US1087902A - Bill-printing mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

O. I. HALL.

BILL PRINTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1911.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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BILL PRINTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1911.

,087,902. Patented Feb. 17, 1914;

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W Dim/@5566: [rave/2697 lzfor-vze yj G. I. HALL.

BILL PRINTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1911.

1,087,902. Patented Feb. 17,1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

AL afiiwas 0. I. HALL.

BILL PRINTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1911.

THE CITIZENS ELECTRIC LIGHT 00. DR.

For eIeoTrIoiIy consumed durinq H16 momh of November I910.

KW. huurs consumed.

JOHN DOE 52I5 N- SMITH 6T.

THE CITIZENS ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. DR

For eIec'Iricify consumed durin fi monIIl bf November IQIO.

Readfnq of mefer 1hi5 morrIh. 0 9 48 Reddmq of mefer laeI monfh. V O 9 5 9 K.W. hours consumed. 0 O O 9 NH bIII aI 10 erKWhoun 0 0 0.90

Witnesses;

yw awm Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED sTAras PATENT OFFICE.

CHESTER I. HALL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CHICAGO ELECTRIC METER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BILL-PRINTING MECHANISM.

Patented gFeb. 1'7, 1914..

Application filed June 3, 1911. Serial N 0. 631,044.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHESTER I. HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Bill-Printing Mechanisms, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improved form of billprinting mechanism adapted for use in automatically reading and printing the condition of the counters usually employed in connection with meters for measuring the quantity of gas, electricity, water, etc., which is consumed or passes through the metering mechanism during predetermined intervals.

lVhile my invention is shown in the present case as adapted for use in connection with one particular style of counting mechanism commonly employed in meter construction, it is to beunderstood that it is equally applicable to other'forms and arrangements of counter mechanism and that the bills printed by means of my. device may express other quantities than the consumption and price of electrical energy although. the sample bills shown and referred to are for that purpose.

By my invention I provide mechanism which may be carried from meter to meter, and which by simple manipulation may be automatically operated to set suitable record making mechanism to correspond with the reading of. the meter counter, after which by properly placing a blank bill in the meter reading mechanism it. may have imprinted thereon't-he present reading of the meter, the consumption since the last reading and the price to be charged for such consumption. i

The features referred to above, as well as other features characterizing my invention, will appear more clearly from the following drawings illustrating the same, in which n Figure 1 is a top view of the recording mechanism with the cover and the printing lever removed. Fig. 2 is a side view of the mechanism assembled with the side wall of the casing toward the observer removed to show the working parts employed, such view being taken along the line2-2 in Fig 1.

Fig. 3 is an outside view similar to Fig. 2 of the meter reading and printing mechanlsm assembled. Fig. 4c is a detail view of mechanism employedto intermittently connect portions of the operating mecha-- nism of the recording devices. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the means employed for re-settingthe printing wheels to zero. F 1g. 6 is a detailed view showing deten t mechanism for holding certain of the printmg wheels in the position to which they are moved by the operating mechanism. Fig. 7 is a detailed view of themechanical construction and arrangement of the circuit controlling mechanism used in connection with each of the orders of printing wheels employed. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detailed view of the first group of printing wheels showing the relation thereto of the carry-over wheels normally connecting them. Fig. 9 is an enlarged, longitudinal, sectional View through the shaft supporting the commutating and switching mechanism, showing a portion of such mechanism employed to control the operation of the recording devices. Fig. 10 is a detailed, sectional view of contact making mechanism employed in "connection with the contact block designed to be applied to the counter of the meter to control the circuit connections of the "recording mechanism, such view being taken along the line 101O in Fig. 11. Fig. 11 shows in diagrammatic arrangement the circuit connections employed for operating and controlling the recording devices. Fig.

