US2247916A - Machine for interpreting and printing perforated records - Google Patents

Description

July 1, 1941. c. D. LAKE ETAL MACHINE FOR INTERPRETING AND PRINTING PERFORATED RECORDS Filed Oct. 18, 1958 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS CL /R p L/IKE 3 FER/V0.5 E #AM/L Ta/v AT TORNEY July 1, 1941.

C5D. LAKE ETAL MACHINE FOR INTERPR-ETING AND PRINTING PERFORATED RECORDS Filed Oct. 18, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS CLfl/R D. LAKE B E m m ,iw. a @N W E== %Mm 5 MN vllIHlllllllIlllIIIIIIIIIIIIIH July 1, 1941. c. D. LAKE ETAL 2,247,916

MACHINE FOR INTERPRETING AND PRINTING PERFORATED RECORDS Filed Oct. 18, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS 644/? 0 MIKE fl/VD FRANCIS E. HAM/LTa/v awf- ATTORNEY July 1, 1941. D. LAKE EIAL 2347.916

MACHINE FOR INTERPRETING AND PRINTING PERFORATED RECORDS Filed Oct. 18, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 12.

C AIR D LAKE m/D FRANCIS E. HAM/L d V INVENTORS ATTORNEY C. D. LAKE ETAL Filed 001;. 18, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 wsu YR fling wnvu l uu 1! wuxk INVENTORS CLA/IP 22 LAKE A/C/S E H/M/I/LTO/V awfmu z' ATTORNEY July 1, 1941.

MACHINE FOR INTERPRETING AND PRINTING PERFORATED RECORDS hm um mm m mw mm a QM 2 E E m. S

July 1, 1941. c. D. LAKE ETAL 2,247,916

MACHINE FOR INTERPHETING AND PRINTING PFRFORATED RECORDS Filed Oct. 18, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG. 15.. T

ATTORNEY I Patented July 1, 1941 MACHINE FOR INTEBPRETHVG AND PRINT- ING PERFOBATED RECORDS Clair D. Lake, Binghamton, and Francis E. Hamilton, Endicott, N. Y., assignors to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 18, 1938, Serial No. 235,610

8 Claims.

This invention relates to tabulating machines and more particularly to machines of the type capable of sensing perforated records, interpreting the meaning of the perforations and controlling the operation of the printing mechanism to print the amounts represented by the perforations on the records.

Machines of the above type have been utilized for printing on perforated records to form checks issued for payment of some monetary transaction and machines of the above type have been found to be highly accurate in their operations when used commercially. Nevertheless, any single instance of improper printing should be guarded against however rare its occurrence. Such improper operations may result from wear of parts, dust, change in adjustment of parts, the probability of an unpunched or off-punched hole in the card, omission of a hole in a column, a broken plug wire, etc., and the signaling to the user of such a change or condition is an indication of requirement of service for such machines to prevent repetition of improper printing. It is, therefore, the main object of the present invention to provide a machine for printing under control of a perforated record an amount represented by the perforations of the record and to provide comparing mechanism for indicating to the operator when the amounts have not been accurately printed.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention; to analyze a record to cause under control of the analyzing means the setting of a single set of type bars to print an amount, preferably on the perforated record; to provide means controlled by the single set of type bars and the analyzing means to determine whether the type bars have been accurately set to print the amount represented by the perforated record; and to prevent the printing operation when a type bar has not been accuratel positioned.

As is well known machines of the above class are controlled by records which are perforated in columns and the perforation placed in the column is indicative of the particular digit represented in that column and may be either the digits to 9 inclusive and two special perforations representing the numerals 11 and 12. The present machine'is provided with a mechanism, preferably electrically controlled, which determines whether the type bar has been properly positioned to represent any of the digits 0 to 9 in each of the columns from which printing is effected.

In some systems it is the practice to completely perforate a field of the card to represent all of the digits 0 to 9. Specifically where a four column field is perforated with a number having two denominational digits, the remaining two columns at the left would be perforated to represent 0. This provides a convenient checking system to ensure against omissions.

It' will be obvious that in the printing of a two digit number, such as, for example, -24- the two columns at the left would be represented on the card by perforations indicating 4024. The present machine would print this amount as -0024- and obviously the printing of the unnecessary zeros might bring about confusion in reading the amount and would be altogether undesirable when printed upon a tabulating card which is to be used as a. check. These two columns must be printed blank or if so desired printed with an asterisk. Again considering the four digit number -0204 the suppression of the printing of the unnecessary zeros at the left will, in the present machine, prevent the printing of the "0 between the two digits 2 and 4 and other means are herein provided for causing the zero insertion by mechanical means and hereinafter is designated as mechanical zero. With an understanding of the above, it is explained that the present machine is provided with a means for determining whether the type bar has been properly positioned to print the mechanical zero, or if the type bar has been set to a blank or asterisk printing position, and the determination of the accuracy of such positioning of the type bar is also a further and important object of the present invention.

