US2101433A - Apparatus for guiding paper forms - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 7, 1937. JA 2,101,433

APPARATUS FOR GUIDING PAPER FORMS Filed April 25, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Dec. 7, 1937. P. A. JACKSON 2,101,433

APPARATUS FOR GUIDING BAPER FORMS Filed April 25, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYE PHIL/PA. JAcKso/y i ill Patented Dec. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES Search Hoom PATENT OFFICE Philip A. Jackson, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to William C. Lamprechter, Cleveland Heights, Ohio,

trustee Application April 25, 1936, Serial No. 76,379

6 Claims.

This invention relates to typewriter attachments, and is adapted for use in maintaining accurate registration between a plurality of printed forms, which are adapted to be fed into the typewriter in strip form and to be cut off after each form has been completely typed.

Considerable difficulty has been experienced in the use of forms in maintaining accurate registration in a typewriter between multiple forms which are not connected at their side edges, particularly when such forms are supplied in long continuous strips which are fed intermittently into the typewriter as soon as the typewriting operation is completed on any one form. Where the strips are connected together at their edges, registration is maintained automatically but when they are not connected there is a tendency of some of the forms to creep with reference to the other forms, and in addition the creepage is accumulative, so that considerable effort and time must be expended in maintaining by manual adjustment, the proper registration of the forms at each movement of them. Where a large number of forms are used the time required for maintaining the registration is very objectionable.

An object of my invention, therefore, is to make an appliance, which is adapted to be used with a typewriter for automatically maintaining disconnected forms in accurate registration, so as to permit any set to be cut off at the completion of the typewriting operation without necessitating manual adjustment of the succeeding forms, so as to maintain the necessary degree of registration.

In this connection, my invention is well adapted for use not only in maintaining accurate registration and alignment of a large number of superimposed forms, but is also well adapted for moving the forms with reference to interposed sheets of transfer materials, so that the transfer sheets may be repeatedly used until they are worn out.

A further object of my invention is to make an apparatus which can be applied to existing typewriters and which can be readily operated to move the forms quickly at the completion of the typing operation. The transfer sheet holding mechanism is adapted not only for use with forms which have the edges disconnected, but also with those forms which have the side edges connected in multi-folded form.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a typewriter having my invention attached thereto; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the form moving apparatus in a different position from that illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing the form moving mechanism in still another position; Fig. 4 is a front view of the apparatus; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but drawn to an enlarged scale showing the mechanism in another position; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the opposite side, and Fig. '7 is a section taken on line l-l in Fig. 2 and drawn to an enlarged scale.

The apparatus, which I have devised, comprises a work support or table In which extends upwardly and preferably rearwardly of the typewriter, which is indicated generally at l I, and which is adapted to guide a web of superimposed forms I2 which may be stacked in a pile at the rear of the typewriter. The table preferably comprises a flat plate, having preferably two slots l4 extending longitudinally thereof and parallel to each other, as shown in Fig. 4. The slots have a length sufficient to accommodate the maximum length of individual forms that are intended for use on the typewriter. The upper edge l5 of the table terminates in a rearwardly and downwardly facing curved portion around which the forms extend as they move onto the table. In preparation for use a guide bar is that is carried by the bearing blocks l1 extends across the table at the upper edge thereof and provides a passageway through which the forms extend, as they move onto the table. Each longitudinally extending side edge of the table has a flange 20 which extends rearwardly and which operates to support the actuating member which will hereinafter be described.

To support the table with reference to the typewriter and at the same time to effect lateral movement of it simultaneously with the movement of the typewriter carriage 2|, I connect the lower edge of the table to the carriage by links 22. For convenience this connection, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, is made to the carriage by securing members 23 and to the table by a cross-bar 24, which in turn is supported on brackets 25 that are attached to the edges of the table. The crossbar is spaced from the table a slight distance so as to cooperate with it to provide a passage and through which the forms extend. In addition the cross bar may carry laterally adjustable fingers 26 which are adapted to engage the side edges of the forms for holding them in accurate alignment.

