US3566094A

US3566094A - Registering apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3566094A
Application number: US719865A
Authority: US
Inventors: Eugene E Reynolds
Original assignee: SCM Corp
Current assignee: SCM Corp
Priority date: 1968-04-09
Filing date: 1968-04-09
Publication date: 1971-02-23
Anticipated expiration: 1988-02-23
Also published as: DE1917609A1; JPS5147079B1; FR2005900A1; CH503329A

Abstract

The invention relates to a mechanism for printing values entered in a keyboard or transmitted from a computer. Normally, values entered in a keyboard are entered in the decimal system of notation and values received from a computer or other external source are transmitted in a binary code. With this thought in mind, this invention provides a mechanism for receiving information from either an internal keyboard in decimal values or from an external source in binary coded values, entering said values serially into a storage and printing out said values in parallel.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Eugene E. Reynolds Orangeburg, S.C. App]. No. 719,865 Filed Apr. 9, 1968 Patented Feb. 23, 1971 Assignee SCM Corporation REGISTERING APPARATUS 18 Claims, 23 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 235/154, 235/61, 235/6l.9 Int. Cl G06k 1/12, G080 1 H00 Field of Search 235/61 (lpop-l), 2.21, 63.11, 61.9, 61.15, 63, 60, 60.13, 60.23; 340/1725 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,057,549 10/1962 Wagemann 235/63X 3,255,960 6/ 1966 Maples ..235/6 1 (lPOP-2.21)

Primary'Examiner-Maynard R. Wilbur Assistant Examiner-Thomas J. Sloyan AttorneyJoe 0. Bolt, Jr.

ABSTRACT: The invention relates to a mechanism for printing values entered in a keyboard or transmitted from a computer. Normally, values entered in a keyboard are entered in the decimal system of notation and values received from a computer or other external source are transmitted in a binary code. With this thought in mind, this invention provides a mechanism for receiving information from either an internal keyboard in decimal values or from an external source in binary coded values, entering said values serially into a storage and printing out said values in parallel.

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IN VENTOR.

Z1 57 5 EUGENE E, REyNoLos AGENT .PATENTEDFEBZ3IQYI 3.5661394 SHEET 06 OF 12 NE Qk s AGEN FATE-HEB FEB? 3 IS?! SHEET 07 0F 12 INVENTOR. EUGENE E. REYNOLDS GENT PATENTEUFEBZSIQ?! 3556,0534

sum 080F 12 'lI/IIlI/IIIII/I INVENTOR EUGENE E. REYNOLDS AGENT PATENTED mm saw as or '12 INVENTOR EUGENE E. REYNOLDS AGENT PATENTED IFEB23 |97| SI lEET 10 []F INVENTOR. EUGENE E. REYNOLDS 4 Q w 4 l a 4 4 I I E 4 5 G 4 1 4 112 M 2 w M. 8 4 4 l m w 4 L "Ground Loud" "Esccpemem Lead" '0' Entry" REGISTERING AFPARA'I'US SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It will be obvious that values entered through a keyboard will require at most a medium-speed printout device and values transmitted from a computer or punched tape will require a highspeed printout device. This invention provides a storage means an an input means which are mounted for relative lateral movement so that information can be serially entered into said storage, order by order, from said input means by either moving said storage laterally relative to said input means or by moving said input means laterally relative to said storage. It is obvious that manual input requirements are such that the type of machine to be used could be relatively slow in acceptance of such input, whereas the automatic input from a remote source would change the requirements for a high speed acceptance of input information. Since the mass of a single input gear and its associated supporting mechanism is so much less than that of a storage means having a plurality of gears, it will be apparent that the operation of a machine constructed in accordance with this invention may be accelerated and the wear and tear on the parts minimized by holding the storage means and moving the single input gear laterally relative thereto for serial entry into said storage means. This type of entry is possible since values transmitted from computers usually are transmitted from a storage register or delay line in serial fashion and since the full capacity of the register is transmitted, including nonsignificant high order zeros, it is of no consequence whether the transmission is from lowest to highest orders or vice versa. In manual entry from a keyboard, the direction of entry from high order to low order is necessary. Therefore, the single input gear must be held and the storage means moved laterally relative thereto for correct entry. The above described modes of operation of the machine, therefore, will be such that the speed and direction requirements of both types of input will be satisfied.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide an improved print out device which will satisfy the needs of printing values selected at a manual keyboard or transmitted from a computer or remote device having value transmitting capabilities.

Another object of this invention is to provide a registering or readout apparatus having an ordinal series of differentially movable actuating members which have a corresponding series of differentially settable character display or type members adapted to be arrested in positions to set the display or type members in accordance with data to be registered.

A further object of this invention relates to converting a first or binary code in corresponding second or decimal code values of mechanical movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for translating the energization of one or more solenoids into decimal displacement which bears a direct relation to the numeric value represented by the energization pulse and which can be used to effect a corresponding positioning of a type wheel or type bar.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a storage means whereby the output information produced by the transducer can be entered therein serially, order by order.

Another object of this invention is to provide an input means and storage means movable relative to each other.

Still further object of this invention is to provide an input means and storage means wherein the storage means can be held in a fixed lateral position with the input means shiftable laterally relative to the storage means or wherein the input means can be held in a fixed lateral position with the storage means shiftable laterally relative to the input means.

Another object of this invention is to provide the combination of a receiving means, decoding means, output producing means with a storage means having serial input means and parallel readout means.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a rotary output producing element including a plurality of shiitable blocking means which is also capable of being shifted to a blocking position to effect a decimal value of rotary movement of the output producing means relative to a fixed stop.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved relay system which is capable of converting a binary coded input into corresponding decimal values of output.

An important feature in this invention resides in the fact that the apparatus is of simple compact construction, economical of manufacture, and comparatively fast in operation.

