US2332033A

US2332033A - Control for record supporting means

Info

Publication number: US2332033A
Application number: US380706A
Authority: US
Inventors: Welker J Willard
Original assignee: NCR Corp
Current assignee: NCR Voyix Corp; National Cash Register Co
Priority date: 1941-02-26
Filing date: 1941-02-26
Publication date: 1943-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 1960-10-19

Description

1 D J. w. WELKER 2,332,033

\ CONTROL FOR RECORD surronwme MEANS.

Filed Feb. 26, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1. 255 /58 46 //5 J Willard Welker Inventor Hi8 Attorney J. w. WELK'ER 2,3 3

CONTROL FOR RECORD SUPPORTING MEANS Filed Feb. 26, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J Willard Walker Inventor Iv Hi! Attorngy 1943. .1. w. WELKER I CONTROL FOR RECORDSUPPQRTING mums Ifiled F6b.'26, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor J Willard Welker Oct 1 J. w. WELKER 2,332,033 Y CONTROL FOR RECORD SUPPORTING MEANS Filed Feb. 26, 1941 fisheets-sheet 4' FIG. 9 @Z Y J Willard Walker Inventor Hi: Attorney 1 w. WELKER 2,332,033

CONTROL: FOR RECORD SUPPQRTIRG MEANS Filed Feb. 26, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 2 FIG.12

J WiIIard W cIkcI Inventor By %M@ Hi8 Attorney Patented Oct. 19, 1943 UNITED TATES PATENTYO'FVFICE" 2,332,033 1, CONTROL FOR RECORD SUPPORTING MEANS J Willard Welker, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The National Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Application February 28, 1911, Serial No. 380,706

l60laims. (Cl. 197-127) This invention pertains to record material supporting means of the front-feed" type in which the supporting means normally is in closed-throat position, where it retains the record material in printing position, but is shiftable to an openthr'oat position; where certain elements of the supporting means are moved to release the record material and form an open throat or guiding passage to permit the ready. insertion and removal of said record material from the front of the machine. In particular, the invention is concerned with the provision of novel control means and electromagnetic actuating means for tions on the control of the throat-opening operations are eliminated in applicants novel arrangement, in which a source of radiant energy and a detector of such energy are so located in front of the record material supporting means that a beam of radiant energy extends across the machine where the hand of the operator, in moving toward the record material to remove said material,.will interrupt the beam, and a circuit controlled by the detector and including the electromagnetic actuator will be completed and cause the actuating means to move the record material supporting means to open-throat position quietly and quickly. In the instant embodiment of the invention, the source of radiant energy is a light source, the detector is a photoelectric cell, and the actuating means comprises an electromagnet in a circuit controlled by said cell.

The novel control means and actuating means are particularly useful when used in connection.

with a record material supporting means supported by a traveling carriage, because their operwhich is not possible when the carriage movement or position is used to control the shifting means. After the desired number of printing'operations on the record material, the operator merely reaches for the record material to remove it from the machine, and the actuating magnet is energized to shift the supporting means to openthroat condition, regardless of the position of the traveling carriage.

Accordingly, it is cle'fir'that, when the novel control means and actuating means are used, the

operator does not have to make any adjustments of tappets or control elements or operate any keys or manipulative devices; all that is necessary is l that the operator perform -the natural operation of reaching for the record material, and the electromagnet is operated to shift the supporting means to open-throat position to release the material so that it may be removed from the machine. The improved control means and actuating means, therefore, simplify the operation of the machine by the operator, inasmuch as they require no particular effort on the 'part of the operator and no special operations of parts or sequence of operations to be remembered by the operator.

Control means are provided to prevent repeated operations of'the actuating electromagnet when the record material supporting means is in open throat position and thebeam of light is interrupted, as would be the case when a new sheet of record material was being inserted following the shifting of the supporting means to permit ation is in no manner dependent upon any carmeans to be shifted to open-throat position,

the removal of another previously-inserted sheet.

Additional control means are provided to delay the operation of the electromagnetic actuating means if the beam of light is interrupted during an accounting machine operation before printing has taken place. This will prevent the record material from being shifted out of printing position before an impression can be made thereon.

Retaining means are provided to cause a circuit for the actuating electromagnet, which circuit is closed when the beam of light is blocked from the photo-electric cell, to remain closed until the actuating electromagnet is operated,

even though the light is no longer blocked from said cell.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an electromagnetically-operated actuating means forcausing a "front-feed type of record material supporting means to be shifted.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel actuatingineans for shifting a record material supporting means, said actuating means deriving no control or power from the op-' eration of the machine with which the supporting means is associated.

Another object of the invention is the proviaim of an electromagnetic operating means con-- trolled by a photo-electric control means for -shifting a front-feed" type of record material mpporting means from closed-throat position to open-throat position.

. means under conditions which would result in an improper operation or an idle operation of the actuating means.

Another object of the-invention is to provide a photo-electrically-controlled electromagnetically-operated actuating means for shifting a record material supporting means to open-throat position, and means to delay the operation or the actuating means if the photo-electric control would be rendered eflective and tend to cause an operation of the actuating means before recording on the record material is finished.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel actuating means operated to shift a record material supporting means when a circuit is closed under control of a photo-electric cell as the status of the light on the cell is changed, and means to maintain the circuit closed even after the status of the light on the photo-electric cell is restored.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electromagnetically-operated actuating means rendered operable under control of a photo-electric cell for shifting a record material support ing means, and means for preventing an operation of the actuating means, when the supporting means has been shifted, to avoid idle operations of the actuating means.

porting means is in closed-throat or printing position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the record material supporting means, showing the rela- With these and incidental objects in view, the

invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in appended claims and a preferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

Oi said drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation, as observed from the right, showing the shifting mechanism for the record material supporting means and the relative positions of the parts 01 such mechanism when the supporting means is in closed-throat or printing position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, as observed from the right, showing the shifting mechanism for the record material supporting means with the various parts in the positions which they assume when the, supporting means is in open-throat position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the record material supporting means, showing the relative tive positions of the platen, the pressure rollers, and the guide plates when the record material supporting means is in open-throat position.

