US2839256A - Recording apparatus - Google Patents

Description

June 17, 1 V E. A. BOYAN ETAL 2,339,256

RECORDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 2, 1955 2 $heets-Sheet l Fig. I

INVENTORS EDWIN ARTHUR BOYAN BY FREDERICK C. GEILER M 4 Wm ATTOR N EYS June 17, 1958 E. A. BOYAN ET AL 2,839,256

RECORDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 2, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS EDWIN ARTHUR BOYAN FREDERICK c. GEILER ATTORNEYS RECGRDING APPARATUS Edwin Arthur Boyan, Dayton, and Frederick C. Geiler,

Oakwood, (lhio, assignors to Industrial Analyzer Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 2, 1955, Serial No. 485,796

4 Claims. ((11. 242-56) The present invention relates to recording apparatus in which recorded indicia are placed upon a web of paper or the like. More particularly, it relates to web feeding and handling mechanism including means for feeding the web, whereby the web passes through a position for the entering of recorded indicia, means for receiving the web after it passes the said position, and means for severing the web and for presenting the severed end in a position displaced from the path of travel of the Web for convenient removal of the severed portion thereof.

In Patent No. 2,591,124 granted April 1, 1952, to Edwin A. Boyan, one of the present inventors, as well as in his copending application, Serial No. 296,200, filed June-28, 1952, now Patent No. 2,776,867 various forms of production analysis apparatus are described utilizing as a component part thereof a web of longitudinally perforated paper having a heat sensitized surface. Web feeding and handling mechanism is disclosed for moving the paper at a predetermined rate past a position in which a number of heating elements are disposed in position to come in contact with the web. The heating elements are provided with switch means whereby a selected one or a combination of visible marks can be made selectively by depressing keys each corresponding to. certain entry information. The said apparatus is used for making a record both of the duration of each shut-v down of a machine and of the particular cause therefor.

The present invention relates to web feeding and ban dling mechanism suitable for use in devices of the type described-above, but it will be understood that it is by no means limited to the specific application of production analysis, or indeed to any specific form or method of entry of information data.

lttis a principal object of the present invention to provide means for receiving the web after it has passed the-position in which the recorded indicia are entered, and means associated therewith for severing the web at any. desired longitudinal position, whereby the severed portion of the Web may be readily removed from the apparatus. Preferably, such means includes provision for compactly holding and protecting the portion of the web containing the recorded data, and associated means for presenting an end of the severed portion in a position where it may be readily grasped and withdrawn.

Another object is to provide means permitting rapid feeding of a fresh roll of web material into the apparatus, and for feeding it to a position where it may be engaged by the receiving means.

A still former object is to provide means for insuring the accurate severance of the web at the desired longitudinal line without the necessity for disengagement of the, web feeding means.

With the above andother objects in view, a feature of this invention resides in the use of a novel web receiving, severing and presenting device whereby the severed portion of the web is carried forwardly to a position displaced from the normal line of travel of the web, where United rates Patent Ofifice 2,839,25fi Patented June 17, 1958 2 it may be manually grasped and readily withdrawn from the receiving mechanism.

Another feature resides in the use of a web retaining device comprising spring pressed bails supported in a hub Within a receptacle said retaining device being driven by a gear frictionally coupled with the web feeding mechanism.

According to another feature, the friction coupling means produces a peripheral speed of the bails in excess of the speed of the advancing web, whereby the web is caused to be rolled up within the receptacle.

According to a further feature, ratchet wheel and pawl means are provided for coupling the web retaining device and the web feeding mechanism, whereby it is also possible to turn the web retaining device manually in the direction to advance the web, and through-said ratchet wheel and pawl means manually to accelerate the web feeding mechanism.

A further feature includes the use of a brake band and drum cperatively associated with the Web severing mechanism, whereby the sprocket driving means for the Web are temporarily slowed down or stopped while the web is being severed.

Other features of the invention reside in certain features of construction, arrangements, and structures which will be more clearly understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment and from the claims when taken with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation of theapparatus of the invention, showing the web feeding and handling mechanism, the cover of the apparatus being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation looking from the left-hand side of Fig. i;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly broken away, looking from the right-hand side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view in section taken on line 44of Fig.

l, a portion of the cover being shown, and

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the friction drive mechanism Referring to the drawings, the frame of the apparatus comprises two side plates 12 and 14 secured together in parallel fashion by fiat metal straps 16 and a plate 18' threaded to receive screws 2%}. A shaft 22 is rotatably supported between the plates, and preferably provided at one end with .a knurled knob 24 secured thereto. A supply roll 25 of paper or the like having longitudinal edge perforations 23 along each side is supported upon the shaft 22.

