in the event of an overow of detail items on a single bill form, and may be termed the overflow bar. Rail 564 controls spacing from the last head item to the first detail item and also spacing from the' last detail item to the total line, and may be termed the Head and Total space bar. Rail 565 determines single line spacing of the carriage, and may be called the line spacing bar. Whenever a notched portion of the feed-controlling bars 563, 564 or 565 underlies the coacting roller 562, the associated lever 555, 556, or 551 ispermitted to rock counterclockwise (Fig. 5) under the influence of individual spring 561 to respectively close overflow contacts 558 and 558', total and head space contacts 559, or line space contacts 560. The manner in which these contacts control carriage travel will be explained later in connection with the circuit diagram, Fig. 11a.

'Ihe left side of carriage 522 is provided with an adjustable screw 510 in line with an insulating stud on a spring blade 51| secured through insulation to the front end of frame 504 and carrying one of the companion points of contacts 512, the other point of which is on a spring blade 513 similarly xed to frame 504. Normally, contacts 512 are open. When the carriage is at the beginning of its forward travel; that is, when the carriage is in extreme forward position, screw 510 -acts on blade 51| to-close contacts 512. The latter may be referred to as the front rail contacts.

A pair of spring blades 514 and 515 carrying between them contacts 516 are mounted on the rear end of frame 504. Normally, contacts 516 are closed. When the carriage reaches the end of its -forward stroke; that is, when it is in extreme rear position, a member 511 on the carriage engages blade 514 to open contacts 516. 'Ihe latter may be referred to as the rear rail contacts.

'I'he arms 531 of the traveling gripper shoes 540 are provided with handles 518 whereby the shoes 540 may be raised at will.

To the left of the magnetic clutch assembly, frame 504 ilxedly carries a magnetic brake disk 580 freely surrounding shaft |0. The exciting coil 58| of disk 580 faces a disk 582 keyed to shaft 5|0. When coil 58| is energized, disk 582 is attracted towards disk 580 and by engagement with the latter is braked to bring shaft 5|0 and the carriage 522 driven thereby to an immediate stop.

To connect the exciting coils 5|4 and 5| 5 of rotating magnetic clutch disks 509 and 5|3 intol the circuit, :to be described later, each of disks 509 and 5|3 carries, through insulation, a pair of collec-tor rings 585 and 58B (seeFig. 8). Each of the collector ring-s of a pair'is connected to one of the opposite sides of Ithe exciting coil of the magnetic disk which carries the collector rings. A brush holder 581 carried by frame 504 mounts two pairs of brushes 588 and 589, the former wiping :the smaller collector rings 585 and ,the latter the larger collector rings 586. The

brushes are suitably connected in-to the circuit and-conductively connected through the collec- Itor rings to the exciting coils 5|4 and 5|5.

The plunger 532' of one of the stationary grip- .per assemblies SG is provided with a pin 532a .to engage a spring-blade 590. Blade 590 carries one of the contacts 59|, thecompanion contact of which is on a spring blade 592. Contacts 59| may be referred to as the stationary gripper contacts. When the solenoids 544 of the stationary gripper are deenergized and, therefore, when the clamp shoes 545 are not gripping the record sheet RS, then pin 532a is engaging blade 580 to close contacts 59|. When the solenoids 544 are energized, and clamp shoes 545'are gripping the paper, then pin '532:1 retreats and permits contacts 59| to open.

The sheet RS is led `around a guide 60| carried. by frame 504, then above a fiat plate 603 secured to the frame 504 and spanning the width of the frame, and between tensioning rollers 604 and platen 500, then around the platen, between the clamp shoes 5400i the traveling gripper and cross bar 542 of carri-age 522, and from there between the clamp shoes 545 and the top of rear cross bar 546 of the frame 504.

The mechanical features of the paper spacing means have been described. The electrical features of .the feeding means will now be explained, with particular reference to the circuit, Figs. 11 and 11a:

Before going into the cir-cuit, it may be noted that for the present case, the machine is set for listing. that is, for printing each tabulating cycle. As disclosed in Patent 1,976,617 when setting the machine for listing, a handle |11 (Fig. 1a) is moved to dotted line position. Handle |11 is fast to a shaft |18 rigidly provided with a yoke |1-9 swivled to a slidable rod |80 which carries a wedge block |83. Wedge block |83 lies under the free, bent, end of an arm |81 rotatably carried by a shaft |15.

Arm |81 is provided with an insulating stud engaging the bottom of a spring contact blade |88a carrying one of contacts |88, the other of which is on a blade |8817. Blade |88a also has a special insulating stud |88c engaged with the bottom of a special blade |8801. Blade 88d carries a special contact point |88', the companion point of which is on a special blade |88e. When the machine is set for listing, handle |11 is moved .to dotted line position, and through shaft |18, yoke |19, and rod |80, wedge block |83 is advanced to cam blade |88a upwardly. Through insulating stud |88c, vblade |88a when it moves up, also raises special blade |88d to close special listing contacts |88' (see Fig. la). The machine, in the present case, being set for listing, special list contacts |88' (see also Fig. 11a) are now closed.

Initially, with main switch S (Fig. 11) open, solenoids 53| and 544 of the traveling and stationary grippers are deenergized, and the paper as to place :the iirst line of the heading space of a record form at the printing line.

Main switch S is now closed. Motor M of the feeding attachment is directly across the opposite sides of, the current supply, and closing of the main switch immediately starts the motor running. Consequently, magnetic clutch disks 509 and 5|3 are in constant rotation.

Referring to Fig. 11a, when main switch S is closed, the exciting coil 58| of magnetic brake disk 580 is immediately energized by the followu ing circuit:

Brake circuit From the left sideof the' line, through exciting coil 58|, normally closed relay contacts J| and to the right side of the line.

