US2431714A

US2431714A - Selective printing and punching machine

Info

Publication number: US2431714A
Application number: US622588A
Authority: US
Inventors: Oscar J Sundstrand
Original assignee: Underwood Corp
Current assignee: Underwood Corp
Priority date: 1941-06-24
Filing date: 1945-10-16
Publication date: 1947-12-02
Anticipated expiration: 1964-12-02

Description

SELECTIVE PRINTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE Original Filed June 24, 1941 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR OSCARJSl/NDSTRAND ATTORNEY Dec. 2, 1947. o. J. SUNDSTRAND' SELECTIVE PRINTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE 12 Sheets- Sheet 2 Original Filed June 24. 1941 INVENTOR I OSCAR J. SU/VDSTRA/VD ATTORNEY 1947- o. J. SUNDSTRAND 7 2,431,714 SELECTIVE PRINTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE v ori inal Filed June 24, 1941 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 mvtm'on OSCAR .1. Sl/NDSTRAND (V A'ITQRNEY :a O. J. SUNDSTRAND SELECTIVE PRINTING AND RUNCHING MACHINE Dec. 2, 1947 Original Filed June 24, 1941 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTO R OSCAR J. SUNDSTRAND (4 ATTORNEY Dec. 2, 1947. 0. .1. SUNDSTRAND ,7

SELECTIVE PRINTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE Original Filed June 24, 1941 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ti a. 7.

INVENTOR OSCAR .1 SUA/DS TRA ND BY 1p Dec. 2, 1947. o. J. SUNDSTRAND SELECTIVE PRINTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE Original Filed June24, 1941 12 Sheets-Sheet e INVENTOR OSCAR J. SUNDSTAAND .BY l

W m E Dec. 2, 1947. o. J. SUNDSTRAND.

SELECTIVE PRINTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE Original Filed June 24, 1941 12 Shets-Sheet '1' I OSCAR d. SUNDSTRAND W ATTORNEY v Dec. 2, 1947. O. J.SUNDSTRAND SELECTIVE PRINTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE Original Filed June 24, 1941 12 Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR OSCAR J- SUNDSTRAND BY ATTORNEY Dec. 2, 1947. o. J. SUNDSTRAND SELECTIVE PRINTING AND PUNCHING-MACHINE Original Filed June 24, 1941 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR OSCAR JSUNDSTRAND ATTORNEY Dec. 2, 1947. o. J. SUNDSTRAND 3 1 SELECTIVE PRINTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE Original Filed June 24, 1941 I2 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR OSCAR J. SUNDSTRAND W 600E ATTORNEY Dec. 2, 1947. o. J. SUNDSTRAND ,7

SELECTIVE PRINTING'AND PUNCHING MACHINE Original Filed June 24, 1941 12 Sheets-Sheet 11 INVENTOR A OJCAR J. SUNDSTRA ND Dec. 2, 1947. o. J. SUNDSTRAND 2,431,714

SELECTIVE PRINTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE Original Filed June 24, 1941 12 sheets-sheetvlz INVENTOR OSCARJ. SUNDSTRAND BY I Patented Dec. 2, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SELECTIVE PRINTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE Oscar J. Sundstrand, West Hartford, Conn, as-

signor to Underwood Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware 1 Original application June 24, 1941, Ser al No. 399,461. Divided and this application October 16, 1945, Serial No. 622,588

12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to accounting machines 1 the consumption of electricity by the user. Many companies find it desirable to use bills of the punched card type such as used by the well- -known McBee Keysort system; in which code slots, representative of the Consumption amount, are punched in the card to facilitate rapid sorting and analysis for classification of the user.

In performing such billing operations, the Previous and Present amounts are taken from the meter readers book, together with his computation of the difference, and are indexed in the accounting machine keyboard by the operator. In this method of billing there is obviously the possibility that either the meter reader or operator has made an error in reading or handling the amounts.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a machine for receiving separately the several amounts involved in a single transaction of the character above described, for printing the amounts upon the bill or work piece, for automatically computing the amounts to prove the transaction, and further, for automatically punching one of the amounts in the bill if, and only if, the entries are correct.

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

This application constitutes a division of. applicants pending application Serial No. 399,461, filed June 24, 1941.

In the drawings: l

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an accounting machine embodying the invention, v

Figure 2 is a right side elevation showing the crossfooter, registers, punch selector mechanism, type bars and actuating mechanism, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the motor and the associated machine cycling mechanism,

Figure 4 is a detail front elevation of the motor clutch mechanism,

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of the automatic control cams,

Figure 6 is a right side elevation of the crossfooter engaging, actuating and automatic subtraction control mechanism,

Figure 7 is a perspective view (taken from the right) of the type bars, crossfooter and the actuating racks therefor,

Figure 8 is a front elevation of the A and B registers,

Figure 9 is a perspective view (taken from the right) of the mechanismfor retaining amounts indexed until the appropriate cycle,

Figure 10 is a fragmental top plan view of certain parts of the left keyboard amount indexing mechanism and showing its connection with the amount clearin and retention mechanism,

Figure 11 is a perspective view (taken from the left) of the tally roll support and platen, the bill chute and an automatic bill locating member,

Figure 12 is a left side elevation of certain conventional ribbon lift mechanism that controls operation of the automatic bill locating lever,

Figure 13 is a right side elevation of the platen line spacing'mechanism in normal position, i. e., at the end of a third machine cycle,

