US2842250A - Record feeding means - Google Patents

Description

July 8, 1958 F. .J. FURMAN 1-:1" AL 5 ,2

RECORD FEEDING MEANS Original Filed Dec. 31, 1954 8- Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TORS E J. FURMAN, O. E MONEAGLE ATTORNEY y 1958 F. J. FURMA'N ET AL 2,842,250

RECORD FEEDING MEANS Original Filed Dec. 31. 1954 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS F. J. FURMAN, O F. MONEAGLE BY D.R.WETJEN, AADOWD ATTORNEY F. J. FURMAN ET AL 2,842,250

July 8, 1958 RECORD FEEDING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Dec. 31, 1954 IN VEN TORS F. J FURMAN, O. F MONEAGLE y D. RWETJEN, A. A DOWD ATTORNEY July 8, 1958 F. J. FURMAN ET AL RECORD FEEDING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Dec. 51. 1954 F IG.60

IN V EN TORS F. J. FURMAN, OF MONEAGLE BY D.R.WETJEN, AADOWD d WW ATTORNEY July 8, 195,8 'F. 'J. FURMAN ETAL 2,842,250

I RECORD FEEDING MEANS Original FiledDeO; :51. 1954 I 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 F lG.6b

IN V EN TORS l EJ.FURMAN, QEMONEAGLE By DRWETJEN, .AADOWD 'ATTORNEY July 8, 1958 F. J. FURMAN ETAL- RECORD FEEDING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Dec. 31; 1954 FIG?- WWII/1m INVENTORS E J. FURMAN, O. E MONEAGLE BlgkR. WETJEN, A. A. DOWD JLWW ATTQRNEY July 8;,1958 F.- J. EURMAN EI'AL- RECORD FEEDING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Original Filed Dec 31. 1954 I INVENTORS F. J. FURMAN, 0.5. MONEAGLE y D. RWETJEN, A7 A. oowo ATTORNEY mm. r5

July 8, 1958 "F. J. FURMAN EI'AL ,8 2,

RECORD FEEDING MEANS OriginalFiled Dec. 31, 1954 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 E U 5 MW a m m m T. O O N M.D m r A. W. O. A. n N, A 2N W m o W 2N J Q& m S EN F mmN m m v GE m m ov- K k 8 I I M n n m By D R WETJEN,

ATTORNEY 2,842,250 RECORD FEEDING MEANS I Frank J. Furman and Otto F. Moneagle, Eudicott, Dougq las R. Wetjen, Johnson City, and AlbertA. Dowd, Vestal, N. Y., assignors to international Business Machines Corp., New York, N. Y., a corporationcf New York Original application December 31, '1954, Serial No.

479,062. Divided and this application February 28, 1956, Serial No. 568,340

11 Claims. (Cl. 197-133) This invention relates generally to. paper feeding devices and more particularly to continuous record form feeding means for operating at high speed in cooperation with a record controlled printing machine.

.This is a division of the parent case, Serial No. 479,062, filed on December 31, 1954, by F. J. Furman et al., for Record Feeding Devices.

With the advent of'high-speed printing devices such I as the wire printers of the kind with which the present devices are illustrated, it becomes necessary to provide means for advancing record material rapidly and yet Without sudden shock of starting or stopping operation. In other words there is required a sort of harmonic feed motion with a slow starting effect, rapid acceleration, and gradual stopping. In the present instance this improved form of movement is brought about by the in- .genious use of a variable speed drive motor, a random type of engaging clutch and a perforated feed control tape which in effect gives a preliminary warning when a feed which is about to take place exceeds or falls short of certain spaced limits. The feed control tape is generally of the kind set forth in the Mills et a1. Patent-No. 2,531,885 and other patents of a similar nature, specifically, 2,569,829, 2,684,746, and 2,747,717. This present structure is of an advanced form in that in addition to other differences, cooperating with the tape there are three sets of feed control brushes. There are provided the usual set of stop control brushes which sense control indicia or hole positions in the tape, which is synchronized with the movement of the record material and thereby energize controls for stopping record movement wherever desired. In addition thereto are the other two sets of tape brushes which are forms of predictors engaged by a stop perforation before it reaches the stop brushes. The first set encountered by a perforation are called interlock brushes and they engage a tape perforation 3% inches before it reaches the stop position. Controls are exercised bythese interlock brushes for calling the printer back into operation after suppression, and for regulating the amount of time which the printer is held idle to allow time for record material movement. The second set of preliminary brushes are for the purpose of speed reduction, because whenever a skipping movement of the record material is of any appreciable extent the drive motor is driven at a fast speed (75 inches per second as contrasted with 25 inches per second at slow speed) and it is necessary that the speed be reduced before the feed control perforation reaches the stopping control brush. In other words, the secondset of preliminary brushes operate motor controls to slow down the carriage movement before it comes .to a stop. The result is a harmonic motion which operates through pin feed tractors to draw the continuous form rapidly without tearing the marginal perforations; and the motion V lateral positions.