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 examples, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a left front fragmentary perspective view of the registering apparatus with certain parts broken away and certain parts omitted for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a partial left side elevation of the'registering apparatus with certain parts being removed and certain parts broken away for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of FIG. 2 withcertain other parts broken away;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the registering apparatus as seen from the right of FIG. 3, with certain elements added thereto;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged top plan viewof'FIG. 5 with parts shown broken away and in section for clarity;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a left side-elevation of the paddle wheel shown in combination with the receiving means;

FIG. 9 is an end elevation of FIG. 8 as seen from the right;

FIG. 10 is an elevation view of the paddle wheel with parts broken away for clarity;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along lines 11-11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged substantially vertical partial section through the machine taken transversely thereof and showing the input gear, setting gears, and racks being in their initial or home positions;

FIG. I3 is a view similar to FIG. 12 with the carriage in a position following the entry of a first digit;

FIG. 14 is another view similar to that of FIG. I3 with the setting gears engaged with the racks;

FIG. 15 is a partial section of the input and storage means taken longitudinally of the machine and with the parts in position corresponding to FIG. l4;

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 15 with the parts in position corresponding to FIGS. 12 and 13;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged left front fragmentary perspective view showing the carriage escapement and lowering mechanism with certain parts broken away and certain parts omitted for clarity;

FIG. 18 is a front elevation view of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 1949 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a left front fragmentary perspective view of the carriage return mechanism with certain parts broken away and certain parts omitted for clarity;

FIG. 21 is a circuit diagram of a keyboard system in combination with the receiving means shown in FIGS. 4, 8 and 9;

FIG. 22 is circuit diagram of a relay decoding system including input and output leads; and

FIG. 23 is a circuit diagram of a tape reader or remote keyboard including output leads for use with the receiving and decoding means shown in FIG. 22.

CONTENTS GENERAL DESCRIPTION Referring now in more detail. to the accompanying drawings, the registering apparatus constructed according to the present invention comprises:

a. A registering or readout means 10, FIGS. 2 and 3, for effecting a printing on paper of values contained in a storage means;

b. A storage means 30, FIGS. 2 and 3, to serve as a temporary storage of decoded values along with a storage positioning means which includes a storage escapement means 35-55, FIGS. 1719, a storage lowering means 62-66, FIGS. ll--3, and a storage return means 74, FIG. 29.

c. An input producing means 105, FIGS. 4 and 12-16 for entering decoded values into the storage means.

d. An output producing means 150, FIGS. 4 and 3-41, for

sensing values established in the decoding means and effecting corresponding movement of the input means, and A receiving and decoding means 225,250 etc., FIGS. 8, 9, 21, and 22, for'receiving and sensing binary coded electrical signals and for converting said signals into corresponding decimal values of mechanical movement.

REGISTERING AND READOUT MEANS Referring now particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, the registering or readout means 10 includes a 10 order decimal printing mechanism. The printing mechanism may be the same general type disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,057,549 to Heinrich W. Wagemann. The printing mechanism includes an ordinal series of digit type wheels 11 each having spaced around its periphery a series of digit type 12 ranging in values from to 9 inclusively. Each type wheel ll is entrained with an actuator rack 13 by rack segment 14 and a train of gears 15 and 16. The racks 13 are supported in the registering apparatus by guide rods 17 which pass through slots 18 in each of the racks. A plurality of tension springs 19 anchored at one end to a frame portion (not shown) and secured at their other end to each of the racks 13, urge the racks 13 toward the left as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, all racks 13 are restrained from such leftward motion by a permissive rod 20. The permissive rod is controlled by a pivoted link 21 and cam element 22 which is integral with the machine program shaft 99 (FIG. 20). Cycling of the program shaft 99 will be afiected by an opening of a conventional machine clutch (not shown) by a solenoid 66A shown in the circuit diagram of FIGS. 21 and 23.

For an understanding of the invention, it is necessary to disclose herein only the means wherein actuator racks 13 are controlled in rearward excursion in a readout operation to rotate type wheels 11 to positions for printing in accordance with values in storage gears 37. At the completion of the rearward excursion of racks 13, the type wheels 11 are fired to effeet a printing operation by bringing the print type against a paper tape 23 carried by platen 24. At the conclusion of the printing operation, racks 13 are restored thereby rotating type wheels 11 to normal. As shown in the drawings, there are 10 racks. Therefore, provision is made for a readout from 10 order storage. Reference is made to the aforementioned patent for a description of the printingoperation not specifically disclosed herein.

STORAGE Referring now particularly to FIGS. 2, 3 and 12-46, the storage means 30 comprises a carriage 31 having its sidewall 32 provided with openings (not shown) embracing rods 34 so that carriage 311 is slidable transversely on the machine on rods 34. The front of carriage 311 is provided with 10 vertically shiftable pins 35 which cooperate'with an escapement to allow carriage 31 to escape to the left, order by order, as seen in FIGS. 17, IS. The escapement mechanism will be described in more detail herein below. In the sidewalls 32 of carriage 311, a shaft 36 is fixedly secured, and 10 setting gears 37 are rotatably mounted side by side on shaft 36. Each of the gears 37 includes a wide tooth or stop portion 38 which represents the 0 or home position of gears 37. Also mounted between carriage sidewalls 32 is a comblike stop element 39 having 10 teeth 40, one of which is projected beside each of setting gears 37 and is adapted to cooperate therewith for blocking rotation of said gears 3'7 against clockwise rotation (as seen in FIG. I5) when a gear tooth stop element 38 is in abutment thereagainst.

Mounted on the front of carriage 31 is a laterally projecting zero suppression element which cooperates with stop elements 25 projecting vertically from each of the racks H3, in a conventional manner to hold the racks 13 which exceed the number of digits entered into the storage against rearward excursion.

