US2690117A - Strip advancing means for counting and recording mechanisms - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 28, 1954 J. F. BOWERS STRIP ADVANCING MEANS FOR COUNTING AND RECORDING MECHANISMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed May 25, 1950 Sept. 28, 1954 J. F. BowERs 2,690,117

STRIP ADVANCING MEANS FOR COUNTING AND RECORDING MECH Original Filed May 25. 1950 ANISMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR JAMA-IS E .San/5.65

Patented Sept. 278, 1954 2,690,117 STRIP ADVANCING MEANS FQRUGUNTING AND RECORDING MECI'IANI-SMS- James F. Bowers, Memphis',

forty-nine per` cent to Daniel Richard 0. Wilson Original application 164,091. Divided an 20, 1951, Serial No. 242,773

8 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in means for synchronized strip advancement adapted particularly for use with printing means associa-ted with counting and recording mechanisms. More p-articularly this invention relates to means for advancing strips such as elongated paper for receiving printed records and inking ribbons used therewith in synchronism with the printing motion of the printing means, the present means being activated by the motion imparted to the printing means. This invention further relates to' strip advancing means which are so constructed and arranged as to eiect disengagement after' predetermined advancement to prevent undesired shift or advancement of the strip means.

This application is a division of co-pending application, Serial No. 164,091, filed May 25, 1950.

The principal .object of the present invention is to provide in combination with printing means as for counting and recording mechanisms a novel mechanism and arrangement for eiecting .shift or a record receiving strip and ofy an inking strip, including means for disengaging the shifting relation after predetermined strip advancement has been accomplished, Y

A further object of the invention-is to provide in combination with an oscillatable assembly for supporting .and moving a record` receiving strip andl an: inking strip into printing engagement with.. indicia bearingmeans, pawl-and ratchet `means effective upon assembly oscillationto-shift the strips,.which include pawl-carriedmeans for camming by engaging -t-he ratchet means to .effeet disengagement of the paw-1 means from the ratchet means to interrupt suchshift- A further object of the invention is to provide inV a ratchet engaging pawl a cam portion for contacting the periphery of the ratchetv during Aswinging movement of the ratchet to interrupt paWl engagement.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a` newv and novel arrangement of strip shifting means, including means for interrupting such shifting.

A fur-ther object of the inventionis to provide, .in combination `with counting means having printingrecordsreceivingmeans, means for shifting the record receiving means of a new vand novel character.-

A. further object of the inventionis to Agenerally improve the design, construction-and.eiIiciency-,oi` strip shifting means for use in connection with recordlprinting means.

vThe .means by which the foregoing/and other objects of the present' invention are accomplished ay 25, 1950, seri'ar No. athis application August (Cl, lOl-L96) 2 and thev manner -oftheir accomplishment will readily be Aunderstood from the following specication upon referencet'o' the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a' front vView of a counting and recording mechanism, incorporating the present invention with the front wall removed for purposes of illustration.

Fig.l 2 is a 'View similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the present invention with the printing mecha'- nism in lowered`` rest position.

Fig. 3 is'l a fragmentary front view with certainv parts removed for illustration.

Referring vnow to the drawings, the present invention is preferably housed in a casing, includ'- ing'a top 21', vbottom 22, rear wall 23, and side walls'24, 25,4 with` closure of the front of the device being preferably effected by a retainer wall 26 which extends' from top to bottom and side to side.

The` front vand rear walls are interconnected by upper and lower bars which extend respectively' through the' front and rear walls and are preferably secured in place by suitable nuts, these bars including upper bars 29.

The present invention is illustrated in conjunction with a counting andrecording mechanism of the character described in the above mentioned' co-pending' application, which includes a plurality of number wheels 81, each provided with embossed or raised figures mounted as upon a shaft T3.

