US2282924A - Paper feed device - Google Patents

Description

May 12 1942- M. ARTzT PAPER-FEED DEVICE Fi1ed June 28, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet yl Maar 5V ATTORNEYl May 12, 1942 M. ARTZT PAPER FEED DEVICE Filed June 28, 19558 5, Sheets-Sheet 2 WYE/Vm@ JY ,l

' ATTORNEY Patented May 12, 1942 PAPER FEED DEVICE Maurice Artzt, Haddoniield, N. J., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Serial No. 52,353, November 30, 1935. This application June 28, 1938, Serial No. 216,208 Y 2 claims. (ci. 234-70) My invention relates to paper feed devices. More particularly, my invention relates to a paper-feed mechanism which is capable of very accurately maintaining the alignment of a paper strip and a printing member, such as is used in watch-timingdevices and the like, and of feeding a paper strip through a printing mechanism without a take-up roll or moving device operating on the strip after the printing operation has been performed, thus making the record immediately available for observation or removal.

This application :is a continuation of my U. S. application Serial No. 52,353, led November 30, 1935, and entitled Chronometer deviation recorders, which application has been abandoned.

I am aware that there are a great many different methods of feeding paper from a roll through a machine. However, there are certain types of machines which have' particular problems and which therefore necessitate the consideration of requirements which are somewhat unusual. For example, in a watch-timing chronometer of the type disclosed inmy above-identified copending application, the time deviation f a watch is recorded on ,a moving paper strip. The error of the watch is shownby the trace of a line which is printed on the strip, the angle made by the line and the edge of the paper being a measure of the watch error. To be practical, such a device must indicate in a few minutes errors amounting to only a few seconds a day. Obviously, great accuracy is necessary. One essential to the fulfillment of such accuracy is the maintenance of perfect alignment between the recording paper and the printing mechanism.

It is also highly desirable to have a paper feed which does not interfere with the paperfafter it has passed through the printer mechanism. The reason for this is that it is frequently desirable to remove the 'printed portion of the paper from the machine as soon as it has been printed. For example, in facsimile recorders and the like, it is desirable to tear off the paper as soon as a page has been completely printed. A paper feed which pulls the paper through the printer makes this impossible. 4

Further considerations are that the paper must be fed at a uniform speed, that the system must provide for the easy and quick insertion of new paper rolls and, in cases where a strip of carbon paper is also fed through the rollers, that it be possible to adjust the speed of the carbon paper independently of the paper speed.

One of the objects of the present invention is to providean improved paper-feed device for use with apparatus for timing watches and similar devices where great accuracy of alignment is required. i

Another object is to provide a paper-fee mechanism which operates at a uniform rate.

A further objectof my invention is to provide a paper-feed mechanism which permits the removal of that portion of the paper which has been printed, or otherwise affected, immediately after it has been so altered.

A further object is to.provide means in a chronometer deviation indicator, or the like, whereby carbon paper and record printing paper may be readily attached to the machine.

My invention will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. Its scope is indicated by the appended claims. Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several drawings.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of the ponent parts which are used in a system for recording the time'deviation of watches and the Figure 2 illustrates two typical printed records made by a watch-testing device, indicating the nature of the record made by the machine,

Figure 3 is a plan view of a paper-feed mechanism according to this invention as applied to a watch-timing chronometer, and

Figure 4 is the elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 1 a watch, clock, or lother time piece is placed on a crystal microphone 3 so that the metallic part of the time piece touches ametal pin (not shown) which is located in the center of the microphone. connected to a suitable microphone amplifier 5 which reproduces in amplified form currents generated in the crystal microphone 3 by thel beats or ticks of the time piece.

The currents fromthe microphone amplifier 5 the microphone currents are changed to current impulses which are further amplified.

The current impulses from the printer amplifier 9 operate the printer motor 1. This motor is an electromagnetic device which operates a com-v The `crystal microphone I isy lare not of suitable wave form for' actuating the printer bar Il. The printer bar Il is positioned immediately above a drum I3 which revolves at 'a constant predetermined speed. On the surface of the drum is a single raised helical `turn I5. Between the helical drum I3 and the printer bar.

