US3674989A

US3674989A - Punch card controlled accounting machine

Info

Publication number: US3674989A
Application number: US114792A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles S Nagy
Original assignee: NCR Corp
Current assignee: NCR Voyix Corp; National Cash Register Co
Priority date: 1971-02-12
Filing date: 1971-02-12
Publication date: 1972-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 1989-07-04
Also published as: CA930707A; GB1337366A

Abstract

An accounting machine in which a perforated control card insertable into the machine programs the control of a plurality of feeding and printing mechanisms by predetermined control keys on the keyboard. Control circuits are utilized which include differentially settable switch means, sensing means for sensing perforations in the control card and a plurality of ''''AND'''' gates for selectively operating electromagnetic means which control the feeding mechanism and a plurality of printing mechanisms.

Description

July 4, 1972 .23S/61.9 R .....235/61.11 A ....235/61.6 R

plurality d a plurality of omagnetic means plurality of printperforated control card inprograms the control of a chanisms by predetermined control ntrol circuits are utilized which inntially settable switch means, sensing means for perating electr gister Company,

.235/61.6 R,61.6 H, 61.6 M,

235/619 R, 61.9 A, 61.11 E, 61.11 A

References Cited Chan........ ........................235/61.9 R

ACCOUNTING MACHINE [72] Inventor: Charles S. Nagy, Dayton, Ohio The National Cash Re Dayton, Ohio Feb. 12, 1971 Appl. No.: 114,792

Int.

Field of Search..................

UNITED STATES PATENTS United States Patent Nagy [54] PUNCH CARD CONTROLLED [73] Assignee:

22 Filed:

O C Q U Q Q PATENTEDJUL 4 m2 FIG.I

SHEET 1 OF 6 TTTTTTTTTT YS INVENTOR PATENTEDJUL 41912 8,674,989

sum 5 or e INVENTOR CHARLES S NAGY yfm W4 fla 421 HIS ATTORNEYS PATENTEBJUL 4:922 3,674,989

sum snr a (I) 0 O Q 43 FIG.

I) C i-) 93% BYWfi, V :5 wzw/ziw HIS ATTORNEYS 1 PUNCH CARD CONTROLLED ACCOUNTING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

The present invention is directed to an accounting machine in which a record material is inserted into the machine on which is to be printed information set up on the keyboard of the machine. When the machine is built, certain control keys on the keyboard are programmed to control the printing and feeding mechanisms of the machines such that the information is printed on certain predetermined areas of the record material. After completion, any change of this program due to the normal growth of the business establishment or multiple use of the machine in the establishment required a major teardown of the machine to make the modification. This teardown procedure was quite costly and kept the machine out of service, thus diminishing its desirability. Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an accounting machine with a flexible programming construction whereby the programming of the control keys can be done in a very short time and can be easily accomplished after the machine is constructed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

An accounting machine having means for programming the operation of various machine controls by any of the control keys on the keyboard which include rotary switches differentially settable to a position representing the control keys depressed, a punched program card mounted within the machine, means for sensing holes in the program card, circuit means including the rotary switches, the sensing means and a plurality of AND gates for selectively operating electromagnetic means which control feeding and printing mechanisms located within the machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the keyboard utilized in the accounting machine of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a detailed side view of the line-spacing mechanism and the mechanism for controlling the effectiveness of said line-spacing mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a partial detailed side view of a second mechanism for controlling the effectiveness of the line-spacing mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a partial detailed side view of a printing hammer operating and selecting mechanism which is typical of all of the printing hammers and selecting mechanisms used in the machine of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a partial detailed side view of a control slide engaging an associated transmission gear.

FIG. 6 is a partial detailed side view of a rotary switch showing details of its construction and its engagement with an associated transmission gear.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the punch card retainer with a portion of the retainer cover shown in an open position.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on lines 8-8 of FIG. 7 showing a cross-sectional view of the punch card retainer.

FIG. 9 is a side detailed view of the punch card retainer showing details of the retainer cover locking mechanism.