STORAGE ESCAPEMENT MEANS Referring now particularly to FIGS. 17l9 the carriage 31 is shown mounted for sliding movement on rods 34. A spring 41 is anchored to a frame portion 42 at one end and is connected at the other end to a bracket 43 fixed to the carriage for urging the carriage to the left as seen in FIGS. 17 and I8. The carriage 31 is blocked against leftward movement by a stop 44 contacting vertically shiftable pins 35. The pins 35 are supported in the front of the carriage 31 for vertical shifting from a first blocking position 45 (FIG. 18) to a second escapement position 46 whereby the pins 35 will pass under the stop means 44. The pins 35 are spaced on the carriage in such a manner to represent a one order shifting of the carriage when said pin is removed from a blocking position. A solenoid 47 having an armature 48 is supported on a frame portion (not shown) in such a manner that energization of the solenoid 57 will effect movement of the armature 68 against one of the pins 35 to depress said pin from said first blocking position 45 to said escapement position 46. It is to be noted that the width of the armature 48 (FIGS. 18 and 19) is such that as long as armature 48 is held down the right edge of armature 48 will abut against the next pin 35 to the right and escapement of the carriage 30 to the left will not take place until solenoid 47 is deenergized to release armature 48.

Referring particularly to FIG. 18, the stop means 44 is fixed to a shaft 49 which is mounted in a frame portion (not shown). The stop means 44 is mounted for pivotal movement from a first blocking position 50 to a second escapement position 51 as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 18. A pair of

stop elements

52 and 53 are supported on the machine to limit the degree of pivotal movement of said stop means 44. A spring 54 is connected at one end to the stop element M and anchored at its other end to a frame portion (not shown) for urging the stop means 44 clockwise as shown in FIG'. I8 to position stop 44 against stop element 52 so that the stop 44 will be in a blocking position 50.

In one mode of operation it is desirable to escape the car riage 31 to the left, order by order, and this mode of operation will be effected by the energization of solenoid 47. In a second mode of operation, it is desirable to allow the carriage 31 to shift to the left completely by a single movement to bring the carriage in position for readout by racks I3 rather than an order by order shift, and this mode of operation is accom plished by energization of a solenoid 55 which will cause armature 56 to rotate stop element Ml counterclockwise as shown in FIG. Iii to move the stop 414 from a blocking position 50 to an escapernent position M. The control of solenoids i7 and 55 will be described herein below in a description of the machine operation with reference to FIGS. 21 and 23.

As shown in F168. 17 and 18, a cam element 57 is sup ported on a frame portion 58 below carriage 31 and in alignment with pins 35 in such a manner that when the carriage 31 is returned rightward to its home position, the cam element 57 will return the pins 35 from their second escaping position 46 to their first blocking position 45.

STORAGE LOWERING MEANS Opposite ends of rods 34 are pivotally supported at 59 on bellcranks 60 which are pivoted at one end 61 to a frame portion 103,104 (FIG. 3) with the depending arms 62 of the bellcranks 60 being interconnected by linkage means 63. One of the bellcranks, as seen on the right of FIGS. 1, 2, and 17 is provided with an extension 64 which is connected at 65 to a solenoid 66, whereby energization of solenoid 66 will rock bellcranks 60 counterclockwise (FIG. 2) about fixed pivots 61 to effect lowering of the carriage 31 and the engagement of setting gears 37 with rack segment 13A. Also connected to extension 64 is a tension spring 67 which urges the bellcranks clockwise about fixed pivots 61 with the extent of movement of the bellcrank being controlled by stops 68, 69. The control of solenoid 66 will be described herein below in a description of the machine operation.

STORAGE RETURN MEANS Referring now particularly to FIG. 20, a means is shown for returning the carriage 31 from its leftward escape position rightward to its home position. Fixed to the carriage 31 is a carriage stop bracket 71 which extends forwardly and has a notch portion 72. The stop bracket 71 controls the extreme leftward position of the carriage 31. The notch portion 72 is mounted for sliding engagement with a fixed rod 73. A clearance slide 74 is supported on a fixed rod 75 and includes a notch portion 76. The clearance slide 74 is urged to the left as shown in FIG. 20 by a spring 77 which is connected at one end to a frame portion (not shown) and connected at the other end to clearance slide 74. The carriage stop bracket 71 and carriage notch portion 72 are located on the rod 73 in such a manner that movement of the clearance slide 74 to the right will affect a corresponding movement of the carriage 31. The clearance slide 74 is moved rightward by means of a draw band 78 which is connected by a connecting element 79 to the clearance slide 74 on one end and connected by element 80 to a movable rod 81 on the other end. A guide pulley 82 engages an intermediate portion of draw band 78 for changing the direction of movement of the draw band from a transverse direction to a fore and aft direction. Guide pulley 82 is mounted for rotation on a roller support bracket 83 which is connected to a frame portion (not shown). The rod 81 is guided by a support element 14. The fore and aft movement of the rod 81 is controlled by a clearance lever 85 which is pivotally mounted on shaft 86 and urged in a clockwise direction about shaft 86 by a pair of tension springs 87, 88 which is connected at one end to a frame portion (not shown) and connected at the other end to clearance lever stud elements 89, 90. The lower end of clearance lever 85 is connected to rod 81 by a hook 91 and stud 92. Movement of the clearance lever 81 in a clockwise direction is blocked by a cam 93 which engages a roller 94. The roller 94 is journaled on a roller lever 95 which is pivotally mounted on shaft 96 at one end and connected by a link 97 to the clearance lever 85 at the other end. The cam 93 includes a notched portion 98 which will cooperate with roller 94 to allow rotation of the clearance lever 85 about shaft 36 which will in turn pull the rod 31 rearwardly causing a rightward movement of clearance slide 74 on rod 73 to effect movement of the carriage 31 rightward to its home position. The cam 93 is mounted on the machine program shaft 99 which is controlled by a conventional machine clutch mechanism (not shown) during the cycling of the machine. In one mode of operation it is necessary to disable the storage return mechanism and this is done by link 93A which is pivotally mounted on shaft 99 and controlled by a solenoid 93B. Whenever solenoid 93B is energized, link 93A will be rotated clockwise around shaft 99 to thereby cause a link projecting portion 93C to move into the path of roller 94 to block movement of roller 94 into cam notch portion 98. The operation of shaft 99 and the control of solenoid 938 will be described more fully herein below in the description of the machine operation.

