US2451330A - Sheet feed for writing machines - Google Patents

Description

Oct- 12, 1948. J. A. GILBERT ETAI- SHEET FEED FOR WRITNG MACHINES JOSEPH A. G/fer 0ct."12, 1948. JJA. GILBERT ET Al.

SHEET FEED yFOR WRITING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 25, 1945 INVENTORS, JOSEPH A. 6/5527 PAUL A. Joli/food Oct 12, 1948. J. A. GILBERT ETAL 2,451,330

SHEET FEED FOR WRITING MACHINES l Filed Aug. 25, 1945 l s sheets-sheet s IN VEN T ORS JOSEPH A'. 6M 55er BY /QUL JOHNSON We 717mg;

Patented Oct. 12, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHEET FEED FOR WRITING MACHINES' Joseph: A. Gilbert..A San Francisco, and Paul A. Johnson, Emeryville, Calif., assignors to Moore Business Forms, Inc., Emeryville, Calif., a corporation 'of Delaware Application August23, 1945, SerialiNo. 612,200

5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in feeding mechanisms for use in connection with various forms of Writing machines, suchas typewriters, tabulators andthelikc, and more particularly to feeding` devices of this type especially adapted for starting orI initiating the feed of record units individ'ual-ly'one;atl a time, such as, record sheets, letterheads or unitary assemblies of record and transfer sheets, from a supply pack or stack of such units supportedi'n a supply magazine on or adjacent-to the Writing machine.

It is a general object of the invention to provide for machinesv ofi-the class mentioned, an improved feed starting or initiating mechanism for initiating the feed of the record units one at a time from a supply pack and avoiding the starting or moving of morethan one of the recordunits ata time from the supply pack, or otherwise dis-- turbing the other record units ofthe supply pack.

Another and'more particular object of the invention is to provide for machines of the class mentioned, anY improved feedzinitiatingmecha-v nism-for the record units embodyinganimproved controlstep positioned adjacent to the forward end of the supply pack of the-record units,- and positioned relatively to'the starting or initiating` feed member so as. to assure thelstarting of only one record unit at a time fromthe supply pack, and for delivering the units thusstartedsequentially one atv atime intowriting position.- on the writing machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a feedinitiating device` for machines of the class mentioned, anrimproved arrangement'of a rotary feed initiating roll or. member arranged to have aperipheral speedsubstantially the same as the peripheral speed of the rotary platen, either by having the feed. initiating. rollsubstantially the same in diameter as` that of the platen and driven at the. same rotary speed, or having it of a diierent diameter andA operatively gearedto the platen so as. to travel. at the same peripheral speedas theplaten.

Still another object. of. the invention is to provide for. machines of the.classmentioned,anim proved supporting magazine forv the supplypack of. record units. constructed and` arranged for quickand easy installationon. dilerent types of Writing, machines Without structural.V4 alteration or modification of the writing machine and arranged` for supporting. the record units-in an. advantageous position for being. fed orstarted one at a. time for delivery Iinto Writing position in the Writing machine. Also, the supporting magazine is,4 constructed and arranged for adjustment thereof toaccommodatedifferent lengths and widths of record units or forms.

A further objectof the inventionis -to provide an improved supporting magazine and feedfstart in'gmechanis-mfor record' units, adapted for; in

stallation on different makes or different:v modelsfof Writing machines Without necessitating structural modication of either the machine or. the magazine@ and only requiring. different designs. of brackets or attachingv devices for attachment to the various forms of Writing machines,

Other objects of the invention Willvbe in'part pointed out inthe following detailedv disclosure of ani illustrative but preferred embodiment?- ofthe invention', and Willbe in part'obvious as'thef disclosure proceeds,

The invention accordingly comprises-the fea.- tures of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which Will be exemplied inxthe construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the applicationlof which will be indi@ cated inthe claims.r

For a more comprehensive, disclosure.: ofthenature, objects and advantages of theinvention, reference is, had to the following detailedde.-v sc-riptionof theillustrative embodiment thereof and to the accompanying draw-ings in which:

Fig. l is a partially diagrammatic, perspectivev sdeviewof a well-known type of Writing machine equipped with the invention;