Figure 14 is a fragmental view similar-to Figure 13 but with the parts shown in the positions which they occupy at the end of the first machine cycle,

Figure 15 is a perspective view (taken from the left) showing the manual, Classification punch selecting mechanism together with latch and restoring means therefor,

Figure 16 is a detail left side elevation showing the connection of certain parts of the manual punch latch restoring mechanism,

Figure 17 is a detail left side elevation of the manual punch latch slide, a

Figure 18 is a right side elevation 'of the punch actuating mechanism and the automatic punch selector latches, the parts being shown in the positions they occupy just prior to a punching operation,

,Figure 19 is a perspective view (taken from the right) showing the Consumption amount, punch selecting mechanism and the automatic controls therefor,

Figure 20 is a detail perspective view (taken from the left) of the "Consumption amount punch selector slides,

Figure 21 is a right side elevation of the Consumption amount" punch selector latch restoring mechanism in normal position, i. e., at the end of a third machine cycle,

Figure 22 is a view similar to Figure 21, with the parts shown in the positions that they occupy midway of the first half of the first machine cycle,

Figure 23 is a view similar to Figure 22 but with theparts shown in the positions that they occupy at the end of the first half of the first cycle, Y

Figure 24 is a view similar to Figure 23 but with the parts shown in the positions that they occupy at the'end of a first machine cycle,

Figure 25 is a perspective view (taken from the left) showing the punch actuating and restoring mechanism and the automatic proof control for the punch actuating mechanism, the parts being shown inthe positions they occupy after the completion of a third machine cycle and the punches having been actuated.

Figure 26 is a right side elevation of the mechanisms shown in Figure 25 but with the parts shown in the positions that they occupy at the end of a first machine cycle,

Figure 27 is a detail right side elevation of a crossfooter wheel, and

German. Dascmrrron In many respects the present machine is similar to the one disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,194,270 to Oscar J. Sundstrand. The machine includes a keyboard having punch setting keys, operation controlling keys and two groups (left and right) of amount keys. The machine has a chute for supporting front fed forms or bills and a stationary carriage having a platen for supporting rear fed paper. It has three totalizers, which, in the following description will be referred to as the crossfooter and registers A and B, the crossfooter being capable of'adding and subtracting, and the registers being capable of adding only. Registers A and B are divided into two sections, making each capable of accumulating two separate amounts.

The machine has the usual type-bars and associated actuators that are adjustable under the control of stops set by the amount keys. The actuators associated with the left group of amount keys are arranged to add amounts entered in that group in the crossfooter and the left sections of the A and B registers and the actuators associated with the right group of amount keys are arranged to subtract amounts entered in that group from the crossfooter and add said amounts in the right section of the B register. A series of control cams that are rotated during each machine cycle, automatically control the various machine operations that may be initiated manually by the keyboard. A key is provided for conditioning the machine for antomatic control by the cams, manual control by the keys.

A series of punches is provided, certain of which are automatically set for punching code slots in the bill corresponding to one of the amounts entered on the left group of. amount keys, and others of which are manually set by the punch setting keys forpunching slots designating various classifications: Sensing mechani'sm under the control of the crossfooter and a part of the machine cycling mechanism is provided so that all of the set punches will be actuated upon the completion of a billing operation if the proper amounts are entered. I

. --Themachine is started by depression of a motor bar. In a single billing operation, the motor ,bar is depressed twice, the first depression causing the machine to cycle once, and'the second depression causing. the machine to cycle twice. Hereinafter these cycles will be referred to as the first, second and third machine cycles.

In order that the following description may be more readily understood, a skeleton outline of the sequence of machine operations in rendering' a bill for an electric power consumer will now' be given; It will be understood that the choice of an electric power company as a user of the machine is illustrative only and simply gives a typical example of one of the many uses to which the machine is adapted. In such billing operations, the (kilowatt hour) Consumption amount is indexed in the left amount keyboard and the motor bar depressed to initiate the first machine cycle. During this cycle the Consumption amount is printed on a tally strip and added in the crossfooter and in the left section of the A register. Also during, this cycle, a bill count of 1 is automatically effected in the right (counter) side of the A register, and punches representative of the Consumption amount are automatically set, ready to punch the code slots in the bill. Following this first cycle, the bill is inserted in the chute, the-manually controlled classification punches are set, the" Previous and Present meter reading amounts are indexed in the right and left amount keys, respectively, and ,the motor bar is depressed to initiate the second cycle. During this cycle the Previous amount is printed on the bill and added in the crossfooter and in the left section of the B register. The Present meter reading amount is held indexed in the keyboard but is non-printed and non-accumulated during this second cycle. During the third cycle,the Present meter reading amount is printed upon the bill, is added in the right section of the B register,'and is subtracted from the crossfooter.

. Following the third machine cycle, if the crossfooter is cleared, as it will be if the amounts entered are correct (1. e., if the total of the Consumption and Previous amounts equals the subtracted Presentv amount) the punches will be automatically actuated to punch slotsrepresentative of the Consumption amount and the classification in the bill. Following this punching, the bill is automatically ejected.

At the end of a days billing, the machine is conditioned for manual control by depressing the manual control key. Thereupon,'totals of the Consumption amounts and the bill count are taken from the A register. Likewise, totals of the Previous and Present meter readings are takenfrom the B register. The mechanisms for performing certain of the operations referred to above are not shown or described in this application but are fully disclosed in applicant's copending application, serial No. 399,461, filed June DETAIL Dnscrurrron Index of topics 1. The machine sections and actuating'mechanism.

