US2059215A - Paper feed mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 3, 1936. E. H. DREI-1ER vPAPER FEED MECHANISMV Filed Aug. 22, 1954 8 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR AT TORN EY Nov. 3, 1936. E. H. DREHER 2,059,215

PAPER FEED MECHANISM Filed Aug. 22, 1934 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 "ill",

,7A lNvE NTOR BY yxfw ATTORNEY Nov. 3, 1936. E H, DREHER 2,059,215

PAPER FEED MECHANISM Filed Aug. 22, 1934 8 Sheets-She??l 3 INVENTOR l ATTORNEY Nov. 3, 1936. E. H. DREI-IER PAPER FEEDl MECHANISM Filed Aug. 22, 1934 la sheets-sheet 4 lFIGS INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 3, 1936. E. H. DREI-IER PAPER FEED MECHANI SM Filed Aug. 22, 1934 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGS BVZM:

ATTORNEY E. H. DREHER PAPER FEED MECHANISM 8 sheets-sheet e Filed Aug. 22, 1954 INVENTOR Nov. 3, 1936.

Nov. 3, 1936. E. H. DREHER 2,059,215

PAPER FEED MECHANISM Filed Aug. 22, 1954 s sheets-sheet 7 rurali..

om Om\ INVENTOR BY Q/.ZW AT'mRNr-:Y

Nov. 3, 1936. E. H. DREHER PAPER FEED MECHANISM 1934 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Aug. 22

INVENTOR ELMER H.DREHER AT ORNEY u lnununnnlmmnilllllllllllhpl Patented Nov. 3, '1936 PAPER FEED MECHANISM Elmer H. Dreher, Brooklyn, N. vY., assignor to Remington Rand Inc., Bualo, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application August 22, 1934, Serial No. 740,859

11 Claims.

The invention relates to the paper feed mechanism of bookkeeping and like machines. Some of the features of the invention are applicable to such machines generally, but certain features of it are especially applicable to record controlled tabulating machines.

Generally stated, the invention has for its principal object to provide certain improvements in the means for handling long Webs of paper, and especially where such webs are pre-printed to constitute a succession of separable forms, and more especially where it is also pre-folded. The invention includes means for causing a long web to pass smoothly through the machine and to be disposed in neat and convenient form after being printed on by the machine, and without attention by the person operating the machine.

The invention has for one of its objects to provide means for imparting long feed movements to the paper under conditions and requirements more complex than usual, and preferably for doing so entirely automatically, without personal intervention.

The invention also contemplates various improvements in mechanism of the characterI indicated.

To the above and other ends as will appear in the course of the description, the invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all of which will be fully set forth herein and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention is capable of various applications and of embodiment in various forms. One specific embodiment and application ,of it are shown and described herein.

The invention is herein described as embodied in a Powers tabulating machine, for tabulating records consisting of punched cards, and as applied to making out the monthly statements of the charge customers of a department store. The statements are printed by the machine on a web of paper pre-printed in a succession of forms, the paper being in fanfold form and being restored to that form after passing through the machine. The mechanism causes the name and address and account number of the customer to be automatically printed under the control of punched cards in a space provided for the purpose in the heading of the form. The mechanism then automatically imparts a long feed to the paper, to position it for the entry of the rst item of the statement. When the last item of the statement has been printed, the

machine automatically prints the total or balance of the account, and immediately and automatically imparts a second long feed to the paper, to the point or line of the next succeeding form for the printing of the name and number of the next customer. There are thus two different long feeds of the paper to two different positions. A third long feed of the paper is also provided for in case the number of items in an account exceeds the number of line spaces provided for items on the form. In that event, the paper is automatically advanced from the last line of one form to the first line provided on the next form for items, the heading and the printing lines thereon for the name and address being in this instance' skipped or passed over Without stopping. The applicant is not aware of any prior paper feed mechanism having this variousness of automatic operation.

The machine is equipped with the usual lineto-line feed which operates as usual between the long feeds. It may also be equipped with a known form of hand paper injector and ejector which imparts long feeds to the paper, and there is no interference between that and the longfeed mechanism of the present invention. Means are provided for disabling the latter, by a simple setting of a handle, leaving the machine free to be operated as heretofore; andthe long feed of the present invention may be brought back into use at will by resetting said handle.

In the accompanying drawings;

Y Fig. 1 is a left-hand side view of the machine With parts broken away.

Fig. 2 is a right-hand side view of someof the operating and paper feed and other mechanisms of the tabulator head, with most of the frame and most of the mechanism omitted.

Fig. 3 is a right-hand side view of the longfeed mechanism.

Fig. 4 shows a detail.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but with the parts in different positions.

Fig. 6 is a rear perspective view of. a portion of the long-feed mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view similar to parts of Figs. 3 and 5, but with the parts in still another position.

Fig. 8 is a detail showing the means for disabling the long-feed mechanism.

Fig. 9 isa fragmentary schematic view of a portion of the mechanism in perspective.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to part of Figs. 3and 5, but with the parts in another position and illus- 55 i trating also a preferred form of overthrow preventing means.

Fig, 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of a ypower driven means for assisting in the paper Fig. 12 is an illustration voi? a bill form such as the machine is adapted to print. f

Fig. 13 is a view of a. section of the web of which the form, shown in Fig. 12, is a part.

Fig. 14 is a front elevation of the carriage.

As the simplest way to make the invention understood, one specific embodiment and application of it will be described in detail, extending even to the exact number and 'positions of the lines on a statement, it being understood that in other instances these details would be varied t'o suit the different requirements. K

. 'I'he invention is shown applied to the well known Powers tabulating machine which has been in commercial use for many years and which is described in a line of patents and'patent applications beginning with the patent to James Powers, No. 1,245,502, dated November 6, 1917. Such machines are controlled by records consisting of cards punched to represent data expressed in numbers, letters of the alphabet, etc. The Powerstabulator comprises a base I6 (Fig. 1) having a motor and means for feeding the cards from a stack through a sensing chamber where their perforations are sensed by feeling pins; a multiple translator I1 containing transf lator wires for conveying the control of the sensy ing pins to the head; and the head I8 itself, where '35 the data are utilized by accumulating them in registers, printing them on suitable sheets or webs of paper, totalizing them, etc. As far as the pres- -ent invention is concerned, the tabulator may be of any suitable construction. 'I'here is shown in the drawings only so much of one form of Powers tabulator as is necessary to an understanding of the application of my invention thereto.