Mounted in the casing and underlying the number wheelsis the printing mechanism, which includes a pan 1:51 disposed transversely of the casing and supported adjacent one side of the casingv by a rod 155'3`exte'nding between and secured to the front and` rear retainer wallsZS, 2l. Rod 153 passes through a pair of opposite substantially vertically 'disposedI iiangesV 155 forming the front andv rear portions ofv pan 151, andv the pan is rockably supported upon rod |-53'f as a pivot. The top of the ypan is formedof a flat plate-like member 151 which extends between lianges 155fand from which anges 155 depend. Adjacent the pivot rod- 153, topplate |51' is continued in a downwardly and transversely extending arcuate portion' F59y adapted to serve as a support for a roll of record receiving strip, such as paper 161 at'one side of pan' 151. At its remote end roll supporti 159 is preferably provided-'with a resilient .member- I-'II- which-is adapted to overlie and contactoneside of paper roll-1 Bland by its resiliency is urgedinto contact so as to serve as a retainer for thepaperrolh Y Depending pan `flanges are continued be,-

`vond the arcuate roll support portion |59 of pan top |51 by sections |13, fiange sections |13 respectively lying along the front and rear of supporting section |59 and serving as limits against forward or rearward movement of paper roll it Pan plate |51 extends in the opposite direction beneath number wheels 8 i and beyond the number wheels is provided with a transverse slot |15 which is adapted to receive and have threaded therethrough a length of strip |16 from paper strip roll iti. Beyond slots |15, pan is provided with 4a cover portion |11 which is preferably offset upwardly from the plane of plate |51 and otherwise extends between and is secured to pan flanges |55.

Intermediate the length of pan flanges |55 an abutment, preferably a bar |19 forming part of the pan assembly preferably is provided, the bar extending between and being rigidly secured to the respective front and rear pan flanges. Abutment bar |19 is positioned to lie vertically beneath the axis of shaft 13 by which the number wheels are carried. Substantially midway of the length of pan |5| a resilient platen member |8|, as of rubber or similar material, is fixed to the upper face of pan plate |51 and extends from front to rear thereof underlying number wheels S and lyingbetween the Ipan plate and the number wheels. Underlying cover member |11 and substantially in engagement therewith are a plurality of friction rollers |83, mounted upon and secured to a shaft |235 journalled in pan flanges |55. Rollers |83 are adapted to serve as feed rollers for paper strip lle from paper roll lti and the rollers and cover |11 are arranged so that paper strip |1B may be fed therebetween and the frictional engagement of the underside of paper strip |1i by the friction rollers against the under side of cover |11 enables the rollers upon rotation of shaft |35 to effect advancement of the paper |16.

Below pan l5! and in vertical alinement with shaft 13 and pan bar |19, a shaft |89 is journalled in front and rear retainer walls 26, 21. Carried by and fixed to shaft |89 are front and rear earn members |9| which underlie and support pan bar |19 effecting support of pan |5| intermediate its length. Intermediate front and rear cam members N5 are positioned respectively rearwardly and forwardly of front and rear cams iill and are independently supported from shaft it. To one of the cams |95, an arm |51 is integrally secured, which are, at its lower end, is coupled to the armature of a solenoid |99. Soleu noid |95? is preferably rockably mounted upon a rod 2M secured to and extending between front and rear retainer walls 25, 21, and solenoid |953 is further coupled electrically, as by leads 203, to a source of energization. One end of tension spring 2te is coupled to cam arm |91, the opposite end of the spring being suitably attached to the casing as by attachment to a bar 291 and consequently urges movement of arm |91 toward bar 2&1.

A pair of ink ribbon rolls 258 are turn-ably supported by brackets 2tlg, 2|@ above the level of pan |5|, brackets 209, 2li] being preferably attached to pan flanges |55. A ribbon strip 2| l, inked in conventional fashion, which is carried by the ribbon rolls 268, passes beneath the number wheels 8| and overlies paper strip |18 from paper roll itl, paper strip HE being interposed between ribbon strip 2| and platen member |81. Ribbon rolls 253 are each suitably supported upon 4 rods or shafts journalled respectively 299, 2MB.

Adjacent forward pan iange |55 and lying between the pan flange and knob |81 a ratchet 2|?) is 'Fixed to feed roll shaft |35. A pawl 22|, pivoted upon a pin 233 carried by forward wall 2S, is urged toward engagement with ratchet 2 i 9 by a spring 225, and normally lies in engagement with the teeth of ratchet EIS and is adapted to maintain pawl engagement with ratchet 2|@ so as, upon upward movement of pan lti, to effect rotation of feed roll shaft |85 and rollers |83 carried thereby, thus eecting advancement of paper strip i'it from roll |5| during pan raising. Pawl 22| is provided with a cam in the form of an intermediate enlarged bulge portion 22|A which is bulged toward feed roll shaft |65 and ratchet 2 5 so that upon continued upward movement of pan lEi, beyond paper strip advancement, ratchet 2|@ is moved into contact with bulge portion 22|A of pawl 22|, thereby cammingly removing pawl 22| from engagement with ratchet 2li?, interrupting the advancement of paper strip |16.