As an additional support for the table I have shown two sets of guide rollers 28, which are mounted at the rear of the table and adjacent the side edges of it. Each set has two rollers that are journalled on a bracket 29 and have their axes disposed substantially parallel to each vided by a bar 4 other but spaced apart vertically sufficiently far to admit a rod 30 between the peripheries of each set of wheels. To facilitate contact between the wheels and the guide bar, the rim of each wheel is shown as having a groove 3|. The guide bar 30 is held in stationary position preferably by the arms 32, which extend forwardly from the top of a standard that is positioned at the rear of. the typewriter. The arms are rigidly connected to the bar in such a manner as will permit the table wheels to travel past each connection. The standard comprises a base of sheet metal 35 upon which the typewriter is adapted to rest so as to assure rigidity and at the rear of the base, a frame 36 in the form of a sheet metal plate extending upwardly and supporting the arms 32, which have been previously described. Suitable gusset plates 31 may connect the base to the frame to assure rigidity therebetween.

An additional support for the table is prowhich extends upwardly and along the back of thetable and with the upper end thereof terminatingirna ball 4| that is adapted to move in a channel-shaped bracket 42 that is attached to the rear face of the table.

The webs of the channel may be curved inwardly to retain the ball in place and yet to provide a slot through which the neck 43 of. the bar 40 may move. The bar 40 is supported adjacent the midportion of the frame 36 and preferably by bearing blocks 45 which are carried on a bracket 46, the bracket in turn being rigidly mounted upon the frame. The lower end of the bar is shown as being curved rearwardly to extend between the bearing blocks while a pin 41 may be used to hold the bar in correct position with reference to the blocks. The pin however leaves the bar free for oscillation within the blocks to compensate for movement of the table in a lateral direction while the typewriter is in operation. During such movement the head 4| on the bar slides in the guide channel 42 and thereby operates to support the upper portion of the table in a satisfactory manner.

Each set of. forms that are intended for use with my appliance has spaced openings which are so positioned as to register with the slots 4 and which are preferably located adjacent the top edge of each set of forms. In Fig. 4, the openings 50 are shown directly beneath the perforated lines 5| which serve to facilitate sepa- I ration of the individual sets of forms.

The openings 50 are utilized not only in main. taining the superimposed forms in accurate registration but also in propelling the forms along the table at the desired time. To accomplish this purpose a set of pins are mounted upon a plate 56 which extends across the front face of the platen and which is pivotally mounted at 51 to a carriage 58. The carriage in turn is adapted to be moved lengthwise of the table for the purpose of pulling the forms downwardly so long as the pins 55 project through the openings in the forms. The pins however due to the pivotal mounting of the plate 56 are adapted to be withdrawn from the holes, at which time the carriage can be moved along the table without moving the forms. This feature is useful in the operation of the device which hereafter will be explained. The carriage is arranged to provide a support for the interleaved strips of transfer material and to this end the carriage is shown as having brackets extending laterally and outwardly from each edge thereof and each bracket is illustrated as having a pair of pins 6| opposite end of. the bar free to extend into the forms and to terminate short of the connected edges of the forms. It is to be understood that any number of bars may be supported in this manner and that the number used corresponds to the number of sheets of transfer material that are employed. The carriage 58 in addition to supporting the plate 56 and brackets 60 carries a guide bar which extends transversely and near the top thereof and a second guide bar 66 which extends transversely and adjacent the lower portion thereof. The forms pass beneath these two guide bars, so that the pins 55 may be manipulated without pulling the forms away from the platen. To facilitate the pulling of the pins out of the forms, the lower edge of the plate 56 is curved upwardly and forwardly as shown at 61 in Fig. 1 to provide a trough into which the fingers of an operator can be conveniently placed. Similarly the lower edge of the guide bar 66 may have a flanged portion extending forwardly as at 68 to provide a thumb rest against which pressure may be exerted while the finger trough 61 is being depressed. It is to be understood that the pivotal mounting of the plate 56 is such that whenever the finger trough 61 is depressed, the pins are pulled out ofthe openings in the forms.

