US2014863A - Automatic calendar - Google Patents

Description

35 G. ROLLNICK ET AL M4563 AUTOMATIC CALENDAR Filed F'eb. l2, 1934. 2 Sheets-Sheet l nfuemafs Attorneys p@ w, w35.

G. ROLLNICK Er A1. El

AUTOMATIC CALENDAR f Filed Feb. l2, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 17, 1935 uNrrso srgrss 'y' FFICE Appiication February 12, 1934, Serial No. 710,832

8 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to time indicating devices and moreparticularly to an automaticY calendar which presents for view at all times a calendar sheet for the current day.

A broad object of the invention is to provide an automatic calendar of the type indicated which is reliable in operation and is adapted to function over a relatively long period of time.

A full understanding of the construction and operation of the invention may be had from the following detailed description which refers to the drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is an elevational view of a calendar in accordance with our invention, showing its external appearance;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation view of the machine with the case removed and the clock face and hands removed to reveal the mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mechanism with the case, clock face and clock hands removed;

Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view of the calendar tape windup reel taken in the plane lV-IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail end View of the ratchet mechanism on the takeup reel shown in Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view in the plane VI-VI of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a detail View at right angles to the View of Fig. 6 showing one of the cams for lifting the tape clamping bar;

Fig. 8 is another detail view of the cam in a different position of operation from that shown in Fig. 7;

Fig, 9 is a detail view partly in section taken in the plane IX-IX of Fig; 3, illustrating the trigger mechanism for releasing the folding contact of the machine; and

Fig. l is a schematic diagram showing the electrical circuit of the device.

Referring rst to Fig. l, our assembled calendar comprises a case i of any desired ornamental shape having a window 2 through which a daily calendar is displayed and having a clock designated generally at 3. The calendar displayed through the window 2 is printed on an elongated tape, this tape having a series of calendars printed thereon corresponding to successive days of the year. The mechanism which will next be described is for the purpose of supporting and moving this calendar tape every twenty-four hours to bring a new calendar into position behind the Window 2.

Referring to Fig. 2, the calendar tape is initially wound on a feed spool or reel 4, which is rotatably supported in a frame back of and somewhat below the window 2 (Fig. 2) From the reel d the tape extends forwardly over a roller 6, thence upwardly back of the window 2, over a second guide roll 'l (Fig. 3)., thence rearwardly 5 between a pair of feed bars 8 and 9 (Figs. 3 and 6), to a takeup reel l upon which it is wound.

It is essential that the calendar tape be moved exactly the distance between successive calendars thereon each twenty-four hours and furthermore 10 that the entire movement occur during a relatively short period of time at the end of each day (l2 P. M.) To obtain this result, the feed bars 8 and 9 are reciprocated from their rear position, as shown in Fig. 3, to a forward position spaced therefrom the exact distance between successive calendars on the tape with the bars separated as shown in Fig. 6 so that the tape is not retracted. Thereafter the bars are moved together to firmly grip the tape and are shifted rearwardly into the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby moving the tape just far enough to `expose the next calendar through the window 2 (Fig. l) At the same time the takeup reel lil is rotated to wind up the slack tape as the latter is fed by the bars 3 and 9. 25 Referring to Figs. 3 and 6, it will be observed that the lower bar 8 is slidably mounted upon a pair of rods l and Il, respectively, which guide the bar in its fore and aft movement. The rods AIl) and Il are firmly anchored at their outer ends to the frame of the machine. The reciprocatory motion is applied to therbars by a crank pin l2 on a crank I3 mounted on a form wheel ld, which is adapted to be rotated by a worm l5, which in turn is driven through gears I6 and Il 35 from an electric motor i8 (Fig. 2). The worm wheel I4 has attached thereto on its under side a disc I9, the function of which will be described later, and. both the worm wheel and disc are rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 20 journaled 40 in a frame member 2l. The crank pin l2 is provided with a roller 22 which fits in a transverse slot inthe under side of the bar 8, as shown in Fig. 6, the mechanism constituting a, Scotch yoke. Y As shown in Fig. 6, the upper tape clamping `bar 9 is slidably supported for vertical movement to and from the lower bar 8 by guide pins 23 extending upwardly from the bar 8 through apertures provided therefor in the bar 9. The bar 9 50 is normally urged downwardly toward the bar 8 by spiral springs 25 surrounding the pins 23 and compressed between the upper face of the bar 9 and washers 2l on the heads of the pins. I-Iowever, the upper bar 9 may be forced upwardly 55 away from the lower bar 8 against the pressure of the springs to release the calendar tape 29, by cams which are pivotally mounted by screws 32 to the lower bar 8. As shown in Fig. 7, when the cams are in vertical position they lift the bar 9. To move the cams into the barelevating position shown in Fig. '1 at the cornpletion of each rearward stroke of the bars 8 and 9, pins 34 (Figs. 3, '1 and 8) are provided on the frame of the machine, and to release the cams into the position shown in Fig. 8 at the end of the forward stroke of the bars 8 and 9, similar pins 35 are provided on the frame of the machine. The pins 34 intersect the cams 39 just before the completion of the rearward stroke of the bar 8 to shift the cams into the positionv shown in Fig. 1, thereby elevating the bar 9 and releasing the tape 29. The pins 35 intersect the cams 39 just before completion of the forward stroke of the bar 8, thereby shifting the cams into the position shown in Fig. 8 and permitting the springs 25 to compress the upper bar 9 against the tape 29.

