US2605967A - Ticket printing and totaling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 5, 1952 J. A. STONE TICKET PRINTING AND TOTALING APPARATUS 14 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 19, 1944 .hummm WMIQFISW ww ThII.- All d- J @E 'Il |-2Ioom ofzow o IJOFWZOU.

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TICKET PRINTING AND TOTALING APPARATUS Filed May 19, 1944 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 EEE Aug- 5, 1952 J. A. STONE 2,605,967

TICKET PRINTING AND TQTAMNG APPARATUS Fi1ed May 19, 1944 14 sheets-sheet 5 [Z /14 [55 90,/ 90 /ZO l 5/0 zNvENToR JOHN A. STONE J A; ORNEYSZA AU8 5, 1952 J. A. STONE 2,605,967

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NVENTOR JOHN A. STONE ORNEY Aug- 5, 1952 J. A. STONE TICKET PRINTING AND TOTALTNG APPARATUS 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 19, 1944 GNN NWN

ATTORNEYS @NN w N Aug. 5, 1952 J. A. STONE TICKET PRINTING AND TOTALING APPARATUS 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 19, 1944 Aug., 5, 1952 J. A. STONE TICKET PRINTING AND TOTALING APPARATUS Filed May 19, 1944 14 Sheets-Sheet 7 hNN g mvENToR CAD@ .JOHN A.sToNE' ATTORNEYS Aug. 5, 1952 Filed May 19, 1944 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 L N 0 R T nu, m S @m A ww. W N H O f@ J QQ) d .Qn 3: 3L Nn @Nh v om Q TS. am f l@ d QS Aug. 5, 1952 J. A. STONE TICKET PRINTING AND TOTLING APPARATUS 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed May 19, 1944 SNN NNN

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INYENTOR JOHN A. STONE Y UZ 677% ATTORNEYS Aug. 5, 1952 J. A. STONE TICKET PRINTING AND TOTALING APPARATUS 14 Sheets-Sheet ll Filed May 19, 1944 INVENTOR J. A. STONE TICKET PRINTING AND TOTALING APPARATUS Aug. 5, 1952 14 Sheets-Sheet l2 Filed May 19, 1944 INVENTOR JOHN A. sjroNE BY gl? v C?? ATTORNEYS Aug. 5, 1952 J. A. STONE TICKET PRINTING AND TOTALING APPARATUS 14 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed May 19, 1944 INVENTOR JOHN` A STONE ATTORNEYS Allg 5, 1952 J. A. sroNE 2,605,967

TICKET PRINTING AND TOTALING APPARATUS Filed May 19, 1944 14 Sheets-Shes?I 14 KEY n:PR:ssI=.o,courAcrs cLoseo, Ac IMPuLse RECEIVED cLuTcrI ENeAs:D, cYcLE BEGINS.

CLUTCH AND SOLENOID INERTIA MECHANICAL MAXIMUM PRINTING PRESSURE Norla:

(o.) Dc IMPuLs E, CYCLE INITIATED BY AC IMPULSE DUE TO DISTRIBUTOR ARM 66.

(b) Dc IMPuLse,cYcLE INITIATED av Ac IMPuLsE ous To DISTRIBUTOR ARM 65.

[CYCLE FOR. coNsTAN-r sPEI- o Moron] F1' 7. En

INVENTOR JOH N A. STO N E 'BY Y@ ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 5, 1952 TICKET PRNTING AND TOTALI'NG APPARATUS John A. Stone, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Moto, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 19, 1944, Serial No. 536,417

(Cl. 23S-92) V Claims. 1 Y

This invention relates to improvements in ticket printing machines and a control and totallng system therefore. More particularly, this invention relates to a machine which will print tickets at the time of sale, indicating on the face of the ticket the value and selected purpose thereof. This invention also relates to an electrical system for both totaling sales by the same machine and other machines operating in conjunction with it and for controlling the operation of said machine in conjunction with similar machines. The particular embodiment disclosed is designed for use in a pari-mutuel system and not only meets all the rigid requirements of State racing commissions for prompt recording of sales, but also provides control by track stewards for positively and substantially instantaneous locking out all machines against further sales.

My invention possesses many advantages over machines and systems heretofore employed for the same general purpose. v

It is the object of this invention to provide a ticket printing machine in which the operator merely presses the desired selector button.