The Web 3%. is formed by passing an end of the paper-- over a rounded end portion of the plate 18, along the outer surface of the plate, through sprocket driving means including a roll 32 sprocket teeth 34, and into a web receiving device comprising a cylindrical receptacle 36 and an integral blade upon application of heat to a select portion thereof, the said portion becomes darker than the unheated adjacent portions, whereby a visible mark is produced. In accordance with this particular method, the plate 18 is preferably constructed of insulating material of a. 110111 combustible nature, through which a number of pairs of holes 41 are drilled in a line transversely of the web,

A piece of resistance wire 41 shaped generally in the having a pair of rings of 3 form of a U is inserted in each pair of holes with the portion connecting the stems upon the side facing the web, and the free ends extending beyond the back side of the plate' sufliciently to permit the making of ap-.

propriate electrical connectionsto a source of voltage. Suitable means are preferably provided for connecting the segments of resistance wire selectively to the voltage source in accordance with the information to be entered upon the Web, the apparatus of my said copending appli the spring 46 being in turn secured at the other end to a fixed, outwardly projecting stud 43 in the side plate. A curved metal strip 50 faced with a suitable lining 52 such as felt is provided with integral outwardly projecting threaded stems 54 extending through holes in the strip 42. Between the plate 50 and strip 42 and surrounding each of the stems 54 we provide a compression spring 56. Knurled nuts 58 are threaded on to the stems 54, and provide means for adjusting the pressure of the plate 50 upon'the web.

The foregoing arrangement provides a toggle action, in which the strip '42 is urged by the spring 46 either into the position shown in the drawings, in which the studs 44 are brought'against the ends of the slots in the side plates, thereby determining in a positive manner the position of the strip 42 in relation to the plate 18; or alternatively, the strip 42 is manually rotated 'until the spring 46 moves beyond an equilibrium position and the stud 44 is thereupon urged against the upper edge of the plate 12 where it is out of contact with the web. The latter position is utilized during the initial process of feeding a fresh web into the apparatus.

Preferably, the plate 18is formed with raised ridge portions 60, thereby forming a channel within which the web is guided as it approaches the sprocket teeth.

To prevent the web from passing through the gap formed between the plate 18 and the sprocket teeth 34, a pair of curved straps'62 are pivotally supported upon a bar 64 supported between the side plates 12 and 14, with the curved portions of the straps being received in annular channels inthe sprocket drum 32.

The drum 32 is supported betweenbearing'housings 66 respectively secured tothe plates 12 and 14. The housings preferably contain suitable ball or sleeve bearrngs to support a shaft 68 integral with the drum, with ends extending through holes in the plates 12 and 14 on either side. A curved plate 70, serving both as a web retaining means and as an anvil against which the webmay be severed, is screwed by screws 72 to the housings 66. Preferably, rectangular clamps 74 having an unstressed curvature greater than that of the housings 'are used to provide a resilient holding action for the plate. Slots 76 are provided in the plate 70 and the sprocket teeth pass'into the slots as the drum is rotated.

Thus, by means of the plate 70 the web is held firmly upon the sprocket teeth at all times.

The receptacle 36 comprises a cylindrical metallic shell having a longitudinal slot or opening to' receive the web urge the receptacle normally to the position shown in the drawings, wherein the stud reaches the end of the slot. A cylindricalextension 88 passing through arhole in the plate 12 is integral with and supports the receptacle at one end. The extension has a handle 90, secured by means of a set screw 92. By means of the handle, the receptacle may be turned against the urgingof the tension spring 86, thereby bringing the blade 38 towards the web. In this manner, the serrations 80 are ultimately brought into close relation with an edge of the anvil or retaining plate 70, and the web is severed as the serrations pass the edge of the plate. By reason of the illustrated curvature of the blade 38, previously mentioned, the serrations 80 in themiddle portion are the first to reach the edge of the anvil, and the cut thus progresses in both directions from the center, and continues as the blade is rotated until the web is entirely severed.

It will be apparent, however, that any other appropriate 7 offsetting means between the serrations 80 and the anvil plate 70 may be used, whereby for example, the cutting action may proceed progressively from left to right or from right to left, rather than from the center outwardly The length of the in both directions at'the'same time. slot 84 in the plate 12 determines the possible extent of movement of the receptacle 36 when it is.rotated by the handle 90, this movement being sufficient to complete the cutting action.

