US2785628A - Wire printer - Google Patents

Description

March 19, 1957 F. J. FURMAN ETAL 2,785,628

WIRE PRINTER Filed Dec. 30, 1954 BY 8 f ii wv ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,785,628 WIRE PRINTER Frank J. Furman and Harold J. Kistner, Endicott, N. Y.,

assignors to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 30, 1954, Serial No. 478,651 15 Claims. (Cl. 101-93) This invention relates to wire printers and more particularly to wire printers wherein the print wires, to form a character pattern on a matrix containing their print ends, are preset so that they may undergo yielding displacement during printing impact to create characters whose component dots are of uniform impression.

It is heretofore been proposed (United States patent application No. 255,391, particularly Fig. 7, of Reynold B. Johnson, filed November 8, 1951, and issued as Patent No. 2,730,040 on January 10, 1956) to preset print wires by means of a milled code rod operating upon the equally spaced, parallelly extending, and aligned control ends of print wires. Such a rod is formed with high and low portions so that when one of the code rod and aligned control ends is moved against the other, those wires which are abutted by high portions are displaced longitudinally relative to those which are received in the low portions or notches. In a milled code rod, notches are provided on each of four sides of an otherwise solid rod. The diameter and the spacing of the print wires is such that a number of high and/or low portions occur on each of the four sides of the code rod between adjacent print wires. Thus, it can be seen that, by providing for rotation of the code rod so that any of its four sides can be presented to the print wire control ends and also for its translation so that any of the successive high and/or low portions for each print Wire control end can be aligned therewith for movement thereagainst, the selection of a large number of different character patterns may be readily effected; the maximum number being equal to the product of the number of high and/ or low portions for each print wire control end and the number of code rod sides. In the embodiments disclosed in the above identified application, this number would total forty-eight, as provision was made for twelve axial positions on each of four radial spaced code rod positions.

The construction of a milled code rod is a difficult and time-consuming and, hence, costly operation. In forming the transverse cuts in such a rod, considerable heat is developed with the result that the rod undergoes expansion. Thus, not only must the cuts be made at low speed, but some time must be allowed to elapse between cuts to allow for cooling off of the rod so that the new cuts may be accurately located- But the wastage of time is not the only disadvantage; the repeated heating and cooling of the rod reduces its temper so that it must be heat-treated again. It is the necessity for this heat treatment that renders the construction of a milled code rod onerous, for it is extremely diflicult to heat-treat such a rod and yet maintain dimensional stAability. In other words, a heat treatment tends to render the milled rod inaccurate.

Then, too, in more recent wire printer developments, speed has been a prime consideration. In the design of high-speed machines, however, it is desirable that the moving parts be formed of low mass inasmuch as this provides for low inertia with attendant light energy expenditures, reduced wear and tear, and quietness of oper-.

ation. One way of obtaining low mass is by reducing the size of the various moving parts. Normally, this is not attended to wtihout difficulties, particularly as concerns strength, which usually is proportional to the amount of material employed. A milled code rod has other limitations in this respect, as it is almost impossible to reduce the size of the code rod to a desired degree without sacrificing .the differential displacement between the set and preset wires, as the milled rod cannot be cut even to the center line of the nod. In other words, a milled code rod must have a minimum diameter in order to provide the desired displacement and to provide the necessary rigidity of construction.

Accordingly, a main object of the invention is to provide a code nod which is easy and inexpensive of construction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a code rod or wire setting device which can be advantageously utilized in high-speed printers.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a code rod having the desired properties of low mass but yet high strength.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a code rod which provides the desired relative displacement between the preset and non-set print wires.