Accordingly,`brake disk 580 is initially engaging brake disk 582 to prevent accidental rotation of shaft 5|0 by constantly rotating clutch disks 509 and 5|3. l

Upon closing of switch S, the solenoids 544 of the stationary grippers SG are immediately energized by the following circuit:

Stationary gripper circuit From the left side of the line, through solenoids 544, normally closed relay contacts A-2 and Isl-2, manual release contacts 6| 0, and to the other side of the line.

Momentarily, closing of switch S also causes energization of solenoids 53| of the traveling grippers by the following circuit:

Traveling gripper circuit From the left side, through solenoids 53|, initially closed stationary gripper contacts 58|, and through release contacts 6|0 to the right side of the supply. i,

However, when the stationary gripper solenoids are energized, one of them causes contacts 59| to open, as previously described, so that the circuit through the traveling gripper solenoids 53| is broken.

At this time, therefore, the stationary grippers will be engaging the record sheet RS while the traveling grippers will be released from the record'sheet. Y.

The operator now initiates oper-ation of the tabulating machine, in the manner explained in Patent 1,976,617. During the iirst tabulating cycle, the rst card of the first group is fed to the upper brushes UB (Fig. 11). During the second *tabulating cycle, the ilrst card is fed to the lower brushes LB and the second card to the upper brushes UB.

During the third tabulating cycle, the first card is fed past the lower brushes and the latter sense the perforations oh the card to control the positioning of typ@ bars 2i2 (Fig. 1). vAfter the item reading period 9 to 0 of the third tabulating cycle (Fig. 10) the rst item is printed in accordance with the positioning of typeV bars 2I2 under control of the rst card.

Since the rst item printing does,not takethrough the following circuit (Fig. 11):

Lower card lever circuit Fromthe right side of the line, through lower card lever contacts 59, relays LCL, and to the left side of the line. A

Contacts 59 open intermediate a tabulating cycle, but during this open period of contacts 59', cam contacts L6 closed to shunt contacts 59 through lower card lever relay contacts LCLb, cam contacts L6,and tothe right side of the line.

Thus, relays LCL remain energized until the last card passes the lower brushes.

When relays LCL are energized at'the end of the second tabulating cycle, one of them closes relay contacts LCLm (Fig. 11a). This initiates operation of the vfeeding attachment. Assume traveling carriage 522 to be initially at an'intermediate point of its travel between the front and 'rear rails. As already explained, the stationary grippers were energized upon closing of main switch S to grip the paper. Further, the traveling grippers are now released from the paper. Also, brake disk 580 is now acting ondisk 582 to prevent rotation of shaft Bill by either the reverse clutch disk 509 or the advance clutch disk 5l3, both of the latter now being in con' tinuous rotation.

When relay contacts LCLm close at the end of the second tabulatingv cycle, the following circuit'is formed (Fig. 11a):

Circuit ,fe-Fromvthe right side of the line,

through relay contacts LCLm, list contacts lt,

Reverse clutch circuit From the right side of the line, through relay contacts LCLm, list contacts its', normally closed relay contacts B-l,coil Eid, and to the left side of the line.

As a result, the reverse clutch is rendered ef fective to rotate shaft al@ in a direction to return the traveling carriage 522 to the'starting point. When the carriage reaches the starting point, it closes normally open front rail-contacts Circuit g energizes relay C to close stick contacts C-l, which are in series with normally closed rear rail contacts 516 to form a shunt around front rail contacts 512. Consequently,

`when the carriage advances from the starting point, as will be later explained, causing contacts 512 to open, a closed stick circuit gl through' relays A, B, and C is maintained through stick contacts C-l and rear rail contacts 516. This stick circuit is closed until the carriage reaches the end of 'its forward stroke, at which time it opens the rear rail contacts 516.

Circuit g and the stick circuit gl energize relay A to open contacts A-i in circuit f of relay J. The circuit through relay J can be made now only through relay contacts D-l which do1 not close except at feeding intervals, as will be brought out later. With relay J deenergized by the opening of circuit f, contacts J-l close to re-form the circuit through brake coil 58l. the same time, relay B has been energized by circuits g and gi 'to open contacts B-l 'in the circuit of reverse clutch coil 5M. Consequently, the motor M stops further attempt to rotate shaft 5H) in the carriage returning direction, 25

while the brake. S-582 becomes effective to prevent ac cidental movement of shaft BIB and of the carriage 522.

.Energization of relay A by circuits g and gl also opens contacts A2 in the circuit of the $0 stationary gripper solenoids 544, causing the stationary grippers to release the paper; As a result of deenergization of the stationary gripper solenoids, contacts 59| close to form the circuit through the traveling gripper solenoids 53|; $5v

to the release of the sheet by the stationary grip- 40 pers, relay B, energized by circuits a and al closes relay contacts B -Z which shunt contacts 59H. The circuit of the traveling gripper solenoids is thus completed through shunt contacts B--2 simultaneously with opening of contacts A-2 to l45 break the circuit of the stationary solenoids 54,

and without waiting for contacts 59H' to close.

Relay C not only closes stick contacts C-l but also closes relay contacts C-Z (Fig. ila), which remain closed for the duration of the advance 50 or forward stroke of the carriage.

The conditions after the second tabulating cycle and before the third tabulating cycle are as follows: l

The traveling carriage 522 isat the starting '55 point; relays A, B, and C are energized; the brake 5to-582 is acting to keep the shaft Sill and, thereby, the carriage, stationary; the stationary grippers have released their hold on the sheet RS; and the traveling grippers have gripped the sheet.

The sheet RS, as explained before, has been vpreliminarily adjusted with the rst line of the head portion of a bill form or the like in printing position, and at the end of the second tabu- 65' lating cycle and until after the printing operation eected during the third tabulating cycle, the paper remains in the rst heading lineposition.

The rst few cards of each minor group con lll4 tain the head data. The last head data card also has a special perforation, preferably in the X index point position of a selected card column. Following the head data cards, vthe remaining cards of a minor group contain detail or individusv ual items to be listed or printed each tabulating cycle.