` II are passed a sheet of printing paper I1 and a sheet of carbon paper I9. Each downward stroke' of the printer bar II, which is actuated by each ,tick of the time piece I, causes the carbon paper I9 to impress on the record printing paper -I1 a mark corresponding vto the instantaneous position of the helix I5.

If the time piece ticks occur at the proper predetermined rate, which is related to the speed of the drum as will hereinafter be described, the printer bar will always strike at the same points on the helix. If, however, the watch is running slowly, the printed record oi' the printer bar striking the helix will show drift. A series of 'e simple calculations will show how slowly the watch is running in terms of seconds per day. In a similar manner, if the watch is running too fast, the printed record will disclose a drift which may likewise be measured in terms of seconds gain per day.

In order that the drum may be revolved at l quency unit 23 are used to control the operation of a thermionic inverter device 25. This inverter converts direct current into alternating current whose frequency is equal to one-eighth of `the frequency standard. If the frequency standard could supply sumcient power at the lower frequency, the inverter would not be needed. In any event, the constant frequency alternating current generated by the inverter operates the lchronograph motor 2l at constant speed. Directly connected to the chronograph motor is the drum I3 carrying the helical element I5. l. have also found it desirable to use this vsame motor by means of speed-reducing gears to drive the carbon paper I9 and record printing paper I'I over the drum. The power for `the several ampliersmay be supplied by the storage batteries or alternating current which V may be rectified and ltered in the usual manner. The cathode heaters of the several thermionic tubes may be energized by alternating current or any convenient source of. power.

Since my invention is primarily directed to the means by which I utilize the motor 2| to drive is fastened to a suitable base 33. Behind the paper-guide plate 3| and suitably fastened there to is a synchronous induction motor 2|. The shaft 31 of this motor projects through the upright supporting member and carries a rotating drum I3 on which is fastened in a suitable groove a raised single turn helix I5. An extension of this shaft 31 projecting through the rear portion of the motor operates speed-reducing gears which are locatedwithin the housing 43 but are not shown. A shaft 45, connected to the speedreducing gears, projects from the speed-reducing y gear housing. A bevel gear 4i on the end of this the paper, I shall not describe in detail the several amplifiers, rectiflers, frequency standard and inverter. These elements are well known to those skilled in the art, are commercially available, and require no detailed description. By way of example, I have found the following elements entirely suitable: RCA .tuning fork frequency standard type GM 53A3, RCA inverter type GM 52D1, RCA microphone amplifler'type GM 103A1,

and RCA printer amplifier GM 77A1.

I shall now describe the paper-feed mechanism `and the movable elements of the chronograph shown in Figs. 3 and 4. A paper-guide plate 3| shaft engages a second bevel gear t3 which operates a slow-speed shaft 5I which supplies the power for driving the carbon paper and record printer paper over the rotating drum.

A drive gear 53 is fastened to the end ofthe slow-speed shaft. This drive gear 53 engages an idler gear 55 which is held in engagement by a detent springl 54. The idler gear 55 engages a driven gear 51 which is fixed to a irnurled paper feed roll 59 and to a suitable sprocketi. This sprocket 6I is connected by a chain 63 to a second sprocket G5 which rotates on a stud 51. Concentrically fastened to the second sprocket is a small sprocket 6s. This sprocket GS by means of a chainll drives a large sprocket' which is fastened to a carbon takeup roll 15. The carbon takeup roll I5 and its associate sprocket 'I3 rotate on a suitable stud 'Il whichl is fastened to 'the upright supporting member 3 I A pivoted arm I9 carries an idler roll 8i which engages the knurled paper feed roll 59. A detent spring 93 engaging thearm 'I9 forces the idler SI and a paper guide85, both idler and guide being carried by the arm, into .constant frlctional engagement with the paperfeed roll.