The machine is provided with a means for determining the above and is preferably electrical in control and operation and together with the other checking means previously described for the digits 1 to 9 is capable of determining whether the type bar has been accurately positioned for all of the type carried thereby and from which printing operations can be effected.

As is well known, the perforated card is disposed and passed through the machine so that the digits are analyzed in the sequence 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 and the machine first analyzes and determines whether any of the aforesaid digits are represented in a column of the card and the comparing or checking means is controlled by the analyzing means and the position of the type bar sofas to determine the proper positioning of the type bar in accordance with the aforesaid digits to be printed. In the event that none of these digits are to be printed but 7 under the conditions previously mentioned a mechanical zero is to be printed, or an asterisk or the type bar positioned to the blank printing position, the machine is capable of sensing this fact and automatically brings into operation a checking mechanism to check the position of the type bar forits setting at the blank positionor printing at the mechanical zero or asterisk printing position.

It is a further object of the present invention to cause the aforesaid checking and comparing mechanisms to control the operation of the machine and more specifically it is an object of the present invention to cause the machine to be stopped whenever it is determined that improper printing will result from any of the aforementioned causes. The machine is preferably so constructed that the machine will stop before the type hammers will be released to cause the improper printing of the result.

. By constructing the machine in the above described manner it will not be possible to improperly print amounts, and the operator will be signaled whenever such improper printing is liable to occur. Hence the machine will operate in a more eificient manner than heretofore, and more perfect operations thereof will ensue.

Further objects of the instant invention reside in any novel feature of construction or operation or novel combination of parts present in the embodiment of the invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings whether within or without the scope of the appended claims and irrespective of other specific statements as to the scope of the invention contained herein.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal sectional-view of the machine.

Fig. 2' is a sectional view taken at one side of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the connection adapted for effecting printing line adjustments.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation disclosing in normal position, the means controlled by the type bars for causing the closure of checking contacts at the time the type bars are stopped.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the contact closing devices to more clearly show their arrangement and construction.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but shows certain parts in operated position.

Fig. 7 is a detail of a type bar shown in relation of the printing platen and shows a full complement of type.

Fig. 8 is a plan view showing a fragmentary portion of a card.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line i0-I0 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 11 is a detail of zero suppression mechanism.

Fig. 12 is a position view of the parts shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a plan detail of parts in Fig. 11 on an enlarged scale.

vFig. 14 is a timing diagram showing the timing desirable to close certain electrical contacts and circuits.

Fig. 15 is an electrical wiring diagram.

Card feeding mechanism In more detail, Ill (Fig. 2) represents the main drive shaft of the machine. This may be driven in any suitable manner as by an electric motor through belt H rotating a pulley attached to a shaft I51. A uni-directional coupling I2 is interconnected between shaft l0 and III.

From shaft III a worm i3 (Fig. 2) drives worm wheel ll secured to a shaft I! to which is also secured a box cam It. A pivoted cam follower arm I! has a roller It at one end riding in the cam groove and at the other has connection to an arm l9 through adjustable rod 20.

Arm I9 is secured to a shaft 2| having arms 22 (see Fig. 1) in pin and slot engagement with pickers 23 mounted for reciprocation in the frame of the machine. This reciprocating picker mechanism is adapted to advance-one record card at a time from the supply stack or magazine 24.

Shaft I51 through gears 25 shown in Fig. 2 drives a parallel shaft 26 which has threaded sections 21 meshing with worm gears 28 on feed roller shafts 29 to drive feed rollers 30 (Fig. 1')

constantly. The card which is advanced by the picker passes into the bite of the first pair of feed rollers 30 to the left in Fig. 1 andis subsequently guided to the analyzing or perforation reading devices which comprise brushes 3| and a contact roller 32. These brushes and contact roller are of conventional structure such as is commonly used in electrically controlled tabulating machines.

After passing the analyzing brushes 3| the cards pass to the second pair of feed rollers 30 which advance each card to a pair of intermittently driven rollers comprising upper spring pressed rollers 33 and lower rollers 34 which engages the edge of the card. These rollers 33 and 34 advance the card to printingposition at which time they momentarily pause in their rotation to stop the feeding of the card to permit printing on the card in accordance with the preceding analysis.

. This interruption in the advance of the card is accomplished as follows: Rollers 34 are secured to a shaft 35 (Fig. 1) journaled in the frame of the machine and having attached at' one end a gear 36 (Fig. 2) meshing with a gear 31 on shaft 38 on whichshaft is also a gear 39 adapted to be driven by a mutilated gear 40 free on the continually running shaft l5. Gear 40 carries a pin 40a (see Fig. 3) which may be set in any one of five slots 40b in a disk 400 which is integral with worm wheel l4. Gear 40 is supported by a sleeve 40d which is loosely mounted on the shaft I5.