During the third tabulating cycle, the rst head data card is passing the lower brushes LB which sense the items on the latter card to control print magnets 223 for positioning the type 2 I8 for printing the first head items. A printing operation by hammers 224 is then effected to cause the type at printing position to print the rst head card items in the rst line of the head portion of a bill f'orm of sheet RS. The printing operation is complete shortly after the cycle point (Fig. 10) of the tabulating cycle and before special cam contacts L38 close. When the latter contacts close, the following circuit is completed (Fig. 11a).

Circuit h-AFeediug impulse From the right side of the line, through contacts LCLm, list contacts |88', contacts L38, relay contacts C-2 (now closed), relays F, E, D, and V to the left side.

Energization of relay D closes contacts D-l, which are in parallel with the now open contacts A-|. As a result, circuit f through relay J is made through contacts D-l, causing contacts J-I to open. Opening of contacts J-I breaks the circuit of the brake coil 58|, freeing shaft 5|6 for movement.

Relay E, energized by circuit h, opens safety contacts E-2 in the circuit of the stationary grippers to make sure that the stationary grippers are released from the paper.

Relay E also closes contacts E-I to form the following circuit (Fig. 11a) Advance clutch circuit- From the left side of the line, through advance clutch coil 5 l 5, contacts E-| and to the right side.

With clutch coil 5|5 energized, clutch disk 5|3 is effective to rotate shaft 5|0 in a direction to advance carriage 522. Initially, with the carriage at the starting point, rollers 562 of contact levers 556 and 551 are on high parts of their respective total and line space bars 564 and 565. Consequently total and head space contacts 559 and line space contacts 560 are initially open. Cam contacts L38 remain closed long enough to cause the carriage to advance the distance required to bring the rollers 562 of the line space contacts 560 off a projection and into a depression 565' of bar 565. As a result, line space contacts 560 are closed.

The closure of line space contacts 560 shunts the circuit of relays V, D, E, and F directly to the right side of the line, by-passing contacts LCLm, |88', and L38 of circuit h. 'I'he shunt circuit through contacts 560 may be referred to as the line space shunt. The line space shunt maintains relays V, D, E, and F energized after cam contacts L38 open and as long as the roller 562 of the line space contacts is traveling in a depression of the line space bar. When roller 562 rides out of the depression 565', line space contacts 560 open, and the carriage advance is interrupted. The next line of the heading of the bill form is now in printing position.

In above manner, successive tabulating cycles will cause printing of the heading items derived from the head data cards and initiate operation of the feeding mechanism to line space the record form to an extent controlled by contacts 560 and bar 565. The last head data card has an X hole, as previously stated. At the timel that the X hole is being sensed by a brush LB of the lower analyzer, special cam contacts lil-42 close to establish the following circuit:

Relay K circuit From the right side of the line (Fig. 11) through lower card lever contacts 59, make and break contacts 6|, common 56 of the lower analyzer, the brush LB sensing the X hole, plug socket 360 connected to the brush, a. plug connection (not shown) from this socket 300 to a special plug socket 6|5 (Fig. 11a), cam contacts L-42, a special relay K, and to the left side of the line.

Relay K is energized to close holding contacts K-l to form -a stick circuit after contacts L-42 open, the stick circuit being from the left side of the line, -through relay K, contacts K-|, cam contacts L-4 l, and to the right side.

Relay K also closes contacts K-Z in series with head and total space contacts 559. The closure of contacts K-Z occurred under control of an X hole in the last heading card after the last head item, taken from this card, had been printed. At this time, roller 562 of total-head space contacts 559 is in a notch of bar 564, so that contacts 559 are closed. When contacts K-2 close, the following circuit is formed (Fig. lla) Head to detail spacing circuit From the left side of the line, through relays V, D, E, and F, contacts C-Z, contacts 559, relay contacts K-2, and to the right side of the line.

Relay E is energized to close contacts E| for causing energization of the advance clutch. The carriage now advances as long as the roller 562 of the head and total space contacts 559 rides in a notch 564 of bar 564. The notch is of such length as to cause the carriage to bring the first line of the detail part of the record form to the printing position. At this point, roller 562 of contacts 559 leaves notch 564 and rides onto a projection of bar 564, causing contacts 559 to open and break the head to detail spacing circuit. The carriage remains in the first detail item position during the next tabulating'v cycle. Before contacts 1.--38 close during the latter cycle, cam contacts L-4l open to break the stick circuit through relay K. This transfers the feeding control to the line spacing contacts 560. The successive detail items are then printed and the record form line-spaced each tabulating cycle under control of the feeding impulse circuit and of contacts 560. l

When the last detail card of a group is passing brushes LB, the rst card of the next group is passing brushes UB. The minor group classification items will be found by brushes UB and LB to disagree, one or more of contacts 35922 will remain open (Fig. 11), so that when cam contacts L9 and` LH! open, there will be no shunt path for the circuit a and the latter will open. As a result, minor control relay 361 (Fig. 11) will be deenergized, permitting normally closed relay contacts 361i (Fig. 11a) to close. This occurs when cam contacts L9 and LII! open, which is after the item analyzing and printing period of the tabulating cycle. Roller 562 of contacts 559 is now in a notch of bar 564 and contacts 559 are closed. When contacts 351f also close, the fol- ,contacts 59, line 354, switch 6H, contacts 361i,

line 6I8, total-head space contacts 559 (still closed), contacts C-, relays F, E, D, V, and to the left side of the line.

The total space control circuit energizes relay E to close contacts E-i and complete the circuit of advance coil I 5.