Fig.- 2'is a partially diagrammatic, longitudinal' vertical. section of the platen carriage of the Writing machine shown in Fig. 1, parts being shown in elevation;

Fig.. 3 is a fragmentary elevational-view of the feed starting mechanism showing its voperative connection .with theY Writing platen of the Writing machine;

Fig. 4. is,Y an enlarged fragmentary perspective View showing rthe construction andattachment of the supporting mechanism. ofV the supply magazine,- andshowing the improved controlling step structure for assuring the starting ofthel record units only one'at a time from the supply pack;

Fig; 5 isl adetailsectional View of the .attachment ofthe supply magazine;

Fig. 6 is a detail section and side elevation ofthe improved controlling. step showing the auxiliary controlling roller;`

Fig. 'l is a fragmentary section and front elevation. showing the controlling step-and auxiliary controlling. roller; and

Fig. Slis a detail transverseV sectional view-showing the attachment of the adjustable rear supporting bracket. for the record units.

Referring to the drawing for a detailed description of the illustrative embodiment of the invention there shown, it will be noted that the improved feed initiating device is applied to a typewriter of known construction having a body or frame I and being equipped with a rotary platen 2 rotatably mounted in a shiftable carriage I which is supported in well-known manner for letter spacing movements transversely of the typewriter frame I. The platen 2 is provided with a supporting shaft for spindle 3 provided with operating knobs 4 at opposite extremities whereby the platen can be manually rotated step by step for line spacing in the well-known manner. The typewriter may also be equipped with a paper table 5 and pressure rollers 6 mounted upon a supporting arm I and controlled by means of a manually operated control member 8, all as well known in the art. Type bars 9 are operated by known mechanism for inscribing the data upon the record forms or units supported against the platen 2.

writing machine, it will be understood that it is especially adapted for application to different forms of writing machines of Yvarious different manufacturers, or to different types of machines made by the sa-me manufacturer. For supporting a supply pack I of record forms in Vposition to be introduced into Writing position on the platen 2 of the writing machine, a support or magazine I I is provided. This magazine has a bottom providing a support for the supply pack Il). As shown, this bottom includes opposite side plates I2 having opposed longitudinal upright guiding flanges I3 for guiding the edges of the record units, and also an intermediate supporting plate III. At their forward ends the bottom plates I2 and I4 are curved downwardly as indicated at I5 so as to present an upwardly convexed supporting surface causing the forward ends of the record units to assume also an upwardly or outwardly convexed position I0 at the forward ends of the units, It will be understood that the record units contained in the supply `pack I0 may assume any Well-known form :of record material for receiving inscriptions such as record sheets with letterheads and the like, or record units embodying a plurality 'of record sheets and interleaved transfer sheets arranged in transfer relation with the record sheets and bound together in units as disclosed, for example, in the Stevens Patent 2,120,161. The purpose of arranging the record units with the upwardly or outwardly conf vexed end portions is fully described below.

Transverse supporting rods or bars I6 extend transversely'of the magazine beneath the bottom plates I2 and III, being connected to the latter in ,any desired manner as by means of attaching plates II connected in any desired manner to the bottom plates, as for example, by means of inposite ends by means of longitudinal connectingV members or platesV I8 attached to the ends of the bars by screws as shown or in any other* preferred manner. The undersides of these connecting members are formed with slots or Seats I9 K An attaching screw 3i connected to thesupport-l 4. for receiving the attaching device later described.

As best shown in Fig. 2 a longitudinally advjustable bracket or supporting plate 2B is provided for supporting engagement with the rear end of the record supply pack I, having on its underside a guiding and supporting rib 20' 'adjustable longitudinally in a, longitudinal slot 2| formed in the bottom plate I4 and held in adjusted position by means of a thumb screw 22. The forward -or supporting part of this bracket 20 is preferably inclined forwardly as shown so as to cause the record units of the supply pack I0 to be fanned or arranged in stepped relation as shown and may be bent or adjusted to different inclinations, This disposition places the record units in advantageous position for feeding one at a time from the supply pack as later described. The longitudinal adjustment of the supporting plate 20 enables supply packs of different lengths to be supported in operative position in the magazine.