12 is a face View of a counter adapted for use with the contact block shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a bottom view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Fig. 14 shows a form of bill that may be used in connection with :my printing mechanism, such bill being shownin this figure in the condition that it is before being operated upon by the recording devices. Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14, showing the bill after having been operated upon by the recording and printing mechanism.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a casing 1 is provided with a plurality of shafts 2, 3 and 4; extending transversely thereof, each of such shafts having loosely mounted upon it a plurality of printing wheels, 5, 6 and 7,

5 12and 13, respectively. Each printing wheel 5 has secured to it a gear 15,:while each of the indicating wheels 11 has secured to it a gear 16 meshing with the gear 15. Carryover gears 17, supported upon a transverse rod 18 by swinging brackets 19 pivoted to the casing 1 at 20, are provided between adjacent ones of the indicating wheels 11. Each indicating wheel 11 of lower order carries a cam 21 adapted to engage the associated carry-over gear 17 when such wheel passes from nine to Zero, as' a result of which, since the carry-over wheel is in mesh with the gear 16 carried by the indicating wheel of next higher order, such wheel of 29 higher order is advanced one unit by the carry-over operation. A spring detent 22 is provided in connection with each indicat ing wheel 11 to retain it in'the position to which it is advanced either by the operating 5 mechanism or the carry-over mechanism.

The end of the rod 18, is bent into the form of a crank, as indicated in Fig. 1, so that its bent end 18 may extend through the casing 1 to be engaged by the operator when it is desired to move the carry-over gears 17 upon their pivotal supports 20 from engagement with the gears 16. A spring 23 normally holds brackets 19 in a position to cause engagement between the carry-over gears 17 and the corresponding gears 16. When the carry-over gears 17 are moved from engagement with the gears secured to the associated indicating wheels, they engage a locking bar 19 carried by the casing 1 to prevent rotation of the carry-over wheels, so that when they are again brought into engagement with the associated gears they will properlymesh therewith.

As seen in Fig. 1, the uppermost printing wheel 5 is the units printing wheel and the gear 14 connected therewith meshes with a driving gear 24 adapted to be operated by the solenoid 25 in a manner to be described. A similar connection is provided between the gears connected'with the other printing wheels and the solenoids 25*, 25 and 25, the tens and hundreds wheels being operated by engagement between gears 24 and the gears 15, while the thousands printing wheel 5' is conected by a sleeve with its gear 14 meshing with a driving gear 24. Each of the solenoids described controls besides the printing wheels referred to, contact making and controlling mechanism, to be described.

Since the mechanism employed between each solenoid and the printing wheel operated thereby is the same asthatemployed between each other solenoid and the printing wheel driven thereby,but one of such connecting mechanisms will be referred to particularly in detail. As the mechanism connecting the solenoid 25 with the printing wheel 5 of highest order is shown in enlarged detail in Fig. 9, this mechanism is selected as illustrative of each of the con necting mechanisms referred to. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 9, the shaft 26, which eX- tends transversely of the casing 1, has loosely mounted thereon a sleeve 27 to the upper end of which is rigidly connected the gear 24. The sleeve 27 has also rigidly secured thereto at its lower end a ratchet wheel 28 engaged by the spring pawls 29 and 30 pivotally mounted at 31 and 32 upon a cross-arm 33 carried by the outer end of the plunger 34 of the solenoid 25. A spring 35 serves to hold the pawls 29 and 30 normally in the position indicated in Fig. 2. The ratchet wheel'28 and the pawls 29 and 30 are so constructed that when the solenoid 25 is energized it moves the cross-arm 33 to the position indicated in dotted lines against the adjust-able stop screw 36, which rotates' the ratchet wheel 28 by means of the pawl 29 a suflicient amount so that thefipawl 30 moves into engagement with the next tooth on the ratchet wheel 28. l/Vhen, subsequently,

the energizing circuit of the solenoid 25 is gagement with the next tooth of such ratchet wheel. The combined operation of the pawls 29-and 30 serves to advance the ratchet wheel 28 and the parts carried thereby one tenth of a rotation so as to advance the associated printing wheel one unit. A guide rod 37 extends from the solenoid 25 into engagement with the cross-arm 33 to prevent rotation of such cross-arm. The gear 24 has rigidly secured thereto a detent wheel 38 engaged by a spring detent 39,. as indi eated in Fig. 6, such detent-being supported from the plate 40 extending upward from the base 1, a suitable clearance opening 41 being provided in such plate around the sleeve 27. The sleeve 27 also carries a commutator 42 insulated therefrom, which comcated in Fig. 7, and is disposed adjacent to a similar ratchet disk 46 of insulating material and of slightly larger external diameter having ten teeth disposed in staggered relation to the teeth of the conducting disk 45. A brush. 47 wide enough to rest on the edges of both disks 45 and 46 is supported by and insulated from the plate 40. in a position to engage the-teeth of both disks 'as the disks are rotated.