2. The machine cycling mechanism.

3. Crossfooter engagement and actuation.

4. Mechanism for retaining indexed amounts in the indexing mechanism.

5. Releasing Present amount type bars.

6. Paper supporting and feeding apparatus.

'7. Punch mechanism generally.

8. Manual punch selecting and latching mechanism.

9. Automatic punch selecting and latching mechanism.

10. Punch actuating mechanism.

'11. Automatic proof control for punch actuating mechanism.

12. Normal billing operation.

1. THE MACHINE Siac'rroNs AND ACTUATING MECHANISM Referring to Figure 1, the machine includes the customary keyboard having two sets (left and right) of amount keys I and 2, punch setting keys 3, operation controlling keys 4, a manual control key and a motor bar 6. The machine has a roller platen I around which a tally 8 is fed, a chute 9 being provided in front of the tally for receiving bills or work sheets from a supply magazine l 2 forprinting by type bars I 3.

A series of punches such as I4 (Figure 2) located to the rear of an aperture I5 (Figure 1) are arranged to punch slots in the lower edge of the bill. A removable container I6 is provided to receive the pun'chings.

The machine also has two registers designated A and B in Figure 2. Each register is comprised of a plurality of ten-tooth wheels and each is divided so as to constitute in efiect two separate registers (see Figure 7). erable for addition only.

Situated in front of the registers is a crossfooter I! having a plurality of twenty-tooth wheels capable of both addition and subtraction.

The machine is arranged to be normally under the automatic control of cams indicated generally at I8 (see also Figure 5), mounted upon a cam shaft I9 that is normally rotated during the second half of each machine cycle. Automatic control by cams I8 may be disabled and manual control by keys 4 enabled by depression of the manual control key 5.

The mechanism for automatically selecting punches I4 for actuation is indicated generally at 2I and is suspended by posts 22 from the base of Two similar arms 24, only one of which is shown, are secured to drive shaft 23 and areeach provided with rollers such as 25, that rest in cam slots in the forward ends of two similar arms such as 26, pivoted on a rod 21 and situated on opposite sides of type bars I3. A series of actuating levers such as 28, there being a lever for each type bar, are pivoted on rod 21 between arms 25 and are tensioned clockwise. about the rod by springs The registers are 0D- such as 23 so that the upper edges of the levers rest against a tie rod 32 secured between arms 26.

The forward ends of, levers 28 are each pivoted at 33 to their corresponding type bars I3 which are uided for vertical .movement in the machine frame. The rear end of each lever 28 is connected by pin and slot connection 34- to a bell crank 35 also pivoted on rod 21 adjacent each actuating lever. The rear ends of bell cranks 35 are pivoted at 36 to corresponding register actuatingracks 31 guided for vertical movement in the machine frame. Springs such as 38 connected between each bell crank and lever, normallytension the bell cranks counter-clockwise about rod 21 so that the pins of the pin'and slot connections 34 are urged toward the upper edges of the slots for effecting a transfer from' one order to the next higher order as disclosed inPatent 2,194,270, Referring to Figure 8, it will be noted that transfer lugs on the middle wheel of each group in the A and B registers are omitted, thus dividing each register into two separate and independent sections hereinafter referred to as the left and right sections. I

Type bars I3 are divided into two groups indicated as Consumption and Previous" and Present in Figure '7. The left or Consumption and Previous group of type bars is associated with the left set of amount keys I (Figure 1) whereas the right or Present group is associated with the right set of amount keys 2. Rearward preiections 39 (Figures 2 and '7) on the right group of type bars support a series of subtracting racks 42 on one side of the crossfooter wheels I! and similar but longer and ofiset projections 43 on the left group, support a series of adding racks 44 on the opposite side of the crossfooter. The usual pin and slot connections 45 are provided between the racks and the projections for transfer purposes, the transfer mechanism being identical with that disclosed in the before-mentioned Patent 2,194,270.

Operation of the machine causes arms 24 and 26 (Figure 2) to be raised and lowered during each cycle. As rod 32 rises during the first half of the cycle, actuators 28 raise such of the type bars I3 as are free to rise under tension of springs 29 and corresponding crossfooter actuating racks 42 and 44 rise therewith while the corresponding register actuating racks 31 are simultaneously lowered. As rod 32 descends, during the second half of the cycle, the actuators are restored, restoring the type bars and racks to the normal position shown in Figure 2. The extent of vertical movement of the type bars and racks is controlled by stops 46 that are moved by amount keys I and 2 into the path of vertically disposed rods 41 and 48 (see Figure 7) connected to the forward ends of arms 49 and 52 that are pivoted to the left and right groups of type bars I3, respectively. Printing is effected by hammers 53 (Figure 2) that are tripped shortly after all the bars have risen to their-fullest extents as determined by the amounts indexed on the keyboards, to strike impression type carried by the type bar. It will be noted that, by the offset projections 43 and location of adding racks 44, amounts indexed in the left set of amount keys I will be added on the crossfooter whereas amounts entered in the right set of amount keys 2 will be subtracted from the crossfooter. I

2. THE MACHINE CYCLING MECHANISM sion of the motor bar also releases a clutch mecham'sm 56 (see also Figure 4) to engage themotor with actuating shaft 23. I