Some of the mechanism of the tabulator head is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings in which 20 represents the frame base plate of said head. The head I8 contains several tabulator units, each of which may' include the usual register-actuating rack sectors 2| and numeral printing typesectors 22; but in the present speciflc instance there is preferably at least one unit or section occupied by alphabet type sectors for printing certain data as will hereinafter appear. The operat'- ing mechanism comprises a continuously rotating transverse drive shaft 23 geared to make one rotation for each machine cycle and connected by a Stud shaft 24 on cam 36 and link 25 to oscillate a transverse shaft 26, which carries a series of arms (not shown) which are connected by links to the restoring bails for the numerical type sectors 22 and the printing hammers 21. The usual main rock shaft 28 which, among other things, moves the registers into and out of mesh with the racks 2l has, in this instance, an arm 30, connected by a link 3| with a rocking lever 32 pivoted at 33, urged rearward by a spring 34, and. having a follower roller 35 bearing on a cam 36 fast on the drive shaft 23, said cam being so shaped as to swing the shaft 28 forward and back at the proper times.

Some of the units contain the direct subtraction mechanismfarniliar to users of this lmachine and described in a certain application for Letters Patent, filed by William W. ,Lasken This comprises reciprocatory pieces 31 linked to the respective type sectors 22 and each controlling an adding rack bar 38 and a subtracting rack bar 40,

the register wheels 4i being between said rack bars and movable into mesh with either of them. The usual forward total shaft 42 is rocked on occasion by the usual link 43, and it in turn rocks the rear total shaft 33 by means of the link 44, as usual, in order to take a total from the rear registers 4l. The projecting end of the shaft 33 furnishes a convenient pivot for the lever 32. 'I'he forward grand total shaft is shown at 46,

' together with the link 49 through which it is actuated from the rear grand total shaft 39 (Fig. 3). The mechanism partially shown and just described, is more fully set forth in the application of W. W. Lasker, Ser. No. 535,842, filed May 8, 1931.

'Ihe platen 46 (Fig. 3) has its shaft 41 journaled as usual in the paper carriage 48. In the particular machine described, the platen is divided in two in a familiar way, and the novel feed mechanism is applied to the left-hand half of it; but this is immaterial.

For step-by-step line spacing, the platen is provided at its left-hand end with the usual ratchet Wheel U and detent wheel 5I shown in Fig. 2 in which these parts are seen from Vthe right hand side, the platen being sectioned away. Said ratchet is actuated one or two of its teeth at a time, or not atall according to manual adjustment, by a pawl 52, pivoted to a sliding link 63, which link is pivoted to an arm 64 on the lefthand end of the usual long pinion shaft 66, which extends the entire length of the platen and is joumaled in the carriage. Near its right-hand end, this pinion shaft is engaged by a pinion 66 on a stub shaft having an arm 61 connected by a `link 58 with a bell crank 80, pivoted at 6l to the right-hand end frame member of the tabulator head and influenced by a spring 62. This bellcrank is connected by a link 63 with an angle lever 64 pivoted to said frame member at 66 and .having one arm thereof pivoted to a long link 66.

The latter has at its upper end a'slot 61 engaging a stud 68 on an arm projecting from the rock shaft 26. The construction is such that the rocking of this shaft, acting through the train of mechanism described, rocks the pinion 56 and pinion shaft 55, and reciprocates the pawl52 to impart a suitable feed to the platen at'each machine cycle, unless something intervenes to prevent such an operation.

In the Powers tabulator such intervening means is something applied in the form of a stop set in the path of a shoulder'69 on the lever 64, in which event the stud 68 lplays idly in the slot 61 andthe spring 62 is therefore unable to operate the line space mechanism. Said spring has one end attached to a stud 18 on the link 66. The distinction between single, double and no spacing is made by differential stops set in the path of the return movement of the slide link 53.

The usual pressure rollers co-operate with the platen to'feed the paper.

In explanation of Fig. 2, it may be stated that most of the operating mechanism of the tabulator -head thus far described is situated at the right-hand side of the machine. 'Ihis lincludes the links 25,`3|, 58, 63, and 66, and the gure is seen, as if looking through the machine. These parts are shown in left-hand side view in other figures of the drawings.

Just to the left of the ratchet wheel 50, the platen shaft is provided with a pinion 1l having the same number of teeth -as said ratchet wheel and driven by a gear 12, journaled on a stud 13, secured to the left-hand end plate of the carriage. The Powers tabulator, as heretofore manufactured, has sometimes included this gear, driven by a pawl 14 pivoted to a lever 15, which lever is pivoted on the stud 13 and is provided with a handle 16. This constitutes a hand device by which the platen may be rapidly rotated either for the original insertion of a new bill sheet, or for the ejection of the old one. The wheel 12 is shown in Fig. 2 broken away to disclose a fixed toothed segment 11, the notches of which may be engaged by a tooth on an adjustable piece 18 which may be set so as to limit the spring-impelled return motion of the lever 15. This it does by means of a pin 80, which is struck by the pawl 14, and which lifts said pawl out of engagement with the wheel 12. On the forward stroke of the handle, the pawl is arrested by a fixed stop 8|. For convenience of illustration, the st op 80 is shown set for a short throw of the pawl. The detent wheel l is engaged by a roller on the lower arm of a springpressed lever 82. For some of the uses of my invention this sweep mechanism need not be employed, but the gear 12 is utilized. It meshes with another large gear' 83, which in turn is journaled on a stud `84 secured to a special frame plate 85, which is detachably secured in any convenient manner as, for example, by bolts 86 to the outside of the left-hand frame member 81 (Fig. 3). The invention includes automatically acting means for imparting to this ,wheel 83, and from it to the platen, measured movements of different extents as required. The Powers paper carriage can be removed from the machine by sliding it endwise, in which case the gear 12 slides out of engagement with the gear 83, and it slides 'back into engagement when the carriage is replaced.

