US2632685A - Filing drawer for autographic registers - Google Patents

Description

March 24, 1953 c. J. MANUEL. 2,532,635

` FILING DRAWER FOR AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTERS original Filed July 11, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 1:11, 121672 for CHA/nfs .j MANUEL Patented Mar. 24, 195.3

FILING DRAWER FOR AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTERS Charles J. Manuel, Durham, N. H., assigner to Moore Business Forms, Inc., Niagara Falls, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Original application July 11, 1946, Serial No. 682,815. Divided and this application May 10, 1950, Serial No. 161,089

3 Claims. (Cl. S12-319) This invention relates to improvements in drawer structure specially adapted for autographic registers of the portable type but adapted also for use in other relations. Quite commonly in autographic registers of this type the record material'is in the form of long continuous record strips arranged in superposed relation with each other, disposed in a supply pack such as a zigzag at pack in which the long continuous record strips are zigzag-folded, and the record strips are adapted to be pulled out manually from the supply pack over a flat platen or writing plate and checked and aligned in Writing position on the platen where they are interleaved in transfer relation with carbon sheets or similar transfer material.

A further object of the invention is to provide for registers of the class mentioned and for similar structures, an improved and commercially practicable mounting for a projectable and retractable record slip receiving drawer, so as to assure at all times the free and unobstructed movements of the drawer. According to an illustrative arrangement for this purpose, the projecable drawer is mounted so that its opposite longitudinal sides are spaced inwardly from the sides of the casing and protected by interior longitudinal frame `members such as flanged members forming longitudinal reinforcing structural elements of the casing.

A further object of the invention is to provide for autographic registers of the class mentioned, an improved arrangement of a projecting spring for projecting the record slip receiving drawer without binding or other obstruction to the movements thereof.

Other objects of the invention will be in part pointed out in the following detailed disclosure of an illustrative but preferred embodiment of the invention, and will be in part obvious as the disclosure proceeds.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplifled in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

`For a more comprehensive disclosure of the Y nature, objects and advantages of the invention,

reference is had to the following detailed disclosure and to the accompanying drawings, in which: f

lig. 1 is a perspective view of a portable autographic register embodying the invention;

(Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sec-` tion taken substantially on the longitudinal center line of the register;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section substantially on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View of the lower casing section and showing the mounting of the record slip drawer.

This application is a division of applicants prior application Serial No. 682,815 for Casing Structure of Portable Autographic Registers, filed July 11, 1946, which has now matured into Patent No. 2,529,302.

Referring to the drawing for a detailed description of the illustrative embodiment of the invention there shown, the improved structure is embodied in an autographic register of the portable type that can be conveniently moved from place to place as required in actual use, or can be held in the hand of the user during entry of inscriptions upon the record strips. The improved structure embodies a, lower casing section l and an upper casing or cover 2. The lower casing section has a bottom 3 and side Walls 4 and spaced inwardly from the respective side walls are longitudinal structural fianged vframe members or Z-bars 5, the upper flanges 6 of which extend outwardly away from each other and the lower flanges l extend inwardly toward each other in contactingV relation with the bottom 3 to which they are rmly secured in any desired manner, as for example by welding or brazing or by rivets or similar attaching devices. The casing is preferably constructed of sheet metal .or other appropriate sheet material.

Attached to the upper reinforcing flanges 6 of the Z-bars is a horizontal reinforcing division plate 8 preferably extending for substantially the length and breadth ofthe casing and having upturned longitudinal reinforcing edge anges 8. The division plate 8 is thus spaced above the bottom 3 to provide a compartment for a longitudinally movable drawer 9 for receiving loose inscribed record sheets or slips. The drawer is positioned between the Z-bars 5 being thus spaced from each of the opposite side walls of the casing and protected from injury such, for example, as bending or distortion of the casing structure that might be caused by rough handling. TheZ-bars and the division plate 8 and their connections form a reinforced structure and protection for the drawer resistant to distortion so as to insure free unobstructed movements of the drawer in its opening and closing movements.