From the construction just described itwill appear that the energization of the solenoid will advance the sleeve 27 and parts carried thereby so as to move the ratchet disks 45 and 46 to cause the brush 47' to engage a tooth of the insulating disk 46 instead of a tooth of the conducting disk 45 and that the return of the plunger 34 to its normal position by means of the spring 35 serves to rotate the disks and 46 to remove the tooth of the insulating disk 46 from engagement with the brush Y47 and again bring the brush 47 into engagement with one of the teeth of the conducting disk 45. This operation serves in a manner to be described to control the energizing circuit of the solenoid 25.

Each of the printing wheels 6 has secured thereto two gears 48 and 49, of which the gears 49' are in substantially the same planes as the gears 15 secured to the printing wheels 5. A rod 50 extends transversely of the casing 1 between the printing wheels 5 and 6 and upon this rod a plurality of gears 51 is mounted, each of which may be moved longitudinally upon the rod 50 to connect a gear 15 with a corresponding gear 49 with which it is in alinement. Pins 52 in the rod 50 prevent the gears 51 from being moved downward, as shown in Fig. 1, a sufficient amount to interfere with the operation of the parts with which they are not designed to come into engagement. Each of the gears 51 is controlled by a crank 53 secured to the end of a rod 54 supported in suitable bearings from the casing 1, such crank 53 being bifurcated at its upper end to receive the gear 51 it controls. The rod 54 has secured to its other end, as indicated in Fig.2, an operating arm 55, the upper end of which is beveled and insulated, as indicated at 55 in Fig. 1, and so disposed that when the switch rod .56 is moved inward by the switch button 57 against the action of the spring 58 such arm 55 is rotated so as to cause thecrank 53 to engage the lower side of the corresponding gear 51, as seen in Fig. 1, and move it into engagement with the corresponding gears 15 and 49'. Continued motion of the switch button 57 causes the rod 56 to engage the insulating cam .59 carried by the switch spring 60, as a result of which such switch spring is moved into engagement with the switch,

spring (31. The switch springs 60 and 61 are supported by and insulated from a block (32 carried by the casing 1', which block constitutes one of the bearings for the rod 54. When the switch button 57 is released the spring 63 serves to return the arm 55, rod 54 and crank 53 to their normal position. This motion of the crank53 causes a re-set to their zero positioi.

projecting tooth 53 to engage the teeth of the gear 51 to prevent rotation of such gear Each of the printing wheels '7 has rigidly secured thereto a pinion 65 meshing with a gear 66 car ried by one end of the sleeve'67, to the other end of which there is secured a gear 68 meshing with the gear 48. The sleeves 67 are loosely mounted upon a rod 69 extend ing transversely of the casing 1. Each of the printing wheels 7 has also secured to it a gear 70 meshing with a similar gear 71 secured to the corresponding indicating wheel 13. Each of the indicating wheels 13 except the one of lowest order has secured to it on the opposite side from the gear 71 a similar gear 72 in engagement with a carry-over gear 73. Each. of the indicating wheels 13, except the one of highest order, has secured thereto a cam arm 74 for engaging and operating the corresponding carry-over wheel when the indicating. wheel to which the arm is secured advances from nine to Zero. The carry-over wheels 73 are mounted upon a rod 75, the end 7 5 of which extends through the casing 1 in a manner similar to the rod 18", as above described, by which the carry-over wheels 73 may be moved from engagement with the indicating wheels 13, so that such wheels may be The shafts 4 and 10 and the rod 69 are supported within the casing 1 by means of a slidable bracket support 76, so that the gear ratio between the gears 48 and the gears 65 may be changed as desired. The bracket 76 is held in any desired adjustment by means of screws 77.