Thereafter a ticket will be printed rapidly and 1:

all the work of indexing type and other operations are handled automatically in a cycle initiated by a central distributing system, during which cycle the selection will be recorded both on the individual machine and at the central totaling board, the ticket will be printed, fed out of the machine. cut oi for delivery to the customer, and a new length of paper will be fed `for the succeeding ticket. It is an advantage of this invention that, once the operator has selected the indication to be printed, the operator is powerless to alter the selection or influence the cycle. Another advantage is that the selector is instantaneous and the actual printing cycle is rapid and positive, paper feed is certain, and simple but positive means are provided to prevent tickets from falling back or being fed back into the machine to interfere with subsequent ticket printing operations or ticket paper feed. Another advantage of my invention is that the operation of printing occurs first in the cycle of ticket printing and feeding operations so that delivery of the printed ticket seems instantaneous. A still further advantage of my invention is that slugs containing information as to date, race, and code words may be quickly and rapidly changed by supervisors between races; supervisors may also print test tickets any time on my machines.

As to the totaling o1' sales, it is an object of my invention to provide a central system' in which all electrical sales recording impulses will be recorded instantaneously and storage of such impulses (as in rnostv prevalent systems) isthus avoided. This is an advantage in that the system is simpler, more positive, and avoids the necessity of recording sales'k for Van appreciable period of time after sales are supposed to have stopped. It is another advantage of my systemjtha't the registering of a particular sale may occur after the printing cycle has commenced',- thus` avoiding the delay in prior art systemsr where sales registering was necessary before the printing cycle could commence.

As for the control effected by my s'y'stem, it is an object of my invention to permit the track stewards to initiate a timed cycle during which ample warning isgiven to both the customers and the operators and at thee'ndof which no more sales can be initiated, It is an advantage that once the stewards have initiated the warning cycle, the machines will be locked outfrom making further sales after completion'o'f the warning cycle. Thereafter,` no further'. sales can be made until all supervisors at Vticket'selling stations have indicated to the track manager in the control room that'the machines are ready to commence selling tickets again,l unless the track manager, himself, wishes to recommence selling. In'normal operation, the locked out machines are `not released for further ticketrsales until all supervisors at ticket selling stations have signalledto the control roomv superintendent that the machines have been prepared to commence selling tickets again. Thereupon the control room supervisor will actuate Va similar signal and automatically release the' locked out machines. When the machines have been released, the automatic lockout release'is reset, either manually or automatically, for 1subsequent lockout of the machines and thereafter the stewards may lockout at any time. My system is also provided with suitable controls and indicators which will 'stop' sales instantlyand automatically upon failure vof the necessaryY counting and printing irripulse'sfsaidv controls* being provided with suitable signals toV indicate the failures. i y r r lStill further objects and advantages'Mof-this invention will be apparent fromjthe" following specification, claims, anddrawings, inA which:

Fig. 1 is a diagram of my-'control'sy'stemg Fig. 2 is a diagram ofA my counting and'printing impulse distributing andtotaling system as connected with the control system shown in Fig.

along the line 20-20 of Fig.

1, said figure also showing the distribution and counting system wiring in one machine of a series.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of my machine with the locked casing removed.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail View of the upper right hand corner of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detailed section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detailed section taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

portion of the elevation shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary detail elevation of the locking bai` shown in section in Figs. 5 and 6, and indicated in dotted lines in Figs.

3 and 4, the end of which is indicated indotted lines in Fig. 11, said elevation being taken at the line l2-l2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a detailed elevation of the upper portion of the right side" of my machine shown in front elevation in Fig. 3.

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of my machine, part- V ly broken away.

Fig. 15 is a sectional detailplan view taken along the line 15--1 5 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a detailed vertical section taken along the line IG-IG of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a detailed vertical section taken along the line l'l-ll of Fig. 16.

' Fig. 18 is a detailed vertical section, partly broken away, taken along the line Iii- I8 of Fig. 13. 4 y

Fig. 19 is a detailed horizontal section taken along the line I9-l9 of Fig. 18. Y

Fig. 2O is a detailed Vertical section taken Fig. 21 is a fragmentary elevation showing the operation of the type selecting and counting impulse switch closing mechanism.

