US2681615A - Machine for interpreting and printing perforated records - Google Patents

Description

June 22,` 1954 J. E. DAYGER ETAL MACHINE FOR INTERPRETING AND PRINTI-NG PERFORATED RECORDS Filed Dec. 4, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet l June 22, 1954 Filed Deo. 4. 1950 J. E. DAYGER ET AL MACHINE FOR INTERPRETING AND PRINTING PERFORATED RECORDS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNE June 22, 1954 J. E. DAYGER ET AL 2,681,615

MACHINE RoR INTERPREIING AND PRINTING PERNORATED RECORDS Filed Deo. 4, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 OLMINIM Mg ATTORNEY June 22, 1954 J. E. DAYGER ET AL 2,681,515

MACHINE FoR INIERPREIING AND PRINTING PERFORATED RECORDS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Deo. 4, 195o f* MINA J. E. DAYGER ET AL. 2,681,615

e sheets-sheet 5 Gsm? N N @DE @U N `lune 22, 1954 MACHINE FOR INTERPRETING AND PRINTING PERFORATED RECORDS Filed Deo. 4. 1950 June 22, 1954 J. E. DAYGER ET AL MACHINE FOR INTERPRETING AND PRINTING PERFORATED RECORDS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Deo. 4. 1950 ll" el Patented June 22, 195.4

MACHINE FOR INTERPRETING AND PRINT- ING PERFORATED RECORDS Jonas E. Dayger, Binghamton, N. Y., and Asa N. Miller, Hallstead, Pa., assignors to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 4, i950, Serial No. 199,132

4 Claims.

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

Machines of the above type have been utilized for printing onV perforated records to form checks issued for payment of some monetary transaction and machines of the above type have been found to be highly accurate in their operations when used commercially. Nevertheless, any sin'- gle instance of improper printing should be guarded against however rare its occurrence. Such improper operations may result from Wear of parts, dust, change in adjustment of parts, the probability of an unpunched or off-punched hole in the card, omission of a hole in a column, a broken plug wire, etc., and the signaling to the user of such a change or condition is an indication of requirement of service for such machines to prevent repetition", of improper printing. It is, therefore, the main object of the present invention to provide a machine for printing under control of a perforated record an amount represented by the perforations of the record and toprovide comparing or checking means which controls means for preventing improper printing. For purposes of this invention the comparing means is shown as comprising two electrical circuits.

In machines of the above class it is desirable that provision be made for detecting improper machine operations of a nature that would cause the completing of one comparing circuit before its appointed time. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to condition the com` the analyzing means'thesetting of a single set of type bars to print an amount, preferably on the perforated record; to provide means con-- trolled by contacts of the single set of type bars and a second sensing rfieansto determine whether the type bars have been accurately set to print the' amount represented by the perforated record; and to prevent theprintingoperation when" a type"`bar hasnot been accurately positioned.

Another object of the" invention is tow provide a novel'm'eans for detecting a crooked position 2 of a card which might be sufficient to cause an error. This checking means acts within a margin of error to detect cards which would have a smaller degree of misalignment than would be detected by the comparing mechanism.

The machine is also provided with means for detecting a blank card, a complete zero field and a failure of the hammers to nre.

As is well known, machines of the above class are controlled by records which are perforated in columns and the perforation placed in the column is indicative of the particular digit represented in that column and may be either the digits 0 to 9 inclusive and two special perforations representing the numerals l1 and 12. The present machine is provided with a mechanism, preferably electrically controlled, which determines whether the type bar has been properly positioned to represent any of the digits O to 9 in each of the columns from which printing is eifected.

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

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

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a central longitudinal sectional view of the machine.

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

nig. a normal position the means controlled by the type bars for causing the yclosure of checking contacts at the time the type bars are stopped. Y

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the contact closis a View in side elevation disclosing inV 3 ing devices to more clearly show their arrangement and construction.

Fig. 5 is a timing diagram showing the timing desirable to close certain electrical contacts and circuits.

Figs. 6 and 6c placed one beneath the other comprise an electrical wiring diagram of the preferred form of the invention.

Card feeding mechanism In more detail, It (Fig. 2) represents the main driveshaft of the machine. This may be driven in any suitable manner as by an electric motor through belt Il rotating a pulley attached to a shaft l5?. A uni-directional coupling l2 is interconnected between shaft lil and l5?.

