US2272497A

US2272497A - Autographic register

Info

Publication number: US2272497A
Application number: US145562A
Authority: US
Inventors: William R Wright
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1937-05-29
Filing date: 1937-05-29
Publication date: 1942-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 1959-02-10

Description

Feb. 10, 1942. w. R. WRIGHT 2,272,497

AUTOGRAPHIC REG IS TER Filed may 29, 193% s sheets-sheet 1 Feb., 10, 1942.1 w. R. WRIGHT 2,272,497

AUTOGRAPHIC lREGISTER l l I 11111111 11111111111 1111111111 Fig 38 w. R. wrighf Feb. l0, 194.2. w n WRIGHT AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER Filed May 29, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.l6

W. R. Wrghf Pateritec Feb. 1G, 1942 AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER William It. Wright, Lincoln, Nebr.

Application May 29, 1937, Serial No. 145,562

27 Claims.

My invention relates to autographic registers having among others the following objects in view:

To provide an improved device in an autographic register for maintaining the alignment of the strips of paper.

To provide a peg cooperating with a wedge for preserving the alignment of the strips of paper, the peg and the wedge entering the apertures of the strips from the opposite sides of the strips.

To provide a peg and a cooperating wedge so Having in view these objects and others which will be pointed out in the following description, I will now refer to the drawings, in which x Figure 1 is a top plan view of my autographic register. l

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section on the line 2-v-2 of Figure 1.

arranged that the forward movement of the peg will displace the wedge from operative position to then move the strips of paper until the apertures of the strips are out of alignment with the peg and wedge.

To provide a peg and cooperating wedge for l' preserving the alignment of the strips of paper, theA peg and wedge being so arranged that when the strips are drawn forward the peg will enter the aperture first to be followed immediately afterward by the entrance of the wedge to stop further forward movement of the strips.

To provide an alignment maintaining peg for paper strips in an autographic register, the peg being spring pressed into operative position to be moved by finger pressure into inoperative position, retrograde movement being prevented until after the releasing movement of the peg has been completed.

To provide a clamp for the carbon paper so arranged that no buckling or wrinkling of the carbon paper can occur, the clamp having also a tearing edge against which the used portions of the carbon paper may be torn off.

To provide a carbon paper receptacle for the A I leasy withdrawal of the carbon paper without binding against the edges of the opening of the receptacle.

To provide manual actuating means for an yalignment preserving peg in an autographic regthe operator, the drawer having overhanging flanges at its upper and rear ends and having a latch for maintaining the closed position of the drawer, the latch being releasablev either with or without the operation of the strip shifting mechanism of the autographic register.

Figure 3 is a View in horizontal section taken immediately above the tray. 4 y K Figure 4 is a view in vertical section on an enlarged scale on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view in much enlarged scale on the line 5-5 of Figure 1. l

Figure 6 is a similar sectional view on the line 6-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 'l is a similar sectional view on the line l-'I of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a similar sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a view in transverse section on the line 9 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a view in isometric projection of a detail showing a cooperating peg andwedge.

Figure 11 is a similar view of a detail showing the detent and rack.

Figure 12 is a similar view of a corner detail of the tray showing particularly one member of the latch.

Figure 13 is a sectional view of an alternate form of peg and wedge.

Figure 14 is a plan view of a detail showing the peg and wedge of the Figure 13 form.

Figure 15 is a broken and sectional View in isometric projection of the frame of the autographic register.

Figure 16 is a transverse sectional view of the register, the view being similar to that in Figure 4 but showing the parts on a largerscale and in greater detail and showing the cover shaped to accommodate the alternate form of peg and wedge.

All autographic registers of the present type include a platen I0 with'a cover Ii spaced'apart and arranged for conducting superposed strips of memorandalengthwise over the platen and underneath the cover. The cover is provided with an opening for exposing a portion of the upper surface of the top strip of paper and it is on this surface that the original memoranda is made with pencil or pen. The strips underneath the top strip must receive accurate copies of the memoranda. This is done by means of strips of carbon paper passing transversely between the strips of record paper. The present autographic registers are nearly all provided with a compartment I2 for the storage of the record strips either in roll or zigzag form and a compartment I3 for the roll of carbon paper, the two chambers being arranged for movement of the record strips and strips of carbon paper over ther platen and iD. directions transverse to each other.

to a point below the rack 26.