The specific application of the invention shown and described herein is in connection with the department store system, described in Patent No. 1,801,981 to Rogal and Woodruff, dated April 21, 1931, and in the patent to Nelson No. 1,927,556, dated September 19, 1933. In that system each sale to a charge customer is recorded on an ordinary Powers 90-column card perforated to designate the number of the customers account, the date of sale, the name of the goodssold, the department of the store from which they were sold, and the amount of the charge, or in other words, the price; also when the customer makes a payment on account, a similar card is punched, but punched with the amount of the payment instead of the price of the goods, and this card is so punched as to indicate that it represents a credit instead of a debit. At the end of the month these charge account cards are sorted according to the customers account numbers, and the result of this sorting operation is a stack of cards arranged in groups, each group including all of the debit and credit cards of a single customer arranged in the order. of the dats: Into" this "bk there are inserted other cards for printing the name, account number and address of each customer. The cards are run through the tabulating machine which prints each customers statement,

v are the as shown in Figs. 12 and 13. 'Ihis statement is on a printed form including a heading and a part of the paper ruled for a statement of account. When the first card of Miss Helen Davis account passes through the machine, her name and account number (in this instance, 123456,)are automatically printed from a certain card at the first cycle of the machine. 'Ihe second card contains her street address and the third card her Post Office address. There may be as many of these heading cards as desired; ordinarily two or three or four of them will sumce. It is not necessary for the purposes of the present case to explain how they are inserted in the stack of cards. Following the three cards giving Miss Davis name, account number and address, is a card punched to represent the old balance of her account, and this is followed by the cards representing her individual transactions during the month. These item cards are so perforated, and the mechanism is so arranged that each debit card causes the date, a description of the transaction and the amounts to be printed, as shown in said Fig. 12. It will be seen that there is a column in which to print the department of the store concerned and there is, of course, a corresponding field in the card. vThere is also a column on the paper in which is printed any credit item designated by suitable perforations in a credit card. Any debit items are printed in the column entitled charges as shown. Each credit card causes the amount to be printed in the credit column on the paper and to be subtracted from the register wheels 4I instead of added as charges. structed and arranged, as described in a certain application of W. W. Lasker, that as soon as a card perforated in accordance with another account number, comes into the sensing chamber, that card is automatically delayed there and temporarily rendered ineffective, while the machine goes through a totaling operation which results in the printing of the customers balance at the foot of the column of figures on the statement (in this instance $187.64). lThe bill forms 88 are printed on a continuous web, as shown in Fig. 13, the successive bills being separable from each other by lines 90 of perforations or other means of weakening. In the present instance this webof paper is folded in fanfold form and preferably the folds come at the lines 90 of separation.

The statement sheets illustrated in Figs, 12 and 13 are eleven inches long, and the machine 'has a single line spacing interval of six lines to the inch. For convenience of description the 66 possible lines on each sheet 88, are designated in the margin in Fig. 12. It will be noted that the rst line printed, namely, the customers name and account number, is at line I4, and that the rst item printed in the bill is at line 29. It is not desired to print closer to the bottom of the sheet than line 62.

The requirements fulfilled by the mechanism to be described are as follows: If, as in the case of the sheet shown in Fig. 12, the number of items is within the capacity of the sheet, a total is printed at the foot of the series of items and the web of paper is then automatically fed forward to line I4 of the next succeeding form. The cards necessary to write the name and address of the next customer are then fed automatically through the machine, the number of such cards in this particular instance being three. The last The machine is so conone of these three cardsl is perforated with a special control hole which causes the paper to be fed at the next operation to line 29, ready for the reception of the rst line of the bill (balance forward) The machine will then feed the paper line by line, one line for each of-the cards that pass through it after the last item of the account has been added and printed, the machine will automatically make a blank stroke, followed by a total, after which the paper will space forward a'gainto line I4 of the n'ext form. However, it may occasionally occur that there are more items to be entered in a statement than can be accommodated in one bill form, and such abill is indicated in Fig. 13 at 9|. The construction -is such that after printing an item on line 62, the paper is automatically fed forward to advance the next suceeding form to printing position, but in this instance, the name and address of the customer are not repeated. The paper, therefore, instead of being fed forward to line I4 of the next form, is fed forward at once to line 29, and the list of items is continued from there on, as shown on the form 92 of Fig. 13. If the second sheet sufllces to include all the items, a total will automatically be taken and the paper web will then be fed forward to line I4 of the next suceeding form. It will be seen that the requirements of this long-feed mechanism are more complex than is usual in devices of this character, for three different long feeds of the paper are required, each to be produced automatically. at the proper time, viz., from the last line of the heading to line 29; from the last line of one form (line 62) to line 29 of the next form; and from the line in which a total is printed to line I4 of the next form.

As has been explained above, the jump from the name and address in the heading to line 29 is made under control of a special hole perforated for the purpose in the last card of the customers address. This being so, it will be understood that there may be within limits any desired number of these cards, the persons operating the system taking care to put this control hole in the last one of them. The jump from the total of a bill to line I4 of the next bill, is done under control of the automatic total taking mechanism of the tabulator, that is to say, as will be more particularly described hereinafter, under the control of the total shaft 42.

As has been explained, the pinion 1I has the same number of teeth as the line space ratchet 50, and one tooth of the wheel 83 therefore corresponds to a lin-e space feed of the platen. It has been found convenient to make this wheel with |32 teeth so that a half rotation of said wheel corresponds exactly to the feed of the web for the length of a single statement form.