From shaft iii a worm I3 (Fig. 2) drives worm wheel i4 secured to a shaft I5 to which is also secured a box cam i6. A pivoted cam follower arm ll has a roller i8 at one end riding in the cam groove and at the other has connection to an arm le through adjustable rod 29.

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

Shaft 151 through gears 25 shown in Fig. 2 drives a parallel shaft 2li which has threaded sections 2l meshing with worm gears 28 on feed roller shafts 29 to drive feed rollers 3G (Fig. l) constantly. The card which is advanced by the picker passes into the bite of the first pair of feed rollers 30 to the left in Fig. l and is subsequently guided to the analyzing or perforation reading devices which comprise brushes SI and a contact roller 32. These brushes and contact roller are of conventional structure such as is commonly used in electrically controlled tabulating machines.

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

This interruption in the advance of the card is accomplished as follows: Rollers 34 are secured to a shaft 35 (Fig. l) journaled in the frame of the machine and having attached at one end a gear S6 (Fig. 2) meshing with a gear 3l on shaft 38 on which shaft is also a gear 39 adapted to be driven by a mutilated gear 45 free on the continually running shaft l5.

During the rotation of shaft i5 the gear 45 will pick up gear 35 by means of the teeth thereof to advance the card to printing position, upon reaching which, the toothless portion of gear 413 moves into locking engagement with gear 39 as shown in Fig. 2. After printing has been eifected gear 39 is again'engaged for rotation and the card is fed forward to a conveying means (Fig. l) comprising rollers il and tracks 42 which convey the card to a suitable stacker 43 where they are collected. The shafts .upon which rollers @lare secured are adapted to be continually driven by reason of the gear connections 44 to the shaft 2S as shown in Fig. 2. It is thefrictional engagement of rollers 4i with 4 the upper surface of the card which causes the card to be advanced along the tracks 42.

It will be apparent that by altering the relationship between gear 4U and wheel I4, the posie tion on the card in which printing is effected will be altered. That is, if the gear 40 is so adjusted that the cam portion is earlier eliective in its time of operation, the card will be sooner interrupted in its advance and a lower line will receive the printing impression.

Printing mechanism For effecting the printing on the record cards as they successively pass through the machine a plurality of type bars 45 (Fig. 1) is provided. These bars are all mounted for reciprocation in the frame of the machine and each has a connection through a spring-pressed pawl 46 to a crosshead 4l (Fig. 4). Thus, in Fig. l, upon movement of crosshead 41 to the left, the pawls 46 through frictional engagement with bars `45, will move the bars concurrently in the same direction.

The bars may be arrested at any point in their travel and subsequently the pawls 46 will disengage and permit the further movement of the crosshead 4T. Upon the reverse movement of crosshead 4l the shoulders |85 (Fig. 3) of the bars 45 will be engaged thereby to positively move the bars to restored position. For reciproeating crosshead 4l the following mechanism is provided.

As shown in Fig. 2 the crosshead 4l is connected at its ends to blocks 4t slidable upon rods 49 and having pivoted link connections 5B to a follower arm 5l pivoted at 52. Arm 5| has a roller 53 cooperating with the cam groove of a box cam 54 mounted on a shaft 55 connected through worm gear 56 and worm 5l to the constantly running shaft lil. rlhe arrangement and timing of the parts is such that the type bars 45 are advanced under the influence of pawls `4t synchronously with the movement of a card past the analyzing or sensing brushes 3l.

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

There are a number of these magnets 55, each magnet being related to a corresponding type bar 45. The energization of any magnet is adapted to release a pawl device 59 through a wire Si and latch 62 and allow it to engage one of the ratchet teeth 60 on the bar 45. After pawl 5@ has engaged the teeth 60 further movement of the type bar 45 to the left in Fig. l is prevented. The type bars 45 are positioned during a passage of a card past the brushes. Subsequently these type bars are held during the period that a card passes from the analyzing station to printing position and during the printing operation. After the printing operation, pawls 5S and latches 52 are positively restored in the following manner.

Secured to shaft 55 is a cam B3 (Fig. 1) against which presses the roller of an arm 64 and which latter is pressed'upwardly by a spring 65 acting through an arm 66 on shaft 6l. The shaft Si has secured thereto arms 63 which carry a restoring plate 59. Arms 'l0 pivoted on a rod 'ma and having a pin and slot connection to arms 68 carry a restoring plate 1l. By this construction cam 63 is adapted to move plate 69 to the left to restore pawls 59 and plate 'H is moved upwardly to restore latches 62 and their connected Wires 6l.

