US2782543A

US2782543A - Finger printing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2782543A
Application number: US559051A
Authority: US
Inventors: Soto Ricardo Hurtado
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-01-13
Filing date: 1956-01-13
Publication date: 1957-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 1974-02-26

Description

Feb. 26, 1957 R. H. SOTO 2,782,543

FINGER PRINTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 15, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVEN TOR. e/cweoo Ava/@7400 so 7'0,

)zW/Mm, puma: Amw- Feb. 26, 1957 R. H. SOTO FINGER PRINTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 13, 1956 INVENTOR. E/C'AQDO #0972700 8070 14 TTOZ/VEYa 2,782,543 FINGER rnrNriNn APPARATUS Ricardo Hurtado Soto, Bogota, Coiomhia Application January 13, 1956, Serial No. 559,tl5l

9 (Jlaims. ((31. 41-4) This invention relates to an apparatus to be used in the recording of finger prints, and more particularly has reference to an apparatus in which the finger printing becomes, to a substantial degree, an automatic operation.

Summarized briefly, the apparatus is so designed that on depression of a finger the print of which is to be recorded on a card, web of paper, or the like, a switch mechanism is closed to energize a motor driving a chain. The chain is adapted to shift a carriage on which is mounted a finger-inking assembly and a print recording assembly. The inking assembly, at this stage of the operation, moves under the finger, and is automatically brought into a finger inking position. At the same time, means is provided to advance a web of paper. On return of the carriage, means is actuated by continued movement of the chain shifting the printing assembly and the web of paper into a finger-contacting position, to record the print. Thus, a fully automatic operation is achieved, operated through a single cycle responsive to the initial depression of a finger to first, ink the finger; second, advance the web one step to provide a clear surface on Which the print may be recorded; third, record the print; and fourth, stop operation with all parts returned to their initial position, ready for printing of the next finger.

The main object of the present invention is to provide automatic finger printing apparatus, since heretofore, the

operation of making finger prints has been a manual operation, wherein a finger is first inked and then pressed against a paper or card while being rolled to record a full finger print. This has in general required considerable exertion on the part of the worker, since each finger must be held, properly inked, and then rolled upon the paper. This is undesirable, particularly where a large number of finger prints must be recorded, and in accordance with the present invention, the finger printing operation becomes fully automatic, responsive merely to the depression of the finger to be printed. As a result, the finger printing can be carried out without the constant attendance and efiort on the part of a worker, or at most, a single worker can merely observe the proper operation of a substantial number of the machines, so as to supervise the recording of the finger prints of a number of persons at a single time.

A further object is to provide means assuring uniform inking of the finger, as well as means adapted to assure the making of a proper print in every instance, through the use of a flexible support for the finger and card adapted to be shifted automaticallyinto a finger-embracing position in which it is in contact with the finger over the full area of the print.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and. from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a finger printing nited States Patent apparatus formed according to the present invention, in its initial or starting position;

, Figure 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the inking assembly of the apparatus, said assembly being shown in full lines in its initial position and in dotted lines in its ink-receiving position;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the finger print recorder assembly, said assembly being shown in full lines in its initial or rest position and in dotted lines in its finger print recording position; and

Figure 4 is a front elevational view, portions being broken away, of the means for initiating operation of the apparatus.

The reference letter W designates a wall, on which the apparatus is mounted, although it will be understood that the apparatus can be mounted upon a suitable support frame without impairment of its operating characteristics in any way.

Stationarily mounted upon the wall W is an elongated, horizontal support bar 10, and slidably reciprocable upon the bar is a channeled, elongated slide 12.