FIG. 10 is a partial plan view of the punch card retainer showing details of the contact strips and finger portions.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit for energizing the various control solenoids by predetermined control keys on the keyboard.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

is then printed on certain columns located in the passbook. In addition, the same information is printed on a ledger card and an audit strip. Both the passbook and the ledger card are fed a predetemrined distance to allow the printing to occur on a certain line. This printing position of the passbook and ledger card is controlled by the transaction keys on the keyboard.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a planned view of utilized in the machine in which the present invention is found. Included are four banks of transaction keys 20 to 23, inclusive, and eight banks of amount keys 24. The transaction keys are supplied with titles to aid in their selection and for controlling the operation of the machine. As disclosed more fully in the above-cited Placke et al. patent, some of the transaction keys are motorized and will initiate a machine operation when depressed, while others are non-motorized and are used to program the printing and feeding mechanisms of the machine when used with a motorized key. In the operation of the machine, the operator will position the passbook and the ledger card in the machine. A mechanism in the machine is provided for feeding the card from the manually-positioned position into a position one line-space short of the printing position adjacent to the printing mechanism. Thereafter the book and the card are fed one linespace and the data entered on the keyboard will be printed on the line thus selected. After the data has been printed by the machine, the book or the card may be left in position to receive data in a different column on the same line, or be ejected from the machine, depending upon the data being entered. Thus the ledger card or the passbook takes part in three movements; first, feeding from the manually positioned position; second, line-spacing into the printing position; and third, ejection. Whether the card or passbook is to be line-spaced or ejected is controlled by the transaction keys on the keyboard in a manner which will now be disclosed.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown the basic construction of the line-spacing mechanism for the passbook and ledger card. Rotatably mounted on a shaft 25 is a sleeve 26, to which are mounted a pair of feed rollers 27 and a pinion gear 28. A gear 30 rotatably mounted on a stud 31, meshes with the pinion gear 28 and with a gear 32, secured on a shaft 33 supported by the frame of the machine. Also secured to the shaft 33 is a pair of ratchet wheels 34 and 35, which are separated by a disk 36, slightly larger in diameter than the ratchet wheels 34 and 35. The ratchet wheels 34, 35 and the disk 36 are secured together to form a unitary structure. As will be described more fully hereinafter, the ratchet wheel 34 controls the feeding of the passbook and ledger card to a printing position, while the ratchet wheel 35 controls the ejection of the passbook from the machine.

Rotation of the ratchet wheels 34 and 35, the shaft 33, the

gears

30 and 32, and the pinion gear 28 will rotate the feed rollers 27 a different extent by means to be described later.

The passbook is fed towards the printing position by the feed roller 27 through the action of a feed pawl 37, pivoted on an arm 38, which in turn is rotatably mounted on the shaft 33. A spring normally maintains the feed pawl 37 in engagement with the ratchet wheel 34. Secured to the arm 38 is a pinion gear 41, which meshes with teeth 42 on the upper side of a slide 43, slotted to slide on a pair of studs 44. A link 45 connects the slide 43 with a lever 46 pivoted on a stud 47 mounted on the frame of the machine. A pitrnan 48 is pivoted to the upper arm of the lever 46 and is provided with a stud 49 guided in a slot 50 of an arm 51 mounted on a shaft 52. The arm 51 normally maintains the end 53 of the pitrnan 48 in the path of a roller 54 mounted on a cam follower 55 loosely mounted on the shah 52. A cam 56, mounted on a cam shaft 57, engages a cam roller 58, mounted on the cam follower 55. Rotation of the cam 56 rocks the cam follower 55 clockwise about the shaft 52 against the action of a spring 60, mounted between the roller 54 on the cam follower and a frame member of the machine. Reference should be made to the previously cited Placke et al. United States patent for a complete disclosure of structure and operation of the cam and the cam follower.

The cam shaft 57 is rotated one revolution during each machine operation. The cam 56, mounted on the shaft 57, is so designed that during the first part of this rotation the pitman 48 is moved to the left through the action of the roller 54 of the cam follower 55 on the end 53 of the pitman 48. This movement is transmitted through the lever 46 and the link 45 to the slide 43, which moves to the right as viewed on FIG. 2. Movement of the slide rocks the pinion gear 41 and the arm 38 counter-clockwise through the engagement of the gear 41 with the teeth 42. The feed pawl 37, mounted on the arm 38, rotates the ratchet wheel 34 a like distance, which results in the rotation of the feed rollers 27 by the action of the ratchet wheel 34 on the

gears

32, 30 and the pinion gear 28. The feed roller 27 feeds the passbook into a position for a printing operation. During the second part of the rotation of the cam 56, the cam follower is withdrawn from engagement with the pitman 48 under the action of the spring 60, which allows a spring 61, mounted between a frame member (not shown) of the machine and the slide 43 to move the slide leftwardly as viewed in FIG. 2 until it engages a stop stud 62 mounted on the machine. This movement returns the arm 38 clockwise towards its home position, allowing the feed pawl 37 to ratchet over the ratchet wheel 34. During this operation, an eject pawl 63, mounted on the arm 38, engages the ratchet wheel 35, which, through the

gears

32, 30 and the pinion gear 28, rotates the feed rollers 27 clockwise to eject the passbook at the end of the printing operation.

