US1456768A

US1456768A - Autographic register

Info

Publication number: US1456768A
Application number: US135600A
Authority: US
Inventors: Louis F Hagemann
Original assignee: American Sales Book Co Ltd
Current assignee: American Sales Book Co Ltd
Priority date: 1916-12-07
Filing date: 1916-12-07
Publication date: 1923-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 1940-05-29

Description

May 29, 1923. 1,456,768

1.. F. HAGEMANN AUTOGRAPHI G REGI STER Filed Dec. '7, 1916 4 Sheets-Sheet l :E L Q- 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY L. F. HAGEMANN AUTOGRAPHI C REGI STER' Fi ed [160- 1916 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 M o Q n) WLI'L: MM 6 W W-u 1: M M "w, W 1'" W INVENTOR May 29,1923. l,456,7

L. F. HAGEMANN AUTOGRAPHI C REGI STER Fi ed 8 1916 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEY May 29, 1923. 1,456,768

| F. HAGEMANN AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER F e 1916 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR TI'ORNEY LOUIS F. HAGEMANN, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN SALES BOOK COMPANY, LIMITED, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, A CORPO- RATION OF ONTARIO AUTOGRAIHIC REGISTER.

Application filed December 7, 1916. Serial No. mason T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS F. .HAQEIVIANNa acitizen of the United States, residing at Niagara Falls, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Autographic Registers, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to 0 which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to sheet feeding mechanism, and with respect to its more specific features to machines or devices wherein one or more webs of paper are fed over a Writing tablet, there being interposed between the webs, when required, carbon or other transferring means whereby several impressions may be made from a single writine of the objects of the invention is to enable accurate registration to be obtained of the symbols in that class of machinesin which sheets bearing symbols are fed. More specifically, and in connection with the application of this invention to automatic registers in which a plurality of webs bearing printed sales forms or sheets thereon are fed over the bed of he machine, one of the objects of this intuition is to adjust the position of the sheets so as to insure accurate registration of the forms relative to each other and. to the machine.

Another object of the invention is to retain the paper in operative position in a machine of the character referred to when it is released by the feeding means.

Other objects will be in part obvious and art pointed out hereinafter. he invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one emliodilnent of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross section along the line 1-11 of Fig 1;

Fig. 3 is a view of the top plate of the machine as seen from below;

Fig 4 is an enlarged view of the paper gripping mechanism;

1g. 5 is a View of the slide releasing catch; and

Fig. 6 is a view of the Web adjusting pins and the web retaining mechanism; Figs. 7, 8 9, 10 and 11 illustrate certain modificatrons.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, there is illustrated therein an autographic register, the frame of such machine being composed of side plates 1 fastened together by any suitable means, as by rods extending thereacross. Journaled in the side plates, on rods 3, are the rolls of web 4. 'lhese rolls may be prevented from overrunmng, and the .web itself may be. placed under tension, if desired, by springs 4 bearing against the end of the rolls of web. The webs are carried around guide pins 5, overthe bed of the machine 6, which forms a writing table or support for the sheets. The bed or support 6 may be provided at one end with depending ears, mounted for rotation on a shaft 9, later to be described, so that the support may be swung upwardly about the shaft 9 to permit of a convenient and ready of the casing as when it is desired to replenish the supply of webs. Suitable carbon sheets may be interposed between the webs. As illustrated, the carbon sheets may be carried upon rollers 7 at each side of the bed and fed from one side of the bed to the other between the webs by a suitable handle 8 upon the end of the rollers. A cover 6 may be; pivoted at one side of the bed 6 so to overlie the webs, this cover may be provided with an opening over that portion of the web on which it is desired to write. Suitable casing may be provided for the roll 7 and if desired, an opening may be cut in the botttom of the casing to allow any dirt which might tend to accumulate in the casing to fall out.

Journaled also in the side platesl is a suitable driving shaft 9 provided with an operating handle 9, on which is mounted a access to the interior ping member 12 adapted to grip the end of the web, draw the same forward and then release it. This gripping member is mounted for movement longitudinally of thebed 6 by being attached to reciprocatory device, as a sliding frame 13, sliding in gu1deways14 mounted on the under side of the bed. The rack member 11 is slidingly mounted upon the sliding frame 13 by means of slots in depending flanges 13 of the frame 13 in which the headed pins 14" of the rack member 11 are retained (see Fig. 4). A spring 15, attached at its two ends to pin 14 on the flange 13 and to pin 14: on the rack member 11, respectively, normally holds the rack member retracted relative to the sliding frame 13. The gripping member comprises a jaw 16 fixed to the sliding member 13, and a jaw 17 which is relatively movable with regard to the jaw 16, these members operating alternately to grip and release the webs between intervals of advance. Attached to the rack bar 11 are spaced pins 18 and 19, and pivoted upon the sliding frame 13 is a member 20, one end 21 of which extends downwardly between the pins 18 and 19, and the other end 22 of which is adapted to bear against the under side of the movable gripping jaw 17 when the rack 11 is moved to bring the pin 19 in engagement with the arm 21.