The long feed of the paper to line 29 for the first or balance forward line of the statement, whether from the bottom line of the preceding form, or from the heading of the same form, is effected by a pawl 93 acting on a disc 94 which is in effect a two-toothed ratchet. The feed of the paper to line I4 for writing the customers name and number following the printing of the total on the precedingform, is eifected by a pawl 95 acting on a disc 96, Fig. 6, which is in effect a four-toothed ratchet. The discs 94 and 96 and the gear wheel 83 are all secured together on the same hub and constitute a single rigid wheel journaled on the stud 84, the disc 94 and pawl 93 being on the left-hand side of the gear and the disc 96 and pawl 95 on the right-hand side thereof, as will be apparent from Fig. 6 where they are seen from the rear. The two pawls are independently' pivoted on a short shaft 91 inserted between the two branches of a bail-shaped lever 98 pivoted on the stud 84, and whose lefthand branch is prolonged below its pivot and hasV pivoted thereto at |00 a`link |0| pivoted at |02 to the upper end of a long lever |03, the lower end of which is pivoted at |04 in a block |05 rigidly secured to the base plate 20 of the tabulator head. A cam disc |06 fast on the main drive shaft 23 controls a follower roller |01 journaled in the lever |03, the shape of the cam being such that a complete rotation of said shaft results in two 4oscillations of the lever |03 and, therefore, in two oscillations of the lever 98 which carries the pawls 93 and 95. The lever |03 is influenced by a strong spring |08 which presses the follower against the cam.

The pawls 93 and 95 are drawn into engagement with their\ratchet discs by springs I0, and they are controlled as to their operativeness by two guide pieces, namely, a guide piece I I I for the pawl 93, and a guide piece I|2 for the pawl 95.

These guide pieces are situated one on the left and the other on the right of the wheel 83 in the space between said wheel and the respective ratchet disc. Each of the pawls has a width to lap over its guide plate, which latter has a guide edge concentric with the stud 84. In Fig. 7, the guide piece 2 is shown in its upper position holding the pawl 95 out of engagement with its disc 96,` andthe guide piece |I| is shown in its lower position where it permits the pawl 93 to engage its ratchet disc 94. Each of these guide pieces is movable up and down on a stud II3, projecting from the frame plate 85, said stud passing through guide slots in said pieces. From that point, they extend downward at an inclination toward the front of the machine, the piece III being then off-set toward the front, and the piece ||2 oilset toward the rear, as shown for example in Fig. 3. The lower end of the piece I II has a longitudinal slot occupied by a pin II4, and the lower end 'of piece I2 has a similar slot occupied by a pin I I5, said pins projecting from a lever |I6 pivoted at III to the frame plate 85,

said lever influenced by a spring ||8 tending to v rock its rear end upward and, therefore, normally holding the guide piece I|2 in its upper position where it disables the pawl 95. Each of the guide pieces III and I|2 is influenced downward by a spring |20 stretched between a. stud I2I on the guide piece and the pin ||4 or I|5 on the lever II6. The construction is such that when the lever I I6 is rocked clockwise in Fig. 3 by its spring |I8 until arrested by a stop |22, the pin I|5 will force the guide ||2 to its upper position and the spring |20 connected to guide will tend to pull the latter down to its inactive position, but this tendency may be resisted, resulting in the stretching of the spring |20. When the lever I I6 is rocked counterclockwise to its alternative position, shown in Fig. 10, the opposite conditions prevail, that is to say, the guide I I I is forced to its upper disabling position and the guide ||2 will be drawn down to its inactive position unless it is held up against the tension of its spring |20.

Latches are provided, acting at tim'es, to hold ysuitable shoulder'on a latch lever |24 controlled by a spring |25. In Fig.l5 the lever ||5 is shown in the same position as in Fig. 3, but the latch |24 has been tripped and the guide I I I has therefore moved down to its lower position. The guide piece I I2 is similarly controlled by a latch |26. The two latches |24 and |26 extend below their common pivot I I1, the depending arm of the latch |26 having a straight rear edge, as shown for example in Fig. 5. The latch |24, however, has its depending arm inclined more toward the front of the machine and ends in a linger-like projection |21 having an abrupt rear face. In order to trip these latches selectively, a slide bar |28 is mounted for vertical sliding motion on one face of the long lever |03, by pin and slot connection |30, this bar being drawn upward by a spring |3I An ear |32 bent off from its upper end is so located that when the bar |28 is in its lower position, shown in Fig. 5, the oscillation of the lever |03 toward the front of the machine will cause the ear |32 to strike both latches |24 and |26 and unlatch them, leaving both the guides III and I|2 free to move to their lower positions, insofar as the latches are concerned. When, however, the bar |28 occupies its normal upper position its ear |32 stands above the finger |21, as shown in Fig. 3, and a rocking of the lever |03 to its front position as there shown, results in tripping the latch |26, but not in tripping the latch |24.

It will be perceived from the foregoing description that the operation of the long paper feed depends on the positions of the guides III and II2, and that this depends on the setting of two members, namely, the lever II6 and the bar |28. The lever |I6 is rockedunder the control of the total shaft 42, and the bar |28 is moved to its lower position under the control of the special perforation in the last of the name and address cards hereinbefore described.'

Lever I I6 is normally held in the position shown in Fig. by the spring I I8, and it is rocked to its alternative position, shown in Fig. 10, by a link |33, pivoted to said lever and at its lower end at |34 to a bell crank |35 loosely pivoted on the rear total shaft 33, as best shown in Fig. 4. The bell crank |35 has an ear |36 in position to be actuated by an ear |31 secured to the link 44 which conveys the motion of the front total shaft 42 to the rear total'shaft 33. The shaft 42 is rocked at the beginning of every total taking operation of the machine, and it remains in its rocked position substantially throughout that cycle. Lever II6, therefore, occupies the position shown in Fig. 1 0 of the drawings during each total taking cycle.

For reasons which will appear hereinafter, it is necessary that it continue in that position during the rst half of the next succeeding cycle. To this end, the bell crank |35, as best shown in Fig.