To facilitate removal of the severed portion of the web, the slot 84 is of such length that the blade 38 carries the severed end of the web to an advanced or presentation position displaced from the normal path of travel of theweb. This displacing movement permits the severed end to be readily grasped to permit wlthdrawal from the receptacle as hereinafter more fully side p1ate'12, and passes over a drum 98 secured to the shaft 68. A sleeve 100 is fitted over the cylindrical portionl88 of the receptacle 36, and secured to the saidportion by suitable means such as a setscrew. A screw 102 is threaded into the sleeve 100 to provide means; for I anchoring one end of a spring .104, the other end of which is secured to the brake band 94. Thus, when the handle 90 is turned the spring 104 is stretched andthe band 94 pulled more tightly against the drum 98. Depending upon the tension of the spring 104 and the coeflicient of friction and contact area between the band 94 and drum 98, the sprocket drum- 32 may be either completely stopped or slowed down during the cutting operation. r

The sprocket drum 32 is rotated by means of agear 106 secured to the shaft 68. The gear 106 is coupled with a small idler gear 108, which is in turn coupled with a gear 110. The gear 110 is coupled with a pinion 112 secured through a slippa'b'le coupling (not shown) .to the shaft of a motor 114. The foregoing gears comprise a permanently connected chain between the motor 114 and the sprocket drum 32.: The motor 114 is pref-j erably of the type which includes a clutch that permits the pinion to be advanced by external means in the 9 direction of rotation of the motor while the motor re mains connected. Slippable clutch means of this kind within the motor 114 are in common usev and are not further described herein. V p

Within the receptacle 36 there is provided a web take- 118 are formedin the following manner.

120 which is received in a cylindrical bore in the receptacle 36. At the right end there is provided another." short sleeve 122 which is received through a similar borein the closed right end of the receptacle 36, and through a hole in the plate. 14, wherebytheright end of the receptacle is supported by the sleeve 122. At the left end the receptacle is supported by the sleeve 100 received through a hole in the plate 12 as shown in the drawing.

As part of the web advancing and take-up mechanism, shaft 118 carries a relatively rotatable gear 124 and attached ratchet wheel 126. Gear 124 is disposed adjacent bearing 122 and meshes with gear 110. To control end play of receptacle 36, a non-metallic washer (not shown) is disposed between gear 124 and right side of plate 14, and a similar washer between the left side of plate 14 and the end of the receptacle 36. Because gear 124 and ratchet wheel 126 are rotatable relative to shaft 118, gear 124 is not utilized during the normal power feeding of the apparatus.

The hub 116 has four pairs of transverse bores to receive four bails 128, preferably having short sleeves of tubular rubber 130 or the like which press upon the web as it enters the receptacle. Each bail has near each end an annular grove to receive a bifurcated end of a flat spring 132 which is screwed in the middle portion to the hub by a screw 134. The spring is crimped symmetrically about the screw, whereby the bail is urged in the direction of withdrawal from the hub, but at the same time means are provided by the spring to prevent complete withdrawal therefrom.

In the operation of the web take-up device, the sleeves 130 of the bails are urged by the springs against the inner cylindrical walls of the receptacle 36. The take-up device is rotated by turning the shaft 118. This may be done manually by means of a knurled knob 136 secured to the end of the shaft. Rotation may also be imparted to the shaft 113 through a gear 138, also secured to the shaft. For motor-driven feeding, the gear 138'is rotated by a gear 141 in mesh therewith, the gear 140 being supported coaxially with the gear 110, a friction driving connection being employed to permit slippage in the driving connections for the take-up device.

This friction connection is shown in detail view in Fig. 5 and comprises a stud 142 secured in the side plate 14 and serving as a gearing for sleeve 143. Gear 110 is secured to the inner end of the sleeve, while gear 140 is relatively rotatable. A disk 144 of friction material is disposed between the gears, with a slotted spring washer 146 held in adjustable resilient engagement with the outer face of gear 140 by knurled nut 148. The nut 148 may be tightened against the washer to increase the pressure of the gears against the friction disk, or loosened to decrease the pressure.

Thus, there is provided a second gear train including the gears 138 and 149, whereby rotation of the gear train which drives the sprocket drum is imparted through friction means to rotate the Web take-up device within the receptacle 36. Preferably, the nominal peripheral speed of the bails slightly exceeds that of the web as it is fed from the sprocket drum, with the friction drive slipping sufiiciently to prevent tearing the web as the web is wound on the web-retaining means.

There is also provided a pawl 159, which is pivotally supported on the gear 138 so as to engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 126. The wheel and pawl device is arranged to produce positive engagement of the shaft 118 with the gear train driving the sprocket drum 32 when the knob 136 is turned in clockwise direction to revolve the web-retaining device in the normal feeding direction. Thus, if at any time it is desired to feed the web more rapidly than the speed provided by the motor 114, the knob 135 may be manually turned to cause accelerated motion both of the web-retaining means and of the sprocket drum. It will be noted in this connection that the gear ratio between the gears 110 and 124 on the one hand, and between the gears 138 and 140 on the other hand are equal so that the speed ratio between the sprocket teeth and the bails is the same whether the bails are driven at the normal speed through the friction disk 144, or

at an accelerated speed through the ratchet wheel and pawl by a manual-rotation of the knob 136.