Fig. 22 is a fragine'ntar'yplanI viewv of the type wheel, taken along the line y22-22 of Fig. 21.

Fig. 23 is a fragmentaryl elevation showing the operation of the individual ticket sale counter mechanism. f

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary elevation showing the operationyof the test ticket type indexing bar, the operation of the type indexing bar reset mechanism, and the ticket sale totaling mechanism of each machine.

Fig. 25 isa fragmentary plan View showing the mechanism for releasing the lockingY bar latch.

Fig. 26 is a detail plan View showing the opera- Y tion of the printing platen.

Fig. 27 is a detail plan view showing the operation of the ticket cut-'off mechanism.

Fig. 28 is a diagram illustrating the comparative duration and the sequence'of operations of my ticket machine.

My machines, as disclosed herein, are employed for printing a ticket for the'horse-selected by av customer in the pari-mutuel Vsystem generally employed at race tracks. Y.

As shown inrFig. 10 of the drawings, the tickets l arevprinted with the name of, theftr'ack l'i and the valueof the ticket 3,which indicia is printed vthe machine A. C. power plugs.

by a substantially permanent slug 4 [Fig 8l changed only when the machines are moved to another track or when an individual machine is moved to a different station selling a different value of ticket. Further indicia printed on tickets is the date 5, such indicia being printed by a slug 6 changed daily. Either or both o the name and date slugs may also carry code numbers 1 (shown only on the name slug) indicating the machine from which the ticket was sold and thus aiding in detecting forged or altered tickets. Further indicia printed on the ticket is the race .number 8 and a code word 9, such indicia being printed by a slug IB changed before the race for which the tickets are sold; thecode word is employed for the purpose of preventing tickets from being forged in advance of the race. And finally, the ticket carries a large number or letter H indicating the horse on which the ticket was sold, such indicia being printed by indexing the type wheel i2 each time a ticket is printed.

The great advantage of machines which print the tickets at the time of sale is that the sales on individual horses as well as the total of all sales for a race may be totaled on a central totaling board l5 [Fig 2], in which the total value of all tickets sold by .all machines is recorded on the counter T and the sales per horse are recorded in the counters designated by the horse numbersl to 9. The brain of'my ticket machine operating and counting system is a disfA tributor I6, driven at a constant speed by the motor Il connected through a normally closed switch to the main A. C. power lines having a hot or positive line I8 and a groundline I9. The distributor ldistributes A. C. impulses .to each of the several ticket machines to initiate ticket printing cycles and D. C. impulses toeach of the machines to count sales, as will be described below. Since the distributor I6 is preferably a constantlyoperating distributor, the iollowing control system is employed to control the sale of tickets between each race:

Ticket sale control system Fig. 1 of the drawings discloses my ticket sale control system, all relays and switches 4being shown in the condition` extant at the time when the track stewards have stopped the sale of tickets for one race by initiating a timed warning cycle. The warning cycle terminates by simultaneously opening anti-feed back relays between the ticket machines and A. C. commutator segments of the distributor VI6 and a lockout relay between the slip ring of the A. C. commutator and ground. As this time red warning lights 2i! are on in each machine. These lights 20 stay on until the machines are to recommence ticket sale, the circuit being from positiveA. C.

through the closed (normally open) switches of the red light relay 2l and cable 22 to red lights 2! and thence to A. C. ground line lily through The red light relay 2l is actuated by A. C. through the closed (normally open) switch 'of the D. C. `red light control relay 23, the circuit for the relay 23.being from positive D. C. through theline 24 Vto the closed (normally open) stewards relay switch 25ml and thence through the lineg26 toV ground through the normally closed release relay switch 21ml.

The numerous ticket machines operating on impulses from the distributor IB or paralleldistributors are located at various selling stations throughout the race track grandstand and club house, three such stations, I, II, and III, being indicated in Fig. l. As soon as selling is stopped the supervisors immediately commence preparing for the succeeding race, being occupied with van'- ous duties, such as noting the total and individual sales at each machine, changing slugs I0, etc.