The upper casing section 2 includes opposite side walls l arranged to align with and close against the corresponding side walls ll of the lower casing section I, a top plate or wall II, a front wall or plate I2, and a rear wall I3. The front wall I2 includes a heavy plate attached in any appropriate manner as by means of rivets to the sheet metal plate forming the cover. The top plate II is provided with a writing opening through which the record strips are exposed for receiving the written inscriptions.

At its forward end the cover section 2 is provided with a hinge I4 connected to the forward extremity of the reinforcing division plate 81 and to the end wall i2, the division plate being onset upwardly at 8a to facilitate hinge attachment. This hinge provides a mounting whereby the cover'section can be swung upwardlyto provide access to the interior of the register. A spring latch I5 is provided at the rear end of the cover section being attached to the latter by means of ka leaf spring l and having a lower latching extension I'I engaging with a latching shoulder I8 formed on the rearward end of the division platea.-

Positioned above the division plate 8 is a platen section I 9 having anV upper flatplaten or writing plate 20 and opposite longitudinal side walls 2l spaced inwardly from the respective side walls I0 of, the cover section so as to form a side compartment for receiving and housing a supply roll 22 of transfer material such as strips C of carbon paper, and also an opposite side compartment for receiving an operating cran-k or handle 23 for record strip forwarding mechanism which may be of any preferred known type Such, for example,. as disclosed in Patent No. 2,570,799,

granted to L. F. Hageman` and C. J. Manuel. The

platen section I9 is attached through lower outturned flanges 2li to the reinforcing division plate 8 and the upper anges of the Z-bars 5 in any well known manner so as to further reinforce the structure.

When. the platen section i9 is assembledy as described,` a housing or storage space is provided between the platen section and the division plate 8 for a supply packet S2 of long` continuous record.

strips S',y any desired number of which may be interfolded in zigzagk formation to form the supply packet. These record strips are led. from the supply packet. into writing` position on the' platen. Beneath the writing opening of the topv plate. Il the recordV strips may be interleaved` in transfer relation with the carbon strips C which are held in operative position at their ends opposite to the supply roll 22 -by means of a clamping bar.

As particularly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the sliding drawer 9 for receiving loose inscribed rec"- ord slips is mounted for longitudinal projectionl and retraction by means of anti-friction supporting rollers 25 rotatably mounted on the outer side of the side walls of the drawer. The vertical or upright webs of the structural Z-bars 5 are laterally spacedv apart a slightly greater distance than the outside width of the drawer Q thus providing spaces in which the rollers 25 are received. These rollers thus are supported upon the lower flanges 1 of the Z-bars which form strong supporting rails for thedrawer. The

frame structure of the register including the longitudinal Z-bars 5 connected to the reinforcing division plate 8 and to the flanges 223 of the platen section I9 provides a strong thoroughly reinforced structure capable of withstandingrough usage and avoiding distortions so as to one end to the rear wall of the drawer by an attachment 2 and at its opposite end to a supporting bracket 28 by means of an attachment 29. As clearly shown in the drawings, the total axial length of the coil spring 26 is preferably greater than the maximum distance between the rear end of the drawer and the point of attachment 29, and thus the coil spring 26 assumes the conguration of a bight configuration, wider or narrower depending upon the position of the drawer. The bracket 28 may b' attached to the bottom 3 of the lower casifig section. A limiting stop for limiting `the forward or projected movement of the drawer is shown in the form of a flexible and pliable member 30 which may be attached at its opposite ends tov the respective spring attachments 21 and 28. 'I'his limiting' stop' 3U may be a string, cord or tape constructed of any suitable flexible materialsuch as textile',` leather or the like. One effective manner of attaching the cord 393 as shown is to pass" it through the entire length of the inner passageway of the' coil spring 26 and to tie the ends together as at- 3|'. The forwarding spring is positioned and .stressed to exert drawer projecting effort substantially centrally of theA drawer so as' t'o prevent irregular or binding movements durfiin'g drawer projection. It will be noted that the s`ids" of the spring 2l; contact with theV rear wall of the drawer and with the bracket 2E, thus assisting cer-ite ng the projecting effort and in steadying thev drawer in its movements and avoiding binding. The drawer is checked: in its neri-nal open position by means of the flexible drawer limiting Ystop 3b? as indicated in brokenl lines in Fig. it willbe noted that the convoluti'cns of the coil sprl-iig- 26 are somewhat open and thi-is the spring is contractible axially to a certain extent and it will be obvious that when the draweifs'iiddenly' reaches its forward limit'cf movement' as deter; mined by the slack portion of the: spihg'fwhich contains the joined ends 3l,- tlie entire` loop ofthe string 30 will be tautened and the drawer will be checked quietly witha hionin'g action.

