US3771441A

US3771441A - Multiple tape printing apparatus and housing facility therefore

Info

Publication number: US3771441A
Application number: US00277380A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Wallace
Original assignee: Burroughs Corp
Current assignee: Unisys Corp
Priority date: 1971-05-03
Filing date: 1972-08-02
Publication date: 1973-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 1990-11-13

Abstract

A serial-type printing mechanism and more particularly a multiple tape lister machine normally retractably housed within a unit or console forming part of a document handling system. The printing mechanism includes a row of individual tape printers each containing a continuously rotatable print drum carrying print characters on its periphery and each further including a print impact hammer associated with each drum, the hammers being mounted on a common carrier for reciprocal motion in unison across the tapes which are fed to the printers. The printing mechanism also includes a row of tape supply rolls and tape receiving bins in superposed relation to one another, each tape being guided and fed from the former through an individual one of the printers to an individual one of the bins. In a particular embodiment, the multiple tape lister machine is housed within a compartment of a document sorting unit underneath the sorting pockets thereof and is reciprocatingly mounted for bodily movement from the compartment to an exposed condition external of the unit for gaining access to the tape supply rolls and receiving bins as well as other parts of the machine.

Description

[ Nov. 13, 1973 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner- -Eugene H. Eickholt Att0rneyPaul W. Fish et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A serial-type printing mechanism and more particularly a multiple tape lister machine normally retractably housed within a unit or console forming part of a document handling system. The printing mechanism includes a row of individual tape printers each containing a continuously rotatable print drum carrying print characters on its periphery and each further including a print impact hammer associated with each drum, the hammers being mounted on a common carrier for reciprocal motion in unison across the tapes which are fed to the printers. The printing mechanism also includes a row of tape supply rolls and tape re- .ceiving bins in superposed relation to one another, each tape being guided and fed from the former through an individual one of the printers to an individual one of the bins. In a particular embodiment, the multiple tape lister machine is housed within a compartment of a document sorting unit underneath the sorting pockets thereof and is reciprocatingly mounted I United States Patent 1 Wallace 7 MULTIPLE TAPE PRINTING APPARATUS AND HOUSING FACILITY THEREFORE [75] Inventor: Harry L. Wallace, Garden City,

Mich.

[73] Assignee: Burroughs Corporation, Detroit,

Mich.

[22] Filed: Aug. 2, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 277,380

Related U.S. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 139,385, May 3, 1971, Pat. No. 3,704,666.

[52] U.S. 101/2, 101/93 MN, 235/6013 178/23, 346/22 [51] Int. B4li 19/00, GOld 9/00 [58] Field of Search..................... 101/93 MN, 93 C, 101/93 R, 49, 90, 2; 197/49-55, 20, 21, 133; 178/23; 235/60 B; 346/22 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 19 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures for bodily movement from the compartment to an exposed condition external of the unit for gaining access to the tape supply rolls and receiving bins as well as other parts of the machine.

. Ill? null. ut'

W xmxcxx 5 0 99 4 4 40 .l /1 9/ 7/ 0 09 0 0 O1 1 1 m mm m a n m mn m .1 m n M m m m m mm W Lu 0 a mmmmm a nmmw 1.1 n mwa oe eec r. NBAMWG .llllll PATENIEUNUV 13 ms 3.771.441

sum 10F s FIG. I.

PATENTEuluv 13 ms 3 771 sumzurs '441' FIG.2.

PAIENIEDnnv 13 ms 3 77 1 441 SHEET u or 5 FIG. 5.

Y /1Q 1 I x PAIENIEnnnv 13 I975 SHEETSDF 5 v MASTER TAPE RECEIVER ENCODING ENDORSING POCKETS 26 32 MULTI TAPE 42 KEYBOARD LISTER c oss REFERENCE TO A RELATED PATENT APPLICATION This application for patent is a division of applicants copending patent application, Ser. No. 139,385, filed May 3, 1971 now US. Pat. No. 3,704,666, and entitled HIGH SPEED MULTIPLE TAPE SERIAL PRINTING MECHANISM. A I

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION An important broad object of the invention is to provide an improved printing machine and provision for removably housing the same.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an improved tape lister machine having provision for printing upon and storing tapes and for providing ready access thereto and further to provide an improved housing facility which normally conceals the machine from view but is capable of exposing the machine to make the tapes available for removable and I replenishment.

A further important object of the invention is to provide an improved mounting facility for a multiple taps lister machine which enables it to be operated within an enclosure, such as a console in anassembly of data processing units, yet providing convenient accessibility to the machine for loading and removing record tapes and for maintenance purposes.