Projecting forwardly from the slide 12, adjacent one end thereof, are closely spaced pins 14. These support for vertical sliding movement upon the side 12 the finger print recorder assembly 15 including a Y-shaped frame having a vertically extending leg 16 formed at its lower end with an inwardly, laterally projecting extension 1.8. A longitudinal, closed slot 20 of leg 16 receives pins 14 to mount the recorder frame for vertical slidable movement upon slide 12. V The recorder frame includes horizontally spaced, vertical support arms 22 from one of which extends an ear 24 to which is connected one end (see Figure 3) of a contractile pull-back or return spring 26 connected at its other end to slide 12 to normally return the recorder frame to the lower position thereof shown in full lines in Figure 3. Carried by and projecting forwardly from arms 22 are printing band support plates 28 formed at their upper ends with outwardly and downwardly bent retaining flanges 30 in which are engaged the opposite ends of a flexible printing hand 32 extending horizontally between arms 22. The ends of the band are held within the flanges 30 by means of retaining plates 34 secured to the outer surfaces of the respective plates 28.

Plates 28 are pivotally mounted to swing about horizontal axes, and to this end are provided with laterally projecting cars 36 apertured to receive forwardly projecting spindles 38 carried by the arms 22. The plates, thus, can swing upon the spindles between normal, vertical positions shown in full'lines in Figure 3 and inclined positions in which the plates converge upwardly as shown in dotted lines in the same figure of the drawing.

Secured to the upper end of that arm 22 remote from the inking assembly 39 of the device is an inverted L- shaped bracket 40, carrying forwardly projecting

feed rolls

42, 44 spaced laterally of band 32. Secured to the lower one of the feed rolls is a ratchet wheel 46, and feeding between the rolls is a web 48, which can be led ofi a roll of paper, not shown, or alternatively, can comprise a single elongated card. When slide 12 is moved to the right in Figure 1 from its initial position, ultimately a tooth of the wheel 46 will be engaged by a stationary pawl 59 mounted upon wall W a substantial distance laterally of. the initial or start positionof the recorded assembly 15. Therefore, whenever the slide 12 is shifted to the right, the

rolls

42, 44 will be partially rotated, to advance the web48 one step, sufiicient to dispose a clear space under the finger, the print of which is to be recorded.

Projecting forwardly from the upper extremities 'of the arms 22'is awire yoke 52 of U-shape, serving as a holddown for the web 48 whereby to keep the web in intimate contact with the band 32.

A vertically disposed finger rest support arm 54 extends in back of the recorder frame, and at its upper end is formed with a semicircular, upwardly opening finger rest 56 in which one places his finger, with the end of the finger over the band 32, when a print is to be recorded. A window or opening 58 can be formed in the wall through which the finger extends, but obviously this would only be necessary where the device is mounted upon a vertical wall and the wall extends higher than the finger rest 56.

Arm 54 is mounted for vertical sliding movement upon the wall, that is, it does not shift to right or left with slide 12 as does the recorder assembly 15. Rather, the finger rest is disposed where the finger will be depressible against band 32 whenever the recorder assembly is in its initial or normal position shown in Figure 1. To mount the finger rest for vertical slidable movement, there is provided a slot 59 formed longitudinally in arm 54, receiving pins projecting forwardly from the wall.

Whenever the finger is ready to be inked or the print thereof recorded following inking, a forwardly projecting eccentric pin or lug 60 bears against the lower end of the recorder frame or the inking frame, to shift the same upwardly. The pin is provided upon a sprocket 62 rotatably mounted upon the wall W below slide 12.

Trained about the sprocket 62 is a chain 64, driven by a star wheel 66 secured to the shaft of a drive motor 68.

The chain also passes about a forwardly flanged guide plate 70 secured to the wall W.

Pivotally mounted on the wall W for vertical swinging movement is a switch opening arm 72 (see Figure 4) adapted to be engaged by a lug or enlargement 73 carried by the chain, to open the switch controlling operation of motor 68 and thereby halt operation of the apparatus following the recording of a single print.

Arm 72 has intermediate its ends a laterally projecting ear 74 adapted to engage a horizontally reciprocating plunger 76 of a switch mechanism 78. When plunger 76 is shifted to the right in Figure 4, the switch is opened and when shifted to the left, the switch is closed.

Engaging the other end of the plunger is one end of an L-shaped arm 80 pivoted upon the wall W. Bearing against the other end of the arm 80 is an elongated leaf spring 82 connected at its other end to a pin 84 projecting forwardly from wall W. The lower end of the finger rest support arm 54has a forwardly projecting finger 85 bearing against the intermediate portion ofthe leaf spring.