The top strip of paper usually has printed matter thereon and it provides the sales slips after the entry has been made thereon. The lower strips are also usually printed and for this reason it is vitally necessary that the superposed strips be in accurate registration at the time of entry of the memoranda. The strips of paper are apertured for accurate registration and it is only necessary that the autographic register be so designed as to maintain the registration of the apertures in order to keep the strips in registration. This I accomplish largely by means of the peg and wedge shown in Figure 10 and the actuating mechanism shown in Figures '7 and 8.

The peg I4 and the wedge I5 are interfitting in a manner such that when they are together they form a cylindrical or frustoconieal member for snugly seating in an aperture in the strip of paper. The peg I4 is secured to a plate I6 while the wedge I5 is secured to the leaf spring I1 which in turn is secured to the cover I I. The plate I6 is adjustably secured to a plate I8 which in turn is pivoted at I 9 to the sides of the frame, the pivot pin I9 being surrounded by a coil spring 20. The plates I6 and I8 have out-turned ears connected by means of a tension spring 2I The result is that the peg I4 has considerable movement about the pivot I9 as well as toward and away from that pivot. The tendency of' the spring 29 is to maintain the parts in the Figure 7 position but these parts have certain movements which are under automatic 'control at all steps of the movement.

The raceway 22 is adapted to receive the pin 23 projecting from the plate I6. The peg I4 has freedom of movement within the aperture 24 of the platen I but as it approaches its extreme position the pin 23 is sharply deilected to shorten the overall length of the plates I6 and I8. Continued movement brings the peg I4 into the Figure 8 position with the pin 23 well down in the raceway 22 and below the leaf spring 25. This leaf spring closes only one end of the wall underneath the raceway and the other end is open so that further movement of the plates I6 and I 8 about the pivot I9 must be with the pin 23 traveling on the under side of the leaf spring 25 until the end of the spring 25 is reached whereupon the action of the spring 2I will result in the expansion of the overall length of the plates I6 and I8. The pivotal movement of the plates I6 and I8 about the pivot I9 must be complete and there must be no reverse movement of these parts until the peg I4 has reached the Figure 8 position as otherwise the paper strips would become torn or otherwise injured.

To prevent retrograde movement, I provide a rack 26 in xed position with a spring pressed detent 21 lor engaging the rack 26. As the peg I4 moves from its Figure 1 position towards its Figure 8 position, the detent 21 rides in the rack 26 engaging one notch after another until the end of the movement. These notches are so arranged in their relation to the detent that reverse movement is impossible. When the parts have reached the Figure 8 position, the pin 23 with its plate I6 has reached a relatively low position and has carried with it the detent 21 As the plates I and I8 move backwardly toward the Figure 7 position and with the pin 23 riding on the under side of the leaf spring 25 the detent 21 is out of engagement with the rack 26 until the pin 23 passes the end of the leaf spring. The detent 21 is, however, held in its operative plane by the pin 21a which limits its expansion.

The peg I4 and the wedge I5 have a very definite relation to each other as well as to the other mechanism. The peg I4 is provided with a rib I4a which cooperates with the groove I5a in the wedge I5 to prevent any relative lateral movement of the two parts. 'I'he peg I4 is also provided with inclined ledges I4b on both sides of the rib I4a, these ledges acting against the inclined edges on the opposite sides of the groove I 5a. The inclination is such that forward movement of the peg I4 against the wedge I5 results in an upward thrust on the wedge I5 causing the wedge to rise to the level of the upper surface of the upper strip of paper. The movements of the wedge I5 are limited by the leaf spring I1 between the positions shown in Figures 7 and 8. The cover of the autographic register is provided with a pocket 23 for providing freedom of movement of the wedge I5 and the spring I1, the position of the pocket being best shown in Figure l.