The carriage, therefore, advances until the roller 562 of the total-head space contacts 559 rides up on a projection of control bar 56d. Contacts 55S then open to break the total spaceconl point ,of the tabulating cycle (see Fig. V10).

trol circuit and the carriage comes to rest with the predetermined total line of the record form at printing position,

It will be recalled that the total spacing operation was initiated by a change in card group detected by the breaking of circuit a when cam contacts L9, Li@ opened, shortly after the l1 The breaking of circuit a also causes deenergization o f motor control relay 338 (Fig. l1) to open contacts 338a and close contacts 338b. Closing of contacts 338b is eiective. when cam contacts L3 close near the end of the ltabulating cycle, to initiate the normal auto reset circuit d, provided that the total spacing operation has been completed.

The total spacing circuit energized relays V, D', E, and F. Relay E by closing contacts E-I initiated carriage advance.

Relay D, in addition to closing contacts D-I of circuit f, also closes contacts D2.- If the total spacing operation whichv started between the 11 and 12 cycle points has not been complet# ed before cam contacts L3 close near the end of thetabulating cycle, then the closure of contacts D-2 will overlap closure ofv cam contacts L-4II (see Figs. l0 and lla). Consequently, the

` following circuit will form (Fig. lla):

.the same time, relay H closes contacts H-2.

Relay F has also been energized by the total spacing circuit, and opens contacts F2 in segries with contacts H--2'.

Thus, although the tabulating cycle during which a group change occurred and in which the total spacing operation began com es to an end, the normal auto -reset circuit d cannot be completed unless the total spacing operation for bringing the predetermined total linev to printing position has been completed before closimt of contacts L40. The total spacing operation is completed when roller 562 of contacts 559 rides -onto a tooth of bar 564. At this point, the predetermined total line of the bill form is in printling position, contacts 559 open to break the total space circuit and relays V, D, E, and F are deenergized. However, relay H is still energized through/the stick path of circuit i.

With deenergization of relay F, contacts'F-2 close and since contacts H-Z' 'are still closed, auto reset circuit d is completed through 'a shunt path around contacts L3, this shunt path being through relay contacts H-2 and F-2.

A total print and reset cycle Anow takes place,

the carriage.

acetate near the-beginning of which contacts Pit operi to break the stick circuit of relays I and H. Printing of the total is effected during the total print and reset cycle on the predetermined total line. While this is taking place, the roller` 562 of contacts 559 is on a tooth of bar 56d and contacts 559 are open. Following the total printing, special cam contacts PI5 close to complete the following circuit (Fig. lla):

Total to head space initiation circuit From the left side, through relays V, D, E, F, contacts C-2, normally closed relay contacts Q-I, contacts P-I5, list contacts 88', and lower card lever relay contacts LCLm, to the right side.

Relay E is energized, closing contacts E-I to complete the advance clutch circuit. The above circuit endures until cam contacts P-I open, and is of such duration as to advance the carriage until roller 562 of total-head space contacts 559 moves oil the tooth of bar 56d, on which it had been resting during the total printing operation, and into the succeeding notch 564. Contacts 559 thereupon close. Group control relay contacts Slf are still closed, and do not open until cam' contacts Pl and P8 close near the end of the reset cycle (see Fig. 10) to close circuit a. With contacts Sf and 559 closed, the total to head space operation initiated by the closing of contacts PI5 is continued under control of a total to head spacing circuit, which is the same as the total space control circuit previously traced.

Near the end of the reset cycle, cam contacts P'I, P8 close to reestablish the groupcontrol circuit a. The latter causes contacts 36'If to open. If the total vto head space operation which brings .the ilrst heading line of the next bill form to printing position has been completed by the time contacts 361i open, then the roller 562 of contacts 569 will be on. a tooth-of bar 564 and the opening of contacts 361! will not interfere with the correct total to head spacing operation of However, if the carriage has not yet brought the first head line of the next bill form to printing position, opening of contacts 381i will occur while contacts 559 are still closed. In order to then prevent the carriage feed from beingilnterrupted, a shunt circuit for the total to head space circuit is completed. Just before cam contacts P1, P8 close, special reset cycle contacts PIB close. Contacts PIB are in series with 4relay contacts V-I, closed now due to energizetion of relay V by the total to head space control circuit. If the total to h space opera-'- tion has been completed before contacts PIU close. then relay V has been deenergized, to openV contacts V-I. If the total to head space operation has not been completed when contacts PII close, thncontacts V-I are also closed and the following circuit is completed (Fig. 11a) Circuit i From the right side of the line, through lower card lever contacts 59 (Fig. 11), line 354, relay contacts N-2, linel, contacts 559, contacts 0 2, relays F, E, D, V, 'and to the left side of the line.

Circuit lc keeps relay E energized until the carriage brings the ilrst heading line of the next bill form to printing position. i When that happens, contacts 559 open and circuit k breaks to cause the carriage advance to stop. Also, with circuit lc broken, relay V is deenergized and its contacts V-i open to break the stick circuit of relay N. Clontacts N-2 thereupon open, so that circuit 1c cannot form again unless contacts V-I and Pl8, during the next total print cycle, should be closed simultaneously.

Cam contacts P1, P8 close near the end of the reset cycleto re-form circuit a. Circuit a energizes relay 361 to open contacts 361i. At the same time, circuit a energizes motor control relay 338 to close contacts 338a. If the carriage feed to the head space position of the next bill -form has been completed, then the normal auto start circuit c will be completed through contacts P2, following closing of contacts 338a. To prevent initiation of the tabulating operations on the new group of cards until the preceding total to head space feed has been completed, circuit c includes special relay contacts H-I Upon energization of relay D by the total to head space circuit, contacts D-Z close. Special reset cam contacts Pl'l close near the end of the reset cycle just before cam contacts P1 and P8 close. If .the total to head space feeding has not been completed by the time cam contacts PH close near the end of the reset cycle, then closure of contacts D-2 overlaps closure of cam contacts Pl'l. As a result, a circuit is established through relays I and H (Fig. 11a).