During the rotation of shaft IS the gear 40 will pick up gear 39 by means of pin 40a to advance the card to printing position, upon reaching which, the toothless portion of gear 40 moves into locking engagement with gear 39 as shown in Fig. 3. After printing has been effected gear 39 .is again engaged for rotation and the card is fed forward to a conveying means (Fig. 1') comprising rollers 4| and tracks 42 which convey the card to a suitable stacker 43 where they are collected. The shafts upon which rollers II are secured are adapted to be continually' driven by reason of the gear connections 44 to the shaft 26 as shown in Fig. 2. It is the frictional engagement of rollers II with the upper surface of the card which causes the card to tion, the card will be interrupted sooner and a lower line will receive the printing impression.

Printing mechanism For effecting the printing on the record cards as they successively pass through the machine a plurality of type bars 45 (Fig. 1) are provided. These bars are all mounted for reciprocation in the frame of the machine and each has a connection through a spring-pressed pawl 48 to a crosshead 41. Thus, in Fig. 1, upon movement of crosshead 41 to the left the pawls 46 through frictional engagement with bars 45 will move the bars concurrently in the same direction.

The bars may be arrested at any point in their travel and subsequently the pawls 48 will disengage and permit the further movement of the crosshead 41. Upon the reverse movement of crosshead 41 the shoulders I85 (Fig. 6) of the bars 45 will be engaged thereby to positively move the bars to restored position. For reciprocating thecrosshead 41 the following mechanism is provided.

As shown in Fig. 2 the crosshead 41 is connected at its ends to blocks 48 slidable upon rods 49 and having pivoted link connections 58 to a follower arm I pivoted at 52. Arm 5i has a roller 53 cooperating with the cam groove of a box cam 54 mounted on a shaft 55 connected through worm gear 56 and worm 51 to the constantly running shaft I8. The arrangement and timing of the parts is such that'the type bars 45 are advanced under the influence of pawls 48 synchronously with the movement of a card past the analyzing or sensing brushes 3|.

If a perforation at, say, the 5 position on the card is under the sensing brushes, the corresponding type representing 5 will be at the printing line. The establishment of an electric circuit through the index point perforations by the brushes is adapted to energize a magnet 58 (Fig. 1).

There are a number of these magnets 58, each magnet being related to a corresponding type bar 45. The energization of any magnet is adapted to release a pawl device 59 through a wire 6| and latch 82 and allow it to engage one of the ratchet teeth 58 on the bar 45. After pawl 59 has engaged the teeth 68 further movement of the type bar 45 to the left in Fig. 1 is prevented. The type bars 45 are positioned during a passage of a card past the brushes. Subsequently these type bars are held during the period that a card passes from the analyzing stationto printing position and during the printing operation. After the printing operation, pawls 59 and latches 62 are positively restored in the following manner.

Secured to shaft 55 is a cam 63 (Fig. 1) against which presses the roller of an arm 84 and which latter is pressed upwardly by a spring 55 acting through an arm 65 on shaft 81. The shaft 81 has secured thereto arms 68 which carry a restoring plate 69. Arms I8 pivoted to arms 68 carry a restoring plate I I. By this construction cam 63 is adapted to move plate 69 to the left to restore pawls 59 and plate II is moved upwardly to restore latches 82 and their connected wires 5|.

For each type bar 45 there is an individual hammer I2 which is adapted to strike the particular type I3 on the type bar which is atthe printing line. The hammers are pivotally mounted on a rod I4 carried by a bar I5 and depend for their actuation upon movement of said bar. The bar I5 is pivoted on the frame of the machine by pintles coaxial with rod I4 and has springs I8 biasing the bar in a clockwise direction in Fig. 1.

To the middle of bar 18 there is pivoted a cam follower arm 'I'I bifurcated to straddle shaft 88 and having a roller 'I'Ia in cooperation with a cam I8. Fixed to one face of the cam I8 is a cam member 19 which cooperates with a projection 88 of the cam follower arm 'I'I.

As the cam I8 revolves, by virtue of the shaft being driven in the manner previously described, it cooperates with the arm 11 through its follower roller Ila, gradually retracting the hammers I2 in a counterclockwise direction against the tension of springs I8.

As the roller 'IIa leaves the high point of the cam 18, member I9 engages the projection 88 and upon continued rotation of the cam the projection 88 drops from the member I9 and the springs I5, thus released, turn the commonbar I5 in a clockwise direction to swing the hammers I2 against type I3 thus effecting printing.

Referring to Fig. 1, 8| designates a printing platen journaled in the frame of the machine and adapted to be rotated by frictional engagement with the passing card to prevent excessive wear at any one place. The inkingv ribbon devices are of conventional form and require no detailed description the ribbon 82 being guided along the platen 8| and beneath the tabulating card.

Circuit diagram (Fig. 15)

In machines of this type, it is desirable that the circuits which are closed through the perforations in the card to the magnets 58 be interrupted before the brushes 3| leave the perforations in order to prevent arcing at the brushes.

