US2042959A - Check writer - Google Patents

Description

June 2, 1936.

EVE. PHINNEYI CHECK WRITER 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 24, 1935 INVENTOR Ed aK E.Ph i/mey M ATTORNEY June 2, 1936. PHINNEY CHECK WRITER 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 v I INVENTOR Edga/ .P7z2' /?e ML WQIATTORNEY Filed Aug. 24, 1935 June 2, 1936. E. E. PHINNEY 2,042,959

CHECK WRITER Filed Aug 24, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet :5

INVENTOR Q Egarz z. Pk infl y June 2, 1936. E. E. PHINNEY CHECK WRITER Filed Aug. 24, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Edgar E PE ir ey I WflATTORM-ZY June 2, 1936. EfPHlNNEY. 2,042,959

CHECK WRITER Filed Aug. 24, 1935 I 7 Sheets-$heet 6 WATTORNEY June 2, 1936. E E H N Y 2 ,042,959

CHECK WRITER Filed Aug. 24, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 gmmnrmrmrm 23 INVENTOR WTTORNEY Patented June 2, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,042,959 I CHECK WRITER Application August 24, 1935, Serial No. 37,648

7 Claims.

The invention has relation to checkwriters, and more P ly to value selecting mechanism for such machines.

The invention is designed to provide novel means for bringing type representing various numeral values to the printing line according to the values set up on digit keys of a keyboard. A further feature of the invention is the novel arrangement 'of the digit figures and symbols on the type bars.

Suitable means for printing foreign currency designations are also provided.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts as set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention,

Fig. 1 is a right hand elevation of the machine showing the clutch control means, the casing being removed.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 6, and. showing the type slide operating means.

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing keyboard control means.

Fig. 4 is a right hand elevation taken inside the right hand framing of the machine.

Fig. 5 is a detail of the check operated control switch.

Fig. 6 is a plan view, the keyboard being removed.

Fig. '7 is a plan view of the machine operating and drive means.

Fig. Bis a front elevation, the casing having been removed.

Fig. 9 is a detail of the British pounds type slide.

Fig. 10 is a bottom view of the type slides and the currency change plate.

Type selecting mechanism The keyboard mechanism is of well known type, such, for instance, as described in Patent #1399,- 652, granted to Edgar E. Phinney on December 6, 1921, wherein any of the digit keys 1 upon depression, are held in depressed position until near the end of a cycle of operation by engagement of a notch 2 with suitable rocking bails 3. Near the end of a cycle of operation, the bails 3 will be rocked to release the keys 1 by movement of transverse slide 4, as will hereinafter be described.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 6, there is provided for each order of digit keys 1 a plate 5, forming part of a type bar and slidably mounted upon guide frames 6 supported at their forward and rearward ends upon transverse rods 1 secured to the framing of the machine. Each of the slide plates 5 is provided with type 8 bearing numerals and symbols, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 10, adapted to be brought to the printing line in the fol- 5 lowing manner. Plates 5 are each provided with a projection 9 adapted to cooperate with any of the depressed digit keys from 1 to 4 of the related column, and a projection l0 adapted to cooperate with the depressed digit keys 5 to 9, the keys act- 10 ing as stops, to limit rearward movement of the related plates 5. As indicated in Fig. 2, by arranging the projection 9 of slide 5, normally a full step of movement in front of digit key 1 and the projection In of said slide a half step of move- 15 ment in front of digit key 5 and by alternating the figures of the series 1-4 and 5-9 on the type bar, it is possible to reduce the total movement of slide plate 5 to approximately one half the total digit key spacing. Also by allowing the full ex- 20 tent of movement of the slide 5, that is until the surface ll, thereof engages frame l2, to bring the zero type to the printing line, the star type may be placed in the usual normal zero position, thus it is possible to have eleven characters on the type 25 bar, adapted to be controlled according to the setting of but nine digit keys, as will more fully be described.