INPUT MEANS It will be obvious that values may be entered successively in the storage gears 37 by moving the carriage 31 to the left relative to the stationary input gear 103, or they may be so entered by fixing the carriage 31 and moving the single input gear relative to the gears 37.

FIGS. 1, 3, and 4show the carriage 31 in its leftward position associated with the racks 13 with a single setting gear inmeshed with the rightmost gear 37. The printing is done in the same manner as previously described in that after the. setting gears 37 have been set, they are engaged with the racks 13 and the printing is accomplished by rotating the displaced gears back to a zero position. This action controls the excursion of the individual racks in accordance with the digit which has been entered and is to be printed.

Members

106 and 107 serve the function to retain the gears in set position to the left and the right of the inputgear 105. These members are mounted for lateral movement on shaft 101 which is fed by the input from the paddle wheel through the gear 110. This shaft is flat on two sides as shown in FIG. 7 to provide for the driving of the input gear 105 and still allows the lateral movement of this gear. The hole in the gear 105 also has two flats, but the hubs in

collars

117 and 118 are round.'The hub 1190f the gear is also formed in the shape of the shaft to provide proper bearing surface for the gear 105. The gear 105, therefore, is simply confined in a lateral position by the

collars

117 and 118 and the frame 120, but is free to rotate with the shaft 101. The frame 120 is U-shaped and integrally connected to 106 and 107 which are supported on the outer ends by collars 121 and 122 respectively. This frame is capable of moving laterally to be associated with any of the gears 37 with the carriage 31 in its leftmost position as shown in FIG. 4. The entire assembly is controlled for lateral movement by a block 123 as shown better in FIGS. 4-6. The block 123 is supported on two

worm shafts

124 and 125 which rotate continuously through a gear drive 126, 127 from. the motor (not shown). A pin 128 is in the block 123 and is detented to a position so that the end of the

129, 130 may enter the

grooves

131, 132 of the

worm shaft

124, 125, but only one of the shafts is engaged by a

129, 130 at any one time. The detent 133 is spring urged down by spring 134 and retained by a plate 135 on the top of the block 123. The detent will serve to hold the pin in engagement with either the

shaft

124 or 125.

FIG. 4 shows the. assembly at the right side or lowest order of the carriage 31 and the entire assembly makes one excursion leftward and then rightward from that position during a machine cycle. Since the

worm shafts

124 and 125 are geared together, they will rotate in such a manner as to provide this excursion. The end of the pin 128, for example, being in the slot 132 of the worm gear 125 (see HO. 6) will cause the leftward movement of the assembly, including the block 123. As the block 123 reaches the leftmost position, a cam 136 on the member 125 will serve to move the pin 128 into engagement with the slot 131 of worm shaft 124 for the return of the input gear 105 to the rightmost position. in the rightmost position of the block 123 the pin is then reengaged with the shaft 125 through a cam 137 on the shaft 124 and the block 123 may be held in this position by a member 139 pivoted at 140m a frame portion 141. The member 139 includes a hook end 142 which is positioned to engage collar 122 to hold the block and input gear assembly in the rightward or home position. The

book end 142 can be disengaged from collar 122 by energizetion of an electromagnet 138 which is positioned adjacent end 143 to rotate member 139 clockwise as shown in FIG. 4. Member 139 is urged in a counterclockwise direction by spring 144. The control of electromagnet 138 will be described more fully herein below in the operation of the machine.

OUTPUT PRODUCING MEANS Referring now particularly to FIGS. 3, 4, 10, and 11, the output producing means 150 includes a paddle wheel 151 which is fixed to gear 113 and journaled on continuously driven shaft 114 and driven through belt 115 and pulley 116 by a motor (not shown). There is a predetermined amount of friction between paddle wheel 151 and shaft 114 so that paddle wheel 151 will be driven therewith when it is not blocked against rotation. Paddle wheel 151 has a plurality of radially extending pins 152 (FIGS. 10 and 11) mounted in a radial groove 153. Each of the pins 152 includes an ear portion 154 and a flexible portion 155. Pins 152 are held in the paddle wheel groove 153 by paddle wheel shoulder portion 156 which abuts against pin ear portions 154. The pins are adapted to be moved into one of two selected positions as shown in FIG. 11, and are held in either of the selected positions by a paddle wheel detent surface 157 cooperating with the pin flexible portion 155. Mounted on the frame portion (not shown) (FIG. 4) adjacent paddle wheel 151 is a cam element 158 which upon rotation of the paddle wheel resets the pins from a first position as shown in the top portion of the paddle wheel in FIG. 11 to a second position shown in the bottom portion of the said paddle wheel as seen in FIG. 11. The purpose of this resetting of the pins will be described shortly herein after.

