US2348059A - Paper feeding mechanism - Google Patents

Description

May 2, 1944. G. F. DALY 2,348,059

PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 19, 1943 ll SheetS-Sheet 2 A TTOHNE Y.

May 2, 1944. G. F. DALY PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 19, 1943 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 11'yv NToR. //.W/

A TTORN Y.

May 2, 1944.

F IG.4.

G. F. DALY PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 19, 1943 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 yVENTOR.

TTOHNEY.

i 2,34s,o59

G. F. DALY May 2, 1944.

PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 19, 1945 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 g mmm: INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Ulun

ID ll PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 19, 1943 ll Shee'ts-Sheel 6 F'IG.6.

,INVE TOR.

Www

ATTORNEY.

PAPER FEEDING MECHANI SM Filed Feb. 19, 1943 11 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIGJ.

0 gf 7vII/ENTOR' May 2, 1944. G. F. DALY PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 19, 1943 ll Sheets--Smeei'I 8 (i Iy/ENTOR. BY v v ATTOHNEK May 2, 1944. G. F. DALY 2,348,059

PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 19, 1943 11 sheets-Sheet 9 May 2, 1944. G. F. DALY 2,34s,o59

PAPER FEEDING MECHANI SM Filed Feb. 19, 1945 11 Shee'cs-Shee'l 10 i? ;NV WNTOH BY TTORNE Y May 2. 1944. G. F. DALY 2,348,o59

PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 1 9, 1943 ll Shets-Shee 11 Flaz. /1721 Mini/:to rwmaz l- ATTORNEY Patented May 2, 1944 :348.059 PAPEB FEEDING MECHANISM,

`rge F. Daly, ndicott, N. Y.. Business lilachin ternational New York, N. Y., a oorporatlon of New mmm tonies Corporation,

York

Application February 19, 1943, Serial/No. 476.421l

13 Claims.

This invention relates to paper sheet feeding devices and more particularly to the type arranged to feed paper sheets variable amounts to post data on predetermined lines so that such data is in the form of a bili. ,This data usually consists of names, addresses, items of a bili, and a related total. 1

The main object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement to effect variable sheet feeding of a bili form according to preset devices in the machine and to accompany such sheet feeding operations by feeding of a register sheet by line spacing operations to provide for presentstion of the'same data on the register sheet but in a condensed manner.

A still further object of the invention is to provide for positively feeding the bili form and the register sheet by a pin feed sheet feeding mechanism which is known in the art to consist of rotatable sheet feeding wheels having projections cooperating with marginal perforations of the paper sheet to be fed.

A still further object resides in the provision of connectlons from a line spacing mechanism to pin feed wheels to cause the latter to line space the register sheet and to provide for connections from the variable spacing Operating mechanism to other pin feed wheels to positively feed the bili form to the predetermined extents.

Another object of the invention is to provide a variable bili form spacing mechanism of the start-stop type with related electromagnetic controls enabling spacing Operations for the bili form to be predetermined by transmitting timed electrical impulses to such electromagnetic controls.

Another object of the invention is the provision of electrical means to initiate impulses to the start electromagnetic control upon completion of printing of a line of data and to provide for electrical plug connections which are preset by the operator to enable the transmission of a timed electrical impulse to the stop electromagnetic control when the predetermined extent of spacing of the bili form has been effected.

A still further object of the invention is to coordinate such electromagnetic controls with the item printing and total printing mechanism so that paper spacings for the bili form are provlded to the predetermined extent when printing cither items or totais. An advantage of this arrangement is to enable printing of the total at a predeterminedv line at the bottom of a bili, and upon printing a total to cause name and address printing to be started on a certain line of the next section of the bili. v

In connection with the Printing of names and addresses foliowed by printing the related items of the bili, a still further obiect resides in the provision of a sensing arrangement which determines when the last line of the address has beenposted on the bili form and which provides for the spacing of the bili form to a predeter- Inl'ned line to receive the first item of the related Another object of the present arrangement is to provide for printing the data of several bills on each section of the register sheet and to effect the spacing of the next section of the register sheet a suiiicient extent to provide a head space at the top of each section.

A more specific object and relatively important object is to suppress such head spacing operations of the register sheet untll-ali the data of the last bili at the bottom of a section is posted thereon. j

In carrying out this object such suppression is eii'ected until a total of the last bili is prlnted on the bottom of a section of the register sheet and upon completing the printing of a total such head spacing Operations occur. In the present machine when the last line to be printed is occupied by a total imprint then head spacing operations to the maximum extent occur. i By the provision of an eiectrical control this last line is sensed but until such total is printed it is ineifective to initiate head Spaclns operations.

Therefore, in carrying out this last named object of the invention the well known group control mechanism is coordinated with the initiating control and if a group control is sensedat the time the inltiating control is eil'ective then head spacing operations of the register sheet occur. However, if the inltlatlng control is eifective but the group control has not sensed a change in designation, head spacing Operations are suppressed to enable the posting of the remaining items and the attendant total, and uponfprinting such total head spacing operatlons are initiated under the joint control of the initiating control and the group control mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to effect head spacing Operations by successive line feeding operations of the register sheet and in the present machine this is accompiished by a suppiemental control for the line spacing mechanism of the register sheet, and by idle operations of the tabulating machine in which the present improvements are incorporated, the register sheet is headspaced by successive line spacing Opel'lflolls.

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

In the drawings:

FiE. 1 shows the outline of a record controlied accounting or tabulating machine of a well known form with the improved sheet feeding arrangement associated with the printing mechanism of such machine.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the improved sheet feeding arrangement, showing particularly the sheet guides and the associated pin feed driving mecnanism for both the register sheet and bill form.

Fg. 3 is a view in front elevation, showing particularly the layout of the driving gears and associated driven mechanlsms for the pin feed mechanism for the bili form and register sheet and is taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Flg. 5 is a view in side elevation taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, this view showing particularly the electrical control for the clutch which Dredetermines the extent of feed for the bili form.

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation. showing particuiarly the gear drive mechanism from the motor and is taken on the line 6-0 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2, showing particularly the details of the line spacing mechanism for the register sheet.