The motor bar '6 is mounted in the machine frame for vertical movement and is held in its upper position by a spring 51. A bell crank 58 pivoted at 59 to the machine frame has one of its arms pivoted at 62 to the stem of the motor bar and its opposite arm pivoted at 63 to one end of a link 64 extending toward the rear of the machine. a block 66 on another link 61 connected at its forward end to an arm 68 secured to a shaft 69 extending across the front of the machine. An arm 12, also secured to shaft 69, is pivoted to a link 13 connected at its rear end by pin and slot connection to a stud 14 secured to a plate 1'5 pivoted on a shaft 16. An arm 11 secured to shaft 16 normally lies above a shoulder 18 on a' cam 19 on a release sleeve 82. A spring 83 secured to plate normally holds these parts in the positions shown. An arm 84 extends upwardly from plate 15 and is connected to a link 85 extending toward the rear of the machine. Depression of the motor bar rocks lever 58 and pulls link 64 forward. Shoulder 65 pulls link 61'forward, rocking shaft 69 and pulling link 13 and plate 15 forward against the tension of spring 83. This rotates shaft 16,- removing arm 11 from shoulder 18 and moves link 85 to the rear, The removal of arm 11 from shoulder 18 permits clutch 56 to engage under the tension of a spring 86 (Figure 4) and the movement of link 85 starts the electric motor in the manner disclosed in Patent No. 2,194,270. The starting'of the motor, together with the engaging of the clutch, through a worm and worm gear drive 81, imparts rotation to a disk 88 secured on one end of a shaft 89, the opposite end of the shaft being keyed for rotation with the driven element of clutch 56. A link 92 connected between disk 88-and a crank arm 93 secured on shaft 23 rocks shaft 23 first counterclockwise, and then clockwise about 90 during each cycle of the machine as previously described. Toward the end of the machine cycle shoulder 18 is again engagedrby arm 11 under tension of spring 83 which restores the parts to normal position upon release of motor bar 6, thus disengaging the driven element of clutch 56 from the driving element thereof and ending the cycle. first and second machine cycles previously referred to are initiated by depressing motor bar 6 as above described.

The third cycle is automatically initiated under the control of a motor repeat cam 94 secured on cam shaft I9. A pawl 95 is pivoted at 96 to an arm 91 secured on actuating shaft 23. The opposite end of pawl 95 is held under tension of a spring 96 in engagement with teeth of a twelve-'- toothed ratchet wheel 99 secured to shaft I9. During each oscillation of shaft 23, pawl 95 engages a tooth of the ratchet wheel and rotates shaft I9 and cam 94 one twelfth of a revolution. A stop pawl I6I holds ratchet 99'against improper rotation. A bell crank I62 pivoted on arod I63 in The A shoulder 65 on link 64 lies behind the machine frame has a horizontal arm I64 lying beneath cam 94, and a vertical arm engaging a link I65, The forward end of link I65 is pivoted by a pin and slot connection I66 to one side of a; bail I61 pivoted on a rod I68 stationary in the machine frame. 7 The opposite side of bail I61 is pivoted at I69 to the rear end of link 61. A sprin H2 connected to link vI65 tensions the link rearwardly and arm I64 upwardly against cam 94. At the end of the third machine cycle, the parts rest in the positions shown in Figure 3.

Upon rotation of shaft I9 during the second half of a second machine cycle, one of four cam surfaces H3 on cam 94 cams arm I64 downwardly, rocking bell crank I62 clockwise and thrusting link I65 forwardly. Forward movement of link I65 rocks bail I61 and thrusts link 61 forward to initiate the third machine cycle auto-' matically. During the second half of this third cycle, pawl 95 rotates shaft I9 removing cam surface H3 from over arm I64, whereupon the parts restore to the positions shown in Figure 3 under tension of spring H2, and so on.

3. CROSSFOOTER ENGAGEMENT AND ACTUATION Crossfooter I1 is engageable with either adding racks 44 or subtracting racks 42, the mode of operation of the present invention requiring its engagement with the adding racks during the latter portion of the first and second machine cycles and with the subtracting racks during the latter portion of the third cycle. The wheels of the crossfooter are rotatably mounted on a shaft H4. Shaft I I4 is shiftable bodily from its left position where the wheels mesh with subtracting racks 42, toward the right, to an intermediate position where the wheels are disengaged from both sets of racks and thence further to the right where the wheels engage the adding racks 44.

Referring now to Figure 6, the crossfooter engaging mechanism includes an actuating arm H5 secured to actuating shaft 23. A spring tensioned pawl H6 pivoted on arm H5 has two shoulders H1 and H8, the shoulder H1 engaging a pin H9 fixed on a plate 22 pivoted at I23 to the machine frame. Plate I22 is connected by a pin and slot connection I24 to a lever I26 pivoted on a rod I21. A spring I28 normally tensions lever I26 counter-clockwise about rod I21, Lever I26 carries a pin I29 engageable by shoulder I I8 of pawl H8. A- stud I32 fixed on plate I22 is embraced by a notch I34 in the rear edge of a pendent I35.