Assuming that the supervisor at station I nds allhis ticket machines are ready to recommence selling, he signals the control room by pressing the button 30 at his station. The button 30 temporarily establishes a ground for the station signal light 3l', the control room relay 32', and, from the positive D. C. source at the control room signal panel, a ground for the control room station light #I through the cable 33. As soon as the relay 32 is actuated, the normally open switch 32'1rl is closed and a holding current is established for the relay 32 and the signal lights previously grounded through the button 30. This is accomplished by the connection of the switch 32zrl to the common station ground line 34. the common station ground line 34 being grounded through the normally closed reset switch 35. Actuation of the relay 32' also closes the normally open switch 32r2, connecting the series release relay line 36 to ground.

Actuation of the button 30 at any of the other stations similarly establishes a holding current through the particular relay 32 and lights a corresponding station light in the control room signal panel, the only di'erence between operations at stations other than station I being that, instead of connecting the series release relay line 36 direct to ground, the corresponding switch 323:2 simply closes the line 36 across that station.

As should be evident, the various station lights in the control room signal panel may come on in any order, since the station signal lights and corresponding relays 32 are connected in parallel from a positive D. C. source to the common station ground line 34, the order in which the lights come on being dictated by the chance order in which the several station supervisors iind their respective groups of machines prepared to recommence selling. When the track superintendent observes that all station lights are lighted except the control room station light, indicating that al1 machines are prepared to recommence selling, he presses the corresponding control room station button 3!!cr to light the signal 3| Cf and station light #CR and to actuate the relay 32er, thus establishing a holding current through the normally open switch 32H11. Closing of the relay switch 3201'2, however, closes the last relay switch 32x2 in the series release relay line 36 `and establishes a holding current for the release relay 21, the circuit being from positive D. C. at the release relay through the line 36 and the series of station relay switches 32r2 to ground at station I. Of course, if one selling station is temporarily shut down, or if the track superintendent wishes to release the lockout relay 21 for test purposes prior to the races, the relay 21 may be actuated by simply closing the normally open release switch 38, which connects the line 36 to ground through the shunt line 39. It should be apparent, however, that if the release relay is actuated in the normal manner through the several station relay switches 321'2, the relay 21 'will remain actuated until the common ground Yline 34 is opened by pressing the normally closed reset switch button 35, which, by opening the common ground line 34, will thus reset all the station relays to their normally open position as 'Shown in-Fig. 1.

Actuation of the relay 21 will close the normally open switch 21ml and open the normally closed switch 213:2.

Opening of the switch 212 breaks the ground for the holding current of thestewards relay 25 and, consequently, disactivates the red light control relay 23, shutting off the red warning lights 20 in the several machines. Opening of the line 24 by the opening of the switch 21u22 also disactivates the lockout relay 40, allowing the switches 40ml and 401:2 to return to their normally closed positions, the holding circuit for the lockout relay being from positive D. C. at the relay to the lockout relay contact point 4l in the lockout timer through the line 42, thence across the lockout timer contact arm 43 to the grounding plate 44 which is connected to the line 24 by the line 45. Closing the switch 403:2 will re-establish a ground connection for the A. C. distributor through the line 46 and main pulsating A. C. switch 41 in the control room. Closing the switch 40ml will also activate the antifeed-back switches, the circuit being from positive D. C. at the lockout relay through the line 5| to the normally closed counter ground failure relay 52 to ground. Thus, opening of the switch 21.*c2 will both extinguish the red warning lights 20 and establish a circuit for pulsating printing-cycle-initiating A. C. to the several machines, said circuit for pulsating A. C. being (for most segments of the A. C. distributor) from positive A. C. at the machines through the antifeed-back relay switches, by means of the cable 53, to the A. C. distributor and thence to ground through the switch 40m2, line 46, and switch 41. With this circuit established, ticket selling may be recommenced.

Closing of the switch 21ml will actuate the lockout timer pawl release solenoid 55, the circuit being from positive D. C. at the lockout timer through the line 56 to ground through the switch 21ml. Actuation of the solenoid 55 will lift the pivoted pawl 51, releasing the lockout timer ratchet segment 58 which carries, insulated therefrom the contact arm 43. Urged by a suitable spring (or weight) the contact arm 43 will rapidly sweep over and beyond contact with the grounding plate 44 and against the stop pin 59.

