US1870281A - Interchangeable record strip control - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 9, 1932. w. D. cAToN INTERCHANGEABLE RECORD STRIP CONTROL Filed Aug. 5, 1931 2 Sheets-5heet "l 2o /ff A TTORNEYS.

iig. 9, 1932.

W. D. CTON INTERCHANGEABLE RECORD STRIP CONTROL Filed Aug. 5, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. W/LL/A/vl D. CA-ro/v,

M, @W f ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 9, 1932 UNT@ WILLIAM D. SATON, OF

PATENT OFFQE ELM'IRA, NEVI YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN SALES BOOK COLJIPANY, LlvTED, OF TORONTO, CANADA, A CORPORATION OF ON'LARO, CANADA INTERCI-IANGEABLE RECORD STRIP CONTROL Application filed August 5, 1931.

This invention relates to improvements in manfolding devices and with reference to special featnres thereof, it relates more particularly to improvements in record controlling devices for aligning positioning and maintaining the records in correct position during the entry of inscriptions.

lt is a general object of the invention to provide for manifolding devices an improved record controlling arrangement which is specially` adapted and applicable to manifolding devices ofthe portable type, being simple in structure, light, and compact, for application to autographic registers, portable billing machines, and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide for manifolding devices of the class mentioned an improved record controlling mechanisms for positioning and. keeping the which the controlling mechanism is very readily and easily interchangeable with another similar mechanism, but arranged for the accommodation of record strips of different lengths and/ or widths.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a manifolding device having an improved record controlling mechanism which is simple and well adapted for application to portable devices and arranged so as to effectively control. composite records including continuous traveler record strips with interleaved continuous traveler transfer or carbon strips, this type of composite record being especially advantageous for use with portable manifolding devices because the necessity of providing special supporting means for the carbon sheets is eliminated.

According to another feature of the invention, a set of interchangeable record control units is provided` the set including several control units and the control elements of each unit being arranged in a simple and compact manner and of uniform arrangement but differently proportioned for the control of records or record strips having different form lengths or different widths or having both dierent form lengths and widths.

Other objects and features of the invention will be in part pointed out in the following records in place during` inscription and inA Serial No. 555,257.

detailed disclosure of an illustrative but preferred embodiment of the invention and will be in part obvious in connection therewith.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction here-- inafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

Fora more complete understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference is had to the following detailed description and to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig; l is a central, longitudinal, vertical section of a manifolding device of the portable type embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view with the combined cover plate and platen removed, and

Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views of record controlling' platen plates.

lVhile the invention may be embodied in different types of recording devices it is herein disclosed as applied to a portable manifolding device of the autographic register type for which it is well adapted. As shown in the allustrative embodiment of the drawings the portable autographic register includes a casing 6 having bottom, side, end and top walls preferably7 of some light, stout material`A such for example, as wood, metal, fibre board, or the like. This casing is provided with an interior compartment in which may be housed and supported the record supply A preferably in the form of a zigzag folded record.

The record preferred for this use may be of a known form, that shown embodying a pluralityT of record strips S of the long continuous traveller type arranged in superposed manifolding relation with each other and divided at longitudinal intervals into record leaves or tickets by transverse weakened or perforated lines S. Each record leaf or ticket may be as shown provided with a blanl; form S2 and also with controlling apertures S8. These controlling apertures S3 are thus arrange-d, in the embodiment shown, in two longitudinal series along the record CIJ strips S, one aperture of each series being positioned toward the forward end of each of the form leaves.

Although the transfer or carbon strip for transferring the inscriptions, may be supported in any preferred known manner, it is desirable that a transfer strip C of the long continuous traveller type be employed and interleaved in transfer relation with the record strips S as shown. The transfer strip C will thus also preferably be provided with weakened transverse lines substantially coincident with the severance lines S1 of the record strips. As shown it is preferred that this assembly of record and transfer strips be zigzag folded upon the weakened sever ance lines. As many record strips with interleaved transfer strips may thus be assembled as desired for the particular work in hand.

Overlying the supply compartment is the cover plate 7 forming a flat platen upon which the assembly of record strips is supported while being inscribed. This platen plate may also be of some light strong material and may as shown be inclined slightly upwardly from its rear and toward its forward end to provide an upwardly inclined writing surface. Toward the rear end thereof the platen plate 7 is formed with an exit slot 8 extending transversely thereof through which the record assembly emerges from the supply compartment into writing position. Contiguous to this slot and forwardly thereof is a transverse checking edge 9 which may be formed integral with the plate 7 as shown. This checking edge is preferably quite sharp extending partially or entirely across the record, and may as shown form an acute angle so to engage intimately with the weakened fold lines of the record assembly.

Positioned adi acent to the checking edge 9 and preferably slightly forwardly thereof is the record guide or bar 10 spaced slightly above the surface of the platen plate 7 whereby the record assembly may pass therebeneath and be guided and retained in its correct position.