a pair of identical arms I54 between which cross- This movement of the parts causes lever I45 to oscillate .sufilciently to move the crossfooter to a position equidistant from both sets of

racks

42 and 44, roller I48 .now lying in the intermediate portion of slot I41. At this time, a notch I55 in the right edge of pendent I39 lies opposite a pin I56 in lever I45 and pendent I39 is swung toward the right so that notch I43 disengages from pin I44 and notch I55 engages pin- I56 under the tension of a spring I51 connected to a subtract slide I58. Slide I58 carries a pin I59 bearing against one arm 'of a yoke I62 connected to the slide by a spring I66. Yoke I62 is pivoted at I63 in the machine frame, and has another arm connected by pin and slot connection I41 with pendent I 39 to transmit movement of slide I58 to pendent I39. At the beginnin of the second half of this cycle, as arm II5 swings clockwise, shoulder II8 engages pin I29 and ro-' tates plate I22 in a clockwise direction lowering pendent I35 and raising pendent I39. Since notch'I55 now engages pin I56, lever I45 oscillates further counter-clockwise and the lower portion of slot I41 cams lever I49 suificiently in a counterclockwise direction to bring crossfooter I1 into mesh with adding racks 44. During the next or second machine cycle, notch I55 remains in engagement with pin I56 consequently, as pendent I39 is lowered and raised at the beginning of the first and second half of this cycle, respectively, crossfooter I1 will be disengaged from racks 44 at the beginning of the cycle and reengaged therewith at the beginning of the second half of the cycle.

- A subtract cam I64 secured on shaft I9 has four cam surfaces I65. During the second half of this second cycle cam I65 will have been rotated sufiiciently to cause one of the surfaces to cam a bell crank I 66 pivoted on rod I03, clockwise.

A vertical arm of bell crank I66 lies behind the rear end of subtract slide I 58 and clockwise movement of the bell crank thrusts the slide for-- ward withdrawing pin I59 from the shoulder on yoke I62. This movement stretches spring I60 and tensions yoke I62 clockwise about pivot I63 and, through the pin and slot connection I41, tensions the left edge of pendent I 39 against pin I44, notch I55, however, still remaining in engagement with pin I56. Upon initiation of the third cycle by motor repeat cam 94 as described in the preceding section, as pendent I39 is lowered, crossfooter I1 is withdrawn from engagement with adding racks 44 to neutral position and when pin I44 comes in alignment with notch I43 pendent I39 shifts clockwise under tension of spring I66 so that notch I disengages from pin I56 and notch I 43 engages pin I44. At the begin- 55 ning of the second half of this cycle as pendent I39 is raised, lever I 45 is oscillated sufiiciently in a clockwise direction to engage crossfooter I1 I with subtraction racks 42 as shown in Figure 6.

During this second half of this cycle rotation of cam shaft I9 by pawl 95 removes the effective cam surface I64 from over bell crank I66 whereupon spring I51 through yoke I62 tensions the right edge of pendent I39 against pin I56, notch I43, however,'remaining in engagement with pin 65 I 44 until the beginning of the first cycle of the next billing operation, as described in the beginning' of this section. At the beginning of this next first cycle, when notch I55 engages pin I56, slide I58 moves to the right under tension of spring I51 swinging bell crank I66 into effective relation with cam I64 ready for actuation by the next cam surface I65.

From the foregoing it is noted that at the beginning of a machine cycle when type bars I3 and racks 42 and 44 rise, differentially in accordance with the amounts indexed on the amount keys I and 2, crossfooter I1 is disengaged from the racks, and that at the beginning of the second half of the cycle the crossfooter is engaged with the racks. As the racks restore, the crossfooter wheels are rotated clockwise or counterclockwise to add or subtract the amount printed on or from the crossfooter.

With the exception of the operation of subtract slide I56 through the medium of cam I65 and bell crank I66, the crossfooter engaging and actuating' mechanism above described is identical with that disclosed in the before-mentioned Patent 2,194,270.

Each register (Figure 2) is composed of a number of ten-tooth wheels rotatably mounted on shafts I61 situated one above the other. Shafts I61 are supported at their opposite ends in 20 bracketssuch as I68 slidably mounted for horizontal movement on cross bars I69 fixed in the machine frame. The underside of brackets I68 are toothed and mesh with corresponding teeth on shafts I12 journaled at their opposite ends in the machine frame. The shafts are oscillated to engage the selected registers with and to disengage said registers from the racks 31 by mechanism such as that illustrated and described in applicant's application Serial 'No. 399,461, referred to above.

4. MECHANISM FOR RETAINING INDEXED AMOUNTS IN THE INDEXING MECHANISM Ordinarily on machines of this character, an amount entered on the amount keys is cleared from their associated indexing mechanisms at the end of the cycle immediately succeeding its entry. The three cycle mode of operation of the present invention, however, requires certain amounts entered on amount keys I and 2 to be retained in the indexing mechanisms until the appropriate machine cycle for their printing and accumulation.

To expedite billing operations, it is desirable I to enter the Consumption amount of the next bill upon the left set of amount keys I during the third cycle of a preceding billing operation and it is necessary, therefore, to' retain said amount indexed, ready for printing and accumulation on the first machine cycle of the next billing operation. Likewise, because the Previous and Presentam0unts areentered concurrently on keys I and 2 respectively, before initiating the second machine cycle and the Previous amount only is printed and accumulated during this cycle, it is necessary also to retain the Present amount indexed throughout the second cycle and until the end of the third (automatically initiated) cycle for printing and accumulation during the latter. The mechanism for retaining these amounts indexed in this manner will now be described.