For each type bar 45 there is an individual hammer 'I2 which is adapted to strikethe particular type 'i3 on the type bar which is at the printing line. The hammers are pivotally mounted on a rod Hi carried by a hammer bail or bar 75 and depend for their actuation upon movement of said bar. The bar 15 is pivoted on the frame of the machine by means of pintles coaxial with rod lil and has springs 16 biasing the bar in a clockwise direction in Fig. 1.

To the middle of bar 'I5 there is pivoted a cam follower arm H bifurcated to straddle shaft 55 and having a roller Vla in cooperation with a cam 18. Fixed to one face of the cam 13 is a cam member i9 which cooperates with a projection Sii of the cam follower arm l1.

As the cam 'i3 revolves, by virtue of the shaft 55 being driven in the manner previously de scribed, it cooperates with the arm ll through its follower roller lla, gradually retracting the hammers '12 in a counterclockwise direction against the tension or springs 18.

As the roller 'Vla leaves the high point of the cam lt, member 'I9 engages the projection 8G and upon continued rotation of the cam the projection 8) drops from the member 'I9 and the springs "i6, thus released, turn the common bar 'l5 in a clockwise direction to swing the hammers 'I2 against type i3 thus effecting printing.

It was mentioned hereinabove, that means are provided in the present machine for preventing the printing operations to be effected, whenever the checking means provided herein detect that the dierentially positioned type bars ar not in conformity with the sensed designations. To this end, provision is made to prevent the hammers from being tripped in order to prevent printing of the data, which mechanismwill now be described.

By circuits to be described later, a timed imn pulse energizes a control magnet 89 (Fig. l) which causes armature 88 to be attracted. The attraction of the armature allows an arm latch 81, secured to common bar 15, te disengage from armature latch surface IGS. It is this operation that permits the common bar 'l5 to rotate clocl wise, in the manner previously explained, to swing the hammers 'l2 against the type 113.

Spring icl, conned on one end by stop 35, re-

turns armature 8S to its original position when the magnet SQ Ybecomes deenergiaed.

In Fig. 1, the reference character 8l designates a printing platen journaled in the frame of the machine and adapted to be turned by frictional engagement with the passing card to prevent eX- cessive wear at ,any one place. The inking ribbon devices are of conventional form and require no detailed description, the ribbon 82 being guided along the platen SI and beneath the record card.

In the event that the values sensed by the sensing brushes and those set up in the type bars do not conform, the timed impulse previously mentioned is suppressed, thus printing for the particular cycle will be suppressed and is eX- plained in the following manner. The suppresn sion of the timed impulse prevents energization ci magnet Bti. Thus, armature 23 remains in engagement at surface Q0 with latch arm 5l which prevents further cooperation between roller llc and '13 as V-the Ahigh pointof the cam passes by` the followerroller. For thesame reason cooperation is suppressed .between cam member 8B and block '19; thus common bar I5 will not clisplace hammers 12 for the particular cycle.

It should also be mentioned that a plurality of cam elements 55a (Fig. 2) are provided and secured to shaft 5t for controlling the operations of the related contacts, such as CCI to CCIS and CBI to CBfl. The timing arrangement cf the operations of these contacts is shown in Fig. 5.

Mechanism for operating .the type bar contacts The mechanism for closing the type bar contacts is shown particularly in Figs. 1 3 and 4. For each type bar there is provided a spring urged pawl Se pivotally secured to the crosshead 7 at shaft |59. When pawl 59 is unlatched, due to the energization of magnet 58, it will engage a tooth Se on type bar 45 as the crcsshead il moves to the left. Concurrently, spring urged pawl tia is moved clockwise by cam surface |63 to coopcrate with plunger i60, which, in turn, actuates a T-shaped lever 64 at surface H52, the T lever being carried by two levers $65 and i6? leosely mounted on rods Hit.

The lever IE5 is shaped with an arm to actuatc a contact |E38a. in the first denominational order shown in Fig. 4 the armed lever |65 is at the Lipper end of the T lever ISG while in the next denomi national order the lever IE5 is at the lower end or the E lever and operates a contact lge in lower level (see also Fig. 5 of Patent No. 2,247,914).