During normal operation of the typewriter the pins 55 extend through openings 50 in the forms and the carriage 58 is thereby pulled downwardly with the forms as the typewriter platen 10 is rotated during use. At the completion of the typing operation, the carriage 58 will have been moved downwardly, as shown, for example, in Fig. 2. Accordingly, to remove the completed forms and at the same time to maintain the desired relationship between the transfer strips and the succeeding forms the operator releases the tension between the forms and the typewriter platen by means of the usual lever of the typewriter, and then pushes upwardly on the bar 66. The upward motion retracts the forms and transfer sheets and continues until a pin H strikes a stop 12 which may comprise the lower end of an arm 13 that is carried by a bracket 14, which in turn is mounted on one of the table side flanges 20. A spring 15 serves to urge the plate 56 towards the forms, and thereby to hold the pins 55 in position within the openings 50 during the upper movement of the carriage.

The contact between the pin 1| and stop 12 arrests the upward travel of the carriage and forms. The operator then replaces the tension on the typewriter platen, for at such time the lower edges of the transfer strips have cleared the region in which pressure is placed against the typewriter platen, but there is still an overhanging portion of the forms indicated at 16 in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, as a result of which, the transfer strips may be moved independently of the forms. The movement of the transfer strips independently of the forms may be accomplished by depression of the finger trough 61 which pulls the pins out of the openings in the forms, whereupon the operator pushes the carriage upwardly. When the pins are pulled out of the openings, the pin ll clears the stop 12, whereupon the carriage is free to be moved upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3. Inasmuch as the pressure applying mechanism pulls the forms into contact with the typewriter platen, it follows that as the carriage is moved upwardly, the transfer strips are moved with it relative to the forms. The upward motion is continued until the pin ll clears the top edge 11 (Fig. 3) of the stop 12, whereupon pressure on the finger trough 61 is released. The relative movement of the carriage with reference to the forms removes the pins 55 out of contact with the openings so that when the plate 56 is released the pins ride upon the surface of the forms and at such time the stop 11 is in the path of the pin 1| so that any downward motion of the forms, such as occurs when the typewriter platen is rotated, occurs without a corresponding movement of the carriage 58. The downward movement of the forms continues until the succeeding set of the openings 50 is brought into registration with the pins 55, at which time the spring 15 pulls the pins into the openings, and at the same time, moves the pin 'Il inwardly until it clears the rearward corner of the stop 11, whereupon furthr movement of the forms by operation of the platen I0 causes the carriage to move downwardly with them. By the time the pins have entered a succeeding set of openings the forms will have been advanced clear of the platen sufficiently far to permit the finished set of forms to be torn off the strips. Thereupon, the succeeding set is in position for use.

As the operator manipulates the typewriter platen to advance the forms, the pin ll starts downwardly and bears against the cam surface 80 on the rearwardface of the stop 12. Such downward motion causes the arm 13 to move forwardly about its pivot 8| until the pin clears the stop whereupon the arm falls by gravity until it engages a stop 82 on the bracket H at which time the stop 12 is in its original position where it. may

engage the pin 'Il on the upward movement of the carriage. The arms 14 may be adjustably positioned on the table by means of a thumb 0 screw 85 to suit any particular size of forms for which the attachment is designed to be used.

The operation of the appliance is as follows: Assuming that the forms have been laid upwardly over the top of the table d threaded beneath the guide bars IS, the guide bar 65, the guide bar 68, the guide bar 24, and thence around the typewriter platen, and assuming further that the strips of transfer material have beemmounted in position upon the bars 62 and positioned upon the supporting pins 6|, then the arm 13 carrying the stop ".12 is so positioned on the side of the table that when the pins II are in contact with the lower face of the stop, the pins 55 will be in engagement with the openings 50 in the forms and at the same time, the lower edges of the transfer strips will be out of the region in which pressure is applied against the typewriter platen but the superposed leading edges of the forms will be within the pressure region. To advance the forms for use it is only necessary to advance the typewriter platen in the usual manner. The typewriter is used in the customary way during which time the table It is moved laterally with the typewriter carriage by virtue of the connecting links 22, the guide rolls 28, the guide bar 30, and the oscillatable supporting rod 40. At the completion of the typewriting operation, thepressure on the typewriter platen may be released and then the carriage 58 together with the forms may be pushed upwardly by the exertion of thumb pressure upon the finger bar 68. The upward motion is continued until the pin' H strikes the stop I2 thereupon the pressure is applied against the typewriter platen, and the operator presses downwardly on the finger trough 61. This action withdraws the pins from the form openings and moves the pin ll forwardly to clear the stop 12," thereupon the carriage is moved upwardly an additional amount until the pin H clears the upper edge "ll of the stop 12; during the upward movement of the carriage the forms have been held stationary, and consequently when the finger pressure is released against the trough 61, the pins engage the forms but out of contact with the openings therein. The release of finger pressure upon the trough 61 allows the spring 15 to establish contactbetween the pins 55 and the surface of the forms, and also to move the pin ll above the stop 11; thereupon the operator rotates the typewriter platen, and consequently moves the portion of the succeeding set of forms is in position for use. It is to be understood that there is sufficient space between the top edges of the forms and the first line to be typed to assure the interposition of the transfer material between the forms during the typing operation. As soon as the pins enter the succeeding set of openings the pin ll clears the rearward corner of the stop 11, as shown in Fig. 5 and consequently succeed ing downward motion of the carriage forces the arm 13 to move forwardly about its pivot 8i out of the path of the pin 1 I. After the clearance has taken place the arm [3 falls back into its normal position where it is' again in place to arrest the next upward travel of the pin 1!.