To this end, circuit breaker contacts 88 are provided as shown in Fig. 15.

The circuit breaker contacts CB88 are adapted to be closed by a dentated cam 89 which is driven by the shaft 55 (Fi 2) so as to rotate once for each operation of the machine. The contacts 88 are operated by the teeth of the dentated cam 89 so as to make contact and hold such contact until the perforation has left the brush 3|. The circuit to the magnet 58' through the hole in the card is described as follows for one card column; from the line side 9|, through card lever contacts CL closed when cards are being fed, wire .93, circuit breaker contacts 88, common contact roller 32, a brush 8|, a plug connection 95, magnet 58, a switch 98, wire 99 and a wire I88 to the other line side MI.

A set of switches I82, as more particularly explained in Patent No. 1,946,900, is provided and when one of the switches 98 is open and one of the. switches I 82 for the same column is closed arrive at the sensing brushes 3| and to close after the 0index point position has passed the brushes 3| so that the occurrence of a perforation in the 10 or 0, 11th or 12th positions would not be effective to cause the energization of the magnet 58 in the columns in whichswitches 98 are open and switches I82 closed.

Referring to the wiring diagram (Fig. 15) certain of the mechanical parts are shown in diagrammatic form in this figure. In this figure M designates the electrical motor which by the belt and pulley connection previously referred to drives the main drive shaft I of the machine. This shaft through the gearing described drives the picker devices which rotate the fed'rollers to advance and feed the card past the analyzing brushes 3| and in passing the brushes the usual card lever is pressed by the cards thus closing card lever contacts CL..

To start the machine in operation, the operator first closes the main line switch I2I and thereafter the Start Key is depressed to close the start key contacts I22 which upon closure establish a circuit from the line s'ide 9i through these contacts to a motor relay magnet I24, to motor M, and to the line side I III. The energlzation of the motor M causes the feeding of the cards so that the card lever CL closes its contacts to cause the energization of a card lever relay magnet I25 by shunting it across the line sides 9| and II. This, closes the relay contacts I25a which together with the relay contacts I24a establishes a holding circuit for the motor M from the line side 9| through stop key contacts I28, relay .contacts I25a, cam contacts CC5 now closed, relay contacts I24a, motor relay magnet I24. motor M through line side IOI.

A cam contact CC2 is provided to hold this circuit during the interval between cards when relay contacts Ia will be open and the circuit is described as follows: From line side 9|, cam contacts CC2, cam contacts CC5, relay contacts I24a, motor relay magnet I24, motor M to the line side IllI. Contacts CC2 also serve to take the arc from'the relay contacts I25a with which it is in parallel.

Printing of zeros is effected by the usual zero insertion devices, the description of which will now be given for a clearer understanding of the present invention, but for further details of description and operation, reference may be had to the patent to G. F. Daly, No. 1,946,900 issued February 13, 1934.

Referring to Fig. 8, it will be noted that the 0" index point position of the card is also used in certain cases to represent the number 10, as when a date is recorded, also that the 11th and 12th index point positions are adapted to control the position of the type bar so as to print 11 and 12, respectively. The type elements I3 in Fig. 7 are arranged to successively present themselves in printing position in the order indicated, synchronously with the passage of the corresponding index points on the card past the analyzing brushes. It is quite obvious that if perforations in the 0, 11th or 12th index point positions were permitted to control the magnet 58 the corresponding numerals would be printed. Hence, in columns other than those in which .10,.11 or 12 is represented, the switches 98 will be moved to open position and the switches I02 in closed position and the magnets 58 associated therewith will not interrupt their respective type bars to select the 10, 11 or 12 type for printing. Such type bars unless otherwise interrupted in their advance, as will hereinafter be set forth, will present a dummy element 13a in printing position. This element 13a has the usual type element spring structure of the type elements 13 and when struck by the hammer will not permit any printing on the record card.

Printing of zeros will be effected under control of a significant figure in a predetermined column as follows:

Zero printing In Figs, 1, 11 and 12 a series of members I I0, one for each type bar, is pivoted on a rod III and each is held in either the position shown in Fig. 11 or Fig. 12 by a spring pressed latching bar H2. Cooperating with the members I III is an index strip H3 (Figs. 11 and 12)designating the columns to which the members III are related. The bar H2 is provided with side arms II! to permit individual manual adjustment of members III! and for-retainingthem in their adjusted positions. I

Each member 0- is provided with a spring urged lever II4 pivoted thereon at II5. When a member H0 is adjusted to the Fig. 12 position, the free end of the related lever II4 will enter a notch or slot III in the related type bar 45 if the type bar is not stopped at the digit positions 1-9 when the type bar reaches its extreme leftward movement, as shown in Fig. .12, causing such type bar to be stopped to a position where the dummy element 13a, of Fig. 7 is presented to the printing position.