During the rotation of the cam shaft 57, the cam 56 allows the pitman 48, the slide 43 and the feed pawl 37 to back up preparatory to giving the feeding mechanism a line-space operation where the machine is controlled for that purpose. The cam is so designed that, after the initial feeding operation has occurred, the cam follower 55 is moved away a short distance form the pitman 48, allowing the spring 61 to shift the slide 43 to the left a predetermined distance. Thereafter, the cam 57 again actuates the slide 43 through the action of the cam follower 55 and the pitman 48, which action is transmitted to the feed arm 38 and the feed pawl 37 to cause the feed rollers 27 to line-space the passbook in the manner described previously.

The movement of the pitman 48 is partially controlled by an arm 64, which forms part of a yoke 65, the other end of which consists of a second arm, indicated as 66 (FIG. 2). Both of the

arms

64 and 66 are mounted on a shaft 67. A spring 68, mounted between a link 70 and the arm 64, normally urges the

arms

64 and 66 clockwise about the shaft 67 until the arm 64 engages a square stud 71, mounted on the pitman 48. When the pitman 48 moves to the left during the first part of the feed operation, the stud 71 is moved to the position shown in dotted lines, thereby allowing the spring 68 to raise the arm 64 to bring a shouldered end 72 of the arm 64 into the return path of the stud 71, thus preventing the pitman 48 from moving to the right, thereby disabling the feed mechanism to line-space and eject the passbook.

The extent of movement given to the arm 64 by the spring 68 is controlled by a stud 73 engaging the upper end 74 of the bifurcated lower end of the link 70. The upper end of the link 70 is pivoted on a stud 75, carried by an arm 76, which is rotatably mounted on shaft 77. The arm 76 is urged clockwise by the spring 68 but is retained by a stud 69 held against an arm 79 which in turn is pinned to the shaft 77. Clockwise rotation of the shaft 77 will allow the spring 68 to move the link 70 in a downward direction, while a counter-clockwise movement of the shaft 77 will restore the link 70 to its home position. The link 70 has an extension portion 78 on which is mounted a stud 80. Mounted adjacent to the stud 80 is one end of a selecting arm 81 which is rotatably mounted on a stud 82 supported by a portion of the machine. Rotatably mounted on the lower portion of the arm 81 is a rod member 83 the other end of which is connected to an armature member 84 associated with a solenoid 85 mounted to the machine framework 86. Connected to the end portion of the rod member 83, which extends through the armature member 84 is a spring 87, the other end of which is mounted to a shaft 88 mounted on a support member 90 which in turn is mounted to the machine framework 86. When the shaft 77 is rocked clockwise during a machine operation, the link 70 will be urged in a downward direction by the action of spring 68 as described previously. If the arm 81 is in the position shown in FIG. 2, this downward movement of the link will be halted by the engagement of the stud on the extension portion 78 of the link 70 with a stop portion 91 of the arm 81. Under this setting, when the cam 56 actuates the cam follower 55 to shift the pitman 48 to the left, the stud 71 assumes the dotted-line position shown in FIG. 2, and the end 72 of the arm 64 is moved into the path of the stud 71 to arrest the pitman 48 in the projected position; therefore, the pitman 48 cannot be restored to the right (FIG. 2) to line-space or eject the passbook, as described previously.

If prior to the movement of the shaft 77, solenoid had been energized, the armature 84 of the solenoid would have been moved to the right against the action of the spring 87. This movement is transmitted through the rod member 83 to the arm 81 thereby rocking the arm counter-clockwise about the stud 82. This action withdraws the stop portion 91 of the arm from adjacent the path of travel of the stud 80. Thus upon the clockwise rotation of the shaft 77, the link 70 will move in a downward direction a distance which prevents the arm 64 from engaging the stud 71 when the pitman 48 moves to the left during a feed operation. This action allows the pitman 48 to move to the right so as to be in position to line-space or eject the passbook and the ledger card.

Associated with the arm 64 in controlling the blocking of the stud 71 is a second arm, 92 (FIG. 3), positioned adjacent to pitman 48 and having a flange portion 93, which may be positioned behind the square stud 71 after the pitman 48 has moved to the left. This action also disables the pitman 48 from moving to the right, which prevents a line-spacing operation in the same manner as described previously with regard to the arm 64. The arm 92 is a portion of a yoke which includes a hook arm 94. Both of the

arms

92 and 94 are rotatably supported on the shaft 67. Pivoted to the hook arm 94 is a link 95, the lower portion of which is shown in FIG. 3, while the upper portion is shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the link 95 is mounted to a second arm similar to arm 76 and is operated by the rotation of shaft 77. The link 95 is controlled in a manner similar to the link 70; that is, by stud 96 mounted on an extension portion 97 of the link 95. The stud 96 is positioned adjacent a stop portion 98 of one end of a selecting arm 100 rotatably mounted on the stud 82. A rod member 101 is mounted to the lower portion of the arm 100 and is connected to an armature 102 of a solenoid 103 mounted on the machine member 86. A spring 104 is mounted between the shaft 88 and the other end of the rod member 101.