Pivotally mounted at l3 and extending longitudinally beneath each column of digit keys 1 are 30 arms l4, each of said arms being provided with a projection l5, lying in the path of projection l6 of the related slide plate 5 and forming a latch, so that the plates are held in normal position in any columns in which no keys have been depressed. Depression of a digit key will, however, rock arm M of the corresponding order downwardly, moving projection l5 downwardly out of the path of movement of projection l6, whereupon slide 5 will be free to move rearwardly to a position determined by the depressed key.

Manual operating means All of the slide plates 5 are normally held in their forward positions by means of a restoring 45 bar 11, slidably mounted upon guide frame l8 and extending transversely across the rearward end of slides 5. Bar l! is urged forwardly under influence of its spring 19, secured at 20 to the forward arm of said bar, the forward movement be- 50 ing limited by engagement of projection 2| with the transverse frame I2 (Figs. 2 and 6).

The operator having placed a check in printing position, between the guides 22 (Fig. l), and having set up the amount desired on the keyboard, 55

depresses operating key 23 to initiate a printing cycle of operation, as follows:

Pivotally mounted up on the framing at 24 is a latch plate 25 normally holding the clutch pawl 26 (pivoted at 21 upon disc 28, fast to shaft 28) out of engagement with the teeth of notched disc 38. Notched disc 38 is loosely mounted upon shaft 29 and has drive connections with the motor, through gears 3|, 32, 33, 34 and 35. Plate 25 is normally held engaged with pawl 26, against tension of spring 36, by engagement of latch arm 3'! (pivotally mounted at 38 to latch 25) with red 39 extending through the right hand frame of the machine.

Upon depression of key 23; pawl 4|) pivotally mounted at 4| upon a rearwardy extending arm of said key and having engagement with a projection 42 of latch arm 3'! will rock said latch free of rod 39, whereupon plate 25, under influence of spring 38 will be rocked counterclockwise as seen in Fig. l releasing pawl 26, and allowing saidspawlunder influence of its spring. 43 to: engage notched disc- 38.

East to latch plate 25; is a. pin 44 extending laterally through an. orifice 45 of a switch operating arm. (Fig. 4) slidably mounted upon stud 41 of the frame. During the above described movement of latch plate 25, pin lid-will move arm rearwardly causing. the insulated roller 28,.

mounted. thereon to close the contacts 49 f the motor switch 58. tostart the motor and impart, through the previously described gear train, a clockwise rotative. movement to the notched disc 38 and, through engagement of pawl 26 with said disc,.the. plate 28 and shaft. 29;

Securedto the shaft 29 is a camel (Figs. 2 and 7) adapted. by cooperation with a roller 52 to impart clockwise movement to an oscillating arm 53, pivotally mountedat. 54 upon a support member. 55. Oscillating arm 53 has connection, through link. 56 and flexible chain 57, with the restoring. frame I! as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, so that rotation. of cam willpull restoring frame ll rearwardly against tension of spring i9.

Each of the type barslides 5 has yieldable spring connection 58 with the frame H, and as said frame. is. drawn rearwardly, slide plates 5, (in those columns wherein a key has been depressed) under influence of said springs, will be caused to move rearwardly until stopped by engagement of the projection 9 or projection Ill-with the related depressed key, thus bringing the corresponding value typeto the printing line. In those columns to the left of the highest order digit key which has been depressed,.projection Ifi of slides 5 will contact projection |5 of arms I l preventing movement of the higher order slides 5 and holding the stars in position at the printing line.

In order to bring the zero type into printing position. in those columns to the right of .the lowest order digit key which has been depressed, arms M are provided with projections 59, (Figs. 2 and 3) overlapping each the next lower order arm. There are no arms |4 provided in the units of dollars column or in the cents value columns, there being no star type for these columns. The type bars in these columns always move to the zero position if no key is depressed.

During the time roller 52 rides the concentric dwell of the high point of cam 5|, cam 88, secured to shaft 29, will rock the platen 5! against the type, to print the desired value. Near the end of the cycle of operation roller 52' is allowed to move to the low portion of cam 5|, releasing arm 53, whereupon spring |9 will return frames ll to their forward position, restoring the type bar plates 5 to normal position.