My invention has resulted in a means by which long continuous forms may be fed intermittently through a writing machine without necessitating an objectionable amount of time in maintaining registration between the forms. The typist can quickly manipulate the plate 56 to retract the forms for moving the carbon inserts out of the completed forms and then may quickly advance the completed forms through the typewriting machine and sever them from the strips. By means of this attachment, the transfer sheets may be used repeatedly and may readily be inserted between the strips whenever desired. In addition the attachment is suitable not only for feeding continuous strips which are connected at their longitudinal edges, but also for feeding strips which are disconnected at their longitudinal edges.

I claim:

1. An attachment for a writing machine comprising in combination, a standard, a guide bar carried thereby, a table, rollers journalled in the table and engaging the guide bar and an oscillatable bar also mounted on the standard and engaging the table.

\ 2. An attachment for a writing machine comprising in combination, a table, a standard, the standard having a base upon which the writing machine rests, roller means for supporting the table in upright position upon the standard and for movement with reference to it, and a member having one end pivotally mounted on the standard and having the other end pivotally mounted on the table.

3. An attachment for a writing machine, comprising in combination, a table, means for supporting it at the rear of the writing machine, a transfer strip carrier'movable along the table, the table being adapted to receive a long continuous strip'of forms, each of which has an opening therein, a plate extending across the table and pivotally mounted. on the carrier, and having means thereon adapted toenter openings in said forms, means for normally urging the plate towardsthe forms, the plate having a pin thereon, a stop carried by the table and interposed in the path of the pin when the plate is in one position with reference to the forms, the pin being adapted to be moved out of the path of the stop whenever the plate is moved with reference to the carrier to release the forms, a second stop against which the pin is adapted to engage when the plate is allowed to assume its normal position so as to hold the carriage against movement while the forms are moved with reference to the table, the second named stop having such size that when the means on the plate entersthe openings in the forms, the pin clears the stop, whereby the carrier and forms are free to move with reference to the table.

4. In an attachment for a writing machine, the I combination with a table that is adapted to receive a long continuous strip of forms, each having openings therein, a transfer strip carrier movable along the table, a form engager pivotally mounted on the carrier, a spring acting on the engager to move it normally toward the forms, a stop carried by the table and interposed in the path of said engager, said engager being adapted when moved about its pivot to clear the stop so as to permit travel of the carrier beyond the stop, a shoulder spaced from the stop for holding the carrier against movement with reference to the table while the forms are moved with reference to the table, and means for releasing the carrier automatically upon contact of the engager with the openings in said forms.

5. In an attachment for a typewriter, the combination with a table, a stationary support, an arm pivotally mounted on the support and having a pivotal and sliding connection with the table, a rail carried by the support and rollers journalled in the table and adapted to move along said rail.

6. An attachment for a typewriting machine comprising in combination, a table adapted to be mounted at the rear of the machine and means for supporting the table in a substantially upright position with reference to the machine, said means comprising a stationary support near the lower end of the table, an arm movably mounted in the support and extending upwardly along the table, and means for providing a sliding and oscillating connection between the arm and the table.

PHILIP A. JACKSON.

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