Each of the indicating wheels 12 carried by the shaft 9 is provided with a spring pawl 78, as indicated in Fig. 5, adapted to enter a groove in the shaft 9, as a result of which when the shaft is rotated in a di- 7 rection opposite to that of the advance of the indicating wheels it will engage one after the other of the pawls 78 and thus rorate all of the indicating wheels and the parts connected therewith in a backward direction an amount equal to the advance of such wheels when it is desired to set the wheels to zero. A cam 79 is secured to the shaft 9 so that a notch 79 therein will ongagea spring pawl 80'carried by the casing 1 when the wheels reach their zero position. Spring detents 81 are provided in connection with the gears carried by the indicating wheels 13 to hold them in any position to-which they are moved, so that the carry-over gears will properly register at all times with the gears to be engaged by them when they return after a re-setting operation, and further that the gears engaged bv the gears 51 will be held in proper position to mesh with such gears 51 when they are brought into operating position. A

milled head 82 is secured to the outer end of the shaft 9, as indicated in Fig. 1, so that the shaft may be rotated to reset the printing wheels 6 and 7 and the indicating wheels 12 and 13.

The bottom of the casing 1- has sight openings 83 and 84: formed therein through which the readings of the indicating wheels -may be observed and thus these sight openings afford a means by which the operator may know the condition of the corresponding printing wheels. Another opening 85 is provided in the bottom of the casing 1 in connection with the indicating wheels 11 to afford a means for acquainting the operator with the condition of these indicating wheels and the associated printing wheels,'

but this opening 85 is so conformed also that the gears 16 project into such opening so that they may be individually engaged by,

, by means of an operating handle 90. The

platens 88 are secured to the handle 90 by rods 91 and a yielding support is afforded by means of springs 92 interposed between the handle 90 and such platens. Nuts 93 on the rods 91 afford a means for adjust ing the platens 88 as desired. The operating handle 90 is forked at its left-hand-end,

as shown in Figs. land 2, and extends downward on the outside of the casing at either side thereof and is secured to the ends of a shaft 94:, which shaft has secured thereto within the casing an arm 95 between which and the casing there is disposed a spring 90 which normally serves to hold the operating handle 90 and the platens carried thereby away from the top 86 of the casing to permit the insertion of a bill to be Drinted between the platens 88 and such top. The arm 95 has extending upwardly to the right therefrom a member 95 to engage the under side of the top' 86 to limit the upward motion of the handle 90.

To provide an inking means for the printing wheels a' supply roller 97 supported upon a rod 98 extending transversely of the casing is provided, from which an inked ribbon may extend over a guide roller 99 and thus between the printing Wheels and the top of the casing 86, from which it passes over a second guide roller 100 to a receiving roller 101 supported upon a rod 102 extending transversely of the casing 1. The receiving roller 101 has secured thereto a ratchet wheel 103 engaged by a spring pawl 10% pivoted to the arm 95 at 105. The pawl 104: is so designed relatively to the ratchet wheel 103 that a single operation of the handle 90 will advance the ribbon 106 an amount suflicient to present a properly inked portion of the ribbon to the printing wheels for each succeeding operation. The receiving roller 101 also carries a second ratchet wheel 107, which is engaged by the spring pawl 108 pivotally supported by the casing 1 to prevent back rotation of the roller 101. A spring 109 is provided to exerta slight resistance upon the roller 97 to maintain the ribbon 106 under proper tension as it is fed aroundthe guide rolls 99 and 100 to the receiving roll 101.

The circuit connect-ions employed in connection with my mechanism are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 11. A contact block 110 of insulating material has mounted thereon four sets of contacts A, B, C, and D, each composed of nine contacts, each of which is constructed as indicated in detailed 'view in Fig. 10, as follows: A plunger 111 projects soi'newhat beyond one face of the.

block 110 from a sleeve of metal in which is contained a spring 112, such sleeve being secured to and forming a part of a plate 113 secured by a screw 114 to the opposite side of the block 110. Means are provided, as indicated, by which the plunger 111 is retained in the sleeve, and the screw 114: serves as a binding post for the wireused to connect the contact to the mechanism to be controlled thereby. The contacts of the different groups A, B, C and D are similarly connected with the brushes of the commutators 4:2, 42, 42 and 42. The contacts of group A are connected by suitable wires, as indicated, so that the individual contacts 1, 2, 9 of contact group A are in electrical connection respectively with the brushes 1 1 44: 44, and as the other groups of contacts are similarly connected to the brushes bearing upon these commutators particular description of such connection is not required. c

The contact block 110 is provided with three conducting plugs 115 adapted to enter conducting bushings 116 secured inthe which are in electrical connection with the bushings 116 through the framework of the counter, engage the plungers which are in alinement with them. The plugs 115 are connected together and by a wire 117 with one terminal of the battery 118, the other terminal of which is connected by a wire 119 with one terminal of each of the solenoids 25, 25 and 25, the other terminals of which solenoids are connected respcctively with the contacts 61, 61 61 and 61. The contacts 60, 60 60 and 60 are connected respectively with the brushes 47, 47, 47 and 47. It is to be understood that, while the connecting wires are shown as distributed in'Fig. 11 for the sake of clearness, in practice they would be bunched in a single flexible cable extending from the connecting block 110 to the casing 1, within which they are distributed to the several brushes and contacts indicated.