Therefore, whentone places his or her finger in rest 56 and exerts downward pressure against the rest, the rest support arm 54 will be depressed to the dotted line position of Figure 4, lowering the leaf spring and causing swinging movement of arm 80 in a clockwise direction, for depressing the plunger .76 to close the switch 78, thereby energizing motor 68 to drive chain 64.

As previously noted, the chain is driven responsive to depression of the finger to be printed, and the initial effect of movement of the chain is to cause inking of a band carried by the inking assembly 39. The chain has the further function of shifting the slide 12 first to the right and then in a return direction to the left in Figure 1. For shifting the slide or carriage 12 to the right, there is provided a triangular plate 94 depending from carriage 12 and engageable by a lug or enlargement 98 of the chain. When lug 98 engages the plate 94, during movement of the chain in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure 1, the carriage will be carried to the right hand end of the support bar 10, viewing the same as in Figure 1.

To efiect return movement of the carriage, there is provided an elongated, depending, curved arm 96 fixedly secured to the left hand end of the carriage, viewing the same as in Figure 1. Following movement of the carriage 12 to the right in Figure 1, the lug 98 will pass from the upper to the bottom flight of the chain, about the 4 periphery of sprocket 62, and arm 96 will under these circumstances be disposed in the path of the lug, so that with the lower flight moving toward the left in Figure 1, the carriage 12 will be carried back to its initial or starting position. I

However, before moving the carriage 12 to the right in Figure 1, the lug 98 acts to elevate the band of the inking assembly 39 into engagement with an inking pad.

In this connection, the inking assembly includes a support frame generally similar to the frame of the recorder assembly, said frame being of Y-shape and ineluding a vertically depending leg 100 having a rearwardly, horizontally projecting extension 101 at its lower end. Leg 100 is mounted upon the carriage 12 for vertical slidable movement, similar to the recorder frame, and includes horizontally spaced, vertically disposed support arms 102 one of which has a connection to the upper end of a pull-back spring 104 connected at its lower end to carriage 12.

Forwardly projecting plates 106 are pivoted upon the arms 102 to swing about horizontal axes, and connected between the upper edges of the plates 106 is a band 108. A spring-110, of the contractile type, is connected between the lower edges of the plates 106, so as to normally tension the band 108. A similar spring is provided between the plates28 of the recorder assembly.

- Mounted for vertical slidable movement adjacent the inking assembly support frame is a vertically disposed standard 112 longitudinally slotted adjacent its lower end to receive pins 114 to provide for the guided up and down movement of said standard. Rigid with and projecting forwardly from the standard is a band support plate 116, over which the band 108 is tensioned.

An inking pad 118 is pivotally mounted adjacent one end as at 120 upon a bracket 122 secured to wall W. An adjusting screw 124 is threaded in the bracket, against the adjacent end of the inking pad, and it will be understood that when the adjusting screw is threaded downwardly, the opposite end of the inking pad will be raised to an adjusted extent. This provides for an adjusted, normal positioning of the inking pad, with the inking pad being normaly disposed in a position slightly inclined from the horizontal, as shown in Figure 2, with its lower edge resting upon the right hand edge of the band 108 .in the lowered position of the inking assembly. A pullback spring 126 serves to normally return the inking pad to said position thereof, which position is shown in full lines in Figure 2. t a

As previously noted, the lug 98, immediately following energizing of the motor 68, serves to elevate the inking assembly for inking of band 108 by pad 118. Lug 93, accordingly (see Figure 1), almost immediately comes to bear against the lower extremity of the standard 112, shifting the standard vertically, upwardly. Through the medium of plate 116, the band 108 is forced upwardly in the manner shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, with the entire inking assembly being pulled upwardly as necessary against the restraint of the pull-back spring 104. This causes the band 108 to swing the inking pad counterclockwise in Figure 2, to uniformly ink the upper surface of the band 108.