The printing operation having been completed, a pin 52 (Fig. 4) fast to a cam plate 63, rotatable with shaft 29, will engage and rock a lever 64 downwardly about its fulcrum 6'5 to retract the projection 65 of an arm 9| beneath the level of check support. plate 67, thus. freeing the check, whereupon. said check, under influence of roller 68', having suitable drive connections with the motor, will be ejected from the machine.

Near the end of the cycle of operation, pin 62 will; engage surface 68 of a lever 10, fulcrumed at H, and. rock said lever clockwise as viewed in Fig. 4. Upon clockwise movement of lever 10, roller 12, mounted upon the forward end thereof, will engage lever 13, rocking said lever counterclockwise about fulcrum 14, thus rocking lever 15 to provide lateral displacement of clearing slide 4 (Fig. 3), by means of a bell crank lever similar to that described in Patent #1,432,616, issued to Edgar-E. Phinneyon October 1'7, 1922.' Suitable repeat key mechanism is provided, adapted to render lever 15 inoperative, also a clear: out key, as fully set forth in the above-mentioned patent.

Keyboardlocking meansisprov-ided comprising the cam. plate 63, adapted by cooperation. with roller. 1.6: of. arm. Hi to. rock. shaft H. clockwise.

Secured toi theleft handend of shaft (Figs.- 2, 3 and '7) is an arm 18 provided with an em-- bossedportion .18. adaptediby'the above described movement of said arm .to be brought. intorelation.

with looking. slide- 80, thus preventing. lateral movement. of. said. slide. Slide 88 is. provided with projections 8|, cooperating with key locking.

bails 3: to lock-keys 1. in raised position.

Near the end of a cycle of operation pivot stud 2% (Fig. 1.) of disc. 28 engages projection 82 of latch plate 25,.restoring. said plateto normal position and bringing the projection 83 thereof into the path. of movement of pawl 26 to disengage said pawl from the driving member 3a.. Restoring of latch plate 25 carries latch arm.3'| forwardly, said arm under influence of its spring 84 rocking about point. 38., returning to-its normal position behindrod 39iand into engagement with pawl 40.

During the excursionof. frame IT, a roller l8? mounted. thereon will: operate the usual ribbon feed mechanism.

Automatic'ch'eclc controlled operating means While the manually operated key 23 is provided to be used if desired, an operating cycle of the machine is normally initiated by insertion of the check into the machine.

For key control. operation the. projection 85 (Fig. 5) of slide 86 is adjusted to a position opposite projection 68 of arm 9|, so that said arm cannot rock laterally when a check is inserted from the left hand side of the machine. For check control operation, however, slide 86, is manually set to the position shown in Fig 5, wherein projection 85 is moved forward of projection 66. As a check" is inserted into printing position between the guides 22 andbeneathroller 68 the forwarde'dge of the check engages pro-- jection 85' and rocks arm 8| to cause insulated roller 81, mounted on said arm, to'engage'contacts 88 of switch 89, said switch constituting circuit means toa solenoid 90 (Figs. 1 and 7).. Engagement of contacts 88 of switch 89 will cause solenoid 90 to become'energized, withdrawing the plunger rod 38 laterallyi'away fromlatch arm 31, releasing said latch and thus the latch plate 25,

allowing said plate under influence of its sprin 36 to release clutch pawl 26, initiating the printing cycle in the manner previously described. During that portion of the cycle, following the printing action, the pin 62 in contacting arm 64 rocks said arm and, through projection 93, the arm 9I downwardly about its pivot point 94, releasing the check, said check being ejected by action of roller 68 as was previously described.

Foreign currency type plate As shown in Fig. 10 a type plate 95, slidably mounted in the frame I2, is adapted to be moved longitudinally by means of thumb lever 96 to bring one of the series of word type opposite the printing line, plate 95 being held in set position by means of spring plunger 91 engaging one of the series of notches 98 of the guide rod 99. The word type plate bears the usual notations Not over, Dollars, Cents for United States currency and the correspondingly terminology for foreign currency in other longitudinal positions. With the exception of the British currency system, the order of the type relative to plate 95 is immaterial. The British currency type is, however, as shown in Fig. 10, placed in the rearward position relative to plate 95. This is necessary to provide for a 12th character, namely the British currency pounds symbol, to be placed upon the type bar in the third right hand order column. The pounds symbol is adapted to be brought into printing position as plate 95 is moved to British currency position in the following manner:

As the plate 95 is moved to its extreme forward position, bringing the British currency late into printing line, the forward end I00 of guide rod 99 will engage the surface of projection IOI of a compound lever I02, fulcrumed on transfer shaft I03, rocking said lever counter clockwise as viewed in Fig. 9. Secured to the type plate I05 related to the third right hand column, is a pin I04 and as lever I02 is rocked, as above described, the surface I06 of said lever will engage pin I04 carnming slide I05 forwardly, bringing the pound symbol into printing position.