Relay H opens contacts I-I-l (Fig. ll) of auto start circuit c to prevent normal start of new tabulating cycles. Relay L? also closes contacts iiii. Relay l closes holding contacts -l to form a stick circuit through special re set cycle contacts P16 and tabulating cam contacts Relay F of the feeding circuit opens contacts F-i in series with contacts limi. Also in series with contacts F-i and --l are relay contacts of relay B energizedby circuits g and gi. As long as relay B is energized, relay contacts B-S are closet.

When the total to head space feed has been completed, contacts 559 open, breaking the circuit through relays V, D, E, and F. Contacts F-l thereupon close and since contacts H-l are still closed, the auto start circuit ls routed through contacts B-3, F-l, and H-i' (Fig. lla) shunting contacts P2 and l-l-l. The machine now goes through a new series of tabulating cycles. During the `first of the new series of tabulating cycles, cam contacts L-35 break and open the stick circuit through relays H and I.

Provision is made for a special feeding operation when .the number of detail items exceeds the maximum number of lines allotted thereto on the record form. As indicated in Fig. 9, the last detail line of a record form is the line above the predetermined total line. After fthe printing of a detail item on this last detail line, if a group change has occurred, then contacts 361f (Fig.

11a) will be closed, and the carriage will be fed under control of total and head space contacts 559 lto the predetermined ltotal line. 0n the other hand, if the card group is still the same, indicating that more items relating to the group are to be listed, then contacts 361! do not close. However, when cam contacts L38 close, lthe feed.

ing impulse circuit h is closed, followed bya line spacing operation under control of line space contacts 580, as previously explained. This single line feed brings the roller 562 of the overflow contacts.558 and 558` into a depressed portion of bar 563, causing contacts v558 and 558 to close.

Special cam contacts L43 make for a short interval just'before the 15 cycle point (Fig. 10) and with overflow contacts 558' closed, a circuit is completed through relay K as follows (Fig. lla):

Overflow circutof relay K From the left side, through relay K, normally closed contacts R-I, overow contacts 558', contacts L43, cam contacts L4I, and to the right side.

This circuit energizes relay K which closes stick circuit con-tacts K-i which by-pass contacts R-i, 55B', and L43 to maintain the relay K energized until contacts L4| open. Relay K also closes relay contacts K-3 to complete the following circuit (Fig. lla) Overflow feed y in the detail portion of the second bill form.

When the group changes, total spacing is effected, as explained, and brings the total line of the second form to printing position.

In order to make certain that the overflow feed has been completed before the printing of the first overow item takes place, relay con tacts I--E have been provided in shunt circuits ci and cl to interrupt the t-abulating operations at the, end oi the tabulating cycle during which the overflow feed began unless the overflow feed is completed by the end of the la ter cycle.

it will be recalled that if the feed circuit is still in effect near the close of the tabulating cycle, that contacts )3 2 of relay D in the feed circuit will still be closed when cam contacts L6@ make, causing circuit i to be completed. This circuit energizes relays I-l and the former controlling relay cont-acts in the auto reset and the auto start circuits, as previously explained. Relay I, in addition to closing stick circuit contacts l-i also opens relay contacts l-E in shunt circuits cl and c2 of the tabulator. As a result, Ithe tabulating clutch magnet 22 and the tabulating motor TM are deenergized causing the tabulating mechanism to stop at the end of the cycle.

Relay H, being energized, has closed contacts H-i' in the auto start shunt circuit. Relay F of the feeding circuit has opened contacts F-I. When the overiiow feed has ended, contacts 558 open, causing the feed circuit to break and relay F to be deenergized, Contacts F-l thereupon close and complete the auto start circuit c through the shunt contacts B-S, F-i, andH-i around contacts P- and H-i. The machine automatically resumes tabulating operations. At the beginning ofthe iirst of the resumed tabulating cycles, contacts L39 in the stick circuit of relays I and H open and the relays are deenergized. Contacts I-Z lclose to render shunt circuits ci and c2 operative and contacts l-I-i open to break the shunt path of auto start circuit c. During the rst resumed tabulating cycle contacts Lili of the holding circuit orelay K also open to cause deenergization of the relay K.

The overilow circuit of relay K can be closed only when no card group change has occurred. If a group change occurs, relay contacts R-i in series with overflow contacts 558' open to prevent energization of relay K. To open contacts R--l when a group change occurs, relay R is energized by a circuit in parallel with the total space circuit. t Will be recalled that a group change is sensed by opening of contacts L9, Li@ of circuit a at the 11 cycle point. When circuit a breaks, group control relay contacts 367! (Fig. 11a) close. When this occurs, the total feed circiit is completed. Simultaneously, the following circuit is completed.

R-2 to form a holding circuit through contacts R-Z and normally closed relay contacts K-.

Relay R also opens contacts R-i in the over- IoW circuit of relay K. Consequently, relay K cannot be energized although overow contacts 558 and 558 and cam contacts L43 close. "Accordingly, the relay contacts K--3 do not close and the carriage feed is not placed under control of the overow contacts 558 but remains under y control of the total-head space contacts 559.

The overow circuit through relay K should not become operative until the last detail line of so as to bring the rst heading line of the newv bill form to printing position, contacts 559 open and the carriage feed stops. Overow bar 563 is .notghed along the carriagetravel from the last detail-line of the rst form to the iii-st detail line of the"second form. Consequently overow contacts 558 and 558' are closed during the rst tabulating cycle following the total print cycle. During this rst tabulating cycle, contacts M3 close and should relay contacts R-i be closed at that time, the overow feed circuit of relay K will form. It is to prevent making of this circuit at this time that the stick circuit of relay R has been made. This stick circuit which goes through contacts R-Z and closed contacts K-l does not open until the carriage has moved the rst detail line of the bill form to printing position. When the carriage reaches this position, overiiow contacts 558 and 55d' open.