Fig. 8 is a sectlonal view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2, showing particularly the construction of the pin feed sheet mechanism for the bili form and register sheet and associated guiding members therefor.

Fig. 9 is a view showing a fragment of the b i1l' form, showing the manner in which it is divisible into separate biils and each showing the manner of printing different forms of bills.

Fg. 10 is a fragment of the register sheet, showing how the separate sections thereof receive the same printed data as occurs on the bili form but in a condensed manner. v

Fig. 11 is a detali view showing the operat connections -from the tabuiating machine for operating the line space device shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 12 is a wiring diagram.

Fig. 13 is a timing diagram of the electrical contacts.

Fig. 14 is a timing diagram.

Fig. 15 is a wiring diagram of a conventional automatic group control circuit coordinated with the present control circuits.

RECORD MATERIALS The record materials which are fed by the improved feeding mechanism shown herein constitute a file sheet or register sheet I0 and a bili form li. The register sheet 10, as shown in Fig. 10, is a continuous strip. and the bili form shown in Fig. 9 is also in the form of a continuous strip provided, however. with weakened lines I2 which enable sections of the bill form to be divided into separate bills which are sent to the customers. The register sheet I0 is the flle sheet which receives the same impressions made on the bill form II but in a condensed manner, as is indicated in Fig. 10.

Both the register sheet 10 and the biil form il are in a fanfoid arrangement. As best shown in hopper i3 and is passed upwardly from the supply hopper so as to overlie a guide plate i4. As the register sheet 10 comes off the guide plate I4 it passes over a guide plate IS (see Flg. 8) so as to partially surround a conventional platen 16, and is then directed upwardly and rearwardly beneath a pair of laterally adiustable guide plates H. the register strip then being guided rearwardly of the machine by a flxed guide plate i8 so that in passing off the extremity of the guide plate II the printed register sheet drops into a storage hopper IS.

The bill II is drawn from a supply hopper 20, then being guided to the front of the machine -by a curved guide plate 2i; (Fig. 8) then passing forwardly over a guide plate 22 but underneath the guide plate 15 and in turn also passing around the platen IS over the sheet I0. Adlacent the bili form is a conventional inking ribbon R so disposed that when the differentiaily adiusted type bars 10' (Fig. l) are struck by a hammer to effect the printing impression, the imprint will be made upon the bili form II. For providing carbon imprints of such impressions on the register sheet a carbon strip may be interleaved between the sheets 10 and II or it may be provided by a carbon coating underneath sheet II. For the sake of simplicity it may be assumed that the underside of the bili form II is provided with a coating of carbon so that carbon imprints may be made upon the register sheet I0. Alternatively a carbon strip may be interleaved between the sheets 10 and i I and fed in any suitable manner well known in the art.

The bili form li is passed upwardiy so as to be fed by its own sheet feeding mechanism and to provide suitable guiding members for the sheet feed the following arrangement is preferably provided. The bili form II, as it passes upwardly, passes over laterally adJustable curved guide plates 23 (Fig. 8) and is directed upwardly over a fixed guide plate 24 (see also Fig. 1) so as to be fed in the storage hopper 25 for the bili form. Further, guiding members conslst ofa plurality of bails designated by reference numerals 21, 23 and 20 which are adiustable, (see Fig. 2). Each of these bails isof similar construction as shown in Fig. 8 for the ball 21 and consists of side plates 30 which are fixed at their lower ends to a tube 3I and at their upper ends to a tube 32. The tubes 3I and 32 encircie tubes 33 and 34. To the tubes 33 and 34 side plates 35 and 30 are fixed toLform a rigid frame on which bails 21, 20, 20 are slidabiy mounted. By means of fastening screws 31 the ball 21 and correspondingly the other baiis 28 and 29 may be moved along the tubes 33 and 34 and fixed at any desired position, depending upon the Width of the bili form to be printed. The side plates 30 of each bail 21, 28, 20 extend rearwardly so as to form integrai curved guide flngerg 30. It will be noted that the lower edges of the side plates 30 of each bail are curved and the flngers 38 are so formed at their lower edges that when the bails 21 and 23 are in the position shown in Fig. 8 they will force the bili form I i flrmly over the guide plates 23.

At the central portion of the tube 34 there are connected side plates 38 (see Fig.` 2) which are Joined at their extremities by a rod 40 constituting a ball; this ball being adapted to hold the bili form against the guide plate 24 (see Fig. 1).

The extensions of the tubes 33 and 34 flt in respective brackets 4| and 42 (see Fig. 7) and obvlously by such arrangement the frame carry- Fig. 1 the register sheet is drawn from a supply" ing the bails 21. 20, 20, and ball 40-30 may be detached by the operator to enable the threading of the bill form over the guide plates 28 and thence over the guide plate 24, as indicated in Fig. 1. When the aforementioned frame is detached, convenient access may also be had to the register sheet l8 for the purpose of passlng it beneath the guide plate i1 and over the guide of holding the guide plate I1 with a certain' amount of pressure against the register strip, it will be noted that there is provided flat springs 41, each of which urges force against a shoulder 48 of the related arm 42 so as to rock arms 48 to. press the guide plates I1 against the related guide plates 48 and hold the register sheet in the proper position.

As best shown in Figs. 9 and 10, both the bill form and register sheet are provided with marginal perforations; this being a well known form of sheet and are provided for the purpose of effecting the posit'ive feed of the sheets the deslred extent. To this end, the sheet feeding mechanism shown here'in is provided with a pin sheet feed mechanism, preferably of the type now to be described in detail.

Pm Ferrum memmsu The pin feeding mechanism includes a pair of wheels 88 for feeding the bili form and a pair of wheels 8! for feeding the register sheet. (F'igs. 2, 3, 8.) Each of the wheels 88 and 8I is provided with pins for Cooperation with the marglnal perforations of the bill form and the register sheet in a well known manner. As premised hereinbefore the widths of the register sheet and bill form may vary and for this reason it is preferable to enable the wheels 88 and 8I to be laterally adjusted on their driving shafts so that the pins of the wheels will cooperate with the marginal perforations of the varying sizes of sheets.