A pawl 221, oivotally mounted upon a pin 22g also secured to front wall 25, normally lies in engagement with a ratchet fdl, carried by the ribbon roll shaft which is journalled in bracket fifi. Ribbon roll pawl 2221 is formed similarly to pawl 22| of the paper feed to include a cam in the form of an enlarged bulge portion 221A and is urged by a spring 233 into engagement with ratchet '23| in normal position of pan |5|. Ratchet is carried forward of bracket 2li) and between that bracket and front wall 2E. The ribbon roll pawl and ratchet arrangement is adapted similarly to the paper strip feed pawl and ratchet arrangement to effect advancement ci the ribbon strip 2H upon upward movement of pan |5| and as the pan is continued in its upward movement ratchet 23| is moved into contact with pawl cam portion 221A, camming pawl 221 out of engagement with ratchet 23|, thereby interrupting the advancement of ribbon stri-p 2| I.

In the employment of the printing mechanism solenoid |99 is normally positioned in deenergized condition with its armature extended. Upon energization of solenoid |99 through leads 2t3, as upon the occurrence of the energization of the machine or other instrumentality with which the mechanism is employed, the solenoid armature is retracted in conventional fashion moving through the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2. As the solenoid armature is thus retracted, cam arm |91 is moved therewith effecting rotation of cams it, which cams acting upon pan Eel through bar |19 effect raising of the bar and of the pan iiil to which the bar is rigidly fixed, moving pan plate |51, platen Nil, and paper strip |16 upwardly, bringing the paper into underlying contact with ribbon strip 2| and moving thence int-o engagement with the raised figures carried by the number wheels 8|. In this manner a print is made of the record at the instant upon which the mechanism or machine with which the instrumentalities are being employed is first energized. Similarly at the end of the run or upon other deenergization of the machine or other instrumentality with which the present invention is being employed occurs, solenoid |99 upon such deenergization releases its retracting action upon its armature, and arm |91 is returned by tension spring 205 to its initial position with the armature of the solenoid extended. As the arm |91 is thus returned by spring in brackets asco-,1 rv

205, cams |95 are .again moved beneath barA |19 and again effect upward movement-of thebar and of pan |5|, again effecting printing of the record as it exists at the time of such deenergization.

If normal printing is desired shaft |89 may be rotated causing cams 9| to act `upon `bar |19 raising pan |5| and paper strip |16 into printing position, the existing record being thus printed onpaper strip |16.

It will be seen that in each instance printing `is accomplished by cam raising or oscillation of ypan 5 to` carry paper strip |16 into printing engagement with ribbon strip 2| and the lnumber wheels. In the manner described above shift of the ribbon strip 2| and of paper strip |16 is .accomplished on each raising of pan |=5| through lthe engagement of ratchet 23| with pawl 221 andfof ratchet 2 |9 with pawl 22|. It will be seen .that this paper and ribbon shift is accomplished, as described, during the initial portion of pan raising and is completed prior to printing contact, the pawls being disengaged by the interaction of the pawl cams 221A and 22 IA respectively with 'the periphery of the ratchets so that further shift is -prevented until the pan has been vreturned to normal lowered position for subsequent operation, at which time cam engagement with the ratchets is broken and springs 225, 233 are effective to move the respective pawls into 'engagement with the teeth of the respective ratchets for subsequent operation.

It is apparent that other variations in detail -of structure may be substituted for instrumentalities depicted anddescribed herein without departing from the invention involved.

It will be understood that the forms of the devices embodied in theV drawings attached hereto are intended to be illustrative of the example of the invention chosen for the purposes of this disclosure, and that it is the purpose of this application to cover all such changes and modifications in this example which do not constitute departurefrom the spirit and scope of the invention embodied herein.