This construction is desirable in order to provide :for the proper side spacing of the contacts 56de and the operating mechanism since each is substantially wider than a type bar 55. The above arrangement is repeated for the next adjacent orders of the set of type bars. Each of the type bars will cause the closure of a related pair of contacts IBBa.

Circuit diagram Referring to the wiring diagram (Figs. 6, 6a) certain of the mechanical parts are shown in diagrammatic form in these gures. In Figw ure 6c, M designates the electrical motor which by the belt and pulley connection previously referred to, drives the main drive shaft IB o the machine. This shaft through the gearing described drives the picker devices which rotate the feed rollers to advance and feed the card past the .analyzing brushes 3| which are not shown on Figs. 6, 6a (See Fig. l) Iand in passing the brushes the usual card lever CL is pressed by the cards thus closing the card lever contacts CLa.

To start the machine in operation, the operator first closes the main line switch I2! and thereafter the start key 122 is depressed which upon closure of its contacts establishes .a circuit from line side $2 through `these contacts to a start key relay Rte and to line side ils. rhe energization of relay R55 closes relay contacts R'd and Reso which complete a circuit from line side S2 through relay contacts Ric, stop hey contacts A23, relay contacts Rb, motor relay Riil and relay R58 in parallel with the motor relay, to line side 93. The energization of relay RiZli closes motor relay `contacts l2cato establish a circuit from line side t2 through these contacts to motor` M and to line side Q3. The energization of motor M causes the feeding of the cards so that card lever CL closes its contacts CLc to cause the energization of card lever relays R53 and REIS which are in parallel, through a, circuit described as follows; `from line side 92, relay contacts R58@ now closed, card lever contacts CLa, relays R53 and R54 to line side 93.

Referring now to Fig. 5, it will be noted that the card lever contacts CLct close near the end of a cycle and remain closed through 150 of the next cycle, thereby maintaining relays R53 4and R54 energized throughout this period. Cam contacts CC| and other CC contacts to be hereinafter referred to are controlled by cams on the shaft 55 and from the timing diagram in Fig. 5, it will be seen that the cam contacts CCl close toward the end of a cycle before card lever contacts Clac and remain closed dumng the beginning of the next cycle to pick up relay Ri5 through a circuit from line side 52, through cam contacts CCIE?, relay contacts R55?) now closed, relay contacts R54a, stop relay R45 to line side 53. Cam contacts CC|() open at 20 in the machine cycle but relay R45 is held energized to 178 by cam contacts CCE, CCS and CCB. The energization of relay R45 closes relay contacts Ri5c to establish a holding circuit for the motor relay R|2ti, as follows: from line side 92 through relay contacts R53a and R53a, stop` key contacts |23, relay contacts Rll5c, motor relay RIM and relay R58 to line side 93.

Cam contacts CO5, CO8 and CO9 are timed to close before cam contacts CC|@ and remain closed for a considerable time after cam contacts CCM) open. which establishes a holding circuit for stop relay R45 from line side 92 through cam contacts CCB, CCS and CO5, relay contacts R45a, relay R45 to line side 93. It will be seen from Fig. 5 that after the card lever contacts CL-a. open, relay R58 and motor relay RIE@ are held energized by the motor cam it until the end of the cycle when the card lever contacts again close, through a circuit from line side Q2, relay contacts R58a, motor cam |85, motor relay RIM and relay R58 to line side 93.

Once relays R53 .and R54 are energized, start key |22 may be relinquished for now the machine will continue to run until the cards in the hopper are exhausted providing all the machine tests are satisfactory and relay contacts Rii5c remain closed.

Checking circuits The present invention concerns itself primarily with the means for determining whether a type bar is positioned to print a digit in accordance with the perforation of the record card and is described in connection with the wiring diagram of Figs. `6, 6a and the timing diagram of Fig. 5.

A typical checking circuit operation consists in energizing a pair of relays, one relay being energized by an associated thyratron ignited by a checking brush circuit timed two cycles points after its corresponding sensing brush timing. rThe other relay is energized by the type bar contacts which provide a circuit also effective two cycle points .after the corresponding sensing brush timing.

Now, as the cards are advanced to the sensing station, the brushes 3| which are not shown on Figs. 6, 6a (see Fig. 1) and conducting roller 32 are effective to complete circuits to the connected printing control magnets 58 at the differential times the perforations in the record cards .are presented to the said brushes and roller. in the present invention a set of checking brushes 55 is positioned at a point in the path of card travel to sense the perforations two cycle points after the brushes 3|.