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the means for releasing the sets of additional pressure rollers.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the novel control means applied to control the shifting of a record material supporting means associated with an accounting machine.

Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the mounting of the lower pressure rollers.

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing means for shifting the lower pressure rollers.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view taken from the rear of the accounting machine with the cover removed to show the elements of the novel control means and actuating means and their relation to the machine.

Fig.10 is a detail view showing the means for preventing an operation of the actuating means at certain times while the accounting machine is operating.

Fig. 11 is aside elevation taken from the right of the machine with certain parts omitted to show some of the switches used to control the actuating electromagnet.

Fig. 12 shows diagrammatically the elemenu. or the control means and the actuating means and the circuits for'correlating the elements.

Gunman DISCRIPTION The front-feed type of record material supporting means isused where it is desired to insert and remove individual record sheets into and from the irontoi the machine.

One use of this type of supporting means may be found in a bank where an individual ledger sheet is provided for each depositor, upon which ledger sheet a record of the daily balancing of his account is printed. Under these circumstances, large numbers of ledger sheets must be inserted into and removed from the machine each day. It is necessary, therefore, that means be provided whereby the ledger sheets may be quickly inserted into the machine, located at the proper printing line, and, after the balancing operation is completed, quickly removed from the machine with the least amount of eii'ort on the part of the operator.

To accomplish this, in the present embodiment, the record material supporting means is shiftable from closed-throat or printing position to openthroat position and vice versa and comprises a platen, pressure rollers, awork table, and guide plates mounted in a frame for shifting movement. When the supporting means is in printing position, the platen is adjacent the printing means, and the pressure rollers engage the ledger sheet with the platen to retain the ledger sheet against movement during a printing operation.

After the printing operation or operations have been completed and it is desired to remove the ledger sheet from the machine, the operator where they, together with the platen, the work table, and-the guide plates, form a throat or guide chute to make the removal of the ledger sheet very easy.

A new ledger sheet may then be inserted into the record material supporting means, which can then be shifted manually to printing position, and the operation can be repeated.

It will be clearjrom the following detailed description that'thls arrangement requires no setting of control elements or manipulation of control keys, no power derived from the accounting machine. and no previous operations of the accounting machine, nor does it require an particular eflort on the part of the operator to cause the record material supporting means to be moved to open-throat position.

Various control means are provided to prevent A traveling carriage (Fig. 6), formed with two connected side members 89 and 10, which carry the various record material supporting means, is laterally 'shiftable on the guide rails 85 and 66. The lateral shifting of the carriage is used to bring various portions of the record material opposite a set of printing elements 1|, from which the operation ofthe actuating electromagnet when the supporting means are already in openthroat position or during a certain part of an operation of the accounting machine.

A joumal'sheet and superimposed carbon paper are usually used to make a record of the transactions recorded on the'ledger sheets, and this Journal sheet and carbon paper are held on the platen by sets of additional pressure rollers, which are not released by the movement of the record material supporting means toopen-throat position. A manually-operable member can be operated to release these pressure rollers when it is desired to remove the journal sheet from the machine. I

In the instant embodiment, which shows the 8 record material supporting means mounted in a laterally shlftable traveling carriage associated with a well-known form of accounting machine, the source of light and the photo-electric cell are so located that a beam of light-extending from the light source to the photo-electric cell can be broken by the hand of the operator in reaching for the record material in any of the positions to which the traveling carriage may be shifted laterally, and the actuating means can respond to the control in any position of the carriage. It is obvious that applicant's novel control means and actuating means can be-used with a record material supporting means which has no lateral shifting movement, since the control and actuation are in no way dependentupon any lateral shifting of the supporting means. Furthermore, the record material supporting means is shown associated with an accounting machine, but, since the actuating means for shifting the supporting means derives no power from nor'is dependent upon any operation of the machine, the supporting means and the actuating means could equally well be used with any other machine in which a front feed of record material is desired.

DETAILED Dnscrur'rron v Accounting machine The invention is shown as being used with an accounting machine to control the shifting of the front-feed type. of record material supporting means. As the type of accounting machine shown in Fig. 6 is well known and is illustrated and disclosed in the United States Patents No..

amounts or other data may be printed.

'The manner in which the lateral shifting of the carriage is brought about and the manner of controlling the positioning'of the printing elements is clearly explained in the above-mentioned Christian Patent No. 2,082,098, to which reference may be had for further details.

Associated with the accounting machine is a plate I2 (Fig. 10), which has a shaft 13 journaled therein, which shaft is driven'one revolution counter-clockwise each time the accounting machine is operated.

, Front-feed supporting means for record material The record material supporting means which enables front-feeding operations to take place comprises a platen 14 (Figs. 3 and 4), lower pressure rollers 15, a lower work table 16, and side guides ll (only one of which is shown). These parts, which are generally similar to those shown in the copending United States application Serial No. 653,838, filed on January 27, 1933, by Raymond A. Christian, can occupy a closed-throat position as shown in Fig. 3, where the platen 14 supports the record material in printing position and the pressure rollers 15 hold the material against movement, and also can be shifted to an open-throat position, as shown in Fig. 4, where the platen I4 is raised and the pressure rollers 15 are disengaged from the platen, so that these parts, together'with the lower work table 18 and the side guides 11, form a chute or. throat by means of which record material can readily be inserted into or removed from the front of the machine.

The various elements of the record material supporting means are carried by a rockable frame composed of side plates 80 and 8| connected together by the tie rods 82 and 83 and the cross bar 84. Secured in the carriage side members 69 and ID and extending across the carriage is a rod 9|) (Figs. 1 and 2) upon which are pivoted frame-supporting arms for rockably supporting the frame in the carriage. Frame-supporting arm 9| has its rear end bifurcated to engage a stud 92 in the side plate 80 and its forward end 93 hook-shaped to receive a platen-supporting shaft 94, which is journaled in the side plates 80 and 8|. In a similar manner, another framesupporting arm (not shown) is mounted on the rod 98 adjacent the side plate 8| and provides a means for supporting this side of the frame for rocking movement about the rod 90.

