US2629194A

US2629194A - Fingerprinting machine

Info

Publication number: US2629194A
Application number: US195843A
Authority: US
Inventors: Johnson Lloyd Fredrick; Tennant Richard Thomas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-11-15
Filing date: 1950-11-15
Publication date: 1953-02-24
Anticipated expiration: 1970-02-24

Description

Feb. 24, 1953 F. JOHNSON ET AL 2,629,194

FINGERPRINTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTORS lliclhnsorz ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 24,

FINGERPRINTING MACHINE Lloyd Fredrick Johnson and Richard Thomas Tennant, Portland, Oreg'.

Application November 15, 1950, Serial No. 195,843 6 Claims. 01. 41-4) This invention relates to a fingerprinting machine.

An object of this invention is to provide a machine which is designed for use in banks or other money handling institutions which will permit the impressing of fingerprints on checks, notes or other documents for identification purposes.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fingerprinting machine which includes means whereby the quality of the fingerprint may be quickly determined.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fingerprinting machine which is of simple construction and can be used with various types or kinds of ink, including invisible ink.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of this kind which includes means for adjusting the document holder so that documents of different sizes may be used with the machine.

With the above and other objects in view, our invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a fingerprinting machine constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the machine.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of this invention.

Referring to the drawings, and, first, to Figure 1 to 4, inclusive, the numeral l0 designates generally a housing which is formed of a base opposite side walls I2, a top wall l3, a downwardly curved front wall l4, and a downwardly inclined rear wall I5. An intermediate wall or partition I6 is disposed between the side and top walls and the bottom wall thereby dividing the housing into a pair of compartments l1 and |8, respectively. The compartment I1 is the forward inking compartment and has mounted therein an ink well or reservoir I9 which is disposed on the bottom 20 of a substantially U- shaped frame 2|. The frame 2| is formed with vertical sides 22 which are positioned against the inner sides of the side walls I2.

An inking roller 23 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 24 carried by a. pair of levers 25 which are rockably mounted on a pivot shaft 26 extending between the side walls l2 at the forward ends of the latter.

' A spring 21 is secured between the forward end of each lever 25 and the bottom member 20 so as to constantly urge the levers 25 to rock upwardly at their rear ends and raise the inking roller 23 into contacting relation with an upper roller 28. The upper roller 28 is secured to a shaft :29 having a crank 30 at one end which extends from one of the side walls |2 so that the roller 28 may be rotated in order to provide for an even distribution of ink on the peripheral surface thereof. The upper roller 28 projects through an opening or slot 3| formed in the front wall |4 so that the projecting portion of the roller 28 may be contacted by the fingers so as to ink the fingers.

A document 32 such as a check, note or the like is adapted to be positioned rearwardly of the roller 28 and engages in a guide member 33 which is positioned between the upright walls of the frame 2|. The guide member 33 is formed of a pair of spaced apart arcuate walls 34 having a plurality of spaced apart slots 35 therein, and the walls 34 are connected at their lower ends by a connecting wall 36. The lower edge of the document 32 is adapted to rest on a plurality of pins 5| which are carried by a bar or rod which is fixed to a pair of levers'38 carried by a shaft 39. The pins 5| project loosely through the slots 35. The shaft 39 is journalled between the uprights of the frame 2|, and as shown in Figure 4 the levers 38 are formed with lateral extensions engaging through arcuate slots 40 formed in the side walls of the housing, and nuts 4|- are threaded onto the opposite ends of the rod or bar 31. The nuts 4| provide a means whereby the levers with pins 5| may be adjusted to any desired position within the guide 33 so that a predetermined portion of the document 32 will project upwardly through the slot 42 which is formed in the top wall I3.

An idler roller 43 is journalled on a shaft 44 secured between the uprights of the inner frame. 2|, and roller 43 is positioned rearwardly of the slot 42 so that when the document 32 is pressed downwardly by the inked fingers the document. will bend downwardly onto the roller 43 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. Rearward movement of the hand pressing onthe document 32 will cause rotation of roller 43 and move the docu ment 32 out of the guide orholder 33.

A light bulb 45 is positioned in a socket 4B which is carried by the partition or intermediate wall |6 within the rear chamber l8. This light bulb is of the type generating black light so that the fingerprints on the document 32 may be readily viewed as the document is moved over the rear portion of top wall 13 and over rear wall l5. It will be understood that the housing l may be formed of translucent material so that the light emanating from bulb 45 will shine through the top wall of the housing. Preferably the side walls of the housing are provided with louvers 41' providing a ventilating means in chamber-l8 to maintain the chamber in a relatively cool condition while the light bulb 45 is lighted. I b

A switch 48 is secured to an upwardly and forwardly inclined wall 49 disposed below the rear wall l and is connected to the socket 46. The wall 49 is formed with an opening50 to provide for projection of light rays to light up the document placed on a table at the rear of the housing.

Referring now to Figure 5 there is disclosed: a modified form of this invention embodying a housing 52 having a dome-shaped top wall 53 and a base 54. A partition or dividing wall 55 divides the housing 52 into; a forward printing I1 positioned within the forward chamber 56. An

inking roller 5! is rotatably mounted on. a shaft 52 carried by levers 63 and levers 53 are rockably mounted on a shaft 54 extending across the upright sides 59' of U-shaped member Bil- Gne or more springs 65 are secured to the forward ends of the levers E3. and secured: as at 66 to the bottom 61 of the frame 60;. A transfer roller 58 is secured to a crankshaft '69 jonrnalled between the side members 59: of frame 60', and inking: roller 5| is held against roller 68 and partially projects: into reservoir 58 so as to provide for spreading of ink on roller 68 when the latteris rotated. by the crankshaft 69'. A portion of roller 58 projects outwardly through a slot 75 formed in the forward portion of top wall 53 so that roller 58 may be contacted by thefingers in order to transfer the ink from the periphery of roller 63 to the fingers.