Movement of the rack 11 forward tends to move the sliding member 13 with it because of their being coupled together by the spring 15. At the beginning of the feeding or web advancing stroke, while the gripping member 12 loosely embraces the web, it is desirable to retard the movement of the sliding frame 13, in order to cause the gripping member to take hold of the web at the initial web advancing position, otherwise the ripping member might slip off the end of t e web without gripping and feeding it. In the present embodiment the sliding frame 13 is positively prevented from advancing rior to the gripping operation on the webs.

his retarding of the sliding frame, while the rack is moved, produces a relative movement of the rack and sliding frame which operates the movable jaw 17 to grip the web as has been described. This retardation may be accomplished (see Fig. 5) by providing a catch 23 on the sliding frame 13 and a. spring latch 24 on the bed 6 adapted to engage said catch when the frame is in such position that the gripping member 12 may grasp the end of the web. In order to release the spring latch and thereby permit movement of the sliding member 13 to feed the web, meansare provided to release the catch as soon as the web has been grasped by the grip ing member. This may be done by providing the latch with a tripping arm 25 and by attaching to the rack member 11 a cam arm 26 so positioned-that the latch 2% will be tripped only after such movement of the rack relative to the frame 13 as will operate the gripping member 12.

In order to permit the used sheets to be taken from the web it is desirable to provide a bar above the web against which the web may be torn. The tearing off of the used sheets,-however, leaves the free end of the web concealed beneath the tearing bar. In order to permit the gripping means to grasp the ends of the web, in this specific embodiment of the invention, it is desirable that means he provided to lift the tearing bar out of the way of the gripping means as the gripping means approaches to grasp .the ends of the web. The particular construction by which these results are accomplished in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, is as follows:

Above the webs at the other end of the sheet from the guide pins 5 is mounted the tearing bar 27 upon arms 28 connected to the ends of a shaft 29 which may be mounted in any convenient manner, as, for example, it. may be journaled in the side plates 1. Suitable springs 30 upon this shaft, bearing against the main frame, tend to rotate the shaft 29 in such a'manner as to hold the tearing bar 27 normally. in loose engagement with the sheets. ,To prevent the tearing bar bearing too heavily against the sheets, suitable stops 30 may be provided on the bed against which the ends of the tearing bar may rest. Mounted upon the sliding member 13 is a cam 31, and rigidly attached to the shaft 29 is a finger 32 so positioned relative to the shaft and the cam as to lift the tearing bar free of the sheets as the gripping member reaches its extreme position toward the bed 6. In order to prevent the ends of the webs from slipping away from the gripping member 12, after certain adjustments of the webs hereinafter noted, it is desirable that means he provided for retaining the web in place until it is gripped by the gripping member. In the present embodiment, this mechanism is as follows: Mounted upon the tearing bar 27 is a spring finger 33, which, by reason of its rotation around the shaft 29 when the tearing bar 27 is raised, clamps the webs to the bed plate 6 at a time when they might otherwise be released.

Mounted on the under side of the bed 6 are brackets 34, one on each side of the machine, in which is journaled a shaft 35. A block 36, preferably of a fibrous material, is slidingly mounted upon the shaft 35 and splined thereto, and a gear 37 is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 35 and is held lon itudinally between a fixed collar 38 and t e block 36, the gear 37 being positioned to en- A spring 39 bearing gage the rack 11. against a collar 40, which collar may be adj ustably secured to the shaft 35 bears against the end of the block 36. In this way a friction clutch is provided, and in order to in crease the friction between the block 36 and the gear 37, one of them, as for example, the gear 37, may be hollowed out more or less conically, and the other tapered correspondingly to fit thereinto.

With machines of this character where the web bears regularly spaced symbols, such as sales forms, and more particularly when a plurality of webs are fe simultaneously surimposed on each other, there is difficulty in keeping the symbols of the different webs in register with each other and of insuring that at the end of the feeding operation the symbols will a pear properly positioned with regard to the carbon aper and to the portion of the bed 6 on which it is intended the writing shall take place. This may be due in part to the fact that the webs do not expand and contract uniformly with change in atmospheric conditions. An adjusting of the feeding mechanism which roperly feeds the top or visible web at one time mi ht not satisfactorily feed the same web un er different atmospheric conditions, and might not keep the symbols of the lower webs in register with the upper.