Also, the magazine is adjustable for width so as to accommodate supply packs of different widths. This is accomplished by supporting the side and intermediate sections with end bottom plates I2 and I!! for lateral adjustment toward and away from each other along the transverse supporting rods I6. As above mentioned, the attaching plates or flanges I1 are formed with aper-` tures receiving the supporting rods so that the different sections of the magazine can be adjusted relatively to each other to vary the width of the magazine and to vary the spacing of the guide flanges I3 in accordance with the width of the supply pack I. As shown in Fig. 2, these lsections of the supporting magazines are retained frictionally in adjusted position by means of the spring friction clamps 23, one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 2. It will be understood that the other bottom plates I2 are similarly equipped with these spring friction clamps. Each clamp in the embodiment shown has a leaf spring at- Y tached to the underside of the corresponding bottom plate and is deflected downwardly at its forward end and placed under stress so that the curved forward end portion 24 thereof is urged frictionally against the underside of the supporting rod I6 with which it conforms,

For supporting the improved feed Yinitiating device and supply magazine in position on a, writing machine, supporting brackets 25 are provided, as best shown in detail in Fig. 4. There will ordinarily be two supporting brackets 25, one at each of the opposite sides of the feed initiating mechanism. Each supporting bracket, as shown, is provided with a plurality of attaching members or extensions 26 and 21 which may be especially variantly formed and lproportioned in order that the improved mechanism maybe attached to different types or models of Writing machines, those shown being adapted for attachment to a typewriter such as shownin Fig. 1. Each attaching bracket 25 is formed at its rear with an attaching extension`28, to which is detachably connected bymeans of VVa screw or the like, a supporting member jorY plate v29Y preferably in the form an angle bar Vas shown in Fig. 5.and Y provided with'supporting seatsv 3l) adjacentto its opposite ends for the reception insupporting relation of the transverse supporting bars I S.

ing Yangle plate 29 and a thumb nut 3I provide a clamping device for attaching'the supporting K members I8 and 29 in assembledY relation, as vshown in Fig. 5. It will be understood that the magazinemaybe readily assembled and supportedlin operative' 'position merely by lowering the supporti-ng rods I6 intoy supported position. in the seatsV 301 with the longiutdinal. connecting plates' I8-positionedoutside of and in substantially parallel contacting relationfwith the upright flangefof the anglemember 23and the slot I9 in'engagement with the shank ofthe threaded attaching member 3|; When'the thumb screw 3lv is sety into tight position, the magazine will be firmly attached in operative position to the supporting bracket 25.` f

Also detachably connected to the supporting brackets 25 isl a'transversely disposed supporting plate.32 arranged adjacent to the forwardly disposed curved ends of the bottomv plates I2 and I4 ofthe magazine and. providing a control step cooperating with the forwardendsofnthe record units in the supply pack for .assuring the separation of the units one at a time from the pack and preventing more than one unit to'be separated atany `one time.vv As shown, this control step forms a supporting surface r plate disposed at an angle to the outwardly ccnvexed supporting surface of the bottom platesV I2 'and I4. Although this angle between these supporting surfaces may vary somewhat, depending upon conditions such as the quality of the ematerial in the record units, it is shown as an obtuse angle whichiswelladapted for the accomplishment of the desired separating function mentioned. Also attached to the underside of the control step @Zbymeans of a leaf spring 33 is a friction eliminating and feed controlling roller 34 preferably engaging in a slot or opening 35 in the control plate or step. By

means ofthis arrangement the control roller 34 can engage with the ends of the recordv units, being separated and fed forwardly so as to control the separation more eectively; also it engages with the feed initiating roller i0 to eliminected to the extensionA 3l thereof which is dei' tachably connected by means of a coupling 38 to the adjacent end of the platen` shaft as shown in Fig.. 3 while theleft `arm 3B may be connected directly to the platenl shaft 3. At their upper ends theseeswingingr arms-3@ are connected by a connecting and supportingbar 33 sowas to provide a swinging feeder frame for mounting the feed initiatingl rollerl 43 for swinging movement toward and away from the adjacent outwardly eonvexed ends of the supply pack it, This feed initiating roller'or member 43 is preferably faced around its periphery with rubber I or similar friction material for more'effective frictional cooperation in feeding relation with the record units. The roller is mounted for rotation with a rotary supporting shaft d2 driven in unison with'rotation of1 the platen 2 by means of sprockets yi3 mounted respectively uponY the extension 3i Aof thel platen shaftV and-upon the supporting shaft 42 and connected by a driving sprocket chain 44.,

Carried by the supporting bar 39 of the feeder frameY `is a. guiding'lmember or plate 45 adjacent to the feed initiating roll im and. adapted to engage with the record units as they are successively separated from the supply packr to guide them .to the paper table and into writng'position on the platen 2.