The manner in which the various elements of the record material supporting means are mounted in the rockable frame is shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, '7, and 8 and will now be described.

The platen 14 is supported by the shaft 94, rotatably joumaled in the side plates and 8| of the rockable frame. The lower sets of pressure rollers I are rotatably mounted on studs extending between sets of pressure roller carrying arms 95 loose on shaft 96 rockable in the side plates 80 and BI.

A set of stop arms 91 (Figs. 7 and 8) are carried by the shaft 96 and are adjustably connected therewith by means of the screws 98 and the arms 99 pinned to the shaft. A rod I00 fastened in the arms 91 extends through slots I III in the pressure roller carrying arms 95 and enables the stop arms 91 to control the position of the pressure rollers as well as their shifting from closed-throat position to open-throat position.

Encompassing the shaft 98 is a series of torsion springs I02 (Fig. 7), one end of each of said springs I02 engaging one ofthe arms 90 and the other end of each spring engaging a hole in an adjustable collar I03 retained in position on shaft 86 by a set screw. with the set screws loosened, the collars I03 are rotated clockwise about shaft 96, as viewed in Fig. 8. and, through the springs I02, urge the pressure roller carrying arms. 00 clockwise, as viewed in Figs. 3, 4, and 8, until the lower part ofthe slots IIII yieldingly engage the rod I00 with the proper degree of pressure, after which the set screws are tightened to retain the collars I03 in their set positions. As the collars I 03 and the stop arms 91 are both fastened to shaft 96, the pressure, caused by the adjustment of the springs I02 will not be affected by the rocking of the shaft 96, and the pressure roller carrying arms 95 will move with the stop arms 91 from closed-throat position as shown in Fig. 3 to open-:throat position as shown in Fig. 4, and vice versa.

The lower work table is fastened to the cross bar 84 of the rockable frame, which cross bar also supports the side guides as IT, clamped thereon in any lateral position between the side plates 80 and 8| to control the lateral positioning of the record material. The front edge of the work table It is cut away opposite the pressure rollers I5 to allow the pressure rollers to contact the platen in closed-throat position, as shown in Fig. 3. when the lower work table I6 is in open-throat position, its forward edge moves upward to a position adjacent a line-finder and guide I 04 mounted in brackets I05 and I06 secured to the carriage side members 69 and I0 respectively, and serves to guide the record material toward the rear of the machine.

Frame-rocking mechanism The mechanism for rocking the frame in which the record material supporting means is carried is substantially the same as that shown and described in the above-mentioned application of Raymond A. Christian, Serial No. 655,838. Only the mechanism located adjacent the side plate 80 of the frame is shown in Figs. 1, and 8 of the drawings, because it is believed that this is sufhcient to enable an understanding to be had of the invention.

Secured in the carriage side member 69 is a stud I Ill, upon which is pivoted an arm I08. The upper end of arm I08 is bifurcated to receive a. stud III] secured on an arm III fast on a shaft II2 journaled in the side plates 80 and SI of the rockable frame. Also fast to shaft H2 and adjacent the side plate 8| is an arm I23 (Fig. '8), which has a stud I24 engageable by the upper bifurcated end of an arm (not shown) similar to arm I08 but pivoted on a stud on the carriage side member I0. These arms, which are pivoted on the carriage "side members, have their lower ends connected by a rod Ill (Fig. l). A spring I25 (Figs. 6 and 8), connected to the arm I23 and to the side plate II, tends to move the shaft -ll2inaclockwisedirecflonasviewedinl"igs.l

and 8. The shaft II2 is prevented from moving clockwise at this time by. means of a roller Iii, carried by the arm I, engaging the end of a link II pivoted on' stud III on the side plate 00. Thelink Ill isheldinthepathoftheroller III, as shown in Fig. 1, by a stud III on a blocking member I" loosely pivoted on the shaft II2 but prevented from turning thereon by the engagement of the end. of the blocking member I" with the stud III in the carriage side member 00.

In the present embodiment, the frame is rocked by an operating means which engages the rod IIIlandrocksthearm Ill clockwiseabout the stud Ill. The upper bifurcated end of the arm I08 engagingthestud III tries torockthe arm III clockwise.butthisisblockedbythelink I being in the path of the roller 2. Since the shaft H2 and the arm III are prevented from rotating in the side plates, the movement of the bifurcated end of the arm III is transmitted to the side plate 80 through the shaft H2 and also through the link III and the stud IIS, causing the frame. by means of the framesupporting arm II, to pivot clockwise about the rod 90. The end III of the blocking arm I" has an inner surface I20, which is formed a an arc with the rod 90 as a center, so that, as the frame rocks about the rod 00, the blocking member III will continue to hold the link I in the path of the roller' Ill, and this condition will continue until the frame is moved to open-throat position and the notch I2I in the member I I1 is opposite the stud 0. when the notch I2I is moved opposite the stud II, the blocking member I" is allowed to rotate a slight distance clockwise about shaft III, and this will allow the link III to move from the path of the roller H3 and enable the arm III to operate the arm III to rock the shaft II2 clockwise in the side plates of the frame. The rocking of the arm II I with the shaft II2 carries the roller III over the upper edge of the link II until it rests in the dwell I22. This causes the link Ill to bear on the stud IIS on the blocking member III and retain the notch I2I over the stud 0, which locks the frame in open-throat position.

Also fast on the shaft II2 are slotted arms, one of which is shown at I28 in Fig. 8, for rocking the shaft 96 to shift the pressure rollers I5. The operation of these arms is similar, so only one will be described.

In the lower part of arm I26 is a V-shaped slot I21, in which is a roller I28 carried by the arm I29 pinned to the shaft 96. In Fig. 8, the arm I25 is shown in open-throat position, to which it has been shifted by the shaft II2 moving clockwise, and the roller I28 has been shifted from the left-hand end of the slot I21, where it was located until the shaft "2 was rocked, to'

the right-hand end of the slot and has caused the arm I29 to rock the shaft 96 counter-clockwise and move the arms 91 and the rod I 00 to shift the pressure rollers I5 away from the platen I4, or closed-throat position, as shown in Fig. 3, to the open-throat position, as shown in Figs. 4 and 8.

