US1245500A - Recording-machine. - Google Patents

Description

J'. R. PEIRCE.

I RECORDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION Huzp DEC. 20. 1911.

'12 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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WITNESSES ATTORNEY 1 Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

J. R. PEI'RCE. RECORD INGMACHINE. APPLICATION H LE D DEC. 20. 19l1.

Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

' 12 sHEETs-sH-EETQ.

WITNESsES Hill! 12 SHEETSSHEET 3.

Patented NOV. 6, 1917.

R1 PEIRCE.

RECORDING MACHINE.

APPLICATHJN FILED 020.211.1911.

11w NTol WITNESSES J. R. PEIRCE. RECORDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20. I911.

Patnted Nov, 6, 191 7:

12 SHEETSSHE ET 4.

WITNESSES J. R. PEIRCE.

RECORDING MACH|NE.' APPLICATIONFILEDDEC. 20. I91].

1,245,500. Patented Nov. 6,1917.

12 SHEETSSHEET 5.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR I NOR/VET J. R. PEIRCE. RECORD ING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20. 1,911.

1,245,500. I 'PatentedNbvt; 6, 1917.

I2 SHEETSSHEET 6.

WITNESSES .pENTOR/Q q ML 44 b -RTTORNEV J. R. PEIRCE.

RECORDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FlLEp DEC. 20.1911.

' 1,245,500. Patented Nov. 0, 1917.

I2 SHEETS-SHEET 7 WITNESSES J. R. PEIRCE' RECORDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 020.20.1911.

Patented Nov. 6; 1917.

12 SHEETSSHEET 8- Fig-6d y" KR WITNESSES v. E R O n A J." R, PEIRCE. agconomc MACHINE. APPLICATION mm DEC. 20. '1911. v

, 'PatentedNov. 6,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

WITNESSES 1. R P ElR CE. RECORDING M'ACHINE.

- APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20. 1 911.

12 SHEETS-SHEET I0.

vWj/ITNESSES: 6% jam/Em LAW/Q. M v 4 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. '6,- 1917.

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1. -R. PEIRCE.

RECORDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-20.1911.

Patented Nov. 6,

w-O wOO mmmm n3 kz vxt $1 Dlru m m A g wm Ag mm m: man 5% WITNESSES J. R. PEIRCE.

RECORDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20, 1911.

Patnted Nov. 6, 1917.

12 SHEETS-SHE? 12.

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' JOHN ROYDEN PEIBCE, OF NEW YORK, Y., A SSIGNOR TO PEIRCE PATENTS COMPANY,

A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

I REoonDIne-MAcnmE.

the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and a State of New York, have invented new and useful. Improvements in Recording-Ma chines, of which the following is a specification.

In the prior "applications for patent I '10 have described methods and apparatus for using perforated cards for the purpose of controlling machines which classifyordis tribute various items and record orlist the information in variousways. Suchsystems are of especial value in businesses where a large number of items is to be taken care of I such as railways, insurance companies, gas, electric and telephone companies department tores,'workshops, etc.

The present invention provides a machine for making the perforated cards for such systems and by means of which the cards may be made accurately and with great rapidity as the necessity for them arises and by which the information can be punched in the card andalso printed thereon so that the card can be used without the necessity ofreadingthe perforations..

Thenovel features of the invention are stated in the claims hereinafter. Machines embodying the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings e s Figure is a plan partly in'section of a machine, especially designed for taking care of long distance telephone calls (and adapted, of courseffor other uses by suit .ably modifying the number and design of the parts).

Fig. 2, isa horizontal section of the same.

40 Fig. 2, shows in 'sideelevation plan and end elevation the'pun'ches in their mounting.

Fig. 2", shows inp'lanand side elevation the slide-contrblling pins.

Fig. 3, is 'a vertical section inside 15 of the right hand wall. of theicasing'on the line A-A of Figs. 2 and 6.

Fig. 3, is a horizontal section of the -mounting of the end of the punchoperating hammer or follovver.

Specificationof Letters Patent.

wall of the casing removed.

Fig. 8, isa sectionapproximately on the Patented Nov. 6,.191'7.

Application filed December 20, 1911. Serial No. 666,944.

Fig. 4, is a vertical section approximately 011 the line B-B of Figs. 2 and 6. v

Fig. 5. is a vertical section approximately on the line CC of-said figures.

Fig. 5, shows in end and side elevation respectively the escapement mechanism for the lateral shift of the pin box.

