US2109472A - Tape printing and projecting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

March 1, 1938. A. D. EITZ EN 2,109,472

TAPE PRINTING AND PROJECTING APPARATUS v Original Filed March 22 1950 s Shaets-Shetl 25 21 fi jeafhr M 4 3 46.. C

J A if I I INVENTCIDR AqymlflEz kea,

ATTORNEY March 1, 1938 A. D. EITZ EN TAPE PRINTING AND PROJECTING APPARATUS Original Filed March 22, 1930 3Shee't-Sheet 2 INVENTORY waflam a/ (QM/ 1 ATTORNEY March 1, 1938. A z- N 2,109,472

TAPE PRINTING AND PROJECTING APPARATUS Original Filed March 22, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 mu d l n 23 21 4 67 1, 20 a INVENTOR 1 ustfllfiitzen,

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 1, 1938 UN TE STATES PATENT OFFICE TAPE PRINTING AND momma APPARATUS August D. Eitzen, Rockville Centre, N. -Y., assignor to News Proiection Corporation, New York, N. Y., a. corporation of New York Application March 22, 1930, Serial No. 437,963

Renewed May 4. 1934 t 12 Claims.

vide for projecting a plurality, or specifically, as, here shown, two images of the tape on corresponding screens, from a single tape and light source, and more particularly to so direct and move the tape over twoadjacent and parallel light apertures that difli-culties heretofore experienced in turning and guiding the tape be-. tween the apertures are avoided.

-With parallel light apertures it has heretofore been necessary to pass the tape between the apertures over a substantially v-shaped guide or shoe, or guide rollers in angular relation, the tape being advanced by a single puller located beyond 99 the second aperture (with respect to direction of tape movement) and difiiculty has been experienced, such as sticking of the tape on the intermediate guide, improper direction of the tape by rollers, stretching of the tape, etc.

The present invention provides, as briefly described, two substantially independent tape pullers, one of which acts on the tape at a point beyond the first aperture to advance the tape from the't-icker and over said aperture, and the other so puller acts on the tape at a point beyond the second aperture to advance the tape over the last named aperture. Between the apertures the tape is reversed by forming in it a substantially free or unsupported U-loop so that when, for example,

the printed face of the tape passing over the first aperture is outward, the printed surface as it passes over the second aperture .is downward or inward in relation to the aperture and condensing lens.

are controlled by loops in the tape at proper .points in such manner that the reversing bend in athe tape between the apertures is kept at proper length and in proper'form without definite guiding or support, except at points adjacent the projector housing where the tape is engaged by the feed rolls of one'puller. To provide for independent light beams through the apertures and to the respective screens from a single light. source, suitable lenses and reflecting means are provided to direct the beam from the lamp to and through the apertures, and objectives and mirrors are arranged to direct portions of the beam from the respective apertures to properly located screens, a mirror being interposed between one ot the apertures and the corresponding objec-.

The first and second tape pullers.

tive, to divert that portion of the total beam tothe objective and therefrom to the corresponding screen, while the portion of the total light beam passing through the other aperture'may go directly to the corresponding objective andso t0 the directing'mirrors and screen.

These and other features, capabilities and ad vantages of the invention will appear from the subjoined detail descriptionof one embodiment thereof, illustrated in the accompanying draw- .ings, in which Fig. 1 is a view largely of a diagrammatic character, representing in elevation printing and projecting apparatus embodying the invention in one Iorm;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section. from the right of Fig. 1, showing essentials of the projector, mirror, lens and screen arrangement, with other parts omitted; and

Fig. 3 is a top Plan, enlarged, showing principally the light apertures, and tape guiding, driving and controlling means.

In Fig. l, I is a tape printer of the stock ticker type and 2 designates the associated projector as a whole. 'The projector includes a lamp housing 3, Fig. 2, having an extension 4 conveniently called a lens housing and in the top of this housing are parallel light apertures 5 and 6 called for convenience the first and secondaperture, each of a length corresponding to printed tape,

The ticker may be so arranged, as best shown in Fig. 3, that the tape 1 goes directly (as viewed in plan) in a straight line and without transverse twist or bend to the lens housing 4 so that a portion 8 of the tape passes over the first aperture 5,

with its printed. face upward. At a point beyond the first aperture and beyond the housing 4 (at the right of Fig. 3) thetape is turned downward and at the same time directly laterally, forming a U-bend 9; and after passing through a desired 'lengthor U this bend a portion ID of the time passes over the second aperture 6 with the printed face-downward. The reversing bend 9, because of-the' guiding and driving means employed, may be substantially free or unsupported. Y