With the foregoing objects in mind, this invention provides an improved multiple tape lister machine designed for compact usage such that in operating condition it can be enclosed within a compartment of a larger unit, such as'a document sorter, yet is retractable from the compartment for access to the paper tape supply and paper tape retention bins and for any attention the machine may require. This is accomplished by the provision of support members which are telescopingly extensible from the compartment and upon which the machine is guided for movement into and out of the compartment. A feature of the invention is the disposition of the tapesupply support and the tape retention bins on the machine so that both are first exposed when the machine is withdrawn from the compartment. However, when in use the machine is inconspicuously housed within the compartment providing an improved exterior for the consolev with which it is'associated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooperating assembly of data processing units in one of which an operable printing mechanism is concealed from view;

FIG. 2 is a similar view to that illustrated in FIG. 1 except that a compartment in one of the data processing units has been opened to reveal in retracted exposed condition a multiple tape lister machine and associated supports therefore;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view, partly in section, through the major portion of the multiple tape lister 'machine revealed in FIG. 2 and showing the elements making up one of the print stations and the manner of guiding and feeding a paper tape from a tape supply through theprint station to a tape receiving bin;

FIG. 4 is a view of one side of the multiple tape lister machine illustrated in FIG. 2 showing the mechanism of the machine for timing the printing operation;

FIG. 5 is a back view of same multiple tape lister machine;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the tape receptacle illustrating the division into separate tape retention bins and the provision for hinging the cover thereon; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of the control exercised over the several record members effected by the operation of the cooperating assembly of data processing units such as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The illustrated embodiment of the invention includes two major units identified generally at 20 and 22 which may be disposed with respect to one another, as shown in FIG. 1, to form an L-shaped configuration. The unit 20 may be characterized as an accounting or computing unit having a keyboard 24 for entering amounts thereinto, a document insert receiver pocket 26 and a master tape printing mechanism 28 for providing a running record of all operations of the unit on a tape 29. The operating portions of the computing unit 20 are supported on a suitable stand generally indicated at 30 and at a convenient height to the operator.

The second major unit 22 of the system is a document sorter having a plurality of bins or pockets 32 arranged in a row and each communicating by means of a passage'34 with a document conveying path 36 of the sorter. In the juxtaposed position of the two units, the first unit 20 is provided with a document conveying path identified at 38 which at its extreme right end as viewed in FIG. 1 opens into communication with document conveying path 36 of the sorter. At its left end, the path 38 opens into the document receiver 26. Although various types of documents may be operated on by the apparatus illustrated herein, for banking purposes the usual type of document handled by the equipment is a bank check. A stack of such checks would be introduced 'intothe receiver 26 and successively conveyed out of that chamber to a position immediately in front of the keyboard where it is held stationary for brief review by the operator and for entering any printing matter thereon by the operator. Following this the document is then conveyed down the balance of path 38 and along path 36 to one of the pockets 32. The sorting may be accomplished manually or automatically, i.e., a set of keys must beactuated by the operator for identifying the sorter pockets or data may be machine read from the document and utilized to control the selection of the sorter pocket.

It is evident from FIG. I that the document conveyor 36 and the document receiving pockets 32 of the sorter unit are supported at a height so as to cooperate with the document conveying path 38 of the computing unit. Advantage is taken of this elevated condition of the sorter to provide a compartment therebelow generally indicated at 40 which, as shown in FIG. 2, wilLnormally contain a printing assembly generally indicated at 42. Actually, as hereinafter described, the printing assembly is composed of a plurality of individual printers, each capable of printing on an elongated record medium which in this instance takes the form of a paper tape. The printing assembly 42 is mounted upon a platform 44 which is bodily movable along a horizontal plane into and out of the compartment 40 and below the row of sorter pockets 32. The printer assembly is additionally supported for this movement by means of two pairs of overhead telescopingly extensible guide members 4646 which may be similar to those conventionally used for supporting file drawers for movement into and out of file cabinets. For suspending the printer assembly from these guides, similarly shaped side plates 48-48 are provided, the upper edges of which are'bolted or otherwise secured to the outermost of the two telescoping members of each guide assembly 46. A door 50 hinged to the platform 44 will serve to protectively enclose the printer within the compartment 40. In normal operation the printer assembly is concealed from view underneath the sorter pockets and will operate in this condition to print information on one or more of the tapes which is fed to'it from the computer 20. However, by opening the door 50 and retracting the printing assembly 42 on the guides 46-46 the record tapes used by the individual printers become available for removale and replenishment as well as permitting access to the equipment for maintenance attention.

If greater sorting capabilities are desired, one or more similar sorting units 22 with enclosed printing assemblies 42 may be hooked up in side by side relationship with their document conveying paths in line with one another. By proper junction of these units the document conveyor path of one can be opened into communication with a like path of the adjacent unit so that documents can be conveyed from the computing unit to the proper pocket of one of the sorter units as determined by the operator or the machine.

With further reference to FIG. 2, the'foreground portion of the printing assembly 42 is most conveniently accessible when the printing assembly is withdrawn from the compartment 40 and positioned as indicated in FIG. 2. Located in this accessible position are the individual rolls of paper tape indicated at 52 which are mounted on a common shaft 54 supported by side contents of these bins. Details of this feature of the apparatus will be described more particularly hereinafter.