To rotate the tape Windup reel I0, a rack 35 is secured to and extended rearwardly from the bar 8, which rack meshes with a pinion 31 keyed to a shaft 38 on which the reel I3 is journaled to rotate freely. Keyed to the opposite end of shaft 38 is a ratchet pawl 39 (Fig. 4) cooperating with a ratchet wheel 4G which is rigidly secured to a hub 4I rotatably mounted upon the shaft 38 and having attached thereto a friction disc 45 which bears against the end of the spool Io. A similarly directed ratchet wheel 45 is mounted alongside of a ratchet wheel 40, 'wheel 46 cooperating with a stop pawl 41. rhe takeup reel mechanism just described functions as follows:

During the rearward stroke of the bars 8 and 9, while the calendar tape is being fed by the bars, the rack 36 rotates the pinion 31 and shaft 3B in such a direction as to cause the pawl 39 to lock with the ratchet wheel 49 and rotate the hub 44 and disc 45 in such a direction as to rotate the spool I0 in a direction to wind up the slack tape, spool I0 being frictionally driven by the disc 45 which is pressed into engagement therewith by the spring 48. During the reverse movement of the feed bars 8 and 9, the rack 36. rotates the pinion 31 and shaft 38 in the opposite direction. This rotation, however, is not transmitted to the reel I0 for the reason that the pawl 39 slips over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 40 and the latter is positively prevented from moving with the pawl 39 by the stop pawl 41 cooperating with the ratchet wheel 4B. It is necessary to provide a frictional drive between the hub 44 and the reel I0 for the reason that the reel I0 must turn through a different arc when empty than when full to wind up the same amount of tape. Hence, the pinion 31 is dimensioned to rotate the reel I9 sufficiently rapidly to take up all the slack when the reel is empty, Then as the reel fills up and it becomes unnecessary for it to rotate through as large an angle, slippage occurs between the driving disc 45 and the end of the reel.

It will be observed that the mechanism so farv described functions to shift the calendar tape to bring a new calendar into view behind the window 2 in response to a complete rotation of the wor-m wheel I4. It is necessary, however, to provide some means for starting and stopping the motor I8 to cause it to drive the worm wheel I4 at the proper time and stop it at the completion of a revolution.

This control of the motor is effected by means of two pair of contacts connected in series in the energizing circuit of the motor, as shown in Fig. 10. Contacts are mounted upon the clock 3 and are adapted to be closed by the clock at 5 twenty-four hour intervals. The contacts 5| are under the joint control of the clock and the feed mechanism.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be observed that the contacts 53 are so positioned on the clock that l0 on-e of the contact members is intercepted by the crank pin 53 on a twenty-four hour wheel 54 of the clock. Thus wheel 54 is twice the size of, and is geared to, a gear 55 on the hour hand shaft of the clock. It is apparent that once during each l5 twenty-four hours the pin 53 will close the contacts 53 and maintain them closed for an appreciable interval or" time. In fact, it maintains the contacts 59 closed for such a long period of time that if the motor I8 were under the sole control 20 of the contacts 50, the motor would wind up an entire years calendar the first time the contacts` 5G close. It is to prevent such an occurrence that the contacts 5| are provided.