Fig. 6, is a vertical transverse section approximately on the line DD ofFig. 5.

Figs. 6 6 and 6 are transverse sections, similar to Fig. 6, illustrating the key releasing devices.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of a partial keyboard releasing mechanism. i

Fig. 7, isa rear elevation with the rear line EE of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9,,is a face view of the card made in the machine of Figs. ,1 to 8 (with the addition of guide lines not actually used in practice) Fig. 9 is a table of the perforated spaces corresponding to the 'several numerals from zero to i i Fig. 9", is a view similar to Fig. 9 of a Fig. 10, is a perspective view of the.

punch-controlling mechanism ofFig. 4.

Figs. 11,'l2*and13, are side elevations of alternative constructions oftlie slides carrying the punches and types.

Referring to the embodiments of the in;-. V

vention illustrated, and first to the'fuse of thesystem in a telephonementral office, the information. which is to be recorded on the cards comprises the time when the call .is v i made, the number of the party calling and the number and central station called.

Other information to be put on the'card may be punched and printedthereon by other'rnachines or by extensions to the mechanism herein illustrated. Referring to Fig.

9, the Words shown thereon are previously printed onthe card. A number of such cards" are stacked in the machine and are automaticaliy fed from the stack to the mechanism).

recording mechanism (in which term I include both the printing and the punching The keys are operated so as to set the machine forprinting and punching each of the items.

punched and printed as shown-and ejected in convenient position to be passed to the next operator whose machine will record on is completed tice the ruling may be omitted. The system of perforations adopted is that shown and claimed in previous applications-for patent which I have filed. In each column, corresponding toone figure, there are four spaces. By combining perforations in these four spaces the numerals from zero to 9 may be represented. A suitable table of suchperforations is shown in Fig. 9.

For zero there are no perforations; for the numeral 1 there is a perforation in the lowermost or first space; for the numeral 2, a perforation in the second space, for the numeral 4, per- -main shaft forations in the first and fourth spaces; for the numeral 6 perforations in the first, sec nd and third spaces, etc, three being the maximum number of spaces required. With the aid of this table it will be seen that the perforations in the lower part of Fig. 9

correspond with the numbers printed on the upper part of the card. 1

he cards perforated to indicate the desired information are afterward run through distributing and tabulating machines shown in other applications for patent which I have filed and the charges against individual customers are thus collected and tabulated or billed.

Card feeding and ejecting mechanism.- The cards are placed upright in a pocket or magazine 1 at the left of the machine and pressed toward the rear of the machine by means of a spring 2 and a follower 3.

Upon the first part'of the forward movement of the handle 4 the rearmost card in the stack is engaged by a shoulder 5 of a slide 6 (Fig. 1) and shifted laterally to recording position. The mechanism for accomplishing this is shown in Fig. 7. Th

which is operated by the I handle 4: carries at its left hand end a segmental beveled gear 8 engaging a similar gear 9 on a shaft 10 which-at its rear end carries an arm 11, the upper end of which is connected by pin and slot to the back of the slide 6; and is pulled to the right by Then at one operation of the main shaftor handle the card is a spring 11; so that each forward movement of the handle shifts a card through an opening 12 (Fig. 2) to a position for printing and perforating, After giving a full movement to the slide 6 the gear 8 turns beyond the gear 9, while subsequent,

operations are being erformed. Fig. 5 shows the slide 6 guide between upper and lower backing plates 12 and 13. The upper part. of the oard lies against the backing plate 12 to receive the printing impression and the lower part of the card lies against .the backing plate 13 which is perforated to permit the passing of the punches. A fixed front plate 14 lies against the forward face of the. card to hold it against the backing plates. The lower edge ofthe card rests on a shoulder on the front face-of an ejecting plate 15 and is held by a fixed plate 16. In this positionthe card is punched and printed as hereinafter described.