' To draw the portion 8 of the tape over the first aperture (and at the same time'to feed the tape into the reversing bend 9) I provide a'first tape pulling mechanism comprising a feed roll ll and ,an idler roll l2 carried by a spring actuated lever IS, the idler roll having the tape'ln contactwith the main feed roll. These feed rolls engagethe tape just after it leaves the flrstaperture, or at the right of the lens housing, Figs. 1 and 3. The

a case "a vertical shaft 13 which is connected to point '41 a lead 49 goes to. one of the terminals 5 the main feed roll II as by bevel gears l9. of the mercury switch in box 33; From the sece' The first tape puller is controlled by a Bend end terminal of the switch in box 25, lead 53 goes or loop 23 in the tape between the ticker and the to one terminal of -motor l5 of the first tape projector. A follower, or puller controlling finpuller. From the second terminal of the switch ger 21 runs on this loop and since it engages in box 39 a lead 5| goes to one terminal of mothe printed face of the tap this roll desirably tor 33 of the second tape puller. A common lead has annular end and center flanges 22 and 23- 52 branched at 35 goes to the second terminal which run on side and central unprinted strips of each of the puller motors, completing the of the tape to avoid any contact of theprinted puller drive and control circuits. Thus, the

characters with the roll, and similarly other switch in box 26 under control of the tape loop 15 roller or stationary guides engaging the printed controls in an obvious way the action of the face of the tape may have such annular flanges first tape puller I1, and the switch in' box 33 or ribs, as will be understood without further exunder control of the second tape loop 31 controls planation in referring to such subsequent guide the action of the second puller 30.

20. devices. The roller or loop follower 2| is car- It is desirable to provide frictional retarding 20 feed rolls may be driven in any convenient way. As illustrated, a motor ii for the first pulling mechanism is located adjacent the bottom of the projector and drives through suitable gearing in ried by an arm pivotally mounted and connected to a switch such as a mercury switch enclosed in a switch box 25 supported from the projector housing 4, and the switch is interposed 25 in the circuit of puller motor I5 so that when the ticker stops' the loop 20 is shortened by continued advance of the tape by the puller l1 and when shortened to a predetermined point the switch is actuated to break the motor circuit, and tape advance is discontinued; when the ticker again operates and. advances the tape the loop is lengthened at a predetermined point, the switch is moved to close the motor circuit and thereupon the puller again advancesthe tape over the first aperture and to. the reversing bend 9.

The second tape puller 30, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1, is located in a convenient position, which may be below the projector. This puller advances the tape from the reversing bend 9 to and over and away from the second light aperture 6. At a point beyond the second aperture (at the left in Fig. 3) the tape passes over a suitable guide, such as the roller 3|, and thence downward to the puller 30 which has tape driving rolls 34 as usual, and also has a take-up reel 32 with yieldable or frictional driving means, as usual,-to rewind the tape. The second puller is driven by a motor 33.

The second tape puller or its motor 33 is controlled by a second tape follower or finger 35 similar -to finger 2|, running on a portion of the tape adjacent or forming a part of the reversing bend 9 or at a point close to the tape guide 35 located just ahead of .the second light aperture. Thisportion 31 of the tape,,in other words,

constitutes a second controlling loop to control the second puller through finger. 35 which is carried by a pivotally mounted arm 33 arranged to actuate a suitable switch, such as a mercury switch within the-switch box' 33 supported on the ing point 41. From the branching point a lead 48 goes to one side of the switch in switch box 26 (that is to one "of the terminals of the mercury switch therein) and from the branching means to properly tension or retard the tape as it passes over each of the apertures. Such re: 'tarders are the friction members 54 pivotally mounted at 55 and having adjustable weights 56,

the friction members being arranged to bear on 25 the tape and retard it in cooperation with the guides, at points just ahead of each aperture thus reducing or eliminating jerkingof the tape, etc., caused by puller actions.

A desirable arrangement ,of the projector 30 proper, that is, light source, lenses, mirrors and screens, tocooperate with plural light apertures and tape driving and directing means of the character above described, is best shown in Fig.