According to the invention the wire setting device or code rod is formed as a perforated hollow cylindrical rod or tube of steel or like material. The rod is radially perforated at those points which, for a given shifted position of the device, are aligned with the control ends of those print wires which form no part of the corresponding desired character pattern, just as the code rod is milled at similar points. However, in contrast with the milled code rod, the maximum amount of differential displacement which can be imparted to the preset and nonset print wires is determined by the sum of the interior diameter and the thickness of the wall of the tube, as the preset print wires could be moved this distance before the non-set print wires engaged the interior surface of the code rod wall opposite that facing the print wirecontrol ends.

A wire setting device constructed as a perforated hollow rod combines the desired qualities of low mass and high strength, for the elimination of the center portion of a rod eliminates much of the mass without a commensurate reduction in the strength and stability. Moreover, the making of perforations instead of transverse cuts in a rod removes much less material from the periphery of the rod and hence results in a stronger and more rigid wire setting device.

A perforated hollow code rod or tube is also easy and inexpensive of construction. Almost any standard tubular steel stock may be employed as no close tolerances are required, except to some extent in the external diameter. The formation of the perforations in the tube is a simple matter of drilling the tubes at the proper points, as, for example, by a template controlled pantograph machine. The wire printer requirement that the means for imparting translation and rotation to a code rod be fixed in a machine, and hence non-movable with the code rod in its displacements toward and away from the print wire control ends, may be readily complied with as by reducing, by drawing, for example, one end of the control rod and sweating it on one end of a flexible: stem having its other end associated with the rotation and translation imparting means.

A further feature of the invention is that the control ends of the print wires operated by the code rod may be spaced closer together than heretofore, with the result that wire printers of more compact design are obtained.

'the control points to be spaced closer in the radial directio'n because'the making of perforations removes much less" surfacematen'al from arod'than millingopera'tions In the instant embodimenta code rod having seven different and equally spaced sides is provided instead of one having theconventi'onal' four: Since the" number of character patterns which maybe formed is, within the limits defined by the num'ber "of print wires. employed, equal to'the product'of the radial and axial positionsin which the" code-rod-may be disposed, it follows that by increasing'the number of radial positions, the number of axial positions and hencethe length of the code rod maybe re'duced' without affecting-the number of character patterns which can be selected:

The other reas'on is that the use ofperforations' which are circula'r en'able's' the'control points also 'to' be" spaced closer in the axial direction. Less materialmustbe left betweendowportionsorperforations tofo'rm a' high p'ortiomorland, as no long" thin walbofmaterial between cuts is involved; rather, thematerialto either' side of" a center line connecting adjacent perforations rapidly fans out to for'm a broad orreinforeing base for the: very small amount of material constituting a high p'ointor land 'between-perforations' Moreover; adjacent low portions or perforations may overlap." Evidently, then, if the control points may-be located 'closer to each other, the 'code 'rod can b e-further shortened.

Other objects of 9 the-inventionwill be pointed out in-the following description'and claims andillustrated in the: accompanying drawings, whichdi'sclose; by 'way of example,the principleof the in'vention and the best mode which has'b'ee'n' contemplated of applying that principle.

In-the drawings Fig. l" is a vertical view partly in section'of structure's embodyinga coderod constructed according to the i-ns'ta nv I invention;

Ei'g z-2is -an-enlargedview; partly in" section, of a portion ofvtheapparatus shown in" Fig. 1.

Fig. 3' is a view taken along' the section line 3"3"of' Fig. 2'.

Referring more particularly to Fig. l, a typical high: speed printer environment for the code rod constructed according to'theinvention'is shown. In high-speed wire printers wherein movable parts preferably are formed of:low. mass and-yet-high strength, a code rod '10 is.

shown: asb'eing: slidably mounted in a carrier tube 12.1 Thls .carri'e'r tube is mountedin' a housing or bail which guides-the control ends-14a of'a plurality of print. Wires. 14 andtlis reciprocable: in'thedirection of these control. ends to.move'the*-code-rod, which would already have been shifted to a particular position if printing is.t occur; agamstthe-'printwire control ends to effecta. differentials displacement thereof.