` 3, has its ear |36 in position to be engaged by a spring-urged latch |40, pivoted at |4I to the block |05. Said latch has an upstanding arm |42 which lies in the path of a pin |43 projecting from the face of a certain hub mounted on the shaft 23. In Fig. 5, the shaft 23 is shown at about the middle of a cycle, and it will be seen shown in Fig. 9. The card |44, which represents the last line of 4the customers address, has a special control hole |45, in the present instance in position I2 in column 42. The feeler pin |46, as diagrammatically represented -in Fig. 9, elevates a set-pin |41, which, like all such pins in the machine, when elevated becomes locked in its elevated position until released at the end of the cycle. This set-pin elevates its translator wire |48 which, at its upper end, rocks a lever |49 pivoted at its middle to a kportion of the frame |50. The right-hand end of this lever overlies an ear formed on lever I5I which in turn has an ear formed on its free end which overlies a stud |52 projecting from the slide bar |28. The construction is such that whenever the pin |46 finds a hole, the bar |28 is pulled down from its normal position, shown in Fig. 3, to its operated position, shown in Fig. 5, and remains there throughout the cycle.

When the machine is first started to operate on a web of paper, the long-feed mechanism is set to the position it would occupy after taking a total, and said web is adjusted by hand so as to cause the rst line of printingto come at line I4 of the rst form. As the number of teeth in the wheel 83 is just double the number of line spaces per sheet, each line space position on the sheet corresponds to one of two definite positions of said wheel, said two positions being 180 apart. In operation, line I4 is brought to printing position by pawl 95 acting on disc 96 (Fig. 3), and this disc has, therefore, two teeth or shoulders 180 apart, one or the other of which, when engaged by the pawl, will bring line I4 to printing position. These teeth are designated FI4 on the drawings. The paper is brought to line 29 by pawl 93, and the disc 94 accordingly has two diametrically opposite teeth F29.' Obviously, one of these teeth is situated-15 tooth-spaces of the wheel 83 in advance of one of the teeth FI4. For reasons which will presently appear, the disc 96 has two other diametrically opposite teeth each situated circumferentially something like half Way between one of the teeth F29 and the next succeeding 'tooth FI4. These teeth are designated in the drawings F54, meaning that when one of them is engaged by the pawl 95 the paper is fed to line 54. The discs 94 and 96 are in effect mutilated yratchets, and they will be so called herein.

The operation of the mechanism may be conveniently described by beginning with line 29, assuming that that line of thepaper has just been brought to the printing point by the pawl 93 engaging the tooth F29, as shown in Fig.7,

where said .pawl is at the limit of its operating l stroke. At that time the lever |I6, Fig. 5, is in normal position, the guide III in its lower position leaving pawl 93 free to act, and guide II2 is in its upper position holding the pawl 95 out of action. During the printing of the items,

pawl 93 sweeps back and forth over the disc 94,

but idly, as its return motion is not suflicientvto cause it to engage the next tooth F29. However, as each line is printed the regular line feed mechanism (ratchet 50, pawl 52, etc.) turns the platen and with it the wheel 83 and discs 94 and 96, so that said tooth F29 is creeping forward a step at a time. It is not desired to print beyond line 62, and if the bill is a long one, and an item is printed on that line,.such item is printed at about the middle of the cycle when the shaft 23 is in the position shown in Fig. 5, from which it will be seen that the peak of the cam |06 hasJ already passed the follower |01, and the pawlu 93 has therefore already begun its return stroke. It is, therefore, too late for said pawl to advance the paper in the lasthalf of that cycle, and it will, therefore, be advanced to line 63 by the pawl 52, bringing tooth F29 into the range of motion of pawl 93. In the first half of the next cycle, therefore, the pawl must advance the paper from line 63 to line 29 of the next form, ready to receive the next item. The distance is thirtytwo spaces; in other words, the next tooth F29 is then standing thirty-two spaces back of the position of the pawl 93 in Fig. 7. The cam |06 is, therefore, so designed as to allow to the pawl 93 an excursion of thirty-two spaces plus a suflicient fraction of a space to assure that the pawl will drop into engagement. The pawl 95 will, of course, have theA same extent of movement. During this stroke the heading ispassed over and completely skipped.

Perhaps only a few item's remain to be printed on the second form. When the first card of the next group (those for the next customer) comes into the sensing chamber of the machine, the 'mechanism senses the change in the customers number and initiates the movements necessary to print the total of the group just completed. It makes one blank cycle, in which pawl 52 advances the paper one line space. It then pulls the link 43, Fig. 2, rocking shafts 42 and 33, and also rocking lever |35, and, through link |33, rocking lever I|6 to the position shown in Fig. I0, and thus raising guide I|| and disabling pawl 93. Lever |35 is latched in rocked position by pawl |40. All of this occurs at the beginning of the total-printing cycle. Guide II2 was already elevated, holdingpawl 95 out of action,

' and it remains so temporarily, being held up by its latch |26. During the first half of the totalv printing cycle, therefore, both pawls are out of action. However, in the latter part of this half cycle the lever |03 is swung forward to its ex- .treme position, (Fig. 3) with the result that the ear |32 trips the latch |26 and allows the guide II2 to drop and pawl 95 to engage disc 96; but said pawl is by that time so far advanced on its forward stroke that it has passed the tooth of disc 96, and its stroke is, therefore, ineffective. Said pawl makes a second stroke in the second half of the total printing cycle and advances the paper to line I4, or to an intermediate position as will presently be explained. The pawl 52 makes its usual stroke at this time, but the pawl 95 is turning the platen at greater speed, and the stroke of pawl 52 is therefore ineffective.