Each set of amount keys I and 2 has identical indexing mechanism. Each indexing mechanism includes settable 'stops 46 (Figures 2 and 10) which, as before stated, are moved into the path of pins 41 and 48 (see also Figure '7) by depression of their corresponding amount keys I and 2. Pins 41 and 48 lie just behind the stopsand are normally positioned to the left thereof as viewed in Figure 10, each group of pinsbeing guided for vertical movement in openings in separate, transversely movable slides 246 mounted on a rod 246a. Depression of keys I and 2 thrusts rods such as 11 241 rearwardly setting the stops. Each slide 248 is provided with a forwardly extending projection such as 248, having a pin and slot connection 249 with separate corresponding swinging

brackets

252 and 253 in which rods 241 are slidably mounted. 1

Through an escapement mechanism (not showni associated with each slide 246, brackets 252 and253, and each set of keys i and 2, indexing of a number by these keys as above described allows the corresponding slide, bracket and rods to move step by step toward the right (Figure 18), one step for each digit indexed, and thereby move pins 41 or 48 (Figure 7) under the rear ends of movement of arm 215. As the cycle continues and arm 215 ,swings clockwise toward its initial position, the arm strikes the rear ends of the slides and thrusts them forwardly. Forward movement of the slides rocks bail cranks 256 and 251 counter-clockwise pulling links 254 and 255 toward the left and in turn swinging brackets 252 the stops 46 set by the amount keys. In Figure 15 10, which shows the indexing mechanism that is associated with the left' set of amount keys I,

pins 41 are shown moved two steps to the right, and two corresponding stops 46 have'been set. Hence, as the machine is cycled, and type bars l3 (Figures 2 and 7) rise, pins 41 or 48 strike against the differentially set stops 46, in which position corresponding type characters in the upper ends of the type bars are brought into printing alignment with platen 1. Shortly after this, impression hammers 53' are operated to print the amount, and then type bars l3 are lowered tonormal position during the last half of'the machine cycle.

The following parts are provided to automatically restore slides 246 and pins 41 and 48 to their left or normal position and to restore stops 48, toward the end of a machine cycle, for the next amount indexing operation. Links 254 and 255 (Figure 9) are each pivoted at one of their ends to

brackets

252 and 253 and at their opposite ends to arms of a pair of hell cranks 256 and 251. Bell cranks 256 and 251 are pivoted on a stud 258 secured in the machine frame. Each of a pair of slides 259 and 268 is pivoted at 263 and 264 to the opposite arms of bell cranks 256 and 251 and extend toward the'rear of the machine, the rear ends of the slides being suitably guided for lateral and longitudinal movement.

Springs

265 and 266 connected to slides 258 and 268 and themachine frame, normally tension the slides counter-clockwise about their pivots causing the left edges of the slides to bear against rollers 261 and 268 on one arm of each of a pair of bell cranks 269 and 218. Bell cranks 269 and 218 are pivoted on a stud 213 secured to the machine frame and each has a shoulder such as 214 lying in the path of movement of a restoring arm 215 secured on the left end of rock shaft 23. The opposite arms of bell cranks 269 and 218 have fingers 216 and 211 that lie behind studs 218 and 219 each of which are fixed in sIides 282 and 283 mounted on a stud 288 secured to the machine frame. The rear ends of slides 282 and 283 are pivoted to levers 284 and 285 which in turn are pivoted on a stud 286 secured to the machine frame. Springs 281 connected to levers 284 and 285 normally tension slides 282 and 283 forwardly to a position where clearance is provided between studs 218 and 219 and fingers 216 and 211 when arm 215 is in its normal position engaging shouland 258 to the left to restore slides 246 and pins 41 and 48 to normal starting position. Just prior to arm 215 reaching its home position, the arm strikes shoulders 214 rocking bell cranks 269 and 218 counter-clockwise about stud 213, thereby causing rollers 261 and 268 to swin slides 259 and 268 to the right sufficiently to withdraw the rear ends of the slides from in front of arm 215. At this moment, springs 265 and 266 move the slides toward the rear and slides 246 toward the right a slight increment until the escapement mechanism (not shown) associated with each

springs

265 and 266 until fingers 216 and 211 strike studs 21:; and no, stopping the slides in a position where their rear ends lie in the path of' slide 246 engages its slide preparatory to the next amount indexing operation.

Upstanding posts such as 288 (Figures 7 and 10) on the right end of slides 246 have beveled faces 289 that engage the rear ends of any set stops 46 and cam them back to normal position incident to the leftward movement of slides 246 above described. The mechanism so far described is identical with that disclosed in Patent No. 2,194,270.

The rightend of each lever 284 and 285 lies in front of a depend ng arm on each of a pair of bell cranks 292 and 293 pivoted on rod I83. Bell cranks 292 and 293 each have a horizontal arm lying beneath corresponding control cams 294 and 295 secured on shaft l9. Springs 281 hold the arms in cooperative relation'tvith'the cams.

Figure 9 showsthe parts in the positions that they occupy at the end of a third machine cycle. During the latter half of a third machine cycle, one of four cam surfaces 296 on cam 294 cams lever 284 clockwise on stud 286, pulling slide 282 rearwardly. Rearward movement of slide 282 rocks bell crank 269 counter-clockwise and thus withdraws slide 259 from the path of restoring arm 215 before the arm engages slide 259' so that the Consumption amount may be entered on amount keys I during this third cycle and retained indexed ready for printing andaccumulation on the first cycle of the next billing operation,

During the next billing operation shaft 19 is rotated a sumcient distance to remove the just effective cam surface 296 from over the horizontal arm of bell crank 292 and to cause one of four cam surfaces 291 on cam 295 to cam the lever 285 clockwise to pull slide 283 rearwardly. Rearward movement of slide 283 swings bell crank 218 counten-clockwise withdrawing slide 268 from the path of arm 215 before the arm restores to home position so that the Present amount entered on amount keys 2 before initiating the second cycle is retained in the indexing mechanism during this cycle. The removal of the just effective cam surface 296 from over the horizontal arm of hell crank 292 permits its associated train of parts 284, 282, and 269 to restore so that arm 215 engages slide 259 and clears the "Previous amount which was entered upon amount keys before initiation of the second machine cycle.