The manner of securing this adjustrnentb and clamping the wheels at the desired position on the related driving shaft is the same for all of the wheels 88 and 8I and will be described in connection with one thereof. As shown in Figs. 4 and 8, the driving shaft 82 for the pair of wheels 88 is provided with a flattened portion 88. Each wheel 88 has pivoted thereon at 84 (Fig. 8) a clamping plate 85 which extends through a slot of the hub 88 of the related wheel 88 and cooperates with the flattened portion 88 of the driving shaft 82. A clamping screw 81 clamps the wheel 88 to the driving shaft 82. Obviously, by loosening the clamp by untightening the screw 81 the wheel 88 may be laterally adjusted to any desired position. From Fig. 8 it'will also be noted that the wheel 8I is adjustable on its driving shaft 88 and can be clamped thereto in the same manner. The guide plate 23 overlies the related pin feed wheel course, these plates are slotted so that the pins of the pin feeding wheel may pass through such plates without interference to thereby feed the sheet overlying such guide plates.

Since the guide plate 28, for example, coow erates with the pin feed wheel 88, any adjustment 88 and similarly the guide plate 48 overlies the related pin feed wheel 8I and, of

a plate 8I which has depending ears 82 in which4 are formed square notches so as to be recelved by a support shaft 88. Obviously, such construction enables a support for the guide plate 28 and a lateraladlustment on the support rod 88 and such adjustment may\ be4 maintained and by any suitable latching or fastening means.

-In a similar manner, the guide plate 48is also adjust-ably mounted upon a square Support md 84 so that theplates 48 may be coordlnated with their related pin feed wheels 8I at the deslred position and fastened in such position.

MARGINAL Ssvlnmo Macrrmsu rmm nes. 9 end 1o. it win be ebserved that both f the register form and bili sheet are provided with scoring lines 88 which weaken the strip at the merginai perforations so that upon further cutting along this line the marginal edges carrying the perforations will be cut off from the remalnder of the sheet. To this end a sheet severing mechanism is provided and is preferably coordinated with the bill form I8 to cut .the marginal edges although so desired it may be -associated with-the pin feeding mechanism for the register sheet I8.

For- .simplicity, this severing device comprises a plate 88 (see Fig. 8) having a cutting projection or knife blade 81. This severlng knife is carried by the side plate 88 of the adjustable bail 21 (see Fig. 3) and the guide plate 28 is suitably cut away so that when the detachable frame is in the position shown in Fig. 8 the knlfe blade 88 will pass through the scored line 85 to sever the sheet. This provides the severing mechanism for the left end of the bill form II as the bill form is fed and the severed margin feeds off to the left into any suitable receptacle.

A similar severing knife is designated by reference numeral 88 (see Fig. 2) and is carried by the right side plate 88\of the ball 28 to sever in a similar manner the right marginal edge ofthe bill form II.

Attention is directed to the provision of an index plate I88 (see Fig. 8) which is also carried by the left side plate 88 of the bail 21. The index plate I88 carries an index or pointer I8I. As the bill form is threaded over the pin feed wheels 88 a certain line of one form is coordinated with the index point I8I to thereby make certain that with preprlnted headings on the bill form the data to be printed will occur at the proper places and each form will be fed to the proper extent from the normal starting position. The index plate I88 and associated pointer I8I are also shown in Fig. 3.

LIN: SPACING MECHANISM FOR Rloisrsn SHur mounted thereon the usual ratchet wheel 12 andcooperating with the ratchet wheel 12 is the customary spring pressed feeding pawl 18 which is carried by an arm 14 loosely pivoted upon, the shaft of the plateiir I8. The arm 14 carrles a pin 18 which is received by the bifurcation of a rock arm 16 which is secured to a rock shaft 50. The rock shaft 50 is given an invariable rocking movement for each item listing Operation of the machine so as to cause the uni-directional rotation of the ratchet wheel 12. Attached to the ratchet wheel 12 is a gear 11 which, through an idler gear 18, drives a gear 19 secured to the pin feed wheel shaft 88. The extent of line spacing is regulated by a shield 105 which is interposed between the ratchet 12 and the pawl 13. By means of a manually adjusted part 106 the arm 101 which is integral with the shield 1115 may be adiusted so that by the interposition of the shield 105 the extent of line spacing operations for the register sheet may be regulated. The adjustment of the shield 105 is maintained by an impositive pawl 106 which is spring pressed so as to cooperate with notches 109 formed on the arm 101. Alignment of the ratchet wheel 12 is also effected by the spring pressed pawl 110 cooperating with the ratchet wheel 12 in the usual manner.

The means for rocking the shaft 50 to effect line spacing Operations is the same as that shown and described in the aforementioned patent to Ghertman, No. 2,l81,992 and is also shown in Fig. 11 herein. For indicating similarity in construction the same reference numerals are used herein to designate the corresponding parts.

Fixed'to shaft 50 is an arm 51 carrying a stud 52 cooperating with a bifurcated lever 53 secured to a stud shaft 54. To this stud shaft there is secured an arm 55 connecting through a link 56 with an arm 51 on shaft 58. In Fig. 11 it will be seen that the constantly running worm wheel 59 of the tabulating machine, in which the present improvements are incorporated, has fixed thereto a double cam 60 engaging a lever 61 urged by a spring 62 into contact with said cam. An upwardly extending arm of lever 61 carries a stud 63 which moves in an L-slot 64 of a link 65 connected to an arm on shaft 58. A nose 66 of link 65 rests upon armature 61. Magnet LSM is energized at a time when the follower roller of lever 61 is on the low portion of cam 60 and stud 63 is to the right in slot 64 which will permit link 65 to be drawn down into operative relationship with stud 63 so that as lever 61 is rocked counterclockwise, shaft 56 will be actuated to cause the operation of the line spacing device. A spring 63 restores shaft 58 and theconnected links.

Following such paper spacing, a pin 69 in worm wheel 69 coacts with a bell crank 10 to raise link 65 positively out of active engagement with stud 63 and latch it on armature 61. A double arm lever 11 is provided to positively force link 65 down when armature 61 is actuated and in reverse order when link 65 is restored to positively restore the armature.

' Summarizing, it will be evident that the tabulating machine includes an Operating mechanism for eifecting a predetermined extent of Operation of the pin feed shaft 88 and therefore through the driven pin feed wheels 61 the register Shet will be line spaced for each item listing Operation.

