US2240562A - Card controlled typewriter - Google Patents

Description

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. D. LAKE ET AL CARD CONTROLLED TYPEWRITEB ATTORNEY May 6, 1941. c. D. LAKE ET AL 2,240,562

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Patented May 6, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2.240,5sz l CARD .comoLLEn 'rYrEwm'rEa Application February 17, 1937, Serial No. 126,152

(Cl. 19T- 20) Z9 Claims.

This case relates to an automatic writing machine, specifically, a typewriter, controlled in its various functions by designations borne by record sheets.

An object of the invention is to control the writing machine by individual, separate record cards or data-bearing members, which may bel o1. any suitable material, to Write duplicate or form matter. on successively presented papers and to supplement the common or form. matter of each paper by variable, individual data.

The object is also to provide a plurality of stacks of data bearing members and to call members fromA each stack into operation selectively for controlling the data transcribing or decoding apparatus.

The object is, further, to provide a plurality of sources of data bearing material, specifically, record cards, with means for selectively calling data bearing material or cards from either source into cooperation with a common decoding, analyzing, recording, or transcribing means.

'Ihe object is, still further, to call a. record sheet, card, or data-bearing source into operation under control of a previously called record sheet, card, or data bearing source.

Further, the invention contemplates the selective calling of data-bearing members to a common station under control of characteristics on the members.

Another object is to provide a plurality of card ejecting or stacking means selectively called into operation to eject a card in one of different directions or to stack it in one of several hoppers. Y

The latter object also provides for calling one of several stacking or ejecting means into operation under control of a record sheet or card.

Still another object is to provide means for feeding a card from a supply hopper through a card reading means and then returning the card to the supply hopper.

The invention also contemplates the alternative operation of the writing machine under control of a plurality of different sources of data bearing records or under control of only one of such sources.

It is further intended to feed the cards intermittently, one column at a time, through the card reading or analyzing means by means of a Geneva transmission.

' templated, of applying that principle.

It is still further intended to provide for interrupting operation of the card feed vand ejecting means during the performance by the typewriter of certain functions, preferably those 'taking 'an indefinite length of time.

Yet another object is to provide a differential drive for the card feeding means.

Other objects of the invention will bepointed| out in the fol-lowing description and'claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,y which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been con- In the drawings:v

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the data decoding, reading, or translating unit for controlling the typewriter,

Fig. 2 is a side view of the reading unit. with the side of the casing removed to show the interior more clearly,

Fig. 3 is a vertical section, taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the driving means in the reading unit,

Fig. 5 is a section along lines 5-5 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a section along lines 6-6 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a section along lines 1 1 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 8 is a schematic view of the drive gearing, the shafts being spread out horizontally for purposes of illustration,

Figs. 9 to 16 are sections, respectively, along lines 9 9 to lli-IG of Fig. 1,

Fig. 17 is an enlarged front detail view of the adjustable eject controlling circuit breaker,

Fig. 18 is a section along lines I8-l8 of Fig. 17,

Fig. 19 is a plan'view showing the keyboard of the typewriter controlled by the reading unit,

Fig. 20 is a detail view showing the switch closed when the type basket is in numeral case position,

Fig. 21 is a section view through the typewriter showing the letter or carriage spacing mechanism,

Fig. 22 shows a record card perforated with the different code designations,

Fig. 23 shows a letter prepared by the machine,

Fig. 23a shows' a list prepared by the machine when using a single source of perforated cntrol records, d

Fig. 24 is a perspective view of the frame of the slidable top and side assembly of the hopper fo form cards,

Fig. 25a is a part of the circuit diagram, Fig. 25h is a continuation of the circuit diagram, Fig. 26 is the timing diagram, and

Fig. 27 is an enlarged view of portions of the timing diagram.

The machine will first be described as a duplex control unit; i. e., as employing two sources or supplies of record cards for controlling the typewriter to type common and variable matter; specifically, for controlling the typewriter to type a complete letter, such as shown in Fig. 23, having as form or common matter, salutation, body, and complimentary close, and having the inside address as the variable data.

The central, longitudinal, section of the record card reading or decoding unit may be referred to as the reading section.

The cards bearing the form data may be referred to as form cards or records FC, the magazine with the form cards may be referred to as the form data source, supply, or magazine FM (Fig. 1); the feeding and ejecting mechanism associated only with the form cards may be referred to as the form feeding and ejecting mechanism; and the entire section, including the form source, feeding, and ejecting means, and located at the left of the central, reading, section, (as viewed from the bottom of the sheet bearing Fig. 1) may be referred to as the form section. Similarly, any part of the machine peculiar to the form cards or data may be referred to as a form part.

