US2168195A - Sheet-end signaling device - Google Patents

Description

1, 1939. w. J. ENGLISH 2, 95

SHEET-END SIGNALING DEVICE Filed July 18, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTO R N EYS A 1, 1939. w. J. ENGLISH 2,168,195

SHEET-END SIGNALING DEVICE Filed July 18, 1938 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTO R N EYS Patented Aug. 1, 1939 SHEET-END SIGNALING DEVICE Weber James English, Elgin, Oreg. Application July 18, 1938, Serial No. 219,885

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in signaling devices for use in conjunction with machines employing sheet paper or the like, such as adding machines, typewriters and similar devices. The invention is particularly directed to improvements' in signaling means, for indicating approach of end of sheet paper or the like fedin said machine.

It is among the disadvantages of, typewriters and adding machines -of types presently in use that the operator of the machine often is unaware of the approach of the end of the sheet of paper being used in the machine and accordingly when the machine is a typewriter, the last line on the page is. frequently misprinted, necessitating retyping of the entire sheet. Another disadvantage of machine of the type mentioned is that the operator is required to exercise judgment as to the position of the sheet end within the machine and is without means for ascertaining exactly how much space is left at the bottom of the sheet, as the sheet end approaches the typing mechanism. V

It is among the more important objects of the present invention to provide means for visibly and audibly signaling approach of sheet end in machines such as typewriters, adding machines or the like, whereby the operator thereof is provided with visible indication of the useful length of paper remaining in the machine together with an audible signal as the sheet end approaches the portion of the paper being used.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a visual and audible signaling means of the type hereinabove referred to which shall include means for audibly indicating to the operator, the approach of the sheet end toward the portion of the sheet being typed upon and which also includes means which are adjustable to suitrequirements of different users for visually indicating useful length of paper remaining in the machine.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a sheet end signaling mechanism for performing the functions hefeinbeforereferred to which comprises relatively few parts, all of which are suited to the requirementsof mass production and which can be readily and easily assembled to form the device without employment of skilled labor whereby resultant economies in cost of manufacture are reflected in low initial cost of the signaling device.

Noteworthy among the features of the device according to the instant invention are its simplicity and ruggedness of construction wherebyinstallation and repair of the device is facilitated and length of useful life at least materially increased.

An important advantage of the signaling means according'to the present invention is its relatively small bulk and compact structure whereby the signaling and indicating apparatus can be pro vided upon a typewriten adding machine or the like, without substantially altering the appearance or bulk thereof.

Other objects, advantages and features of the device according to the present invention will be apparent to'those skilled in the art during the course of the following description.

' Regarded in certain of its broader aspects, the present invention comprises, in combination with 'a machine having a shaft rotating at a speed proportional to the rate of feeding of sheet. material therethrough, of a bushing periodically engageable and rotatable 'with said shaft, visual and audible signaling means actuable by rotation of said bushing, and means controlled by movement of end of sheet material fed through said machine for operably connecting said bushing,

and said shaft.

In order to facilitate a fuller and more complete understanding of the present invention, a specific embodiment thereof will be hereinafter described, it being clearly understood, however, that the illustrated embodiment is given solely by way of example and is non-limitative upon the scope of the present invention, except as expressed in the subjoined claims. I

Referring then to the drawings:

Figure 1 is substantially a top plan view of the now preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in conjunction with a conventional typewriter mechanism, parts of which are broken away for clearness of illustration.

Figures 2 and 3 are substantially vertical sectional views of Figure 1, taken along the lines 2-2 and 3-3 respectively.

Figure 4 is essentially a vertical sectional view of Figure 1, taken along the line 4-4.