With reference to FIG. 3, the partial side view of the printer assembly 42 illustrates the respective positions of the tape supply rolls 52, as rotatably mounted on shaft 54, with respect to the trough-like receptacle 58 thereabove which is shaped to receive the tapes and curl the same into the spiral formation partially shown in FIG. 3. In the operation of the printer, each paper tape 60 unwinds from its respective roll 52 and is advanced along a path identified at 62 through a converging channel 64 extending at an upward inclination toward a high speed rotatable print drum 66 .bearing circularly spaced apart rows of print characters extending axially along its surface. The tape leaves the outlet end of the channel along side of the print drum and travels in a vertical direction thereabove to an intermittent tape advancing device generally indicated at 68 where it is turned leftwardly and travels in an approximately horizontal plane to the tape print-out receptacle or receiver 58. The latter is shaped to take advantage of the inherent tendency of each tape to roll up upon itself so as to guide the tape into the curled spiral formation 70 previously referred to. For this purpose, the inlet to the receptacle 58 is located on the upper side of the receptacle and the latter has a radius of curvature generally corresponding to the original size of each paper tape roll. Thus, these features assist in curling the free end of the paper tape upon itself as it is advanced into its respective bin.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, five rolls of paper tape are journaled on the shaft 54 in side by side relationship as shown in FIG. 2 and all five such tapes are conveyed in the manner described so as to traverse one side of a row of print drums 66 in an upward direction to the tape advancing device 68 and thence to a particular bin in the receptacle 58. Associated with each tape is a printing mechanism including the print drum 66 and an associated print hammer to be described later herein and a tape advancing device generally indicated at 68.

The paper tape advancing devices 68 illustrated herein are each like that described in the copending application of the patentee entitled INTERMITTENT WEB ADVANCING DEVICE, Ser. No. lOl,985 filed Dec. 28, 1970, now U. S. PatQNo. 3,677,452, and reference may be made thereto for details of its construction. Suffice to say, each such device includesa ratchet wheel 72 which is stepped around the axis of the shaft 74 to which it is fixed in the direction of the arrow by means of a pawl 76. The pawl is driven in the direction to advance the ratchet wheel by means of a coiled spring 78 and is retracted against the tension of a spring by means of a solenoid 80. Fixed to the shaft are a pair of similarly shaped pinch rollers 82-82, one of which is shown in FIG. 3. An angularly adjustable head 84 superimposes the pair of pinch rollers and carries a smaller sized pair of

pressure rollers

86 and 88 associated with each pinch roller 82 and disposed in the plane thereof for pressure engagement therewith when the head is in one of two adjustable positions.

The paper tape path 62 extends between the pinch rollers 82--82 and their

respective pressure rollers

86 and 88. Reed-type springs 90 carried by the head 84 of each tape advancing device 68 imposes a resilient force upon the pressure rollers urging them in the direction to engage the peripheries of the pinch rollers and to grip the paper tape interposed therebetween. However, when the head 84 is angularly adjusted to its other position it lifts the pressure rollers from engagement with the pinch rollers thereby enabling the leading end of a new tapeto be threaded therebetween. In addition to the pawl 76 for advancing the ratchet wheel a second shorter stationary pawl 92 prevents return motion of the ratchet wheel following each stepped advancement thereof. Each pawl is composed of slightly elastic material which enables it to yieldingly flex out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel when relative movement occurs therebetween. From this description it is apparent that upon energization of the solenoid 80 it will retract the pawl 76 and in doing so deflect it from engagement with one tooth of the ratchet wheel and upon de-energization of the solenoid the coil spring 78 will advance the pawl so as to move it against the radial face of the next tooth and rotate the ratchet wheel and the pinch rollers 82-82 the angular extent of one tooth. This will step the paper tape one line of type.

The five continuously rotatable print drums 66 of the illustrated embodiment of the invention are of like size and bear a similar arrangement of raised type characters. The print drums are fixedly mounted on a common rotatable shaft 94 extending from one side to the other side of the printer and journaled in the side plates 48 48. Each drum, as previously mentioned, carries on its periphery circular rows of type characters 95 capable of making an intelligible marking on the tape associated therewith. To produce the printing impression, there is associated with each print drum a hammer 96 shown to the right of the drum in FIG. 3 which is supported on a pair of similar leaf-spring members 98-98 for reciprocal movement toward and away from its print drum. Each hammeris located in proximity to the periphery of its drum-so that when advancing theretoward it is capable of impacting the immediate area of the paper tape againsta raised type character on the dru. As previously described, the path 62 of the paper tape foreach print drum extends between the latter and the hammer. Normally, the-hammer is yieldingly biased slightly away from the print drum by the two spring members 98-98, but is capable of being sharply advanced against the paper tape to make each printing impression.

During the operation of the printing mechanism 42, the print hammers 96 are also moved parallel to the common axis of the print drums in order to type a line of print on the individual paper tapes with which the hammers and drums are associated. For this purpose, as later mentioned herein, the hammer operating assemblies are mounted-on a common carrier which is shiftable at relatively high speeds parallel to the print drum shaft 94. The print drum shaft is driven from an electric motor mounted on the underside of the platform 44 in the manner shown in the referenced patent application of which this is a division. The driving connection between the motor and shaft is performed by an internally toothed endless driving bolt 102 (FIG. 4) coupled to suitable gears associated with the motor and print drum shaft.

For impacting each hammer 96 against the paper tape and thus force the'latter against a selected type character on the rapidly rotating print drum the hammer is included in an electromagnetic sub-assembly comprising a force applying member 104 forming the armature of a solenoid 106. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the force applying member 104 is pivoted at its lower end on a pair of cross flexures 108 and is elongated vertically so that its intermediate portion passes closely. by the solenoid and its upper free end is disposed to strike the rear end of the hammer 96. It will be appreciated that upon energization of solenoid 106 the lever 104 will be drawn thereto and its upper end will impact against the rear end of the hammer causing it to strike against the paper tape and thus cause a type character on the drum s moving surface to be impressed thereon. To render this impression visible, an inking ribbon, shown at 109 in FIG. 5, extends on the level with the printdrum shaft94 crosswise to the paper tapes and between the same and the print drums. As explained in the referenced U.S. Pat. No. 3,704,666 of which this is a division, each print hammer 96 and its driving mechanism, the armature 104 and the solenoid 106, are all mounted on a common carrier or platform which is movable parallel to the axis of the print drum 66 and for a distance at least approximating the width or axial dimension of each print drum.