On the return movement of the handle the ejecting plate is lifted by the following mechanism (Fig. 7). The ejectingplate 15 is provided with guide slots through which passpins 17 projecting rearwardly from a fixed plate 18; and has a pin 19 projecting its rear face by means of which it is raised, being lowered by its weight (supplemented by a spring if necessary). A short shaft 20 extends from the fixed plate 18.to the rear wall 21 of the casing, and carries an arm 22 which is connected by a-link 23 to the arm 11. A spring pawl 24 is pivoted on the end of the arm 22. As the arm 11 swings forward to feed a new card the arm 22 swings with it, the pawl 24 clicking past the pin 19. On the return movement of the arm 11, after the cards have been punched and printed, the pawl 24: catchesthe pin 19 and is bent back so as to extend the effective length of the arm 22 and to slightly lift the ejector 15, after which the pawl escapes past the pin 19 and is restored by its spring into the position of Fig. 7

The slight upward movement given to thefi card by the ejecting plate brings its upper edge between pairs of rollers 25 (Figs. 1, 3 and8) which are in rotation at the time and which continue the upward movement of the card so asto eject it through an opening 26 provided in the topof-the machine, whereupon it may be seized by the operator and transferred to the next operator or machine which is to record the elapsed time thereon. The two inner rollers 25' are'positively operated for the purpose described. The mechanism for this purpose is shown in Figs. 3 and 8. Circular racks 27 engage pinions on the shaft of the two inner rollers 25 and are mounted on a transverse shaft 28, which has anarm 29 connected by a link 30 with a short arm 31 on the main" shaft 7 so that on the return movement of r i i r consist of typesand punches mounted on. carriers which are first shifted toxbring"the direction the which corresponds with the ward movement of the ejecting plate 15, the

rollers will be set in rotatipn intheproper card. i

I The main shaft? is'providedwith an arm 32 connected by a pin and slot withthe piston rod 33 (Figs. 2 and kl) of a dashpot 34, the piston; rodbeing connected atjits Opposite end toaspring 35; so ,asflto] autodirection.

matically returin the handle to its starting POSltlOll after a forward moyement, and so as to prevent too quick 1 a movement of the,

handle in eitherdirection, g a p Recmd'mg mca'nsl--The recording means types andpiuiches in proper positionfaftei' whlch hammers or followers actuate the carriers to print and punch'fithe cardq In the mach ne lllllStlfiltQ-Cl there are' sixteen sets of types 36 1 and punches 37, each .mounted upon a vertically sliding carrier 38 (Fig.' The;carriers are'guidedin slots in transverse plates 39 qand4O." Normally; they are all held down'by a resetting'rod 4:1

passing through slotslin the lower parts of the several slides." Tli'eresetting-rod' 4:1 is connected (Figs. 2, 3 and 5 arms 42 loose on the main shaft 7. The arms 42, carry curved links 142*having a pin andislot connection with arms 42 fixed on the main shaft so asjlto secure an 'ldlemovement during the first part of the return movement of the main shaft and" to retract the slides only toward the end of therearward movement of. the main. shaft, after the punches have been restored totheir normal lateral position in their slides by withdrawing them from the holes made. in the card; The slides are pulled upward by means oflongspring's 43 and are released to permit such upward I movement in thefir'st forward movement of. the main shaft, by the'rising of the resetting rod 41. The amount of upward movement:

of each slideisdetermined by the pressing keyboard, whichlfor the slides of Fig. 5 actuate certain inter-mediate g mechanism-including controlling pins adapted to be projected in the line of shoulders on a transverse shaft vl7 to which itiiscon -v vided atone end with anarm48 (FigsiB-Q of the -keys in' theyseveralf'columns [of the Miontheslides, I, 'As soon as the upwardmovements of'the engage ratehets 46; on the lower" ends of the several slides. The'pa'wlf is mounted ne'cted by a leaf spring. Theslmft {is pro-f toicoi'itinue the ejection of 'the controlling and 5), the end of which is -'pivotally connected to a link 49, the forward end of which isslotted and engages a pin on ,the

endof an M11150 on the main shaft 7.

. Thepawl'etzi is freely pivotedon the shaft 47.1 The shaft 47, however,isgfrictionally' connected with the arm %8 so asto he moved bythe initial movement-of thearm in either direction and to permit the. arm to continue to move after the pawl is stopped in either j Now, 'whentheshaft 7 is turned forward its first elfeot is to free the resetting rod 41 and to free the slides 88 which rise to their determined positions. The pin at the end of the arm-50 then reaches the end of the slot'in the link 4%) and presses the-latter toward the (rear, throwing the pawl 45 into engagement with the sev'eralratchets l6 and holding. the slides in the several positions to which they have risenyafter which the slide-controlling pins may be withdrawn.