It will be recalled that the last head card has an X hole and that analysis of the X hole forms a circuit through relay K to close contacts K-Z accesos When relay K is thus energized, it opens contacts K-lin the stick circuit oi relay R, and thereafter until a group change is sensed, contacts R-i remain closed. Hence, .the overow circuit of relay K will be able to form again should the printing in the last detail line of the bill form be unaccompanied by a change in card group.

Should the group change occur when the iirst detail line is printed upon, contacts 559 being open then, the total space circuit will not formv immediately upon detection of the-group change with consequent closure of contacts Self. The usual feeding impulse circuit it will lform when contacts L38 make, and cause the carriage to advance, with the result that the roller 552 of contacts 559 moves into a depression of bar 55d and the latter contacts close to complete the total space circuit through contacts 1f, after printing any item, head ing, detail, or total, the following feed step brings the carriage to the end of its forward stroke, the rear rail contacts 5l@ break, causing the stick circuit 'y' through relays A, B, and C to break.' Contacts 0 2 in the feed circuitopen and relay E is therefore deenergized to stop the carriage advance 'by opening contacts E-i in the advance clutch circuit. Simultaneously, relay E permits contacts E-2 'to close. Also relay A having been deenergized, contacts .lt- 2 close, thereby completing the circuit 'of 'the stationary gripper solenoids lil, as a result of which the stationary grippers clamp the sheet against movement. Relay B also having been deenergized, fcontacts B- in the traveling gripper circuit open, but the shunt circuit of the traveling grippers, which is through stationary gripper contacts 59|, is still closed and does not open until the stationary grippers have nearly taken hold of the record sheet.- The travf eling grippers thus maintain -their grip on the record sheet until just before the stationary grippers take hold. v

Deenergization of relay B permits relay contacts B-i to close and form the circuit of reverse clutch coil 5M. Relay A also has been 'deenergized to permit relay contacts A- in circuit f to close. Circuit fis formed, energizes-re'lay J,

and the latter opens contacts J-l in the brake coil circuit to disable the braking means. The

carriage now is driven in a reverse direction, back to its starting point.

The feed step which advanced the carriage to the limit of its forward stroke, where it `broke circuit y', began after a printing operation. Ifv

the machine is going through a tabulating cycle, then the cam contacts L--li close near the end of the cycle .and if the reverse feed has not been completed by the time cam contacts L-@ close,

then initiation of the next tab'ulating cycle willv be prevented. For this purpose, normally closed relay contacts A-S are placedin series with contacts L-t. When circuit g' was broken, relay A was deenergized and permitted contacts A-t to close. With contacts A- and L-tt simultaneously closed, .a circuit is completed through relays I-I and I. Relay I closes contacts I-i to form the stick circuit through cam contacts P-'i and lil-39. l

Relay I also opens contacts I-2 (Eig. l1) to break the shunt circuits ci and c2 to interrupt tabulating operations at the end of the tabulating cysle during which the reverse feed began. Relay I-I opens contacts l-I-l and closes contacts H-i of the shunt path around contacts P-Z (Fig. il). This shunt path cannot be completed .untilrelay contacts B-3 close, which does not happen until relay B is energized. While the carriage is on its reverse stroke, relay B is deenergized.

When the carriage nnishes its reverse stroke 5 and reaches the starting point, circuits y and g' form and energize relay B. Contacts B-l then close and since contacts F-l and H i'are also closed, the auto start circuit around cam contacts P-Z is completed and the machine resumes tabulating operation.

In the above manner, the start of a new tabulating cycle is prevented until the reverse feed begun during the preceding tabulating cycle has been completed.

The reverse feed usually takes place after a total printing operation effected during a total print and reset cycle. The total to head space initiating circuit is formed after the total printing operation by closure of contacts P-IS. The total to head space circuit then operates due to closure of contacts 559. As explained before if the total to head space advance operation has not been completed by the time cam contacts P,-|1 close, then relays I and H are energized to prevent formation of the auto start circuit. If during this advance operation, the carriage reaches the limit of lits forward stroke before cam contacts P-l'l close, then relay D will be deenergized, and the circuit of relays H and I cannot be made through relay points D-2. However, since circuit y has been broken: relay A is deenergized, relays points A-3 close, and if the reverse feed has not been completed beforecam contacts P-l'l close, relays H and I will be energized. Contacts H-l and F-l of the auto start shunt will be closed but relay points B-3 will be open due to deenergization of relay B. When the carriage completes its reverse movement, relay B is energized,

closes contacts B-3 and the auto start shunt is 40 closed to initiate a tabulating cycle.

SUMMARY In starting a new series of operations, the operator closes main switch S (Fig. 1l). This sets 5 motor M in rotation (Fig. 11a), causes the stationary grippers SG to grip the record sheet, and

the brake 580-582 to .act on shaft 5m. The

operator then depresses the reset key to close reset key contacts R (Fig. 11), to form the following circuit:

First reset cycle start-From the left side of the line, thrcugh cam contacts P3, relay 358, reset key contacts R, closed relay contacts 339i?, ltne 345, contacts I-Z, cam. contacts L2, and to the right side of the line.

Itelay- 3133, being energized, closes relay points 348e to shunt reset key contacts. Closing of points `3'48a also forms a circuit from the right side of the line, through points 35811, cam contacts L4, reset clutch magnet i 91, contact 38de,

P3, and to the left side.

Closing of contacts 26'! by magnet I9? forms a circuit through reset motor RM.

The machine then goes through its iirst reset 55 cycle.

During the first reset cycle, cam contacts P'i. PS close to form circuit a. The machine then stops. The operator now depresses the start key to close start key contacts ST (Fig. ll), forming the following circuit:

First tabulating cycle start From the right side of the line, through contacts 338a (now closed), contacts SP, contacts ST, relay 339, contacts 21, tabulating clutch magnet 22, contacts PI, and tothe left side of the line.

