US2207144A

US2207144A - Recording device

Info

Publication number: US2207144A
Application number: US218246A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cooper Benjamin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1938-07-08
Filing date: 1938-07-08
Publication date: 1940-07-09
Anticipated expiration: 1957-07-09

Description

July 9, 1940. B. COOPER 2,207,144

RECORDING DEVICE Filed July 8. 1958 2 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR y 9, 1940- B. COOPER RECORDING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 8, 1938 INVENTOR.

Patented July 9, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE "mieo'anmo navrcr.

Beniamin Cooper, Jersey City, N. J. Application July 8, 1938, serial No. 218,245 10 Claims. (01. 101-287) This invention relates to recording devices and more particularly to electromagnetically operated recording devices for printing a record on paper or other sheet material.

In electromagnetically operated recording devices which depend upon the actuating force applied by the insertion of a piece of paper into printing position, or by manually closing a switch to actuate the switch controlling mechanism, the

10 force is frequently inadequate to maintain the device in operative position, or is inadequately applied to obtain a clear recording. Further-. more, in such devices the legibility of the re-- cordin'gs usually vary with variations in the types 13 of papers used and the manual force applied thereto.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a compact and efiicient recording device of the character described for automati- 20 cally and rapidly stamping paper or sheet material independently of variations in the type of paper or force applied thereto.

Another object is to provide means to insure a strong legible print for each insertion of a 25 sheet of paper or sheet of material.

Another object is to provide means to insure a strong legible print for each closure of the switch means.

A further object is to provide means to auto-.

30 matically break the circuit which operates the device, after the recording has occurred.

Other objects and characteristic features of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of one embodiment thereof,

3; taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein identical reference numerals are applied to the same parts in the several figures, and in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the normal relation of the parts of a recorder illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the actuating sheet inserted in a printing position to cause actuation of the device;

a Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts as they appear at the end of the actuated printing stroke;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the parts as they appear after de-energization of said electroto magnetic means, and

embodiment of the invention, a framework ll, supports an electromagnetic coil i6 and also forms a bearing for a plunger I of the electromagnetic coil It. The plunger l5 has affixed thereto a platen l3 which normally rests on the framework 5 II. The platen i3 is adapted to co-act with a printing mechanism such as a type holding means H to eilect a printing operation. The platen i3 and the type holding means 14 are relatively movable one toward the other, and in the embodiment shown the platen i3 is indicated as the movable member. Any desired style of type holding means M can be provided such as a type holding roller as shown. Electrical means is provided for effecting the movement of 15 the plunger l5 and the platen I3 consisting of a source of power IS, a conductor 40, a normally open switch l2 consisting of contacts I! and l3, a conductor 4|, the electromagnetic coil 16, and a conductor 42. The electrical circuit provided for effecting movement of the platen may be traced from one side of the source of power i9, through the conductor 40, the contact springs I1 and la, the conductor 4|, the electromagnetic coil 16, through theconductor42 and back to the other side of the source of power. For causing the actuation of the contacts l1 and Id of the switch l2, and for retaining the contacts in closed positions a trigger lever 20 and a latch member 2i are provided. The trigger lever 20, Fig. 1 is pivoted at 22 to the frame II and held in position by a light spring 23 against a fixed pin 29 on frame II. The latch member 2| is pivotally mounted at the base of the trigger lever 20 by a pin 24 and normally rests on the contact spring 11. The latch member 2| has a projecting shoulder 25 which normally lies in contact with the outer face of the spring contact l'l. Theupper end of the trigger'lever 20 has a projecting head portion 26 which projects slightly over the platen l3, so that it may co-act therewith when platen l3 rises during its printing stroke. The head portion 26 has a serrated face 21 which insures a gripping of the edge of any sheet material that may be inserted in the device, and the face 21 of the head 26 has a slightly protruding rounded chin 28 which is so formed that it will gradually and slidably engage the advancing edge of the platen l3 during its upward printing stroke, and also when engaged with the platen will by means of its protruding shape prevent the engagement of the serrated face with the edge or the platen.