On the'return' movement of the shaft the resetting r0d41 is pusheddown, carrying the d slides 38 with it. Near theendof the downward movement of the slides the arm 50'engages the end of the slot in the'linkAQ and pulls the latter .forward, pulling out the pawl 45 so as to leave the slides free torise at the next operation. p I I There are ten types arranged in a row at the top of eachslide 38. i i'Asl the slide rises the types come in s'uocessionintoline' with a follower 51 andwith .a typewriter ribbon 52 (Figs. 1, 59nd 8) arranged fin-any. usual or suitable way between the type and the card. The followers 51 are arranged iontwo levels, as are the tops of the'type carriers (Figs. 5 and 8) in: order to print on'two lines as infFig. 9. Whenthe entire line of types is set the followersfcome forward. and

cause them. to print the desired figures;

Each group ofjfour followers for theiseve eral items on the card is arranged in the usual way to suppress;,anyj'zeros' which mightcome atthe left of theniiniberto be printed; Any usual or ."suitahle construe tion may be adopted, such 'for'exampleas the well known system of thewales i machine. p i The ham er mechanism alsomay be-of any known 1 or suitable type, thef common drawn backward. by light which cause them to bear against pins on arms .56

springs 51. They are pr vide with was connected to links 62, the upper ends of l s in e n s n 'ii icaltd- 5 b? hammers'V53f of the seyefraldecimal places are piyoted "on acommon shaft fi'iianjd are 0 alsopivoted ontheshaftMQ andzpl illed 1 P- Wfl d y'T' Qn r spri g 7., ut' n ri lr restrained each by i pan: ofgpawlsfi8Fand 5S); Th'e pawls 59jare pulled upward liglitsprings .60 {and downwardy'by, h

.The slides having risen to their desired positions and the supplementary pawls 59 having been withdrawn as desired and the resettin rod 63 having been raised by turning tie shaft 54, thepawls 58 are withdrawn by turning the tripping shaft 65 on which they are mounted, causing a sudden stroke of the hammers.

. The mechanism for operating the shafts 541 and 65 is shown in Fig. 3. The shaft 54 is-directly'connected by a fixed arm 66 and.

a link 67 to the arm 31 on the main shaft 7 so as to lift the resettin rod at the very first movement of the sha t. The tripping shaft'65 carries an arm 68 which is connected by a. pin and slot with a link 69 connected to an arm 70 on the main shaft so that the first movement of the main shaft is without effect and time is iven for rising of the resetting rod and 0% the carriers and for the withdrawal of the supplementary pawls before the main pawls are withdrawn to allow the hammer stroke.

The punches re uire a comparatively. strong pressure to orce them through the card and this is secured by means of a transverse hammer-bar or follower 71 arranged in line with the perforations in the plate 13 so as to act on such punches as come within therange of the four vertical spaces represented by these perforations. The position of the bar is indicated in-Fig. 5, a sectional view of one end being shown in Fig.

3* and the operating mechanism therefor in Fig. 3. The ends of the bar are arranged to slide in grooved guides 72 mounted on the side Walls of the machine and are connected to links 73 each adjacent to one side of the casing. Each .link 73 constitutes one meme her of a toggle, the other member 74: of which is pivoted to a transverse shaft running across the front of the machine, the

toggle being broken upward normally by aspring 75. The central pin of the to gle passes through a slot in an operating link 76 connected to an arm 77 on the main shaft. By means of this toggle, after the card is in place and the punches are properly set the follower bar 71 is pressed forward to perforate the paper. On the return move.- ment of the main shaft, as soon as the toggle is ever so slightly broken upward the position. 13

spring 75 completes its upward movement so as to withdrawthe hammer-bar quickly.

An inspection of Fig. 5 will show that the arrangement adopted for the punches corresponds with the table (Fig. 9 In the zero position of Fig, 5 there is no punch in line with the-follower. Upon the next upward step there is a punch in the first space; upon the third upward step a punch in the third space; upon thefourth upward step punches in the first and fourth spaces; etc. The shape and mounting of the punches are shown more fully in Fig. 2*. Each punch 37 has its shank 77 fitting closely in the carrier 38 and has slots upon its side faces forming a head 7 8 at its rear end. The follower 71 is shown in plan in Fig. 2 and is provided with vertical undercut slots through which the heads 78 may-pass as the punch rises to this arrangement the retraction of the ollower 71 serves also to withdraw thepunches positively from the holes in the paper where they are held with considerable friction. Fixed guides 71 (Fig. 5) guide the heads 78 to the bar 71.