It is thus seen that the frame-rocking mechanism first rocks the frame and moves the platen from printing position to a more accessible position andmoves the lower work tray to a position to receive'the record material when it is inserted from the front of the machine and thereafter shifts the 3 pressure rollers g't'o release "the "record material so that'it may. be readily 'insertedlntof 7 or removed from the front of the machine.

frame is rocked to open-throatposition, coac'ts with a collar I3I carried bythe shaft v 4 to limit its upward movement. "Aflsecond stop member I32, pivoted on the rod-90 and adjustable verti cally by the eccentric I33, engages the collar "I to arrest the frame in closed-throat position with .the' platen in proper relation to 'the printing mechanism. A similar pair of stops, not shown,

are carried by the carriage side member III and the rockable frame.

serve to limit the movement of the other side of Manual means are provided to rockthe frame and the front-feed supporting means thereon from open-throat position; to closed-throat position. This means is'shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 6 and will now be described. e

Secured on the carriage [side member'GS is a bracket I34, on which is pivoted a restoring lever I35 provided with a finger piece I36 and an extension I 31 (Figs. 1 and 2); 1Pivoted to the extension I3I is-a link" I38 havingaslot I39 adapted to cooperate withfa stud- I 40 secured to the arm III. When the frame isfrockedvclockwise from closed-throat or, printing position to open-throat position, the studl lfl engages the end of the S101: I39',in"the link its and rocks the lever I35 clockwise until thellever engages a bumper I carried byjthe upper stopmember I30.

To restore the frame and the front-feed record materialjsup'portin'g means to closed-throat or printingpos'ition, the fingeri'piece I33 is struck by the. operator, and. this {rocks the lever I35 counterl-clockwise, which, through the'link' I38, the Stud I 40, and the farm I'I I 1 '0.\3ks the shaft II2 counter-clockwise td causjeQthe arms as I26 to rocktheshaft 33 .to'move'thepressure rollers 15 lnto fen'ga gemer'lt wlthithe-ipmt n m and to cause the roller H3 to be removed from looking engagement with the link H4. The release of links-Mt all ws the b h. .211 i the blocking member; Ijlflj, tolleave; the jstnd H3 and enables the frame emov toward closedrthroat or printingipos'itid fln The; inertia pfh-=theframe and the and comprising a plateI48. I i I,

The link I45-is connectedtoaoneiarm I49 of; lever-fastened to a: shaft- I50 rotatableuin a U-; shaped bracket I5I attached to thevertical plate I41. The other arm-I52rotthe'lever'isrbifurcated J to engage'a-pin-I53 inthe -end oia core I54; which is operated by the-magnetvili. "A spring I55, attached'tothe-arm' I52'anclto thevertical plate I41, urges the shaftl50 clockwise as'viewedin Fig. 11 and operates through the lever S -I 52," the link I45, the*arm-' *i44, and the "shaft I4? 1 to maintainthe arm I43 inengagement with the rod I09 and to prevent-an overthrow of the core I53 when the frame'is restored toclosed-th'ro'at D sition.' I The actuating meansfor the frame rockirlg v mechanism, therefore, comprises an electromag net having associated therewith a core whichis pulled within the magnet when the magnetli's energized. The core isc'onne'cted to thea'rm'i43 by a linkage and rocks the arm I43 counter-clockfor the frame-rockingmechanismismost clearly 1 shown iii-Figs. G and 9 to 12 and-will now be described. In the instantembodim'ent, a tubular member I3l, carried'by the accounting machine cabinet 64, has its upper-end bentoverfsothat? it is located adjacent the'tra'velingcarriage;- At

the upper end oirthe tubular member IGlis an enlarged section "I56 coritainingthe' source 'of radiant, energy, which; in the-instant er'nbodi R ment, comprisesa lamp 'l 51 (Fig. 12) fondir'ect' ing a beam of light a'cros's the frontof'the ma-* chine at a point where thehane'erthe operatqr 1 parts supported thereon willcausethe frame to continue .I to mover to closed-throat position even 1 after. the irestorlngzleye-p I 35 is-retumed to normal positioniand thezstudr-lwshas left. the end of the sloti39z- 'I he Slil oi the cc unting 'rriachineona of "whi h is sho nih m l at 21F181 L s pport aro k bjie star 1 aeel- 1. tene-d to the shaft, extends upwardly, so that ,it I:

can en g t an 1 9 i my ,pqsmon g the, carriage and can pivotthe "rr'ns, a's I08, .c1ockwisetc rock the fram from. losedfthroat 13051 n. t beenro t n sit q ka -.e 1 'n ve he sh f "2. is alsq-has as ned h r'tb Y an arm; I144, connected a 1ink I45 which is I e edibr an c u t ng eet m ne "H s Ihe .electromagnet: ii lfieand certain m t 'p the ea orfontr l i e' sjo ation, shown. in Figs 9 ,to, flzin'clusive, are carried.-

by a bracket fastened to the cross frames as 63 1 n ms vg t i sj attache b thette m, m and its secondary a will pass when reaching towardzthe carriageto j remove record 'materialtherefrom. Mounted on the machine inthe pat'h Of :the beam-crushes another tubular member 158 containingf'a photo electric cell I59 (Figs. 1 ahd'l2) fwhich'is'i'ncluded m a circuit taken b ableflao tothefgontrol" means carried byfthe jhracketI'4'I, fso1that "th .j photo-electric cell can jcohtrol the operation 'of the li I45 y he .cmat ngeecmfiasna. The cable IIiII is. a'lowcapacity cablewhich grounded to stabilize" photo-electric cell. 5

inthe plate circuit arise-1a tube'to be energized to Q,

close a circuit totheactuatihg electrp agjnet 6.. h -W lm wh h ll bflntrol cui o ate will'nowbeeirplained. 1 a siarm el t connected across, the