The=housing "orbail is formed-of twoparts, aback 14m Thefront plate'18 is provided with a number of extensions 18a which encompass the tube 12-and hold'it in. the vertically aligned grooves in the lugs'l'fiaz When the housing or bailis moved in the direction of the print wire control ends,'.the.control ends remain in place with the housingmoving relative to them.

Thehousingorbail itself may be supported "for sliding movement :by-meansof lowerand upper guides 20 and."

22. suitablyfixed'in thexmachine. A pair of springs '24- act upon the housing at all times to urge it inthe direction away; from the print-wire control ends; Theposition oi 4.; the housing is at all times determined by operating elements," such as the parts 26, which act upon; co'r-' responding lugs 16a of the back plate 16.

The operating elements 26, which may be slidably sup ported in guides 25, haven-normal position which may be determined through. abutting. relationship with corresponding synchronously operated cams 27, and. the. springs 24 cause the housing to be positionedina normal position according, to the location of the operatingelemerits. 26. In this normalposition of the housing, the code rod it is free and clear of the. print wire control ends 14a and thus may be shifted to any desired position. When the operating elements 26 are displaced from thenormal position by the. rotating cams. 27;,,t heytmove the housing against theprint wire control. ends-,, whi chs; remainin place as they are slidablyaecommodated within; thechannels formed inv the front plate 1 3 engaging sur: face. of the backplate 16. This: movement of-:.th.e housing, will be .suflicient to bring the.prinrwirecontrol ends. into the. carrier tube through. openings fall-formed. therein opposite the respective print wires. Movement of,,.th. housing continues so that those .print'wires whichnare aligned. withv a perforation 32. in the code .rod;10; enter the code rod therethrough for a. considerable distance, as. may be. best seen by the dotted line position of;.thcv code rod andcarrier tube in Fig. 3. On thetotherhand those print Wire control endswhich donot findthemselves alignedwith a perforation but. rather with. ailand in the code rodlwill. be displaced longitudinally of the, remainderof such print wires by the distancethat. the: noneselected print wires enter the codev rod, as shown. inFig'. 3.

As. best seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the code rod is formed of seven..evenly spaced columns, numbered. H, 1,2,3, 4,; 5, and .6. (Fig. 3), of variously spaced perforations 32.; Thecode rod perforations 32, each of a size sufficient to readily accommodatea corresponding print wire control; end 14a, are small compared to the distance between. ad: j'acentprint wires, so that a number, actually 8,,may1bc1 located. in each column for each print wire. coderod can be rotated to any of seven radiall-yspaced positions and. translated to any of eight axially spaced; positions, it follows thatfifty-six different combinations. of' print wire displacements or character patterns .m.aybe. effected. Conveniently, a home position, having a.- per: foration for each print wire control end,14a,;is;provided.:

forthe code rod,which entails zero radial displacement:

from .the normal position as well aszero axial displace: ment from the normal position. Inthis .Way, if nosigna'l, or.signals: representative of a. particulancharacter exist, inwhich case no. axial and/or radial displacement wouldt beimparted to-the code rod, no differential.;displat:ement.

would beimparted to any of the print. wires. 1.4,. and, hence. nocharacter pattern would be createdson a printi wirematrix which could: result in a character impression:

during .the subsequent printing stroke.v

The. home position of the code rod in the 'axialdireca. tion. occurs atthe upper end of its range of movement.- in, other.v words, the code rod is displaced downwardin: order tointroduce character patterns other than:v thosewhich can be obtained bymerely rotating the code rodto any of itsother-seven,. that is, .1 throughz7, positions.v

Thecode rod is biased upwardly to this positionby a. spring34 which is swiveledly corrected to. the. upperend;

of "the code rod 10 so that the latter may rotate,.,at;leas.t-. to someextent, independently of the former.