It will be recalled' that the extent of movement of the pawls was fixed at 32 spaces by the requirements as to pawl 93. Where a total is printed near the top of a form, the distance from there to line' I4 of the next form is considerably in excess of 32 spaces. It is, therefore, necessary for the pawl 95 to act twice before the name and number of the next customer are printed at line I4 of the next form; and this is also highly advantageous for other reasons, as will be explained. It is for this reason that the extra tooth F54 is provided, and it is partly for this reason that the cam |06 is shaped to give two strokes to the pawls at each cycle. In the last half of the total printing cycle, therefore, the paper is advanced by pawl 95 engaging said total F54 and only to line 54. It will be understood that this precise point (line 54) is immaterial. The pawl 95 enga-ges tooth FI4 in the first half of the next cycle, and advances the paper to line I4 just before the printing of the name 'and number occurs. It is the beginning of this stroke of the pawl that is illustrated in Fig. 10 in which the disc 96 has the same teeth F|4 and F54 as in the other figures, though it is shown modified in other respects as will be described. Tooth F54 is at the point where the pawl left it, and said pawl is ready to engage tooth `FI 4. Guide III (broken away) is held in its upper position by lever ||6, and it will remain in that position until its latch |24 is released some cycles later, as will be described.

If the bill contains enough items so that the total is printed within 32 spaces of line I4 of the next form, the paper would be advanced to that line (I4) in the first of the two strokes above described, and the second stroke would be idle.

In case an account had no transactions during the month, but there was an unpaid balance, the total would be printed on line 3|, and before printing the name of the next customer, that is to say, on the next machine cycle, the paper must be advanced from that point to line |.4 of the next form, a. distance of forty nine spaces, or more than eight inches. This is one of the most important reasons for causing the pawls to make two strokes at each cycle. By the present invention the paper is fed to line 54, for example, in the second half of the total cycle and from there v to lin'e I4 in the first half of the name-printing cycle, so that ample time is provided for this very long feed. If the paper were fed for such a distance in a single stroke, it would be necessary to feed it at a prohibitive speed, resulting in inaccuracy of movement due to slippage. By extending the feeding time as mentioned, a well known difiiculty is avoided. A

The lever I I6 was rocked to the position shown in Fig. 10 by the total taking mechanism, but at the time there illustrated, that mechanism has already returned to normal position and this lever and its connected parts are held in operated position by the latch |40 engaging lever' |35. The operation of this latch can be understood from Fig. 5, although that Vfigure shows the mechanism at another stage in its sequence of operation. Fig. 5 shows the parts at the mid-point of a cycle,

' and shows that the pin |43 reaches the arm |42 at the beginning of the second half of each cycle. At the time illustrated in Fig. 10, the'lever |35 was rocked and latched at the beginning of the total printing cycle, and the pin |43 tripped the latch at the beginning of the second.' half of that cycle, but ineffectually, because said lever was still held in rocked position by the total mechanisrn. The pin |43 will not again trip the latch until the second half of the next cycle, namely, that in which the new customers name and number are printed. I'he pawl 95 will, therefore, continue active during the first half of that cycle, and will advance the paper to line I4, as described. The pawl |40 will then be tripped and the lever I|6 will return to normal position and remain there, holding pawl 95 inactive, until the next tota-l printing operation.

It has been explained that the pawl 93 must be inactive during the printing of totals and how this is accomplished by the total shaft rocking the lever II6. It is, of course, also necessary that pawl 93 remain inactive during the printing of the heading (name, number and address of the customer) and it is for this reason that, when lever IIG returns to normal, as above described, guide I II is held up by its latch |24, and will so re in until released under the control of special hole |45 (Fig. 9) in the last heading card. Fig. 3

lso

shows the mechanism in the latter part, but not at the end' of the first half of the cycle 'in which the second line of the heading is printed. The guide ||2 is held up by lever ||6 and the guide by its latch |24. Both pawls are, therefore, inactive and the platen is left to the control of the line-to-line feed mechanism (pawl 52). The ear |32 is tripping the latch |26, but ineifectively. Said ear passes above and does not act on the finger |21 of latch |24. The parts continue in this position until the last heading card |44 (Fig. 9) comes into the sensing chamber and causes the ear |32 to be drawn to its lower position, shown in Fig. 5. That gure shows the parts at the middle of that cycle; that is to say, at about the instant when' the last heading line is being printed. 'I'he bar |28 and ear |32 were drawn down at about the beginning of the cycle. In fact, in this particular machine, they were drawn down Isosoon that said ear had, at the time, not entirely gotten away from above the nger |21, and said nger is, therefore, made yieldable downward, as shown, to avoid injury to the mechanism. It is made as a separate piece |15, slidably mounted' on the latch |24 by pin and slot connection, and normally held up by a spring |16. In Fig. 5 the peak of the cam |06 has already passed the follower |01. When it did so, the ear |32 struck the nger |21 and tripped the latch |24, allowing guide to drop and pawl 93 to engage the disc'94; but said pawl was then nearly at the end of its stroke and had already passed the tooth F29, so that no paper feed was caused. It is now being drawn back and will make another advance in the second half cycle, feeding the paper to line 29. It was at this point that the description of the sequence of operations was begun.

The means for arresting the long-feed mechanism in correct position, as shown in most of the figures of the drawings, comprises two arms |56, each carrying a roller |51, these rollers, when in operative position being adapted to be struck one by the pawl 93, and the other by the pawl 95,

when said pawls reach the extreme limit of their working stroke. As shown in Fig. '7, the edge of the pawl 93 is so shaped that when it reaches the roller |51, the latter will jam the pawl into for# cible engagement with the disc 96 and positively arrest its motion. Preferably the surface of the disc at the base of the tooth (see Fig. 10) is Y slightly undercut so as to make a very shallow notch into which the end of the pawl is forced by its engagement with the roller, so as to arrest the motion of the disc. The two levers |56 are pivoted at |50 to the frame plate 85, and each of them is capable of a rocking motion limited by a stop pin |60 projecting into a notch in one arm of the lever. When the lever is in effective position, as is the one nearest the observer in Fig. 7, the lower fork of the lever is in engagement with this stop pin and the lever, therefore, can rock no further. These stop rollers and levers would interfere with the motion of the pawls when the latter are held out of enga-gement by their guides ||2. Accordingly, when one of the pawls is elevated, its stop roller is also elevated, as shown in the case of the one farthest from the observer in Fig. '7. To this end, each of the guide pieces |2 has a finger |6| projecting upward therefrom, so that when the guide piece is raised it moves the stop lever to ineffective position.