vanced form of positive feeding means for handling I records of the multiple ply continuous form variety hav- I 'ing marginal feed control perforations. The form's-are transported by pairs of tractor pin feed chains which are. driven through a random clutch and aided in stopping by a magneticv brake. The tractors are arrangediin pairs, one pair below a platen and the printing line and another pair .above the printing line whereby a secure hold is maint ainedon the webs of record material as they are transported at high speed. Novel forms of clamping arrangements are'provided for keying the tractors .on drive shafts and. also forholding thedriving chains in desired Another object of the invention is the design of'the feed device to be movable or. retractable for ease ofassembly of the record material therein-and also for servicing The feed :device is mounted onta separate frame with a pair of extending slide rods which pass through holdersin the printerframe. The :slide rods are long enough to allowretraction of the feeding means overa distance of several inches so that the record holding .tractors andplaten which are normally spaced close to the printer heads may be drawn away far enough toallow manipulation. of the record material over the feeding pins andaccessgiven .to the feeding devices in general for repairand servicing. A unique form of connecting means is provided between the printer frame and the retractable feeding devices. The two units are held together with heavy latches and these latches are operated eccentrically so. that there is a gradual release of the latching instrumentalities when it is desired to separate the two units. In connection with .the latchingmeans there is involved another feature of'the invention is controlled further to come gradually to a stop without which is provided to allow adjustment for various thicknesses of the record material which may vary from one ply to a substantial number of copies. Inorder to allow for thickness of the material, the latching block'which normally holds the two units very closely spaced may be operated through an eccentric with a manipulative knobso that the connection between the two units is loosened or shifted relatively so that they are joined with a larger amountof spacing between them.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a means-for shifting the record material slightly longitudinally so that the printing line may be made to coincide with prearranged block positions of the record material. This is .done .by the manipulation of a Worm gear and worm wheel arrangement in the driving connections and interposed between the driving clutch and the feeding tractors. In the normal operation of the device the helical ridges of the worm gear are used as a planetary driving :tooth in cooperation with a driven sun gear. When a slight .adjustment is to'be made, a Vernier knob is turned and rotates the worm gear slightly for relative displacement. I

Another object of the invention is to provide means for automatically untilting the lower pair of feed tractors when the feeding device is retracted to an open position. These lower tractors are normally in a backwardly slanted position and would be difiicultto reach were they not pivoted and allowed to swing to a vertical position when the unit is retracted.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose by 'way of examples the principle of the invention and the best mode which has been contemplated for applying that principle.

.In the drawings: Y

Fig. 1;is a perspective view showing the main icome ponents of the feeding device and the drive connections thereto.

Fig. 2 is a left side elevation view showing the control tape and the three cooperating sets of control brushes. This view also illustrates the mounting'of the drive motor and the connections therefrom to the pairs of tractor pin feed devices.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation view showing the random type clutch and the engaging and.disengaging control magnets.

Fig- 4 is a sectional elevation view taken along line 4-4 in Fig. 3 and showing the interior construction of the clutch.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the interior parts of the clutch showing the ratchet wheel control over the inner pry bar for engaging and disengaging the interior drive elements. a

Figs. 6a and 6b when taken together provide a front elevation view of the entire width of the paper feed unit.