Referring to Fig. 9, contacts .5I consist of a 25 lower contact 5Ia resiliently supported from the frame of the machine and an upper contact SIb. Thus the Contact 5Ia is mounted upon a shaft 58 which extends through an insulating bushing 51 the latter being anchored to the frame of the 30 machine. A spring 5B surrounds the upper end of the shaft 56 and is compressed between the contact 5Ia and the end of the bushing 51. Eleotrical connection to the contact 5Ia is made at the lower end of shaft 5E, as shown. The upper 35 Contact 5Ib is insulatingly supported on the end of a lever 59, which is fulcrumed to the frame of the machine by a pin 50. The opposite end of lever 59 extends above and over the disc I9 and is provided with a bearing pin 6I adapted to ride 401 lever 59 into the Contactopening position shown 45 in Fig. 9. To lock the lever 59 into contact closing position (in which the pin 6I is raised), a latch 64 is provided, this latch engaging the end of lever 59 when the latter has been moved into contact closing pOsition. The latch 54 is pivotally 50 l supported on the frame in the space above the disc I 9 so that the upper end of the latch is intercepted by the crank arm i3 when the latter rotates, to release the lever 59 and permit the pin 6I to drop against the disc I9.

The contacts 5I are closed and locked in closed position (by engagement of the latch 64 with the end of lever 59) once during each twenty-,four hour interval, in advance of the closing of the contacts 50. The mechanism for closing the Con- G0' tacts 5I comprises a lever 6,5 (Fig. 2) which is fulcrumed on a pivot screw 66 secured to the frame of the device and has its right end extend-v ing over the contact end of lever 59 and its opposite end in the path of the crank pin 53 on G5 being held closed by engagement of the latch 64 with the end of lever 59. The continuing rotation of the gear 54 next closes the contacts 59, the device being preferably set so that this closure occurs at midnight. Closure of the contacts 50 completes the energizing circuit for the :motor I8 and the latter thereupon rotates the crank E3 to reciprocat-e the feed bars 8 and 9. Since the previous movement of the bars 8 and 9 into their rear position of rest (the position shown in Fig. 3) moved the cams 3|] into position to elevate the feed bar 9, as shown in Fig. 7, the calendar tape is released during Vforward movement of the bars 8 and 9. However, slightly before the bars 8 and 9 reach their extreme forward position, the cams 39 are engaged by the stop pins 35 and are shifted into the position shown in Fig. 8 in which the upper bar 9 is moved downward by the springs 25 to grip the tape. Therefore, during the reverse movement of the feed bars back into the position shown in Fig. 3 they carry the tape with them, thereby bringing a new calendar in front of the window 2 (Fig. 1).

The mechanism for stopping the motor at the completion of the reciprocation of the paper feeding carriage comprising bars 8 and 9 functions as follows:

Following the commencement of rotation of the crank I3, the latter intercepts the upper end of the latch 64 and deects the latter to release the lever 59. The lever 59, however, drops only far enough to disengage the latch 64 and not far enough to open the contacts 5I because the disc I9 has then moved the aperture 62 out of registration with the pin 6I on lever 59 so that the pin rides on the surface of the disc and is prevented by the latter from moving into position toopen the contacts 5 I. At the completion of the revolution of the disc I9 and crank I3, the aperture 62 is again brought into registration with the pin 6I permitting the latter to drop, thereby shifting the lever 59 into the position shown in Fig. 9 in which the contacts 5I are open. The opening of contacts 5I, of course, stops the motor I8 and the latter will not be started again until the sequence of operations of the crank pin 53 on the top gear 54 is repeated twenty-four hours later.

To permit manual setting of the calendar tape, the shaft 38 which drives the windup spool I is preferably extended to the exterior of the case and a knob 'I9 mounted thereon, as shown in Fig. 1. By rotating this knob 1l! the calendar may be advanced. To permit manual adjustment of the calendar in reverse direction, the shaft 'II (Fig. 2) on which the feed spool lI is mounted, may also be extended to the exterior of the case and a knob l2 mounted thereon, as shown in Fig. 1.