Then, as soon as the lug 93 clears the lower end of the standard 112, the inking assembly drops down since there is no longer any upward pressure exerted against the band 108 by. the plate 116. Immediately thereafter, ing 98 engages projection 94, and during the continued movement of the chain shifts the carriage 12 to the right in Figure l to dispose the inked band under the finger. As the inked band moves out from under pad 118, the depending edge of the pad wipes excess ink therefrom, assuring a uniform distribution of the ink over the band.

When the finger. inking assembly 39 moves under the finger rest 56, pawl 50 engages ratchet wheel 46, advancing the web 48 one step upon the recording band 32.

With the inking assembly now. disposed under the finger, on continued rotation of the chain 'and the sprocket wheel 62 pin 60 will bear against the extension 101 of leg 100 of the inking assembly, and will elevate the inking frame. This presses the band 1&8 against the finger, and on continued elevation of the band, said band will be flexed into a substantially semicircular cross sectional shape, so as to ink not only the bottom but the sides of the finger, over the full area of the print to be recorded. Pin 60 now moves out from under extension 101, and spring 104 pulls the inking assembly down out of engagement with the finger.

Next, the lug 98, moving about sprocket 62 to the lower flight of the chain, bears against the lower extremity of arm 96, and shifts carriage 12 back to its initial position to dispose the recorder assembly 15 under the now inked finger. On continued rotation of the sprocket 62 with leg 16 positioned in front of the same, pin 69 will elevate the recorder assembly support frame, and this will cause the band 32 to be raised into contact with the finger, the web 48 also being raised and flexed about the finger. The print is thus taken off the finger, with a recording of the print, over its full area, being accurately placed upon the web 43. The plates 28, of course, pivot into upwardly converging relation when the print is being made as shown in full lines in Figure 3.

When pin 66 passes out of engagement with extension 18, the recorder assembly drops down under the pull of spring 26, and approximately at the same time, lug 73 engages arm 72, swinging the same to the right in Figure 4- to depress plunger 76 and thereby open the switch '78 for shutting off the motor and causing operation of the device to cease.

To make the finger print of the next finger, one merely inserts the next finger into the finger rest, and on depression of the finger rest, again initiates operation of the apparatus through a single cycle. As will be appreciated, each finger print is recorded adjacent the print previously made, due to the step by step advancement of the web on which the prints are recorded.

In a commercial embodiment, suitable reduction gear ing would be associated with the motor 63, so as to cause rotation of the star wheel at a selected, relatively low rate of speed.

It will be understood that the lugs or projections 93, 73 which extend in opposite directions laterally from the chain, would be located at selected, predetermined positions along the length of the chain, relative to one another and relative also to the pin 69 of sprocket 62, so as to obtain the timed operation of the several components of the apparatus. in Figure 1, for example, the apparatus is shown with the several parts disposed in the position assumed thereby immediately following return of the carriage 12 to its initial position. At this stage of the operation, the lug Q3 still bears against the arm 96,

while the lug '73 is still spaced from the arm 72. Pin 60 is ready to lift the recorder support frame. Immediately following the lifting of the recorder support frame and movement of the pin 64) out of engagement with the leg 16, the lug 73 will reach'the arm 72 to swing the same for deenergizing the motor. Lug 98 at this time will be directly against the lower end of the leg or standard 112, but will not have begun to lift the same. When the finger rest 555 is depressed for the next cycle, elevation of the standard 112 will begin immediately. it will be understood that at the close of each cycle, the lug 73 will slip over the arm 72 after having swung to the left, so that it will not engage the arm 72 again until it has traveled the full length of the chain during said next cycle and all operations have been completed.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles of operation and means presently devised to carry out said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Finger printing apparatus comprising a stationary support; a carriage mounted on said support for horizontal sliding movement; an inking assembly on said carriage adapted for inking a finger the print of which is to be recorded; a printing assembly on the carriage spaced horizontally from the inking assembly and adapted for shifting against the inked finger a web on which the print is to be made; and means for horizontally shifting the carriage to first locate the inking assembly in position to ink the finger and then locate the printing assembly in position to impose the print of the inked finger upon said web.