RECEIVING AND DECODING MEANS It is anticipated that the transducer or input element may be associated with various peripheral equipment such as a remote keyboard, punched tape, or computer storage. In some cases it might be more expedient to affect the translation from one code to another in the associated input mechanism rather than the setting elements themselves. In the case of a remote decimal input, for example, the solenoids associated with the output from a computer being decoded in such a manner as to directly set the decimal solenoid associated with the particular code combination.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 8, 9, and 21, a means for accomplishing the above described mode of operation includes the paddle wheel 151, associated with a series of solenoids 225, one for each decimal value 1-9, inclusive, and each of which is located adjacent a pin 152 (FIGS. 8 and 9) in such a manner that operation of a solenoid 225 will position the associated pin, from a position noncoplanar with a fixed stop 227 to a position coplanar with fixed stop 227. A solenoid 226 is positioned adjacent stop 227 to remove a pin 152A (FIGS. 9 and 21) from the stop 227 so that the paddle wheel may be free to rotate until the next pin positioned in the path of stop 227 contacts the stop. This degree of rotation of the paddle wheel will represent one of the decimal values 1-2, inclusive, which value will be entered through input gear 105 into the setting gears 37 as described previously in connection with the paddle wheel operation. The paddle wheel 151 is in friction engagement with continuously driven shaft 114 and is blocked against rotation by one of the pins 152 contacting stop 227. FIG. 9 also shows the solenoid 225 associated with decimal digit two as energized to position a second pin 1528 into the path of stop 227. The positioning of pin 1523 can be done at any time prior to the operation of the solenoid 226 to remove the effective stop pin 152A and when this particular pin 152A is removed, it can be seen that the paddle wheel 151 will be allowed to rotate two increments until set pin 152B contacts step 227.

The relative positioning of pins 151 for controlling paddle wheel rotation is shown schematically in FIG. 21. The mode of operation illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 21 allows for the direct operation of the digit input through a keyboard, or in response to an electrical encoding system such as a combination of relays or the lilce. Referring now particularly to FIG. 21, the keyboard 230 includes a series of switches, one for each digit key. The digit lrey switch 232, for example, includes a part of

contacts

231 and 231A, actuation of which will connect the ground lead 234 to the input lead 235 when the number 7 digit key is depressed. Lead 235 is connected to lead 227 and through the number 7 solenoid 225 to a common supply line 404. Assuming that the number 7 digit key 232 is depressed, this will result in the closing of switch 231. Upon closing switch 231 the path of the circuit will be from power source 400 through switch 402 which is controlled by a slow acting relay 412 along lead 404 through solenoid No. 7 along

lead

237, 235, through switch 231 along lead 234 through relay coil 412 to ground 414. Thus the closing of switch 231 operates the numerical solenoid 225 and also the relay coil 412. A capacitor 416 is supplied at

point

413 and 415 across the relay coil 412. This causes a fast operation of solenoid 225 while the capacitor 416 is charged and a delayed operation of the relay coil 412 as the capacitor is discharged. Upon operation of relay 412 the numeral switch 402 is opened and this breaks the circuit to the solenoid 225 and closes the switch from the plus source 400 to lead 418 which operates the carriage escapement solenoid 47. Operation of relay coil 412 also closes switch 403 to apply power from source 400 through lead 420 to operate the go" solenoid 226 to release the paddle wheel 151 for rotation to effect an entry through the input gear 105. Due to the width of solenoid armature 47 as previously described, it should be noted that as long as solenoid 47 is energized the carriage 31 is held in a position to accept the entry through the rotation of input gear 105, but as solenoid 47 is released, the carriage will then escape to the left. Depression of a numeral key will therefore serve to rotate input gear the correct incremental distances and subsequently escape the carriage 31 to the left for a new entry.

Depression of the zero key 422 will close switch 423 to operate the escapement solenoid 47 without operation of relay 412. Closing of the zero key switch completes the circuit from power source 400 through switch 402 along lead 421 through the zero key switch along lead 424 and through solenoid 47 to ground.

A relay system is shown in FIG. 22 which can be wired in direct combination with the keyboard and input unit shown in FIG. 21 or can be wired for remote operation of the solenoids 225 and controls 226, 47, etc. The circuit diagram shown in FIG. 22 includes connectors for all of the output lines which are directly related to the input line connectors shown in FIG. 21. The relay system will serve to operate any of the solenoids 225 in accordance with input information supplied to the relay system in a binary code. It is to be understood that information can be supplied to the relay system from any number of sources such as a computer, a tape reader such as that shown in FIG. 23. It is further pointed out that the tape reader of FIG. 23 and the relay system of FIG. 22 all could be provided in an integral unit. The circuit diagram of H6. 21 shows a plus power source at 400 with a ground at 414. Therefore, it is necessary that the remote information source supplied through the relay system shown in FIG. 22 complete the circuit from 400 to 414 for operation of the

controls

226, 47, etc., in the same manner as described above in connection with keyboard associated with

solenoid

225 and 226.

The relay system includes four relays; 241, 242, 243, and 244 which are operated in response to binary information as follows: The presence of a binary eight will energize the relay 241 and move the switch arm 247 from contact 245 to close the circuit at 246. The operation of relay 242 will move the switch arm 248 from connection at 249 and close the circuit at contact 250. The operation of the number two relay 243 controls two switch arms 232 and 2:35. The switch arm 252 disengaging from contact with 253 and engages 2M and the switch arm 255 disengages contact 256 and engages contact 257. Operation of relay 244, which is the number one binary relay,

will operate five separate switches. The arm 258 will disconnect from contact 259 and engage 260. The am 261 will disengage from contact and engage contact 263. The arm 264 will disengage contact 265 and engage contact 266. The arm 267 will disengage the contact 268 and engage contact 269. The arm 270 will disengage contact 271 and engage contact 272. The latter contact 271 serves to operate a relay 420 which will close switch 492 to a plus source 450 which will serve to operate the escapement solenoid 47 when none of the binary value relays is operated indicating the presence of a zero in the input.