Although for the purpose of disclosing the invention a specific embodiment thereof has been described in detail, it is to b-e understood that numerous modifications of the specific structure shown may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and that the latter is to be limited only as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim: Y

1. In an automatic calendar, an elongated tape bearing spaced calendars each covering a predetermined interval of time, means defining a window for displaying one of said calendars at a time, means for moving said tape past said window comprising a feed spool, a windup spool, and a reciprocable carriage having gripping members for releasably engagingsaid tape, means associated with said carriage for actuating said gripping members to grip said tape during movement of said carriage in one direction and move a new calendar to said window, means for releasing said gripping members and thereby prevent retraction of the calendar tape during reverse movement of l5 said carriage, means for rotating said windup spool from movement of the carriage in said one direction to wind up said tape as it is shifted by said carriage, an electric motor and a mechanism driven thereby for reciprocating said car- 10 riage, a clock, and. contact means associated with said clock and mechanism for energizing said motor to periodically reciprocate said carriage at the end of said predetermined interval.

2. An automatic calendar as described in claim l in which the means for rotating said windup spool comprises a rack connected to said carriage, a pinion meshing with said rack, and pawl and ratchet means for connecting said pinion in driving relation with said windup spool during feeding movement of said carriage.

3. An automatic calendar as described in claim l in which the means for rotating said windup spool comprising a rack connected to said carriage, a pinion meshing with said rack, a rotatable clutch member in frictional engagement with said windup spool, and. pawl and ratchet means for rotatably connecting said pinion to said clutch member during feeding movement only of said carriage.

4. An automatic calendar as described in claim 1 in which said means associated with said carriage for actuating said gripping members comprises a rocker arm adapted to be rotated through an arc between two positions, in one of which said gripping means is actuated and in the other of which said gripping means is released, and stationary pin members positioned in the path of said rocker arm adjacent opposite ends of the stroke of the latter for shifting said rocker arm into one of its two positions at one end of the stroke and for shifting said rocker arm into the other of its two positions at the end of the opposite stroke.

5. An automatic calendar as described in claim 1 in which said contact means for energizing said motor includes a first pair and. a second pair of normally open contacts connected in series with said motor, means actuated by said clock for periodically closing said i'lrst pair of contacts and 50 maintaining them closed for a substantial interval of time, other means also actuated by said clock for periodically closing said second pair of contacts in advance of closure of said rst pair of contacts, means for releasably locking said second pair of contacts in closed position following their closure by said clock actuated means, and means associated with said carriage reciprocating mechanism for releasing said locking means to open said second pair of contacts at the completion of each reciprocation of said carriage.

6. In an automatic calendar, an elongated tape bearing spaced calendars, each covering a predetermined interval of time, means dening a window for displaying one of said calendars at a time, means for moving said tape past said window comprising a feed spool, a windup spool and a tap-e shifting mechanism including a rotatable driving shaft, for successively shifting said tape the distance between successive calendars thereon in response to` successive rotations of said driving shaft through a predetermined angle, means for rotating said windup spool in response to movement of said mechanism for winding up slack tape as the tape is moved by said mechanism, an electric motor for rotating said driving shaft, a clock and contact means associated with said clock and said mechanism for periodically energizing said motor to drive said shaft and subsequently deenergize the motor in response to rotation of said shaft through said predetermined angle.

'7. An automatic calendar as described in claim 6 in which said means for rotating said windup spool includes a friction clutch whereby said spool is yieldingly driven, Y

8. An automatic calendar as described in claim 6 in which said Contact means for energizing said motor includes a rst pair and a second pair of normally open contacts connected in series with said motor, means actuated by said clock for periodically closing said first pair of contacts and maintaining them closed for a substantial interval of time, other means also actuated by said clock for periodically closing said second pair of contacts in advance of closure of said rst pair of contacts, means for releasably locking said second pair of contacts in closed position following their closure by said clock actuated means, and means associated with said rotatable driving Shaft for releasing said locking means to open said second pair of contacts in response to rotation of said shaft through said predetermined angle.

GEORGE ROLLNICK.

LEO FRIEND.

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