When the release relay switches are returned to their normal positions by operation of the reset switch 35, the ticket-printing-cycle-initiating A. C. impulses may again be locked out by the track stewards, as follows:

By pressing the stewards lockout button 60, a temporary ground is established for the stewards relay 25, the circuit being from positive D. C. at the relay through the line 6l to ground. As soon as the switch 25ml is closed, however, a holding current is established through the switch 251| and through the line 26 to ground at the normally closed switch 219:2. Closing of the switch 251:! will light the red warning lights in the several machines, as explained above, indicating to the machine operators that no more sales should be begun.

It is the closing of the switch 25m2 which initiates the timed warning cycle. The switch 25a-2 is connected by the line 62 to a segment on the A. C. distributor. As the distributor arms 65 and 66 (Fig. 2) sweep over the A. C. distributor segments, the pulsator relay 61 receives A. C. impulses, the circuit being from the positive A. C. at the pulsator through the switch 25m2 and line 62 to the A. C. distributor segment and then, at intervals, across the brushes of the arms 65 and 66 '(Fig. 2) to the slip ring ofthe distributor to ground through the line46 across the lockout switch 41. 'Pulsation of the pivoted ratchet ES relay and through the the relay 6l will actuate in the lockout timer, the circuit being from positive JD; C. at the lookout timer through the ratchet solenoid 55 and thence by theline 'lll to ground through the opening and closing (nor- .mally open) switch of the relay 6l. As the Yratchet 68 is pivoted by the solenoid 69, it indexes the segment 58 against the counter urging of the segment spring, the segment being held by thev pawl l.

`positive D. C. at the relay through the line 'i3 to the contact plate 'il and thence across the armf43v to thegrounding plate 44, the ground connection of Vthe plate 44 having been explained above. Actuation of the relay 'l2 will ring numerous lockout bells 75 placed throughout the plant, the parallel A. C. bell circuit from the main A. C. line being established by the closing of the normally -open switch of the relay 12. The bells will continue to ring until the contact arm 43 is carried past the plate 'll and into contact with the lockout relay point il l. The closing of the circuit through the line 42 and point 4l opens the lockout relay switches, which, in turn, will disactivate the relay 50 and open the several antifeed-back switches. Thus, the system will be returned to the condition shown in Fig. l. Opening of the lockout relay switches will, of course, stop the pulsator 51.

The duration of the automatic warning cycle will depend upon the number of impulses necessary. to sweep the arm 43 over the plate 'l and the frequency of the impulses. Since the frequency of the impulses is substantially fixed, the duration of the warning cycle is eectively dependent upon the number of impulses required. It is to be understood that substantially any ratchet motor may be used in place of the rather schematic showing of the motor indicated in the lockout timer. It is also to be understood that resetting the second station relays may be accomplished automatically, as by the relay 3l connected in parallel with the line 36, so that when a current for actuating the relay 2l is established, the relay 3l will open the common ground vline Sil, automatically deactivating the selling station relays 32 and thus deactivating the release relay 2l. Other automatic resetting means may likewise be employed.

Fig. l also shows several signal and safety devices which may be advantageously employed. Failure of all A. C. current will, of course, stop all operations and will be indicatedby failure of the general lighting system; failure of all D. C. power will likewise stop operation of the machines, by allowing the antifeed-back relay to open, but such failure would not be so immediately apparent in the control room. To provide an immediate indication of D. C. failure, a D. C. failure relay M is connected between the ground side of the main D. C. switch 'it and the trunk "il to all positive D. C. connections. With the relay 'lll closed, an A. C'. circuit is established to the parallel D. C. failure signal lights lll. If both of said lights i8 go out, failure of all D. C. is indicated. (Two lights 18 are employed to avoid the false signal which would be obtained if only one light were used and that light burned out.)

To obtain an immediate signal in the control room of failure of the pulsating AfC., a signal light -19 is connected between positive A C. and an A. C. distributor segment.` The regular flicks ering of the light 'l will indicate that the A. C.

is being pulsated properly. Of all the effects of electrical failures, the eect of failure of the D. C. `ground for the totaling board l5 is the one to be particularly prevented. Such failure would nullify the whole. counting and totaling system. Accordingly, the ycounter ground failure relay 52is connected to the ground side of the counter board l5 (FigfZ) Failure of the counter ground will thus open the switch of the relay7 52 and, in turn, open the ground of the antifeed-back relay line 5l, opening the pulsating A. C cable 53 and stopping selling operation.