If a member III) is adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 11 and the type bar 45 is not adjusted to a digit position 1-9 the type bar '45 will also be stopped to a position where the dummy element 13a, of Fig. 7 is presented to printing position.

Each lever II4 has a laterally. extending arm H6 projecting under the lever II4 of the next high denominational order, as shown in Fig. 13. If a member H0 is in the Fig. 11 or Fig. 12 position its lever II4 will engage the arm N8 of the lever II 4 of next lower order to retain this lever depressed so that it will not pass into the recess Ill and its free end will be positioned in the path of a stop II8 of the type bar 45 and the type bar 45 will be permitted to move to a point where the zero type element is presented to the printing position. As will be made clearer later on, if a member H0 is in the Fig; 11 or Fig. 12 position the related lever II4 will only effect the above operation if the related type bar is moved to select the type 19, thus causing the insertion of necessary zeros, or printing the so-called "mechanical zero.

With all the members III) in the position shown in Fig. 12 zeros are adapted to be printed across the machine to the left of any significant figure. The rocking of any member IID to the Fig. 11 position will interrupt the carrying across of zeros at such point. The functioning of the various parts may best be explained in connection with a specific example.

For instance, for the card shown in Fig. 8 for all columns except the one containing the month designation of the date, the corresponding switches 98 in Fig. 15 will be in open position and the switches I02 in closed position. This, as has already been seen, will permit the reading by the analyzing brushes of perforations in the 0 index point position of such columns but prevent. printing control magnets 58 from being energized. Considering now the field of the card headed Amount the member II ll associated with the first undesignated column to the left of this field and the first column following the field to the right, namely, the Mo. column will be moved to the position of Fig. 11 the setting of these two members being shown in Fig. 13. This adjustment will prevent the carrying of zeros into the Amount field from the right and will interrupt passage of zeros to the undesignated field adjoining it on the left. Fig. shows a relation of levers II4 of the second column of the field wherein the undesignated field and the first column of the Amount" field wherein the lever for the last mentioned column has been moved to the left without moving out of controlling engagement with the arm N6 of the next lower denominational order, so that if the related lever H4 is held depressed by reason of its associated type bar being stopped at a significant digit or "4 position, all the levers II6 to the right will be held depressed to the extent of the field. This will cause such type bars, if they are not set to print the digits 1-9, to print a zero, thus causing the zero insertion.

In Fig. 9, the lever II4 of the first column of the next or Mo. field will be to the left as shown and its arm II6 will lie under a notch I20 in the lever II4 next higher in order. This relation of the parts, as is readily understood, prevents the depression of lever H4 at the left from influencing the lever II4 on its right. In an identical manner, the last column at the left of the Amount field in Fig. 8 is prevented from exerting'an influence over columns in the next undesignated field.

By way of further illustration, consider a single entry in the units column of the Amoun field and zeros punched in the three remaining columns. These three zeros have been analyzed by the brushes but their printing control magnets 58 are not energized so that the associated type bars will be moved to present the dummy elements 13a to printing position, and only the units column will stop its type bar to print from the particular type selected.

Checking for determination of correct position of type bars It is desirable to check the position of the type bars to ascertain whether the proper positioning is effected in accordance with the perforations of the record card. This is performed by mechanism shown particularly in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 and explained in connection with the wiring diagram. For each type bar there is provided a camming lever I58 pivoted at I58 to the cross head 41 and provided with a high portion I62 cooperating with a tail I60 (Fig. 4) of the pawl 46 when the cross head 41 is moved slightly to the left as will he made clearer later. The camming lever I58 is also provided with a recess I6I to the left of the high portion 162,

When the pawl 62 is unlatched (as shown in Fig. 6) due to the energization of magnet 58, after a short interval of the movement of type bar 45 the pawl 59 will engage the notch 60 to stop the type bar 45 and as the cross head 41 continues further after the type bar is stopped, a cam edge I63 of the stopped type bar 45 will rock the pawl 46 so that the tail I66 in engagement with the portion I62 of lever I58 will rock the lever I58 so that it actuates a T-shaped lever I64, the latter being carried by a pair of arms I 65 loosely mounted on rods I66. A continued rocking of the pawl 46 will cause the tail I6I thereof to slip by the high portion I62 and into the recess I6I permitting both the lever I58 and the T-shaped lever I65 to be rocked upwardly to normal by their springs.

For one denominational order of the type bars 45 the upper arm I65 has integral therewith an arm I6I adapted to close a pair of contacts I68a. Each of the type bars will cause the closure of a X 5 related pair of contacts mm. For the next denominationally ordered type bar it will be seen from Fig. 5 that the lower arm I65 has an integral arm I69 adapted to close its pair of contacts I68a. This construction is desirable in order to provide for the proper side spacing of the pairs of contacts I68a since each is substantiallywider than a type bar 45. The above atrangement is repeated for the next two adjacent orders of the set of type bars as best shown in Fig. 5.