The. shifting of the code rod toits various positions; is accomplished. through a, flexible stem-.36; to-.;-the;upper: end of. which the lower drawn. end ofthe code :rod is attacl'ied,v The lowerend of the stem: iseprovi'dedcwithz an.elong ated.ge'ar.35 to which-.rotation mayiberimpattedby a .rackor racksv 49. Axial displacement of the code: rod'is. imparted. thereto by a bifurcated. lever-44-tbmugh. the sternby a thrust washer 42.v mounted onthe -stenr. soas to rest'uponthe upper end of the gear 35.... The. length and fiexibility of thestem 3'6is such that'th'c move- Since... the

ment of the code rod toward and away fi'oni the print wire control ends 14a may be readily accomplished without requiring movement of the rotation and translation movement imparting elements 40 and 44 and otherwise effecting the differential position to which the code rod has been shifted.

Once the code rod has been positioned, it may be moved against the print wire control ends by the operation of the elements 26 as heretofore described to impart a differential setting on the print wires 14. The printing stroke, however, does not take place until the housing has returned a considerable distance to its original position as the print wires undergo substantial longitudinal displacement upon impact. They will not, however, be fully restored by the printing impact, and to this end the left-hand edge of the back plate 16 is cut away and bent forwardly to form flanges 46 which engage the headed end of the collars 48 atfixed to the print wires. This engagement of the headed collars 48 by the flanges 46 occurs during the final portion of the movement of the housing to its normal position, and it results that when the housing is fully restored, all of the displaced print wire control ends will also have been fully restored to an aligned condition.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

I. In a high-speed wire printer embodying moving parts of low mass but yet high strength; a plurality of print wires having control ends; and a device for differentially displacing the print wires disposed opposite the control ends and comprising a hollow body, and perforations, of a size sufiicient to accommodate the free passage of print Wires, formed in said body; means for adjusting the disposition of the hollow body relative to the control ends; and means for thereafter bodily moving one of said control ends and said adjusted hollow body into engagement with the other to displace the print wires aligned with non-perforated portions of the hollow body longitudinally with respect to those entering perforations.

2. In a high-speed Wire printer embodying moving parts of low mass but yet high strength: a plurality of print wires having control ends parallelly extending, aligned, and equally spaced; and a device adaptedto be moved against the control ends of the print wires comprising a hollow generally cylindrical body, and radially extending perforations, of a size sufficient to accom modate the free passage of print wire control ends, formed in said body; means for adjusting the disposition of the cylindrical body relative to the control ends; and means for thereafter bodily moving one of said control ends and said cylindrical body into engagement with the other to displace the print wires aligned with non-perforated portions of the cylindrical body longitudinally with respect to those entering perforations.

3. In a high-speed wire printer embodying moving parts of low mass but yet high strength; a plurality of print wires having control ends; a device for operating on the control ends of the print wires to diflierentially displace them comprising a hollow body adapted to be shifted to various positions opposite said print wire control ends, and perforations, of a size sufficient to accommodate the free passage of wires, formed in and about said body so that various ones thereof are aligned with various ones of said control ends when the body has been shifted to its different positions; means for shifting the hollow body to various positions opposite said control ends; and means for thereafter bodily moving one of said control ends and said hollow body into engagement with the other to displace the print wires aligned with non-perforated portions of the hollow body longitudinally with respect to those entering perforations.

4. In a high-speed wire printer embodying movingparts of low mass but yet high strength; a plurality of print wires having control ends; and a device for operating on the control ends of the print wires comprising a hollow body, and perforations, of a size sufficient to accommodate the free passage of wires, formed in and, about said body so that movement of the device to dif-' ferent positions opposite said print wire control ends will.

dispose different perforations opposite various ones of the print wires; means for moving the device to different positions opposite the print wire control ends;

and means for thereafter bodily moving one of saidv control ends and said device into engagement with the other to displace the print wires aligned with non-pe'rforated portions of the hollow body longitudinally with respect to those entering perforations.