2. Finger printing apparatus comprising a stationary support; a finger rest on said support on which may be positioned a finger the print of which is to be recorded; a carriage mounted on said support for horizontal sliding movement; an inking assembly mounted on the carriage for vertical sliding movement and adapted, when shifted upwardly, for iniing said finger; a printing assembly mounted on the carriage for vertical sliding movement and spaced horizontally from the inking assembly, said printing assembly adapted, when shifted upwardly, for pressing against the inked finger a Web on which print is to be made; and means for horizontally shifting the carriage to first locate the inking assembly in position to ink the finger and then locate the printing assembly in position to impose the print of the inked finger upon said web. 5

3. Finger printing apparatus comprising a stationary support; finger rest on said support on which may be positioned a finger the print of which is to be recorded; a carriage mounted on said support for horizontal sliding movement; an inking assembly mounted on the carriage for vertical sliding movement and adapted, when shifted upwardly, for inking said finger; a printing assembly mounted on the carriage for vertical sliding movement and spaced horizontally from the inking assembly, said printing assembly adapted, when shifted upwardly, for pressing against the inked finger a web on which the print is to be made; means for horizontally shifting the carriage to first locate the inking assembly in position to ink the finger and then locate the printing assembly in position to impose the print of the inked finger upon said web; and means responding to horizontal movement of the carriage in one direction to advance the web upon the printing assembly.

4. Finger printing apparatus comprising a stationary support; a finger rest on said support on which may be positioned a finger the print of which is to be recorded; a carriage mounted on the support for horizontal sliding movement; an inking assembly mounted upon the carriage for vertical sliding movement and adapted, when shifted upwardly, for inking said finger; a printing assembly mounted on the carriage for vertical sliding movement and spaced horizontally from the inking assembly, said printing assembly adapted, when shifted upwardly, for pressing against the inked finger a web from which the print is to be made; means for horizontally shifting the carriage in opposite directions, to first locate the inking assembly on movement of the carriage in one direction in position .to ink the finger, and then locate the printing assembly, on movement of the carriage in an opposite direction, in position to impose the print of the inked finger upon said web, comprising an endless drive element, at lug thereon, and spaced projections on the carriage one engaged by the lug when the lug is on one flight of the drive element and the other engaged by the lug when the lug is on the other flight of the drive element; and means responding to horizontal movement 7 of the carriage in one direction to advance the web upon the printing assembly.

5. Finger printing apparatus comprising a stationary support; a depressible finger rest on said support on which may be positioned a finger the print of which is to be recorded; a carriage mounted on the support for horizontal sliding movement; an inking assembly mounted on the carriage for vertical sliding movement and adapted, when shifted upwardly, for inking said fingers; a printing assembly mounted on the carriage for vertical sliding movement and spaced horizontally from the inking assembly, said printing assembly adapted, when shifted upwardly, to press against the inked finger a web on which the print is to be made; means for horizontally shifting the carriage in opposite directions, to first locate the inking assembly, on movement of the carriage in one direction, in position to ink the finger and then locate the printing assembly, on movement of the carriage in an opposite direction, in position to impose the print of the inked finger upon said web, comprising an endless drive element, a lug thereon, and spaced projections on the carriage one engaged by the lug when the lug is on one flight of the drive element and the other engaged by the lug when the lug is on the other flight of the drive element; a motor drivingly connected to the drive element; switch means controlling operation of the motor; and means extending between the finger rest and switch means arranged for closing the switch means responsive to depression of the finger rest.

6. Finger printing apparatus comprising a stationary support; a depressible finger rest on said support on which may be positioned a finger the print of which is to be recorded; a carriage mounted on the support for horizontal sliding movement; an inking assembly mounted on the carriage for vertical sliding movement and adapted, when shifted upwardly, for inking said fingers; a printing assembly mounted on the carriage for vertical sliding movement and spaced horizontally from the inking assembly, said printing assembly adapted, when shifted upwardly, to press against the inked finger a web on which the print is to be made; means for horizontally shifting the carriage in opposite directions, to first locate the inking assembly, on movement of the carriage in one direction, in position to ink the finger and then locate the printing assembly, on movement of the carriage in an opposite direction, in position to impose the print of the inked finger upon said web, comprising an endless drive element, a lug thereon, and spaced projections on the carriage one engaged by the lug when the lug is on one flight of the drive element and the other engaged by the lug when the lug is on the other flight of the drive element; a motor drivingly connected to the drive element; switch means controlling operation of the motor; means extending between the finger rest and switch means arranged for closing the switch means responsive to depression of the finger rest; and means on said drive element arranged to open the switch means following movement of said drive element through a single cycle.