The type bars are restored at the end of the cycle as previously stated by causing the cross bar 41 to contact with the shoulders I of the type bars 45 restoring the latter to their home positions as shown in Fig. 1. As the cross head returns to home position, a plate I86 (Fig. 4) contacts with the extremities of the levers I58 causing them to be rocked to disengage the tail I60 from the recess I6I to cause the parts to have the relation shown in Fig. 1. At the initial operation of the machine, the cross head 41 carries the lever I58 out of engagement with the cam plate I86 permitting the lever I58 to be rocked by its spring so that the tail I60 occupies a position on top of the portion I62 of the lever I58 as shown in Fig. 4, the parts now being in position to cause the closure of a related pair of contacts I68a by the stoppage of the type bar as previously explained.

It is explained that the type bar 45 is stopped to select the mechanical zero, and is also stopped to select the dummy printing element, as before explained, and in each of such instances the contacts I68a will also be cloesd in the manner just explained. The stopping of the type bar 45 is, in these type selecting operations, effected under ggntrol of the levers I I4, rather than by the pawl Checking position of type bar for printing digits 7, and 9 There will now be described the means for determining whether the type bar is positioned to print the digits 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9, in accordance with the perforations of the card, and in connection with the wiring diagram of Fig. 15 and the timing diagram of Fig. 14.

When the circuit breaker 88 transmits an im pulse to the printing magnet 58 for the digits 1, 3, 5, 'I and 9, for selection of odd type, a circuit closer C-I36 will close at such time intervals and this circuit closer is preferably in the form of a commutator, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 15, and it is rotated by a shaft driven by the drive shaft I8. At such time intervals an impulse will be transmitted to a relay magnet by a circuit described as follows: from the plug socket of column 1, for example in which plug is inserted, a wire to a pick up relay magnet I3I, through the commutator C-I38 to the line side IOI. Hence relay magnet I3I will be energized simultaneously with the printing magnet 58. Relay magnet I3I will close its relay contacts I3Ia thus complete a circuit to holding magnet I33, the circuit to energize the holding magnet I33 being closed by a circuit breaker CBI3I which,

istimed to close at the odd or 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 time intervals and the cam of which is rotated by a shaft driven by shaft Ill. The holding relay magnet I33 when energized will close a series of relay contacts I331), I330 and I33d, and the circuit breaker CBI3I is timed to keep the circuit to relay magnet I33 closed for 1 index points and thus holds the energization of the magnet I33 for this period of time, for a purpose now to be explained.

From Fig. 15 it will be seen that a relay magnet R3 is in circuit connection with a type bar contact f68a, the relay contacts I33b, and circuit breaker contacts CB-I39 which are driven.

in a manner similar to contacts .CB-I3'I. While the magnet 58 stops the type bar an appreciable time is required to close the checking contacts IIiBa and from'Fig. 14 it will be seen that this occurs about a point after the perforation is analyzed, hence it is necessary to cause the contacts CB-I3'I to be timed to retain magnet I33 energized and relay contacts I33b'closed to this next index point, as will be seen from Fig. 14. The circuit breaker contacts CBI39 are timed to close when the contacts "3811 close for odd type selected and hence if the type bar is properly positioned the relay magnet R--3 will be energized and the latter will close its relay contacts R3a, and R3b a stick circuit will be maintained for this relay Rr''3 through the relay contacts Rr3a and cam contacts CC3.

When relay contacts I330 close a circuit will be closed to a relay magnet R-5 through the cam contacts CC3. Relay magnet R-S will close its relay contacts R5b, and stick contacts R5a. From Fig. 14 it will be seen that cam contacts CC3 close for a considerable period of the operating cycle to thus maintain relay magnets Re -3 and R-5 energized through their respective relay contacts R-3a and R-Sa respectively. I

Assuming for clarity that only a single column is to be checked for accuracy in printing it will be seen that a checking circuit is made from the line side 9I, a wire I, a plug connection I43, relay contacts R-Sb, relay contacts R3b, relay magnet I35, to the line side IOI, thus energizing relay magnet I35 as long as cam contacts CC3 are closed. From Fig. 14 it will be seen that when cam contacts CC5 open, cam contacts CC3 are closed and if the proper type is selected of digits 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 relay contacts I35a will be closed when cam contacts CC5 open, and hence the circuit to motor relay I24 will not be interrupted and another cycle of operation will ensue.