As above mentioned, the improved sheet 'feeding `device is adapted for installation and operationtupon various.; makes andmodels. of .Writing machines. It is necessary .on1yfto"use #different forms of supporting brackets. ZEfOratt-aChment ofthe improved feed initiating unit` to different models of writingmachines.- Supporting brackets 25 may be especially designedfor-each=different model of lwriting, machineto which'fthe feeding mechanism `is to befsupplied, anda pair of 'such supportingbrackets may be suppliedwith-l each feed mechanism nadaptedI for installati-ons on the customers particular form lof,writing-machine;V Onlythe lattaching members 26 and 21 need' to be modified for different models of writing machines, the other parts kof thevsupporting brackets being standard for attachment theretoof the supporting plates 29 andthe controlstep 32.

When the improved sheetffeeder constructed as `above described-,is supplied' .to awritingmachine asdisclosed fand Va packor assembly -IU of record forms is loadedinto the magazine as par-f ticularly shown .,in Figs. 1 and 2, the forward ends `of thev record-.forms are downturnedgand outwardly convexed -asshown with 4the adjacent ends ofthe forms resting upon the control.A step or plate 32. It will benoted that the Aend of,y the supply packfadjacent its conveXed porti-on is received within the obtuse angle between thecontrol step 32 and the adjacent downwardlycurved ends `l5 of the bottom vsupporti-ng plates I2 and llt, The adjacent ends of the record units may be somewhat fanned asv shown inv Fig; 2 with the top-most. and eacnsucceeding record unit projecting very slightly beyond the-underlying record units, or the rear supporting bracket '20 may be adjusted inv such. inclined position,- that all. of the forward ends of the record unitswilllie substantially in contacting relation `with the control step 32.

When the supply .pack lll is Aloaded intolthe magazine and` adjusted thereinas described, the feeder unit or4 frame is swung-rearwardly onl the swingingsupporting.arms 36of the feeder frame so that the feedinitiatingroll or'wheelsengages at itsfriction peripheral. surface-4| with the out'- wardlly presented surface of the adjacent endsof the recordunits- As. shown in Fig.; 2, it is preferable that the feed initiating roll engage with the outer record unit of the supply pack near to the extremity ofthe adjacentconvexed end portion thereof,A and near to but slightly 4above the feed control step 32. WhenY the feeder frame is in this position the guide plate or member will be disposed adjacent to the paper table 5 of the writing machine. This guide can be adjusted byI bending it one way or anotherto bring. it into the proper guiding relation with reference, tothe paper table of diierent models of typevvritingv machines. Itiwill be understood that the record units in the supply pack l0 may be ofy different forms, such for example, as single Arecord sheetsv or. letterheadaor assemblies of two Acontrok :step: Also;l as thestarting.movement of the top record unit proceeds, its forward movement and separation from the supply pack will be aided by the adjacent control roller 34 engaging with the underside of the record unit adjacent to the starting roll 40. This control roller has a yielding engagement with the advancing record unit due to its mounting by means of the leaf spring 33, the control roller being freely rotatable in its bearings. As rotation of the platen and the starting roll continues, the record unit being forwardly fed is delivered to the paper table ybeneath the guiding member `l5 into the grip of the platen 2 between said platen and the pressure rolls 6, whereupon the advancement of the record unit is continued into writing position by the feeding action of the platen, and subsequent feeding of the record unit for line spacing is then continued in the usual manner when the record unit has passed beyond the feed initiating roll 40. Also when there are no record forms or supply pack in the magazine, or no record unit is being separated from the pack, the roller 34 contacts directly with the starting roll 4I! in such a way as to prevent undue friction or binding to the rotary movement of the starting roll. As above mentioned, it will be noted that the peripheral feeding speed of the initiating roll 40 is substantially the same as that of the platen 2, this result being effected either by making the initiating roll the same diameter as the platen 2 and driving it at the same speed, or making it of a different diameter from the platen roll and using a ratio of driving and driven sprockets y43V for driving it at such a rotative speed that the peripheral speed will be substantially the same as that of the platen.

