US1680443A - Check protector - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 14, 192s. I 1,680,443

G. W. BEEBE CHECK PROTECTOR Original Filed May 27, 1918 5l Sheets-Shea?l 2 Aug. 14, 152s.

G. W. BEEBE CHECK PROTECTOR [lili/[17111071271011111777 Patented Aug. 14, 1928.

UNITED STATES Lauria` PATENT oFFiCE.

GAYLRD W. BEEBE, OF `ALBANY, GEORGIA.

CHECK PROTECTOR.

Application led May 27, 1918, Serial 110.236,774. Renewed September', 1924.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine 4for printing on a check, draft or` A further object 1s to provide a'machine for marking a check, draft or other instrument on both sides of the paper, in'such a way as to do awaywith the necessity .of serrating `the paper and at the same time give better protection to the check orother in strumentv and leave it in a neater, stronger 4and more perfect condition.

A further object is to 'accomplish `the entire operation of feeding, spacing, locking in position, and marking or printing the check or instrument automatically, .by the simple means of one operation, of one key on a keyboard for each Word or figure to be marked on the check or instrument.

A fur-ther object is toy provide a machine which will accommodate `almost `any size check, draft, or other Linstrument and be easy and convenient to operate.

A further object is to Vprovide one in which the mechanism fis easily accessi.- ble for cleansing or repairs.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following Adetailed description.

The invention consists generally inyvarious Iconstructions and combinations, all `as hereinafter described Jand particularly pointed out in the claims. n

In thel accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, i i

Figurel is Va plan view 'of acheck protector,` being partially broken away, Y

`li`igure 2 is a verticalrsectional view Aofthe same, taken on the line 2.2 =of Figure A3,

Figure S is a cross sectional View taken on the line of Figure 2, f vFigure l is asimilar view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 2, n i Figure -isia cross Vsectional View, taken .on the linef'of Figure 2,

` f Figure 6 is a crosssectional view .takenron the line 61-6 of Figure 2, y Y p Figures 7 and "8 are detail views for marking on `the endface of a check,

t Figure 9 isa plan sectional view, taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 4.

'a check protector of simple, compact construction and,

In the drawing, 9. represents a suitable base on which the operating mechanism of the machine is mounted, and 3 a suitable casing secured to the base at' 4.3 A narrow gap or opening ,5 is provided betweenthe base and the Walls ofthe casing for the insertion of the check to be printed or marked, A shaft 6 is journaled horizontally `in said casing (see Figure 2) and a suitable type Wheel 7 is centrally secured thereon and pro vided with a series of peripherally arranged characters 8, ithe impression of which is to be made` upon the surface of the check, draft,

or other instrument. These characters; or figures extend only partially around the peripheral surface of the wheel andthe wheel is mounted to turn one-half of arevolution or rany desired fraction thereof, as will here` inafter more clearly appear from the detailed description of the operating mechamsm. v y

i In the rear of the casingV a shaft 9 is hori! zontally mounted, supporting a series of keys 10 which project through slots 11 in the front of the casing and are provided With suitable caps 12 on which figures or characters or words are printed lcorresponding to those on the type Wheel k(see Figure l).

Loosely mounted in the walls of the ycasing are shafts 13 and 14, preferably larrangedend toV lend rand having yfreedom of independent oscillation in their bearings.

On these shafts a series of cams l5 vare secured, corresponding in number to the ke s and in the'same vertical plane respective y' of thekeys to be `actuated bythedepression thereof. 'The `fil-Ces 16 ofthese cams are concaved on an arc, described from the center vof the shaft 9, and the keys have .i

convex` surfaces 17 to engage the concave faces of the cams. v K

so that their faces will be in 4the form of aV The cams are arranged of its key to adjustthe first character 8 on f the Wheel 7 to a position on the underside of the Wheel for contact With the upper falce of the check and the extreme right and left lhand cams being revolved a quartery of a lll revolution. When a key is depressed to the limit of its down stroke, its face 17 will seat snugly against the face 1G of its cam and the cam and printing wheel Will thereby be locked against movement in either direction until the key is released, and downward movement of each key will be arrested when its surface 19 contacts with the top of the cam. lVhen a key is released, its spring 20 raises it to its normal position.