A practical way of overcoming culty is to provide some physic-a in the paper in some fixed relation to the printed forms, whereby the position of the web to bring the printed form into register may be accomplished by means for bringing the physical alteration into register. The form of physical alteration herein shown is this difiia series of perforations or of sets of perforations or a ertures bearing a fixed relation to the sym ls or forms on the web. Means are rovided preferably cooperating with the fiieding mechanism, to adjust the sheets relative to the paths of the sheets by engagement with the physical alterations in the web, as, for example, controlling fingers, or pins adapted to enter the perforations which pins serve as detents. By moving the pins toward the web the pins may be caused to enter the perforations without disturbing the position of the web transversely to the plane thereof.

Mounted also upon the under side of the bed 6 are guiding arms 41, each being provided with a vertical slot. Ada ted to project through holes 42 in the bed plate 6 are web controllin fingers or pins 43 reciprocal transversely of the planes of the webs carried by a plate 44 sliding in the slots of the guiding arms 41. The pins 43 are thus held from movement longitudinally of the path of the webs. Mounted upon an oscillatory member, as the shaft 35 are one or more collars 45, to each of which is attached a pin 46 passing through openings 47 in the plate 44, so that when the shaft 35 is revolved in one direction it will, by means of the .pins 46 and plate 44, tend to draw the pins 43 alteration ends enter the openings downwardl below the level of the bed, and when the s aft 35 is rotated in the reverse direction it will force the pins upwardly to project above the level of the bed. V p

In the embodiment illustrated the e is mounted upon the plate 6, above the point where the pins 43 project theret-hrough, a guide bar 48 spaced from the plate sufficiently to provide a passageway for the webs. The bar 48 is also provided with openings in alignment with the openings in the bed plate, though which pins 43 can project.

For the purpose of adjustably limiting the feed of the web there is provided a sliding block 49 carried by a screw 50 journaled in the sliding member 13. A pin 51 is mounted upon the under side of the bed 6 in the path of the sliding block 49, whereby the reciprocation of the sliding member 13 is stopped when the sliding block engages said pin. Thus by turning the screw 50 to change the position of the block 49, the adjustment of the feed is accomplished.

To facilitate the entry of the pins 43 through the perforations in the web, these pins may be provided with tapered ends. In the operation of the device the pins are preferably projected through the bed while the webs are still retained by the gripping mechanism, and in this position the tapered in the webs and tend by their tapered shape to move the webs to such position that the pins are centered in the perforations. The moment the gripping mechanism is released, however, the full force of the tension of the webs may come upon the pins, and at this time in the operation it is desirable to have a straight surface back of the point on the side of the pin which is the more remote in the direction in which the webs are fed, rather than an inclined surface. The edges of the perforations may not be strong enough to permit an inclined surface, by engaging the perforations, to move the webs against the normal tension thereon, so that an inclined surface on the remote side of the pin does not aid in adjusting the position of the symbols, but tends rather to mutilate the edges of the perforations if the feed be insuflicient.

It is desirable, however, to have a tapered surface on the opposite or near side of the pin, as such surface is capable of centering the perforation over the pins, because it is not opposed by the tension on the webs.

These tapered ends are preferably substantially conical. The axes of these cones are preferably not, however, in the axis of the pin, but spaced therefrom in the direction of feed of thc'web, so as to intersect the more or less cylindrical surface of the pin higher up on the remote'than upon the near side, so as to provide the straight surface on the remote side and the tapered surface on the near side which have been referred to. I

By this construction, by making the feed sli htly greater than the distance along the we s between successive sets of perforations, the tapered endcan enter the perforation substantially centrally-whereof before the release of the web by thegripper, and then upon the releasing of the gripping mechanism there will be a slight retrograde movement of the webs, due to the tension on the latter, and the pins will immediately afford a cylindrical surface against which the tension of the web can exert itself thereby retaining the sheet in place while that portion of the pins which is in the plane of the webs when the webs are released by the ipper is of smaller diameter than the per orations so that the .conical surface on the rear side of the pin aids in centering the pins in the openings, as the pins complete their upward travel. The web is thus easily adjusted contrary to the direction of feed.