Iv claim:

1. In a device which includes indicia bearing means, a memben having a plate portion, rockabl'y supported below said means for vertical movement toward and away from engagement with said means, means carried by said member at one side thereof for supplying a strip of inking ribbon and a strip `of kpaper Yto extend between said plate portion and said indicia means, strip shifting means disposed at the opposite side of said member comprising rotatablestrip engaging means carried by said member, ratchet :means coupled to said rotatable means, `pawl means, means independent of sa-id member supporting said pawl means in engagement with said ratchet means, said ratchet means and said rotatable means being moved with said member, said pawl means acting with said ratchet means during rocking movement of said member toward engagement with said indicia means to effect rotation of .said strip engaging. means and 4strip shift, said vpawl means being bulged with the bulge lying in the path of the periphery of said ratchet means during member movement toward engagement with` said indicia means, the bulge of said pawl means being engaged by the periphery of said ratchet means upon movement of said member beyond said strip shift to cam said pawl means out of acting engagement with said ratch- Asaid printing means Ycompletion of membermower-nentk toward said indicia means.

2.1In a -device which vincludes indicia bearing means, a member, having a plate portion, rockablyl supported adjacent said means for movement toward and away vfrom engagement with said means, rolls carried by said member at one side thereof for respectively supplying a strip of inking ribbon and a strip of paper to extend between said plate portion and said indicia means, strip shifting means disposed at the opposite side of said member comprising upper 'and lower rotatable vvstrip engaging means carried by said memben'ratchet means carried by said member and coupled to said rotatable means, upper and lower pawl means, means independent of said member supporting said pawl means in engagement with said ratchet means, said pawl means acting with said ratchet means during rocking movement of said member toward engagement with said indicia means to effect concurrent rotation of said strip engaging means and strip shift, said pawl means being bulged with the bulge lying in the path of the periphery of said ratchet means during member movement toward engagement with said indicia means, the bulge of said pawl means being engaged by the periphery of said ratchet means upon movement of said member beyond said strip shift to concurrently cam said pawl means out of acting engagement with said ratchet means to interrupt said strip shift, prior to completion of member movement ktoward engagement With said indicia means.

3f. Ribbon feed means for use in a vdevice which includes printing means, plate means beneath for supporting an overlying tape-like recordy strip to receive printing from said printing means, means respectively positioned on opposite sides of-said printing means, to support an inked ribbon between a supported said record strip and said printing means, and means rockably supporting said strip-supporting means for swinging movement into engagement with said printingmeans, said feed means comprising rotatable means associated with said ribbon supporting means, aratchet mounted on said rotatable means, a pawl, means pivotally supporting said pawl inengagement between the teeth of said ratchet to effect rotation of said rotatable means and advancement of said ribbon upon swinging movement of said platei'toward and prior to engagement with said printing means, saidv ypawl including a bulged portion positioned at an intermediate point in the path of the teeth of said ratchet to abut the periphery Vof said ratchet during continuation of said plate swinging movement, saidl abutment being effective -to cam said pawl out of ratchet advancing engagement to interrupt ribbon advancement.

4. Ribbon roll feed means for use in a device which includes printing means, plate means beneathv said printing means for supportingr an et means to interrupt said strip shift, prior to overlying tape-like record strip to receive printing, ribbon rolls respectively positioned on opposite sides: of said printing means to support an inked ribbon between a supported said record stripand saidprintingv means, and means rockably supporting said strip-supporting means for swinging movement into engagement with said printing means, said ribbon roll feed means comprising a shaft attached to and supported by said strip supporting means, one of said ribbon rolls being mounted on said shaft, a ratchet mounted on said shaft, a pawl, means pivotally supporting said pawl in engagement between the teeth of said ratchet to effect advancement of said ribbon rolls upon initial swinging movement of said plate toward engagement with said printing means, said pawl including a bulged portion positioned at an intermediate point in the path of the teeth of said ratchet to abut the periphery of said ratchet during continuation of said plate swinging movement, said abutment being effective to cam said pawl out of ratchet advancing engagement to interrupt ribbon roll advancement.