I12, Ill, I'll, I", and I'll to provide the required voltages for the various elements of the control means. The photo-electricceil I59 and a variable capacitor III are connected in a balanced circuit extending from the point I12 to the point Ill, in which circuit the capacitor I19 can be adjusted so that, with the Photo-electric cell conducting, the potential ofthe point Illl, where the grid Illi's connected in" the circuit, and the trie cell and the cell is conducting; the grid I will have a potential less positive than said critical potential, while the plate I82 has a positive potential thereon, and the tube will not be conductive. so that control relay III will not be energiaed. The blocking of the light from the photoelectric cell III will cause the impedance of the cell to increase and will cause the potential of the grid I II to become more positive than said critical potential while the plate I82 is positive, and the tube III will ilre and be conductive. The current in the plate circuit will cause the relay III to be energized and operate a switch into complete a circuit to the actuating magnet I 48, under proper circumstances which will be explained later herein. The circuit. completed by the switch I can be traced from the main supply line at point "I; through the line Ill; actuating electromagnet I; the switch III, which is closed whenever the supporting means are in the points Ill and I10 of the transformer. The

potential for operating the lamp III is obtained by connecting the lamp across thepoints I" and Ill of the transformer.

The various control elements and the means for insuring that they will be operated under the proper circumstances are shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 11 and will now be described. As shown in Fig. .9, a supporting plate I fastened to the vertical plate I" carries the transformer III, the tube 1", and the variable capacitor Ill.

The base I carries the relay I" and has fastened thereto a plate I" (Fig. 11), to which the armature IQI of the relay is pivoted by means of a pair of clips as "2. The armature IQI has fixed thereto a retaining member I" and a switch-operatingmember ItLwhich has adiacent one end thereof a set screw I85 providing an adjustable connection between the switchoperating member I and a plunger Ill slidable in the switch housing I91. One element of the switch III presses against the plunger I" to maintain the plunger in engagement with the set screw I. ,A spring I connected to the armature "I and to the lower part of the plate I" urges. the armature clockwise about its pivot point.

The armature-retaining member Ill cooperates with a latch III pivoted on stud-2" on a supporting plate 2 and urged clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 11, by a spring 202.

The operation of the parts associated with the relay is such that, when the relay I68 is operated, the armature ISI is rocked counter-clockwise about the clips I92 and causes the switch-operating member I 94 to close the switch I83 and the retaining member I to be moved downwardly to allow the'latch I99 to rotate counterclockwise and engage the retaining member I93 to maintain the armature in moved position and the switch I82 in closed position, even though the relay Itl is deenergized. The means for moving the latch I89 clockwise and releasing the armature IOI will be described later.

The switch I82, which is included in the circuit for the actuating electromagnet H8, is closed as 1 long as the record material supporting means is in closed-throat position. As the actuating electromagnet I" moves the supporting means to open-throat position, the switch I is opened and remains opened until the record material supporting means is moved back to closed-throat position. With this arrangement, the relay-operated switch I" can be locked closed to maintain the operating circuit for the actuating electromagnet I to allow time for the magnet to operate, even though the control at the photoelectric cell II! is only momentary. and the'operating circuit can be broken at the switch I85 after the actuating electromagnet has performed its work. The means for controlling the opening and closing of the switch III are as follows.

The blades of the switch I" normally tend toward open position, but are held closed by a control member 2I I pivoted on the bracket IBI. The control member 2 is urged clockwise about its pivot by the tension of the switch blades and by a spring 2I2 fastened to the control member 2 and a supporting plate 2I3 (Fig. 9) carried by the bracket ISI, but the control member is retained in the switch-closing position, as shown in Fig. 11, by a latch 2H pivoted on the supporting plate 2|! and urged by a spring 2I8 into engagement with a projection 2|! on the control member 2.

As explained earlier herein, the shaft IIII is rotated clockwise from the position shown in Fig. 11 when the record material supporting means is moved to open-throat position, either manually or by the electromagnet I46. Fastened to the shaft It! by set screws is a two-armed lever 2", and, as the shaft in rotates, one arm 2I8 of the lever 2II engages the latch 2H and releases the control member II I, which allows the switch III to open. .The other arm 2" of the lever 2" has a pin 22! therein, which engages a restoring extension 22I on the control member" 2 to rock the control member counter-clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 11, to reclose the switch II! when the shaft I50 i restored to th position shown in Fig. 11 as the record material supporting means is moved to closed-throat position.

The two-armed lever 2II is also used to operate a releasing means for the armature latch I". The releasing means comprise a resilient member 222, which is slidable in the support 223 and has one end bent over to form a hook 224 operable to engage a projection on the latch I99 and rock the latch I 98 clockwise to release the armature Isl. Near the hooked end of the resilient member is a lateral projection 225, which cooperates with a curved plate 226, carried by the bracket Iii to guide the hooked end of the memher 222. The releasing means operates as follows. As the shaft I50 rotates clockwise when the record material supporting means are moved to open-throat position, the pin 228 moves to the left (Fig. 11) and advances the hook 224 past the latch I99, the projection225 riding over the curved plate 226 and dropping offbefore the end of the movement. When the shaft I58 is restored to the position shown in Fig. 11 by moving the record material supportin means to closed-throat position, the pin 228 will shift the resilient member 222 to the right, and the projection 225 will cooperate with the under side of the curved plate 226 and insure that the hok 224 will engage the projection on the latch I 99 and rock the latch clockwise to release the armature I9I and prepare the control means for another operation under control of the photo-electric cell.

The switch I81 (Figs. 10 and 12) in the operatin circuit for the actuating electromagnet I46 is provided to prevent the operation of the magnet while the printing mechanism of the accounting machine is operatin to insure that if the beam of light is blocked from the photo-electric c ll during an operation of the accounting machine. the actuating electromagnet I46 will not be energized to move the record material supporting means to open-throat position until the completion of the operation of the printing mechanism.