- In using my device the operator first selects the bill for the customer whose meter he isabout to read and by means of the gears 16, projecting through the casing 1, he sets the indicating wheels 11, after having moved the rod 18 to the right as indicated in Fig. 3, to the last months reading indicated on the bill he has selected, as shown in Fig. 14. He then makes sure that the remaining wheels are in their zero position by moving the rod 75, as indicated in Fig. 3, to the left and holding it in such position while he rotates the milled head 82 around to the left as faras it will go. He then places the contact block 110 in position upon the meter counter .120, which causes electrical contact to be made between the pointers of the several dials and the corresponding contact plungers. The setting of the printing wheels 5 and the indicating wheels 11 to the last months reading, it will be understood, moves all of the mechanismconnected therewith to corresponding positions, as a result of which the insulating segments 43, 43 43 and43 rest under such of the brushes 44 44 etc., as correspond to the position occupied by the respective pointers when the meterwas readthe last time. The operator now presses the switch button 57 corresponding to the units dial which, as above described, first establishes operative connection between the units printing wheel 5 and the units printing wheel 6, and then closes the contacts 60 and 61. If the pointer of the units dial has not advanced-from the position occupied at the last reading or occupies the same position as it did at that time, owing to the fact that the insulating segment 43 is under the brush Whichis in-connection with the contact plunger engaging the pointer of the dial, no' circuit is closed by the closure of the contacts 60 and 61 and thus the solenoid 25 is not energized. In the case shown in Fig. 15 of '61, contact spring 60, brush 47, ratchet disk 45, commutator 42, brush 44 contact- 8 of contact group, A, units pointer of the counter, bushings 116, plugs 115, wire 117, back to battery 118. At this time it is to be remembered the insulating segment 43 rests under the brush 44", as a result of the setting of the printing wheels 5 by the meter reader.

The energization of the solenoid 25 first advances the ratchet wheel 28 and parts carried thereby one-half a step or onetwentieth of a rotation, which removes the conducting tooth of the disk 45 from under the brush 47 and places the brush 47 upon a tooth of the insulating disk 46. This interrupts the energizing circuit of the solenoid 25, which thereupon becomes deenergized advances the ratchet wheel 28 the remaining portion of a step of its operation or one-twentieth of a rotation, which again brings the brush 47 into engagement with a tooth of the ratchet wheel 45. This complete operation has moved the insulating segment 48 from under the brush 9 to the position indicated in Fig. 11 and the same operation will be repeated bringing the insulating segment 43 successively under brushes 44 44 44 etc., until such insulating segment is brought under the brush 44 since the energizing circuit of the solenoid is maintained through the commutator 42 until interrupted by the insulating seg ment 43 being brought under the brush which is in electrical connection with the contact plunger engaging the pointer of the units dial. The disk 42 by the setting operation above referred to was moved to a position such that the insulating segment was under the brush 44 associated with such disk 42 and by the advance of the commutator 42 to move the connected print ingwheel from nine to zero the carry-over wheel 17 advances the commutator 42 to bring the insulating segment 43 under the corresponding brush 44.