5. In a high-speed wire printer embodying moving parts of low mass but yet high strength; a plurality of, spaced print wires; a device for differentially setting saidspaced print wires comprising a tubular body adaptedopposite said print wires; and means for thereafter bodily moving one of said control ends and said tubular body into engagement with the other to displace the print,

wires aligned with the non-perforated portions of the tubular body longitudinally with respect to those entering perforations.

6. In a high-speed wire printer embodying moving parts of low mass but yet high strength; a plurality ofprint wires having control ends; and a device for operating upon the control ends of the print wires comprising a tubular body adapted to be shifted to various positions opposite the control ends of said print wires, and perforations formed in said body and adapted to be aligned with various ones of said control ends when said body has been shifted to different positions; means for shiftingthe tubular body' to various positions opposite the control ends; and meansffor thereafter bodily moving oneof said control ends'and said tubular body into engage-' ment with the other to displace the print wires aligned. with non-perforated portions of the tubular body longitudinally with respect to those entering perforations. r

7. In a high-speed wire printer embodying moving parts of low mass but yet high strength, a plurality of print wires having control ends; a device for operating upon the control ends of the print wires comprising a tubular body adapted to have a home position and be' rotated and translated to other positions opposite the control ends of said print wires, perforations formed in said body so as to be aligned with the respective control ends when said body is in the home position, and other perforations formed in said body and adapted to be aligned with various ones of said control ends when said body has been rotated and translated to a corresponding one of its other positions; means for rotating and translating the tubular body to other positions opposite the control ends of said print wires; and means for thereafter bodily moving said tubular body against the controlends of the print wires so that the control ends aligned with non-perforated portions of the tubular body are longitudinally displaced with respect to those control ends entering perforations.

8. In a high-speed wire printer embodying moving various ones thereof; comprising a tubular body, and radially-and: axially spaced. perforations. of. a size sufficientgito accommodate the. free passage :of print wires formedin said tubular body; meanszfon adjusting the dis position of-the. tubular. body relative to the control ends;

and means for thereafter bodily moving. one. of said.

a'nd-berotated and translated-to other. positions opposite said print wires, and radially and axially spaced perforations forthe respective control ends formed in said tubularbody and adapted tobe successively aligned therewith when. the' tubular body is rotated or translated; meansnfor. rotating and translating the .tubular body to other; positions opposite said print wire control ends;

and means for thereafter bodily moving said tubular.

body-against thecontrol. ends so that the print wires aligned with non-perforated portionsof the tubular body are longitudinally displaced with respect to those entering perforations.

lnahigh-speed wire printer embodying moving. partsof low mass but yet high:strength, aplnrality of. prinL-wires-having equally spaced control ends,.and a.

device for-operating upon the equally spaced control endsof 'th'e print. wires comprising a tubular body adapted.

to be rotated and translatedto various positions opposite said 'print wire control ends and radially and axially spaced perforations for the respective control ends formed in said body andadapted to be. successively aligned there with ..When the tubular body is: rotated or translated, means forrotating and translating the tubular body to various, positions opposite said print wire control ends, and meansfor thereafter bodily moving said tubular body against the control ends so that the print wires aligned with ..non-perforated portions of the tubular body are longitudinally displaced with respect to those entering perforations.

11 For use in a high-speed wire printer embodying moving partsof low mass but yet high strength, a plurality ofzxprint-wires having'control ends, adevice for. differentially setting print wires-comprising a tubular body adapted to bemo'ved to different positions opposite said print wire-controlends, a stem-fixed to one end of'said.

tubularbody to transmitrotation and translation to said body: to move it to its: different. positions, preforations formed-in said body andadapted to be aligned with different-onesof said print wire control ends when the tubular body is in its various positions, means for imparting rotation and translation to said stem for transmissiontosaid tubular bodyto move the latter to its. different-positions, and means for thereafter bodily moving said tubular. body against the control ends. so that the print-wiresalignedwith non-perforated portions of the tubular body are longitudinally displaced with respect to thoseenterin-g perforations.