Secured to the'shaft 13 is a gear segment 21 engaging anidle gear 22 that meshes with a 'gear secured to one end of the shaft G. The ratio of the segment and gear is tivo to one. Then the key at the extreme left hand end of the keyboard'is operated to rotate the cam, the shaft 13 will be revolved a quarter of a revolution and through the gearing above described, the type-Wheel Will be revolved one-half of a revolution toivard-the right. bringing the uppermost character or Word to a position on the' underside of the wheel opposite and adjacentr theface of the check to be printed. The other cams on this shaft 13 will travel a proportionately less distance through the operation of their keys and rotate the printing wheel a correspondingly less distance to present the desired character thereon to its printing position. The shaft 14 with its cams is a duplicate of the shaft 13 and its cams, the only difference being in the transmission mechanism, which consists in the gear segment 24 engaging the gear 25 on the same shaft that the printing Wheel is mounted on, thereby causing the said wheel to be revolved in the opposite direction from that secured, through the operation of the idle gear The movement of the printing Wheel through the gear 25 will revolve said wheelftowvard the left in Figure 4, thereby bringing the upper character or` Word 4on the wheel indicated on the key at the extreme right hand of the keyboard' in printing position on the underside of the wheel. It will he understood that the' shafts 13 and 14, while in concentric relation, are capable of independent operation, each controlledby an independent group of keys and the keys actuating their respective cams on the shafts 13and 14 for imparting a rotary movement to the type Wheel. The purpose. of having these Vtivo sets of cams and keys is to avoid extreme rotation of the printing ivheel in one direction to bring its characters kin 'proper printing position. By operating the Wheel first in one direction and then in the other, I am able to reduce its travel andl at the same time present quickly each'character toits proper printing position.

For thev purpose lof returning the type wheel i', the shafts 13 and 14 and their cams to theirnormal position, I provide pins 26 mounted in the segments 2l and 24. These pins are engaged by arms 27 secured to the shaft 9 and connected with one another by a rod 28. Springs 29 connect the arms 27 with the casing for raising and holding said arms against stops 30 mounted in the end walls of the casing.

The rod 28 is positioned directly beneath the normal osition of the inner ends of the keys 10 ant whenever any one of the keys is depressed it Will immediately contact with said rod and rock the shaft 9 with its arms 2T and thereby move said arms out of engagement with the pins 26. Further movement of the key will engage its cam, revolve the sha-ft 13 and set the printing wheel in its printing position, the pin 26 on the segment operated on will follow the arm 27' While the pin and the other segment will travel in the opposite direction. When the key is released, its spring 29 will return the arms 27 to their normal position. One of said arms will conta-ct with the pin 26 in the segment that has been operated and rotate it to its normal position, While the pin 26 in the opposite segment will move in the opposite direction until it contacts with the other arm 27. In this position, the arms 27 will be in contact with the stop pins 30, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

The convex faces of the keys interlocking with the concave face of the cams 15 and lfreely moving up ordown while in lock, provides a positioning and locking means for thetype Wheel, While the printing is being accomplished, but as an additional safeguard, I may provide a supplementary locking mechanism as follows: A disc 31 is secured to the gear 25 on the shaft 6. Said disc has a series of peripheral notches 32 corresponding in number to the characters on the wheel 7 in position to be engaged by a tooth 33 on an arm 34 pivoted at 34 on the wheelof the casing and held out of en gagement normally With the disc by a spring 35 and a stop pin 3G. The arm is provided with an adjusting screw 37 to he engaged by the hub of the arm 27 when it is depressed. This, however, does not occur until Ithe proper character on the printing wheel'is in position for printing.r and when this adjustment has been obtained, one of the slots 32 in the disc will be positioned to receive the tooth 38 for locking the dise and the printing Wheel against rotary move ment in either direction, While the printing operation is being performed.

It will be noted from an examination of Figure G that the downward stroke of the keysis more than necessary for the operation of the cams l5 and that the key moves in the-arc of its cam circle some dist-ance after the cams 15 stop rotating. This additional movement is utilized for completing the movement of the check up against the type character on the wheel and also for eiecting the supplementary locking mecha-A nism. The mechanism which I prefer to employ for the former purposeI will not describe in detail.