While the movements of the peg I4 are under manual control, the movements of the wedge I5 are automatic in response to the movements of the peg I4 and of the strips 29. These strips are movable over the platen I0 toward and through the opening 39 in the cover of the autographic register. Figure 7 shows the peg I4 and the wedge I5 within the registering apertures of the strips to properly maintain the alignment of the strips. Assuming that the peg I4 moves toward the left in Figure '7, the wedge I5 will be separated from the peg I4 because of the inclined bevel relation between the two and the ends of the strips 29 will be forced through the aperture 39. If the movement then continues to the Figure 8 position, the peg I4 will be in entirely inoperative position while the wedge I5 will press lightly but yieldably in a downward direction against the upper surface of the upper of the strips 29. The wedge I5 can drop to a lower position only when it aligns with an aperture in the strips 29. The parts are so adjusted, however, that when the peg I4 has resumed its Figure '7 position and when the strips 29 have been manually drawn forward until the registering apertures in the strips are in the position to receive the peg I4, the wedge I5 will nd an opening for entering the apertures of the strips 29 to automatically maintain the alignment of those strips. When the peg I4 is returned by the spring 20 to its extreme position at the right, the spring 2| will exert a light but yieldable upward pressure against the under surface of the lower of the strips 29. The peg I4 may complete its movement to extreme elevated position as shown in Figure 7 only when the strips 29 have been drawn manually forward until the left hand edge of the aperture 24 is in position to receive the peg I4 which then enters the aperture 24. The right hand surface of the peg I4 comes into contact with the right hand side of the aperture 24 and functions as a stop to any further withdrawing movement of the strips 29. When the withdrawing movement of the strips 29 is stopped by the peg I4 the left hand side of the aperture 24 is the furthest possible distance away from the left hand side of the peg I4. The wedge I5 will then clear the left hand side of the aperture 24 and drop to its lower position, preventing any backward movement of the strips 29 and thus automatically holding these strips in alignment.

In Figure 13 I show a modied form of wedge. The peg I4' is secured to a plate I6 and it has the general shape ofthe peg I4. -It'has a bevelled groove'for easy sliding thereon of the wedge I and it has means for preventing lateral movement. The Wedge I5 is rmly secured at the side'of a link 3I having a pivot 32 in the frame of the register. The operation is identical with that of the form shown in Figure 1I) and it will be apparent that numerous other modifications are possible. The wedge I5 is gravitationally operated toward operative position in the aperture of the paper strips. The two links 3| are secured together, Vthus providing means for holding down the ends of the sales slips and for keeping the paper smooth. l

The means for initiating and manually controlling the movements are best shown in Figures 5, 6, and 9. The plate 18 has a laterally projecting arm 33 of L-shape. A plunger 34 with its head 35 is spring pressed by means oi' the compression spring 36 to hold the plunger and its hinge in the Figure 5 position. A link 31 connects-the arm 33 to the plunger 34. The head 35 is moveable in the socket 38. By pressing down on the head 35 to depress the plunger 34,

the link 31 is moveable from the Figure' 5 t0 the Figure 6 position-and this in turn causes the movement of the L-shaped arm 33 which carries with it the plates I6 and I8. The spring 36 tends to restore the plunger 34v to the Figure 5 position but the detent 21 in the rack 26 will prevent retrograde movement of the parts until the initial movement has been completed by the lfull depression of the head 35.

In the bottom of the autographic register is a compartment for slideably receiving a-tray 39 which is designed for receiving the slips upon which the records have been entered. This tray has overhanging flanges 4B, the inside edges of which are spaced apart by a distance less than the length ofthe strips which the tray is tohold. As a result of these flanges the strips of paper must be buckled slightly when they are inserted into the tray and they must be similarly buckled in order to remove them. By constructing the tray in this manner the slips cannot become 1 but at the same time it is so arranged that it may easily be opened. Projecting from the rear of the drawer is a rod 42 having its end portions secured by a lcoil spring 43 which is anchored at its ends in the free end of the rod 42 and to a xed portion of the frame of the register. Insertion of the drawer 39 to its full closing position will thus expand the spring 43 which will then tend to force the tray into its open position as shown in Figure 3. One of the sides of the tray is provided with an ear 44 which is formed in the tray itself as shown in Figure 12.v In the fully closed position of the tray the ear 44 will be in the position shown in Figure 5, the Figure 6 position showing the position of the parts when the tray is unlatched and in open position. In Figure 5 the latch 45 holds the tray in closed position. This latch is secured to a leaf spring 45 which is secured to a xed part 41 of the register. If it is desired to open the ftray immediately after the memoranda has been made, the

plunger 34 ls depressed to actuate the strip shifting-mechanism and the end of the nger in the socket 38 may then actuate by a trigger pull action the latch release for the tray. This release consists ol a plunger 48 which is usually held in its uppermost position by means of a coil spring 49. The plunger 48 is connected through 'a link to a ringer piece 50 for normally closing an aperture 5I in a wall of the socket 38. Pressure of the finger against the finger piece 50 will 'then .cause the movement of the plunger 48 from its Figure v5 to its Figure 6 position to bear against the leaf spring 45 and to thus release the tray to open position. If, however, it is desired to open the tray without actuating the strip shifting mechanism, there is providedan aperture 52 in the bottom of the register so that the operator may insert his finger to engage the end of the latch spring 45 to depress the leaf spring which will also unlatch the tray. In order to prevent the insertion of the finger into the path of the latch 44, I provide a fixed shield 52a above the aperture52 and spaced therefrom.