12. For use. in -a-high-speed.. wire. printer embodying moving-parts of low-mass but yet high strength, a device movable against the controlends of print wires to differentially'displa'ce them-comprising hollow body adapt" ed'to be'shifted'to various positions opposite said print wire" control ends" and thereafter moved thereagainst,

perforations of a size snificientto accommodate thefree v I? 1055 mass but- .yetxhigh't strength; a plurality of: pan wires ihaying control ends;.. and a"device..-movableagainst; theacontrol ends-of the print .wires to. displacev body: has. been shiftednto a corresponding one: aofrfitsivarious; positions; a stem: secured at. one. end-to; one endEofsaid tubular :body, andimeansrfor; imparting .rota-.

tionz-and-ttranslation:to saidstem to move-:theztubular.

body to itsirvairousrpositions: fixed to.v the; other endz ofi said stem, said stem being of such lengthandfiexibility aszto, accommodateqmovement ofnthe' tubular. member against said print wire. control ends. without: requiring movement of lthe means for imparting rotation. and: trans-.

lationzto it. and the; body.

13.: For use in: a.high-.speed wire: printer: embodying.

moving parts of low mass-butyet high strength; .a .device movableagainst; theycontrol. ends: of 'printwires. to. dif ferentially. displace them-comprising a tubular body adaptedto havea home. positionandibe shifted t'oother; posi-zv tions prior ;to being moved: against the PIlDtLWiI'Q-COIP.

trol ends, perforations formed in said body. so :as to: be.

aligned with the respective print wire control endswhen said body .is' in theahomeposition", other perforations. formed-in-said body} and-adaptedto be aligned with.vari-. ousones-.of said print wire .controlendswhen thebody isinacorresponding. one of its. other positions,.a flexible stem-fixedi at one end to one end of' said tubular body, a gear fixed to the other end of said-stemfor-imparting rotation thereto to. shift the tubular body, a

collet-fixed to .said, stem: to enable translation of said.

body. from its 'h'ome'position, and'm'eans associated with said-tubular body and stem for .biasingthem sothat the collet' is held; in engagement with an operating element therefor;

1 4= For useqinr ahigh-speed wire printer. embodying moving partsoflow mass but yet highistrengthz a device adapted to be moved against..thecontrol endslofu print.

Wires to differentially displace them comprising a tubular 1 body adapted to be; shifted to-variousypositions' opposite said-print wire control ends,.and perforations of a size suflicient to accommodate the free passag'eof print wires formed in and about said body so that various ones thereofare aligned with various onesofsaid control'endswhen thebody isin itsdifferent positions; a carrier tube for'moving said tubular body. in its different positions against said print wire control ends; and perforations formed in said carrier tube to permit all of the print wires to pass; therethrough for displacement-by said device.

15. For .use in ahigh-speed wire printer embodyingv moving parts-of lowmass butyet=high strength: a device adapted to be moved against the equally spaced control size sutficient to accommodate the free passage ofprint' wiresformed in said body so that various ones thereof arealigned with various ones of said print wire controlends when said body is in its ditferentpositiona'a carrier tube for-moving said tubular body in its different positicinsxagainst said print wire control ends; and perforations formed in said-carrier tube to permit allof the. print wires topass therethrough for displacement by said device."

References Cited. in the file of, this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS- 2,l29,065 Loop .d Sept. 6. 1938 2,524,127 Johnson -n Oct; 3,- 1950. 2,653,534 wockenfussu flca Sept. :29, .1953 2,681,614.; Rests-. June 22, 1954. 2,702,428 I Hendrich ,Feb. 22,1955: 708,020. Wockenfuss .May 10, 1 955 2,730,040 Johnson oundness--- Jan.- 1-0,- 1956

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