Secured on the shaft 9 are arms 38 connected with one another bya rod 39. Links 40 connect said arms with a yoke 4l pivoted at 42 in the base. A pressure roller or platen 42 is mounted in said yoke and has deadv center with respect to the link 40` and .yoke 41.- greatest and the yoke is practically station- AtV such time, the leverage is ary for a considerable arc of the movement. An adjustable screw 44 engaging the rod 39 forms a stop for the arm 38 and preventsl overthrow beyond the center. A. suitable opening 45 is provided in ythe ibase and a similar opening 46 in theV plate 47 registers with the opening` 45 and through these openings the roller 42goperates.l To further protect the check., I prefer to print a continuous line of ink on the underside of the check or` instrument, opposite or adjacent the imprint on the `facevo-f the check or instrument. To this end the roller 42 and peripheral projection are of a length to vfully cover the longest word printed and its space. Inking rolls 48 `and 49 are yielding- 1y` mounted yin a carrier or cage 50, slidably mounted at 51in the base and locked therein by any suitable means, such as an arm 51 on a knob engaging a slot 53 in the base. The carrier can thus be easily removed whenever it is desired to apply ink to the` cause the roll or platen to revolve in con-A i tact with the ink roll 48 and vfor each printing operation a freshly inked projection 43 will be moved into position `to contact withy the underside of the check` draft or other` A spring 56 engages fthe, notches 57 for holding the 'ratchet from .ro-- tating as thepawl passesfrom one "toot-h to instrument.

another (see Figures 7 and 8).

`For the purpose of apply-ing ink to 4the characters of the type wheel, `I prefer to provide carriers or cages 58 and 59 having ink rollers 60 and 61 I yieldingly mounted therein. These carriers may be removed from the machine when it is desired to ap'- ply fresh ink to the rollers. For this purpose, the carrier 58 has sliding connections at 60 with the casing 3 and is secured theref to, preferably in thesame manner as the carrier 50. The carrier 59 is provided with a projection 6l in its front and a slot 62 to straddle the screw 63. By loosening thls y Y screw, the carrier may be readily 4removed from the machine that the characters on the printing wheel will contact therewith and be inked with each Vprinting operation.

For feeding the check, draft or other inV strumcnt to be printed or marked with each successive operation of the printing wheel, I prefer to provide the following described mechanism A plate 64 is secured to one 4end of the case and isprovided with adjustable guides 65 and 66 for checks or drafts of different widths and lengths, (see Figures land the position of the instrument Ain the kmachine being indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1. The end of the check or draft is insertedbetween feed rolls 66y Vv'and `67, the

latter being mounted in a yoke 68 carriedV by a shaft 69 havinv suitable bearings in the base of the machine and provided with a suitable lever 7 0 within convenient reach of' the operator by meansof whichv the yoke 68 is rocked to depress the roll 67 yand allow rthe insertion of the check or draft between it and theV roll 66. A spring 71 normally holds the roll 67 in contact with the roll 66 with a yielding pressure. The feed roll G6 is secured to the shaft 71 and a similar shaft 72 has bearings in the casing 3. Secured on the shaft 72 is a ratchet wheel 73. An arm 74 is loosely mounted on the shaft- 72 on one side of the ratchet wheel, held in place by a collar 75 on` said shaft. Onthe other side of the ratchet between it and a collar 76 vI mount a bracket 77. 71 and 72 have gears78 and 78 in mesh. The arm 74 has an extension provided with a, jpawl 7 9 held in engagement with the `teeth of theV ratchet 73 when in its normal position by means of a stop r8O (sce Figure The shafts loe l if) 2) and thereby theratchet is prevented Vfrom y moving 'too far. A spring plate 81prevents backward movementof the ratchet.

arnr 74 has al pivotal connection at 82 with the shaft 9. Said yoke is normal-ly held in itsraised position by means of springsf87 attached' to the arms 86 and its movement is limited by the pawl 79, the ratchet teeth The a l'ink8'3 which is pivoted at 84 onayokey which has varms 86 loosely mounted on and the stop 8O'` Assuming that the word l one is being printcdthe pawl will move over'four teeth of the ratchet Vand uponire@ areletters in the Word to be printed plus one for the space. y

To accomplish this result, I provide the yoke with a series of steps 88 cut to varying ,depths according to the required travel of the yoke for the key opposite which the step is located. In printing a long Word, or one containing .a number of letters, the key Will have a shorter travel before coming in contact with its sten on the yoke as when printing a short Word and as movement of the yoke will begin upon contact of the key therewith, it is evident that With the Drinting of a long Word, and the travel of the key being always the same, the yoke will be rocked further than in printing a short word. The pawl Will therefore move fartherin printingv a longvord and travel over a greater number of teeth on the ratchet than in printing a short Word and through the gears 78 and 7S operate the feed wheels 6G and advance the check or draft a corresponding distance. The t'avel, therefore, of the check in the machine is commensurate with the movement of the yoke, the keys for the short Words through the yoke mechanism described operating the feed wheels of the checka distance corresponding to the length of the word and increasing as the length of the words to be printed increasesl the height of the step in each case controlling the feed et the check or draft. The keys may have iigurcs thereon or Words, as may be desired, each key having a Word or character thereon corresponding to the one on the printing wheel which is adjusted in its printing position through the mechanismI described by the operation of its key, and is thereafter: locked in this position While the printing is being done by the convexand concave faces of the keyrand cam and also bythe vsupplenicntaryv locking mechanism heretofore dcscribed. This latter 4may be omitted and various other modifications may be made in Y the construction Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. A check protector comprising a print-` ing Wheel having a 4series of peripheral marks or characters and mounted to be rocked in opposite directions, groups of cams' mounted on an axis parallel with the axis of the printing wheel, means connecting oney group of cams with the printing Wheel to rockv it in one direction and connecting the other'v group with the Wheel to rock it in an opposite direction, said cams beingpositioncd to impart dilferent extent of movements to.