7. Finger printing apparatus comprising a stationary support; a depressible finger rest on said support on which may be positioned a finger the print of which is to be recorded; a carriage mounted on the support for horizontal sliding movement; an inking assembly mounted on the carriage for vertical sliding movement and adapted, when shifted upwardly, for inking said fingers; a printing assembly mounted on the carriage for vertical sliding movement and spaced horizontally from the inking assembly, said printing assembly adapted, when shifted upwardly, to press against the inked finger a web on which the print is to be made; means for horizontally shifting the carriage in opposite directions, to first locate the inking assembly, on movement of the carriage in one direction, in position to ink the finger and then locate the printing assembly, on movement of the carriage in an opposite direction, in

position to impose the print of the inked finger upon said web, comprising an endless drive element, a lug thereon, and spaced projections on the carriage one engaged by the lug when the lug is on one flight of the drive element and the other engaged by the lug when the lug is on the other flight of the drive element; a motor drivingly connected to the drive element; switch means controlling operation of the motor; means extending between the finger rest and switch means arranged for closing the switch means responsive to depression of the finger rest; an inking pad disposed above the inking assembly in one position to which the carriage is slidably moved; and means on the drive element for vertically shifting the inking assembly into engagement with said pad prior to shifting of the carriage in said one direction.

8. Finger printing apparatus comprising a stationary support; a depressible finger rest on said support on which may be positioned a finger the print of which is to be recorded; a carriage mounted on the support for horizontal sliding movement; an inking assembly mounted on the carriage for vertical sliding movement and adapted, when shifted upwardly, for inking said fingers; a printing assembly mounted on the carriage for vertical sliding movement and spaced horizontally from the inking assembly, said printing assembly adapted, when shifted upwardly, to press against the inked finger a web on which the print is to be made; means for horizontally shifting the carriage in opposite directions, to first locate the inking assembly, on movement of the carriage in one direction, in position to ink the finger and then locate the printing assembly, on movement of the carriage in an opposite direction, in position to impose the print of the inked finger upon said web, comprising an endless drive element, a lug thereon, and spaced projections on the carriage one engaged by the lug when the lug is on one flight of the drive element and the other engaged by the lug when the lug is on the other flight of the drive element; a motor drivingly connected to the drive element; switch means controlling operation of the motor; and means extending between the finger rest and switch means arranged for closing the switch means responsive to depression of the finger rest; an inking pad disposed above the inking assembly in one position to which the carriage is slidably moved; means on the drive element for vertically shifting the inking assembly into engagement with said pad prior to shifting of the carriage in said one direction; and means movable responsive to travel of said drive element through said cycle, adapted for shifting upwardly the inking and printing assemblies respectively following positioning of said assemblies for inking and printing of the finger, respectively.

9. Finger printing apparatus comprising a stationary support; a carriage mounted on said support for horizontal sliding movement; an inking assembly on said carriage adapted for inking a finger the print of which is to be recorded; a printing assembly on the carriage spaced horizontally from the inking assembly and adapted for shifting against the inked finger a web on which the print is to be made; and means for horizontally shifting the carriage to first locate the inking assembly in position to ink the finger and then locate the printing assembly in position to impose the print of the inked finger upon said web, each of said assemblies including laterally spaced, pivoted plates and a flexible band connected between said plates, the band of each assembly being adapted to be shifted upwardly into engagement with the finger in embracing relation to the finger, during inking and printing, respectively of the finger.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,261,690 Brooke Apr. 2, 1918 2,353,420 Sowash July 11, 1944 2,569,310 Hitt Sept. 25, 1951