Since certain changes may be made in thel above construction andrdierent embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention having thus been fully described, the following is claimed: Y

l. In a device of the character described in combination, a writing platen,Y a supply magazine having a supporting surface for receiving a supply of record units at one side-of said platen, feed initiating means including a friction member positioned for engagement with the record units in said magazine and operatively connected for operation in unison with said platen for initiating feed of the record units one at a time from said magazine toward said platen, a control step positioned adjacent to the forward ends of the record units in said supply and having a supporting surface angularly dis-posed to the forward part of the magazine supporting surface and adjacent to said friction member so as to prevent the starting by said friction member of more than one of said record units at a time, and a controlling roller positioned adjacent to said angularly disposed control step and'in adjacent cooperative relation with said feed initiating friction member in controlling engagement withV the opposite sides cf the record units from theV sides 'thereof engaged by said friction member.

' 2. In a device of the character described in Y combination, a'supporting magazine for a supply of record units, Vsaid magazine having a plu-V rality. of normally spaced supporting members for saidA record units, a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse supporting bars for said supporting members, longitudinal connecting members connected to said supporting bars, spaced supporting brackets adapted for connection to a writing machine and having longitudinal supporting members respectively positioned in substantially parallel contacting relation with said longitudinal connecting members, and detachable connecting means for detachably connecting said longitudinal connecting members to said longitudinal supporting members of saidsupportin brackets.

3. In a device of the character described in combination, a supporting magazine for a supply of record units, said magazine having a plurality of normally laterally spaced supporting members for said record units, a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse supporting bars for said supporting members, longitudinal connecting members connected to said supporting bars, spaced supporting brackets adapted for connection to a writing machine and each having a plurality of seats for respectively receiving and supporting said transverse supporting bars when said longitudinal connecting members are engaged respectively outside of said supporting brackets7 and detachable, securing means for removably attaching said longitudinal connecting members to said supporting brackets'.

4. In a device of the character described in combination, a supply magazine for supportingy a supply of record units and having a curved supporting surface for supporting the forward end portions of the record units in outwardly conveXed position, feed initiating means including a friction member positioned for engagement withV the outwardly convexed end portions of the record units in said magazine, said friction member being mounted for movements toward and away from said record units, a control step positioned adjacent to and forwardly of the forward outwardlyconvexed end portions of said record units and having a supporting surface positioned forwardly of said Voutwardly convex end portions of the record units in the supply magazine and being angularly disposed to said curved part of the magazine supporting surface so as to prevent initiating movement by said friction member of more than one of said record units at a time, and

a yieldably mounted controlling member positioned adjacent to said angularly disposed control step and in adjacent cooperative relation `with said feed initiating member in yielding controlling engagement with the opposite sides of said record units from the sides thereof engaged by said friction member.

5. In a device of the character described in combination, a supply magazine for supporting a supply of record units and having a curved supporting surface for supporting the forward end portions of the record units in outwardly con- VeXed position, feed initiating means including a friction member positioned for engagement with the outwardly convexed end portions of the record units in saidy magazine, a'control step positioned adjacent to and forwardly of the forward outwardly conveXed end 'portions Yof said record units and having a supporting surface positioned forwardly` of said.` outwardly convexed end por-V tions of the record units inthe supply magazine and being angularly disposed to said curvedpart f l of the magazine supporting surface so as to prevent'initiating movement by said friction mem-V i 10 in adjacent cooperative relation with said feed UNITED STATES PATENTS initiating friction member in controlling engagement with the opposite sides' of the record units Nugeg Marg Novnge 1909 from the sides thereof engaged by said friction 1 104504 Holiday Jul, 21 1914 membe- 5 1203657 scheelde; Nov 7 1916 p LSEIT' 1,718,467 Labarre June 25, 1929 1,247,071 Bennett Nov. 20, 1917 REFERENCES CITED 2,227,643 Hageman Jan. 7, 1941 The following references are of record in the 10 le of this patent:

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