A latch for holding the drawer closed' positionl in oppositionl to the proj'ecti'g spring 26 may be provided adjacent the forward of the drawer, with automatic latch release operated by the operationV of the record strip forwarding mechanism as fully described in the (Spending application above referred to. 4Sincevt dr wer' latch does not form a partofthe'piesent i'nvention, it is unnecessary to describ'eit in detail.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments' of the invention could be made witliii't" dp'ar i'g' from the scope thereof, it is intended? tlj'iat v'all mattei' contained in the' abov'- description -or shown in the accompanying dra` n'g sh ll be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimit'in'g sense.

The invention having thusb'fi fully-described; the following is" claimed:

1. In a filing structure o'r thejlfile. infeonl'a'iiia` tion: a casing; a drawer supported in saldcasiig for sliding opening and closing movements; va bowed operating spring positioned rearwardly-of said drawer and having itsee'poi-tionsffixedly connected respectively with the rear endof tl'ie':v drawer and with the casing, said spring stressed to urge the drawer toward open position; a

. flexible string extending along the length of the bight of said spring and loosely supported thereby and having extended end portions prolonged beyond the spring ends and joined together whereby the string forms a complete loop, the loop being supported solely by said spring and the prolonged portions of the string extending between the drawer and the casing and providing a limiting stop to check the opening movement of the drawer.

2. In a filing structure or the like, in combination: a casing, -a drawer supported in said casing for sliding opening and closing movements; an elongated coil spring positioned rearwardly of saidK drawer and having its end portions xedly connected respectively with the rear end of said drawer and with a fixed rearward portion of the casing; said spring being of a length greater than the maximum distance between the rear end of the drawer and said fixed portion of the casing whereby the spring assumes a bight form and when said drawer is closed and the ends of the spring are brought closer together the spring is placed under bending stress and the bight is narrowed to urge the drawer back towardv open position; a iiexible string threaded through the central passageway of saidcoil spring so as to be .freely supported by said spring, the string having extended end portions prolonged beyond the spring ends and joined together to form the string into a complete loop, the prolonged portions extending between said drawer and the casing to provide a limiting stop Vmeans to check the opening movement of the drawer.

3. In a ling structure or the like, in combination: a casing; a drawer supported in said casing for sliding opening and closing movements; Ian elongated coil spring positioned rearwardly of said drawer and having its end portions xedly connected respectively with the rear end of said drawer and with a xed rearward portion of the casing; said spring being of a length greater than the maximum distance between tlie rear end of the drawer yand said iixed portion of the casing whereby the spring assumes a bight form and when said drawer is closed and the ends of the spring are brought closer together the spring is placed under bending stress and the bight is narrowed to urge the drawer back toward open position; a flexible string threaded through the central passageway of said coil spring so as to be supported by said spring, the string having extended end portions prolonged beyond the spring ends and joined together to form the string into a complete loop. the prolonged portions extending between said drawerl and the casing to provide a, limiting stop means to check the opening movement of .the drawer; the convolutions of said coil spring being open to a degree permitting a certain amount of axial shortening of the spring when the looped string is tensioned as when the drawer suddenly reaches the outer limit of its opening movement, whereby the movement of the drawer is checked quietly and with a cushioning action.

CHARLES J. MANUEL.

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

UNITED STATES PATENT

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