A explained earlier herein, the plate 12 associated with the accounting machine has a shaft 13 journaled therein. which shaft is driven one revolution counter-clockwise each time the accounting machine is operated; Pivoted on the plate 12 is a lever 221 carrying a roller 228, which is urged by a spring "29 into enga ement with a cam. 230 fast to the shaft 13. The lower end of the lever 221 has a link 23I pivoted thereto and urged clockwise by a torsi n spring 232 to engage a tooth-like projection 233 .thereon with a similar projection 234 on a, pivoted member 235.

Whenever the accounting machine is not operating, the parts are in the positions as shown in Fig. 10. where the projection 233, bearing on the projection 234, has rocked the pivoted mem her 235 clockwise until the stop 236 on the memher 235 engages a lower limiting finger 231, at which time the pivoted member has moved the blade of the switch I83 to close said switch. Just as soon as the accounting machine begins to operate, the high point of the cam 23!! moves away from the roller 228 and allows the lever 221 to shift the link 23I to the right as viewed in Fig. 10. This will move the projection 233 to the right, and. as the stop 236 is in engagement with the finger 231, the projection 233 will ride over the projection 234 on the pivoted member 235 and press against the right-hand side of the projection 234, which will shift the pivoted member 235 counter-clockwise until the stop 236 engages an upper limiting finger 238 and the switch is opened. The high point of the cam 230 is so located relatively to the roller 228 and the projection 233 is so located relatively to the projection 234 that the pivoted member- 235 is shifted to open the switch I81 almost simultaneously with the initiation of the accounting machine operation. been accomplished, the cam 230 will cause the link 2! to move to the left and the projection 233 to ride over the projection 234 and bear upon the left-hand side of the projection 234 to rock control means can cause the actuating electromagnet I46 to shift the record material supportingmeans to open-throat position during an operation of the accounting machine only after the printing part of the operation has been completed.

Obvious variations can be made in the control circuits without departing from the invention.

The type of radiant energy used is described as light, but the invention is not to be limited to the use of light, as other forms of radiant energy could .be used together with appropriate means for detecting the beam. Inasmuch as the critical location of the source of energy and the detector is such that the beam between them can be broken under proper circumstances, these elements may be used with a record material supporting means that has no lateral travel, or. if a traveling carriage is used, these elements may both be carried by the carriage, .or one may be carried by the carriage and one may be stationary, without departing from the purpose of the invention.

Further, the control-means and the actuating means are shown for causing the movement of the frame and the record material supporting means from closed-throat position to openthroat position, but it is clear that such a control could readilybe utilized-to cause the record material supporting means to be 'moved from open-throat position to closed-throat position.

Additional record material supporting means Y Alsoassociated with the platen 14 (Figs. 3, 4,

and 5) is a second record material supporting means to guide and hold a second form of record material which is fed from the rear of the ma-= chine. The record material is fed from the rear of the machine by operation of the knobs 2 to rotate the platen clockwise, and also by the usual line-spacing mechanism (not shown). The second record material supporting means is rock'- able with the record material supporting frame and comprises sets of upper pressure rollers 242 and lower pressure rollers 243, which cooperate with the platen 14 to hold record material thereon, and an upper work table 244, which, with the guide plate 245 and the side guides 246 (Fig. 6) and 241, guide the record material to the platen from the rear of the machine.

A pair of

brackets

248 and 248 are fastened to the side plates 88 and 8|, respectively, of the rockable frame, and these brackets have pivoted thereon arms 25!! and 25I connected by a rod 252, which carries the sets of upper pressure rollers 242.

Springs

253 and 254 are connected to the arms 258 and 25I and to the

brackets

248 and 249, respectively, and urge the pressure rollers 242 into engagement with the platen 14.

Also pivoted on the

brackets

248 and 249 are After the printing has

arms

255 and 256, respectively, which have fasthe side plates and Stand-urge the pressure rollers 243 into engagement with the platen 14.

The guide plates 2 are carried by the tie rod 83 and the shaft 1 i2 and serve to guide the record material to and from the pressure rollers 242 and 2. The side guides 2" and 2" are adlustably suppomd on the upper work table 2 and control the lateral positioning of the record material thereon.

This additional record material supporting means is rocked with the'frame, but does not release the record material when the frame is rocked. A pair of cams 2" and 280 are fastened on a sleeve 28! rotatable on a shaft carried by the side plates Sll and II, which cams cooperate with rollers 262, 263, 284, and 265 on the arms 2", 25], 255, and 258, respectively, to separate the forward ends of these arms and move the pressure rollers from engagement with the platen. Counter-clockwise movement of the handle 2 causes the high points on the cams 258 and 280 to move opposite the rollers on the arms and move the pressure rollers to release the record material.

This additional record material supporting means, which is not released when the frame is moved to open-throat position, can be used to hold a journal sheet and superimposed carbon sheet in place to record data on said Journal sheet as the data is recorded on a plurality of the ledger sheets which are inserted from the front of the machine in a plurality of operations.

Stnnuurr From the above description it is clear that the improved actuating means and control means simplify the operation of the machine, as compared with the known machines of the prior art, because they are faster in operation and require no accurate setting of control elements or any special operation of .the machine to cause the supporting means to shift to open-throat position.

The actuating means makes the operation of the machine more flexible, because the operator of the machine can very quickly cause the record material supporting means to move to openthroat position to enable the material to be removed before any accounting machine operation takes placev or after any number of amounts or other data have been recorded in one or more columns on the record material. All that is required is that the operator reach for the record material and in so doing interrupt the beam of light to cause the supporting means to shift to openthroat position.

The actuating means makes the operation of the machine more flexible, because the operator of the machine can very quickly cause the record material supporting means to move to openthroat position to enable the material to be removed before any accounting machine operation takes place or after any number of amounts or other data have been recorded in one or more columns on the record material. All that is required is that the operator reach for the record material and in so doing interrupt the beam of light to cause the supporting means to be shifted. Since, with any front-feed type of record material supporting means, the operator must remove and insert record material therein, the use of this necessary act without any additional effort on the part of the operator also to cause the throat to open will effect a considerable saving in time and, effort if many record sheets are to be handled, as in the case Elven above, in which daily balances are made on individual ledger sheets.