Fig. 7-is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 in Fig. 2- and showing the interior construction of one of the four tractor pin feed devices. This view illustrates the wedging action of a ring for clamping the unit in a lateral position to take continuous forms of a specified width. The view also shows the manner of keying the tractor drive sprocket to the drive shaft.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation view showing the latching means for connecting the paper feed unit to the printer and the means cooperating with the lower pair of tractor devices for tilting them when the feed unit is brought into the print receiving position.

Fig. 9 is a detail view in side elevation showing the latching device for holding the feed unit when it is drawn outward away from the printer and into a retracted position.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the latching devices shown in Fig. 8 and further illustrates the manipulative eccentric controls for varying the latch plate positions in accordance with desired paper thickness selection.

The main framework portions of the feed unit are best shown in Figs. 2 and 8. In Fig. 8 it is seen that the base comprises a heavy casting 30 which is formed with four downwardly projecting legs 31 each of which is formed with a central opening through which two heavy shafts or extension slide rods 32 are fastened and project towards the right where they run into and through guide blocks 33 and 34 extending from the sides of the printer frame 36 which comprises side channels or heavy structural rails 27 and 28 (Fig. 10). In other words, the two projecting rods extending from the bottom of the feed unit are secured thereto and are thrust movably into stationary hearings in the printer frame. It is on these two shafts that the entire feed unit rests and is retractable away from the normally closed and latched print receiving position where it is shown in Figs. 8 and 10.

Slidably mounted laterally on the top of casting 30 is another heavy casting 40 which is formed in the shape of an arch as seen in Fig. 2. This upper casting 40 rests loosely on the top of the frame 30 but is keyed thereto as illustrated in Fig. 8 where it is seen that attached to the lower right end is an L-shaped member 41 which projects into a notch formed in the side wall of casting 30. At the lower left end, casting 40 is formed with a double shouldered extension 42, the lower part of which projects into a groove 43 and another groove 44 receives a projecting bar 45 which is attached to the top of a rearward extension 46 formed out of the rear of frame 30. An adjustable confining block 48 holds frame 40 forwardly positioned in groove 43. There is a manipulative means for adjustingthe lateral shift of the carriage as a unit by shifting frame 40 relative to frame 30 as described hereinafter.

Turning again to consideration of the main framework of the carriage, it will be noted in Figs. 2, 6a and 6b that the main vertical side frames 50 and 51 of the feed unit are attached at the sides of frame casting 40 and spaced thereby to hold many of the feeding controls and the cross shafts between these main frames.

Attached to side frames 50 and 51 are a number of brackets for holding several sub-assemblies for different feed controls each of which is coordinated with the feeding devices in general. On the right side frame (Fig. 6b), there is a bracket 54 which serves to hold the magnetic brake housing MC which is in cooperation with the main tractor drive shaft 55. Attached to the inner face of the left side frame (Fig. 6a) is a bracket 56 for supporting the parts cooperating with a drive clutch. On the outside of frame 50 are a number of supporting devices including a bracket 57 for holding the differential drive gearing including the worm, gearing for the vernier line adjustment device. Another form of bracket or auxiliary frame 58 is the support for the three sets of tape sensing brushes and the cooperating contact rollers and driving pin feed drum for operating the tape. A third frame 59 is supported by studs 60 and it projects to form bearings for receiving projecting shafts to hold certain of the drive gears. Extending across the paper feed unit are several shafts and bars which not only support feeding devices, but also act as stiffening means between the frames. One such shaft is the shaft 62 which is the mounting means for the upper pair of tractor feed devices. Another such device is the bar 63 which acts as the platen to support the record forms when they are receiving the blows of the print recording heads.

The printer with which the paper feed is illustrated is of the kind involving a wire printer operating in serial order at high speed and is set forth in detail in copending patent applications Serial Nos. 479,106, filed on December 31, 1954, and 479,107, filed on December 31, 1954.