For purposes of description of this inventiononly four checking brushes 98 are shown in Fig. 6 but it should be understood that a checking brush and comparing circuit may be supplied for each card column sensed by the sensing brushes 3|. Referring now to Fig. 6, a relay R9 is in series with a thyratron 55 in the checking brush circuit. in order to energize relay R9, it is first necessary to ignite the thyratron in series therewith, Upon the presence of a perforation, Contact is made between checking brush and a contact strip 9|, and a circuit is closed through cam contacts CCS which from Fig. 5, it will be seen, are closed during the time the perforation is analyzed by the brushes. Circuit breaker contacts CB| and CB2 are provided in the checking brush circuit and are adapted to be closed by dentated cams 98 and te respectively which are driven by the shaft 55 (Fig. 2) so as to rotate once for each operation of the machine. The contacts are operated by the teeth of dentated cams 98 and 99 so as to make contact on the line of index and break 1/ index point after the line of index. This checking brush circuit causes the thyratron to be ignited and can be traced as follows: From line conductor 92, circuit breaker contacts CB| and CB2, cam contacts CCS, relay contacts R44c, contact strip 5|, hole in card, brush 9), plug connection I5, normally closed relay contacts RI ld, resistance 94, to line side 93. It should be noted that an additional potential is placed on thyratron grid 95D through resistance |53 by the closing of the checking brush circuit. Resistances w8 and 94 act as a voltage divider and the value of each resistance is so determined to enable the thyratron to re. Condenser |59 is connected between the cathode 95a and the grid 55h of the thyratron 55 and provides a predetermined time delay for the ring of the thyratron 95 in response to the application of the additional voltages transferred to the thyratron 95 upon closure of the checking brush circuit. The extent of the delay is determined by the values of resistance |08 and condenser |59. Cam contacts CC| close 1 after the iront edge of the card insulates brush 3| from contact roll 32 and remains closed until 261 of the cycle. Relay R9 is picked up through thyratron 95 and held energized under the innuence of cam contacts CC| through a circuit as follows: line side 92, cam contacts CC|, relay RS, thyratron S5, to line side 53. The energization of relay R9 closes relay contacts RSa in the circuit controlled by the type bar contacts (Fig. `6) and transfers relay contacts R95 (Fig. 6d) in the checking test circuit which is more fully described hereinafter.

From Fig. 6 it will be seen that a relay RII is in circuit connection with relay contacts Rlb, type bar contacts iSa and circuit breaker contacts CB| and CB2 through relay contacts Rdlld and cam contacts CCIS. While the magnet 58 stops the type bar, an appreciable time is required to cross the checking contacts |58@ and from Fig. 5 it will be seen that this occurs about two cycle points after the perforation is analyzed by the brush 3 hence relay R| is picked up at substantially the same time that relay RS is energized, by means of the following circuit: line side 92, circuit breaker contacts CB| and CB2, cam contacts CCA, card lever relay contacts RAM, type bar contacts ic, normally closed relay contacts Rlb, thence through the pick-up coil P of duo wound relay Rl to line side 93. A holding circuit for relay R|| will be maintained under the control of cam contacts CC| from line side 92, cam contacts CCI, relay contacts RI lc, holding coil H of relay Rll to line side tt. The energization of relay RH opens relay contacts RI Id in the thyratron circuit and transfers relay contacts RII?) (F'ig. 6a) in the checking test circuit. Relay RS is held energized through its holding circuit under the control. of cam contacts CC l.

The relay Ril when energized closes relay contacts Rab in the checking test circuit while energization of relay RH closes relay contacts RI Ih also in the checking test circuit. If bothrelays R9 and RI I are energized simultaneously thereby closing their respective checking test circuit contacts, the circuit through the checking contacts shown at the top of Fig. 6a will remain closed. However, if either relay R9 orRI I is energized at a time dissimultaneous with the energization of the other relay, the corresponding relay contacts in the checking test circuit will not remain closed, thereby opening the circuit and causing deenergiaation of relay Rae.