In the operation of this device, for the purpose of inserting the webs in the machine, the support 6 is swung upwardly around the shaft 9, thereby exposing the rods 3 on which the rolls of web may now be placed. The end of each web is then carried around its corresponding guide pin 5. The

support 6 may now be lowered and the cover 6 thereof removed, thereby exposing the support 6. The ends of the webs are now carried over the support 6 (the carbons bein suitably placed between them), and threade under the guide bar 48 which retains the webs withinthe sphere of operation of -the pins. To allow the paper to pass under the guide bar 48, the pins 43 should first be lowered out of the way, which is done by rotating the handle 9 counterclockwise, as seen in Fig. 1. Each web is then adjusted in turn until its perforations are directly over the openings 42, and the pins caused to enter said perforations in the web to retain the web in place. Any extra length of web which extends beyond the tearing bar is then torn off. The machine is now ready to have any record desired made upon the first sheet on the web. p

The feedin operation for feeding the used sheets out o the machine may be divided into two parts, the feeding or forward stroke, and the retractive return or counter stroke. With the handle 9 in its furthermost counterclockwise position, the grippin member 12 will be in its most extende position. A clockwise rotation of the shaft 9 by means of the arm 9 will cause the gripping member 12 to approach the ends of the web by a reciprocation of the sliding member 13 in its guideways 14, thus making the counter stroke above referred to. When the sliding member 13 has reached stroke, the rack bar 11 is moved longitudinally away from the bed of the machine by means ofthe shaft 9 and gear 10. The sliding member 13 is constrained from movement by the latch producing a relative movement between the rack bar 11 and the sliding member 13. This movement of the rack bar 11 accomplishes two results, first through the medium of the friction clutch comprised by the gear or pinion 37 and block 36, there is rotated the shaft 35, whereby the arms 46 are caused to operate and withdraw or disengage the pins 43 from the holes in the web, thereby preparing to permit the web to be fed. Also the movement of the rack 11 relative to the sliding bar 13 causes the pin 19 toengage the arm 21 to clamp the movable gripping arm 17 against the stationary gripping arm 16 with the web therebetween. When the rack bar has reached the position relative to the sliding member 13 where the cam 26 raises the arm 25 to release the latch 24, the sliding member 13 is moved longitudinally of the bed 6 with the rack bar 11. The spring 15 may act as a coupling to effect this advance of the sliding frame, but for positive action the pins 14 will coo rate with the end walls of the slots in the s iding frame. At this time the frame 13 is held from yielding to the spring 15 and'thereby the gripping mechanism is held from vreleasing by the tension on the web tending to overcome spring 15.

During the earily ortion of the sliding movement of the sliding member 13 the cam 31 passes out of engagement with the arm 32, whereby the arms 28 are rotated by their springs 30 to release the gripping arm 33 and bring the tearing bar 27 in loose engagement 1 with the web. A further movement of the operating arm 9 causes a continuous feeding of the web with the grippin arm 12 until the block 45 engages the pin 4 which brings the forward movement to a stop. Upon releasing the handle the spring 15 causes a short relative movement between the rack bar 11 and the sliding member 13, the reverse of the relative movement which occurred in the earlier part of the stroke. This backward movement of the rack bar 11 operates through the medium of the gear 37 and the friction clutch 36 to cause the pins 43 again to be projected through the holes, 42 in the bed 6 and through the corresponding holes in the web. Thus the movements of the pins 43 are in timed relation to those of the sliding frame. This movement of the rack bar 11 also causes the pin 19 to cease to press against the arm 21, thereby relieving the pressure of arm 22 against jaw 17, whereby the paper gripping mechanism is released so as to relieve the pull of the advancing mechanism on the webs. Thereafter the sheets which have been drawn out of the machine by the grippin mechanism can be readily torn off along t e tearing bar 23.

Because the pins and the gripper are both actuated by the same movement of the rack, the release of the gripper is simultaneous with the movement of the pins, that is, the gripper is released while the pins are movmg upwardly, the pins remain up as long as the gripper is released, and are drawn downwardly simultaneously with the grippi of the gripper.

n the modification shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the clamp 33 attached to the tearing bar and the guide bar 48 arranged above the pins 43 are replaced by clamp 133 and guides 148. The difference between this construction and the construction previously described is that in this modification these parts are attached to some member which is pivoted so as to be able to be swung over the web, or to be swung away from the web. This is conveniently done by mounting the spring clamp 133 on a flange 6 at the end of the cover 6. The guides 148 may conveniently be in the form of angle brackets 148 attached to the flange 6 over the openings 42 in the bedplate, and having open slots 148' through which the pins 43 are adapted to project.

The clamp 133 is formed so as to lie normally above the web out of contact therewith, but it is adapted to be engaged by the tearing bar, so as to be pressed toward the support 6 to hold the web against the support.

By thisconstruction it will be evident that when the cover 6 is turned back to expose the support to enable the webs to be placed thereon, the guides 148 and spring clamp 133 are also out ofthe way of the web. These are again placed in operative position by the placing of the cover 6 over the web.