2.. The lamp 50 in housing 3 is arranged to 36' The beam reflected by mirror 63 passes through a condensing lens 55 secured below the top wall of the housing 4 and portions of the beam issuing from condenser 55 pass through the respec 45 tive apertures. Suitable objective lenses in a casing 61 are arranged to receive directly the beam issuing from the first aperture 5. A mirror 68 is placed at an angle of 45, in'a position to intercept the beam from the second aperture 5 50 and direct it through objective lenses in a case 69, the axis of this objective being horizontal. Mirrors 10 and 1| are'arranged above the objective 61 in proper angular positions to direct therefrom to the screen 12. Mirrors 13 and I4 55 are arranged operatively between objective 33 and a second screen I5 to direct the second beam properly to that screen. The describednumber and arrangement of mirrors for each of the light beams is appropriate to the position or location of the printed tape as it passes over each aper- A reflector 54 may be 40 lens housing 4. This switch is in the circuit of the second puller motor 33 so that as the loop at 31 is lengthened or shortened (depending on supply of tape to the reversing bend 3 by the ture. Thatis, with respect to the first aperture 5, the tape has the-printed characters upward so that they read right side up, as viewed in plan, Fig. 3. This image is reversed once by the obor,

first puller rolls I l and I2) the second tape puller is operated accordingly to advance the tape over the second aperture, and-also to maintain thereversing bend 3 of proper length between the two apertures.

The driving and control circuits for the tape pullers and their switches are sufllciently represented in Fig. 1 in which a lead 45 goes from one side of the power line (as represented by one prong of the attachment plug 483) to a branchjective 51 and again by mirror II to read right side up as reflected by mirror ll upon screen 12, 'when that screen is viewed from Fig. 2. On the tape strip'll passing over the second aperture 6 the characters are on the un- 7 der side of the tape or in reversed position, as j.

viewed in plan through the transparent tape. The characters are reversed once by mirror 83. again by objective 69, again by mirror 13 and are then thrown by mirror ll in proper position on 15 the left of 4 I screen 15, as viewed from the right thereof, Fig. 2. I

The lens, mirror and screen arrangement as described provides for the least possible number of mirrors and therefore the greatest conservation of light, in connection with parallel light apertures and the tape moved over the apertures in the manner stated; thus, for the beam passing through the first aperture and objective 6? only two mirrors are required, as at 10, ii, and for the other light beam on y three are required, namely 68, i3 and M.

In addition to other advantages mentioned the double puller arrangement as described, reduces to a minimum stretching of the tape, since the total stretch in any portion of tape is limited practically to the short portion passing over each of the apertures or at most the portion between a friction device, such as 56, and the pulling elements located near the opposite end of' the corresponding aperture. This is in distinctionfrom other arrangements where a single tape passes a plurality of apertures with a single tape puller,

stretch in the entire lengthof tape passing over all the apertures.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention set forth in theappended claims,

1. Projecting apparatus of the character described comprising a housing having adjacent parallel light apertures, a common source of light for throwing light through the apertures, means for printing a continuous tape, and for guiding and directing said continuous printed tape over the apertures with a substantially free reversing bend in a portion of the tape between the apertures, in combination with a tape printer, a tape puller arranged to draw the tape from the printer over the first aperture and to the reversing bend according to the slackformed anterior to the first aperture, and another tape puller arranged to draw the tape from the reversing bend and over the second aperture according to the slack formed in the reversing bend, and means co-operating with said drawing means to maintain a substantially constant supply of tape in said bend as the latter varies in length owing to the variable action of said transmitter.

2. Projecting apparatus of the character described comprising av housing having adjacent tures with a substantially free reversing bend in a portion of the tape between the apertures, in combination with a tape printer, a tape puller arranged to draw the tape from the printer over the first aperture and to the reversing bend, another tape puller arranged to draw the tape from the reversing bend and over the second aperture, controlling means for the first tape puller actuated by a portion of the tape between the printer and the first aperture according to the slack formed therein, and controlling means for the second tape puller actuated bya portion of the tape between the apertures according to the slack formed in the reversing bend.

3. Projecting apparatus of the character described comprising a housing having adjacent parallel light apertures, --means for throwing light through the apertures, means for guiding and directing a continuous printed tape over the combination of a tape apertures with a substantially free reversing bend in a portion of the tape between the apertures, in combination with a tape printer, a. tape puller arranged to draw the tape from the printer over the first aperture and to the reversing'bend, an,-

other tape puller arranged to draw the tape from the reversing bend and over the second aperture, controlling means for the first tape puller actuated by a portion of the tape between the printer and the first aperture, according to the slack formed therein, and controlling means for the second tape puller actuated by a part of the tape included in said reversing bend according to the slack formed therein.