I claim:

1. In a checkwriter, the combination with a row of depressible digit keys, of a type bar extending beneath said keys and provided with two projections each adapted to contact with any depressed one of a series of keys of said row, said projections being so spaced as to register alternately with keys of the one and the other series as said slide moves from one extreme adjusted position to the other, a row of digit type spaced on said bar at intervals of half the extent of the intervals between the digit keys, and means for moving said type bar into contact with a depressed key.

2. In a checkwriter, the combination with a row of depressible digit keys, said row representing digits of uniformly progressive value, of a type bar extending beneath said keys and provided with two projections each adapted to contact with any depressed one of a series of keys of said row, said projections being so spaced as to register alternately with keys of the one and the other series as said slide moves from one extreme adjusted position to the other, a row of digit type on said bar, alternate type of the row representing digits of uniformly progressive value, and means for moving said type bar into contact with a depressed key.

3. In a checkwriter, the combination with a row of depressible digit keys, a type bar including means slidable beneath said keys and adapted to contact with any depressed key of said row, whereby said bar is differentially located, and a row of digit type on said bar; of a non-value symbol type located on said bar at one end of the row of digit type, a zero type located on said bar at the opposite end of said row, means for holding the type bar in adjustment with the symbol type at the printing line, a fixed stop for the bar adapted to locate the zero type at the printing line, and means for releasing said type bar and moving it to effect contact with a depressed digit key or alternatively with said fixed stop.

4. In a checkwriter, the combination with ordinal rows of depressible digit keys, type bars including means slidable beneath the keys of each row and adapted to contact with any depressed key of said row, whereby said bar is differentially located, and a row of digit type on each said bar; of non-value symbol type located on said bars at one end of the row of digit type, zero type located on said bars at the opposite end of said row, fixed stops adapted to locate the zero type at the printing line, springs adapted to move said type bar against said stop, latches adapted to hold the non-value type at the printing line, against the tension of said springs, said latches being each displaceable by a depressed key, and offset lugs on said latches, overlying each and adapted to displace the latch of lower order.

5. In a checkwriter, the combination with a row of depressible digit keys, a type bar including means slidable beneath said keys and adapted to contact with any depressed key of said row, whereby said bar is difierentially located, a row of digit type on said bar, a spring adapted to move said type bar into contact with a depressed key, and a latch adapted to hold the bar against the tension of said spring; of a non-value symbol type on said bar, and means manually settable to adjust said type bar away from the latch and against the tension of its spring and to hold the symbol type at the printing line.

6. In a checkwriter, the combination with ordinal rows of depressible digit keys, type bars including means slidable beneath the keys of each row and adapted to contact with any depressed key of said row, whereby said bar is differentially located, a row of digit type on each said bar, means for holding each type bar as located, and means operable to release and relocate all of said bars simultaneously; of a type plate provided with rows of non-value type, separated by certain of said type bars, and means manually settable to adjust said type plate and to hold selected non-value type at the printing line, independently of the releasing means.

'7. In a checkwriter, the combination with ordinal rows of depressible digit keys, type bars including means slidable beneath the keys of each row and adapted to contact with any depressed key of said row, whereby said bar is differentially located, and a row of digit type on each said bar; of a non-value symbol type on one of said bars, a type plate provided with rows of nonvalue type, and means manually settable to ad just said type plate and to hold selected nonvalue type at the printing line, including an element adapted, upon movement of said plate to one extreme position of adjustment, to move and hold the symbol type at the printing line.

EDGAR EILSWORTH PHINNEY.

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