Machine circuits and counting system Each machine is provided with a motor Si) (Fig. 2) which, when the machine is plugged into the main A. C. powerline and the main A. C. machine-switch 8l is closed, is a constant runnmg motor supplying the power for the several printing operations. The several printingmechanisms, however, are driven from the main cycle shaft 82 which, in turn, is driven only upon engagement of the normally disengaged one-revolution clutch 83 connected to the shaft of Vthe motor S0. To engage the clutch 83 and thusdrive the cycle shaft 82, the clutch pawl -is disengaged from the clutch S by the clutch Vsolenoid 85.

Each machine is provided with a plurality o keys 90, ten in this instance, nine selector keys designated by the auxiliary numbers I to- 9, to provide a maximum selection of nine horses or entries uponwhich tickets may be bought and a tenth or test key to permit test tickets to be printed without interfering with or independently of counting operations. Each key carries a cam pin 9i which will engage in a normally mating cam slot S2 in the spring retracted locking bar 93. The locking bar 93 is provided with a latch opening 9d into which the spring-urged latch rod 95 will fall when the locking bar @3 is cammed toward the latch rod 95 by depressing one of the keys 90. It should thus be apparent that if one of the keys Si? is depressed to the point where the locking bar Q3 is latched, the key will be held depressed until the latching bar 95 releases the locking bar. Due to the fact that camming of the locking bar by depressing one key 9G will throw the cam pins Sl of the remaining keys out of register with the corresponding cam slots, the latching of one key will prevent any other key from being depressed. Suitable toggle plates |20 (shown in Figs, 3 and 4) prevent the depressing of more than one of the keys B.

When the one-revolution clutch 83 disengages, the latch cam 55 on the cycle shaft 82 will always have just cleared the latch cani arm Si to which latch rod 95 is connected. To release the locking bar 93, therefore, the cycle shaft must make approximately one complete revolution before Vthe cam $6 will engage the camarm el' toY pull the latch rod 95 out of the latch opening Q4 and thus release the locking 53 to allow a locked and depressed key Sli to return to its initial position. The duration ofthe printing cycle, determined by the time required for one revolution cf the cycle shaft 82, is very short. Thus, the vinertia of the locking bar $33 and keys 95, while slight, is appreciable in the split-second operations of the machine. Due to such inertia and to the fact that contacts 98 and S9 (explainedbelow) hreferably open slightly before the locking bar is released, the counting operations and printing cycle will be completed before a second key can be depressed. It should be apparent, therefore, that in my machine, only one key 90 can be depressed at a time, that the depressed key will be locked until a printing cycle is substantially completed, and that no other key 90 may be depressed after a rst key has been depressed until a printing cycle has been completed for the iirst depressed key 90.

A. C. power is supplied to the electrical elements in my machine by the A. C. power lines 88 and 89, said lines being connected through the machine plug to the main power lines I8 and I9, respectively. Thus, the line 88 constitutes a source of positive A. C. and the line 89 is an A. C. ground. The electrical switches in my machine (in addition to the main power switch 8| in the line 88) comprise a pair of normally open contacts 98 and 99 carried by the latch rod 95, said contacts being closed when the rod 95 latches the locking bar 93. The heart of the electrical system in each of my machines is the triple relay having the switches I00rI, I082, and |003. The double contacts 98 and 99 are employed to separate the loads of the A. C. impulse and A. C. holding currents mentioned below. The switches |0012 and |00a23 are likewise used to separate the load on the points of the holding current and clutch solenoid current also mentioned below. Each of the keys 90 terminates in a normally open contact I0| which closes a pair of points when the key is depressed. One of the points closed by the test key is in series with the auxiliary test button |02.

Each machine is connected to one segment in the A. C. commutator of the distributor I6 through the cable 53, the line for the Ticket Machine No. I as shown in the drawings being designated as |03, said line leading to a point of the contact 98. The other point of the contact 98 is connected to the line |04 leading to the relay |00, which relay is connected to the positive A. C. line 88 by the line |05. One point of the contact 99 is connected to the line |04 and the other is connected to the relay switch |00zc3 by the line |06. The clutch solenoid 85 is connected to the positive power line 88 through the line |05 and is connected to the relay switch |00m2 by the line |01. Both contact points or" the switches |00x2 and |801r3 are connected to the ground line 89 by the line |09. One point of the test key contact is connected to the line |04 and the other is connected to the ground line 89 by the line |08.