In order to control the operation of the printing hammers 96 so that they will be urged against the paper tapes and in turn urge the'latter against selected characters on the peripheries of the continuously rotating print drum, a control system such as illustrated generally at 110 in FIG. 4 may be used. The control system 110 of the illustrated embodiment of the invention is like that disclosed in the patent to Mack et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,667,383 of common ownership herewith. Such a control system 110 may be mounted on one side of the printer and external to one of the side plates 48 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The control mechanism includes a pair of timing

discs

116 and 118, the former being fixed to one end of the print drum shaft 94 for joint rotation therewith and the latter being secured to oneend of a separate shaft 120 extending 90 to the shaft 94. The first timing disc 116 has a series of magnetic flux producing points, such as teeth 122 on its peadjacent beveled gear 126 on shaft 120 to drive the timing disc 118 in timed relationship to the rotation of the drum shaft. Actually, in the illustrated timing system, a gear reduction of two to one occurs between the two beveled gears causing the timing disc 118 to rotate at half the speed of the drum shaft and timing disc 1 16. A double-ended magnetic transducer (not shown) is positioned between the two timing

discs

116 and 118. One end of this transducer responds to the flux producing points 122 of the disc 116 and the opposite end of the transducer responds to a single flux producing point ot stud carried by the timing disc 118. Disc 1 16 is indicative of the angular position of the print drums and its points 122 particularly correspond to the different axially extending rows of type on the drums. The second disc 118 serves to signal the hammer assembly carrier to start its movement at the beginning of each line of print. The double-ended transducer responds to the points of the two timing discs-to provide the electrical waveforms of opposite sense for. controlling operations of the printer in this respect as described in the aforesaid patent to Mack et al.

As earlier mentioned herein, the five print hammer assemblies of the illustrated embodiment of the invention are mounted in upright or vertical position upon a common carrier capable of shiftable movement parallel to the print drum shaft 94 so that each hammer 96 may traverse its respective rotating print drum 66 along a line of print. For a detailed description of the construction are operation of this carrier provision, reference may be made to the aforesaid patent application of which this is a division. With reference to FIG. 3, each hammer assembly includes a plate-like frame 142 mounted in upright or vertical position and shaped with an upwardly opening U-shaped portion, the legs 144-145 of which serve as base supports for the spring members 98-98 and the hammer 96 carried on the upper ends thereof. The lower portion of frame 142 of each hammer assembly is shaped for slidable fit in an individual receptacle of the common carrier which is guided on rails for to and fro movement parallel to the common axis of the print drums 66 and predisposes the hammer assemblies in a row with each hammer opposite its respective print drum as illustrated in FIG. 5. The center part of the carrier is provided with a lateral extension terminating in a hollow open ended cylinder 160 for receiving a plunger 167 which is mounted therein for reciprocating movement in a vertical direction and whose function will be more particularly described hereinafter.

In the assembled condition of the parts illustrated in FIG. 3, the reciprocating plunger 167 is shaped for retractable engagement in the helical groove of a worm cam 170 (FIG. The latter is mounted on a crossshaft 172 and arranged to be rotated continuously during operation of the printing mechanism. Within the hollow cylinder 160 of the carrier is a lining or bushing 174 in which plunger 167 is slidably fitted for reciprocating movement. Encircling the shank portion of the plunger 167 is a coiled spring 176, one end of which is seated on the reduced lower end of the bushing 174 as illustrated in FIG. 3 and the other end of which abuts against the larger head portion 178 of the plunger. The upper exposed end of the head 178 is provided with a concave recess which provides a seat for a ball or roller bearing member 182. Enclosing the upper end of the plunger 167 and threaded thereto is a nut 184 having a central aperture 186 through which the upper portion of the ball 182 protrudes as shown in FIG. 3. In assembled condition of the plunger assembly within the cylinder 160 of the carrier it is apparent that any force exerted on the exposed portion of the ball 182 will be transmitted to the plunger 167, and if this force is sufficient to overcome the coiled spring 176 it will depress the lower end of the plunger against the tension of the spring and into engagement with the groove of the worm cam 170. In the absence of such force, the spring will raise the plunger and the ballso as to lift the lower end of the plunger out of engagement with the helical groove of the worm cam 170 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3.