Because the actuating means operates so record material supporting means is in openthroat position, so that repeated interruptions of the beam of light by the operator in removing and inserting record material will have no effect to cause unnecessary operations of the actuating means.

A copending application of George Ramsey, Serial No. 380,158, filed February 24, 1941, shows a photo-electric cell and source of light located adjacent a shiftable record material supporting means for. controlling the operation of the shifting means, as in the instant application, and said Ramsay application contains the broad claims to the photo-electric cell control of the shifting of the supporting means, whereas the claims of the instant application are drawn to a form of actuating means for shifting the supporting means under photo-electric cell control which is not shown in the Ramsey application.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form or embodimentherein disclosed,

for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms all coming Within the which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A front-feed machine of the class described having front-feed means including a platen for receiving and holding a work sheet in front-fed position relative to said platen, said front-feed means being movable from a closed-throat or work sheet holding position to an open-throat or scope of the claims releasing position and vice versa; a photo-electric means; an electric lamp arranged so as to produce a light beam in front of the front-feed means; and a circuit having electromagnetic operating means therein to actuate the front-feed means to move the latter from a closed to openthroat position, said circuit being normally in-' effective, but rendered effective upon interruption of the light beam whereby the front-feed means is moved to open-throat position to permit the removal of one work sheet and the insertion of another.

2. In a machine for making records on record material inserted from the front of the machine, the combination of record material supporting means including elements shiftable from closedthroat position to open-throat position and vice versa; means to shift said supporting means from closed-throat to open-throat position; means including an electromagnet for actuating said shifting means; an operating circuit for said electromagnet, said circuit including a plurality of switches; control means for closing one of said switches to complete the circuit; means settable according to the closed-throat or open-throat position of said supporting means; and means controlled by said settable means when set according to an open-throat position of the supporting means to open another of said plurality of switches to prevent an operation of the 'electromagnet throat position,

when the supporting means is in open-throat position even though the control means closes said one switch.

3.'In a recording machine, the combination of a record material supporting means comprising elements shiftable from closed-throat position to open-throat position and vice versa;,means for shifting said supporting means from closed-throat to open-throat position; means including an operating electromagnet for actuating said shiftin means; means mounted adjacent said supporting means and operable to produce and direct a beam of light across in front of the supporting means; a photo-electric cell; and a relay controlled by said photo-electric cell for causing the energization of the electromagnet each time the light is blocked from said photo-electric cell.

4. In a machine for making records on record material inserted from the front of the machine, the'combination of record material supporting means including elements shiftable from closed-- throat position to open-throat position and vice versa; means to shift said supporting means from closed-throat position to open-throat position; means including an electromagnet for actuating said shifting means; an operating circuit for said electromagnet; means for producing and directing a beam of light across the supporting means and in front thereof; a photo-electric cell upon which the beam of light is directed; means controlled by said photo-electric cell for completing said operating circuit when the beam is blocked from said cell; and means for retaining the operating circuit completed until the electromagnet has operated, even though the beam is no longer blocked from the cell.

5. In a machine for making records on record I material inserted from the front of the machine,

the combination of record material supporting means including elements shiftable from closedthroat position to open-throat position and vice versa; means to shift said supporting means from closed-throat position to open-throat position; means including an electromagnet for actuating said shifting means; an operating circuit for said electromagnet; means for producing and directing a beam of light across the supporting 1 means and in front thereof; a photo-electric cell upon which the beam of light is directed; means controlled by said photo-electric cell for completing said operating circuit when the beam is blocked from said cell; means for retaining the operating circuit completed until the electromagnethas operated to move the supporting means to open-throat position, even though the beam of light is no longer blocked from the cell; and means settable according to the open-throat or closed-throat position of the supporting means and operable, when set according to the closedto release said retaining means.

6. In a machine for making records on record material inserted from the front of the machine, the combination of record material supporting means including elements shiftable from closedthroat position to open-throat position and vice versa;- means to shift said supporting means to closed-throat'position; and means operated by said settable ineans for releasing the retaining means for said one switch when the supporting means is shifted to closed-throat position.

7. In a machine for making records on record material inserted from the'front of the machine, the combination of record material supporting means including elements shiftable from closedthroat position to open-throat position and vice versa; means to shift said supporting means from closed-throat to open-throat position; means including an electromagnet for actuating said shifting means; an operating circuit for said electromagnet, said'circuit including a plurality of switches; control means for closing one of said switches to complete the circuit; means to retain said one switch in closed position until after said electromagnet has operated; timing means operated during a recording operation; and means operated by the timing means to open another one of said plurality of switches to delay the operation of the electromagnet while a record is being made on said record material.

8. In a machine for making records on record material inserted from the front of the machine, the combination of record material supporting means including elements shiftable from closedthroat position to open-throat position and vice versa; means to shift said supporting means from closed-throat to open-throat position; actuating means for said shifting means, comprising an electromagnet, a member attracted to said magnet each time it is energized, and means connecting the member to the shifting means; a source of electricity; a circuit connecting said electromagnet to the source of electricity, said circuit including a normally closed switch and a normally open switch; means for produc-' electromagnet to be energized and shift the supporting means to open-throat position; and means operated by the member for opening the normally closed switch when the electromagnet is energized.

9. In a machine for making records on record material inserted from the front of the machine, the combination of record material supporting means including elements shiftable from closedthroat position to open-throat position and vice versa; means to shift said supporting means from closed-throat to open-throat position; means including an electromagnet for actuating said shifting means; a circuit for energizing said electromagnet; control means for closing said circuit to cause said electromagnet to operate the supporting means are returned to closedthroat position, for reclosing the circuit to said electromagnet, whereby unnecessary operations of the actuating means with the supporting means in open-throat position are prevented.