Figure 5 is substantially a fragmentary detail view of a modified form of feeler mechanism,

and

Figures 6 and 7 are fragmentary plan views and elevationai views respectively of a still further form or feeler mechanism.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, wherein the presently preferred form of the instant invention is best illustrated, it will be noted that a conventional typewriter mechanism generally designated by the numeral I0 shown in Figure 4, whereby the ported within the casing but rotative movement and including frame members I and I2, rotatably supporting a shaft l3 carrying a sheetfeeding platen roller I4, is provided with a casing generally designated by the numeral 20, mounted on one of the frame elements l2. The casing is hollow and substantially cylindrical in shape and is mounted concentric a projecting end portion of the shaft l3, substantially as shown in Figure 1, the end portion of the shaft l3 extending beyond the casing 20 and carrying an actuating roller |5 for facilitating manual rotation of said shaft. A slot-like opening 22 formed in the side 2| of the casing 20, extends across approximately half of the casing side and is normally partially masked by a segmental cylindrical side portion 23 of the casing end cap 24, the latter being frictionally engaged with sides 2| of the casing 20, whereby said casing end cap 24 can be moved relative to the casing sides to increase or diminish the portion of the opening 22 which is masked by the member 23.

Referring now particularly to Figures 2, 3 and 4, it willbe noted that a hub 39 substantially fixedly mounted upon and rotatable with the end portion of the axle l3, being attached thereto 1 by fastening means 3|, carries a disc 32 freely rotatably mounted upon a 'portion of said hub and held in position preventing axial movement by means including a collar 33 attached to a part of the hub. The disc 32 is normally rotated by rotation of the shaft l3 through means including the collar 33 attached to the bushing which engages with a spring pressed segmental arm 35 pivoted on the pin 36 mounted in the disc 32 and having a projecting portion 31 adapted to rest against and engage' with parts of the periphery of the collar 33 under tension of the spring 38 mounted in the standard 39. Rotation of the disc 32 in conjunction with the shaft |3 by frictional engagement of the arm 35 with the collar 33 as aforesaid is limited by engagement of stops 40 and 4| with the roller end portion 43 of the pivoted arm 44 mounted on a shaft 45 and movable within the casing 20 as will be hereinafter described.

being pressed in engagement therewith by means of a sleeve 5| frictionally engaging with a portion of said sleeve and abutting against a bell 52 and parts of the end cap 24 substantially as hell 52 is supthereof is at least largely precluded. The sleeve 5| carries a disc 53 mounted on the distal end thereof and radially extending toward but not touching the bell 52.

A cam arm pivotally mounted by means including the pin 6| on the disc 53, is provided with a stop member 63 fixedly attached thereto and slidable within a slot 64 formed in the disc 53 substantially as shown in Figure 3. A resilient spring-like member 85 mounted on the opposite side of the disc 53 normally presses the stop 63 toward the shaft l3 whereby the end portion 66 of the arm 60 is positioned adjacent portions of the hub 50. It is to be noted that the opposite end of the arm 60 carries a resilient weighted clapper 61 which, upon occasion, is adapted to strike against and ring the bell 52 as will be hereinafter described. The cam arm 60 is actuated by means including a projecting thereon and extending concentric the projecting end portion of the shaft l3 whereby the bell 52 and elements associated therewith are obscured from view of an observer looking through the opening 22 formed in the casing 20. In the preferred embodiment of the instant invention, half or a different segmental portion of the exposed surface of the sleeve or cylindrical member 29 visible through the opening 22 is visually distinct from the remainder of said member whereby rotation of said member within the casing can be readily observed through the opening 22. It is also preferred that indicia 28 be provided on the cylindrical member 29 which can be exposed in the portion of the opening 22 masked by the member 23 hereinbefore described.

The means for controlling rotation of the disc 32 and associated members will now be described, reference being made particularly to Figures 1 and 2. The arm 44 mounted on the shaft 45 is rotatable, and upon occasion, engages with the stops 49 and 4| hereinbefore referred to. The shaft 45 carrying the arm 44 is freely rotatably mounted in portions of the frame element 2 and, at the end, in an arm 10 attached to a rod 1| forming-a portion of the machine frame. A V-shapeii feeler 12 mounted upon and rotatable with the shaft 45 is adapted to rest in a slot-like opening 14 formed in a portion of the feeding plate or table 15. It is to be understood that thev-shaped feeler member 12' is weighted or spring pressed whereby it normally assumes the position shown in Figure 2 and when so positioned is at rest against edge portions of the slot 14 formed in the feeding table 15. When the feeler 12 is at rest position as aforesaid, the arm 44 carried on the shaft 45 is positioned whereby the roller end portion 43 of said arm engages with the stop 40 carried on the disc 32 whereby rotation of the platen roller results in only limited rotation of the disc 32. It is preferred that when the stop 40 is positioned against the arm end portion 43 as illustrated in Figure 2, a visually distinct surface area of the cylindrical member 29 be displayed through the opening 22 of the casing 20.