Each machine is connected to one segment in the D. C. comniutator of the distributor I6, the line for the Ticket Machine No. as shown in the drawings being designated |I9, said line being connected, through the cable HI, to the contact point of the relay switch |00xI. The switch |00m| is connected by line I I2 to one of the contact points of the selector key contacts IUI. The other points of the selector key contacts are connected to corresponding sales per horse counters in the totaling board I5 through the cables ||3 and I4, which counters are connected to a common ground.

The slip ring of the D. C. commutator of the distributor I6 is connected to a positive D. C. source through the totalizing relay H5 by a line IIS. The switch of the totalizing relay ||5 is connected to the line I I6 in parallel with the relay ||5 and, by the line III, is connected to the total sales counter of the counting board I5. The total sales counter is connected to the common ground of the individual sales per horse counters.

Operation of the A. C. impulses and A. C. machine circuits.

Assume, for example, that the operator has depressed the horse selector key -I, latching the lock bar 93 and closing the contacts 98 and 99, just prior to the instant that the brushes of the distributor arm 66 are passing over the segments of the A. C. and D. C. distributors connected, respectively, to the lines |03 and IIO, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. An A. C. impulse will pass from the line 88 to the relay |00 through the line |05, closing the relay 00; from the relay |00, the A. C. impulse will go to ground through the line |04, contact 98 and line |03 to the A. C. commutator segment for the Machine No. I. The

A. C. commutator segments are grounded through i the brush, slip ring, and line 46 as explained above. As soon as the relay |00 is closed, a holding current is established within the machine from positive A. C. line 88, line |05, relay |00, line |04, contact 99, line |06, switch |003, line |09 to ground through the line 89. Also, when the relay |00 is actuated, the solenoid 85 is actuated by current from the line |05 passing through the lineV |01 to the switch |002 and thence to ground through the lines |09 and 89. Actuation of the solenoid 85 releases the pawl 84 and allows the clutch 83 to engage and drive the cycle shaft 82.

The circuits established by the momentary A. C. impulse and maintained by the holding current through the contact 99 and switch |00x3 will remain closed until the cam 96 engages the latch cam arm 91 near the end of the revolution of the cycle shaft 82. Then the cam driven arm 9'! withdraws the latch rod and opens the contact 99 to break the holding current for the relay |00 thereby opening the switches of that relay. Opening of switch I002 will disactivate the clutch solenoid 85, allowing the pawl 84 to reengage with the clutch 83 and thus disengage the clutch from the shaft of the motor 80 at the end of one revolution of the clutch. Thus, the printing cycle is completed, the depressed selector key is returned to its initial position, and the machine set for another sale.

If the brush of the commutator arm 66 had passed over the segment to which the line |03 was connected just prior to the time the contacts 96 and 99 were closed, the operation would be the same as above, except that the relay |00 would not be closed and the cycle initiated until the brushes of the advance A. C. commutator arm 65 passed over the segment connected to the line |03. Grounding of the line 03 by the brush on either of the arms 65 or 66 will commence the operation of the printing cycle by release of the clutch 83. For counting purposes, only the arm 66 carries a brush for the D. C. commutator. Thus, the maximum angle of Vad Vance qs for the lead of the arm 65 over the arm 66 is determined so that the period of time represented by the angle is less than the mimimumv period of time in which the printing cycle will be completed in any ticket machine connected to the distributor |6. ing impulse will occur within any printing cycle, whether initiated by the arm 66 cr the arm 65. By the same token, the angle e must be such that the time represented by the lead of the arm 66 over the arm 65 is greater than the maximum amount of time required by Yany machine connected to the distributor I6 to complete av Therefore, a D. C. county If the test key, ratherthan'one oi the selector` keys, had been depressed, the printing cycle would have occurred as described in the preceding paragraphs, since, when the machine is op'-l erating on impulses from the distributor I5, the printing cycle is initiated by the closing of the contacts 98 and 99 and the grounding of the machines A. C. commutator segment; Depression of the test key cams the locking bar and closes the contacts 98 and 99 the same as a selector key. Sometimes, however, it is desired to print a test ticket when the distributor l5 is not connected to the machine or when the distributor is not operating. For example, when the distributor IS is locked out between races, it is desirable to print a test ticket to see that thenewly changed race and code word slug l is printing properly. To print a test ticket independently of the distributor, the test key is depressed and locked and the auxiliary test button |02 is pressed momentarily. `This establishes an A. C. impulse through the line W5, relay iet, linefid, test key contact lili, auxiliary test button |02, and line |08 to initiate a printing cycle. It is to be noted that the button |ll2 is in series only with the contact points oi the test key Y'and that when the contacts 98 and Q9 are closed by depression of a selector key, only an A. C.l impulse from the distributor i6 will initiate a printing cycle.