The frame at isprovided with a pair of downwardly' and inwardly inclined slots Tl within which a document is adapted to be positioned, and the topwall 53 is also formed with a slot '52 in order that a portion of the document may project above the top wall 53'. An idler roller T3 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 14 carried by the sides 59 of frame and is positioned rearwardly of the slots i2. Roller I3 projects through an opening '15 formed in the top wall 53 and is adapted to be" rotated by the fingers pressing the document downwardly and rearwardly asthe fingers and hand are moved from roller 68 upwardly and rearwardly;

A light bulb T6 is mounted in a socket [1. dis.- posed in. chamber 51, and chamber 51 is provided with a rear opening (-8 through. which the light I reservoir is. If. desired, this ink may be. of the i invisible type. The document which is to be fingerprinted is inserted in the guide 33, and levers 38 are vertically adjusted so that a substantial portion of document 32 will project above the top Wall l3. Roller 28 is rotated by turning crank 35 so that the surface of roller 28 will be thoroughly and evenly inked by transfer of the ink from roller 23. The fingers are then pressed onto the projecting portion of roller 28, and the hand is then moved forwardly so that the now inked fingers will come into contact with the projecting portion of document 32. The hand is moved additionally rearwardly with document 32 riding over rear roller under pressure from the hand and fingers.

The particular quality of the finger print can be easily and quickly determined by moving the document rearwardly to operative position with respect to light bulb 45,

What is claimed is:

1. A fingerprinting machine comprising a housing formed of a base, opposite side walls, atop wall and. front and rear walls, an ink reservoir in said housing, a transfer roller, means supporting said roller to dispose a portion thereof partly in said reservoir and partly above said reservoir, a second roller rotatably disposedin said housing engaging said first roller, said housing having a transverse slot through which said second roller partly projects, a crank fixed relative to said second roller, and a third roller rotatably carried by said housing rearward of said second roller and projecting partly through said top wall, said housing having a slot in said top wall between said second and third rollers for removably receiving an article to be imprinted, the third roller being positioned for rotation by the rearward il1QVi3i6I1tOf the article being imprinted.

2. A fingerprinting machine comprising a nousing formed of a base, opposite side walls, a top wall and front and rear walls, an ink reservoir in said housing, a transfer roller, spring-pressed means-supporting said'roll'er to dispose a portion thereof partly in said reservoir and partly above said reservoir, a second roller rotatably disposed in said housing engaging said first roller, said housing having a transverse slot through which said second roller partly projects, a crank fixed relative to said second roller, and a third roller rotatably carried by said housing rearward of said second roller and projecting partly through said top wall, said housing having a slot in said top wall between said second and third rollers for removably receiving an article to be imprinted, the third roller being positioned for rotation by the rearward movement of the article being imprinted.

3. A fingerprinting machine comprising a housing formed of a base, opposite side walls, a top wall and front and rear walls, an ink reservoir in said housing, a transfer roller, means supporting said roller to dispose a portion thereof partly in said reservoir and partly above said reservoir, a second roller rot'atably disposed in said housing engaging said first roller, said housing having a transverse slot through which said second roller partly projects, a crank fixed relative to said second roller, a third roller rotatably carried by said housing rearward of said second roller and projecting partly through said top wall, said housing having a slot in said top wall between said second and third rollers for removably receiving an article to be imprinted, the third roller being positioned for rotation by the rearward movement of the article being imprinted, and a light bulb in said housing rearwardly of said third roller for illuminating the article after the latter has been imprinted.

4. A fingerprinting machine comprising a housing formed of a base, opposite side walls, a top wall and front and rear walls, an ink reservoir in said housing, a transfer roller, means supporting said roller to dispose a portion thereof partly in said reservoir and partly above said reservoir, a second roller rotatably disposed in said housing engaging said first roller, said housing having a transverse slot through which said second roller partly projects, a crank fixed relative to said second roller, and a third roller rotatably carried by said housing rearward of said second roller and projecting partly through said top wall, said housing having a slot in said top wall between said second and third rollers for removably receiving an article to be imprinted," the third roller being positioned for rotation by the rearward movement of the article being imprinted, and means limiting the projection of the article into said latter named slot.

5. A fingerprinting machine comprising a housing having an upper wall with a pair of transverse openings spaced longitudinally thereof, an inking roller projecting through the forward one of said openings, means in said housing for distributing ink on said inking roller, a second roller rotatably carried by said housing and partly projecting through the rearward opening, said housing having a transversely disposed slot in said upper wall between said openings for receiving an article to be imprinted, the second roller being positioned for rotation by the rearward movement of the article being imprinted, and a crank connected with said first named roller.

6. A fingerprinting machine comprising a housing formed of a base, opposite side walls and a dome-shaped top wall, said top wall having a pair of spaced transverse openings spaced longitudinally thereof, finger inking means projecting through the forward one of said openings, and a roller rotatably carried by said housing projecting through the rearward opening, said top wall having a slot between said openings and said side walls having slots extending downwardly from said first namedslot for removably receiving an article to be imprinted, the second roller being positioned for rotation by the rearward movement of the article being imprinted.

LLOYD FREDRICK JOHNSON. RICHARD THOMAS 'I'ENNANT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,857,822 Roberts May 10, 1932 2,172,904 Cox Sept. 12, 1939