Toward the forward end of the platen plate 7 record supporting and controllingl pins 11 are provided being preferably mounted upon the platen plate and extending upwardly a short distance therefrom and terminating in free upper ends. These controlling pins are spaced apart laterally corresponding with the lateral spacing of the apertures S3 so as to enter the latter as shown. in Figs. 1 and 3. Immediately to the rearward of the controlling pins 11 and spaced slightly therefrom is a record guiding and retaining bar 12. The retaining bar 12 is also spaced slightly above the platen surface and the record assembly is entered thereunder as shown in 1. The upper free ends of the controlling pins are preferably as shown slightly above the adjacent retaining bar 12 in the path of the record strips. By means of this relation it will be observed that the bar 12 will function to retain the record strips in engagement with the pins 11, but this engagement may be readily released by bending the forward ends of the record assembly slightly upwardly whereupon said assembly may be readily moved forwardly.

Also it will be noticed that the end walls 13 of the passageway or slot 8 function as guides for the adjacent edges of the record assembly to keep the record and transfer strips in lateral alignment, while the supporting posts 14 for the retaining bar 12 similarly function to laterally align the record at forward parts thereof.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 supportingr lugs or pins 15 are mounted upon the casing 6 extending upwardly therefrom into the.

plane. of the platen plate 7. Said platen plate is formed with apertures 16 spaced and proportioned the same as the supporting pins 15 whereby said pins may enter in cooperating relation into the apertures so as to position the cover plate or platen in operative position upon the top of the casing. There are preferably two such pins with corresponding apertures at each side of the casing so as to hold the cover plate firmly in position. By means of this arrangement a cover plate may be readily placed in position or removed so that another may be substituted. The pins 15 and apertures 16 provide cooperating lugs for correctly positioning any one of the platen plates and maintaining it there during the writing operations.

Grip openings or passageways 17 and 1S are preferably provided in the cover plate 7 and forward end wall of the casing whereby the forward ends of the record may be gripped and lifted from engagement with the aligning pins 11 thus pulled forwardly to bring the next succeeding set of record leaves into writing position. These apertures as shown are arranged in alignment with each other affording ample room for grasping the ends of the record.

For retaining the record supply A in correct position in the supply compartment with reference to the exit passageway 8 and to the record controlling detent or checking edge 9, a record retaining device is provided. This record retainer is preferably adjustable for the accommodation of record supplies of dif- .ferent sizes. For this purpose a retainer 19 is shown in the form of a removable plate extending transversely of the supply compartment and havinar its opposite ends seaied in retaining grooves .20 formed in the casing walls. A plurality of these grooves are provided whereby the retainer 1.9 may be shifted from one pair of smriporting grooves to another thus enabling records of different sizes to be utilized and retained always in correct position within the supply compartment. Therefore the record assembly emerging through the slot 8 from the compartment will always be maintained in correct relative position to the controlling detent 9 whereby most satisfactory control of the record is maintained.

The front edge of the platen plate 7 is positioned at a definite distance forwardly of the record controlling pins ll and is preferably provided with a. sharp corner to form a tearing edge 2l. This edge will thus normally be positioned to align substantially' with the weakened severance lines of the record when the pins are in engagement with the record apertures. rllhe pins ll thus provide a support for the record during severance of the latter upon the tearing edge 2l.

Referring to Figs. 3 and t it will be noted that two platen plates or covers 7 and 7a are shown, similar in construction to each other and each provided with the record control elements as above described for the cover 7. Since these record control elements are the same for both covers they are designated by the same reference numerals and the description above for cover 7 will suthce also for cover 7a. W'hile the apertures or lugs 16 are similarly arranged and similarly spaced in both covers, the longitudinal spacing between the forward pins l1 and the rear checking edge 9 is dierent in each cover. Also if desired the lengths of the passageways or slots 8 may be different in the diderent covers for the accommodation of records of dif` ferent widths. Similarly the spacing of the record guide posts lll of the retaining bar l2 may be different for the different covers.

t will therefore be seen that each of the record control devices or cover plates is provided with both rearwardly and forwardly disposed record controlling means embodying the checking edge or detent 9 and the aperture engaging pins ll. uhile Vthese control elements are similarly arranged in both of the covers, their controlling dimensions are differently proportioned and the controlling parts are differently spaced in the different covers for the accommodation of different sizes of records, having different widths and diderent lengths of form sheets. Yet each of the covers is proportioned and constructed to iit in the same manner upon the casing 6 of the register and to be held in operative position thereupon by means of the cooperating lugs l5 and 16.

For convenience in description, the end of the register and cover plate occupied by the control pins ll, is herein referred to as the forward end while the rearward part is that occupied b y the det-ent or checking edge 9. The records thus move from the rearward toward the forward end of the apparatus.