in the following through the circuitry, it will be seen that if a pulse is applied at the lead 274 with none of the relays operated, this pulse will go through the

closed switches

245, 245i, 253, and through the lead 273 to the contact 271. Assuming that the number one relay 244 is operated, the switch arm 270 from the lead 273 will be in contact with 272 which will serve to operate the number one solenoid 225. Assuming that the number two solenoid is operated, the pulse will be through the

switches

245, 249, and from the arm 252 through the switch 254 and lead 275,

switch

267, 268 through the lead to operate the number two solenoid. If the two is combined with the one, the switch 267 will be connected at 269 and operate the number three solenoid. if the number four relay 242 is operated, the circuit will be through the switch 245 arm 24% switch 251) arm 255 which is associated with the number two relay but normally closed unless the number two relay is operated, lead 276

switch

264 and 265 to operate the number four solenoid. If a binary number 1 is also present, the relay 244 is operated and the circuit is from 264 to lead 266 to operate the number 5 solenoid. The number 6 is represented by the binary 4 and the binary 2, both being operated, and in this event the circuit will be through the switch 245, arm 248, switch 250, arm 255, switch 257, lead 277, arm 261, contact 262 to operate the number 6 solenoid. The 7 binary combination is represented by a 4, a 2, and a 1, and if these three relays are operated, the circuit from 261 will be through 263. if the binary 8 relay is operated, the circuit is from source 274 through arm 245, switch 246, lead 278, arm 258, switch 259 to operate the 8 solenoid. if the number 8 is combined with the l to represent a decimal 9, the circuit will be through arm 245, switch 246, lead 278, arm 258, contact 260 to operate the number 9 solenoid. It can be seen, therefore, that the input of a binary number which operates the correct combination of binary relays will serve to condition switches for the energization of the correct decimal solenoid 225. The description and operation of

switches

452, 484, and

solenoids

55, 93B, and 138 shown in FIG. 28A will be described in detail herein below in the operation description of the machine.

OPERATlON it can be seen in connection with the keyboard as shown in FIG. 2i that direct utilization of the closure of switches to operate individual solenoids selectively from one to nine to position the pins H52 for angular displacement of paddle wheel H would result in a low cost printing machine where a single printer which is capable of accepting manual input is required. The provision of such a machine as a single unit and for a single purpose would not require that the machine be capable of automatic operation at relatively high speeds. it is, however, an object of the invention to provide a machine which is capable of adaptability to either manual input 01' automatic input at a relatively high speed and that such input may be entered directly through a keyboard at the machine or through a remote keyboard with manual entry and that such machines shall be capable also of receiving information from a punched tape or the like for automatic operation. The punched tap unit may be associated closely with the print unit or remotely from the unit. Furthermore, printing on two machines from a single source such as a keyboard or a tape reader is possible and provided herewith. The adaptability of each machine to a different type of operation without changing the machine itself except for adding on the units to provide the adaptation is a feature of this invention. For example, it can be seen that the wiring diagram of FIG. 21 for directly operating numeral solenoids to position the input mechanism would not need to contain the decoding for binary input unless it were desirable to receive information from another source which normally comes in by code, such as a punched tape. A purchaser of such a machine, however, may at any time later add the electrical decoding systemwithout any change to the machine itself or its "operating characteristics. The type of machine which might be normally purchased by persons to till the present needs may very well be called upon to provide additional type of service as the needs of the purchaser change. For example, manual input requirements are such that the type of machine to be used would be relatively slow in acceptance of such input, whereas the automatic input from a remote source would change the requirements for a high speed acceptance of input information. The mode of operation of the machine, therefore, will be such that the speed requirements of both types of input will be satisfied. it is also noted that the location of the remote source of input information would have a bearing on the type of operation most desirable for a particular machine. For this reason we are showing the complete adaptability of two diflerent types of machines to operate together in asystem.

The operation of the direct decimal entry control has been shown and described in FIG. 21. FIGS. 21, 22, and 215 combined show a complete wiring diagram for the print unit, relay system and tape reader operable together in a system.

As shown in FIG. 21 the solenoids 225 are controlled for individual operation by each key 232 to energize the solenoid and laterally displace one of the pins 1528. As has been previously described, the wheel isnormally. positioned against a fixed stop 227 by a previously set pin 152A on the paddle wheel. After lateral displacing the correct pin, a go solenoid 226 is operated to remove the pin on the paddle wheel from. the tixed stop 227 and the paddle wheel 151 will then rotate until the next set pin 152A comes up against fixed stop 227. The paddle wheel will thus move an angular position represented by the. digit entered by closing the switch through depression of the key. It can be seen, therefore, that it is desirable to operate the solenoid 225 prior to the operation of the go solenoid 226. it will also be noted that alter the setting of gears 37 in thestorage mechanism, carriage 31 will he escaped one order to the left so that input gear will be aligned with the next gear 37 to the right whereby the machine will be ready to accept the next input digit. Means are therefore provided to cause the operations above described to occur in rapid sequence and these means are shown in the circuit diagrams of FIGS. 21, 22, and 23. Depression of a digit key 232 will result in a closing of switch 231 to operate the numeral solenoid 225 and also the relay coil 412 which closes switchs 402 and 403 to cause operation of the go" solenoid 226 and escapement solenoid 47 the circuit of which has been previously described above in connection with the receiving and decoding means. Depression of a numeral key 232 will therefore serve to rotate the input gear 105 the correct incremental distances and subsequently escape the carriage for a new entry.