During the second half of the third machine cycle, shaft 19 is rotated a suflicient distance to remove the just effective cam surface 291 from over the horizontal arm of bell crank 293 permitting its associated train of parts to restore to clear the "Present amount. Simultaneously, the

second half of the first cycle of the 5. RELEASING "PRESENT AMOUNT TYPE Bans Mechanism is provided to hold the Present" amount type bars in their lowermost positions so that the Present amount which, as previously stated, is indexed prior to initiating the second cycle, will not print until the third cycle.

This mechanism includes a type bar lock plate 298 (Figures 2 and 7) pivoted on a rod 299 secured in the machine frame. A spring 302 normally tensions plate 298 clockwise about the rod so that its lower edge lies over the rear ends of the Present" amount type bars '13, preventing their upward movement. A rearwardly projecting arm 303 on the plate carries a pin 304 that rests above a'horizontal arm of a bail 305. 'Bail 305 is pivoted on a rod 306 stationary in the machine frame and has a depending arm 301 at its opposite end that lies in front of a depending arm of a bell crank 308 pivoted on rod I03. A horizontal arm of bell crank 308 is held in coo-perative relation with a release cam 309 secured on shaft 19, by tension of spring 302 through the train of connections just. described. Figure 7 'shows the parts in the position they occupy at the end of a third machine cycle, with plate 298 in effective position. Shaft I9 is rotated a suflicient distance during the first and second cycles combined, to cause one of four cam surfaces 3l2 on cam 309to cam bell crank 308 and bail 305 clockwise. Clockwise movement of bail 305 removes plate 298 from effective position. Hence, upon the ensuing (automatically initiated) third cycle, the Present amount type bars are allowed to rise and print.

During the second half of the third cycle, shaft 7 I9 is rotated a distance sufiicient to remove the just effective cam surface from over the horiaontal arm of bell crank 308 as shown in Figure 6. PAPER SUPPORTING AND FEEDING APPARATUS The tally roll 8 is supported between two similar arms 313 (Figures 11 and 13) secured within a frame 3| 4 mounted upon a bracket 3I5 fixed to the machine frame. journaled in frame 3I4 supports platen 1 between the side walls thereof. Tally 8 comprises a continuous strip of paper with a continuous strip of carbon interwo-und therewith, the free ends of the carbon and paper being brought downwardly under the platen between a suitable pressure roll 3!! and the platen and then extending upwardly around in front of the platen and toward the rear. Platen I may be rotated manually by a knob 3| 8 secured to the right end of shaft 3l6 or may be rotated automatically to line space the carbon and paper by the followin mechanism.

A toothed ratchet wheel 3l9 (Figure 13) is secured to shaft 316 between the left end of platen and the left side wall of frame 3. Wheel 3l9 is engageable by a pawl 322 pivoted at 323 to an arm 324 pivoted on a stud 325 secured in the left side wall of frame 3l4. A detent arm 326 also pivoted on stud 325 carries a roller 32'! that engages the teeth of the wheel under the tension of a spring 328 to hold the platen against improper rotation. A spring 329 connected between' A shaft 3l6 (Figure 13) '352 into engagement with lever 336.

pawl 322 and arm 326 normally urges the pawl The opposite arm of bell crank 343 is pivoted at 345 to the upper end of a link 346.

Link 346 corresponds to link 652 in Patent No. 2,194,270 and is similarly arranged to be raised and lowered during the first and second half respectively, of each cycle in a manner similar to that disclosed in that patent. Consequently, during each machine cycle, bell crank 343 oscillates first clockwise and then counter-clockwise and, through the train of connections just described, oscillates arm 324 and pawl 322 to linespace platen 1. Pawl 322'has a depending forwardly extending projection 34'! having a cam surface 348 that engages an edge 349 of the .base of frame 314 during-the clockwise oscillation of the pawl. The distance between cam surface 348 and edge 349, when arm 324 is in its rightward position (Figure 14), is just suflicient to permit rotation of wheel 3l9 a distance of one tooth before pawl 322 is completely disengaged from the teeth whereby the paper and carbon is advanced a line space.

Since it is desirable to line space the platen only during the first and third cycles of a billing operation, i. e., following the printing of the Consumption and Present amounts respectively, the following mechanism is provided to prevent line spacing during the second cycle, 1. e., following the printing of the Previous amount.

The right end of lever 336 is beveled and lies in front of one of four rollers 352 when the parts are in their normal position, i. e., at the end of a third machine cycle, as shown in Figure 13. Rollers 352 are equi-spaced and mounted on one side of a disc 353 secured on shaft 19. During the latter half of the first machine cycle, following the spacing of platen "I, shaft I9 is rotated a distance sufficient to bring one of the rollers This rocks the lever counter-clockwise against the-tension of spring 338 a distance sufficient to remove shoulder 339 from pin 342 whereupon spring 338 pulls parts 333, 324 and 322 to the right, as shown in Figure 14. Hence, during the second cycle, since shoulder 339 is held disengaged from pin 342, parts 333, 324 and 322 remain idle and no movement is imparted to platen 1. During the second half of this second cycle, however, shaft 19 is rotated a distance sufiicient to remove the just effective roller 352 from beneath the right end of lever 336 whereupon pitman 333 rises under tension of spring 338 until its upper edge touches pin 342. During the third cycle, when pin 342 oscillates clockwise beyond shoulder 339, pitman 333 springs upwardly placing the shoulder in front of the pin back plate 354 having suitable rearwardly pro- Jecting flanges at its base (see Figure 2) for securing the plate on a punch guide block 355-supported on a bar 356 secured to the machine frame.