Snurr Frzsnmo MEcHANIsM roR BILL Form The bili form is advanced by a separately driven electric motor through a train of gears and an eiectrically controlled clutching mechanism, the latter having associated electrical controls therefor so that the bili form may be fed a predetermined extent, depending upon the presetting in the machine.

The driving motor is designated by reference numeral 115 (Figs. 4 and ahd drives an armagear 111 pivoted on a stud shaft 113 and to said ture pinion 116 (Figs. 4 and 6), meshing with a 16 gear 111l there is secured a pinion 113 driving a gear 123 secured to a stud shaft 121. To the gear 120 there is attached aplnion 122 which drives I. gear 123 secured to a shaft 124. Attached to the shaft 124 is a -ratchet shaped clutch element 125. The motor 115 continually operates so that accordingly the ratchet wheel 125 is constantly rotated.

The clutch mechanism is of a special design which enables a differentlal extent of movement of the pin feed mechanism for the bili form and will now be described in detail. The electromagnetlc control for the clutch consists of a start magnet 126 and'a stop magnet 121, the energization of the start magnet 126 attracting an armature latch member 128 to release the clutch and the stop magnet 121 reversely attracting the armature latch member 121 to disengage the clutch. To further hold the parts of the clutch in normai position and to prevent retrograde movement there is provided a detent magnet 129 with an associated latch armature 136.

Loosely mounted upon the shaft 124 is an assembly which comprises a gear 130 (Fig. 4), a spacing disk 131, and a clutch disk 132. Mounted adjacent the disk 132 is a simlarly shaped disk 133 pivoted on the shaft 124 but independently rotatable of the disk 132. Each of the disks 132 and 133 have external detent projections 134 and in the normal position of the parts the aligned projections 134 of the disks 133 and 132 are held by the cross plate 135 of the latch armature 126. The armature 136 of the detent magnet 123 is urged by a Spring 131 so that it, in turn, cooperates With other aligned proiections 134 of the disks 132 and 133 in the normal position of the parts. To the disk 132 there is attached a. spring stud 138 and to the detent disk 133 there is attached a spring stud 139 and a normally tensioned spring 140 is fastened to each stud 133 and 139 so that understanding that the detent disks 132 and 133 are independently rotatable, it will be observed that by the energization of the sta'rt magnet 126 the armature latch 123 will be drawn outwardiy to disengage it from the aligned palr of proiections 134 of the disks 132 and 133, enabling the normally tensioned spring 140 to rock the detent disk 133 slightly clockwise. This takes place because of the fact that the detent disk 132 is now held immovable by the train of mechanism from such disk which overcomes the force of the spring 140 so that the resulting action is to rock the detent disk 133 slightly clockwise. Attached to the detent disk 133 is disk 141 which is scalloped to receive the rounded end of a lever 142 which is pivoted upon a stud 143 Secured to-the detent disk 132. It will be seen that the stud 143 passes through an aperture 144 formed in the detent disk 133. Attached to the lever 142 is a clutch pawl 145 in the plane of the clutch wheel 125. Obviouslv, the slight clockwise rotatlon of the detent disk 133 when the clutch is released will cause the disk 141 to rock the pawl 145 to engage a tooth of the clutch wheel 125, this action being assisted by a spring 146 attached to the clutch pawi 145. In this manner the clutch is engaged and the detent disks 132, 133 rotate displaced relative to each other with the proiection 134 of the disk 133 slightly ahead in a clockwise direction of the projection 134 of the detent disk 132 it was previously aligned with. It is also polnted out that when the start magnet 126 is energired the detent magnet 123 is also energired and is kept assaoss energized for the length of time which varies 8000m to the different extent of movement given to the driven members of the clutch. When the driven member of the clutch has been given a predetermined extent of rotation in a clockwise direction, the stop magnet l2`| is energized by means of electrical controls to be later described and at this time the start magnet l2l is deenerglzed as well as the detent magnet l29. Hence, the latch member l2l will be positiveiy drawn to the right so as to 8118886, one of the projectlons l of the disks l32 and III. The first one to be engaged due to the relative dispiacement of such detent disks "2 and lu is the projection i of the disk Ill and this will be engaged by the cross plate III on the latch member l28, thereby holding the detent disk III and the member Ill. The tooth of the ratchet clutch disk l2l is still engaged with the clutch-pawl i snd this will rotate the disk ll2 clockwise independent of the disk i, but since the member Ill is now stationary the resulting action is to rock the latch pawl HI slightly clockwise to disengage it from the ratchet clutch l25 and at this time the proiection i will be .engaged by the cross plate l" of the latch member l28. At the same time, the armature III of the detent magnet l2I will engage upwardly over the pro- .lections IN of the dlsks ll2 and l33 and notation of the driven member of the clutch will have been terminated and effected in a differential manner.

The driving connectlons from the aforementioned clutch to the pin feed mechanism for feeding the bili form is shown in Figs. 4 and 6. It will be noted that the driven pinion ISO of the clutch meshes with a gear ISO which is secured to a shaft Ill. The shaft lil has a coupling connection li2 (Fig. 3) with the shaft 82 which is the pin feed drive shaft for the bili form. Obviously, the differential rotation of the shaft 82 wiil,-through associated pin feed wheels Ill drive the bili form to the predetermined extent.

Comnrrsron Connor. tox Srorrnvc or Funnm or Blu. Four Of the electrical controls for determining the extent of the feed of the bili form, one consists of a commutator arrangement best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In general, the driven member of the clutch drives a rotating brush assembly of a commutator which includes the brush assembly, a common conductor ring and commutator segments. This unit is known as the stop commutator. The pin feed driving mechanism for advancing the bili form is directly geared to the brush assembly and operates in synchronism therewith. The commutator segments are so arranged that each spaced segment represents a printlng line of the bili form and each time the brush assembly pas'ses a commutator segment, the bili form advances one line and does so until a commutator segment which is rendered effective for circuit connections is engaged by the brush assembly, and as will be subsequetly pointed out this stops the feeding of the bill form.