In Fig. 2 it is seen that the feed devices are driven by a motor M which is fastened to the top of the upper casting 40. A blower B (Fig. 6b) keeps the motor cool. This motor M is of a special variable speed type which is disclosed more fully in the copending application Serial No. 476,655, filed on December 2l, 1954, by W. F. Morgan. On the motor shaft is a pulley 66 for the main drive belt 67 (Fig. 6a), which is of the inner toothed type or Gilmer timing belt form for a more positive drive to a toothed pulley wheel 68 loosely mounted on the drive shaft 69 but connected to a clutch drum 70. Through the action of the clutch control ratchets 71 and 72 and other parts, the drive of the continuously rotating drum 70 is at times communicated to the drive shaft 69 which extends to the left (Fig. 1) to the tape feeding pin wheel or drum 73 and a gear 74 which is the first of a train of gears in the drive.

The drive connections are not direct to the continuous strip advancement tractors but are made through two indirect connections for two main reasons. The first reason for indirection is to provide a planetary form of connection wherein vernier adjustments or slight variations may be made in record to printer relationship. And the second reason for the circumlocutionary drive is to provide means for a change from 6 to 8 lines per inch of spacing whenever closer printing is desired.

The drive continues from gear 74 and through a loose idler gear 76 which is in mesh with a gear 77 which is loose on line space adjustment shaft 78 but fastened to a hub 79 which also holds the loose continuously rotating part 80 of a toothed clutch 8081 normally connected by the shifting action of a lever 82 which carries rollers 83 to open the clutch only on occasion for manual adjustment. The drive continues through clutch disk 81 which has on it a plate 84 with brackets 85, 86 and '87 carrying planetary driving connections. -A worm gear 88 and a helical gear 89 are on a short common shaft 90 suspended between brackets 85 and 86. Theformer is in mesh with a worm wheel 91 fastened to shaft 78,,

and the latter is in mesh with a mating-helical gear 92 which is fastened to .a shaft'93 extending through bracket 87 and carrying a spur pinion 95 which rolls around a gear 96 on a tubex97 fastened to the vernier adjusting knob 98 but loose on shaft 78. The outer line space 'knob 99 is fastened to shaft 78. a

100 also fixed to shaft 78, and-then on further in the driving train.

At this point it is well to note how aivernier adjustment or slight variation in the positin:of the record material is made relative to the printing line, The vernier knob 98 is turned one way or'the other to liftorlower' the paper relative to the printer. When the knob 98 is turned, the connected gear 96 is also turned and cornmunicates movement to the meshing pinion 95. Since pinion 95 is on shaft 93 with the helical gear 92, the latter is revolved and rotates the associated gear 89 which in turn rotates the worm gear 88. This motion serves to vary the angular relationship between the plate 84 which is the holder for the worm gear 88 and the worm .wheel 91 which is fastened to the feed driving shaft 78. The planetary arrangement including worm 88 remains in constant readiness for ordinary line spacing and skip feeding movement regardless of the relative adjustment through the vernier knob.

A frictional type of spring finger or detent 101 is fastened to the side of plate 84 and carried around with clutch member 81. This detent extends over into contact with the periphery of a line space detent plate 102 fastened to the side of clutch member 80 and formed with a series of regularly spaced notchesrinto which a V- shaped extension of detent 101 projects and is located as the knob 99 is turned by hand for linespace adjustment. Detent 1'01 snaps into notch after notch when the line space knob is adjusted, and this serves for definitelimiration of the desired number of manipulated spaces.

For line space adjustment, the driving train of gears is operated directly by the outer knob 99. Prior to this, the lever 82 is operated to open clutch 80-81. The knob 99 is fastened to shaft 78 and there is direct communication of the rotation given the knob to the drive gear 100 at the other end of the shaft.