The plunger is capable of being depressed to enter into engagement with the worm cam by means of a rockable, paddle-shaped member 188 which is elongated in the direction extending parallel to the print drum shaft 94 as shown in FIG. 5 and is capable of up and down movement immediately over the plunger 167. The paddle 188 is connected to a rod 190 for rockable movement about its axis. For this purpose the paddle is provided with a bell crank 192 fulcrumed on the rod and having one arm 193 connected to the paddle. The other arm 194 is loosely secured by a pin and slot connection to the outer exposed end of an armature 196 carried within a solenoid 198. The relationship of the parts of the paddle is such that upon energization of the solenoid the bell crank will swing the paddle downwardly to engage the roller bearing 182 of the plunger assembly and force the paddle activated plunger 167 into engagement with the groove of the worm cam. Upon de-energization of the solenoid, the armature 196 moves outwardly rocking the paddle in an upward direction to free the plunger 167 for movement by the spring 176 thereby disengaging the plunger from the worm cam. In addition to being depressed, the spherical ball 182 is movable horizontally in unison with the carrier 140, and during energization of the solenoid it rolls along the underside of the paddle 188 while being forced downwardly thereby. The result is that a substantially frictionless contact is maintained between the paddle and the plunger assembly as the latter travels with the common carrier. However, at any point in the travel of the carrier and the hammer assemblies carried thereby, solenoid 198 can be de-energized to release the carrier from the worm cam. The carrier will then be returned to its starting position by the following described carrier return mechanism.

Continuously rotating in one direction during the operation of the printer, the worm cam 170 is only able to drive the common carrier and the hammer assemblies mounted thereon in one direction when the carrier is coupled to the worm cam by the energization of the solenoid 198. Provision is made for the automatic return of the carrier 140 to its starting position for commencing the typing of a new line of characters. This is accomplished by a carrier return mechanism generally indicated at 202, the upper portion of which is partially illustrated in the lower right-hand portion of FIG. 3. Special features of the carrier return mechanism preferably include a spring system which applies substantially constant pressure on the carrier urging the carrier back toward its starting position and regardless of whatever position the carrier may assume in its travel. A suitable device for this purpose to which reference may be had is the carrier return device disclosed in patentees copending patent application, Ser. No. 86,120, filed Nov. 2, 1970, and entitled CONSTANT FORCE SPRING CARRIER RETURN MECHANISM.

The print drum carrying shaft 94 extends through the side plate 48 on the side of the printing apparatus opposite to the timing mechanism where it is coupled by a timing belt and a gear ont shaft 172 for rotating the worm cam 170. Separate drive means may couple the last mentioned shaft 172 to the ribbon feed mechanism of the apparatus, parts of which are illustrated in FIG. 5. The two spools or reels upon which the ribbon is carried are disclosedat 248 and 250 in FIG. 5, and the print ribbon 109 previously referred to is shown in partially helically 'wound condition on these respective spools. The two

spools

248 and 250 are coupled by separate shafts to the ribbon feed drive mechanism which includes a provision for automatically reversing the feed of the print ribbon. This may be accomplished by the device disclosed in the Bumgardner US. Pat. No. 3,633,841 of common ownership herewith.

An adjustment is provided for controlling the operation of each print hammer assembly and for the description thereof reference may be had to FIG. 3. In this instance, the hammer actuator 104 has an adjustable back-up for controlling its power stroke and accordingly the velocity of the hammer 96. As illustrated in these two Figures,,the plate-like frame 142 which is shaped with the

hammer supporting legs

144 and 145 is also provided with a third vertical leg or extension 260. The third leg has an internally threaded aperture in the' upper end thereof in which an externally threaded member or screw 262 is received and threadedly engaged therewith. The ends of the screw member 262 project beyond the opposite side edges of the extension and one end is knurled to facilitate turning and the other end nearest to the actuator 104 is enlarged to provide an abutment 264 against which the actuator in the unenergized condition of the solenoid 106 will rest as shown in FIG. 3. It is apparent that by adjustment of this threaded member 262 the extent of stroke or swing of the actuator 104 may be varied and thus vary the velocity of the hammer 96.

As earlier described herein, the print-out portions of the individual tapes 60 are fed to a receiver above the tape supply rolls 52 composedof the trough-like receptacle 58 and its hinged cover 59. Details of the construction of the tape print-out receiver are disclosed in FIG. 6. Reference thereto will show that the receptacle 58 is divided into a plurality of equal-size compartments formed by dividing walls 320, the compartments being arranged'in a row with each one of the compartments respectively corresponding to and disposed in line with its respective print drum 66 and tape advanc ing device 68. The cover 59 is hinged by pins, one of which is shown at 322 in FIG. 13, to the opposite extreme walls of the receptacle 58, and when secured in assembled position, it is capable of being swung from a closed position shown in full line in FIG. 2 to an open position shown in dotted line also shown in FIG 2. The receptacle 58 and the cover member 59 are provided with mutually extending

flange portions

324 and 326 respectively which in closed position form a widebut which the print-out portions of the tapes are advanced to the compartments. Dividers 330 may be provided in one of these flanges separating the tape travel paths one from the other and serving to guide the tapes to the shallow channel 328 best shown in FIG. 3, through proper compartment in the receiver. Suitable brackets Y 332-332 are provided on the extreme sides'of the flange 324 of the receptacle 58 for securement to appropriate framework of the printing assembly, such as the side walls 48-48 thereof.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention each bin or compartment of the tape'receiver is capable of holding a maximum'of fifty inches of a rolled up printout portion of'its tape 60. Suitable openings in the cover member 59 of the tape receiver may be provided, such as illustrated at 334 and 336, to expose printed portions of the tape prior to entry into its respective compartment. The tape entering edge of the flange 324 of the receptacle 58 may be provided with tape peel-off implements 338 each of which as shown in FIG. 3 extends to its respective tape advance device 68 and is provided with a pair of tangs for straddling the ratchet wheel 72 to assist in peeling the tape off of the pinch rollers 82.