From F'ig. 4 it will be/ observed that to the shaft lll there is secured a gear lit having intemal gear teeth i which mesh with a pinion l 51 loosely mounted upon a stud carried by the frame plate lil. The pinion IS'I meshes with a gear ISO which is attached to a stud shaft l6ll rotatably mounted in a coliar ltl carried by the side frame ISO. The brush assembly consists of a member III attached to stud shaft lt. and carrying brushes l and l which contact with 5 commutator sesments II! and the common conductor ring l. Obviously, by the above arassembly is drivenv synchronously with the driven member of the clutch and the bili form pin feed mechanism. The function of this commutator will be more apparent when the operation of themachine is described in connection with the circuit diagram.

RIGISTIR Sml' OVIRI'LOW CAM CONTROL From Fig. 10 it will be observed that the register .sheet III is divided by a horizontal dashdot line into sections, each of which receives a limited number of lines of printing. It is especially desirable that the item and total printing of a bili be completed on the bottom of a section and then spacings follow to provide a heading for the next section. bIn this case, after printing the total of the last bili the register sheet Ill is automatically spaced to the flrst printing line of the next section of the register sheet below the heading and a cam control to initiate such operation is included in the present machine and is best shown in l'ig. 6.'

The pin feed drive shaft IO for the register sheet has secured thereto a pinion l'll meshing with a gear l1l and to the gear l'll there is secured a cam `l'|2. Associated with the cam l12 are contacts l`|3 which are normaily open by the high portion l" of cam l'l2 while printing is effected upon certain lines of a section of the register sheet. When a certain line from the bottom of a section of the register sheet has been printed, the upper blade of contacts l'll will drop of! from the high part l'll of cam l'l2, to a low part i whereupon contacts l 13 will close. As will be described later on in connection with the circuit diagram, this will cause, after printlng one or more items and a total of the last bili, the spacing of the register sheet to the next section and during this time card feeding Operations of the tabulating machine will be held up.

OPERATION OF MACHINI IN CONNICTION WITH THE CIRCUIT DAGRAH l. Reset of commutator As a vpre'requisite to the proper `feeding of the bili form to the end that the printings occupy the desired positions on the bili form, the commutator should be at the normal or zero index point position and the bili form should be aligned with respect to the index polnter llil (see Fig. 8). Means is preferably provided to bring the commutator to the zero position which is indicated when a polnter l8ll (Fig. 5) is at the zero position. When this zero position is obtained, the bili form is inserted in the machine and aligned with respect to the polnter ll and proper feed- Ving will then ensue.

It may be possible that the commutator is not at the zero position in which case a reset key l8l I(Fig. 12) is depressed and a circuit will be made from the line 182 to the line l83 through contacts closed by the reset key l8l to'energize the pickup col of relay RS. Relay coil R5 like others is'a dual-wound relay which consists of a pickup coil and a holding coii which are respectvely designated P and H, which designation is also made for other similar coils. The holding coii of relay R5 or R5(H) will be picked up by contacts R5--2, a stick circuit for R5(H) then extending back to the line l82 through such contacts and reiay contacts R3-2 now closed. Hence, depression of the reset key lai will cause the energisation and maintained energization of relay coil RJ which will transfer its contacts ias-4. snd close its contacts its-I, Rs-s ano RJ-I.

The start circuit which provides an electrical control whereby the clutch is engaged so that the commutator may be reset to its sero position will now be described. The energizatiai of the relay coil BI closes its contacts RI-i to thereby close the circuit from the line il! through relay contacts 33-4, through relay contacts RI-L thence through A circuit breaker contacts (to be subsequently described), through relay coil RS to the line III. A holding circuit for the relay RI is established through stick contacts RI-L contacts RI-L and contacts RH now closed, back to line III. Relay coil RO will now close its contacts RI-I so that when the B circuit breaker (to be subsequently described) closes, an impulse will be directed from line ist, nlay contacts RI-I, the RI-i contacts now closed, the B circuit breaker contacts, through RI-I contacts to the pickup winding of relay coil RA. The latter closes its contacts RI-i to pick up and maintain relay coil RMR) energized by a circuit from line i", relay coil RNB), relay contacts R-i, relay contacts R3-2, to line III. V

The energization of the start relay RMH) will close its contacts R-i so that a circuit will be made from the line il! through contacts RJ-I now closed, through contacts Rl-I now closed, thence through the start magnet i and also through the detent magnet III, both of these being held energized as long as contacts Rt-I are closed. The energization of both of these magnets will cause the elutch to be engaged and the commutator will rotate from the position in which it is in, if it is off the nero starting position, and will continue imtii the oommutator brushes i and i are at the sero position at which time a circuit will be closed from the lino.I iu, through the common conductor ring itt, thence by brushes III and i through the oommutator segment i", thence through relay contacts RB- now transferred, to the stop magnet Ill. This same impulse is also directed to relay coil R! and the latter opens its contacts R3-2 to thereby open the stick circuits for the holding coils of relays RA, RI, relay coil RO, start magnet III and detent magnet i. Obviously, when the zero position of the commutator is reached, the energization of the stop magnet iIl will disengage the clutch and the commutator will remain at such normal starting position. The provision of the contacts RI-I is to cause, by the opening of its upper contacts, the disconnection of the plug connections which may have been made and which areiutilized to cause the energisation of the stop magnet ifl when predetermined, spacings of the bili form are to.

be made. The opening of such contacts, therefore. prevents such control when the reset key ili is depressed to aeroize the commutator.

If reset key ili is held depressed after the zero position of the commutator has been reached with the commutator brush on the insulating space between "0" and "1," the continued energisation of relay R! will truisfer its contacts RH to keep relay RS energized, since a stick or energizing circuit for the latter is provided in this instance by Rl-i contacts, RI-S contacts to line lu. As long as RJ is kept energized by holding key ili depressed its RS-i contacts are open to prevent another impulse from being directed to reiay Re to initiate a succession of reg setting cycles.

2. Spacing ol bili form to predetermined ertents There will now be described in connection with the circuit diagram the manner in which predetermined spacings of the bili form are eil'ected with the normal operation of the tabulating machine and under control of previously made plugging connections.