Upon energizing of the solenoid 103, the arm 100 is rocked in a counter-clockwise direction by the action of the armature 102 and the rod member 101. This action removes the stop portion 98 from the path of the stud 96. Upon the clockwise rotation of the shaft 77, the link 95 will be moved in a downward direction. This downward movement of the link 95 rocks both the

arms

92, 94 counter-clockwise about the shaft 67, which positions a hook portion 105 of the hook arm 94 about a stud 106 mounted on a link 107, thus preventing the further movement of the link 107. As disclosed more fully in a previously cited Placke et al. patent, the link 107 is actuated by a cam 108, mounted on the cam shaft 57, through the action of a cam follower 109, secured to one end of the link 107. The link 107, when moved to the left, functions to hold the eject pawl 63 (FIG. 2) out of engagement with its ratchet wheel 35, while the slide 43 is being backed up by the pitman 48 preparatory to a line-space operation.

The downward movement of the link 95 also positions the arm 92 and particularly the flange portion 93 of the arm in front of the square stud 71 of the pitman 48, thereby blocking the return movement of the pitman, which prevents a linespacing operation from occurring, in the manner described previously.

From the above disclosure, it is obvious that, in order for the pitman 48 to move to the right preparatory to a line-space operation, the link 70 (FIG. 2) must be moved downwardly, while the link 95 (FIGS. 2 and 3) must be arrested in the position shown. As will be described more fully hereinafter, both of these conditions are under the control of the

solenoids

85 and 103 which in turn are controlled by the operation of certain of the transaction keys mounted on the keyboard.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown one of the nine printing hammers which are utilized for printing on the ledger card and the passbook in the present embodiment. Each printing hammer 110 comprises two arms connected by a hub pivotly mounted on a shaft 11 1. Spanning the two arms is a U- shaped member 112 in which is mounted a platen 113. The member 112 is provided with a downwardly extending ear 114, which is pivoted between a pair of

links

115, 117 which comprise a toggle. The opposite end of the link 115 is pivoted on a stud 116, carried by the link 117, mounted on a shaft 118. Pivoted to the stud 116 is a link 121, the right-hand end of which is supported on a stud 122, carried by the lower end of a link 123, pivoted on a stud 124 of an arm 125, which in turn is rotatably mounted on the shaft 77. A stud 126 mounted on the arm 125 is positioned in the path of the arm 79 secured to the shaft 77. Upon the counter-clockwise rotation of the shaft 77 during a machine operation, the arm 79 will engage the stud 126 to rock the arm 125 counter-clockwise and lift the link 123 upwardly, as will be described more fully hereinafter. The right-hand end of the link 121 is provided with a notch 127, which may be lowered to engage a rod 128, carried by a cam follower am 130, pivotly mounted on a shaft 131. The cam follower arm 130 is provided with a pair of rollers 126, which engage a pair of cam plates 132, secured to the cam shaft 57.

Mounted on the right end of the link 121 is a stud 136 which is positioned adjacent a stop portion 137 of a selecting arm 138 which in turn is rotatably mounted on a shaft 140 mounted between the side frames of the machine. Secured to the lower end of the selecting arm 138 is one end of a rod member 141, the other end of which is secured to one end of an armature 142 associated with a solenoid 143. A spring 144 mounted between the end of the armature 142 and the shaft 88 secured to the support 90, which in turn is supported on the frame member 86 normally urges the armature 142 to the left as viewed in FIG. 4. In the operation of the machine, the link 123 is normally urged in a downward direction by a spring 146 mounted between a stud 147 located on the lower portion of the arm 125 and a stud 148 secured to a side frame portion 150. This movement is limited by the engagement of the stud 126 against the pawl 120. During a machine operation, the shaft 77 is rocked clockwise, thus releasing the arm 125 to the action of the spring 146, which rocks the arm 125 clockwise, thereby moving the link 123 in a downward direction. This downward movement of the link 123 is transmitted to the link 121 which, in the position shown in FIG. 4, is being held by the engagement of the stud 136 with the selecting arm 138. Upon energizing of the solenoid 143, the armature 142 will move to the right against the action of the spring 144 as viewed in FIG. 4. This action rotates the selecting arm 138 counter-clockwise about the shaft 140, thereby releasing the link 121 to the action of the spring 146, which allows the notch 127 of link 121 to hook over the rod 128. During the machine operation, the cam shaft 57 is given a counter-clockwise rotation allowing the cams 132 to rock the arm 130 and the rod 128 counterclockwise, thus shifting the link 121 to the right, which straightens the toggle comprising the