10. In a machine for making records on record material inserted from the front of the machine, the combination of record material supporting means including elements shiftable from closedthroat position to open-throat position and vice versa; .means to shift said supporting means from closed-throat to open-throat position; means including an electromagnet for actuating said shifting means; an operating circuit for said electromagnet; a switch for closing said circuit; means for producing and directing a beam of light across in front of said supporting means; a photo-electric cell upon which the beam of light is directed; a relay operated under then the shifting is delayed only until the printing is completed.

12. In a recording machine having printing means for making records on record material introduced from the front of the machine, the combination of record material supporting means including elements shiftable from closed-throat position to open-throat position and vice versa; means to *shift said supporting means from closed-throat to open-throat position; means, including an operating electromagnet, for actuating said shifting means; an operating circuit for said electromagnet, said circuit including a normally open switch and a pair of normally closed switches; means for producing a beam of light; a photo-electric cell engageable by said beam of light; a relay energized under control of said photo-electric cell whenever the beam is blocked from said cell; an armature operated by said relay to close said normally open switch when said relay is energized; a latch cooperable with the armature to retain the armature in operated position and the normally open switch in closed position; means operable to open one of the normally closed switches while the printing meansis functioning during an operation of the recording machine; mechanism operated by the electromagnet to open said other normally closed control of said photo-electric cell each time the beam of light is blocked from said cell, said relay having an armature movable to close said switch when the relay is operated; a latch for retaining the armature in moved position to hold said switch closed and prevent the photo-electric cell from further controlling the actuating means; means for releasing said latch; and means operated by the supporting means, when they are moved to closed-throat position, for operating said releasing means andrestoring the actuating means to the control of the photo-electric cell.

11. In a recording means having printing means for making records on record material introduced from the front of the machine, the combination of record material supporting means including elements shiftable from closed-throat position to open-throat position and vice versa; means to shift said supporting means from closed-throat position to open-throat position; means including an operating electromagnet for actuating said shifting means; an operating circuit for said electromagnet, said circuit including a normally open switch and a normally closed switch; means for producing a beam of light; a photo-electric cell engageable by said beam of light; a relay energized under control of said photo-electric cell when the beam of light is blocked from said cell; an armature associated with said relay and operable to close the normally open switch when the relay is energized; means-for retaining the armature in operated position to maintain the switch in closed position; means operable to open the normally closed switch while the printing means is functioning during an operation of the recording machine; and means for releasing the latchafter the electromagnet has operated, the control of said switches being so coordinated that a momentary blocking of the light from the photo-electric cell at any time will cause the electromagnet to operate the shifting means to shift the supporting means to open-throat position immediately, except when the printing means is operating, and

switch when the actuating means operates the shifting means to move the supporting means to open-throat position; means to restore the supporting means to closed-throat position and the mechanism and actuating means to unoperated position, said mechanism restoring said other normally closed switch to closed position;

. and means operated by said mechanism, as it is restored, for releasing said latch, the control of the operation of the electromagnet being such that the electromagnet can operate the actuating means at any time when the record material supporting means is in closed-throat position and the printing means is not being operated during a recording machine operation.

13. In a recording machine for making records on record materialinserted from the front of the machine, the combination of record mate-,- rial supporting means including elements shiftable from closed-throat position to open-throat position and vice versa; means to shift said supporting means from closed-throat to open-throat position; means, including an electromagnet, for actuating said shifting means; means for supplying potential for operating said electromagnet; a circuit connecting said eiectromagnet directly with said supply means, said circuit containing a normally open switch; means for producing a beam of light; a photoelectric cell engageable by said beam of light; said means for producing the beam of light and said photoelectric cell being so located in front of the supporting means that the beam will be broken when the operator reaches for the record material; and means controlled by said photo-electric cell for closing the switch whenever the beam is broken to thereby cause the electromagnet to operate the shifting means and immediately move the supporting means to open-throat posimeans for shifting said supporting means from closed-throat to open-throat position; means, including an operating electromagnet, for actuating said shifting means; means providing a source of current for operating the electromagnet; a circuit connecting the electromagnet to said means providing the source of current and v including a normally open switch and a normally closed switch; means for producing and directing ing means; a circuit for controlling the operation of the driving means; means for producing and directing a beam of light across the supporting means and in front thereof; a photo-electric cell upon which the beam of light is directed; means controlled by said photo-electric cell and operated to complete said circuit when the beam is blocked from said cell; and means for retaining the last mentioned means in operated position a beam of light in front of said supporting 1 until the driving means has operated the moving means; a photo-electric cell upon which said beam is directed; means controlled by said photoelectric cell and operable to close said normally open switch and cause said electromagnet to actuate said shifting means when the beam of light is blocked from said cell as the operator reaches for the record material; means to retain the normally open switch in closed position until the electromagnet has operated; delay meansoperated by said recording machine to open the normally closed switch during the operation of the printing means, the control of said switches being such that the normally open switch can be closed to cause the electromagnet to operate and move the supporting means to open-throat position at any time regardless of whether or not the recording machine is operating or has been operated, the delaying means only operating to open the normally closed switch for that part of a recording machine operation to delay the shifting of the supporting means until the printing means has functioned if the normally open switch is closed during an operation of the recording machine.

means, even though the beam is no longer blocked from the cell. a

16. In a machine for performing operations which may include the making of records on record material inserted from the front of the machine, the combination of record material supporting means. including elements movable from record material retaining condition to record material releasing condition and vice versa; moving means to move said elements from record material retaining condition to record material releasing condition; driving means for actuating the moving means; means operable to initiate an operation of the driving means; means to retain the operation-initiating means in operated condition until the driving means has actuated the moving means; timing means operated by the machine when the machine is operating to perform an operation; and means operated by the timing means, when the timing means is operated by the machine, to delay the initiation of the operation of the driving means; the control of the driving means being such that the operation of the initiating means will cause 15. In a machine for making records on record 5 the driving means to actuate the moving means material inserted from the front of the machine, the combination of record material supporting means including elementsmovable from a record material retaining condition to a record material releasing condition and vice versa; means to move the movable elements from record material retaining condition to record material releasing condition; driving means for actuating the movoperating; and then the initiation of the operation of the driving means is delayed until after a predetermined portion of the operation of the machine has been completed.