It is sometimes desired to disable this long paper feed mechanism altogether. To this end a lever |62 (Fig. 8), having a handle |63, is provided,'having an L-shaped slot |64 embracing the pivot pin |58. The lower end of this lever has a pin |65 engaging in open-ended slots |66 in the two stop pieces and ||2. This lever |62 normally stands as shown, for example, in Fig. 7. The stud |58 occupies the top of the vertical branch of the slot |64. If this handle |62 be pulled up to the position shown in Fig. 8, it will raise both guide pieces and ||2 to make both feed pawls inoperative. `The parts are maintained in that position by swinging the lever` to the rear, thus bringing the stud |58 into the horizontal part `of the slot. The tabulator may then be used as if the long-feed mechanism were not present in it.

Means for preventing an overthrow of the parts is shown in a preferred form in Fig. 10, in which the stop pieces |56, |51 are replaced by asingle stop pawl |61 pivoted on a stud |68, projecting from the frame plate 85, and adapted to engage the ratchet disc 96. Saidpawl is provided with a cheek-piece |10 lying in the space between the disc 96. and the wheel 83, to guide the pawl. Said ratchet disc 'is cut with six stop teeth or shoulders; that is to say, with three shoulders in each semi-circumference, said shoulders being designated SI4, S29, and S54, the two digits of each number corresponding to the line on the paper at which each tooth, when engaged by the stop pawl, arrests the parts. At the point where said pawl is pivoted to the stud |68, the hole in the pawl is somewhat elongated so that the pawl may not only turn on the stud, but may slide a short distance. Said pawl is controlled by a tension spring |1 I, acting on it above its pivot, and drawing the pawl leftward in Fig. 10. The construction is such that the spring |1| holds the pawl normally pressed against the disc 96, and causes it to engage the shoulders made for the purpose in said disc, but when the pawl is Imoved out of engagement the spring |1| pulls it a littlev to the left so as to prevent it from re-entering-the notch, and it is shown in Fig. 10 in thatposition with respect to the shoulder or tooth S54.

The means for withdrawing the` stop pawl consists of the cam-like upper edge |12 of the actuating link |0 I, which acts on a stud |13 projecting from the pawl. This pawl is required to operate at the extreme end of the operative stroke of the link |0I, at which time the inclined part |14 of the extended link |0| reaches the stud |13 and leaves the-pawl |61 free to engage the disc 96.

It will be noted that a shoulder S29 is also provided in each half of the disc to arrest the irts when the pawl 93 brings the paper to line It will be recalled that the pawl 93 sometimes advances the paper from line 63 clear across the heading to line 29 of the next succeeding form. In this operation the shoulder S|4 passes the tooth of the pawl |61, and means must, therefore, be provided to prevent the pawl from engaging that. shoulder at that time. This means is provided by the edge |12 of the link |0| acting on the pin |13. Said shoulder S|4 passes the pawl |61 atabout the middle of the stroke, and the edge |12 is so shaped that at that period of the stroke the pawl is held out of contact with the disc. When, after a total-printing operation, the paper is brought to line |4 by the pawl 95, the shoulder S|4 reaches the pawl |61 at the extreme end of the stroke of the link |0|, at which time the incline |14 of the edge |12 has passed may be used to feed paper from any suitable source, such, for example, as a supply roll. Preferably, however, the paperis folded back and forth'on itself along the weakened line 90, in the manner sometimes called fanfold. 'I'he supply of it is, therefore, in the form of a pile |15 (Fig. 1) lying on ashelf or tray |16 at the back ofthe machine; and after printing it is fed back and automatically refolded into a second pile |11 on a second tray |18. From the pile |15 the paper web is drawn upward and forward between two guide rolls |80 (Fig. 2) mounted on top of the machine in brackets |8|, the upper roll having vits spindle guided in vertical slots in said brackets so as to rest by its weight on the paper. From here the paper is drawn forward to a guide rod |82 on the carriage (Fig. and thence From the front of the platen thepaper passes upward and over a power driven feed roll |83 journaled in brackets |84, thence through a guide trough or chute |85 to another chute |86, from the rear end of which it descends into the tray |18, al1 as shown by the heavy dot-dash lines in Figs. 1 and 2.

The power-driven roll |83 (Figs. 1, 2, and 11) l shown in Fig. l`1. It consists of a plurality of scribed pushes the paper back through the metal cylinders strung at intervals along a shaft |9| to which they are fixed by set screws |92.

surface, and is rotated at about '750 R. P. M., and y that the roll |90 consists of steel cylinders about one inch in diameter.

'I'he power-operated feeding means just de.-

chutes |85 and |86, and it also improves the action of the feed of the paper by the platen. The paper is fed from line I4 of one form to line I4 of the next by a succession of steps, including a number of actuations of the line-to-gline feed, and two actuations of the long feed. In apparatus for bringing a web of paper automatically to the first line of a succeeding formas constructed heretofore, it has been found that a cer- .tain amount of slip occurred between the, platen and the paper whichcaused the first line of the second sheet to come not exactly to the printing line; and the error was cumulative. The third sheet would come a little further from exact position than the second, the fourth-a little further still, and so on; and after a certain number of forms it became necessary to stop the machine and re-adjust the paper. 'I'he feed roll |83 maintains quite a strong tension on the paper at the delivery side of the platen, and this effects a marked improvement in the respect under consideration, so that a much greater downward about the platen.

length ol web than formerly can be fed through the machine without an error of position occurring suflicient to require re-adjustment.

'I'he chutes |85 and |86 mayfbe of flat sheet metal with guide edges turned up and, preferably, also turned in over the edges of the paper.