The two record control plates 7 and 7a disclosed may be regarded as a set, although a larger number of controlling plates may be supplied if desired to constitute the set. However, each control plate or element of the set will be similarly constructed for application to the same register casing but the controlline` elements will be differently proportioned as described for the accommodation and control of records of different sizes. The record controlling tops or platens are thus interchangeable upon the register casing and one may be readily substituted for another as desired. The appropriate control cover for the record being used will be selected from the set of covers and placed in operative position.

lt will now be seen that the record is held in writing position at one end of the platen by means of the controlling pins l1, and at the opposite end thereof it is engaged at the transverse weakened fold lines S by the transverse checking edge or detent 9. Then the record is fed from the storage compartment the detent 9 engages with the weakened fold lines S thus checking record strip advancement at about the time that the record apertures S3 come into engagement with the pins 1l. In this manner the record will be retained in correct, smoothed, aligned, writing position upon the platen by means of the rearward and forward controlling elements 9 and ll. As the records emerge through the passageway 8 from the storage compartment they will be caused to arch or turn quite sharply about the detent 9; this arching relation will be maintained for the different sizes of record by means of the adjustable supply retainers 19 and also by the guiding plate l0. By virtue of this arrangement the bend or arch in the record will be broken or caused to fold sharply when the weakened fold line reaches approximate register with the checking edge 9. This action provides an abrupt fold or hinge in the record, functioning to check or restrain the forward movement of the record. It is at this point that the pins ll align with the record apertures, entering the latter so as to maintain the record in its correct writing position.

After entry of the inscriptions the forward ends of the record may be lifted as above described and a lirm forward pull thereon releases the engagement of the fold with the detent 9 whereupon the record may be moved forwardly to bring the next set of record leaves into writing position. The inscribed forms may then be severed upon the tearing edge. lf interleaved carbon sheets are used the severed carbon sheets may be separated or stripped from the severed record sheets. For this stripping of the severed sheets the record may be formed in any known manner to facilitate this operation.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the 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.

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

1. The combination with a manifolding record device having a record supply storage compartment, of a detachable plate platen having thereon longitudinally spaced record controlling elements, and supporting lugs positioned in mutually co-operative relation between the platen and the body of the manifolding device and arranged for co-operation for supporting and positioning the platen for operation whereby said platen may be readily removed and replaced by a similar platen.

2. The combination with a manifolding record device having a record supply storage compartment, of a detachable cover plate for the record device providing a platen therefor, said platen having thereon longitudinally spaced record controlling elements, and supporting lugs positioned in mutually co-operating relation between the platen and the body of the manifolding device for co-operation to position and support said platen for operation and for removal thereof and replacement by a similar platen, said record controlling elements including at least one forwardly disposed record controlling pinv positioned for engagement with apertures in the record, and said cover plate being provided with a record tearing edge spaced a predetermined distance forwardly of said pin so as to substantially align with weakened severance lines of the record when the latter is restrained by engagement of said pin.

3. The combination with a manifolding record device having a record supply storage compartment, of a detachable plate platen having thereon longitudinally spaced record controlling elements, and supporting lugs positioned in mutually co-operative relation between the platen and the body of the manifolding device and arranged for co-operation for supporting and positioning the platen for operation whereby said platen may be readily removed and replaced by a similar platen, said platen having at parts thereof forwardly of said forward record controlling element. a record grip aperture, and said record device having also a forward wall provided with a record grip aperture merging with said first mentioned aperture.

4. A unitary combined cover and platen for manifolding devices including, in combination, a record engaging pin. mounted upon the cover forwardly thereof, a transverse record checking edge formed on the cover rearwardly thereof, a transverse record retaining bar mounted upon the cover adjacent but spaced rearwardly from said pin, a transverse record guide on the cover positioned adjacent but slightly forwardly of said checking edge, and retaining lugs formed upon the cover at spaced parts thereof, whereby the cover may be readily removed from operative position and another cover substituted therefor.

5. The combination with a manifolding record device having a record supply storage compartment, of a detachable cover plate for the record device providing a platen thereof, said platen having thereon longitudinally spaced record controlling elements, and supporting lugs positioned in mutually co-operating relation between the platen and the body of the manifolding device for co-operation to position and support said platen for operation and for removal thereof and replacement by a similar platen, said record controlling elements including at least one forwardly disposed record controlling pin positioned for engagement with apertures in the record, and longitudinally spaced, transversely disposed record engaging checking edge positioned rearwardly of said cover plate for engagement with weakened lines of the record for checking thereof, said cover plate being formed with a slot through which the record emerges from the storage compartment to the platen and which is contiguous to said checking edge, and a record supply retaining device mounted in the supply compartment for movement into different re taining positions for retaining said supply in its compartment at all times forwardly of said checking edge, whereby the record controlling function is intact, with covers designed for different sizes of record forms.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM D. CATON.

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