As stated before, the improvements are incorporated in the form of tabulating machine shown in the patent to Peirce, No. 2,042,324, dated May 26, 1936, and the patent to Mills, No. 2,079,4l8, dated May 4, 1337, such machine having a printing mechanism shown in the patent to Mills, No. 2,0l6,682, dated October 8, 1935, which printing mechanism is capable of printing numerals and alphabetic characters.

Theitabulating machine is provided with a card feeding mechanism which is shown in Fig. 6 of the Peirce patent, No. 2,042324 and cards are successively passed through the machine, first to the upper analyzing brushes and thence to the lower analyzing brushes so that for each cyclic operation of the machine after the nrst card cycle a card passes the upper and lower analyzing brushes concurrently, during which time operation of the printing mechanism occurs under control of the card at the lower brushes. Tabulating machines of this type are provided with several one-revolution shafts which are adapted to carry cams which open and close contacts. The present tabuiating machine includes an additional cam contact designated PMIA shown in the circuit diagram of Flg. 12 and which has the timing for each total and item entering cycle shown in Fig. 13. It will be noted that this cam closes its contacts at approximately 243 of the cycle and the print drive shaft i therefor is rotated one revolution for each operation of the printing mechanism. As will be made clearer later on, cam contacts PMfA render the circuit breaker it! operative at 243 of the tabulator print cycle. The circuit breaker i is driven by motor lit and is not in any way mechanically operated by the tabulating machine.

In the present machine, the cards which are successively passed through the machine comprise: First, a name card having perforations thereon representing the name to be printed on the bili, then two successive address cards, which latter are foilowed by one or more item cards. Upon the change in classiflcation of the item cards a total is automaticaiiy taken as is well known and during such total taking Operations as will later be described in detail the bili form feeding operation is initiated after printing a total and this initiates, with the piugging arrangement shown in the circuit diagram, the feeding of the bili form and stopping it at line iil of the sheet shown in Fig. 9.. During the next cyclic operation of the tabulating machine the name card now passes by the lower brushes and the printing mechanism is adjusted so as to print the name on line In of the bili form and through the carbon printing sheet upon the register sheet. During this cyclic operation of the machine the line spacing mechanism of the tabulating machine spaces the register sheet a single line, as is shown in Fig. 10. During the cycle of operation in which the name is printed, cam contacts PMIA close at 243 after the printing operation so that a circuit is closed from the line itl, through breaker contacts will not 8,848,059 contacts PMIA; thence through card lever con'- cuit then extends from such card lever contacts through the A circuit breaker to cause the energizationpf the relay coil RO. The latter closes its contacts R i so that a stick circuit extends back through the card lever contacts LC'LII and cam contacts PMIA to line i. During the time the relay coil RS is energized and its contacts RI-I are closed. the B circuit breaker contacts close so as to extend the circuit from card lever contacts ICLII through the B circuit breaker contacts, thence through relay contacts Rt-i to the pickup coil of start relay coil RA.

attention is also directed to the use of the two circuit breakers A and B. The reiative lap timing shown in Fig. 14 and the purpose of this arrangement is to provide a full and correctiy timed start impulse to the start relay RA so that the clutch pawl i will engage a tooth of ratchet wheel IN at the proper time. The two circuit breaker contacts A and B are shown in Fig. and the commutator III, therefore (Figs--i and 5), is secured to the stud shaft i2| which, it will be observed from Fig. 7, is driven by the driving motor l IS. Contacts PMIA are located in a tabuiator, and A and B circuit breaker contacts are driven by motor III so thatit is necessary to provide the correct timing of an impulse and this is effected by setting the commutator of the circuit breakers.

Three different conditions can exist.

(1) In the event that cam contacts PMIA close before circuit breaker contacts B close, the circuit breaker contacts will be closed at this time so that the impulse can be direeted to relay RB and thereafter when the B circuit breaker contacts close the start relay RC will energize and at this time a ratchet tooth of the ratchet wheel If! will be properly coordinated with the clutch pawl HS (see Fig. 5).

(2) If circuit breaker contacts B and PMZA close at the same time then A circuit breaker contacts are not closed so that no impulse will be directed' to relay coil RB and start relay coil RJ will not be energized.

(3) If PMIA contacts close after the B circuit breaker contacts close, in this case A circuit be made and relay coil RB will not energize. i

Summarizing, relay contacts PM2A must flrst close. The A circuit breaker contacts presense this condition, causing the energization of relay coli RJ and then when the B circuit breaker contacts close, a correctly timed impulse will be transmitted to the start relay coil RL Assuming that the desired synchronization has been obtalned and start relay coil Rl has been energized, the hold coil RMH) energizes through the closure of relay contactsRl-L the stick circuit for the hold coil being maintained through contacts RI-i and relay contacts R3-2 back to line lu. At the same time, an impulse will be sent by the closure of contacts R4-2 to both the start magnet I26 and the detent magnet i29,

thereby inltiating the engagement of the clutch after printing the name on the bili form and register sheet. Since, in the previous total taking Operation the sheet was advanced to line Hi of the bili form, the brush assembly of the commutator will advance to the next position and conditions with respect to the clutch are* lei with the present plugging arrangement commutator segment II of the group i" is efi'ective to trminate feeding of the bili form after it has spaced one line, this being eifected by .a circuit now to be described in detali:

When relay coil RMP) is plcked up by the circult arrangement previousiy described it will close tacts RB-l now closed,

its stick contacts Rt-I providing a stick circuit for RMH) extending back to line lu through contacts and R3-2 contacts now closed. It should be noted also that relay coil RMH) will maintain contacts RA-l closed, thus causing detent magnet If! and start magnet i to be retained energized by a circuit extending back to line IS! through relay contacts R-Z and R3-2. When relay coil RI (H) is energized it also closes its relay contacts R4-3 which is in the stick circuit of relay R3, the stick circuit for relay R3 extending back to line l82 through relay contacts Rf-I and RH.

Upon the passage of the brush assembly of the commutator from contact point IO to contact point H, a circuit will be closed from line I82 through the common conductor ring ISG, through the brush assembly III, i when contact point II is engaged, and thence by means of a plug connection IB'I a circuit will be extended to conthence through contacts RB-S now in the position shown, thence through contacts Rl-I now in the position shown, thence through contacts R5-4 now in the position shown, through the stop relay coil R3 to the line I 83. the impulse also being directed to the stop magnet i21.