As this brush is the one in electrical connection with the pointer on the tens dial, it follows that pushing the switch button 57 does not close an energizing circuit, as a result of which the parts are left in the position to which they are moved by the operation of the solenoid 25 Similarly, there "is no change in the position of the parts connected with the commutator's 42 and 42, since the pointers of the meter index are in the same position they were at the last reading. It will be readily understood that if the consumption of energy had been greater than nine units when the switch button '7! was depressed the commutator 4.2 would have been moved. around a number of steps corresponding to the number of tens of units of energy consumed, by the circuit closed by the operation of such switch button and similarly for the switch Y buttons 57 and 57, as a result of which by operating the switch buttons one after the other in the order indicated the printing wheels 5 and the associated indicating wheels 11 are advanced from the position indicating the last months reading to a positioncorrespondingto the present reading and at the same time the printing wheels 6 and the indicating wheels 12 are advanced from zero to a position to indicate the amount of advance of the index pointers during the interval since the last reading, and at the same time the printing wheels 7 and the indicating wheels 13 are advanced from their zero position to indicate the price of the energy consumed during the interval. After the- switch buttons 57, 57, 57 and 57 have been operated as described and the printing and indicating wheels have price to be been properly advanced as a result, so that they indicate the present condition of the meter pointers andthe amount of consumption of energy during the last month or interval and the price to be paid for such energy, the bill selected by the operator,

which was brought from the office in the condition indicated in Fig. 14:, is inserted between the platens 88 and the top 86 of the machine in a position determined by suitable stops 121 and the handle 90 is moved forcibly downward to press the bill against the printing characters under the platens 88, as a result of which the bill appears as indicated in Fig. 15 and maybe at once presented to the consumer.

From the above it will appear tliat by my invention I provide a portable mechabe used for other purposes than herein shown without departing from the spirit of my invention. I also wish to have it understood that I consider as novel the means employed for securing any desired rate ofo eration of the price wheels relatively to the consumption wheels, which rate of operation may be varied as desired.

While I have shown my invention in the particular embodiment herein described, I do not, however, limit myself to this construction, but desire to claim any equivalent which may suggest itself to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a bill printing machine comprising printing wheels, means for advancing the printing wheels step by step, a connecting member and electrical conductors extending from said means to said con necting member, said connecting member adapted to be temporarily applied to the index of any one of a plurality of meters to cause the operation of the printing wheels in accordance with the indication of the indGX of anyselected meter.

2. In combination, a bill printing machine comprising printing wheels, means for advancing the printing wheels step by step, a connecting member, a plurality of sets of contacts carried by said connecting member, and flexible conductors extending from said means to thecontacts carried by said con necting member, said connecting member adapted to be temporarily applied to the index of any one of a plurality of meters to establish electric circuit connections through said contacts and so cause the operation of the printing wheels in accordance with the indication of the index of any selected meter.

3. In a bill printing mechanism, the combination of two sets of printing whehls normally disconnected from each other, :electric mechanism for actuating the first set of wheels, a switch for controlling the operation of the electric mechanism, and a connecting device between the two sets of wheels thrown into operative position by the operation of the switch.

4. In a bill printing machine, the combination of two normally disconnected printing wheels, a solenoid for operating one of the wheels, a switch for controlling the operatingcircuit of the solenoid, and a connecting device brought into position to connect the two wheels by the. operation of the switch.

5. In a bill printing machine, the combination of a printing wheel, asol'enoid for imparting a step by step movement to such wheel, a meter index, electrical connections betweenthe solenoid and the index, and switching means operated by the solenoid for causing its repeated operation until the printing wheel is advanced an amount corresponding to the condition of the index.

6. In a bill printing machine, the combination of a printing wheel, a solenoid for advancing the printing wheel by a step by step movement, a meter index, electric con nections extending from the solenoid to the index, a switch in the circuit thus formed, and switching devices operatedby the solenoid tocause its repeated operation until the printing Wheel is advanced to a position cor responding to the condition of the meter index.

7. In a bill printing machine, the combination of a printing Wheel, a solenoid for advancing the printing wheel by a step by step movement, a meter index, electric connections extending from the solenoid to the index, a switch in the circuit thus formed, switching devices operated by the solenoid to cause its repeated operation untilthe printing wheel is advanced to a posit-ion corresponding to the condition of the meter index, a second printing wheel normally disconnected from the first printing wheel, and mechanism actuated by the switch when operated for connecting the printing wheels.

8. In a bill printing machine, the combination of a printing wheel, a solenoid for 2 advancing the printing wheel by a step by step movement, a meter index, electric connections extending from the solenoid to the index, a switch in the circuit thus formed,

switching devices operated by the solenoid to cause its repeated operation until the printing wheel is advanced to a position corresponding to the condition of the meter index, a second printing wheel normally disconnected from the first printing wheel, and

mechanism actuated by the switch when operated for connecting the printing wheels before closingthe operating circuit of the solenoid. 1.