Now that it has been seenhow the driving motion is communicated indirectly from gear 7410 gear 100 (Fig. 1) through the intermediate planetary adjustment devices, it is possible to trace the drive further. Gear 100 is seen to be in mesh with another gear 104 secured to the shaft 105 which is the axis for the idler 76 already mentioned. This shaft 105 projects towards the right and, at that end carries another gear 106, which is fastened thereon and in mesh with a wide gear 107 fastened to a sleeve 108 slidably mounted on a shaft 109. Normally the wide gear 107 is positionedjas shown to communicate the drive of gear 106 to another gear 110 which is loosely mounted on shaft 105 but :connected to a collar 111 which also carriesa slightly larger ,gear 112. Gear 112 meshes with gear 113 which .is fastened to the shaft 55 already mentioned as being the. driver for the two pairs of sprockets serving to actuate the pin feeding tractors. In other words, when wide gear.107 is positioned as shown, there is a rather direct communication of the driving motion through gears 106, 107, 110, 112, 113 and shaft 55. The driving connections mentioned are proportioned for spacing :sixlines 1001116 inch on the record strip R adjusted by the feeding :tractors.

*When it is desired to change the relationship so that the motion is reduced to get a greater numberof lines per 7 I inch, then the gear 107, and a pinion 114 connected thereto through the sleeve 108, is shifted to the right to disengage the connection to gear 110 and insteadto establish a more directconnection with gear 112. This is done to get a spacing of eight lines per inch. Thedrive connections then may be followed from gear 106 through gears 107, 114, 112, 113 and sprocket shaft 55. V

The choice between 6;and ;8 lines per inch of spacing is made by the operator and the gearing 107; 114 is shifted manually before the machine is brought. into operation and, therefore, the relationship between the spacing of print on the continuous record form R and the related feed-control tape TP may be selected in the usual fashion by proper spacing of the feed control perforations 116 in the tape.

Whenever the drive shaft 55 is rotated, the motion 5 is communicated directly to the upper pair of pin feed tractors UT1 and UT2 which have extending pins mounted on chains to. engage several of the marginal pin feed openings along the sides of all plies of the. continuous record material'R. The motion of the tractor pins upward serves to advance the material upward past the printing line which is coincident with the platen bar 63. In order to communicate the driving motion tothe lower pair of feed tractors, the shaft 55 is provided with a pair of attached sprockets 118 onto which is drawn a pair of belts 1'19 and for driving on opposite sides of the feed device. These belts 119 and 120 are of the positive type which are formed with inner toothed construction to cooperate with precise timing relationships with the driving sprockets 1.18 and a similar pair of sprockets 121 which are fastened near the ends of a shaft 122 which is the driver for the lower pair of pin feed tractors LTl and LTZ. These lower tractors also each have several pins engaging simultaneously in the marginal openings of the record material. Thus the four tractors serve not only to carry the record material rapidly away from the platen, but also help to bring the material out of the magazine and into print receiving position without tearing the marginal areas when operating at high speed.

In order to aid in slowing down the rapidadvance of the record material and to aid in bringing it to a stop with gradual deceleration, the driving means is provided with a brake at the end of the main tractor drive shaft 55. The brake serves to reduce oscillations and rebounding of the feed parts after they are stopped and during printing. In this way, paper shifting is avoided during the period of'printing. On the right in Fig. 1 it is shown that the shaft projects into a brake unit BR. This brake construction is better shown in the right of Fig. 6b where it is noted that the bracket 54 on side frame 51 holds the stationary part of the brake unit. 'On the outer end of shaft 55 is secured the rotating disk 124 which .is keyed thereon and is subject to axial movement when the interior coil MC of the brake is energized. The braking construction is similar to that shown in detail in Patent 2,747,717.

Now that the complete driving connections have been traced in a general way, it is believed advisable to return to consideration of how the main operating clutch 71-72 is constructed and controlled by the double coil start and stop magnets ST and SP. The parts for this clutch device are shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. It is pointed out hereinbefore that the left side frame 50 (Fig. 6a) is provided with a bracket 5-6, and it is on this bracket that a bar=124 (Fig. 3) extends to hold the pairs of coils constituting the start and stop magnets ST and SP for the clutch. Also extending from bracket 56 is a stud 125 which acts as the supporting means and axis for an armature pawl lever 126. The pivot 125 is centrally located on a line between the two control magnets. The armature plate 127 fastened to .lever 126 is placed directly beneath thecores of the magnets on either side. When in the normal stopping control position, the lever 126 is rocked upward at the left by the stop control magnet SP and when operated for clutch engaging or starting control, the same assembly is rocked upwardly at the right in a counterclockwise direction by the action of start magnet ST. A contact 1 28 is closed by counterclockwise motion of lever 126 whenever the start magnet ST is made effective. The rocking motion of lever 126 is limited by an adjustable stop stud 130.