Magnet 22, being energized, opens contacts 21, shunting the circuit through relay 340, which closes contacts 0a to complete the circuit of 5 tabulating motor TM. 'I'he machine now goes through a tabulating cycle, at the end of which it stops due to deenergization of relay 339 and clutch magnet 22 as a result of momentary opening of contacts L2 in shunt circ'uit c2. The oper- 10 ator now depresses the start key a second time, closing contacts ST to establish another tabulating circuit. The machine then goes through a second tabulating cycle. During this cycle, lower card lever relay contacts LCLm (Fig. 11a) close, 15 which as previously described causes the reverse clutch circuit to be formed and the brake circuit to be broken. The carriage then is returned to its starting point, where it closes circuit y through relays A, B, C, and Q. Relay B opens contacts 2o B-I to breakthe reverse coil circuit. Contacts B-2 close to form the traveling gripper circuit, and contacts A-2 open to break the stationary Slipper circuit.

The machine again stops at the end of the sec- 25 ond tabulating cycle, due to opening of shunt path c2 when cam contacts L2 open. During the second tabulating cycle, circuitl a is broken when cam contacts LIU, L9 open. 'Also, upper card lever contacts UCLe are opened by energization 30 of relay UCL which occurred at the end of the rst tabulating cycle. With contacts UCLe open, the shunt path comprising contacts DCLg and UCLe around contacts LID, L9 is open. and consequently circuit a is broken during the second 35 tabulating cycle, causing deenergization of relay 338 and closure of relay points 338i).

Closure of relay points 3331) forms the normal auto reset circuit d. The machine then goes through a second reset cycle. During this reset 4o cycle, cam contacts PlS close (Fig. 11a) but the total to head space initiation circuit through re lays V. D, E, and F cannot form because relay points Q l are now open as a result of'the carriage still being at the starting point, and re- 45 lay Q consequently being energized by circuit g.

Accordingly,` the carriage remains at the starting point during the second reset cycle. While at the starting point, roller 552 of contacts 559 is on a high point ofbar 56d and consequently, 50

contacts 559 are open and the total to head space feed circuit through these contacts cannot form. Consequently, the carriage remains at the starting point during the second reset cycle. During the latter cycle, circuit a is again formed followed 5- by normal auto start circuit c. The machine then goes throughvits third tabulating cycle, during' which the items of the first card are sensed by the lower brushes LB to control print magnets 223. The iirst printing then takes place. Follow- C0 ing this the feed impulse circuit h forms to initiate line spacing.

The carriage thereupon advances from its starting point, causing circuit -g to break and relay Q to be deenergized. Relay points Qi 65 thereupon close.

In above manner, advance of the carriage and sheet feed are delayed until after the first printing operation, so that the first line of a bill form will be in position to receive the iirst imprint. 70

:The machine continues to go through tabulating cycles until disagreement in group control perfcraticns is found. When this happens, relay 338 is deenergized and normal auto reset circuit d formed' provided the spacing to the predeter- 75 mined total line has been completed. If not, then the auto reset circuit shunt including contacts H-2' and F is closed to initiate a reset cycle when the feed has been completed. During the reset cycle, after total printing, the total to new head space impulse circuit is formed by c1os, ure of contacts P-l, followed by a total to head space feed under control of bar 55d and contacts 559. If the feed to the new head space has been completed by the time contacts PZ close, then the normal auto start circuit c is established. If not, then when the feed is completed, the auto start shunt including contacts B-3,'Fi, and H-l', initiatesy tabulating operation.

Whenever a feed, during a tabulating cycle in which no group change occurred, is not completed by the time contacts L55@ close, then circuit i is formed, relay I isenergized to open contacts 1 2, thereby causing the tabulating mechanism to stop at the end 'of the tabulating cycle. Resumption of tabulating cycles is then under control of the shunt around contacts P-2 and which includes contacts 3 3, F-l and H-i If a reverse feed of the carriage is not completed -by the time either contacts P-i-l or L-li@ close, then relays I and H are energized through relay points A- and the start of a new tabulating cycle is delayed until the carriage reaches thevbeginning of its forward stroke. When this happens, relay B is energized to close `contacts B- for completing the shunt around contacts P-2.

It is understood that feed control bars 563, 564, and 565 are removable and replaceable by bars of different contours to suit different desired conditions of feed.

While the inventionhas been disclosed as embodied in the form herein shown and explained, it is clear that the invention may also be embodied in other forms, and that variations, changes, and departures may be made from the illustrated form Without departing from the scope ofthe invention. It is therefore intended to be limited only in accordance with the following claims.

What is claimed is: y

1. In combination; a sheet feeder, actuating mechanism therefor, a circuit, electrical means rendered effective under control of saidl circuit when closed for effecting actuation of the feeder by the actuating mechanism, a controller having spaced circuit enabling portions and intermediate the latter having circuit disabling portions, a device driven concomitantly with the feeder for successively cooperating with said portions, and means controlled by cooperation of the aforesaid device with an enabling portion of the vcontroller for closing said circuit to cause the electrical means to render the actuating mechanism effective to drive the sheet feeder and the aforesaid device until the latter moves into cooperation with the following circuit disabling portion of the controller.

' 2. vIn combination; a sheet feeder, actuating mechanism lfor .the feeder, a circuit, electrical means rendered effective by closing of said circuitl for causing the actuating mechanism to advance 'the sheet feeder, a controller having spaced circuit enabling portions and intermediate the latter having circuit disabling portions, a device oper- 'atedby theactuating mechanism for successively cooperating with said portions, meansA set in operation while the feeder is at rest with the aforesaid devicein'cooperating relation to a circuit disabling portion of the controller for momentarily closing said circuit through one path to render the electrical means operative for causing the mevchanism to move the aforesaid device out/of cooperation with the circuit disabling portion and into cooperation with the following circuit enabling portion of the controller, and means controlled by cooperation of the device with the latu ter enabling portion to close said circuit through a different path than the rst-mentioned path to thereby cause the feeder and device to be actuated by the mechanism until the device moves out of cooperation4 ,with the latter enabling portion and into cooperation with the next disabling portion of the controller.