the printing Wheel and disposed in the path of movement of opcratmg keys WhoseA axis isparallelwith the,v axis of the cams, andy keys for the cams `of the different groups, said keys being disposed to be normally out of contact With their cams and adapted to be moved into contact with their cooperating cams for movement of the printing Wheel. l

2. A check protector comprising a printing Wheel having a series of peripheral marks or characters and mounted to be rocked in opposite directions, groups of cams mounted on an axis parallel with the axis of the printing Wheel, means connectinfr one group of cams with the printing whee to rock it in one direction and connecting the other group with the Wheel to rock it in the opposite direction, said cams being positioned to impart dillerent extent of movements to the rinting Wheel, kkeys for the cams of the di'erent groups of cams disposed to make contact with theirv respcctive coactingcams to move the printin Wheehmeans 'for restoring the cams and printing Wheel to normal position on release of the keys, and means coacting with the keys to render inelective the restoring means when thekeys are moved for contact with the cams.

3. A check protector comprising a printing Wheel having a series of peripheral marks or characters and mounted to be rocked in opposite directions, groups of cams mountedon an axis parallel with the axis of the printing Wheel, means connecting one group of cams with the printing wheel to rock `it in one direction and connecting the other grou i with the wheel to rock it in the opposite direction, said cams heilig positioned to impart different extent ot nievements to the printing Wheel, keys for the cams.of the different groups of` cams disposed to make contact with their respective coacting cams to move the printing Wheel, a second printing member disposed at the underside of the printing Wheel and carried by a rocking arm, a jointed-link connection between the rocking arm and a member positioned in the path of travel ofthe actuating keys and actuated by the keys for moving the second printing member into `cooperative relation to the printing Wheel.

1i. A check protector comprising a print ing Wheel having a series ot peripheral marks or characters and mounted to be rocked in opposite directions, groups of cams mounted on an axis parallel with the axis of the printing Wheel and disposed inthe pat-hl of movement of operating keys whose axis is parallel with the axis of the cams, means connecting one group of cams with theprinting wheel to rock it in one direc tion and connecting the other group with the wheel to rock it inthe opposite direction, keys for the cams of the di'erent groups of cams disposed to make contact with their respective coacting cams to move the printing Wheel, means for feeding paper to the printing Wheel, said means including a step-shaped member positioned in the path of travel of the operating keys and conlll() llo nected with a progressively moved device for engagement with' the paper, the steps of the step-shaped member conforming tol a predetermined movement of the keys corlresponding*to the length of the characters 4to be printed, the step-shaped'- member being actuated by the keys whichoperate the printing wheel.

5. A check protector comprising a printing member having peripheral marks or characters thereon, a set of operating keys, a corresponding number of cams Vhaving concave surfaces to receive corresponding convex surfaces provided on said keys, and mechanism connecting' said cams with said printing wheel. 6. A checkV protector comprising a printing wheel having peripheral 4marks or lcharacters thereon andi mounted' to rock in opposite directions to present said characters to a printing position, shafts mounted in concentric relation adjacent'to said wheel and geared thereto, cams mounted in grooves on said shafts and having contracting surfaces in staggered relation for varying the stroke of said camsand the travel of said printing wheel, and a corresponding number of actuating keys mounted' toengage the contacting surfaces of said camsv for operating 'them and said wheel.

7. A check protectory comprising a set of operating keys, a rotatable printing member, having marks or characters spaced thereon, a second rotatable printing member having spaced projections thereon, and being movable against the first namedf printing member, mechanism co-operating with said keys for feeding and spacing a check or other instrument between said printing members,commensurate with the length of the marks or character-sto be printed, and mechanism for inking bothprinting members, and printing; said check on opposite sides, all of said devices being cooperatively connected for operation 4by a single operation of a key.