When relay coil R! energizes it closes its stick contacts R3-I to thereby provide a stick circuit for the relay coil Rs and the stop magnet Ill back to line ili! through RI- now closed.

The energization of relay coil R3 will open' its contacts R ,3-2 to deenergize relay coil RJ (H) the r After printing the second line start magnet i26 and the detent magnet I29. Deenergization of relay coil RMH) will op'en its contacts R4-3 to deenergize relay RS and the stop magnet I21.

This action (energization of stop magnet I2'I and deenergization of start magnet i26 and detent magnets I29) moves armature l28 into position to declutch the clutch mechanism and stopping the brush of the commutator as the brush i just passes the eleventh segment to contact the next insuiating space. The bili form is now at the eleventh printing line.

During the cycle of the tabuiating machine in which the first address card is used to control the operation of the printing mechanism, a printing operation will take place so as to print this data online il of the bili form, and on the register sheet which is line spaced in the customary manner. After such printing, cam contacts PMIA again close to cause a repetition of the feeding of the bili form to the next line, this being effected by means of the plug connection i89 and a feeding of the bili-form will then take place to line i2. of the address, feeding of the bili form ensues in the manner just described but due to the piugging connection shown, spacing Operations are eil'ected to space the bili form to line H of the bili form. However. in printing the second line of the address on the register sheet, the spacing mechanism of the tabulating machine operates so as o space the register sheet a single line, thus causing pr'ntng of the data in duplicate on the register sheet but in a condensed manner. The circuit for eifecting the the relay contacts RS-i and feedingofthebillformfromlinc Iltolinell will now be described in detali:

X-Hsan CARD Smc'rfon Cncinr It is p'referable to initiate the feeding of the bill form to the first line of the item imprint by a control now to be described in detali.

In general, the feeding of the bill form from line II to line il recelving the first amount of the bill is initiated upon the passage by the lower brushes of the last address card and concurrently the first item card past the upper brushes. This is determined by a control coordinated with the same column of all the address cards and the first item card. All of the name and address cards are perforated at the X index point position of this controlling column but the item cards are not, and if two successive name and address cards are so perforated the control will be inoperative. However, upon the feeding of the last address card past the lower analyzing brushes and the first item card past the upper brushes, the control will be operative to cause the spacing of the bill form to the first heading which receives the first item rint.

p This 4control is shown diagrammatically in the wiring diagram and it will be seen that the upper and lower contact roller of the upper and lower analysing brushes, respectively, are eonnected to the line i". Brushes i" are coordinated with this position so that upon the passage of two successive name and address cards having perforaticns at the X index point position relay coils R! and BII will both be energized, the circuit being continued to the line II! through card feed cam contacts CFG which are closed at the time the X index point position is analyred. Relay colls EMP) and RII(P) will pick up respective hold coila RO (H) and RI (H) the stick circuit extending back to line i" through cam contacts CF'2. The cams controlling the card feed contacts designated CF, of which CF! and CF! are two, are driven by a shaft which is rotated during card feed Operations. This shaft ccrresponds to the shaft designated 305 in the patent to Peirce, No. 2,042,324 in Flg. 4 thereof which shows similar CF' cams and contacts. Contacts RIO-I are closed upon the energlzation of the relay coil RIO and contacts RS-I are opened by the energization of the relay coil RS so that it will be seen from the obvious circuit shown that under such conditions relay coil Rl will not be energized.

However, when the last address card which bears a perforation at the X index point position passes by the lower brushes to energize relay coil RIO and when the first item card concurrently passes by the upper brushes and which does not bear a perforation at the X index point position, relay coil Rs will not be energized so that upon the closure of relay contacts RIO-4 relay coil R'I(P) will now be energized, the circuit being extended to line III through cam contacts CB". The pickup coil of relay coil R'I will close its contacts R'I-I to thereby cause the energization of othe hold relay coil R.'|(H) and the hold coil H will continue to keep contacts R'I-2 closed as long as cam contacts CFI remain closed. From Pig. 13 it will be observed that card feed contacts CF'I! will maintain relay coil R'KH) energized during the remaining part of the cycle and also for a greater portion of the next cycle, such contacts being continued closed for the same purpose as the aforementioned contacts CBl- That is to say, it is desirable to keep relay coil RT energized and its contacts Rl-I transferred to en- 78 ablethespacing of thebill formtothemaxlmum extent determined by the width of the sections of the bill form.

During the tabulating machine cycle that the last address card is utilized as a control to print the last line of the address, the clutch for the bill form spacing mechanism will be engaged in the .manner previously described and in the problem assumed the brush assembly of the commutator win move from oontoot point u to oonuot point II but since such contact point has not been plugged for circuit connection it will be ineffective and the brush assembly will move to make contact with contact point II and at this time the circuit will be closed from the line II! through the commutator and extended by a plug connection 102 so that the circuit will be continued through contacts Rl-i now transferred, thence through relay contacts RH now in the position shown, to the relay coil RJ and the stop magnet 121. Thus, bill form spacing Operations will terminate when line II of the bill form has been presented to the printing line.

After this, successive item cards pass through the machine and by means of cross plug connections i" the bill form is spaced line by line as the items represented by the item cards are printed under controlling thereof. Concurrently, with such line spacings of the bill form there is effected line spaclngs of the register sheet Hi. Such operations continue and in the present example ten lines have been allocated for receiving such item imprints and these will vary with each customer's bill. When the last item card has passed by the upper brushes, the first name card for the succeeding bill passes by the upper brushes and a control in the machine ensues in a well known manner which is designated as minor control. This control initlates total taking and total printing Operations and upon taking the total the bill form is spaced from the last printed line to line 24 in the present example so that the total may be printed on line 24 of the bill form, but upon the next successive line of the register sheet after the last item print thereon.