K 0 8 and mechanism operated thereby-- For printing the four items shown in Fig. 9 two styles of keys (Fig. 1) are used. At the left are four columns of ordinary. adding machine keys with a release key 79 which releases any or all keys which have been pressed in these four columns. To represent any number a key must be pressed in each of the columns, except where the correspondin figure is zero. At the right is a series of keys marked Broad, Rector, etc, for recording the central station together with a release key 80 for releasing any one of the keys which has been pressed. In making a record only one of all these central station keys is pressed. Each key controls a plurality of recording devices, so that the Cortlandt key for example when'pressed will cause the machine to record the corresponding number, 1626. Each of the keys at the left therefore controls a single record-- dividual keys and combination keys respectively, and they, are capable of application in various other systems than making telephone records.

Individual Joey mechanism.-The individual keys 81 are provided with shanks 82 (F igs. 5 and 6?, the lower ends of which are brought togetier and located adjacent to horizontal slides 83, there being a column of these slides corresponding to each column of keys 81. The slides are pulled forward by springs 8 1, the several slides in each column having pins 85 corresponding with the respective-keys and engaging cam-shaped notches 86 in the shanks of the several keys. The

corresponding controllingipin. The keys are pulled upward by springs 87 (Fig. 6).

Adjacent to each column of keys is a detent 88 held against-the shank of the key by a spring and adapted to engage a pin 89 projecting from such shank. Each detent extends along an entire column of keys since only one of these keys is pressed at an operation. The release key 7 9 withdraws the several pawls 88. For this purpose its shank, 90 has a shoulder engaging an arm .91 on a shaft 92 which carries near its opposite ends arms 93, the upper ends of which are pivoted to slides 94 having'slots therein engaging pins 95 on the ends .of the'pawls 88; so that as the release key is pressed the pawls 88 are withdrawn from the key shanksand the latter are raised bytheir. springs. 'The release key is immediately raised, after pressing it, by its spring 96, Fig. 5. p

Intermediate controlling mechanism. for

indioidual' kews-Between the individual keys and the corresponding recording devices there Is an lnterm edlate mechanism-which is set in position by the "individual keys and which in turn controls the setting of the type andpunch carriers. A number of setting pins 97 (Figs. 2 and 5) are-located in a box.98 arranged to slide on guidejrods 99. and pushed to the left by ineans of a spring 100. Normally, however, it stands in the position of Fig. 2 with its first four columns of pins r in line with theends of the-horizontal slides ..which"are actuated by the keys. There a: three classes of pins in each column of tin? box. The lowermost pin corresponds 'to the figure 9; the next pin to-the figure 0 and the succeeding pins, counting from/thebottom upward, to the figures l to 8, inclusive. The number 9 pin 97 is adummy being shaped like the other pins of Fig. 2* except;

that it is so short as not to project beyond the box. When the figure 9 is to be recorded thetype and punch carrying slides rise to the 1 limit of their movement and are Stopped bythe plate 40, one step above the setting pin 97 which corresponds with the figure 8. The

pins 97 are illustrated in detail in Fig.2".

The pins are guided between plates 1.01, 102 and pressed toward their retracted position by springs 103. Extending verticall 'along each column'of pins is apawl 104 earing with a spring pressure against the pins and bearing normally against inclined faces 105' on the pins. When a pin is advanced the first effect is to press the pawl out so as to release any other pin in the same column which.

was previously held by the pawl. The fur-; ther advance of the pin causes the pawl to engage a shoulder 106 and hold the pin in its advanced position. The No.9 pin, 97*, when operated by its key 81 withdraws the pawl 104 from the other pins in'the same column,-and allows said other pins to be retracted, but has no other effect. a

This key, however, is used for an additional purpose. After a recording operation if it should be attempted to retract the pin box without. first withdrawing such pins as have been projected, some of these pins.

would interfere with the projecting shoulders 44 ofthe raised type carriers. The pins 97 are, therefore, operated for all columns, at the very end of the forward movement of the handle, after the recording operation has beeneffected. For this purpose the several slides 83*, corresponding with'these pins hear at their forward ends against a resetting rod 83 (Fig. 5) extending between" twoarms 83 on a shaft 83 which has a lower arm 83 (Fig. 3) connected by a link 83 with the end of an arm 83 ona shaft- 83*. The end of the arm 83 carriesa pin 83 in the path of a clearing pawl 83 mounted on a plate 83 on the handle shaft 7. As the shaft 7 is rocked'forward,at the end of its movement the pawl 83 clicks over the pin 83 Then, at the very beginning ofthe return movement of the handle, the pawl pushes the pin83 toward the forward part of the machine and operates the resetting advanced to their operative position by the keys. At the end of each operation of the handle, after the type-carriers are pulled down, these zero pins are all'advanced and held by the pawls 104 engaging the shoulders 106 (Fig. 2*). When the first numbered key is-pr essed the zero pin resetting mechanism is withdrawn so as to leave all the zero pins under control of the pawls 104 alone; and the advancement of a numbered pin in any column pushesout the pawl 104 for that column as above described so as to release the zero-pin for the same column, .which zero pin is retracted by its spring.