At the right end of lever 126 there is formed a tooth shape 131 which cooperates with the ratchet teeth on the wheel 71 which is one of a pair of relatively movable ratchet control clutch wheels 71 and 72. The companion ratchet wheel 72 has teeth facing in the opposite direction and is normally engaged by a toothed clutch pawl 132 which is formed with a bent lug 134 overhanging the top of lever 126 to partake of its movement. A- coil spring 135 is coiled around the pawl shaft 136 and tends to hold the pawl 132 down into engagement with the teeth of ratchet wheel 72 and prevent it from rotating in a clockwise direction. When the lever 126 is operated counterclockwise by energization of the start magnet ST, it not only lifts the tooth 131 away from ratchet wheel 71, but it also actuates pawl 132 through the lug 134 to disengage 132 from the teeth of the other wheel 72.

The object of releasing the two clutch wheels 71 and '72 is to allow the heavy spring 138 to operate and tend to draw together the two wheels in opposite directions a slight amount which serves to exercise an outward camming action on a pair of inner wedges or operating dogs 139 and 140 which have outwardly projecting fingers 141, 141 and 142, 142 for engaging the inner circular area of the hollow clutch drum 70. Spring 138 is at one end connected directly to the Wheel 72 and at the other end it is connected to a stud 143 which projects through a camming member or pry bar 144 and also projects into a slot 146 cut into the other ratchet wheel 71. Member 144 is pivotally mounted on wheel 72 by means of an eccentric stud 147 which is adjustably rotated and locked into position by an attached plate 148 which is formed with an arcuate slot 149 through which projects a screw 150 to tighten the plate as adjusted. The position of the eccentric pin 147 is critical because the lower end of pry member 144 is formed with an overturned projection or operating piece 151 which contacts with the left side of the lower end of the clutch engaging member 140. The two dog or shoe members 139 and 140 (Fig. 4) are loosely held in a container 152 which is secured to a bushing 153 fastened to the drive shaft 69 so that the two wedging shoes 139 and 140 are not provided with any fixed pivot but rather cling to the circular inner wall of ring 152 and are held in an inwardly clinging position by a weak spring 154. A similar grooved retainer 156 confines pry member 144 axially. The two wedging parts 139 and 140 are in an abutting engagement at the top as shown in Fig. where the upper horizontal edges come together along the line 155. It is at this point 155 where the wedging members are rocked relatively to each other to in effect be spread out and cause the four fingers thereon 141 and 142 to come into firm engagement with the inner surface of the continuously rotating drum 70. The train of action may be followed by noting that release of the two ratchet wheels causes relative motion thereof with wheel 71 coming in a counterclockwise direction while wheel 72 moves slightly in a clockwise direction. The result is that member 144 through the action of the strong spring 138 is rocked slightly counterclockwise about pivot 147 and tends to pry wedging member 140 outward through the ofiset portion 151.

The pry bar 144 forces the shoe 140 against the drum 70. Since the shoe 140 makes angular contact with the drum, it tends to slide along the inside surface of the drum. This tendency is restrained by the other finger 142 which is forced into contact with the inside surface of the drum; This contact is also angular; therefore,

'shoe'=140-tends' to slide along the inside surface of the drum but is restrained by the shoe 139 due to the abutting projections meeting at the line 155. This process is repeated for shoe 139 to bring the lower part or finger 141' into contact with the drum by forcing it outward while guided by the studs 157. With an arrangement of this type, the forces are gradually accumulated at the four spaced fingers to provide the proper buildup of frictional forces to the required torque.