After the checking contacts R911 and RA Ib and all others in series therewith are set up, a test is made upon the opening of check test earn contacts CCS. It will be seen from Fig. that cam contacts CCs open at 178 after all card index positions from l to 9 have been analyzed, thereby establishing circuit through the checking contacts as follows: relay R45, relay contacts Rlla, checking contacts (shown at top of Fig. 6a) cam contacts CC@ and CO8 to line side 92. If there has been a dissimultaneous energization of relays R8 and RI l or any other pair of checking relays, the open circuit will cause deenergization of relay R115.

Relay R55 controls contacts R1i5c located in series with motor relay `12H21! inthe holding circuit for the motor relay. When a testimpulse is not available for keeping relay R45 energized, contacts Rc open and the motor stops running thereby preventing machine operation.

To summarize, the checking relays R9 and RI I are picked up at substantially the same point in the machine cycle to condition the checking test circuit which is tested later in the cycle to determine the presence or absence of an error in the printing and sensing of data on the card.

The checking brush circuit and the circuit controlled by the type bar contacts are further conditioned for detection of improper operations which would lead to errors. These improper operations include, for example, a shorted condenser I @Si which is in series with the grid glib and cathode 95o', of thyratron t5. This condition would permit a transient pulse to energize the grid and nre the thyratron Q5 before its appointed time. Another improper operation can result from a short circuit occurring between adjacent checking brushes Slil in which the short causes the relay in one of the thyratron circuits to be energized when its associated card columnar position is blank. From Fig. 6 it will be seen that a relay R!!! is in series with relay contacts Rta and circuit breakers CBG and CBS which make at 5 before the line of index and break on the line of index. In the event that relay Ril be energized before its appointed time and close relay contacts Rta, relayRI will be energized through a circuit from line side 32, through circuit breakers CBS and CB1?, relay contacts RQc, relay Riti to the line side 93. The energization of relay Rl opens relay contacts Rlilb in the circuit controlled by the type bar contacts, thereby preventing relay RII from picking up. Relay contacts Reb transfer in the checking test circuit while relay contacts Rill) remain stationary to preclude a test impulse from coming through to the stop relay Rllii.

Provision is also made for the converse of this situation. A number of improper operations can eect the positioning of the type bars 5,5 (Fig. 3), as, for example, when pawl 5t is unlatched, there is a possibility that it will not follow into the correct tooth ill to correctly position the type bar. There is also the possibility that the spring biased pawl 26 may not fully restore to the position shown in Fig. 3 because of a binding action in its pawl pivot shaft due to an accumulation of dust or dirt. In this instance the position of the bar l5 would be lagging and present an early tooth to an unlatched pawl 55. In any event these conditions might result in the positioning of a type bar ahead of its true position. 1i relay RI I is energized prematurely, the normally closed relay contacts RI Id open in the checking brush circuit to prevent energization of relay Re at its appointed time. Relay contacts RI Ib transfer in the checking test circuit while relay contacts Rb remain stationary to preclude a test impulse from coming through to the stop relay Reli.

Checking for correct card alignment It is desirable to check the position of the card as it passes through the interpreter to determine whether it is properly aligned. This is performed by two brushes l il? and w3 positioned at opposite ends of the card in the checking brush group and. explained in connection with the wiring diagram. If a card passes through in prop-er alignment, these brushes ride on the card and are insulated from the contact roll GI.

Brushes m2 and |03 are arranged in parallel in the aligning check circuit and are in series connection with a pair of cam contacts CC-II and CCE? which lead to the cathode Sila of thyratron Si?. Referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that cam contacts CO2, CCI! and CCI2 close at the beginning of a cycle to test the alignment of the card. Cam contacts CO2 and CCI I close at the 11th index point position and open slightly before the lilth index point position. C012 closes before the 11th index point position, remaining closed until slightly after the l1 index point. This overlapping in the closure of the three cam contacts permits the alignment test to be made.

Ii a card is somewhat askew when passing the group of checking brushes Si), contact with roll Si will be made by either brush H32 or H13 to establish a circuit at the test time irorn line side 92, through cam contacts CCt, relay contacts Rlib, contact roll 9i, brush H32 or Il3, cam contacts CCI! and CCIE, resistance Q6, to line side 93; llihyratron el' functions in the same manner as thyratron S5 which has been described in connection with the checking brush circuit. A condenser I iii is connected between the cathode 97a and grid el?) of thyratron Sl and provides a predetermined time delay for the iring of thyratron 91. The extent of the delay is determined by the values of condenser l IG and resistance I I2.