The operation of the device will be, briefly described. Assuming that a new roll 26 of the record-receiving web material has been placed upon the shaft 22, the strip 42 is first swung back away from the rounded end portion of the plate 18, and the end of the web is fed over the plate 18 and brought into contact with the sprocket drum 32. The knob 136 is then manually turned to rotate the sprocket drum, thereby feeding the web over the sprocket teeth and under the anvil plate 70, and ultimately causing the web to advance into the slot in the receptacle 36. There it is engaged by the bails and rolled up within the receptacle. Once the motor 114 is turned on, the device is ready for operation.

if at any time during the operation it is desired to sever a portion of the web which has passed the recording position, the knob 136 may be rotated in web-advancing direction in the manner previously described to bring the last recorded portion of the web beyond the edge of the anvil 70 adjacent the blade 38. It will be noted that by the means described it is unnecessary to wait for the motor to move the last recorded portion beyond the edge of the anvil. Depending upon the speed of the motor 114 a considerable time may elapse before that portion of the web has moved through the requisite length With. out manual intervention.

The handle is then pulled down, thereby causing severance of the web at the desired line, and causing the severed end to be presented at a forward position, opposite a suitable opening in the cover or case 164. Said opening, as well as the opening opposite the recording region, is normally closed by a sheet of transparent material 168 which may he slid downwardly to bring open regions into registry with the openings in the cover. The web may then be unwound from the receptacle 36 and discharged outwardly of the apparatus by turning the knob 136 in the direction opposite to that previously described, whereby the rotation of the bails is reversed until the severed portion of the web has been withdrawn completely. During the severing action, the sprocket drum 32 is temporarily restrained by the action of the friction band 94 as previously described.

Once the handle 90 is returned to its normal position, no further steps are required to resume recording.

It is thus seen that a compact, convenient and dependable device has been provided for feeding a web of material in a recording apparatus, for receiving the material after it has left the recording position, for severing the web at any desired position, and for presenting the severed end in a position to facilitate removal. By these means the web is positively and accurately driven with little danger that it will be torn while being driven, while being severed, or while being withdrawn from the receptacle 36. The device is provided with means for manual as well as automatic feeding to permit rapid forward feeding and immediate removal of any portion of the web upon which recorded data has been entered.

It Will be understood that while the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment thereof, it is by no means limited to said embodiment, and includes such modifications of structure, arrangement, and form as will occur to those skilled in this art in utilizing the teachings of this invention for specific applications.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. In a web feeding device for recording apparatus, means for feeding a web alon a predetermined path, a combination severing and web presenting device comprising a fixed anvil having an edge adjacent and laterally disposed in relation to the web in the path of feeding and near the line of severance, and a rotatable receptacle having a hollow cylindrical cavity with an opening in position to receive the web, and a blade having a serrated edge mounted integrally with the receptacle on one edge of the opening, the blade being so disposed that upon I rotation of the receptacle the blade carries the web to the anvil, severs it along theedge of the anvil and carries the'severed end of the portion within the receptacle to a position displaced from the path of feeding.

2. In a web feeding device for recording apparatus,

a the combination of means for feeding the web along a fixed path, a fixed anvil having an edge adjacent and late'rally disposed in relation to the web near the line of severance, a'rotatable receptacle having a hollow cylindrical cavity with an opening in position to receive the web and a blade having a serrated edge mounted integrally with the receptacle on one edge of the opening, the bladebeing so disposed that upon rotation of the recep- 1 tacle the blade carries the web to the anvil, severs it along a longitudinally perforated web, the combination of sprocket means for feeding the Web along ;a fixed path, a brake drum secured to the sprocket means, a fixed anvil having an edge adjacent and laterally disposed1inre1a-, tion to the web in the path of feeding and near a line where the web is to be severed, a member having a blade with a serrated edge mounted for rotation about a fixed axis, the blade being so disposed as to carry the web to' the anvil and to tear it along the edge Of'fllfi anvil, a brake band having one fixed end and a segment passing over the drum, and a spring connecting the. other'end of the band with said member, whereby upon rotation the member to sever the web the spring is stretched to force the band :more firmly against the drum.

' 4. In a web feeding device for recording apparatus, a housing, means for advancing a web along a predetermined path within the housing, an opening in the housing adjacent the path of web advance, a combination sever ing and web presenting device comprising a fixed anvilj having an edge adjacent and laterally disposed. in rela-fl tion to the web in the path of feeding and near the line' of severance, and a rotatable receptacle having a hollow cylindrical cavity with a peripheral gap through which the web enters the receptacle/said cylindrical receptacle? v having a blade adjacent the gap,and'means for rotating the receptacle to carry the bladeinto shearing relation with the anvil to sever 'the'web, the anvil being disposed f in proximity to the opening in the housing so that when the receptacle is rocked to sever the Wb,:the blade causes the severed end to project through :the *opening in the housing. 7

7 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENrs Swenson Dec. 27, 1949,;

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