Checking type bar for printing or 0, 2, 4, 6, 8

Substantially the same arrangement is provided to check the printing of either digits 10 or 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 and in this instance for one column, a relay magnet I32 is energized through a commutator CI40 closing at the even index point positions, and is driven like the commutator C-I30. The relay magnet I32 is-energized to close its relay contacts I 320 to cause a holding magnet I34 to be energized, the circuit being closed through the circuit breaker CBI42 closing at the even index points and driven like contacts CB-I3'l. The holding magnet I34 closes its relay contacts I34b, I 340, and I34d. The relay contacts I34b close a circuit to relay magnet R-3, if the type bar contacts I 68a close at the time relay contacts I34b close efiected when the type bar is properly stopped, the circuit being through circuit breaker contacts CB-I44 which are also driven like contacts CBI3'I. The closure of relay contacts I340 will cause the energization of relay magnet R5 tl'n'ough cam contacts AC--3. The time relationship of the contact closing time of commutator CI40, circuit breaker contacts CBI42, and CB-I44 is the same as explained for commutator CI30, circiut breaker contacts CB--I3I and CB-I39.

Hence upon proper position of the type bar for even digits relay magnets R3 and R-5 will both be energized to cause the continued operation of the machine.

Checkingof type bar position for mechanical zero insertion or blank position It has previously been explained that under certain conditions a type bar may advance to present a dummy type 13a in printing positionand under certain conditions it may not be desirable to print the zeros at the left of the highest significant digit and to insert the zeros for necessary orders by the so-called mechanical zero" devices disclosed in Figs. 9-13. For example in representing the number -203- on the card for four columns it would be represented -0203- on the card and the switches I02 for the four left digit positions or -020-' would be opened and corresponding switches 98 closed. This is desirable as a number -0003- may also appear. For the number -0203- the first column from the left -0- will go to blank position. .For the third column from the left -0- the zero will be inserted by the mechanical zeros and while 0 is perforated on the card it will be analyzed but it will not cause the energization of the printer control magnet 58, but relay magnet I32 will be energized. The machine is provided also with means to detect whether the type bars are at the blank or mechanical zero and is described as follows:

From Fig. 15 it will be seen that a relay R-I is in series with relay contacts I33d, or relay contacts I34d and cam contacts CCI and the latter are timed to close the circuit to relay Rr-J whenever relay contacts I33d or relay contacts I 34d close due to the analysis of a perforation at the index point positions 1-9 inclusive, either even or odd, but not including the 0 perforation.

Relay magnet R'I will close its stick contacts R-'Ia to hold the energization of relay magnet R3 through cam contacts CC--3.

In the event that there is no perforation analyzed at the 1-9 index point positions relay magnet R-I will not be energized and thus relay contacts R-Ib will remain closed and a circuit will be made from the line side 3|, through cam contacts CC4, relay contacts R-Ib, type bar rlxallitacts I68a, relay magnet R3 to the line side From Fig. 14 it will be seen that the type bar contacts I68a also close for the mechanical zero, or blank positions and which may be an asterisk and such closure is indicated as the last two intervals of closure. After the type bar is stopped for printing from either the mechanical zero or the asterisk type, contacts I 63a close and, as previously explained, these contacts close about one point later in the cycle, and at this time it will be seen that cam contacts CC-4 close so as to energize relay magnet R3 which closes its stick contacts R-3a and its checking contacts R-Sb.

It will be noted that when there is a zero perforation relay magnet I34 will be energized to close its relay contacts I340, to cause, by the circuit previously described the energization of the relay magnet R.'. The latter will close its relay contacts R-Sb, and together with the relay contacts R3b will cause, upon proper type bar positioning, the energization of the relay magnet I35.

Whenit is desirable to print zeros under control of the zero representing perforations the switches 33 for these columns are closed and the switches I02 for these columns are opened. This Machine control in accordance with checking operations The above described arrangement has been described for a single order but the circuit diagram discloses the circuit arrangement for two orders, but the operation is identical. For the second column the checking circuit comprises relays R-l, R--6, and R8 corresponding to relays R-3, R-5, and R--'| in functions and operation. When two columns are used for checking the right end of the plug connection I43 will be inserted in a socket I, so that the contacts of relay magnet RIi and R-| control the energization of the relay magnet I35.

In the event that the circuit to magnet I35 will be opened due to the opening of one of the relay contacts in the circuit then relay contacts I35a will be open when cam contacts CC5 open and thus the stick circuit to motor relay magnet I34, and motor M will be opened and the motor will stop. Cam contact CC5 is timed to stop the machine before the time the printing hammers are released. The hammers are adapted to be released for striking the selected type 13 at the time in the cycle substantially at the time disclosed in Fig. 14, this occurring after all the type bars have been set. In practice it has been found that the energization of the relay magnet I35 will cause the stoppage of the motor M prior to the time that the hammers are released to prevent improper printing upon the perforated card.

The indication, given by the stoppage of the machine with cards in the magazine 24, informs the operator that an improper printing operation has been prevented. With the machine stopped after partially completing its cycle of operation, the operator inserts a rod I83 (Fig. 1) in the machine frames to block the hammers I2 and prevent them from striking the type 13. The machine is provided with ahand wheel I84 (Fig. 8) and by manually turning this the shafts I51 and III (Fig. 2) are turned so as to complete the cycle of machine operation to feed the card past the hammers 12. When the card has reached such a position the rod I83 can be removed and the machine restarted so as to complete printing operations on the remaining cards. The unprinted card can, of course, be located in the storage hopper or if the operator watches carefully it can be received by hand as it is fed by the last set of rollers 4|.