Operation of counting circuits Assuming that the contacts 98 and 98 are closed by depression of the selector key 9-| to permit a printing cycle to be initiated, when the will pass from the positive D. C. source throughline ||6 and totalizing relay H5 to the D. C'.V

slip ring., across the D. C. brush to the segment and line |50, and thence through the closed relay switch lilxl, line |12, closed selector key contact lill-I, cable H3, and corresponding horse #H counter at the totaling board to ground. Passage oi a D. any one of the horse counters at the board i5 will record the sale of a corresponding ticket at the machine. Because the D. C. commutator distributes the D. C. counting impulses to the machines one at a time and in the order in which the machines are connectedy to the segments of the D. C. commutator, vthere is no possibility of the counting impulses piling up on one another. f the printing cycle is initiated by an A. C. impulse due to the impulsing distributor arm 65, the D. C. counting impulse will pass through the machine during the printing cycle, as explained above. It is to be noted that the A. C. segments for a given machine are indexed slightly in advance of the corresponding D. C. segments. This is to insure that a inachne will not receive an A. C. impulse sulicient C. impulse through to initiate a printing cycle and, at the same time, pass a D. C. impulse insuficient to operate a counter at the board l5. Ii the contacts Et and 99 are closed at the instant the arm 55 is over the machines A. C. segment and ii the A. C.

impulse is sufficient to close the relay it, a D. C.

impulse suicient to operate a counter at the board IE will pass through the machine. li ie A. C. impulse is insuiiicient to close the relay |60, no D. C. impulse will pass through themachine nor will a printing cycle be initiated.

The totaling of all sales, regardless of the horse on which the sale is made or of the machine at which the sale is made, accomplished by a simple circuit leading from the line li through the switch of the relay i le, line i il an total sales counter on the board i5 to ground. Every time a sale is made on any horse through any machine, through the line |46 and actuates the totalu izing relay H5 toV momentarily close that relay switch. Thus, an auxiliary totaling impulse will be sent to the total sales counter. time the D. C. brush is passing over a machines D. C. segment and no key 9G is depressed or if only the test key is depressed, the horse counting impulse circuit will be open at the end of the line H2, no horse counting impulse will be created, and, of course, no totaling impulse will be created.

Ticket machines My ticket machines are each provided with a suitable frame F (Fig. 3), characterized by a vertical partition running front to the rear and dividing the machines, as illustrated, into a left or motor and drive side and a right or printing side, said partition having,

of course, suitable openings to accommodate elealso with other openings for viewing the machines mechanical counter and the red warning light and, of course, tickets. The right side of the case is provided with a locked door permitting access by the stau tion supervisors for changing the printing slugs and paper rolls and to permit relling oi the ink reservoir. To discourage the possible dishonest supervisors from manipulating the type wheel y while printing test tickets when the right side oi the case is open, the subframe supporting the type wheel may be enclosed in a suitable subcase (not shown). The lower left side of the case is provided with an opening permitting ac cess to the auxiliary test button |D2 and the upper left side of the case is provided with a keyhole to permit the insertion of a key to reset the mechanical counters.

Keys and operation of key locking and releasef'mecham'sms As shown particularly in Figs. 3 to 6 of the drawings, the several keys are rods suitably journaled in the upper front portion of the frame F for vertical movement. Each key rod Si) is urged upwardly by a compression spring 12|, vertical upward movement being limited by a collar |22 which engages a suitable shock absorbing pad |29 on the frame F when a key is in its nora horse counting impulse passes li, at thel from adjacent theV for delivery of the printed

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