Cam contacts CC`I3 close near the end oi a cycle, remaining closed until 261 of the next cycle (Fig. 5) and are therefore closed when the alignment test is made. If the card is wrongly positioned and thyratron Si fires, relay .Peet is picked up through a circuit as follows: line side :'52, cam contacts CCIE, relay R45, thyratron el, toline side 93. Energization of relay Ril-ii. opens normally closed relay contacts Rita in the checkl1 ing test circuit. When cam contacts CCS open at 178 to test for the checking of the type bar position for a complete zero or blank position as explained hereinafter, the checking test circuit will be found to be open, causing relay R55 to deenergize and the machine to stop running.

Means for enabling printing operation when type bars are properly set and, preventing a printing operation when 'type bars are improperly set From Figs. 5 and 6a it is seen that cam contacts CCT normally send an impulse to the hammer suppression magnet 85 through relay con tacts R451) which transfer upon energization of relay R45. If between 178 to 198 of a cycle no agreement is found between any checking brush circuit relay and its corresponding relay in the circuit controlled by the type bar contacts, relay R45 deenergizes andY at 212 cam contacts CC? send an impulse to relay R56 which holds through relay contacts R55a and cam contacts CCB. The machine will not stop immediately upon the deenergizing of relay R45 but will coast until coming to rest by force of friction. Now at 325U cam contacts C`C will attempt to pick up relay R45, but relay contacts R58?) now being open prevent relay R45 from becoming energized and the machine will coast to a subsequent stop.

For example, if a brush 31 does not transmit a sufficiently large impulse to energize a print magnet 58, the checking brush 90v will nevertheless energize the more sensitive thyratron circuit and relay contacts R96 will transfer in the checking test circuit Without transfer of relay contacts Ri1b. At the test time immediately following, the holding circuit for relay R45 is found open causing relay R45 to be deenergized. Relay contacts R450 are opened and the stick circuit to motor relay R124 will be opened and the machine will coast to a stop. It will be noted that the printing hammers '12 are released for opera tion earlier in the cycle by energization of hammer suppression magnet 89 which occurs when relay R45 is picked up. Relay contacts R45b will then transfer to energize relay R56 through cam contacts CC'I and the hammer suppression magnet will become deenergized leaving the hammer bail '15 in a latched position.

Checking for successful determination of printing operation It should be noted (Fig. 6c) that the holding circuit for relay R45 extends through cam con tacts CCB and hammer bail contacts 101 in parallel therewith. If agreement is found, then print hammers '12 will operate and the hammer bail closes its contacts 101 at 269 to tes-t Whether the hammers actually have been released. Cam contacts CCS open between 275 and 285, but if' hammer bail contacts` 101 close at 269, the hold circuit for relay R45 continues and the machine keeps running. However, if hammer bail contacts 101 are opened when cam contacts CCB open, relay R45 deenergizes and the machine stops even if an agreement is ascertained.

Checking o-J type bar position for a complete zero or blank position From Fig. 6c it will be seen that relay R45 is in series with the "d contacts of the relays R9, R14, R18 and R22 of the checking brush circuit. The "d contacts are arranged in parallel with cam contacts CCS which are timed to open at 178 after all the card index positions have been 12 read. In the event that there is no perforation analyzed at the 1-9 index point positions, none of the d contacts will be closed when cam contacts CO8 open thereby causing the holding circuit for relay R45 to be opened and resulting in the deenergization of relay R45. Relay cc-ntacts R45c then open in the holding circuit for the motor relay R124 and the machine coastsV to a stop.

A similar stopping of the machine occurs when the card is punched al1 zeros. If the card has a complete zero iield punched thereon, the relays R9, R14, R18 and R22 of the checking brush circuit will remain deenergized since cam contacts CC4 are not timed to close to set upI the checking brush circuit until after the zero time of checking sensing time (Fig. 5). Failure of each of the checking relays R9, R14, R18 and R22 to` energize results in the d contacts of each relay remaining open. When cam contacts CCB open between 178 and 198 to test the status of the d contacts, the holding circuit for relay R45 will open if none of the d contacts have closed, resulting in the deenergization of relay R45.

In the event that the machine operator desires to eliminate the checking operations performed by the d contacts of the checking brush circuit relays, plugs 104 and 105 and plugwire 100 are provided. When plugwire 106 is in place in plugs 104 and 105, the "d contacts are shunted and become ineffective.