Conclusion It is believed thatthe operation of the multiple tape serial printing mechanism and its mounting relationship with respect to the sorter unit 22 is readily understood from the previously detailed description, and reference may be had to the aforementioned patent to Fettig et al. US. Pat. No. 3,089,641 for a detailed understanding of the cooperation of and control exercised by the several units of the system as applied to banking procedures. It may be helpful to further point out that the module of the multiple tape listers represented by the general reference character 42 is mounted on tracks below the sort-pockets 32 of the document sorter unit 22 and is normally concealed from view by the hinged door 50 which is designed to esthetically blend with the adjacent styling of the units. When the door is open, the tape lister module 42 can easily be moved out of and back into the sorter unit on the telescoping tracks, and it must be pulled out in order to remove the print-out portions of the tapes and to replenish the tape rolls and to change the print transfer ribbon. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, each tape printer has a 20-position printing drum with l 1 0th inch type centers in order to print on its detail tape a sequential record of each transaction with respect to its selected distribution register in the computer unit. The equipment illustrated herein is designed to process'documents, such as bank checks, at a maximum rate of a minute for amount indexing and encoding. Individual selector keys on the keyboard 24 are employed for selecting the respective detail tape, register and sort-pocket upon depression of a motor bar key.

The computer unit 20,.before which the operator usually sits, may include a printing drum ,or other printing mechanism for recording all transactions on the master tape 29. Encoding mechanism may be included which encodes on bank checks according to ABA specifications. Because of the documents, such as bank checks, are transported on their edges with the top edge of the document visible at all times, the operator is provided with easy access to the document at all times. The document receiver 26 on the top of the computing unit may serve to hold a stack of documents, and when the system is ready for processing, one of these documents may be removed by the operator from the stack and placed into the transport path 38 for conveyance thereby, or means may be provided for automatically withdrawing one document at a time from the stack and feeding it into and along the transport path 38.

The process of handling each document is illustrated schematically in FIG. 7 where each document is successively removed from stack of documents in the receiver 26 and introduced into the transport path 38 and fed to a position in back of the keyboard 24 where it is momentarily halted for the amount indexing and encoding. This transaction is recorded on the master tape 29 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and represented by the block so identified in FIG. 7. While at this station the document is encoded and then transported along path 38 where it turns and merges with path 36 of the sorter unit 22. While en route, and assuming it is a bank check, the document is endorsed as represented by the block so identified in FIG. 7. The document will then be fed into the transport path 36 of the sorter unit and enter a pocket 32 thereof selected by the operator or by an automatic determination made by document sensing equipment associated with the computer unit. As each document is processed, its movement and destination as well as the transactions in which it is involved are governed from the keyboard 24 as schematically represented in FIG. 7.

While transactions are involving each document and while it is being transported to its selected pocket, the listing or printing device associated with the pocket to which the document is assigned is controlled to provide a printed list, designation and total of the activity for its respective distribution register and sorter-pocket. During the printing of each line of characters on an individual tape, the carrier 140 is moved at relatively high speeds to advance not only the hammer associated with the vparticular tape but all of the print hammers past their respective tapes. Usually, only one tape is printed at a time but one or more additional hammers may be controlled from the computer unit to make printing impressions on their respective tapes. The illustrated embodiment of the invention is capable of printing 45 characters per second during one advance of the carrier 140, thus performing one cycle per second. This means that for the ZO-position print drum in the illustrated apparatus, a full line of characters can be printed on a selected tape within less than one-half second.

The printing of the transactions on one or more of the individual tapes usually occurs when the listing machine is enclosed within the compartment 40 of the document sorter 22, and many transactions of this character may be performed in this condition before the need arises to remove the printed sections of the tapes from the compartment or to replenish the tape rolls on the shaft 54. When this is desirable, the door 50 of the compartment is opened and the tape listing machine contained therein is pulled out at'le ast as far as necessary to gain access to the printed sections of the tapes in the tape bins. The machine should be pulled out sufficiently for this purpose to enable the cover member 59 to be swung to the dotted position shown in FIG. 2, thereby exposing the printed tape sections in their respective bins 58. At this time, if need be, new rolls of tape can be mounted on the shaft 54 and have their leading ends introduced into the tape transport system. In fully withdrawn position the machine would be available for repair and maintenance attention. i

It is evident from the description that the tape bin receptacle 58 is immediately readily accessible to the operator when the machine is pulled out sufficiently to enable the hinged cover 59 to be swung to open position. This is attained not only by locating the tape bin receptacle 58 on the side of the printing machine first exposed when the machine is withdrawn from the compartment but also by locating the bin receptacle at a higher level than the tape supply rolls 52,and the print drums 66. Moreover, the tape bin receptacle 58 and its cover member 59 are curvedly shaped so as to receive the printed sections of the tape and roll up them withintheir respective bins, thus preserving the printed tape sections from damagev as well as preventing uncontrolled streaming of the printed portions of the tapes during operation of the machine in the closed compartment of the document sorting unit 22.