links

115, 117, thereby raising the hammer 110 to rock around the shaft 111, which causes pressure to be made on the book against a typewheel 133. It will thus be seen from this construction that the operation of the hammer 110 is controlled by the energizing of the solenoid 143. After the hammer 110 has been operated, the deenergizing of the solenoid 143 allows the spring 144 to return the selecting arm 138 to a blocking position in conjunction with the stud 136 which at this time has been raised by the action of the cam 132. The shaft 77 is then rocked counterclockwise at the end of a printing operation, thereby rocking the arm counter-clockwise and restoring the links 123 and 120 in an upward direction, which in turn releases the selecting arm 138 to the action of the spring 144. This restores the link 121 to its home position preparatory for a new printing operation.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 to 10, inclusive, there is shown various views of the program control card retainer which includes a base 151 secured to the rear of the machine 152 (FIG. 9) and a cover 153 rotatably mounted on a shaft 154, which in turn is secured between a pair of support members 155 mounted on the base 151 by means of screws 156. The cover 153 is rotated about the shaft 154 to a close position over the base 151 and locked in such a position by means of a pair of manually operated hook members 157 (FIG. 9), which are mounted on a pair of support members 158 secured to the base 151, the hook members being rotated to a position engaging a shaft 160 (FIGS. 7 and 8), mounted on the cover 153.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, secured to the base 151 by means of eyelets 161 are a number of contact strips 162 having a plurality of raised finger portions 163. Associated with each of the finger portions 163 are a plurality of contact members 164 mounted in the cover 153. The contact members 164, as will be described more fully hereinafter, are the end portions of diodes associated with the control card. When a program control punch card 165 (FIG. 7) is positioned on the base 151 and the cover 153 is closed as shown in the left portion of FIG. 7, finger portions 163, which are located adjacent holes 166 punched in the control card at 165, will pass through the punched holes to make contact with an associated contact member 164. As will be described more fully hereinafter, sensing of the punched holes 166 by the finger portions 163 will condition certain transaction keys on the keyboard (FIG. 1) for controlling the printing and feeding mechanisms of the machine.

Referring now to FIG. 11, there is shown a schematic representation of the electrical control circuit for operating the solenoids 85 (FIG. 2), 86 (FIG. 3), and 143 (FIG. 4). Included in this circuit is a power supply which includes a tapped transformer 167 supplying a positive voltage over the conductor 168 to the wipers of four rotary switches 170 to 173, each of which is controlled by one of the rows of transaction keys 20 to 23 (FIG. 1). In this arrangement, the first row of transaction keys 20 (FIG. 1) will control the rotary switch 170, the second row 21 controlling switch 171 and so on.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, each of the rotary switches 170 to 173, inclusive, comprises a stationary switch contact support member 174 containing a plurality of contact members 175, there being one contact member for each key position in the transaction row in addition to a zero and a tenth position. The tenth contact position will represent the condition of the transaction row when no transaction key is depressed while the zero position is used for test purposes only.

Associated with the stationary member 174 is a wiper support member 176 on which is mounted a pair of wiper arms 177. The support member 176 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 178 and contains a plurality of gear teeth 179 which engages a transmission gear 180. As is well known in the art and which is disclosed in the previously cited Placke et al. patent, the transmission gear 180 has a plurality of internal gear teeth 181 which are engaged by an internally mounted pinion member 182, which in turn is mounted on a square shaft 183. This square shaft 183 extends lengthwise of the machine and is supported in a second pinion gear 184 (FIG. 5), which engages the internal teeth 185 of a second transmission gear 186. As shown in FIG. 5, the transmission gear 186 engages a gear segment 187 to which is mounted a gear member 188, which in turn engages a row of teeth 189 mounted on the lower portion of a control slide 169. As is described fully in the previously cited Placke et al. patent, the control slide 169 is positioned commensurate with the transaction key that is depressed in the transaction row. Thus this movement of the slide 169 is transmitted through the

gears

187, 186, the square shaft 183 and gear 180 to the support member 176, which will position one of the wiper anns 177 on a contact 175 which is representative of the transaction key depressed in the transaction row.