In the modifications shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, the pins 143, instead of being attached to a plate 44 mounted in slotted guides 41, and being operated by pins 46 operating in holes 47 in the plate 44, are each mounted in a separate guide. As illustrated, these guides comprise tubular brackets 141 having attaching lugs 141 extending at right angles to the tubular portion, which lugs are preferably screwed to the under side of the support 6, in such postion vthat the bore of the tubular portion is vertical and in alignment with the openings 42 in the bed 6. The bore of these tubes is enough larger than pins 143 to enable the pins to slide freely therein. As

illustrated, the pins are operated by arms 141 into orifices 147 in the pins 143. These orifices are slightly elongated to permit the necessary angular movement of the arms 146 relative to the pins 143, but are of such size as to cause the pins to be operated by these arms.

Thus by the above described construction are accomplished, among others, the objects hereinbefore referred to.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used inthe following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and s cific features of the invention herein escribed, and all statements "of the $00 of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device of the character described adapted for use with webs having successive symbols thereon, said webs being provided with perforations bearing a fixed relation to said symbols, comprising, in combination, a support for said webs, means for feeding said webs relative to said support, pins adapted to engage the perforations to retain a portion of the. web in predetermined position, means for bringing the pins into the path of the web and releasing the feeding means, and means for retaining said pins in engagement with the web until the feeding means is again engaged.

2. A device of the character described adapted for use with a plurality of webs each having successive symbols thereon, said webs being provided with perforations, comprising, in combination, means for gripping said web, means for operating and releasing said gripping means, pins for engaging said perforations for retaining a portion of said web in predetermined position, and means for projecting said pins into said perforations simultaneously with the release of said feeding means, that rtion of the pins which is in the plane 0 the webs at the time the gripping means is released being of smaller diameter than the perforations and having a straight surface on the side against which the tension of the web is exerted and an inclined surface on the opposite side.

3. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a support for a web, slotted guides mounted on the under side of said support, a member sliding in said guides, said member being provided with perforations, pins on said member adapted to be projected through said support, a shaft, arms on said shaft projecting through said perforations whereby oscillation of the shaft will project and withdraw the pins, and means including a friction clutch for oscillating said shaft.

4. A device of the character described adapted for use with sheets having perforations therein, comprising, in combination, a support for such sheets, means for feeding said sheets relative to the support, a plurality of pins, and means operable by the feeding means for projecting the pins into the perforations in the sheet at a predetermined position in the feeding thereof.

5. A device of the character described adapted to be used with sheets comprising, in combination, a support for said sheets, means for feeding the sheets relative to said support, means adapted to retain said sheets in osition whiie disconnected from said fee ing means, and means including a friction clutch for controlling the osition of said sheet retaining means relative to said sheet support.

6. A device of the character described adapted to be used with sheets having perforations therein comprising, in combination, a support for said sheets, means moving longitudinally-of said support for feeding the sheets relative to said support, a rack connected with said feeding means, a plurality of pins adapted to enter the perforations in the sheet, a shaft jounaled transversely of said support carrying arms engaging said pins for controlling the posi tion thereof relative to said sheet support, and a gear adapted to frictionally operate said shaft in mesh with said rack, whereby, upon the movement of said feeding means in one direction the pins will be withdrawn below the record sheet support and upon movement in the opposite direction they will be projected through said sheet support.

7. A device of the character described adapted for use with a continuous web having successive symbols thereon, said web being provided with perforations in fixed relation to said 5 mbols comprising, in combination, means or feeding said web a distance slightly greater than the distance between the perforations whe'reby the symbols are forced slightly beyond normal registratin position, and pins adapted to engage sai perforations to rmit the retraction of said web only suficiently to bring the symbols into a predetermined position, said pins being provided with means for forcing the web backward to insure the positioning of the symbols in predetermined position.

8. A device of the character described adapted for use'with sheets having perforations therein, comprising, in combination, a support for said sheets, and means for maintaming and adjusting the position of said sheets comprising pins with ends of conical shape having one side shaped to form a straight surface opposite a portion of said conical end.

9. A device of theJcharacter described adapted for use with sheets having perforat1ons therein, comprising, in combination, a support for said sheets, means for maintaining and adjusting the position of said sheets compr sing pins havin a conical end, and a straight surface bac of the end on one Side; opposite a portion of saidconical end against which tension of the sheets is exerted.