The operating mechanism is almost entirely secured to the base and frame of the' autographic register and is almost entirely enclosed by the top and side walls which are of unitary construction and which are designed to seat over the frame. The'top wall has an opening as shown in Figure 1 for exposing a portion of the upper strip while one of the end Walls has an opening near its base for the passage therethrough of the drawer 39. Access to the working parts is important for the insertion of the strips of record and carbon paper and for this reason the top is made readily attachable and releasable. At one end there is a separable hinge connection 53 While at the other end there is an aperture for receiving a spring pressed button 54. This button is connected to a slideable rod 55 and is held normally in operative latohing position by means of a spring 56. The head 54 serves as a latch to hold the cover in place but the cover may easily be released by pressing on the button 54 and lifting that end of the cover about the hinge 53.

I provide also a novel and very important device for maintaining the carbon paper flat and without buckling. As shown particularly in Figures 15 and 16, the roll of carbon paper 51 rests in the chamber I3 at one side of the register andv it passes out through an opening between the

rollers

58 and 59. These rollers are so positioned relative to the vpath of the carbon paper as to resist the tendency of the roll of carbon paper to bind against the opening edges of the chamber I3. The carbon papers travel from one side to the other of the register between the strips of record paper which travel lengthwise of the register. Heretofore, the ends of the carbon paper have been held under a knife clamp resulting in uneven clamping action and the buckling of the carbon paper with consequent rough edges after tearing and with imperfect carbon impressions. For preventing this I provide a hingedstrap 60 of metal or other suitably stiff material under which the carbon paper must travel. 'I'his strap 60 is adapted to rest against the side of the frame of the autographic register and to retain the edge portion of the carbon paper in the clamping relation with the side of the frame of the autographic register. The edge of the strap 60 also funtions as a tearing edge for the removal of discarded portions of the carbon paper. For the convenience of the operator the strap 60 is slightly buckled at 6I for the insertion of a fingernail in lifting the strap 60 on its hinges and for frictional contact between the cover II and the strap 60 with the minimum of surface area in contact. When the cover is placed in position as shown in Figure 16, the side of the cover will bear against the strap 60 to effectively clamp the end edge portion of the carbon paper.

It will be noted that my autographic register is in the form of a rectangular parallelopiped with substantially smooth and continuous surfaces and without the usual crank handle or other parts projecting from the register. Even the paper strips 29 are entirely enclosed and in the position shown in Figure 7 so that they cannot be accidentally torn.

In operation, the peg and wedge and the associated parts are in the position shown in Figure 7. The entry is made in the usual manner on the top strip 29 so that carbon duplicates are made on the strips below the top strip. After the entry is made, the operator depresses the head 35 from its Figure position to its Figure 6 position and this causes the movement of the peg and wedge from their Figure '7 position to their Figure 8 position. The forward pressure on the peg I4 bearing against the wedge nI5 causes the wedge to move upwardly into the position shown in Figure 8. The continued movement of the peg I4 then forces the paper strips 29 into the position shown in Figure 8. During the forward movement of the peg I4 the pin 23 travels in the raceway 22 until the pin passes the end of the spring 25 into the position shown in Figure 8. Should the operator release the pressure on the head 35 before this movement has been completed, the peg I4 is prevented from moving rearwardly through the action of the detent 21 on the rack 26 but the movement may be completed by further pressure on the head 35. When the parts reach the Figure 8 position the peg I4 is free to complete its circuit but the path of its travel is governed by the movement of the pin 23 against the under side of the spring 25. The movement itself will be automatic about the pivot I9 under the influence of the spring 20. Since the pin 23 is held in its lowermost position against the under side of the spring 25, the peg I4 cannot contact with the strips 29 until the pin 23 passes the rearward end of the spring 25, When this point is reached the spring 2| will force the peg I4 upwardly against the under side of the strips 29 but in rear of the aperture formerly occupied by the peg in the strips 29. At this point the peg I4 will bear against the under side of these strips While the wedge I5 will be yieldably held against the upper surface of the strips. The operator then grips the protruding end of the strips 29 with his thumb and forenger and draws them out until the next succeeding aperture in the strips is in position to be occupied by the peg I4 and the wedge I5. The strips are then torn off on the tearing edge of the slot 30 and the register is ready to receive the next entry.