Upon completion of the entry of a series of digits through the keyboard, the print key 424 is depressed which serves to print the value entered into the storage, clear the storage element and return the storage element to its rightmost position for a new entry. This is accomplished upon depressing key 424 through a switch 426 which closes the circuit as follows: plus source 428,

solenoids

66 and 66A, lead 427, switch 426 to ground. Operation of solenoid 66A opens the machine clutch and solenoid 66 as previously described lowers the line of gears 37 into engagement with racks l3. As previously described in connection with the printing operation, storage gears 37 are engaged with racks l3 during rearward excursion to control the extent of the excursion of racks 13 and set the.

printing elements. At midcycle storage gears 37 are disengaged from racks l3 and racks 13 are then returned back to home position. Means are therefore provided to hold the solenoid 66 in energized position until midcycle. This consists of a cam 430 on the main program shaft 99 and a follower 432 pivoted at 434 and urged counterclockwise by a spring 435. As soon as the machine starts to operate the cam follower 432 will be allowed to rock counterclockwise through the urgency of the spring 435 and this will close switch 436 to ground 437, even though the print key 424 is released and the switch 426 is open. The

solenoids

66 and 66A are therefore maintained in an energized state until themidcycle of the machine. Solenoid 66A which opens the machine clutch will be held energized through this half-cycle but will be released in time to confine the cycling of the machine to a single cycle.

The relay system shown in F 1G. 22 and previously described above in the description of the receiving and decoding means will operate the paddle wheel input of FIG. 21 as follows: a binary code in the form of an electrical pulse or combination of pulses will be received from an external source to energize the selected relays 24l244 to establish the proper decimal decoded value. The external source-above mentioned could be from either the keyboard encoder or tape reader shown in FIG. 23. FIG. 22 shows a plus power source at 450 for operation of binary relays 241-244 and therefore the selection of the tape readeris accomplished by manually closing switch 618 or the selection of the keyboardencoder is accomplished by manually closing switch 606 to condition either of the above to provide a ground for plus source 450 (F116. 22). The keyboard encoder could be of any conventional type that produces a binary code, however, reference is made to U.S. Pat. to Huber No. 3,267,215 for the description of a keybaord encoder suited for operation with the above described relay system. In the case of the keyboard encoder the ground would be through binary switches 288-290, which are closed by depression of number keys 282, to ground 600 or in the case of the tape reader through internal switches (not shown) to tape reader ground (not shown). After the selected binary combination has been established in relays 241-444 an electrical pulse is generated from plus power source 400 through the selected solenoid 225 along lead 274 through switch 308 which is closed by a bail 306 upon depression of any of the numeral keys 282 (if keyboard encoder is used) or switch 616 (if the tape reader is used) back through lead 496, lead 410, relay 412 to ground 414 for operation of the go solenoid 226 and escapement solenoid 47 to complete the entry of the selected digit into the storage setting gears 37 and to escape the setting gears 37 for entry of the next digit. Successive pulse combinations are received through the relay system in a similar fashion to complete the entry into the storage setting gears 37 after which a print signal is received through print switch 500 (if the keyboard encoder is used) or through switch 617 (if the tape reader is used) to open the machine clutch (not shown) by energization of solenoid 66A thereby cycling the machine for a printing operation in the same fashion as has been previously described. it is to be noted that in using the tape reader that a go" signal and a print signal generated thereby will effect a closing of switches 616 and 617 by

relays

612 and 615 respectively for completion of the circuits above described.

The circuit diagram of FIG. 22 also shows

solenoid

138, 55, and 93B wired in parallel for control from plus power source 450. The functions of

solenoids

138, 55, and 933 have been previously described herein above in connection with the description of the storage escapement and return mechanism. As has been previously stated, it is desirable to hold the storage gears and move the input gear for fast input operation and this can be accomplished by manually closing switch 484 to complete the circuit from plus power source 45!) through

solenoids

138, 55, and 933 to ground 488. Energization of solenoid 138 would release engagement of carriage 31 to permit escapement to the left past blocking member 44 which has been simultaneously moved to a nonblocking position 411 by solenoid 55. The energization of solenoid 93B will move blocking portion 93C into the path of roller 94 to disable the carriage return mechanism to permit a continuous operation of the alternate input embodiment.

The present invention thus provides a printing system, operable from either an internal or external code producing unit or from either an internal or external direct decimal entry unit. Also, the invention provides an electrical decoding device, operable from a keyboard or similar unit.

While the form of the apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. in a registering apparatus capable of serially receiving in- .formation in the form of electrical signals of input, comprising, in combination:

a. means mounted on said registering apparatus for serially receiving said electrical signals of input information;

b. means mounted on said registering apparatus and operatively associated with said receiving means for producing output information represented as values of mechanical movement, in response to an input into said receiving means;

c. storage means, including means for serially receiving said values of mechanical movement;

d. input means operatively associated with said output producing and said storage means for transferring serially said values of mechanical movement from said output producing means to said storage means;

e. means for supporting said storage means on said registering apparatus for lateral movement relative to said input means; means operatively associated with said storage means for shifting said storage means laterally relative to said input means;

. means for supporting said input means on said registering apparatus for lateral movement relative to said storage means; and

h. means operatively associated with said input means for shifting said input means laterally relative to said storage means.

2. In a registering apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said registering apparatus includes readout means operatively associated with said storage means for reading said information contained in said storage means in parallel.

3. In a registering apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said output producing means includes a rotatably movable wheel having at least ten circumferentially positioned and laterally shiftable pin elements adapted to be shifted laterally between rotary blocking and rotary nonblocking positions and zero reference means associated with said rotatably movable wheel for blocking rotation of said wheel when a pin set in a blocking position abuts thereagainst.

4. In a registering apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which said receiving means includes a series of electromagnetic actuators circumferentially positioned around said movable wheel and adjacent at least nine of said pin elements in successive order from said zero reference means for shifting selected ones of said pins laterally to said rotary blocking position in response to electrical pulses received to represent a selected decimal value, 1-9 inclusive.

5. ln a registering apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said storage means includes an ordinal series of value storage elements.

6. In a registering apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said input means is provided with means for holding said input means in a lateral set position, and control means operatively associated with said storage shifting means for initiating an independent shifting of said storage means laterally relative to said input means, order by order, so that output information can be entered serially into said value storage elements.

7. In a registering apparatus as defined in claim wherein said storage means is provided with means for holding said storage means in a lateral set position, and control means operatively associated with said input shifting means for initiating an independent shifting of said input means laterally relative to said storage means, order by order, so that output information can be entered serially into said value storage elements.