The accompanying illustrations of an assemblage of elements constitutes one embodiment of the invention in which a carrier common to all of the print hammer assemblies bodily moves these instrumentalities in one direction as one or more of the hammers are activated to print characters on their respective tapes and then return the carrier to a home or start position. It need not matter in which direction of carrier movement the printing impressions are made on the tapes. That is to say, the printing may take place when the carrier is moved from left to right or from right to left. Moreover, the transfer ribbon may extend between the tapes and their respective hammers and print the characters on the hammer side of the tapes or between the tapes and their respective print drums and print the characters on the drum side of the'tapes. In the first instance, the type characters on the drums would represent normal images and in the second instance they would appear on the drums as reversed or mirror images. Accordingly, the assemblage of elements illustrated herein is to be understood as being capable of being modified for operating in any such or similar ways without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood, of course, that it is not desired that the invention be limited thereto since modifications may be made and it is therefore contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An accounting apparatus including in combination;

a computational unit having an amount entering mechanism and a document insert receiver,

a document sorting unit physically associated with the computational unit and including a document conveying means communicating with said insert receiver for receiving a document therefrom and a plurality of sorted document pockets arranged in a .row and each opening into communication with said conveying means for receiving a conveyed document,

printing mechanism supportingly positioned by the sorting unit underneath the row of document pockets and including a plurality of individual tape printers arranged in a row below and parallel to the row of document receiving pockets, and

means mounting the printing mechanism for bodily movement from its position underneath the row of document receiving pockets to an exposed position external of the document sorting mechanism such that the tapes of the individual printers are made available.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes telescoping rails upon which the printing mechanism is supported, said rails being extensible from a telescopingly collapsed position underneath the row of document receiving pockets to provide a track for providing the bodily movement of the printing mechanism from beneath the row of document pockets to its exposed external position and return.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the printing mechanism includes a plurality of tape supply rolls and tape receiving bins corresponding in number to the number of tape printers, and means for guiding and feeding tape from each roll through an individual one of the tape printers to an individual one of the tape receiving bins.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each one of the plurality of tape printers includes a cyclically movable print'member carrying type characters and a single impact hammer cooperating with the type characters on the printer member for printing a line of characters on the tape guided through the printer.

' the impact hammers to move in unison across their respective tapes as they cooperate with'their respective printer member in the making of character impressions. i

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the printing mechanism further includes a cover element associated with each of the tape receiving bins which is movable with respect to its bin to expose the tape content therein when the printing mechanism assumes its exposed external position.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each tape receiving bin and associated cover element cooperate to provide an internal circular chamber having a radius of curvature generally corresponding to the originalsize of the tape supply rolls. I

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each cover element forms a discrete portion of a common cover member overlying all of the tape receiving bins in bin closing position but is pivotally mounted for movement away therefrom to expose the contents of the bins.

9. A printing and document sorting apparatus comprising in combination;

a document sorting console including a plurality of sorted document receiving pockets,-means for conveying a document to any of said pockets, and further means for each of said pockets operable to direct a conveyed document from the conveyor means into the respective pocket,

means supporting the document sorting console from the floor so that the document conveying means and the plurality of document receiving pockets lie in a generally horizontal plane raised from the floor,

' printing mechanism including a plurality of tape printers each assigned to a'particular one of the document receiving pockets andeach having a rotatable type carrier, an individual record tape supply for each tape printer, and means to effect printing impressions of each type carrier upon the record tape of its tape supply,

means forming part of the document sorting console for mounting the printing mechanism internally thereof at a level below and normally in a position underneath the document receiving pockets, and

means for providing lateral bodily movement of the printing mechanism from its normal position underneath the document receiving pockets to a position external and to one side of the console sufficient to expose the individual record tapes of the printers.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for providing bodily movement of the printing mechanism includes telescoping rail members serving as a carrier for the printing mechanism, said rails being extensible from a collapsed position within the document sorting console so as to project therefrom for providing bodily movement of the printing mechanism from beneath the document receiving pockets sufficient to expose the record tapes of the tape printer.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the printing mechanism further includes a record tape receiving receptacle arranged to receive the record tapes of all of the tape printers following the printing of impressions thereon, said tape receiving receptacle having a cover normally closingthe same when the printing mechanism is in its normal operating position underneath the document sorting pockets but being movable to expose the tape contents of the bins when the printing mechanism is bodily moved to its external position.

12, The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the record tape receiving receptacle is positioned on the upper portion of the printing mechanism and on the side thereof first exposed when the printing mechanism is moved to its external position.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the cover member is hinged to the tape receiving receptacle to overlie and close the same when the printing mechanism is positioned internally of the document sorting console but is swingable to expose the contents of the receptacle when the printing mechanism is moved to its external position relative to the console.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the printing mechanism further includes a record tape receiving receptacle arranged to receive the record tapes of all of the tape printers following the printing of impressions thereon, said tape receiving receptacle having a cover normally closing the same when the printing mechanism is in its normal operating position underneath the document sorting pockets but being movable to expose the tape con-tents of the bins when the printing mechanism is bodily moved to its external position.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the record tape receiving receptacle is positioned on the upper portion of the printing mechanism and on the side thereof first exposed when the printing mechanism is moved to its external position. i

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the cover member is hinged to the tape receiving receptacle to overlie and close the same when the printing mechanism is positioned internally of the document sorting console but is swingable -to expose the contents of the receptacle when the printing mechanism is moved to its external position relative to the console.