In operation, a sheet of paper or the like, positioned on, the feeding plate 15 and fed toward the platen roller l4, causes the feeler 12 to be raised thereby imparting counter-clockwise rotative motion to the shaft 45 and moving the roller end portion 43 out of engagement with the stop 40. When the platen roller I4 is rotated to advance the sheet material in the machine, the disc 32 is rotated by-frictional engagement of the spring pressed pivoted arm 35 with the collar 33, the rotation'of said disc 32" revolution whereby a surface of different visual effect is presented through the opening 22 of the casing 20. when the'sheet end passes under the feeler l2 and moves toward the platen roller l4, gravity acting upon said feeler member causes clockwise rotation thereof with concomitant rotation of the shaft 45 whereby the roller end portion 43 of the arm 44 is moved out of engagement with the stop 4|, thus permitting rotative motion of the disc 32 and associated elements until the stop 40 again engages with the roller end portion 43 of the arm 44. However, during the movement of the disc 32 between engagement of the ,stop 4| with the arm end portion and engagement of the stop 40 with said am end portion, the half-round rod 59 carried on the pivoted arm 35 engages with and actuatesthe audible signaling means by tripping the spring pressed cam arm 59 mounted on the disc 53, whereby the clapper 51 is struck against the bell 52.

It will be noted that rotation of the disc 32 results in rotation of the indicia bearing cylindrical member 29, accordingly inasmuch as rotation of the disc 32 after disengagement of the roller end 43 of the arm 44 from the stop 4| results from passage of the sheet end portion under the feeler I2, the rate of rotation of the cylindrical member 29 will be directly proportional to the rate of travel of the sheet end portion around the platen roller. It will be evident that the indicia 28 carried on the cylindrical member 29 can upon occasion be masked partially or totally by the member 23 attached to the end'cap 24 of the casing 20 as hereinbefore described. Accordingly it is possible to visually indicate the portion of useful space of paper or sheet material remaining in the machine, and to adjust same to provide uniform bottom margins. It is to be noted that the audible signaling means being mounted upon the end cap 24 of the casing 29 is moved when the mask 23. is rotated within the casing, accordingly the time interval between actuation of the audible signaling means and predetermined ending point on the sheet relative to the actual end thereof is maintained substantially unaltered upon adjustment of the device. I

In Figure 5, a modified form of feeler arm is illustrated, it being understood that other parts of thedevice are substantially as hereinbefore described. In this embodiment of the instant invention, the shaft 45 is provided with an arm 89 mounted thereon and having a hemi-circular end portion 8| projecting upwardly through a slot 82 formed in thesheet feeding plate 83. It is to be understood that suitable means are provided for maintaining the arm in position as shown in Figure 5. For example, spring pressing means, weights or the like can be employed to tend to impart counterclockwise rotative motion of the shaft 45. A paper feeding guide, preferably a resilient spring-like sheet 84 mounted on a rod 95 attached to portions of the machine frame, presses sheet material positioned on the feeding plate 83 into contact with the hemicircular end portion 8| of the arm 89, whereby said arm is depressed thereby imparting clockwise rotative motion to the arm 86 mounted on the shaft 45. It is to be understood that the arm 89 is substantially equivalent to the arm 44 referred to in the hereinbefore described embodiment of the instant invention.

It will of course be apparent that the positions of the stops 4!! and 4i will be interchanged in this embodiment of the instant invention. 'inasmuch as engagementof sheet material with the feeler results in clockwise rotation of the shaft 1 45 in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 5, as contrasted to. the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 2, wherein engagement of sheet material with the feeler 12 results in counterclockwise rotation of the shaft.