The cards bearing the inside address data may be referred to as the variable, individual, address, or supplementary data cards or records AC; the supply magazine for cards AC may be referred to as magazine AS (Fig. 1), the receiving magazine for cards AC may be referred to as magazine AD, and other parts peculiar to the address cards may be referred to as the address, individual, variable, or supplementary data parts; and the entire section containing the address data parts and located to the right of the reading section (as viewed from the bottom of the sheet bearing Fig. 1) may be referred to as the address or individual data section.

THE RECORD CARD AND Come Referring to Fig. 22, the record card has eighty columns, each with twelve index positions, to be vvariously perforated for representing designapositions. The perforations in these positions may be referred to as the 9, 8 I, 0, X, and R perforations or points.

The selected code represents designations by single and combinational hole points in the various card columns. The single point designations are represented by perforations 9, 8 I, Il, X, R occurring singly in a card column, and may be considered as in the single point zone. The 0 point plus a point 9 to I represent designations in the D zone; the X point plus a point 9 to I represent designations in the X zone; the R point plus a 9 to I point represent designations in the R zone; the X and O points plus a point 9 to I represent designations of the X-U zone; and the X and R points plus a 9 to I point represent designations of the X-R zone. There is thus a total of six zones, the single point zone, the 0, X,

R, X-0, and X-R zones. The common points of the various zones are points 9 to I which may be referred to as the intrazone or common pointsr or characteristics of the coded designations. The points 0, X, R, X--U, and X--R may be referred to as the zone points or characteristics of the designations. In addition, the zone characteristic of the single point zone may be considered as the absence of an accompanying point or the presence of but a single hole in a column.

In addition to the designations represented by perforations in the columns, a blank or unperforated column may be used to control a function of the typewriter or the controlled machine. The blank column in that case may be considered as representing, denoting, or designating a fact used to control the ltypewriter for a certain function; specifically, a carriage or character spacing operation of the typewriter.

THE Tvrawui'nm Although applicable to any ordinary typewriter or other suitable transcribing machine, the invention will be described and shown in connection with a typewriter whose principles are disclosed in Patents Nos. 1,777,055 and 1,873,512.

Fig. 19 shows the keyboard of which keys I0 are the character keys, key CR the carriage return key, key TAB the tabulating key, key RS the ribbon shift key, bar SP the space bar, key SL the shift lock key, and key SR the shift release key. v

Briefly, referring to Figs. 19 and 21, depression of a key I0 releases a latch II from a cam I2, permitting a. spring-pressed lever I3 to move the cam against the periphery of a continuously rotating motor-driven shaft I4. The cam I2 is rotated by contact with shaft I4 causing the carrier I5 of the cam to rock in a direction for depressing a link I6 which through linkage I1 propels the type bar I8, carried by the type basket I9, towards the platen 20 to effect printing of the character denoted on the operated key. During the final increment of movement of type bar I8, it strikes a universal bar 22 to actuate the escapement lever 23 for releasing the escapement mechanism to effect a carriage spacing movement.

Depression of space bar SP similarly results in downward movement of a link I6' to operate linkage 24 for actuating the escapement lever 23 to cause a carriage or letter space operation.

The ribbon shifting mechanism operated by key RS is such as disclosed in Patent No. 1,937,048.

The carriage return mechanism operated by key CR is ofthe type disclosed in Patent No. 1,955,614. As is usual, the carriage return movement is accompanied by a line spacing operation. After the carriage has been returned and a single line spacing operation effected as an incident thereto, a repeated depression of the carriage return key merely causes an additional line space operation.

The tabulating mechanism operated by key TAB is such as shown in Patent No. 1,935,436, and includes the usual settable tabular stops 25.

As is well known, depression of the shift lock key SL moves the types from small letter or numeral case to capital case position. The shift lock key when depressed is retained in operated position by a latch 26 (Fig. 20) catching under a hook 26'. The shift lock key is released by means of a release key SR pivoted on the frame. Operation of key SR moves link 21 to the right (Fig. 20) to release the latch 2B from the hook 26', permitting key SL to immediately return to its elevated position causing return of the types to numeral case position.

Element 28 is the usual settable marginal stop to stop the carriage return movement when the beginning of the line has been reached.

supplementing the above construction and peculiar to the present invention are solenoids 30, one for the space bar and each of the various keys of the keyboard required to be operated. Energization of a solenoid results in automatic operation of a key and the mechanism operated by the key. The solenoids 30 may be distinguished by suillxing the designation of the key or element operated thereby to the common reference number 30.