10. A device ofthe character described adapted for use with a plurality of webs each having successive symbols thereon, said webs being provided with perforations, comprising, in combination, means for feeding said webs under tension a distance slightly greater than the distance between the perforations whereby the symbols are carried slightlybeyond the point desired, and means permitting retrograde motion of the webs, or retaining the webs in registration, comprising pins adapted to an age said perforations, conical ends on sai pins non-coaxial with said pins whereby a straight surface is afforded for the major portion of the height of the active portion of the pins on the side of the pins against which the tension of the web is exerted, and an inclined surface is formed onthe other side of said pins for assisting in the centering of the erforations over the pins to bring the symbols into registration. 7

11. In a device of the character described comprising, in combination, a support for sheets, means for feeding said sheets comprising a member reciprocating in the general direction in which the sheets are fed, means for operatively connecting said member to said sheets at the end of its counterstroke, and for maintaining it in operative connection with said sheets during its forward stroke, a shaft pivoted transverse to the direction of feed of said sheets and be low the support, a U-shaped member carried by said shaft having intermediate its ends a member for clamping the sheets to the support, an arm on said transverse shaft, and a cam on the reciprocating feeding member to engage said arm, rock said shaft,

and thereby cause said clamping member.

adapted for use with a web, comprising, in combination, a tearing bar adapted to engage said web, means for raising said bar out of engagement with said web, and means normall out of engagement with the web for retaining said web in position as the bar is raised.

13. A device of the character described adapted for use with a web, comprising, in combination, means including a gripping member or feeding said web, a tearing bar adapted to'engage said web, along which said web may be torn, means for raising said bar out of the way of said gripping member as the lattermoves into position to grasp the web, and means normally out of engagement with the web for retaining the web in position while it is being grasped by said gripping member.

14. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a support for a web, means for feeding said web including a member reciprocating in the general direction in which the web is fed, means for operatively connecting said member to said web at the end of its counter-stroke and for maintaining it in operative connection with said web during its forward stroke, a shaft pivoted transverse to the direction of feed of said web and below the support, a U- shaped member carrying a tearing bar, means mounted on said tearing bar for clamping said web to the support, an arm on said transverse shaft, and a cam on the reciprocating feeding member to engage said arm, thereby rock said shaft, and cause said clamping member to clamp the web to the support.

15. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a support for a web, means for feeding said web including a member havin a forward and a counter stroke reciprocating in the general direction in which the sheets are fed, means for operatively connecting said member to said web at the end of its counter-stroke and for maintaining it in operative connection with said webduring its forward stroke, a tearing bar mounted to extend over said web capable of being moved toward and away from said web, means for moving said tearing bar and a clamping member on said tearing bar so mounted that when said tearing bar is moved away from said web said clamping member will clamp said sheets to said suport.

p 16. In a device of the character described, in combination, intermittently operating means having a forward and a reverse stroke, for feeding the sheet forward, means permitting retrograde motion of the sheet for adjusting the position of the sheet, and means for retaining the sheets in place at the end of the reverse stroke until engaged by said feeding means.

17 In a device of the character described, in combination, intermittently operating means for feeding sheets forward and means for connecting and disconnecting the feeding means, means permitting retrograde motion of the sheets for retaining the sheets in a predetermined position while disconnected from said feeding means, means for operating and releasing said retaining means, and means for retaining the sheets in place while being released by said first mentioned retaining means until they are operatively connected to said feeding means.

18. In a device of the character described, in combination, means for feeding a sheet, means for alternatel connecting and disconnecting said fee ing means with the sheet, means for retaining the sheet in a predetermined position while disconnected from said feeding means, and means for retaining the sheet in position while the sheet is being disconnected from the first mentioned retaining means and while it is being connectedto said feeding means.

19. A device of the character described,

comprising in combination, a support for sheets to be fed, means for feeding said sheets relative to said support, and means for holding said sheets in position preparatory to being fed by said feeding means, said holding means being movable from a position in which it ma be caused to engage said sheets to a position clear of said sheets to expose the same.

20. A device of the character described, comprising in combination, a support for sheets to be fed, means adapted alternately to engage and release the web for feeding said sheets relative to said support and means for holding said sheets in osition preparatory to being fed, a removab e cover for said support, said holding means being attached to said cover, whereby when said cover is in place said holding means will be in a position in which it may be caused to engage said sheets, and when said cover is removed the holding means will be in a position clear of said sheets to expose the same.

21. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a su port, means for feeding a web relative to said sup port, and means for adjusting a portion of said web relative to said support com rising means ada ted to engage physica alterations in sai web, and means adapted to cooperate with said engaging means to cause said web to be engaged thereby, said coopcrating means being movable from a position in which it is adapted to cooperate with said engaging means, to a position clear of said web to expose the same.

22. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a sugport, means-for feedin a web relative to sai support, a removab e cover for said support,

and means for adjusting a portion of said web relative to said support comprising means to engage physical alterations in said web and means to cooperate with said engaging means to cause said web to be engaged thereby, said cooperating means bein mounted on said cover whereby when sa" cover is in place said cooperating means will be in a position in which it may be caused to cooperate with said engaging means, and when the said co,ver is removed, said cooperating means will be clear of said web to expose the same.

23. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a support for a web, web tensioning means, means for feeding the web relative to said support, means for adjusting a portion of said web relative to said support comprising pins movable into and out of engagement with said web, tubular guides on the under side of said support in which said pins slide, and means for moving said pins into and out of engagement with said web.

24. In an autographic register, in combination, mechanism adapted to simultaneously feed a plurality of superposed apertured webs, means adapted to adjust portions of said webs relative to each other comprising a controlling finger reciprocal across the paths of the webs adapted to enter. the apertures in the superposed webs, and held against movement longitudinally of said paths, and an operating handle operatively connected to said feed mechanism and said adjusting mechanism.

25. In an autographic register, in combination, mechanism adapted to simultaneously feed a plurality of superposed apertured webs, means adapted to adjust portions of said webs relative to each other comprising a controlling finger reciprocal across the paths of the webs and held against movement longitudinally of said paths adapted to enter the apertures in the superosed webs, and means cooperative with said eed mechanism adapted to operate said finger, comprising an oscillatory shaft operatively connected to said finger.

26. In an autogra hic register, in combination, mechanism a apted to simultaneously feed a plurality of superposed apertured webs, means adapted to adjust portions of said webs relative to each other comprising a controlling finger reciprocal across the aths of the webs adapted to enter apertures m the superposed webs means cooperative with said feed mechanism adapted to opcrate said finger comprising an oscillatory shaft operatively connected to said finger, and a reciprocatory bar adapted to oscillate said shaft.

27. In an autogra hic register, in combina tion, mechanism a apted to simultaneously feed a plurality of superposed apertured webs means adapted to adjust portions of said webs relative to each other comprising said device andsaid operator bar causes the gripping and releasing operations of said device, and means adapted, positively, to prevent advance of said device from initial web advancing position prior to relative movement between said bar and device sufiicient to cause gripping operation.

28. In an autographic register, in combination, mechanism adapted to simultaneously feed a plurality of superposed apertured webs, means adapted to adjust portions of said webs relative to each other comprising a controlling finger reciprocal across the paths of the webs adapted to enter the apertures in the superposed webs, said feed mechanism comprising a reciprocatory device adapted alternately to grip and release the Webs, a reciprocatory operator bar movable relative to said device, means adapted to couple said barwith said device to move the latter with .the former after a predetermined amount of relative movement therebetween, a latch adapted to engage said device and restrain movement thereof from initial web advancing position, and means carried by said operator bar ada ted to release said latch after a re etermined amount of movement of said ar.

29. In an autograpliic register, in, combination, mechanism ada ted to simultaneously feed a plurality o superposed apertured webs, means adapted to adjust portions of said webs relative to each other comprising a controlling finger reciprocal across the paths of the webs adapted to enter the apertures in the superposed webs, said feed mechanism comprising a reciprocatory device adapted alternately to grip and release the webs, a reciprocatory operator bar movable relative to said device, means adapted to couple said bar with said device to move the latter with the former after a predetermined amount of relative movement therebetween, means whereby said finger is moved into and out of engagement with the apertures in the webs in timed relation to the movement of said reciprocatory device comprising an oscillatory shaft operatively connected to. said finger and devices whereby the movement of said operator bar oscillates said shaft.

30. In an autographic register, in combination, mechanism adapted to simultaneously feed a plurality of superposed apertured webs, means'adapted to adjust portions of said webs relative to each other comprising a controlling finger reciprocal across the paths of the webs adapted to enter the apertures in the superposed webs, said feed mechanism comprising a reciprocatory devicead-apted alternately to grip and release the webs, a reciprocatory operator bar movable relative to said device, means adapted to couple said bar with said device to move the latter with the former after a predetermined amount of relative movement therebetween, means whereby: said finger is moved into and out of engagement with the apertures in the webs in timed relation to the movement of said reciprocatory device comprising an oscillatory shaft operatively connected to said finger and devices whereby the movement of said operator bar oscillates said shaft, and means adapted positively to prevent advance of said device from initialweb advancing position prior to gripping operation of said reciprocatory device.

31. In an autographic register, in combination, mechanism adapted to simultaneously feed a plurality of superposed apertured webs, means adapted to adjust portions of said webs relative to each other comprising a controlling finger reciprocal across the paths of the webs adapted to enter the apertures in the superposed webs, said feed mechanism comprising a reciprocatory device adapted, alternately, to grip and release the webs, a reciprocatory operator bar movable relative to said device, means adapted to couple said bar with said device to advance the latter with the former after a predetermined amount of relative movement therebetween, and means whereby the advance movement'of said bar relative to said device effects withdrawal of the finger from the apertures.