One copy is usually turned over to the customer as a `sales slip while the other copies are preserved. For the convenient storage of the retained copies, the drawer 39 is in its most convenient position for the operator. If these copies are to be inserted into the drawer immediately after they are torn from the strips 29, a slight pressure on the nger piece 50 will release the latch ofthe drawer into its opening position immediately in front of the operator. The presysure on the finger piece 50 may be made simultaneously `with, the downward pressure on the head 35. Since the action of the spring 43 in opening the drawer 39 causes the rapid movement of the drawer with the possibility of jamming the stored records, the drawer has the anges 4I] for retaining the stored records under the sudden movements of the drawer 39. Should it become necessary or desirable, however, to open the drawer without shifting and thus wasting a portion of the strips 29, the operator may insert his finger through the aperture 52 to release the latch so that it will be free to move to open position under the inuence of the spring 43.

A defect in prior autographic registers is the inadequate clamping arrangement for the ends of the carbon paper. By hinging the metallic strap 60 in parallel relation with the carbon paper as shown in Figure 15, the strap 60 will apply equal pressure to all parts of the carbon paper to thus avoid buckling or wrinkling. At the same time the edge of the strap 60 serves as a tearing edge for the removal of the discarded portions of the carbon paper. The adjustment of the carbon paper is made while the cover of the autographic register is removed from the base so that when the cover is again applied to the base the side of the cover will bear against the strap 60 to force it into and to maintain it in clamping engagement against the ends of the carbon paper as shown in Figure 16.

Having thus described my invention in such full, clear, and exact terms that its construction and operation will be readily understood by others skilled in the art to which it pertains, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the `United States is:

l. An autographic register having strip alignment maintaining means, a drawer slideably secured to said autographic register, overhanging front and rear flanges on said drawer, spring means for yieldably maintaining said drawer in open position, a latch for maintaining said drawer in closed position, means for releasing said strip alignment maintaining means, means associated therewith for releasing said' latch after the release of said. strip alignment maintaining means, and other means for releasing said latch, said last-named means being independent of said strip alignment maintaining means whereby said latch may be released either with or without the release of said strip alignment maintaining means.

2. An autographic register having a platen for the passage thereover in a forward direction of the superposed strips of paper, a tearing edge for tearing off the portions of the strips containing the memoranda, means for preserving the alignment of the strips of paper, finger operated means for releasing said alignment preserving means and for shifting forwardly the strips of paper, a drawer secured in said autographic register and slideable forwardly therein, a latch for maintaining said drawer in closed position, a finger operated release associated with said finger operated means for releasing said latch after the release of said alignment preserving means, and a second finger operated release for said latch, said second finger operated release being independent of said means for releasing said alignment preserving means,

3. In an autographic register having means for slidably supporting superposed strips of paper with aligning apertures, a peg, means for supporting said peg and moving the same into an aperture when the strips are drawn forwardly, a wedge, and means for moving -said Wedge into said aperture into lateral engagement with said peg immediately after the entrance of said peg, said peg and said wedge being so shaped that when so positioned in lateral engagement with each other theysubstantially fill the aperture of the strips for preserving the alignment of the strips.

4. In an autograph-ic register having means for slidably supporting superposed strips of paper with aligning apertures, a peg, means for supporting the peg below said -supporting means for the strips of paper and for urging the same upwardly so as to bear against the strips and enter an aperture thereof when they are drawn forwardly, a wedge, and means for supporting said. wedge above said paper strip supporting means and urging the same downwardly into pressing contact with the upper surface of the strips at such la point that said wedge will enter said aperture adjacent said peg, said peg and said wedge being complementary in transverse outline for substantially filling said aperture to thereby maintain the alignment of the strips.