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

What is claimed is:

l. In a cyclically operating machine in which records are fed in succession past first and second sensing stations and having means at the first station to sense a column of one record` for value representations, the combination of a set of type bars, one for each order, each type bar having an individual hammer mounted on a common bail, resilient means for directing the hammers against the type bars to effect printing, type bar positioning means, means under control of said sensing means to control said type bar positioning means to elect a differential positioning of the type bar to select type for printing the value, supplemental sensing means at the second station to sense a corresponding column of the record for value representations after such representations have been sensed by the iirst sensing means, comparing means jointly controlled by the supplemental sensing means and said type bar for comparing the item designations and the setting of the type bar for detecting agreement or non-agreement, means controlled by the comparing means for restraining the hammers from being actuated by said resilient means when the comparing means detects a non-agreement, a machine control device controlled by the comparing means for stopping machine operation when the comparison is dissimilar, and means responsive to actuation of the hammer bail by said resilient means for controlling the machine control device when the comparing means detects an agreement.

2. In a record controlled machine in which a type bal iS differentially positioned under control of sensing means sensing perforationsin a record to select a type for printing, and supplemental sensing means are provided to sense the same perforations in the record after such perforations have been sensed by the first named sensing means, the combination of a first circuit, means lunder control of said type bar for completing said Iirst circuit when positioned under control of said irst named sensing means to select a type, a second circuit, means under control of said supplemental sensing means for completing said second circuit upon sensing a perforation, both of which circuits are concurrently completed when the type bar has been positioned to select a type which corresponds with the perforation sensed by the supplemental sensing means, means for prematurely completing either the iirst or second circuit in response to an irnproper completion of the related circuit, a plurality of control relays, means for energizing each of said relays responsive to premature completion of the related circuit, and means controlled by each relay when energized upon a premature completion of the related circuit to disable the other circuit.

3. In a record controlled machine in which a type bar is differentially positioned under control of sensing means sensing perforations in a record to select a type for printing, and supplemental sensing means are provided to sense the same perforations in the record for value representations after such perforations have been sensed by the first named sensing means, the combination of a rst circuit, means under control of said type bar for completing said rst circuit when positioned under control of said lrst named sensing means to select a type, a second circuit, means under control of said supplemental sensing means for completing said second icircuit upon sensing a perforation, both of which circuits are concur rently completed when the type bar has been positioned to select a type which corresponds with the perforation sensed by the supplemental sensing means, means for prematurely completing either the irst or second circuit in response to an improper completion of the related circuit, a plurality of control relays, means for energizing each of said relays responsive toi premature completion of the related circuit, means controlled by each relay when energized upon a premature completion of the related circuit to disable the other circuit, an additional control relay energized upon completion of said second circuit, and

a checking circuit for determining the further operation of the machine controlled by the control relay energized in response to completion of said l'irst circuit and said additional control relay energized in response to completion of said second circuit.

4.V In a record controlled machine in which a type bar is differentially positioned under control of sensing means sensing perforations in a record to select a type for printing, and supplemental sensing means are provided to sense the same perforations in the perforated record after such perforations have been sensed by the iirst named sensing means, the combination of a rst circuit, means under control of said type bar for coinpleting said rst circuit When positioned under control of said first named sensing means to select a type, a second circuit, means under control of said supplemental sensing means for completing said second cir-cuit upon sensing a perforation, both of Which circuits are concurrently completed when the type bar has been positioned to select a type which corresponds with the perforation sensed by the supplemental sensing means, means for prematurely completing either the first or second circuit in response to an improper completion of the related circuit, a first control relay in said i-lrst circuit and energized in response to the completion of the lrst circuit, means controlled by said rst relay when energized to disable the second circuit upon premature completion of said rst circuit, a second control relay in said second circuit and energized in response to the completion of the second circuit, a third circuit, a third control relay in said third circuit, means controlled by said second relay when energized to complete said third circuit to energize said third control relay, and means controlled by said third relay to disable the rst circuit upon premature completion of said second circuit.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,976,617 Lake Oct. 9, 1934 2,168,763 Daly Aug. 8, 1939 2,247,914 Lake July 1, 1941 2,254,932 Bryce Sept. 2, 1941 2,343,398 Bryce Mar. 7, 1944 2,388,354 Wheeler Nov. 6, 1945 2,540,026 Daly Jan. 30, 1951

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