Mntoa v'ro Connor. or Bm Four Srllcnm Orsss'rrorrs The spacing of the bill form to line 24 in the present example is initiated by the well known auto control. This form of control is well known in the tabulating machine in which the present improvements are incorporated and is fully shown and described in the aforementioned patent to Mills, No. 2,079,418, dated May 4, 1937. In general. the.tabulating machine is provided with group control devices for sensing and comparing the group number perforations on successive cards under the upper and lower brushes. All of the name, address and item cards of each group are perforated to represent the same account number. Obviously, when the last item card passes by the upper brushes the first name card of the succeeding group passes by the upper brushes with the well known group control described in the aforementioned patent, a minor group control magnet designated MI in the above patent to Mills is energized.

In order that Operations to be subsequently explained are properly timed with the group control mechanism it is preferable to utilize in the present machine the group control circuits fully shown and described in the application of D. W. Rubidge, e t al.. Serial No. 347.436, flled July 25, 1940. Recourse may be had to such disclosure for a complete understanding of the group control mechanism but for convenience in reference the group control circuits involved in the present ma-v chine are illustrated in l'ig. 15.

Referring to Plg. 15, reference character 288 refers to the upper group control contacts and IN designates the lower group control contacts.

It is known that upon an agreement in perforations in the same card column of the cards at the upper and lower brushes. contacts 233 and 2 will be simultaneousiy shifted from normal position and will not close a circuit path. If either of the contacts 283 or IN is transferred mat and before the other contacts the following circuit will be made, from line i, throughcam contacts CBI'I, through contacts 233 and 2. one of which is transferred and the other is at normal position, thence through the pickup coil of relay coil III to line III. Relay coil III closes its contacts IIIa, picking up the hold coil of relay Bill through the stick contacts CB. The hold coil of relay 126 will close its contacts Illb to pick up a relay coil R" by a circuit from line i" to cam contacts CBII, pickup coil of relay R, relay contacts INb to the line III. Hence, during the cycle in which a' change in group. designations is sensed. relay coil RII will be energiaed. The pickup coil of relay BII will close its contacts RfIc, closing a stick circuit from the line III through relay contacts Rllc, the hold coil of relay RIO. cam contacts PMII to the line III. From the timing of the PMII contacts shown in Flg. 13 is will be observed that relay coil RII will be energlzed for the remainder` of the cycle in which a change in group designations is sensed and for a greater part of the next cycle, which and total printing cycle. The above circuit is similar in'its timing to the group control circuit shown in the patent application to D. W. Rubidge et al., above mentioned and in the present machine a relay coil RI I is shunted across the hold coil of relay R" and therefore this coil is energized the same length of time that the relay coil R is energized; that is to say. the relay coil RH is energized during the time that FMI! contacts are closed. From Fig. 12 it will be observed that relay RH functions as a control for circuits now to be subsequently described in detali.

Referring to the wiring diagram of Fig. 12, relay coil RII will close relay contacts RII-i thereby closing a circuit during the cycle the change in group designations is sensed from the line II! through such contacts, thence through relay coil R! and cam contacts CBIS to the line III. The pickup coil RMP) will close its stick contacts RI-J, thereby causing the energization of the hold coil RSQ-I) and the latter will cause contacts RI-I to be closed, R8-3 to be shifted and RI-I to be opened. It will be observed from the wiring diagram that the circuit to energize RMH) is under control of card feed contacts CFI! and the closure of such contacts for the time shown in Fig. 13 .will enable the relay coil RO to be maintalned energired to the end of the cycle the change in group designations is sensed during the total cycle, and `i'or a greater part of the next card feed cycle. Relay coil RI will transfer its contacts RH, such contacts remaining closed to the end of the cycle because RMH) keeps R8-2 contacts closed and 'at the beginning of the total taking Operation CFI! contacts are normally closed. During the cycle in which the last item is printed upon the is the total taking bill or the cycle in which the change in group designations is sensed the clutch for spacing the bill form will be engaged by the circuit connections previously described and the clutch will remain engaged in e present example until the brush assembly m es contact with contact 24 of the group i. extending the circuit through a plug connection i, relay contacts RB-f now transferred, relay lcontacts Rl-I, relay contacts RH to thestop relay RS and the stop magnet ifl. This will cause the spacing of the bill form to line 24 so that during the sulmequent cycle which is a total taking cycle, the total will be printed on line fl'as shown in Flg. 9. The line spacing mechanism of the tabulating machine will operate in the usual manner so that the total will be printed on the line following the line of the register sheet receiving the last imprint, also as shown in Fig. 10.

After the total has been printed the start circuit for engaging the clutch for spacing the bill form will be energized during the total taking cycle in the same manner, it .being understood that contacts PMIA also close during the total taking cycle. The bill form will then be spaced from line 24 to the next commutator segment from which a plug connection has been made and this, in the present example, constitutes the commutator segment numbered lu. By means of the plug connection i" from this segment the impulse is directed to the stop relay RS and the stop magnet Ifl by the circuit connection previously described in detali. The next successive section of the bill form will now be in position for receiving the printing of the name of` the next group.

It is also desirable that upon the passage of the last item card of the last group that the bill form be spaced from the total printing position to the next section and from the circuit diagram it will be observed that contacts LCLI2 would be open upon the passage of the last'card by the lower brushes. The transmission of the impulse to the relay coil RO is eiected under such circumstances through the closure of relay contacts Rl-I instead of through. card lever Doom.: Srscmc or Rzclsran Snarr 10 Dtmmc TOTAL Pam'rmc CYcLEs It is deslrable that the register sheet i. receive an extra space so as to separate the total printed from the data relating to next bill as shown in Flg. 10 and this is preferably effected by means fully shown and described in the aforementioned patent toPelrce, No. 2,042,324, dated May 26. 1936. Upon the closure of contacts PMS (Fig. 12) an impulse is sent to the line space m'agnet LSM (Fig. 11) at the time that the follower rolller of lever GI is on the low portion of cam 60.

As stated in this patent the double rise on cam 60 permits a second paper spacing actuation of the line spacing instrumentalitles. Thus. when taking a total, after the total has been printed magnet LSM is again energized when the aforementioned follower roller of lever SI is on the second low portion of cam 60. During a total taking cycle, by the operating means disclosed in the Peirce Patent No. 2942324, link I1II (Fig. 11) is drawn to the right, rocklng an arm ini on rod I'III. Secured to this rod is an arm carrying a pin IHI which engages the lever

Images