5. Record strip feed means for use in a device which includes printing means, plate means for supporting an overlying tape-like record strip to receive printing, and means rockably supporting said strip-supporting means for swinging movement into engagement with said printing means, said record strip feed means comprising a cover connected to said plate means, a strip receiving slot positioned at a junction of said cover and said plate for the insertion of a record strip therethrough to underlie said cover, a shaft attached to and underlying said cover adjacent said slot, feed roll means carried by said shaft and positioned to frictionally engage an inserted record strip, a ratchet mounted on said shaft, a pawl, means pivctally supporting said pawl in engagement between the teeth of said ratchet to effect advancement of said feed roll means upon swinging movement of said plate means toward engagement with said printing means, said pawl including a bulged portion, positioned at an intermediate point in the path of the teeth of said ratchet to abut the periphery of said ratchet during continuation of said plate swinging movement, said abutment being effective to cam said pawl out of ratchet advancing engagement to interrupt feed roll advancement.

6. Record strip feed means for use in a device which includes printing means, means for supporting a tape-like record strip to receive printing, and means roclably supporting said stripsupporting means for swinging movement into engagement with said printing means, said record strip feed means comprising feed roll means positioned to frictionally engage said record strip, a shaft supporting said feed roll means, a ratchet mounted on said shaft, a pawl, means pivotally supporting said pawl in engagement between the teeth of said ratchet to effect advancement of said feed roll means upon swinging movement of said strip supporting means toward engagement with said printing means, said pawl including a bulged portion, positioned in the path of the teeth of said ratchet to about the periphery of said ratchet during continuation of said swinging movement, said abutment being effective to carn said pawl out of ratchet advancing engagement to interrupt feed roll advancement.

7. Strip advancing means for use in a device which includes printing means, plate means for supporting an overlying tape-like record strip to receive printing, means supporting an inked ribbon strip between a supported said record strip and said printing means, and means rockably supporting said plate means for swinging upward movement into engagement with said printing means, said strip advancing means including record strip feed means and ribbon strip feed means, said record strip feed means comprising a cover connected to and forming a continuation of said plate means offset above the level of said plate means, a strip receiving slot positioned at the junction of said cover and said plate for the insertion of said record strip therethrough to underlie said cover, a shaft attached to and underlying said cover adjacent said slot, feed roll means carried by said shaft and positioned to frictionally engage an inserted record strip, a second shaft attached to and spaced above said plate means, part of said ribbon feed means being mounted on said second shaft, each said shaft having a ratchet mounted thereon, pawls respectively pivotally supported in engagement between the teeth of said ratchets to effect concurrent rotation of said shafts and advancement of said record and ribbon strips upon upward swinging movement of said plate toward engagement with said printing means, said pawls each including a bulged portion positioned in the path of the teeth of its related said ratchet to abut the periphery of said related ratchet during continuation of said plate swinging movement, said abutment being effective to concurrently cam said pawls out of ratchet advancing engagement to interrupt record and ribbon strip advancement, prior to engagement with said printing means.

8. 1n a printing device, a substantially horizontal plate, means supporting said plate for vertical swinging movement, a ribbon windup spool, a shaft supporting said spool, said shaft being carried by and spaced above said plate, a ratchet fixed to said shaft, a pawl, fixed pivot means supporting said pawl, said pivot means being above the level of said shaft and said pawl depending into engagement with the teeth of said ratchet, spring means engaging and urging said pawl toward ratchet engagement, said pawl including a curved cam portion, upward swinging movement of said plate moving said ratchet upwardly causing ratchet rotation while engaged with said pawl during an initial portion of said swinging movement, said ratchet moving into engagement with said cam portion upon continuation of said movenient and prior to completion thereof, engagement between said cam portion and ratchet shifting said pawl and interrupting ratchet rotation prior to completion of said swinging movement.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 571,028 Van Wye Nov. 10, 1896 748,854 Fisher Jan. 5, 1904 918,555 Joslin Apr. 20, 1909 953,423 Kirkbride Mar, 29, 1910 1,249,917 Dieschbourg Dec. 11, 1917 1,787,721 Carroll Jan. 6, 1931 1,937,145 Gollwitzer Nov. 28, 1933 2,126,347 Ruttiman Aug. 9, 1938 2,241,102 Turcl; May 6, 1941 2,304,386 Vahle Dec. 8, 1942 2,502,133 Elliott Mar. 28, 1950

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