The resetting mechanism for the zero pins is shown best in Fig. 5. Running-back of the several zero pins 97' in the original posi tion of the machine is a resetting rod 97 carried between a pair of arms 97 which are pulled toward thefront of the machine by springs 97. One of said arms 97 carries a link 97, the rear end of which bears against a pin 97 on a plate.97 mounted on setting rod 97 toward the rear of the machine to reset the pins. The link 97 carries also a pin 97 engaging a pawl 97 which is connected at its upper end to an arm on the escapement controlling shaft 120; the link 97 being held up by a spring 97. The lower endof the pawl 97 .is'in the path of a second pin 97 on the plate 97 previously referred to. Starting from the position shown in Fig. 5, the first key pressed rocks the escapement controlling shaft, 120 as hereinafter described and presses down the pawl 97 k and the link97 so .that the forward end of the latter passes below the pin 97 and the resetting rod 97 is retracted by the springs 97. On the forward movement of the-shaft the pin 97 strikes the pawl 97 and disengages it from the pin 97 allowing the link 9'7 to be drawn upward by its spring and, as soon as the p111 97 is sufficiently advanced, to snap upward intoits original position so as to be struck by said pin on the return movement of the handle.

TherePare twelve columns of pinsv in the box. The first four columns being originall in line with the individual keys 81, as wil appear from Fig. 2, and being at the same time in line with the last or right hand group of four punch carriers 38. Whenthe individual keys are pressed to correspond with the first item and the release key 79 is pressed to release them the pin box, with its first four columns of pins properly set shifts one step (of four columns width) to the left.

The individual keys 81 are pressed for the next item and released and the pin box moves another step to the left. The individual keys are then again operated for the third item and released and the box takes its third and last step, bringing its three groups of pins into line with the first three groups of punch carriers (counting from the left). Thereupon one of the combination pins 107 is pressed and determines the subsequent movement of the last four punch carriers; after which the combination keys are released and the handle operated to feed the card and make the record as previously described.

The mechanism for effecting the step by step movement of the pin box comprises an escapement which is controlled by a movement of any one ofthe individual keys and the succeeding movement of the release key 79; the spring 100 pressing the box constantly to the left. See Figs. 2, 5, 6 and 5. A rack 108 on the top of the box engages a pinion 109 on a hollow shaft 110 which is mounted in a transverse partition 111 and through the hollow shaft 110. When the" box is bein returned to its starting position the pawl c icks backward over the ratchet freely. When the box endeavorsto move to the left the pawl prevents such movement except as the shaft 115 is released step by step by the escapement. The shaft 110 carries the rear three-toothed ratchet wheel 116 which is provided with a pin passing through a slot in the forward three-toothed wheel 117, as shown in Fig. 6, the latter being free to turn on the shaft 115and being pressed backward by aspring which tends to take u 9 the play of the pin andslot connection. pper and lower pawls 118 and 119 respectively engage the ratchets 116 and 117. These pawls are loosely mounted upon a shaft 120 and are pulled up by an'arm 121 fixed on said shaft 120, engaging a pin on the-pawl 118 and pulled up by a comparatively strong spring 122. Theshaft 120 carries a number of arms 123, the upper edges of which are engaged by the shanks 82 of the'individual keys so that as one of these keys is pressed the arm 121 is turned down to release the pawls whereupon they are pulled down by the spring 124.- This allows the foremost ratchet 117 to move to a distance limited by the pin and slot, the rear- .most ratchet 116 being held by the upper .pawl. The shaft 120 is provided also with vidual keys rise, as previously explained,

and the subsequent rising of the release key frees the shaft 120 so that the strong spring .122 pulls up the arm 121 and pulls the pawls to their upward position releasing the rear ratchet 116 and allowing it to travel a distance corresponding to one-third of a revolution of the shaft 115, the foremost ratchet wheel 117 being then held, at its next tooth, by the lower awl 119.