8. In a registering apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said readout means includes an ordinal series of registering elements, and an ordinal series of actuator means positioned in said registering apparatus for transferring said output information in parallel from each of said value storage elements to each of said registering elements.

9. In a registering apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which said input means includes an input gear driven by said output producing means.

10. In a registering apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which said storage means includes a laterally shiftable carriage having an ordinal series of setting gears.

l 1. In a registering apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which said actuators include an ordinal series of racks, and wherein said registering elements include an ordinal series of print wheels having decimal values 0 to 9 inclusive thereon.

12. In a registering apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which a decoding means is operatively associated with said receiving means for accepting input information represented as electrical pulses in a first predetermined code for converting said first predetermined code to decimal values of electrical pulses and supplying said decimal values of electrical pulses to said receiving means.

13. In a registering apparatus as defined in claim 12 in which said decoding means includes an arrangement having a plurality of input lines in parallel array, and a plurality of output lines in parallel array wherein one of said input lines intersects all of said output lines with connector contacts arranged at the intersection points, respectively, and capable of being selectively changed between open and closed conditions, electromagnetic actuator means connected with each of said other input lines and wherein each of said electromagnetic means is operatively associated with one or more of said connector contacts for shifting said contacts between open and closed portions, said electromagnetic means capable of being energized independently or in combination, and wherein said connector contacts and said electromagnetic means are arranged such that introduction of a pulse into said one input line will result in a readout pulse in only one of said output lines.

14. In a registering apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which said first predetermined code fonn is a binary code, wherein said input lines include at least five lines including said one input pulse line and four input lines to represent each point of the binary code and wherein said output lines represent decimal values 0-9 inclusive.

15. In a registering apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which said electromagnetic means includes four electromagnets, one for each point of the binary code, wherein said electromagnet representing a binary one is operatively associated with alternate ones of said output lines to control the introduction of odd decimal values and wherein said electromagnet representing a binary two is operatively associated with the twoand six-decimal output line to control introduction of a two-, six-, and seven-decimal value.

16. In a registering apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said receiving means includes a decoding means having a plurality of coded input lines in parallel array representative of a first predetermined code, a plurality of coded output lines in parallel array representative of a second predetennined code, an input pulse line in parallel array with said coded input lines and intersecting all of said coded output lines with connector contact means arranged at said intersecting points, respectively, and capable of being changed between open and closed conditions whereby a pulse entered through said input pulse line can appear selectively in any one of said coded output lines, and a plurality of electromagnetic relays, each of which is operatively associated with one of said coded input lines and with one or more of said contact means for selectively changing said contacts between said open and closed conditions in response to a signal received in said coded input lines.

17. In a registering apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said plurality of coded input lines consists of four input lines representative of a binary code and said coded output lines consist of at least nine output lines representative of decimal values one through nine, inclusive with one of said output lines being operatively associated with each one of said nine electromagnetic actuators, respectively.

18. In a registering apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said plurality of relays consist of four relays representative of a binary code with one of said relays operatively associated with five of said connector contacts and the binary one input line to control the introduction of odd decimal values and wherein a second one of said relays is operatively associated with two other of said connector contacts and the binary two input line to control the introduction of a six and seven binary combination.

Claims

1. In a registering apparatus capable of serially receiving information in the form of electrical signals of input, comprising, in combination: a. means mounted on said registering apparatus for serially receiving said electrical signals of input information; b. means mounted on said registering apparatus and operatively associated with said receiving means for producing output information represented as values of mechanical movement, in response to an input into said receiving means; c. storage means, including means for serially receiving said values of mechanical movement; d. input means operatively associated with said output producing and said storage means for transferring serially said values of mechanical movement from said output producing means to said storage means; e. means for supporting said storage means on said registering apparatus for lateral movement reLative to said input means; f. means operatively associated with said storage means for shifting said storage means laterally relative to said input means; g. means for supporting said input means on said registering apparatus for lateral movement relative to said storage means; and h. means operatively associated with said input means for shifting said input means laterally relative to said storage means.

5. In a registering apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said storage means includes an ordinal series of value storage elements.

7. In a registering apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said storage means is provided with means for holding said storage means in a lateral set position, and control means operatively associated with said input shifting means for initiating an independent shifting of said input means laterally relative to said storage means, order by order, so that output information can be entered serially into said value storage elements.

11. In a registering apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which said actuators include an ordinal series of racks, and wherein said registering elements include an ordinal series of print wheels having decimal values 0 to 9 inclusive thereon.

14. In a registering apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which said first predetermined code form is a binary code, wherein said input lines include at least five lines including said one input pulse line and four input lines to represent each point of the binary code and wherein said output lines represent decimal values 0-9 inclusive.

15. In a registering apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which said electromagnetic means includes four electromagnets, one for each point of the binary code, wherein said electromagnet representing a binary one is operatively associated with alternate ones of said output lines to control the introduction of odd decimal values and wherein said electromagnet representing a binary two is operatively associated with the two- and six-decimal output line to control introduction of a two-, six-, and seven-decimal value.

16. In a registering apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said receiving means includes a decoding means having a plurality of coded input lines in parallel array representative of a first predetermined code, a plurality of coded output lines in parallel array representative of a second predetermined code, an input pulse line in parallel array with said coded input lines and intersecting all of said coded output lines with connector contact means arranged at said intersecting points, respectively, and capable of being changed between open and closed conditions whereby a pulse entered through said input pulse line can appear selectively in any one of said coded output lines, and a plurality of electromagnetic relays, each of which is operatively associated with one of said coded input lines and with one or more of said contact means for selectively changing said contacts between said open and closed conditions in response to a signal received in said coded input lines.