Motion of the drum 70 is communicated from the drum through the two shoes, and through the member 144 and studs 157 to the ratchet wheel 72 and attached bushing 153 and into the shaft 69 attached thereto. Then the clutch parts and shaft 69 are rotated in a counterclockwise direction as shown in Fig. 3 as long as the teeth 131 and 132 of the armature lever and pawl are held raised away from the ratchet-wheels. However, as soon as the start magnet ST relinquishes control and the stop magnet SP isenergized, the lever l2 6'is rocked in a clockwise direction and the two pawls are dropped into the ratchet teeth, whereupon tooth 131 stops the counterclockwise motion of wheel 71 and through the pin and slot connection 146 (Fig. 5) operates member 144 to rock it in a clockwise direction and shift the lower end 151 to draw away from the lower end of wedging member and thereby free the connecting parts from the drum 70 which continues to move in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 3). As this disengaging operation takes place, the other ratchet wheel 72 is carried along for a slight extent with one of the abutting teeth going beyond the left of pawl 132 but prevented from being retracted by the action of spring 138 because the pawl snaps into place before the wheel can move clockwise.

Although the various sections of the clutch parts have been referred to hereinbefore as upper and lower portions of the clutch members, it may be pointed out that the clutch parts are operable in all positions of rotation. In other words, the clutch is of the form known as a random engaging clutch wherein the parts have no fixed relationship relative to the driving drum, and the inner clutch parts are operated universally by outer engagement with any of the plurality of teeth on the ratchet wheels. For a high-speed device this is important because there is no necessity for any parts to return to a home position. The clutch is available to start from any position and to stop at any position. However, the ratchet teeth on the clutch wheels have a relationship with a line space movement of the drive connections, so that rapid operation of the start and stop magnets is productive of single line space movement. -In order to produce such a rapid switch from the start to the stop operation, there is provided the latch contacts or clutch switch contacts 128 which are closed by lever 126 upon a slight counterclockwise start movement so that the clutch is barely released before contacts 128 are closed to call stop magnet SP into action for a single-space operation.

It is noted hereinbefore that a control tape TP is provided to furnish a flexible form of predetermined programming for locating the record forms with respect to the printing line so that heading print blocks, item print and total print are started and stopped wherever desired on the forms. There is a tape TP produced for each type of form and for the respective length of form. The tape TP as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6a is an endless paper band which is either equal in length to the related form or a multiple fraction of the form length in the cases of short forms. In Fig. 1 it is seen that the tape is a narrow paper band which is driven by the pin studded drum 73 with the pins 158 thereon cooperating with a central line of feed perforations punched in the tape. The tape is advanced in synchronism with the movement of the record strip R and describes a triangular path in moving around a sleeve 159 at the rear and then passing successive ly around contact rollers 160, 161 and 162, the latter being on the feed drum 73. The three contact rollers or cylinders 160, 161 and 162 are'placed opposite three lines or sets of tape sensing brushes, interlock brushes IN,

speed reducing or slowdown brushes SL and finally the upper set of stop brushes ST.

As shown in Fig. 6a the three cooperating contact rollers arelsupported outside the left side. frameon a separate small frame 58 fastened to'frame 50 by]. extending studs and brackets. The driveshaft 69 extends through frame 58 and carries drum 73 which extends outwardly. The other two contact rollers 1 160 and 161 are supported at the inner end on bearings in the frame and project outwardly without support atthe outer ends. 7 p