For returning the pin box to its starting position against the pressure of its spring it is provided at the rear with an extension 126 connected with an arm 127 on a short shaft 128 (Figs. 2, 3 and 7) which carries near its rear end an arm 129 with a projecting pin 130 by which the arm is shoved to the right hand side of the machine at the proper time and the shaft turned so as to force the box back to itsstarting position. This movement is effected by means of an arm 131 on the shaft 20 carrying a spring pawl 132.

On the forward movement of the handle as arm 131 downward and causing the pawl 132 to click over the pin 130, the arm 127 at this time being advanced toward the left handv side of the machine (toward the right in Fig. 7). On the return stroke of the handle the arm 131 rises and the pawl 132 is caughtbythe pin 130 causing e pawl tojswmg back toward its straight position to increase the effective length of the arm 131 and to thrust the pin 130 back toits original position; which slides the pin box 98 back to its original position alsoi Combination keys and controlling mechamlsm-When one of the keys 107 is pressed a number (not greater than four in'the machine illustrated) of recording devices are controlled. The control is effected by connecting the shanks 133 through hell crank 1evers 134 to horizontal slides 135, the 'rear, ends ofwhich comprise plates 136 adapted when pushed to the rear to overlie transverse extensions 137 from the lower ends of the corresponding type and punch carrying slides38. Theconstruction is'best shown vidual keys.

in Figs. 2, 4, 6', 8 and 10. Each key 107 is connected to 'a separate slide 135 so that there are nine of these slides for each column of keys. Each of the plates 136 is notched so as to provide shoulders 138, 139,

140 and 141 adapted, when 'the slide is ad vanced to overlie the successive extensions 137, ,of the punch carriers; 138 etc. are located at-e'difierent. elevations forthe different plates 1,36. When akey is pressed and the corresponding plate136 is advanced to position over the extensions 137 then the carriers 38 are permitted'to rise only in a certain combination and each to a determined height, thus fixing the number which shall be printed and punched on the card. A guide plate 136? steadies the plates 136. h

The key shanks 133 are held down by pawls 88 similar to those used for the indi The pawl releasing mechanism also operates similarly, but separately from the release of the pawls for the individual keys. Referring to Fig. 6, it -will be observed that the slides 94 for-releasing the individual keys are separate from the slides 142 which release the combination keys, the two slides 94 and 142 being overlapped'and guided at their free ends by a pin143. The l slides'142 are connected with arms 144 on a shaft 145 which has a second arm 146 in em.

gagement with the shank147 .of the releasing key 80 for the combination keys; so

that when the release key 80 'is pressed all the combinationikeys 107 are freed.

Automatic key reZease.After pressing the individual keysand releasing them in successive groups as described (or', if the individual keys are to-be actuated only once,

' as in the recording of a single'iteni) it is not essential to operate the release key 79. Nor is it necessary to use the release key .80

except where it is desired for the correc- The shoulders tion of error or for other reasons to change the combination item -which is to-be recorded. The operation of the handle of the machine sebves to withdraw all the pawls 88 so as to. release allkeys. This release occurs on the backward stroke ofthe handle after the printing has been effected and the carriers 38 have been returned to their a lower positions so as to free the plate 136 which has been in operative position and the key which has been connected thereto. This automatic release is effected by the followin mechanism:

arallel with the key release slides 94 and 142 (Figs. 5, 6, 6, 6 and 6) is a third slide 30 148 having slots engaging pins in the ends of the pawls 88 of the entire keyboard. It overlaps the other two slides and is connected at its right hand end to an arm 149 on a shaft 150 which at its rear end'lias an arm 151 35 (Fig. 7) with a rearwardly projecting pin 152' in the path of-inovement of a spring pawl 153 mountedbn the end of a long arm 154 on the shaft "128. The arm 154 swings toward the'jleft hand side of the'machine (to the."i'ight in Fig. 7) asthe pin box moves to its reco'rdingposition. In this v.nriovement-the pawl" 153 clicks past the pin 152. 011 therearward movement of the handle the shaft 128 turns and carries the arm 154 toward the right hand side. of the machine, which causes the pawl 153 to engage the pin 152, swinging the pawl backward into line with the arm 154 so as to extend the effective length of this arm andto push up the pin 152, thus shifting th'e' slide 148 in a direction to release all the keys.