4. Projecting apparatus of the character described comprising a housing having closely adjacent parallel light apertures, a common source of light for throwing light through the apertures, means for guiding and directing a continuous printed tape over the apertures with a substantially free reversing bend in a portion of the tape between. the apertures, an objective lens group for each aperture, one arranged to receive a light beam directly from its aperture, and a mirror angularly arranged between the second aperture and its objective to intercept the beam from the aperture and divert it to the other objective.

5. Projecting apparatus of the character described comprising a housing having adjacent parallel light apertures, a common source of light for throwing light through the apertures,

- means for guiding and directing a continuous printed tape over the apertures with a substantially free reversing bend in a between the apertures, an objective lens group for each aperture, one arranged to receive a light portion of the tape beam directly from its aperture, a mirror angularly arranged between the second aperture and its objective to intercept the beam from the aperture and divert it to the other objective, a

screen and mirrors arranged to direct the beam from the first objective to the screen, another screen, and mirrors arranged to direct the beam from the second objective to said screen.

6. In printing and projecting apparatus, the combination of a tape printer, a projector comprising a casing and adjacent parallel light apertures therein, a common source of light for said light apertures, tape guiding means, a first tape puller arranged to pull the tape from the ticker over the first aperture according to the slack formed in the tape anterior to the first aperture, and a second tape puller arranged to pull the tape over the second aperture according to the slack formed in the tape between the two apertures.

7. In printing and projecting apparatus, the

printer, a projector comprising a casing and adjacent parallel light apertures therein, a common source of light for said light apertures and tape supporting and guiding means arranged to form in the continuous tape between the apertures a substantially free reversing bend, said supporting and guiding means including a tape drawing device in engagement. with the tape at the end of'the first aperture and a tape controlling device in engagement with second aperture.

8. In printing and projecting apparatus, the combination of a tape printer, a projector comprising a casing and adjacent parallel light aper-' tures therein, a common source of light for said light apertures, tape guiding means, a first tape puller. arranged to pull the tape from the ticker the tape at the entrance to the over the first aperture, 9. second tape puller arranged to pull the tape over the second aperture, a follower runningon the tape anterior to the first aperture, and means controlled by the follower and controlling the first tape puller, a second follower running on the tape anterior to the second aperture, and means controlled by the second follower and controlling the second tape puller.

'9. In printing and projecting apparatus, the combination of a tape printer, a projector comprising a casing and adjacent parallel light apertures therein, a common source of light for said light apertures, tape guiding means, a first tape puller arranged to pull the tape from the ticker over the first aperture, 9. second tape puller arranged to pull the tape over the second aperture, a follower running on the tape anterior to the first aperture, and means controlled by the follower and controlling the first tape puller, a second follower running on the tape anterior to thesecond aperture, and means controlled by the second follower and controlling the second tape puller, each tape puller including a motor, and each controlling mechanism including a switch controlled by the follower and acting on the corresponding motor circuit.

10. Projecting apparatus of the character described comprising a housing having closely adjacent parallel light apertures, a common source of light for throwing light through the apertures,

means for successively guiding and directing a continuous printed tape over the apertures with the printed matter of the successive tape portions facing in opposite directions, an objective lens groupfor each aperture, one arranged to receive a light beam directly from its aperture, and a mirror angularly arranged between the second aperture and its objective to intercept the beam from the aperture and divert it to its objective.

. parallel light 11. Projecting apparatusof the character described comprising a housing having adjacent parallel light apertures, a common source of light for throwing light through the apertures, means for successively guiding and directing a continuous printed tape over the apertures with the printed matter of the successive tape portlons facing in opposite directions, an objective lens group for each aperture, one arranged to receive a light beam directly from its aperture, a mirror angularly arranged between the second aperture and its objective to intercept the beam from the aperture and divert it to the other objectiv a screen and mirrors arranged to direct the beam from the first objective to the screen, another screen, and mirrors arranged to direct the beam from the second objective to said screen.

12. Projecting apparatus of the character described comprising a housing having adjacent apertures, a common source of light, means for successively guiding and directing portions of a successive continuous printed tape over the apertures with the printed matter of the successive tape portions facing in opposite directions, means for directing a convergingiight beam from said common source of light at said adjacent light apertures to form two subordinate light beams after emerging from the two tapes, an independent screen for the images produced by the portion of tape at each light aperture, reflecting means arranged to direct a subordinate beam emerging from one portion of the tape to one of said screens, and another reflecting means arranged to direct the subordinate beam emerging from the other portion of the tape to the other of said screens.

AUGUST D. EI'IZEN.

Images