A still further modified form of feeler arm is illustrated in Figures 6 and '7, this type being especially suited for use in machine requiring relatively large clearance space between feeler arm and feeding plate. In this embodiment of the invention, a U-shaped rod 90-, having bent end portions 9| and 92 journalled in parts 93 and 94 of the machine frame, carries a feeler member generally designated by the numeral 95. Referring now particularly to Fig. 7, it will benoted that the feeler member comprises a segmental T-shaped element 95 pivotally mounted on the rod 99 and partially receivable in a slotlike opening 91 formed in the feeding plate 98.-

An arm 99 mounted on the shaft 92 functions substantially as does the arm 44 in the first described embodiment of this invention. It is to be noted in this connection that the feeler means illustrated in Fig. 7, when in use, results in munterclockwise rotation of the shaft 92 similarly as does actuation of the feeler 12 here- I inbefore referred to.

An important advantage of the feelers of the types described is that when upon occasion, it

is desired to retract the sheet material within the machine, the returning edge portion of the material merely raises the feeler and does not result in tearing or damaging of the sheet material.

It is to be understood that this improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawings nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not afiect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the type described including a supporting frame, a shaft freely rotatably mounted in said frame, a sheet-feeding platen roller carried on said shaft and rotatable therewith, a sheet table adjacent and cooperating with said roller, visible sheet-end signaling means comprising a hollow substantially cylindrical casing mounted on said frame concentric a projecting end portion of said shaft; a rotatable bushing frictionally mounted on said projecting shaft end and positioned within said casing; visual signaling means, actuated by rotation of said bushing; frictional coupling means for facilitating simultaneous rotation ofsaid bushing and said shaft end; and means controlled by passage of a sheet-end across said sheet table for permitting and, upon occasion, limiting rotation of said bushing bysaid'shaft, said means comprising a rocker rod rotatably supported in parts of said frame adjacent said table, feeler arms, attached to said rodand extending therefrom, engaging with sheet-ends whereby rocking motion is imparted to said rod by passage of a sheet-end across said table, and an arm carried on said rod engaging with stops on said bushing for holding said bushing against rotation by said shaft except for an interval immediately subsequent to rocking of said rod.

2. In a device of the type-described includinz 75 bushing frictionally mounted on said projecting shaft end and positioned within said casing; a supported bell, a cooperating spring pressed clapper, and an arm on said bushing for'tripping said-clapper and ringing said bell; frictional coupling means facilitating simultaneous rota-- tion\ of said bushing and said shaft end; and means controlled by passage of a sheet-end across said sheet-table'for permitting and, upon occasion, limiting rotation of said bushing by said shaft, said means comprising a rocker rod rotatably supported in; parts of said frame adjacent said table, feeler arms, attached to said rod and extending therefrom, engaging with sheet-ends whereby rocking motion is imparted to said rod by passage of a sheet-end across said table, and an arm carried onsaid rod engaging with stops on said bushing for holding said bushing against rotation by said shaft except for an interval immediately subsequent to rocking of said rod.

3. In a device of the type described including a supporting frame, a shaft freely rotatably mounted in said frame, a sheet-feeding platen roller carried on said shaft and rotatable therewith, a sheet table adjacent to and cooperating I with said roller, visible sheet-endsignaling means comprising a hollow substantially cylindrical casing mounted on said frame concentric a projecting end portion of said shaft; a rotatable bushing frictionally mounted on said projecting shaft end and positioned within said casing; visual signaling means, actuated by rotation of said bushing, comprising a hollow cylindrical member, mounted on and rotating with said bushing, having a plurality of visually distinct areas successively exposable through a window in said casing for indicating rotation of said bushing; frictional coupling means facilitating simultaneous rotation of said bushing and said shaft end, comprising a spring pressed arm, pivotally mounted on said bushing. Dressing against and engaging with parts of said shaft; and means controlled by passage of a sheet-endacross said sheet table for permitting and, upon occasion, limiting rotation of said bushing by said shaft, said means comprising a rocker rod rotatably supported in parts of said frame adjacent said table, feeler arms, attached to said rod and extending therefrom, engaging with sheet-ends whereby rocking motion is'imparted to said rod by passage of a sheet end across said table, and an arm carried on said rod engaging with stops on said bushing for holding said bushing against rotation by said shaft except for an interval immediately subsequent to rocking of said rod.

WEBER JAMES ENGLISH.

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