5. In an autographic register having means for slidably supporting superposed strips of paper with aligning apertures, a peg, means for supporting said peg below the path of movement of the strips and for urging the same upwardly so as to bear against the strips and enter an aperture thereof when they are drawn forwardly, a Wedge, and means for supporting said wedge above the path of movement ofthe strips forwardly of the peg and urging the same downwardly into pressing contact'with the upper surface of the strips so that said wedge will enter said aperture adjacent said peg immediately after the entrance of the peg, said peg and said wedge being complementary in transverse outline for substantially filling said aperture of the strips to thereby maintain the alignment thereof.

6. In an autographic register having a platen with an aperture therein and arranged for controlled sliding movement thereover of superposed strips of paper with aligning apertures, aligning members, one a peg and the other a wedge, means for supporting one of said aligning members underneath the platen and yieldably urging the member upwardly through the aperture of the platen and into an aperture of the strips of paper when the strips are drawn forwardly over the platen to a point at which the aperture of the strips is immediately above the aperture of the platen, and means for supporting the other of said aligning members above the platen and for yieldably urging said member against the upper surface of the strips of paper to enter said aperture immediately after said first mentioned aligning member enters the same, said peg and wedge aligning members being complementary in form for substantially filling the aperture of the strips.

7. In an autographic register having means for slideably supporting superposed strips of paper with aligning apertures, a pair of strip aligning members, means for supporting said members on opposite sides of said paper supporting means and for causing said members to enter from opposite sides an aperture of the strips of paper when said strips are drawn forwardly, the contacting surfaces of said members being inclined whereby when said members are moved toward each other, one of said members is forced out of the plane of the paper strips. and means for moving one of said members against the other of said members. l

8. In an autographic register having means for slideablyl supporting superposed strips of paper with aligning apertures, a pair of strip aligning members, means for supporting Vsaid members on opposite sides of said paper `supporting means and for causing said members to enter fromopposite sides an aperture of the strips of paper when said strips are drawn forwardly, the contacting surfaces of said members being inclined whereby when said members are moved toward each other, one of said members is forced out of the plane of the paper strips, means for moving one of said members against the other of said members, and means for preventing retrograde movement of said one member before said other member has been forced out of the plane of the paper strips.

9. In an autographic register having means for slideably supporting superposed strips of paper with aligning apertures, a pair of strip aligning members, means for supporting saidmembers on opposite sides of said paper supporting means and for causing said members to enter from opposite sides an aperture of'the strips of paper when said strips are drawn forwardly, `the contacting surfaces of said members being soi inclined that When a first of said members is moved towards the second of said members in the direction of travel of the strips of paper, the pressure of said rst member will force the latter out of the plane of the paper strips land out of engagement with said first member whereby further movement of said first member will exert a forward pressure on the strips to shift the aperture of the strips out of alignment with said second member, and means for imparting movement to said first member in the direction of said second member.

10. In an autographic register .having means for slideably supporting superposed strips of paper with aligning apertures, a pair of strip aligning members, means for supporting said members on opposite sides of said paper supporting means and for causing said members to enter from opposite sides an aperture of the strips of paper when said strips are drawn forwardly, the contacting surfaces of said .members being so inclined that when a first of said members is moved toward the second of said members 'in the direction of travel of the strips of paper,

- the pressure of said rst member will force the latter out of the plane of the paper strips'and out of engagement with said first member whereby further movement of said first member will exert a forward pressure on the strips to shift the aperture of the strips out of alignment with said second member, and means for imparting movement to said first member first in the direction of said second member to cause said first member to move said second member out of the plane of the paper strips and. out of engagement with said first member and then in a direction transverse to said supporting means to cause said first member to move out of the plane of the strips of paper.

1l. In an autographic register having means for slideably supporting superposed strips of paper with aligning apertures, a pair of strip aligning members, means for supporting said members on opposite sides of said paper supporting means and for causing said members to enter from opposite sides an aperture of the strips of paper when said strips are drawn'forwardly, the

contacting surfaces of said members being so inclined that when a first of said members is moved toward the second of said members in the direction of travel of the strips ofA paper, the pressure of said rst member will force said second member out of the plane of the paper strips and out of engagement with said first member whereby further movement of said first member will exert a forward pressure on the strips to shift the aperture of the strips out of alignment with said second member, means for imparting movement to said first member rst in the direction of said second member to cause said first member to move said second member out of the plane of the paper strip and out of engagement with said rst member and then in a direction transverse to said supporting means to cause said rst member to move out of the plane of the strips of paper, and means for preventing retrograde movement of said first member before said member has moved out of the plane of the paper strips.