9. In a bill printing'machine, the combi- 5 nation of a printing wheeh-"a'solenoid for imparting a step by step movement to 'such wheel, a meter index, electrical connections between the solenoid and the index, switching means operated by the solenoid forcaus- 40 ing its repeated operation until-the printing wheel is advanced an amount corresponding to the condition of the index, and detent mechanism for holding the printing wheel in its operated position. 10. In a bill printing machine, the combination of a printing wheel, a solenoid adapted to impart a step by step operation to such wheel, and electric switching devices operated by the'solenoidand adapted to determine, the number of operating impulses imparted to the printing wheel.

11.- In a bill printing machine, the combination of a printing wheel, a solenoid for imparting a step by step motion to such wheel, a commutator having a single insulating segment and driven by the solenoid, brushes bearing upon-the commutator, and means for including jone of-such brushes, the commutator and thes'olenoid in an electric circuit.

=12. a} bill printing machine, the com:

bination of aprinting wheel, a solenoid for imparting a'step'by step motion to such wheel, a commutator having a single insulating segment and driven by the solenoid,

brushes bearing upon thecommutator, a second printing wheel normally disconnected from the first printing wheel, a connecting gear, and a switch for including one of such brushes, the commutator and the solenoid in an electric circuit, the operation of such switch serving first to move the connecting gear into operative position to connect the printing wheels and then to close such circuit. a

13. In a bill printing machine, the combination of a first set of printing wheels, a solenoid connected with each wheel for operating, the same by a step by step movement, a second set of printing wheels norgomally disconnected from the first setof wheels, gears for operatively connecting the corresponding printing wheels of each order,

a third set of printingwheels, and intermediategears of variable ratio between each 35 of the wheels of the third set and the cor-' responding wheel of the second set.

14:. In a bill printing machine, the combination of a first set of printing wheels, a solenoid connected with each wheel for operating the same by a step by step movement, a second set of printing wheels normally disconnected from the first set of wheels, a gear for operatively connecting the corresponding gears of each order, a third set of printing wheels, intermediate gears of variable ratio between each of the wheels of the third set and the corresponding -wheel of the second set, and a common means for resetting the wheels of the second and third sets to their zero position.

15. In a bill printing machine, the combination of a first set of printing wheels, a solenoid connected with each wheel for operating the same by a step by step movement, a second set of printing wheels normally disconnected from the first set of wheels, a gear for operatively connecting the corresponding gears of each order, a third set of printing wheels, intermediate gears of variable ratio between each of the wheels of the'third set and the corresponding wheel of the second set, a housing for supporting the wheels of the first, and second sets and a second housing movable relatively to the first housing for supporting the printing wheels of the third set to permit the use of gears of difi'erentratio as desired between the printing wheels of the second and third sets. I

16. In a bill printing mechanism, the com-. bination of printing wheels, a solenoid for actuating ea ch of such wheels, electrical connections for controlling the operation of each solenoid,.and removable carry-over wheels between the printing wheels to per mit the individual setting of such wheels.

17. In a bill. printing mechanism, the combination of printing Wheels, a solenoid for actuating each of such wheels, electrical connections for controlling the operation of' each solenoid, commutating mechanism driven by each solenoid, a contact block adapted to be applied to a meter index to be read, and conductors extending from each commutating mechanism to connectors mounted on such block.

18. In a bill printing machine, the combination of two normally disconnected print- 1 one of said brushes, the commutator and the electric mechanism in an electric circuit.

20. In a blll pr nting mechanlsm, the combination of printing wheels, an electromagnetic mechanism for actuating each of said wheels, electrical connections for controlling the operation of each electromagnetic mechanism, and removable carry-over wheels between the printing wheels to permit the individual setting of such wheels.

21. In a bill printing mechanism, the combination of'printing Wheels, an electromagnetic mechanism for actuating each of such wheels, electrical connections for controlling the operation of each electromagnetic mechanism, commutating mechanism driven by each electromagnetic mechanism, a contact block adapted to be applied to a meter index to be read, and conductors extending fromeach commutator mechanism to connectors mounted on such block.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 31st day of May, A. 1)., 1911.

CHESTER I. HALL.

Witnesses:

ALBERT C. BELL, CORNELIUS SEATSEMA.

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