3. In combination; a traveling gripper for gripping and feeding a sheet during travel of the gripper, electrical meansfor operating the gripper to grip the sheet, a circuit for said means, an actuator for said gripper to move the latter for advancing the sheet, and means operated by the actuator concomitantly with the gripper for opening and closing said circuit'in accordance with the point of travel of the gripper.

4. In combination; a traveling carriage carrying a gripper for gripping and feeding a sheet during travel of the carriage,electrical means for operating the gripper to effectively grip the sheet, a control circuit for said electrical means, a switch in said circuit, and'means connected to the carriage for movement concomitantly therewith for controlling opening of the switch at a certain point of the travel of the carriage.

5. In combination; a reciprocatably mounted carriage having a sheet gripper, actuating mechanism for reciprocating the carriage, electrical means automatically effective during the forward stroke of the carriage for operating the gripper to grip and feed the sheet, a control circuit for said electrical means, means for automatically opening said circuit at a certain point of the' forward stroke of the carriage to thereby cause the gripper. to release the sheet, means for thereupon causing the actuating mechanism to move the carriage through its return stroke, and means for automatically reclosing said circuit at the end of the return stroke of the car riage to cause the gripper to grip the sheet again.

6. In combination; a reciprocatably mounted carriage having a sheet gripper, actuating mechanism for reciprocating the carriage, means eifective during the forward stroke of the carriage for operating the gripper to grip and feed the sheet, means for automatically disabling the rst-mentioned means at a certain point. of the forward stroke for causing the gripper to release the sheet, and devices automatically controlled by operation of the second-mentioned means when the latter causes release of the sheet by the gripper for enabling the actuating mechanism to move the carriage through the return stroke.

7. In combination; a traveling carriage having a gripper for gripping a sheet, means for rendering the gripper effective for gripping the sheet to feed it during certain portions of the travel of the carriage, alternate gripping means for the .sheet released from the sheet while the gripper is gripping and feeding the sheet, meanseective at a certain point of travel of the carriage for rendering the alternate gripping means effective to grip the sheet, and means controlled by the alternate gripping means, when rendered eective, for causing the feeding gripper to release the sheet.

8. In a machine -having printing means to print items; the combination of a sheet gripper mounted for movement in a forward direction from a starting point, actuating mechanism for the gripper, means for automatically operating the gripper to grip the sheet at the starting point, a feed controller, a device movable synchronously with the gripper and coacting with the controller for causing the actuating mechanism to eifect movement of the gripper in the forward direction in successive steps to space the sheet for receiving successive item printlngs from .the printing means, means for automatically releasing the gripper from the sheet at a certain point of the movement of the gripper in the forward direction, and means for returning the gripper in the opposite direction to its starting point, while released from the sheet, and means for rendering the controller and device ineffective, during return of the gripper, to control operation of said actuating mechanism.

9. In a machine in which a variable number of items are successively listed by printing means during listing cycles and in which the printing means prints on a predetermined total line a total of such items during a total cycle which follows the printing of the last item; the combination of sheet feeding means to feed the sheet across the printing means to receive impressions therefrom, means operable during the listing cycle in which the last item is printed for effecting a variable feed of the sheet by the feeding means to bring the predetermined total line to printing position to receive the total imprint, and devices controlled -by the sheet feeding means for delaying the total cycle until the latter feed of the sheet has been completed.

10. In combination; a sheet feeder having a forward sheet feeding stroke and a non-feeding return stroke, a drive shaft, a forward clutch between said shaft and feeder 'to effect movement of the latter along its forward stroke, a reverse clutch between the shaft and feeder to effect the return stroke of the feeder, and means for sensing the positions of the feeder along its forward stroke, electrical means controlled thereby for determining successive periods of eiectivity of the forward clutch, means for sensing the termination of the forward stroke of the feeder, and electrical means controlled by the latter sensing means for rendering the reverse clutch effective.

1l. In a machine operating on statistical records the arrival of which at an operating stareturn the feeder from any advanced position in which it may be at rest to a start position, means for preventing feed of the sheet by the feeder while returning and means controlled by the card lever upon detecting arrival of a record at the operating station for causing the returning means to return the feeder to the start positioni 12. In a machine having printing means for printing heading, detail, and total items in predetermined heading, detail, and total zones of a record form; the combination of feeding means for such record forms, means controlling the feeding means for line space operation within the heading and detail zones,I fixed control means for determining operation of the feeding means to effect interzone spacing of a form with respect to the printing means from heading to detail zone, from detail zone to total zone, and from total zone to next heading zone, a device-cooperating with the xed control means for governing the extent of aforesaid interzone spacings, a common actuator for the feeding means and the aforesaid device for moving them concomitantly, means operative after the printing of the last heading item for rendering the cooperation of saidl device with said xed control means e'ective to control operation of the feeding means for spacing the form from the heading zone to the detail zone, means operative after printing of the iast detail item for rendering cooperation of the device with the fixed control means edective to control cperation of the Ifeeding means to space the form from the detail zone to the total zene, and means operative after printing of the total item for rendering the cooperation of the device with the fixed control means eective to control the feeding means forspacing the forni from the total zone to the next heading annea 13. In combination; a sheet feeder, friction drive means capable of moving the feeder any variable extent, a feed controller with successive feed eifectuating portions spaced apart by a feed interrupting portion, means ccntroiied by the successive feed eifectuating portions for rendering said friction drive means ed'ective to advance the feeder through successive feed steps,a mag netic, friction brake for engaging the friction drive means to prevent operation thereof, and a circuit closed under control of the feed interrupting portion for energizing the magnetic brake to hold the drive means against operation between successive feed steps.

CLAIR D. LAKE.

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