The chute |85 is supported on suitable cross rods |93 and` |94 on the brackets |8| and |84, and the chute |86 is hinged tothe latter. The tray |16 has its side beams pivoted to the frame at |95 and it is held up by a brace consisting of a bail |96 whose arms are hinged to the framework The cross-bar |98 of the bail rests in notches formed by securing clips 200 to the bottom of the tray. The tray 16 has two brackets 20|, each with an open slot or notch in which rests a rod or studs 203 carried by brackets 202 on the tray` |18. A bail 209 pivoted to the brackets 20|, has its cross bar resting in a sort of hook 204 made by bending back the floor of the chute |86, whose free end is thus supported. One or more braces or ties 205 are pivoted to the tray |18 and hook over the bail 209 to support the free end of said tray. The construction is such that the upper ends of the bails |96 and 209,

andthe tie or ties 205, may be unhooked and the trays |16 and ns and the chute lss may au their notches in the brackets 20|, and the tray |18 thus removed from the machine. It is found that the rolls |83, |90 can push the paper along the chute |85 and |86, especially if the latter has a suitable downward inclination.

With the arrangement shown, the paper is automatically piled in the tray |18, provided only that the pile be properly started with the first fold or two. This works best when the distance from the point 206 Vto the point 201 at the forward foot of the pile is not greater than the length of a single form or fold, and it works well when such distance is somewhat less than the length of a single form; and preferably the distance fromthe l point 206 to the pdint 208 at the rear fo'ot of the pile is somewhat greater than the length of, a form. In the present instance, where the forms are eleven inches long, these distances are about nine or ten inches and thirteen and a half inches, respectively. It is, ofcourse, not necessary to adhere to these exact proportions. If the distance l between points 206 and 201 is materially longer than a single form, the.l paper does not fold itself together so well. With the paper. in the position 'the opposite direction. `When it passes the point 206, the paper is suspended between that point and the rear edge of the pile, and its weight therefore tends to cause the paper to hinge, as it were, along the pre-folded line. In short, due to the pre-folded condition of the paper, the stiffness of the paper between folds, and its weight, it automatically folds itself up into a pile as it is fed back. It is found in practice that it does this quite neatly. This process will continue until a considerable pile has been accumulated, and until the distance from the point 206 to the proximate foot of the pile has become considerably less than the length of one of the folds.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. 'Ihe combination with printing means, of a long-feed element capable of feeding a web of paper to a predetermined line position from another predetermined line position or from intermediate positions, an alternative long-feed element capable of feeding the paper to such an intermediate position, and means for temporarily suspending the action of the rst said element to permit printing in such intermediate position.

2. The combination of a long-feed element acting automatically to feed a web of paper divided into forms from the last line of one form, to a predetermined line of the next succeeding form, an alternative long-feed element for feeding'the paper from a line short of the bottom of a form to another predetermined line of the next form, means acting to suspend the first recited element to permit of printing at said second predetermined line, and -means for restoring the activity of the first said element which thereupon acts to feed the paper to the rst mentioned advanced line.

3. The combination with printing instrumentalities, and line-to-line paper feeding means, of long-feeding means comprising a pawl and a ratchet having a tooth so situated as to feed a web of paper to a predetermined line, means' for imparting to said pawl a measured sweep whereby said pawl will pick up said tooth when the paper reaches a predetermined line, a second pawl and ratchet having a tooth disposed to feed the paper to another predetermined line, and means for engaging and disengaging said pawls selectively.

4. In a bookkeeping machine having means for printing a line at each cycle of operation, the

combination of a feed pawl for a long-feed mechanism for the paper, means for reciprocating said pawl twice at each cycle, and a mutilated ratchet having two teeth, one engaged by said pawl to feed the paper to an intermediate position and another engaged by the pawl on the next succeeding reciprocation thereof to feed the paper to a predetermined line position.

5. In a bookkeeping machine having printing means and means for causing a total-printing cycle of operation, the combination with the lineto-line paper feed mechanism, of long-feed mechanism normally inactive, means controlled by said total-causing means for rendering said long-feed mechanism operative during the total-printing cycle, and means for maintaining said long-feed mechanism active into the next succeeding cycle. 6. Long-feed mechanism for a web of paper comprising in combination a mutilated ratchet -having drive teeth and stop teeth, a drive pawl acting on said drive teeth, a stop pawl acting on said stop teeth, and means acting during the stroke of said drive pawl to maintain said stop pawl out of engagement until near the end of said stroke and to move it into engagement in time to arrest said ratchet at the end of said stroke.

'7. Long-feed mechanism for a web o1' paper comprising in combination a mutilated ratchet having a plurality of drive teeth and stop teeth, a drive pawl acting on said drive teeth, a stop pawl acting on said stop teeth, and means acting during a stroke of said drive pawl to maintain said stop pawl out of engagement with said ratchet while a certain stop tooth passes said pawl and to move it into engagement in time to arrest the proper stop tooth at the end of said stroke.

8. Long-feed mechanism for a web of paper comprising in combination a plurality of means each for imparting a long feed to the paper, a single mutilated ratchet having stop teeth appropriate to all of said feeding means, a stop pawl,

and means acting during the operation of one of said feeding means to hold said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet during the passage of a stop tooth appropriate to another feeding means and for moving it into engagement in time to arrest the proper stop tooth.

9. Long-feed mechanism for a web of paper comprising in combination a ratchet, a drive pawl for said ratchet, means including a link for imparting a reciprocatory stroke to said pawl, a`stop pawl, and means for controlling the engagement y and disengagement of said stop pawl including a part of said link acting as a cam.

l0. Long-feed mechanism for a web of paper comprising in combination two ratchets, a drive pawl for each ratchet, a guide for each pawl acting on occasion to hold its pawl out of engagement, means for moving said guidesl to disengaging position alternatively and tending when one guide is moved to disengaging position to move the other to engaging position, and a latch for holding said other guide temporarily in disngaging position, whereby there is an interval during which both pawls are disengaged.

11. In a long-feed for a paper web, the combination of a feed pawl and ratchet, a stop for' arresting the pawl at the end of its stroke, means for lifting the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet to disable said pawl, and co-ordinated means for moving said stop from its pawl-arrestposition.

ELMER H. DREI-IER.

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