Also peculiar to the present invention are normally closed contacts 32 (Fig. 21) opened momentarily by operation of a lever 33 as a tab stop 25 rides past the lever.

In addition, normally closed contacts 34 (Fig.

21) have been similarly provided to be openedV by the marginal stop 26 when the carriage is re, turned to the beginning of the line.

As indicated in Fig. 20, contacts 36 have been provided which are carried by spring blades 31 4When shift lock key SL is depressed, near the end of its down stroke, the rear end of the carrying bar of this key engages blade 38 and opens contacts 36. These contacts remain open while the type basket is in capital case position, and reclose when the key SL is released by key SR and the type basket returns to numeral case position.

PLAN or OPERATION Each card is punched preferably with the data for only a single line to be typed, although the cards may if desired be punched with the data for more than one line to be typed. After a line has been typed under control of a card, a carriage return operation must be effected, and this may be done by punching each card with the carriage return code in a card column following the card columns containing the code for the information to be transcribed from the card. The carriage return operation is accompanied by a line space operation and prepares the typewriter for printing the next line of information under control of the next card. If more than one line space operation is desired, successive card columns are punched with a carriage return c ode, the first column causing carriage return plus a line spacing operation and the following carriage return code columns merely causing line spacing operations.

The stack of form cards FC has its cards arranged in the order in which the lines of typed form matter corresponding to the cards are to be typed. The first, bottom, card of the form card stack is a date card, a different one of which must be prepared for each day. The stack of form cards is to be used over and over again to control the typewriter for printing duplicate form letters. Each run of the letter card stack through the reading unit results in the typing of a single form letter.

The address cards AC are to be used but once for each series of form letters to be typed. As illustrated in Fig. 23, the inside address, including the name and address of the addressee, occupies three lines. Thus, there will be a series or setv of three different address cards for each letter to be typed. The sets of address cards are stacked in the order in which they are to control the typing of different inside addresses for the successive form letters, the body of each of which is typed under control ofthe single stack of form cards.

Referring to Fig. 1, the stack of form cards FC is placed in magazine FM and the stack containing a plurality of sets of address cards AC is placed in address card supply magazine AS.

The cards in the magazines are disposed with their columns transverse to the length of the reading unit. A card may be fed out of either magazine FM or AS to the central feed station FS of the reading unit, located between the supply magazines. The card is then advanced lengthwise along the central section of the reading unit, and through the analyzing means which read the card designations. 'Ihe analyzing means comprises a line or column of twelve sensing brushes SB (Figs. 1, 3, '7, 11), one for each index position of a card column, and a cooperi ating contact roller 40 (Figs. 1, 3, 7). The cardr is fed intermittently, one column at a timethrough the analyzing means. The latter sense the designation of a column and controls thetypewriter accordingly. 'Ihe next card columnl f is then fed to the analyzing means. After pass-1,."

ing' the analyzing means, the card is advanced to an eject station'ES, still along the central section of the machine. The card, if an address card/isfV then ejected into delivery magazine AD. If the card is a letter card, it is ejected towards the letter side or section of the readingl unit and then. returned along the letter section to the top of the l stack in the magazine FM from whence it carne.'

After the stacks of cardsl have been placed in their magazines, the operator inserts a letter sheet in the typewriter, and locates the date line in printing position. The operator then initiatesl operation of the reading unit or machine, in a manner which will be explained later.

The normal tendency of the machine is to feed a form card from magazine FM to the central section of the reading unit. Accordingly, when the machine is set in operation, the first card fed out is the bottom form card, which may also be referred to as the date card. This card bears the date information followed in succession by an address card call code and a high speed eject code. After the date has been typed under control of the date card, the address call code on the date card is sensed vby the analyzing means. This causes the next card fed out to be an address card. After the address card has been called. the high speed-eject code on the date card is` sensed resulting in a carriage return operation, suppression of intraline or letter spacing of the typewriter carriage and in the card being fed out rapidly by a continuous, instead of by the normal intermittent, action of the feeding and ejecting means.

In addition to the address call code calling the first address card out of magazine AS, it also initiates a train of events eventually leading to ejection of the called address card to its magazine AD when the address card after it has been analyzed subsequently reaches eject position ES.

The first address card bears the designations of the name of the addressee and, in addition, the codes for address card call and high speed eject. Thus, 'passage of the i'lrst address card through the reading section results in typing of the rst line of the inside address and the calling out of the second address card. The latter bears the information for the second line of the inside address and an address card call code. Thus, after typing of the second line of the inside address, the third address card is called out. This card has no address card call code but has an address end code which when analyzed restores the reading unit to normal operation for

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