32. In an autographic register, in combination, means adapted to feed a web at intervals comprising a reciprocatory griper, a web controlling finger, means wherey said finger is moved into and out of engagement with an aperture in the web between the intervals of advance of the web comprising a reciprocatory operator bar movable relative to said ripper, means adapted to couple said bar with said gripper to retract the latter with the former after a predetermined amount of relative retractive movement therebetween, and means whereby the retractive movement of said bar relative to said gripper effects engagement of said finger with said aperture.

33. In an autographic register, in combination, means adapted to feed a web at intervals comprising a reciprocatory ripper. a web controlling finger, means w erebination,

by said finger is moved into and out of engagement with an aperture in the web between the intervals of advance of the web comprising a reciprocatory operator bar movable relative to said ripper, means adapted to couple said bar with said gripper to retract the latter with the former after a predetermined amount of relative retractive movement therebetween, means whereby the retractive movement of said bar relative to said gripper efi'ects engagement of said finger with said aperture, and a spring to effect said relative retractive movement.

34. In an autographic register, in commeans adapted to feed a web at intervals comprising a reciprocatory gripper, means to open and close the same, a web controlling finger, means whereby said finger is moved-into and out of engagement with an aperture in the web between the intervals of advance of the web comprisin a reclprocatory operator bar movable relative to said gripper, means adapted to couple said bar with said gripper to retract the latter with the former after a predetermined amount of relative retractive movement therebetween, and means whereby the retractive movement of said bar relative to said gripper effects engagement of said finger with said aperture and the opening of said gripper substantially simultaneously with said engagement. 1

35. In an autographic registier, in combination, a reciprocatory gripper adapted toadvance a web at intervals, a web controlling finger, means whereby said finger' is moved into and out of engagement with an aperture in the web between the intervals of advance of the web, means adapted to time the operation of said finger moving means so that said finger is in the aperture in the web while the web is released from said gripper, and means cooperative to hold the web in the position determined by said finger until the next succeeding gripping thereof by said gripper.

36. In an autographic register, in combination, advance a web at intervals, a web controlling finger, means whereby s'aid finger is moved into and out of engagement with an aperture in the web between the intervals of advance of the web, means adapted to time the operation of said finger moving means so that said finger is in the aperture inthe web while the web is released from said gripper, and means cooperative to hold the web in the position determined by said finger until the next succeeding grippin thereof by said gripper, said last mention means comprising a spring finger adapted to clamp the portion of the web to be gri ped in stationary sition until said contro mg finger i with rawn from said aperture.

37. In an autographic register, in coma reciprocatory gripper adapted to bination, a reciprocatory gripper adapted to advance a web at intervals, a web controlling finger, means whereby said finger is movedinto and out of an aperture in the web between the intervals of advance of the web, said last mentioned means comprising a rack and pinion, a friction clutch adapted to couple said finger with said pinion, and means whereby the operation of said rack advances and retracts said gripper.

38. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, means adapted to advance a web at intervals, means adapted to adjust a portion of the web relative to the path of advance comprising a web controlling finger automatically cooperative to engage an aperture in the web between the intervals of advance, said advancing means comprising a reciproca-tory device adapted alternately to grip and release the web, means adapted to reciprocate said device comprising a reciprocatory operator bar movable relative to said device, means adapted to couple said bar with said device to move the latter with the former after a predetermined amount of relative movement therebetween, means whereby relative movement between said device and said operator bar causes the gripping and releasing operations of said device, means adapted positively to prevent advance of said device from initial web advancing position prior to relative movement between said bar and de vice sufiicient to cause said gripping operations, and means adapted positively to prevent retract-ive movement of said device from normal advanced position prior to relative movement between said bar and device sufficient to cause said releasing operation.

39. In a machine of the character described, the combination with means imparting to a perforated web a normal tendency to shift rearwardly, of means for feeding the web forwardly, a registering device adapted to enter a perforation in the web, and means for freeing the feeding means from the web.

40. A. device of the character described adapted for use with a web having successive symbols thereon, said web being provided with physical alterations bearing a fixed relation to said symbols comprising, in combination, means for feeding said web a distance slightly greater than the distance between successive symbols, means permitting retrograde motion of the web for engaging the physical alterations in said web to retain the symbols in a predetermined position, and means for maintaining a tension on said web.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS F. HAGEMANN;

Witnesses:

PETER V. KELLER, HENRY L. Bnswioia.