In Fig. 4 the printer motor has been indicated at 'I. To avoid confusion it l'has not been shown in Fig. 3. The printer motor consists essentially of an electromagnetic field piece 89 which oper-v ates on a movable armature 9I. Attached to the armature 9| is a connecting link 93 which fastens to the printer bar II. The printer bar II is held in position by a flexible spring member 91 which is mounted to the rear of the electromagnetic elements. As the armature 9| moves, the connecting link 93 causes the printer bar II to move up and down with respect to the drum carrying the helical member. '.Io provide sunlcient restoring force to the armature, a restoring spring 99 and connecting link IUI are connected from the top 'of the printer motor to the armature.

Since the carbon paper I9 and the printing paper I'I must be threaded between the printer bar and the drum. I have found it desirable to arrange a suitable means for disengaging the printer motor and the paper drive mechanism. This is accomplished as follows: A suitable cam III is mounted on a pivot II3 and fastened to a handle II 5.' The cam surface preferably includes a depression III which temporarily locks the printer motor in the ldisengaged position. As the the printer motor assembly is raised by the cam action, the link |2| likewise carries with it the l idler gear.

It will be seen that the idler gear 55 is also supported by an arm |22 which is pivoted on a stud |25 fastened to the upright supporting member. The detent spring Il, previously described, engages this arm and the printer motor assembly so that in the raised position the detent spring acts to f orce the printer motor assembly downward and frictionally engage the depression in the cam surface against the cam follower pin thereby locking the printer motor in the raised position. In the downward position of the printer motor assembly, the same detent spring 54 the printer bar striking the helix through the two papers will cause a mark to be made on the printing paper. 'I'he adjustment |01 of the printer motor mechanism and the power applied thereto should be just sufficient to make a legible mark. Having described 'the method .by which th l paper is threaded through the machine, 1t win be holds the idler gear 55 in engagement with the drive gear 53 and driven gear 51 and further acts to hold the printer motor assembly in its lower position.

The movable elements of the chronograph may be enclosed in a suitable housing |21,` A door |29 is hinged to this housing. A cap screw. |3| locks the door in place. A pair of spring arms |33 are fastenedto the door. These springarms thrust against a `roll |35 of carbon paper I3 and a roll |31 of printer paper I1 holding them inthe proper position against the paper guide plate 3| which is mounted o n the supporting member 33 and perpendicular thereto.

To place the rolls |35|31 in the machine the doorA |28 attached to the housing is opened. A roll |31 of printer paper I1 is Positioned on a stud |39 located on the right and slightly below the rotating drum i3. 'Ihe paper |1 is fed from the bottom of the roll over the knurled paperfeed screw 59. The pivot arm 1I is disengaged during the operation of threading the paper to thereby disengage the idler roll 3| which is carried by the arm 13.

A roll |35 of carbon paper I3 is positioned on a stud |4| located to the left of and slightly apparent that, when the motor is running at `a constant speed, the printing paper will be fed to the helix drum at a constant linear rate. That is,.the paper is pulled from the roll |31 by the knurled paper feed roll 59, and fed between the printing helix I5 and the printer bar The direction of rotation of the feed roll 59 and the printing cylinder I3 has been made the same, as shown by the arrows pointing in a clockwise direction in Fig. 4. Consequently, the high speed of rotation of the printing cylinder tends to pull the paper along, overcoming any tendency of the intermittently operating printing bar to retard the paper whilethe feed roll acts as a regulator to restrain the paper and 'to maintain a uniform speed.A It is to be noted that the paper is fed through the printer Without a takeup roll to pull it through and yet without any buckling. The' carbon paper will be drawn through the machine and around the printer motor mechanism at a rate which is variable.

The carbon paper moves from one-quarter to' one-half of the printing paper speed. The car-l bon paper speed is determined by the ratios of v way of example. This means that the. helix,

below the rotating drum. The carbon paper takeoff is from the top of the carbon paper roll. It is carried over a guide stud |25, under the printer bar Il, and around the entire printer motor mechanism which is surrounded by a shell |43 which acts as a suitable guide ,for the carbon paper. The carbon paper is continued from the top of the printer motor mechanism around the lower part of the carbon take-up roll 15. It is well to wrap one o r two turns around this roll to secure initial frictional engagement thereto. Both the paper roll and the carbon paper roll are thrust against the paper guide plate 3| by the spring arms |33.v y,

Care must be taken to thread the record paper through the paper feed roll so that it will run true and not on a bias.` After the. paper has been correctly positioned, the plvot'ed arm 19, carrying the idler and the paper guide, is released so that the recording paper is pressed rmly against the paper feed roll. It is well to carry' the printing paper three or four rinches past the drum carrying the helical member.