As shown in FIG. 11, each of the contacts 175 of the rotary switches 170 to 173, inclusive, are connected over a cable 190 to a corresponding row of blocking diodes 191 which constitute a diode bank for each rotary switch. Each corresponding diode 191 in each of the rows of diodes connected to the contacts of switch 170 are connected to the base of a first transistor 192 of a group of four transistors 192 to 195, inclusive, which are wired in series and which comprise an AND" gate. There are twenty AND gates utilized in this embodiment. Thus the rotary switch 170 controls the biasing of the first transistor 192 in each of the twenty AND gates. The rotary switch 171 controls the biasing of transistor 193, rotary switch 172 controls transistor 194 and switch 173 controls transistor 195. Thus each contact of each rotary switch will control the corresponding transistor in each row of transistors.

As shown in FIG. 1 1, each of the corresponding diodes 191 in each row of diodes of the diode banks are connected to a common contact strip 162, by means of the finger portions 163 which makes contact with the contact member 164 of each diode through a hole punched in the program card 165 in the manner described previously. Each contact strip 162 is connected to the base of a single transistor. In the case of rotary switch 170, the circuit is connected over cable 196 to the base of the transistor 192. The circuit is completed through the collector of the transistor over the cable 197 to the negative side of the transformer 167. It will be seen from this arrangement that the rotary switches 170 to I73, inclusive, in combination with the program control card 165 will selectively control the biasing of the transistors 192 to 195, inclusive.

During the machine operation, a switch 198 (FIG. 11) will be closed by the operation of a cam. This will occur after the biasing circuits have been completed to the transistors 192 to 195, inclusive. Current will flow from the transformer 167 through the switch 198 to one side of a series of

solenoids

143, 85 and 86. As disclosed previously, there are nine solenoids 143 (FIG. 4), each of which controls the operation of one print hammer, while

solenoids

85 and 86 control the feed mechanism. The other end of each of the solenoids is individually connected over a cable 200 to a plug-in program board 201. By means of a plug-in connecting wire 202, each of the solenoids is connected over a cable 203 to one of the AND gates 192 to 195, inclusive. If all of the transistors in the selected AND gates have been biased in the manner described previously, current will flow through the biased transistors in the "AND" gate and over cable 197 to the negative side of the transformer 167. Thus the selected solenoid will be energized and, in the case of solenoids 143, the associated hammer will be operated in the manner previously described.

As an example of this operation, if it is desired to have a combination of key 8 in the first transaction row and key 3 in row 3 to cause printing to occur in the first column of the passbook and ledger card, the program control card 165 (FIG. 7) will have holes punched to allow the biased circuits to be completed from the rotary switches 170 to 173, inclusive, (FIG. 11) to the transistors 192 to 195, inclusive. It will be seen that in

transaction rows

2 and 4 when no key is depressed, the rotary switch will be set to the tenth position. Depending on the holes punched in the control card 165, any number of AND gates can be biased to allow printing to occur using more than one print hammer. The hammer selection is controlled by the program board 201. Thus this construction provides unlimited flexibility in program control while eliminating costly and time consuming machine modification in changing of the machine program.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. In an accounting machine having a plurality of rows of control keys and a plurality of operating mechanisms for performing various machine functions, the combination of a. means for actuating one of said operating mechanisms including a plurality of normally disabled switch means;

b. means for selectively enabling said plurality of switch means whereby one of said operating mechanisms is actuated including c. a plurality of control switch members, one for each row of control keys, each of said control switch members having a plurality of contacts each representing one of the control keys, and adapted to be set to a position representing the control key depressed;

d. a plurality of control circuits interconnected between the contacts of each of said control switch members and said switch means; said control circuits adapted to enable said switch means when operated;

e. a control member having a plurality of control areas located therein; and

f. means for sensing the control areas of said control member; said sensing means mounted in said control circuits and adapted, when sensing a control area on said control card, to operate the control circuits whereby one of said operating mechanisms is operated according to the position of said control switch member and the control area sensed by said sensing means.

2. The accounting machine of claim 1 in which said normally disabled switch means comprises a plurality of transistor members, one for each row of control keys, said plurality of transistor members constituting an AND" gate.

3. The accounting machine of claim 2 in which said actuating means includes a. an electromagnetic member for initiating an operation of one of said operating mechanisms when energized;

b. and said control circuits include circuit means for energizing said electromagnetic member, said circuit means include said AND" gate whereby upon operation of said AND" gate, said electromagnetic member is energized.