8. Acheck protector comprising a set of operating" keys, a movable printing member having marks or characters spaced thereon,-

a second printing member movable against the first named member, said printing members adapted to print on both sides of a check, and mechanism co-operating with the keys for feeding a check or other instrument between said printing members and spacing it commensurate to the length of the character to be printed and means for actuating the two printing members for printing the check or instrument on both sides, all of said operations, including the moving of the printing members, being performed by a single operation of a key.

9. A check protector comprising a set of operating keys having visible marks or characters,- a movable printing member having 'tion of a key.

corresponding marks or characters spaced thereon', second printing member movable against the first named member, said printing' members adapted to print on both sides of a check, and mechanism co-operating with the keys for feeding and spacing a` member, a number of cams arranged toberocked by said keys and having concave surfaces to receive corresponding convex locking surfaces provided on the keys, connections between said cams and said marking member and feed mechanism Vincluding a progressively moved 4device anda stepshaped memberv connected therewithI and positioned in the path of movement ofthe keys for commensurately feeding paper relatively to the marking number upon actuall. A check protector comprising a rotatable printing member having a series of Adifferentiated printing characters spaced thereon, a series of operating keys, each key having aV visible character corresponding toi-a character on the printing member, a second rotatable printing member'y having a series of printing surfaces and being movable against the first named member, mechanism operative by themovement of the keys for feeding and positioning a check or other instrument between the printing members for each stroke of a key and commensurate plus a` space, mechanism also operative by the keysfor supplying-ink to bothprinting members and printing differentiated characters on one side of the check or instrument and a longitudinal mark with respect to the check on the other side of the check to the length of the character to be printed opposite the imprint on the face of the' of said members, and mechanism co-operating with the key and printing members for printing the mark or character visible on the key on one side of the check or instrument and a mark with respect to the check on the other side by the last movement of the key.

13. A check protector comprising a rotatable printing wheel having differentiated marks or characters spaced thereon, a series of operating oscillating keys having visible marks or characters corresponding to the marks on the printing Wheel, a second printing wheel or platen having a longitudinal uniform printing surface, a series of cams arranged in the path of said keys and having concave surfaces to be engaged and rocked by the keys and receive corresponding convex locking surfaces provided on the keys, connections between said cams and said printing wheel, .mechanism for feeding a check or other instrument between the first printing Wheel and second printing wheel a distance commensurate to the length of the character to be printed, and inking devices f for supplying ink to both printing wheels, all

of said parts being cooperatively connected to act in conjunction in one operation of each key.

14. .A cheek protector comprising a set of operating keys, having visible marks or characters, a primary rotatable printing member having corresponding marks or characters circumferentially spaced thereon, a secondary printing member and platen movable against the prima-ry member, mechanism including cams operating when a key is struck for moving the primary printing member into position to bring its mark, corresponding to the mark on the operated key, into alignment With the secondary printing member, mechanism including a yoke for feeding a check or other instrunient between said printing members and spacing it commensurate with the length of the mark on the operated key, mechanism co-operating with the key for locking the primary printing member against movement when the check in position, and mechanism for operating the platen in printing, all of Said mechanism, including means for restoring all the parts, being cooperatively connected to complete a full cycle of movements by one forward and one backward stroke of a key.

15. A check protector comprising a wheel mounted to rock on a longitudinal axis and having a series of peripheral marks or characters thereon, a set of operating keys and mechanism actuated by the movement of said keys for rocking said printing wheel to adjust a character thereon in a printing position, a check or draft feeding means, a rocking yoke having a series of steps therein in the path of said keys, and actuated by said keys, the depths of said steps being commensurate respectively with the lengths of the marks on the printing wheel, and mechanism connecting said yoke with said check feeding means and including a ratchet wheel fixed to a transmitting shaft and an arm loosely mounted on the same shaft and carrying a pawl coacting with the ratchet wheel and actuated from said yoke.

16. A check protector comprising a printing wheel mounted to rock on a longitudinal axis and having a series of peripheral marks or characters thereon, a set of operating keys and mechanism actuated by the movement ot said keys for rocking saidv printing wheel to adjusta character thereon in a printing position, a check or draft feeding mechanism, a rocking yoke member having a series of steps therein of different height in the path of said keys, and actuated by said keys, the height of said steps being connnensurate with the required stroke of travel of said yokeand a, link having a. pivotal connection with said yoke member and connected with the check moving mechanism through a pawl and ratchet actuated from the yoke.

In witness whereof,l have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of May, 1918.

GAYLORD W. BEEBE,

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