After the two papers have been threaded' through the machine, it will be apparent that the carbon paper is on top oi' the printing paper. The printer motor 1 is then released from its upper position. 'I'his lowers the printer motor 1 and engages the idler gear with the drive gear 53 and the driven gear 51. In this position the printer motor mechanism is adJusted so that in its downward position the printer bar will strike the helixthrough the layers of carbon and record printing paper. Each downward stroke of cio which consists of a single turn of 2" length, will travel across the paper at a constant rate of 2" for every revolution of the motor drum. At the same time the paper is fed over the drum at a constant rate of 2" per minute.

If the Watch or time piece under observation is operating at 4; 5 or 6 beats per second with- Iout deviation from the standard, the printer bar will be operated by current impulses derived from each beat, and will strike the rotating helix at the same point for everybeat. This will leave a printed record consisting of parallel lines winch are uniformly spaced from the edge of the paper..

If the time piece beats `or ticks deviate from the true time or standard frequency, the ticks as recorded will print a series of lines which slope one way or the other across the paper. The slope of a line through thecenters or terminations of these lines will indicate the ratey at'which the time piece isy gaining or losing with respect to the standard time or frequency.

By way of example, if the printed record indi cates a drift of 1/8'. in a 6" length of paper, this corresponds to an error of 1 second per day. Since .the paper speed vis 2" per minute, it should be quite apparent that one and one-half minutes of recording requires 3" of paper which is sufficient to disclose a drift of 11g" which corresponds to an error of 1 second a day. Likewise, 1/8" drift in 12" of recording paper would be 1/2 second per day or 1/5" in 3 olf-recording paper would be equivalent to 2 seconds per day. The error in seconds per day may be expressed in accordance with the formula for a single turn helix drum speed of 1800 revolutions per minute, and a paper speed of 2" per minute:

Error-in seconds per day: length of record in inches The direction of the slope of the record indicates Whether the time piece is operated fast orl slow with respect to the standard. If the line slopes down toward the right, the time piece is running too fast. If the line slopes up to the right, the time piece is running too slow. It is apparent that it is essential that the paper be maintained in a uniform position with respect to the printing mechanism. Side slip of the paper is equivalent to an apparent error in the time piece. In Fig. 2 are reproduced characteristic records `which show, respectively, the deviation of a slow and fast time piece.

While E have described my invention in connection with a watch timing chronometer, my invention is not limited thereto but isl only limited as required by the prior art and the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

ll. In a recorder mechanism having a rotatingV helical 'member and a printer bar for engaging and marking a recording strip, feed means including the combination I means for supporting a roll of recording strip, a constant speed strip feed roll and idler for feeding said strip 48 x drift in inches from said roll between said helical member and printer bar in the same direction as paid member tends to feed it, and means for rotating said feed roll at a peripheral speed less than that of said helical member so that said helical member exerts a frictional pulling force on said recording strip overcoming any tendency of said printer bar to retard said strip, whereby said strip is fed through said recorder at a constant speed determined by the speed of said feed roll.

2. In a recorder mechanism having a rotating printing member and pressure means for intermittently frictionally engaging said printing member, paper feed means including the combination of a paper feed roll for fee a recording paper between said printing member and said pressure means in the same direction as said printing member tends to feed it so that said i paper is frictionally and slidably engaged by said recorder and urged in a direction away from said feed roll, the speed of the surface of said feed roll being less than the speedof -the surface of said printing member, whereby any `tendency of the intermittent frictional engagement of the paper by the pressure means t'o retard the movement of said paper through said recorder is overcome, and said paper passes through said printer at a constant speed determined by the speed of said paper feed roll. l

` MAURICE ARTZT.

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