4. The accounting machine of claim 3 in which a. said control member comprises a record card member containing a plurality of predetermined located apertures therein;

b. and said sensing means includes a plurality of conducting members each mounted adjacent an associated finger member for normally engaging therewith, each of said conducting members being connected to one of the contacts of said control switch member and its associated finger member to one of said transistor members by means of said circuit means whereby the transistor member is operated upon the sensing of an aperture by one of the finger members.

5. The accounting machine of claim 4 in which each associated finger member for each control switch member contact is interconnected, whereby the selection of the transistor member to be operated is controlled by the aperture sensed in the control card by the finger members.

6. In an accounting machine having a plurality of rows of control keys and a plurality of operating mechanisms for performing various machine functions, the combination of a. relay means for actuating an operating mechanism when energized;

b. a first energizing circuit for energizing said relay means when operated;

c. a normally disabled AND" gate located in said first energizing circuit, said AND" gate including a plurality of transistor members, one for each row of control keys, said AND gate adapted to operate said first energizing circuit when enabled, thereby actuating an operating mechanism;

d. a plurality of switch members, one for each row of control keys, said switch members having a plurality of switch contacts each representing a control key in the row and adapted to be set to a position representing the control key depressed;

e. a plurality of second energizing circuits for each switch member, each of said second energizing circuits connected to one of said switch contacts;

f. means for selecting one of said second energizing circuits for operating a transistor member including g. a record card having predetermined positioned apertures located therein;

h. a plurality of contact means for each switch member mounted adjacent said record card, each of said contact means connected over second energizing circuits to one of said switch contacts;

i. and a plurality of sensing means for each switch member and mounted adjacent said contact means and said record card, said sensing means connected to a transistor member and adapted, upon sensing an aperture in said record card, to engage one of said contact means, whereby the selected second energizing circuit will operate the transistor members, thereby enabling said AND gate.

7. The accounting machine of claim 6 in which said sensing means comprises a plurality of interconnected finger members, whereby said transistor member is operated upon any of said finger members sensing an aperture in the record card and engaging a contact means.

8. In an accounting machine having a plurality of rows of control keys and a plurality of operating mechanisms for performing various machine functions, the combination of l a. a plurality of relays for activating any of the operating mechanisms;

b. a plurality of control circuits for operating said relays, each of said control circuits including a normally disabled AND gate;

c. means for selectively enabling an AND gate whereby one of said relays is operated including d. a plurality of normally inactive enabling circuits for enabling said AND gates when activated;

e. a plurality of switching means settable to a position representing the control key depressed, said switching means adapted to selectively activate some of said enabling circuits according to the control key depressed;

f. means for selectively connecting any of said activated enabling circuits to any of said AND gates including a control card having a plurality of control apertures therein;

g. and sensing means connected between each of said activated enabling circuits and said "AND gates said sensing means adapted to sense apertures in said control card, whereby any of the AND gates are enabled according to the aperture sensed and the enabling circuit that is activated.

9. The accounting machine of claim 8 in which a. each of said AND gates comprises a plurality of normally disabled transistor members, one for each row of control keys;

b. said switching means includes a rotary switch for each row of control keys, each of said rotary switches having a plurality of contacts each representing a control key and a wiper settable to a contact according to the control key depressed, each of said contacts being connected to one of said normally inactive enabling circuits;

c. and an energizing circuit connected to each of said wipers for activating an enabling circuit according to the control keys depressed, whereby the transistor members in an AND gate are enabled according to the control keys depressed and the apertures sensed in said control card 10. The accounting machine of claim 9 in which said sensing means includes a. a plurality of contact members each engaging one of said normally inactive enabling circuits;

b. and a plurality of sensing members each normally engaging one of said contact members, said sensing members connected to one of said transistor members and adapted to sense apertures in said control card, whereby said transistor member is enabled upon one of said sensing members sensing through an aperture in said control card a contact member connected to an activated enabling circuit. 11. The accounting machine of claim 10 in which said sensing members comprises finger portions of a support member, said support member being connected to one of said transistor members.

Claims

1. In an accounting machine having a plurality of rows of control keys and a plurality of operating mechanisms for performing various machine functions, the combination of a. means for actuating one of said operating mechanisms including a plurality of normally disabled switch means; b. means for selectively enabling said plurality of switch means whereby one of said operating mechanisms is actuated including c. a plurality of control switch members, one for each row of control keys, each of said control switch members having a plurality of contacts each representing one of the control keys, and adapted to be set to a position representing the control key depressed; d. a plurality of control circuits interconnected between the contacts of each of said control switch members and said switch means; said control circuits adapted to enable said switch means when operated; e. a control member having a plurality of control areas located therein; and f. means for sensing the control areas of said control member; said sensing means mounted in said control circuits and adapted, when sensing A control area on said control card, to operate the control circuits whereby one of said operating mechanisms is operated according to the position of said control switch member and the control area sensed by said sensing means.