Two front plates 351 and 353 (left and right) are secured in spaced relation by spacers 359 and 362 to plate 354 by screws 383. A forwardly extending flange on plate 351 is secured by screws 364.

' Front plates 351 and 358 terminate just short of the ends of platen 1 and opposite the ends of an aperture 361 provided in back plate 354 to permit printing by the type bars I3 upon tally 3 and the inserted bill.

The Consumption amount is printed through the carbon directly upon the tally during the first machine cycle of a billing operation before inserting a bill. A bill is then taken from the supply magazine l2 (Figure 1) and dropped into the chute. The following mechanism is provided to automatically adjust the bill laterally to proper position before the printing operation takes place. This mechanism includes a lever 368 pivoted at 389 on the right front plate 353 and having a -fiange 312 entering into openings 313 provided ,in plates 358 and 354. Lever 368 has a forwardly extending projection 314 which lies directly beneath a plate 315 of a conventional ribbon lift mechanism shown in Figure 12. A weak spring 316 connected between lever'368 and plate 353 tensions projection 314 against plate 315.

The ribbon lift mechanism is identical with that disclosed in Patent No. 2,194,270. -It includes parallel upstanding arms such as 311 that are suitably guided for vertical movement in the machine frame. Plate 315 is supported by arms 311 and the ribbon spools are mounted on the plate. This assembly is arranged to be raised .and lowered during each cycle of the machine by a cam 319 secured on the actuating shaft 23. During the counter-clockwise oscillation of shaft 23, cam 318 engages a-roller 382 mounted on the automatically punched and the bill is ejected by mechanisms to be later described. Suffice it now, however, to note that by the mechanism just described the bills are automatically positioned into proper location in chute 9 before the printing and punching operations take place and that by this construction the operator may rapidly remove right arm 311 and raises the assembly against.

the tension of suitable strong springs (not shown) to place the ribbon in printing alignment with respect to the platen and the type carried by the differentially adjusted type bars 13 prior to the release of hammers 53 (Figure 2).

During the clockwise oscillation of shaft 23, the parts restore to the positions shown in Figure 12 under the tension of the strong springs. This lowers the ribbon below the line of the just print-ed amount so that the amount is visible. When the ribbon lift mechanism is in this position plate 315 holds lever 368 against counterclockwise movement by spring 316 and the distance between flange 312 and the inner edge of the left spacer 359is suflicient to permit free and casual introduction of a bill. Following the descent of the bill into the chute, when plate 315 rises incident to the rise of the ribbon lift mechanism, lever 368 swings counterclockwise under the tension of spring 316. Counterclockwise movement of flange 312 pushes the bill leftwardly until its left edge abuts the inner edge of spacer 358 in which position the bill is in proper location for the punching andv printing of the Consumption" and Previous and Present amounts respectively.

Following the printing of the Previous" and Present amounts during the second and third machine cycles, the Consumption amount is bills from the magazine and drop them into the chute in a casual manner.v

'7. Punch Mncmnrsm GENERALLY Herein the invention is shown applied to punching bills of the well-known McBee key sort, card type, though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its use to punching bills of this character. A McBee card type bill is shown in Figure 28. Such bills, in order to conserve edge space employ a numeric code of four digits: 1, 2," 4Land'1foreach numerical order of a number to be punched. From this code, a digit of any value from 1 to 9 inclusive, can be derived by combination punchings; for

example: a 9 is derived from punching 7" ,and 2, a 5 from 4" and 1, etc. indicated by non-punching.

A zero is In the present application, the lower left edge of the card is allocated to such numeric code punchings which represent the kilowatt hour Consumption amounts, there being units, tens and hundreds groups provided from left to right, respectively, and a single digit space for a punching to represent a thousand. To the right of this numeric code field'is a field allocated to various classification punchings for indicating the diversified types of bills rendered such as locked premises, arrears bill or odd-date bill," etc.

A series of, punches 14 (Figure 15) corresponding to each punching space of the Consumption amount and classification fields are supported side by side along bar 356. The punches are spaced and guided for movement forwardly and rearwardly of the machine in guide block 355 and die block 385 (Figure 18) between which the lower edge of the bill extends when inserted in chute 9.

.A series of interponents 383 (Figure 15), there being one interponent for each punch, lie directly behind the punches. The rear ends of these interponents are pivoted in comb slots 384 in a common actuating bar 385 pivoted at 386 in the machine, frame. The-.forward ends of the interponents 383 are in vertical alignment with, and normally lie to the rear and just below, the rear ends of the punches. Selection of a punch is accomplished by raising the forward end of its corresponding interponent into horizontal alignment with the punch, The left, group of interponents 383 associated with the Consumption amount punches are automatically selected under the control of mechanism ,to be described later, whereas the right group of interponents associated with the Classification punches are manually selected under the control of corresponding classification keys '3 and mechanism now to be described.

8. MANUAL PUNCH] SELECTING AND LATCHING Mscnmsm frame 392 for each row of keys 3, the keys being guided for limited vertical movement in the