Upon insertion of a sheet of paper or other strip 30 into the printing position between the u type holding means i4 and the platen E3, the trigger lever 28 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 2. The trigger is mounted upon itspivot in such a manner that it is substantially balanced, requiring only a slight force to cause actuation thereof. Actuation 'of the trigger 2U will pull the latch member 2! inwardly or to the right Fig. 2, when the trigger head 26 is pushed outwardly. A'slight pull of the trigger lever 28 through its base pin 24 is sufiicient to cause the latch member M to force the contact spring ii to be pressed against contact spring is, closing the circuit to the electromagnetic coil it: which becomes energized and forces the platen 03 to start to rise as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. When the platen i3 starts to rise due to the actu ation of the electromagnetic coil 05, an upper rounded nose 32 of the platen it engages in cam fashion the yieldably lower protruding chin 28 of the head 26 of the trigger lever 28 forcing said trigger to be displaced further from its normal position as shown in Fig. 3. This, in turn, causes the lower end of the trigger 2%, through its base pin 24, to further displace the latch member 2! from its normal position as shown in Fig. 3. The initial displacement of the latch member 2| being suflicient to make a temporary contact between the contact springs 01? and it, the subsequent additional displacement of the latch member 2! will insure an increased and uniform contact pressure between the contact springs l1 and I8. As shown in Fig. 3, the contact spring I1 having been forced from its original position by a very small force such as the edge of a thin paper sheet conveys, the circuit is completed as described. Because of the nature of electrical contacts to are or burn at their point of contact, especially where the slightest gap remains, and because of high contact resistance, where slight pressure or air gaps remain, it becomes essential to insure an increased and uniform contact pressure and continued closure of said contacts during their working cycle. The outer edge of platen I3 bearing against the head 26 of the trigger 28, immediately upon energization of the electromagnetic coil It, creates a locking of the circuit and a more intimate association of the contacts until the recording has been completed. The continued closure of the contacts I! and i8 will set up. a continuous uninterrupted circuit in the electromagnetic coil IB, this in turn causes a definite uninterrupted fprce upon the plunger l5.

The plunger I5 is actuated by the continued uninterrupted magnetic force of the electromagnetic coil 16, thus causing a definite uninterrupted movement of the platen l3 to a printing position as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The printing movement of the platen I3 is entirely dependent upon the force of the electromagnetic coil I6,

and does not rely on the momentum of the plunger l5 or the platen l3 which may have been originated by the initial actuation of the electromagnetic coil. The printing movement of the platen l3 carries said platen against the paper or strip and carries said paper against the inked type holding member [4, causing a clean-cut impression to bemade on'the strip 30. g

The plunger l5 has at its base a slot '33 in which a lever 34, having a ball joint 35, is set. The lever 34, being pivotally mounted at 35 to the frame II, has an extended pin 38 mounted on its upper face so that it will coact with the under-side of the latch member 2|. It will be readily understood that the upward printing electromagnetic coil 06 de-energized, the platen i3 and plunger 85 will, by their own weight as sume their normal starting positions as shown in Fig. 1. The return of plunger 85 to its normal position will likewise return the pin 38 on the lever 34? to its normal position. As the paper is withdrawn, immediately after the printing operation, latch member 26 and lever 26 will also be returned to their normal position by spring 23, as shown in Fig. 1, and the device is reset and ready for the next operation.

However, if the paper is not removed immediately after printing, lever 26] will remain in its tensioned position after platen i5 and pin 38 have, dropped, to permit the latch 28 to drop. As the latch drops, shoulder 25 will fall in front of contact arm H in disengagement with the com tact arm and further movement of the lever by the paper will not be transmitted to said arm, 1

thus preventing a second closure of the switch and a second print. Upon withdrawal of the sheet, lever 20 will be released allowing latch 25 to slide along the incline of shoulder 25 to bring the switch actuating edge to the other side of contact Il The device is then reset for the next stamping operation.

Referring to Fig. 5 which illustrates another embodiment of the same recording device, and is substantially identical in structure with the exception of an additional mechanical means to control the initial closure of the contacts I! and I8, and permits the initial actuation of the device. Instead of depending upon the actuation of the device by the edge of a paper inserted against a finely balanced trigger mechanism, the mechanical means 45 is used to control same. The mechanical means 45 consists of a rod 45 which is supported by the framework II and acts as a bearing for same, attached to its outer end is a button 52, between the button 52 and the framework H, a spring 41 is inserted to hold the button 52 in a normally disengaged position. Midway of the rod 46, a stop shoulder 49 is secured in any suitable fashion, retaining the rod in a starting position. The inner end of the rod 46 has a rounded portion 50 to insure a minimum amount of friction but a positive engagement with the contact spring I'I. It will be readily understood that the actuation of the means 45 by sufficient pressure on the button 52 will cause the rounded end 50 to engage the contact spring l1 and cause contact H to be pressed against contact I8, closing the circuit to the electromagnetic coil I8. The actuating circuit may be traced as described in the foregoing embodiment, being identical.

It will be clearly apparent that when the circuit is closed and the electromagnetic coil l5 becomes energized, that the initial electromagnetic force on the plunger l5, which is attached to and carries with it the platen I3, is sufficient to raise the platen to a position wherein the edge l3 engages the chin 28 of the head 28 of the trigger lever 20, and the locking of the circuit and sub- 15 sequent breaking of the circuit is substantially as already described in the foregoing embodiment.