17. A printing and document sorting assembly comprising, in combination;

a document sorting cabinet including a plurality of sorted document receiving pockets and means for conveying documents to selected ones of said pockets,

means supporting the document sorting cabinet from the floor so that the document conveying means and the plurality of document receiving pockets lie in a generally horizontal plane raised from the floor,

printing mechanism including a plurality of individual tape printers arranged in a row and each assigned to a particular one of the document receiving pockets and also including record tape supporting means located on a level below the row of tape printers for holding a row of record tape rolls from which tape is fed individually to the tape printers and further including a plurality of tape receiving bins located on a level above the row of tape printers and into which tape printed by said tape printers is individually deposited,

means forming a compartment in the document sorting cabinet at a level below and underneath the document receiving pockets and including an entranceway thereinto having a door which in closed of tape receiving bins are positioned on the side of the printing mechanism which is first exposed when the printing mechanism is moved to said external position.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the tape receiving bins are arranged in a row extending parallel to the row of tape printers and wherein the bins are each rounded interiorly to roll the tape entering each bin upon itself.

Claims

1. An accounting apparatus including in combination; a computational unit having an amount entering mechanism and a document insert receiver, a document sorting unit physically associated with the computational unit and including a document conveying means communicating with said insert receiver for receiving a document therefrom and a plurality of sorted document pockets arranged in a row and each opening into communication with said conveying means for receiving a conveyed document, printing mechanism supportingly positioned by the sorting unit underneath the row of document pockets and including a plurality of individual tape printers arranged in a row below and parallel to the row of document receiving pockets, and means mounting the printing mechanism for bodily movement from its position underneath the row of document receiving pockets to an exposed position external of the document sorting mechanism such that the tapes of the individual printers are made available.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each one of the plurality of tape printers includes a cyclically movable print member carrying type characters and a single impact hammer cooperating with the type characters on the printer member for printing a line of characters on the tape guided through the printer.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the impact hammers of the plurality of tape printers are mounted on a common support, and means is provided for moving the support parallel to the row of tape printers to cause the impact hammers to move in unison across their respective tapes as they cooperate with their respective printer member in the making of character impressions.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each tape receiving bin and associated cover element cooperate to provide an internal circular chamber having a radius of curvature generally corresponding to the original size of the tape supply rolls.

9. A printing and document sorting apparatus comprising in combination; a document sorting console including a plurality of sorted document receiving pockets, means for conveying a document to any of said pockets, and further means for each of said pockets operable to direct a conveyed document from the conveyor means into the respective pocket, means supporting the document sorting console from the floor so that the document conveying means and the plurality of document receiving pockets lie in a generally horizontal plane raised from the floor, printing mechanism including a plurality of tape printers each assigned to a particular one of the document receiving pockets and each having a rotatable type carrier, an individual record tape supply for each tape printer, and means to effect printing impressions of each type carrier upon the record tape of its tape supply, means forming part of the document sorting console for mounting the printing mechanism internally thereof at a level below and normally in a position underneath the document receiving pockets, and means for providing lateral bodily movement of the printing mechanism from its normal position underneath the document receiving pockets to a position external and to one side of the console sufficient to expose the individual record tapes of the printers.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the printing mechanism further includes a record tape receiving receptacle arranged to receive the record tapes of all of the tape printers following the printing of impressions thereon, said tape receiving receptacle having a cover normally closing the same when the printing mechanism is in its normal operating position underneath the document sorting pockets but being movable to expose the tape contents of the bins when the printing mechanism is bodily moved to its external position.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the record tape receiving receptacle is positioned on the upper portion of the printing mechanism and on the side thereof first exposed when the printing mechanism is moved to its external position.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the printing mechanism further includes a record tape receiving receptacle arranged to receive the record tapes of all of the tape printers following the printing of impressions thereon, said tape receiving receptacle having a cover normally closing the same when the printing mechanism is in its normal operating position underneath the document sorting pockets but being movable to expose the tape contents of the bins when the pRinting mechanism is bodily moved to its external position.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the record tape receiving receptacle is positioned on the upper portion of the printing mechanism and on the side thereof first exposed when the printing mechanism is moved to its external position.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the cover member is hinged to the tape receiving receptacle to overlie and close the same when the printing mechanism is positioned internally of the document sorting console but is swingable to expose the contents of the receptacle when the printing mechanism is moved to its external position relative to the console.

17. A printing and document sorting assembly comprising, in combination; a document sorting cabinet including a plurality of sorted document receiving pockets and means for conveying documents to selected ones of said pockets, means supporting the document sorting cabinet from the floor so that the document conveying means and the plurality of document receiving pockets lie in a generally horizontal plane raised from the floor, printing mechanism including a plurality of individual tape printers arranged in a row and each assigned to a particular one of the document receiving pockets and also including record tape supporting means located on a level below the row of tape printers for holding a row of record tape rolls from which tape is fed individually to the tape printers and further including a plurality of tape receiving bins located on a level above the row of tape printers and into which tape printed by said tape printers is individually deposited, means forming a compartment in the document sorting cabinet at a level below and underneath the document receiving pockets and including an entranceway thereinto having a door which in closed position conceals the interior of the compartment from view, and means mounting the printing mechanism within the compartment of the cabinet and providing bodily movement of the printing mechanism through the entranceway of the compartment to an external position with respect to the cabinet where at least a part of the printing mechanism is available for attention.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the plurality of tape receiving bins are positioned on the side of the printing mechanism which is first exposed when the printing mechanism is moved to said external position.