12. In an autographic register having means for slidably supporting superposed strips of paper with aligning apertures, a pair of strip aligning members, means for supporting said U members on opposite sides of said paper supporting means and for causing said members to enter from opposite sides an aperture of the strips of paper when said strips are drawn forwardly, the contacting surfaces of said members being so inclined that when a first of said members is moved toward the second of said members in the direction of travel of the strips of paper, the pressure of said rst member will force said second member out of the plane of the paper strips and out of engagement with said first member whereby further movement of said first member will exert a forward pressure on the strips to shift the aperture of the strips out of alignment with said second member, means for imparting movement to said first member rlrst in the direction of said second member to cause said first member to move said second member out of the plane of the paper strips and out of engagement with said rst member and then in a direction transverse to said supporting means to cause said first member to move out of the plane of the strips of paper, means for preventing retrograde movement of said first member before said member has moved out of the plane of the paper strips, and means for automatically returning said rst member to a position in contact with the under surface of the paper strips at a point in the rear of the aperture previously occupied by said aligning members.

13.. In an autographic register having means for slideablyY supporting superposed strips of paper with aligning apertures, a pair of strip aligning members, and means for supporting said members on opposite sides of said paper supporting means laterally adjacent each other and for resiliently urging said members against the strips of paper so that when said strips of paper are moved to a point at which an aperture thereof is adjacent said members, said members will successively enter said aperture in lateral engagement with each other, said members being so shaped that when placed in lateral engagement with each other their transverse outline corresponds substantially in size and shape to that of the strip apertures.

14. In an autographic register having means ior slideably supporting superposed strips of paper with aligning apertures, a pair of strip aligning members, and means for supporting said members on opposite sides of said paper supporting means laterally adjacent each other and for resiliently urging said members against the strips of paper so that when said strips of paper are moved to a point at which an aperture thereof is adjacent said members, said members will successively entersaid-aperture in lateral engagement with each other, said members being so shaped that when placed in lateral engagement with each other their transverse outline corresponds substantially in size and shape to that of the strip apertures and the engaging faces of said members being inclined so that a wedge action is obtained to thereby more effectively iill said aperture and hold said strips in alignment.

15. In an autographic register having means for slideably supporting superposed strips of paper with aligning apertures, a pair of strip aligning members, means for supporting said members laterally adjacent each other and for resiliently urging the same in the direction of said paper supporting means so that when said strips of paper are moved to a point at which an aperture thereof is adjacent said members, said members will successively enter said aperture in lateral engagement with each other, said members being so shaped that when placed in lateral engagement with each other their transverse outline corresponds substantially in size and shape to that of the strip apertures.

16. An autographic register having strip alignment maintaining means, a drawer slideably secured to said autographic register, a latch for maintaining said drawer in closed position, means for releasing said strip alignment means, said releasing means comprising a plunger, a tubular guide member therefor, and means biasing said plunger to its inactive position, and releasing means for said latch comprising a finger piece extending into an aperture in said guide member at a point such that it is normally concealed by said plunger but accessible upon said plunger being moved to its alignment means releasing position against the action of said biasing means.

17. In an autographic register having means for slidably supporting superposed strips of paper with aligning apertures, a pair of strip aligning members, and means for supporting said members on opposite sides of said paper supporting means laterally adjacent each other and for resiliently urging said members against the strips of paper so that when said strips of paper are moved to a point at which an aperture thereof is adjacent said members, said members will successively enter said aperture in lateral relation with each other, said members being so formed that when so positioned in lateral relation in the aperture they firmly engage the wall of the aperture at a plurality of points.

18. In an autographic register having means for slidably supporting superposed strips of paper with aligning apertures, a peg and a wedge, means for supporting said peg and said wedge on opposite sides of said paper supporting means laterally adjacent each other, and means including said peg and wedge supporting means operative when said strips of paper are moved to a point at which an aperture is adjacent said peg and wedge to move said peg and wedge into said aperture laterally adjacent each other.

19. In an autographic register having means for slidably supporting superposed strips or paper with aligning apertures, a pair of strip aligning members, means for supporting said members on opposite sides of said paper supporting means laterally adjacent each other, and means including said aligning members supporting means operative when said strips of paper are moved to a point at which an aperture is adjacent said members to move said members into said aperture in lateral relation with each other, said members being so formed that when so positioned in lateral relation in the aperture, they rmly engage the wall of the aperture at a plurality of points.