Attention is directed to the fact that cam contacts CC-3 will hold the relays R3, R5 or R-4 and R-6 energized even though the machine stops and thereafter. This will permit a visual inspection of the condition of the relays and reference thereto will indicate which relay has not energized, and, therefore, the column failing to check.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

Whati-s claimed is:

1. In a checking device for a printing apparatus, a plurality of type elements each having a certain printing position and other digit representing positions, control means, means for setting said type elements to said digit representing positions under control of said control means, or to said certain printing position, means cooperatively related with said type elements to.

check the positioning of said type elements at said other printing position, and means for causing said last named means to be operative and effective upon the determination that said type element-s are not set .at said digit representing positions.

2. In a checking device for a printing apparatus, a plurality of type elements having digit representing printing positions and other printing positions, control means, means for setting said type elements to said digit representing positions under control of said control means or alternatively, to either one of said other printing positions, means cooperatively related with said type elements to check the positioning of said type elements at either of said other printing positions, and means for causing said last named means to be operative and effective upon the determination that said type elements are not set at either of said other printing positions.

3. In a checking device for a printing apparatus, a plurality of type elements, each having digit representing positions and a zero printing position, control means for determining the digit representing positions of said elements, means for setting said type elements to said digit representing positions under control of said conrtrol means, or to said zero printing position, checking means comprising means controlled by a type element to be positioned to zero printing position for determining whether said element is properly positioned at said zero printing position, and means for causing said checking means to be operative and efiectlve upon the determination that said (type elements are not set at said digit representing positions.

4. In a checking device for a printing apparatus, a plurality of type elements each of which is settable to digit positions 1- 9 or 0, means for controlling and eifecting the setting of certain of said elements to said digit positions 1-9, the other of said type elements being set to the 0 printing position, comparing means comprising means under control of the type elements for determining whether the latter are positioned at the digit posi-tions 0, and means for rendering said comparing means effective and operative upon the determination that said type elements are not set at said digit positions 1-9.

5. In a checking device for a printing apparatus, a series of members of different 'denominational order, each member carrying a plurality of type set'table to type printing positions 1-9 or 0, means for analyzing a plurality of columns of a perforated card, means controlled by said analyzing means for positioning said members to print the digit positions 1-9, certain of said members which are not set to digit positions 1-9 being positioned to said 0 position for zero insertion, electrical checking mean-s operative upon setting of a member to said 0 position for determining whether the member has actually been positioned to the 0 position for zero insertion, and means for causing said electrical checking means to be operative and effective upon the determination that said type members are not set at said digit positions 1-9.

6. In a checking device for a printing apparatus, a plurality of type carrying members positionable to select the type 1-9 or a mechanical zero type, means for causing a type carrying member to be positioned to select the mechanical zero type for zero insertion when said member is not pcsltioned to select type 1-9, testing means comprising means controlled by a type carrying member to be positioned for the selection of the mechanical zero type and responsive to its proper positioning for the selection of such type for determining whether said type carrying member has actually been positioned for the selection of the mechanical zero type, and means for causing said testing means to be operative and effective upon the determination that said type elements are not set at positions to select the type 1-9.

7. In a checking device for a printing apparatus, a plurality of type carrying members each positionable to select the type 1-9 or a mechanical zero type, control means, type bar positioning means for causing the position of a type carrying member under control of said control means to select said type 19 when said type bar is not positioned to select the zero type for zero insertion, means for testing whether said :type carrying members are positioned to select the type 1-9 and including devices operated in re.- sponse to the positioning of a type carrying member for the selection of the type 1-9 and also for the mechanical zero type, other testing means controlled by said devices when the latter is to be operated in response to the positioning of a :type carrying member for the selection of the mechanical zero type for determining whether the last named type carrying member in the absence of a setting to select type 1-9 has been actually positioned for selection of said zero type, and means for causing said last named testing means to be operative and effective upon the determination that said type carrying members are not set to positions toselect the type 1-9.

8. In a checking device for a printing apparatus, a plurality of movable type elements having digit positions 1-9 and 0, mechanical zero positioning means for stopping one of said type elements at said 0 printing position when said type element is not set to any digit position 1 to 9, means for controlling the setting of said plurality of type elements to digit positions 1-9, checking means comprising means controlled by the type element which is to be positioned to the 0 printing position for determining whether said last named type element is actually set to said 0 printing position, and means for causing said checking means to be operative and effective upon the determination that said type elements are not set to any of the digit positions '1-9.

CLAIR D. LAKE. FRANCIS E. HAMILTON.

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