Operation- The operation of the machine thus far describedais"as follbws: The cards are stacked in themagazine 1 and pressed 165 backward b the spring 2. The operator first presses he individual keys 81 according to the time. (A modified mechanism hereinafter describedautomatically controls the time-recording mechanism so that no" special operation of the keys is necessary therefor, but with the machine hereinbefore described it is assumed that the time record will be madeby means of the :keys) The time being setby the keys the ,operator 1 15 ,presses the releasekey 79. Hekthen opercauses the escapemeiit to permit the pin box 1 to shift one step \to' the left; so thatafter the first three numbers have been set the pins inthe'boatfl register; with the proper type-carriers. The pressing of the combination key 107 sets the stop mechanism for its group of type carriers. The forward movement of the handle then releases the combination key and causes the withdrawal of its plates 136 bythe action of the springs in pulling up the keys.

- ment withdraws the punches by the action of the toggle 73, 74 and lifts the card out of the machine through the action of the lifting plate 15 and the curved racks 27 and rollers 25. Thereafter the friction pawl 45 is withdrawn and the type-carrier'resetting rod ll strikes the bottoms'of the slots in the carriers and pulls them down; after which the zero pins are reset through the action of the resetting rod 97, thus holding the barriers down. Finally the gear 8 engages the gear 9 and withdraws the card feeding slide 6 to position to engage the next card.

For any group of numbers to be recorded which does not appear on any of the keys 107 of the machine the operator may use the individual keys 81-. It is only necessary in this case thatthe operator take care by proper manipulation of the release key 79 to insure that the, pin box 98 is in proper position for recording the numbers on the desired part of the card.

The carriers 38 (Fig. 4) corresponding to the group keys 107 rise ten full spaces, to

the limit'allowed by the resetting rod 41,

when no one of the group keys 107 has been pressed, so that the types and punches rise above the level of the hammers and followers and no record is made thereby. As shown in Figs. 9, 9 and 9 nate items are printed in difierent lines. This is not only clearer indistinguishing the successive numbers from each other, but

.permits of the printing of the card beforehand, in large enough letters to be easily legible with such long titles as time call is made, etc. It permits also of using a card with the corner cut off, without thereby materiall v ailectingthe usable area. This operation is secured by making the alternate groups of type-carriers 38 longer and shorter respectively so that the corresponding types 36 in the two adjacent groups stand at different levels, as shown in Fig. 8; the followers 51- for striking the types being also at are grouped alternately in two different levels as shown in Fig. 5.

Additions and alternatives.

The several'mechanisms and elements of the complete machine may be considerably varied and various omissions may be' made and various additional provisions may be applied for adapting the apparatus to diffcrent classes of work without departing from the invention. Certain alternative constructions and additional mechanisms are hereinafter described and it will be understood that various other changes may be made.

Alternatit'e automatic ltey rcZcase.-It may be desired to leave in the machine a certain central station for a number of successive operations; that is to say to leave one of the combination keys 107 pressed downward. In'this case the key-releasing slide 148 of Fig. 6 will be substituted by a slide 155 whichhas no engagement with the pawls 88 corresponding to the combination keys, but which has the previously described slotted engagement with pins on the ends of the pawls 88 of the several individual keys. The same principle may be applied in the various uses of the machine where any number or group of numbers is to be repeated in a number of successive operations.

Alternatioe ca7'cZs.Fig. 9 shows a card of a stylesuitable for department store ac-.

counts. The card number (123 in the drawing) can be put on automatically, that is without the pressing of any keys, by the use of the counting mechanism hereinafter described- For the kind of sale the corresponding typcs'in the machine may carry letters of the alphabet instead of numerals, only a few letters being necessary to indicate the comparatively few kinds of sale desired, as charge credit C. 0. D3; and these being abbreviated if necessary. The sales persons numberwill be recorded by means-of one of the group keys 107, each machine being-designed'for use by a limited number'of sales persons and each group key bearing the number of one of such persons.'

The amount will be recorded in the usual way by.means of the individual keys S1. Fig. 9 shows'a card for keeping account of the .timeespent on a job in a workshop. (hen work is commenced the card is put into a machine of the same general type as for telephone accounts with certain additional mechanism hereinafter. referred-to; the card being punched under key-control with the job number and class of work.

When work ceases the card is again put in the machine and the handle is pulled, auto matically making a record of the ending time, completing the card like Fig. 9 and ejecting it. 7

Alternative punching dem'ces.1n previ-

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