2. The accounting machine of claim 1 in which said normally disabled switch means comprises a plurality of transistor members, one for each row of control keys, said plurality of transistor members constituting an ''''AND'''' gate.

3. The accounting machine of claim 2 in which said actuating means includes a. an electromagnetic member for initiating an operation of one of said operating mechanisms when energized; b. and said control circuits include circuit means for energizing said electromagnetic member, said circuit means include said ''''AND'''' gate whereby upon operation of said ''''AND'''' gate, said electromagnetic member is energized.

4. The accounting machine of claim 3 in which a. said control member comprises a record card member containing a plurality of predetermined located apertures therein; b. and said sensing means includes a plurality of conducting members each mounted adjacent an associated finger member for normally engaging therewith, each of said conducting members being connected to one of the contacts of said control switch member and its associated finger member to one of said transistor members by means of said circuit means whereby the transistor member is operated upon the sensing of an aperture by one of the finger members.

6. In an accounting machine having a plurality of rows of control keys and a plurality of operating mechanisms for performing various machine functions, the combination of a. relay means for actuating an operating mechanism when energized; b. a first energizing circuit for energizing said relay means when operated; c. a normally disabled ''''AND'''' gate located in said first energizing circuit, said ''''AND'''' gate including a plurality of transistor members, one for each row of control keys, said ''''AND'''' gate adapted to operate said first energizing circuit when enabled, thereby actuating an operating mechanism; d. a plurality of switch members, one for each row of control keys, said switch members having a plurality of switch contacts each representing a control key in the row and adapted to be set to a position representing the control key depressed; e. a plurality of second energizing circuits for each switch member, each of said second energizing circuits connected to one of said switch contacts; f. means for selecting one of said second energizing circuits for operating a transistor member including g. a record card having predetermined positioned apertures located therein; h. a plurality of contact means for each switch member mounted adjacent said record card, each of said contact means connected over second energizing circuits to one of said switch contacts; i. and a plurality of sensing means for each switch member and mounted adjacent said contact means and said record card, said sensing means connected to a transistor member and adapted, upon sensing an aperture in said record card, to engage one of said contact means, whereby the selected second energizing circuit will operate the transistor members, thereby enabling said ''''AND'''' gate.

8. In an accounting machine having a plurality of rows of control keys and a plurAlity of operating mechanisms for performing various machine functions, the combination of a. a plurality of relays for activating any of the operating mechanisms; b. a plurality of control circuits for operating said relays, each of said control circuits including a normally disabled ''''AND'''' gate; c. means for selectively enabling an ''''AND'''' gate whereby one of said relays is operated including d. a plurality of normally inactive enabling circuits for enabling said ''''AND'''' gates when activated; e. a plurality of switching means settable to a position representing the control key depressed, said switching means adapted to selectively activate some of said enabling circuits according to the control key depressed; f. means for selectively connecting any of said activated enabling circuits to any of said ''''AND'''' gates including a control card having a plurality of control apertures therein; g. and sensing means connected between each of said activated enabling circuits and said ''''AND'''' gates, said sensing means adapted to sense apertures in said control card, whereby any of the ''''AND'''' gates are enabled according to the aperture sensed and the enabling circuit that is activated.

9. The accounting machine of claim 8 in which a. each of said ''''AND'''' gates comprises a plurality of normally disabled transistor members, one for each row of control keys; b. said switching means includes a rotary switch for each row of control keys, each of said rotary switches having a plurality of contacts each representing a control key and a wiper settable to a contact according to the control key depressed, each of said contacts being connected to one of said normally inactive enabling circuits; c. and an energizing circuit connected to each of said wipers for activating an enabling circuit according to the control keys depressed, whereby the transistor members in an ''''AND'''' gate are enabled according to the control keys depressed and the apertures sensed in said control card.

10. The accounting machine of claim 9 in which said sensing means includes a. a plurality of contact members each engaging one of said normally inactive enabling circuits; b. and a plurality of sensing members each normally engaging one of said contact members, said sensing members connected to one of said transistor members and adapted to sense apertures in said control card, whereby said transistor member is enabled upon one of said sensing members sensing through an aperture in said control card a contact member connected to an activated enabling circuit.

11. The accounting machine of claim 10 in which said sensing members comprises finger portions of a support member, said support member being connected to one of said transistor members.