The embodiments of the invention herein disclosed are merely illustrative and may be modified and departed from in many ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as pointed out in and limited by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a movable element, an electromagnet for moving said element, an electrical circuit for energizing said electro-magnet, a switch in said circuit, a lever, a latch member connected to said lever and engaging said switch, said lever being adapted to be moved by a sheet of material pressed against said lever for causing the latch to close the switch for completing said circuit to energize the electromagnet and move said element, said movable element being adapted to engage said lever to maintain said switch in closed position during the. movement of said element.

2. In combination, a movable element, an electromagnet for moving said element, an electrical circuit for energizing said magnet, a switch in said circuit, a lever, a latch member connected to said lever and engaging said switch, said lever being adapted to be. moved by a sheet of material pressed against said lever for causing the latch to close said switch for completing said circuit to energize said electromagnet and move said element, said movable element being adapted to engage said lever to lock said circuit during the movement of the element, and means to trip said latch for releasing said switch and opening said circuit upon movement of said element a predetermined distance. f

3. In a printing device, a movable platen, printing wheels, electro-magnetic means to move said platen toward said wheels, means responsive to the insertion of a sheet to be printed in printing position to energize said electro-magnetic means for moving said platen, means controlled by the movement of said platen to maintain energization of said electro-magnetic means during the movement of said platen, means controlled by said platen to de-energize said electromagnetic. means after the movable platen has moved a suf-.

ficient distance to press said sheet against said printing wheels for printing on said sheet, said sheet responsive means being inoperative to further energize said electro-magnetic means until the printed sheet has been withdrawn from printing position.

4. In a device of the character described, a movable element, elctro-magnetic means to move said element, a circuit for said electro-magnetic means, a switch in said circuit, a lever, means on said lever for closing said switch when said lever is pivotally moved in one direction, means on said movable element for further pivotally moving said lever in said direction as said element starts moving to increase the contact pressure of the switch, said movable element having means to hold said lever in the position to which it is moved by said movable element as said element continues moving, to maintain said increased contact pressure on said switch.

5. In a printing device, a movable element, electro-magnetic means to move said element, a pair of normally open contacts in said circuit, means responsive to the insertion of a sheet in printing position for applying pressure to one of said contacts for moving the same into engagement with said other contact forclosing the circuit and energizing said electro-magnetic means, means controlled by the movement of said movable element for increasing the pressure of said first contact against the second contact, and means controlled by said movable element for maintaining said increased pressure during the movement of said element.

6. In a printing device, a movable element, electro-magnetic means to move said element, a pair of normally open contacts in said circuit, means responsive to the insertion of a sheet in printing position for applying pressure to one of said contacts for moving the same into engagement with said other contact for closing the circuit and energizing said electro-magnetic means, means controlled by the movement of said movable element for increasing the pressure of said first contact against the second contact, means controlled by said movable element for maintaining said increased pressure during the movement of said element, and means to release said first contact for opening said circuit upon movement of saidaelement a predetermined distance.

'7. In a printing machine, in combination, a movable printing element, an electric circuit including an electromagnetic means to move said element, and a switch adapted to close said circuit, means to lock said switch in circuit closing position, said last means comprising a member operatively connected to said switch, means on said movable element to hold said member in switch closing position, only upon moving said movable element from normal position by said electro-magnetic means, and means controlled by movement of said element substantially to printing position, to release said locking means.

8. In a printing device, a movable printing element, an electric circuit including electro-mag- -netic means to move said element, and a switch position, only upon movement of said movable element from normal position by said electromagnetic means, and means controlled by movement. of, said printing element substantially to printing position, to release saidlocking means.

9. In a printing device, a movable printing element, an electric circuit including magnetic means to move said element, and a switch to close said circuit, means responsive to the insertion of a sheet in printing position for closing said switch, said means including a member adapted to be contacted by said sheet and operatively connected to said switch, means for locking said switch in circuit closing position, said last means comprising means on the movable printing element to hold said member in switch closing position, only upon movement of said movable element from normal position by said electro-magnetic means, and without moving said member during a portion of the movement of said movable element, and means controlled by movement of said element substantially to printing position, to release said locking means.

10. In a printing device, a movable printing element, an electric circuit including electromagnetic means to move said element, and a switch for closing said circuit, a member, means on said member for closing said switch, when said member is moved in one direction, means effective upon ,movement of said member in said direction and closure of said switch, for further moving said member in said direction as said e1ement is moved by said electm-magnetic means, to increase the compact pressure of said switch, and then to hold and maintain said member in increased contact pressure position without fur ther increase in contact pressure, as said element continues to be moved by said electro-magnetic means, and means controlled by movement of said element substantially to printing position, to open said switch.

BENJAMIN COOPER.