20. In an autographic register having means for slidably supporting superposed strips of paper with aligning apertures, a pair of strip aligning members, means for supporting said members laterally adjacent each other and for resiliently urging the same in the direction of said paper supporting means so that when said strips of paper are moved to a point at which an aperture thereof is adjacent said members, said members will successively enter said aperture in lateral relation with each other, said members being so shaped that when placed in lateral relation with each other they rmly engage the wall of the aperture at a plurality of points.

21. In an autographic register having means for slidably supporting superposed strips of paper with aligning apertures, a pair of strip aligning members, means for supporting said members laterally adjacent each other and for resiliently urging the same in the direction of said paper supporting means so that when said strips of paper are moved to a point at which an aperture thereof is adjacent said members, said members will successively enter said aperture in lateral relation with each other, said members being so shaped that when placed in lateral relation with each other in the aperture they firmly engage the wall of the aperture at a plurality of points, and means for rst moving oneof said strip aligning members out of said aperture and then moving the strips of paper by moving the other of said members in the direction of travel of said paper.

22. In an autographic register having means for slidably supporting superposed strips of paper with aligning apertures, a pair of strip aligning members, means for supporting said members laterally adjacent each other and for resiliently urging the same in the direction of said paper supporting means so that when said strips of paper are moved to a point at which an aperture thereof is adjacent said members, said members will successively enter said-aperture in lateral relation with each other, said members being so shaped that when placed in lateral relation with each other they firmly engage the wall of the aperture at a plurality of points, and means for moving one of said strip aligning members in the direction of travel of said paper and thereafter retracting said member from said aperture.

23. In an autographic register having means for slidably supporting superposed strips of paper with aligning apertures, a pair of strip aligning members, means for supporting said members laterally adjacent each other and for resiliently urging the same in the direction of said paper supporting means so that when said strips of paper are moved to a point at which an aperture thereof is adjacent said members, Said members will successively enter said aperture in lateral relation with each other, said members being so shaped that when placed in lateral relation with each other they firmly engage the wall of the aperture at a plurality of points, means for moving one of said strip aligning members in the direction of travel of said paper and thereafter retracting said member from said aperture, and means for preventing retrograde movement of said last named means until said member has been withdrawn from said aperture.

24. In an autographic register having means for slidably supporting superposed strips of paper with valigning apertures, a first plate pivotally mounted at the forward end of said register, a second plate vertically slidably mounted on said first plate and including a strip aligning member adapted to enter said aligning apertures when in registry therewith, biasing means for urging the slidable plate towards the paper, reciprocable means operative when moved in one direction to swing said first plate and slidable plate forwardly for initiating a feeding movement to the strips and to depress the strip aligning member at the forward limit of oscillatable movement, means for preventing retrograde movement of said plates until said strip aligning member has been withdrawn, and means for returning the plates after feeding movement and upon return movement of said reciprocable means.

25. In an autographic register having means for slidably supporting superposed strips of paper with aligning apertures, a pair of strip aligning members, means for independently supporting said aligning members laterally adjacent each other and for individually moving said members into an aperture of said strips when said paper is moved to a point at which said aperture is adjacent said members, the supporting means for one of said members comprising a hinged plate, a reciprocable plunger operatively connected to said hinged plate, and means including said plunger operable when said plunger is moved in one direction first to force one of said members out of said aperture, then to advance said papers by swinging said plate, and finally to withdraw the other of said members from said aperture.

26. In an autographic register having means for slidably supporting superposed strips of paper with aligning apertures, pivotally mounted means including a strip aligning member adapted to enter said aligning apertures when in registry therewith, actuating means operable to swing said pivotally mounted means forwardly for initiating a feeding movement to the strips and to withdraw the strip aligning member from said apertures at the forward limit of oscillatable movement, and means for preventing retrograde movement of said pivotally mounted means until said strip aligning member has been withdrawn.

27. In an autographic register having means for slidably supporting superposed strips of paper with aligning apertures, a strip aligning member adapted to enter said aligning apertures when in registry therewith, means for moving said strip aligning member forwardly for initiating a feeding movement to the strips and to withdraw the strip aligning member from said apertures adjacent the forward limit of its movement, and means for preventing retrograde movement of said aligning member until the same has been withdrawn from the apertures.

WILLIAM R. WRIGHT.