The tape TP (Fig. 2) is held taut by theholder for the rearsleeve 159. which comprises an arm 164 which is rocked to the proper angular position and secured to the side frame 50-by means of ,a.,nut :andSP -ing washer 165 acting on a hub of the arm. Whentit is desired to; change the tape all that is necessary is to loosen the arm 164 and slip the tape outwardly oven thefouriguide rollers, i. e., after all sensing brushes have been rocked out of cooperation with the tape. When a newtape isinserted, the arm is adjusted angularly tohold it taut. 1

sets of brushes and In Fig. 2 it is also seen that the three lines or sets of tape sensing brushes are mounted in a separately mov-' able frame 166 pivoted at 167 on a stud projecting from the frame 58. The frame 166 is in the form ofa channel with a U-shapedcross section and hasside plates for confining the ends of insulation blocks 168, three of which are spaced between the frame side plates to-hold the sets of sensing brushes. When frame 166.is in the operating position it closes the contacts of a switch .169-fastened to frame-58 and it is in this position that a latch 17;0 pivoted onthe top of the frame catc'hes over a square stud 1-71jextending outwardly from one of the main side frames- 50. When 'it isdesired to change the tape, the'latch '170'is lifted and then the frame 166 rocks ;clockwise, -until-'it abuts against a stop rod 172' In so doing it opens the contacts :of switch 169 and this prevents operation ofithe feeding devices while the-mechanism is out-of the proper position.

Referring to Fig. 6a it is seen that, in addition to the insulation block 168 for holding the'line'of brushes, there is also a comb-shaped insulation member 173 which confines each sensing brush to a particularpat-h on the'itape. These paths around the tape are also'ttermed channels and it is in these channels where the tape feed control perforations are placed differentially to predetermined various stop and. start positions related to. positions on the continuous record-forms R. It. may be notedthat in the comb formation of guide :block 173 there are 13 notches, 6 on one side of the tape feedpins 158.. and 7 on the other side. The extra'position, or 7th position at the extreme right, is used for a common contact brush which carries current to or from the contact roller. The other 12 brush positions are used mainly for several skipping controls and one is reserved for overflow control.

Since the tape TP is moved in acounterclockwise'path (Fig. 2), a perforation 116 therein in any channel passes in succession first under the related interlock brush IN at the bottom and next passes'th'e slowdownbrush SL'in the middle and finally reaches the stop control brush ST at the top. Since the tape is moved along 'with the record strip R during line spacing operation, the particular tape perforation of a certain channel may be anywhere short of the stop position brushes when a skip is initiated related to that particular channel. It is by means of these spacings of the three brush sets relative to the tape that the controls are preconditioned before skipping is initiated by the presence or absence of controls initiated by the particular tape hole passingor not passing the two lower sets of brushes. For example, if a certain channel is selected and it is immediately determined that the particular tape-holehas not already passed the related lower brush IN, itis known immediately that the skip .isgoing to tween the two brushes and the skip involved is longer than nine line spaces but shorter than twenty line spaces.

Therefore, the skip is to start at high speed andinvolve a shorter loss of printer time. Should a skipinitiationfind both lower controls activated, then that is a sign that the skip is tobe a very short one involving less thanninedine spaces and it is to proceed at slow speed and'involvea still shorter loss interval of printer time or no loss at all.

At this point: it is Well to comment upon the effect that the card reading printer has over the feed devices because it is the printer which responds to the punched 1 ecord card control and printson the record form according to how many lines of heading data, item data and classes of totals are called for by a particular group orgroups of control cards. The printer has group control devices, heading'card control by X and no X punchings in the cards and program controls for various classes of items and totals such as minor, intermediate andmajor 7 controls. These controls originating within the card reader andprinter are productive of impulses which may be used selectively to control the spacing or long.;fee,d skipping operations of the record strip feeding devices.

The channels of the tape TP are selected by'thereco'rd card controls in the printer. As the cards feed they are sensed not only to select the data to be printed, but also the dispositionof such printing by placement on a form. In most instances the printer initiates feeding for line spacing or skipping and the tape controls effect stoppage as determined by the'holes in the tape. The exception is the overflow control whereby the tape both initiates and stops an ejection of the record material from the end of one form to the top of the next form. Tape channel selection is plugga'ble and of selective control from a number of card controlled sources. It may come from X holes, inheading cards, ;or digit selection holes in any card, or class of totals on total cycles, or by group changes without total printing. control are set forth at length in the Mills et al. Patent No. 2,531,885, issued on November 28, 1950. Other patents of the tape controlled feed device variety include Rabenda Patent No. 2,569,829, issued on October 2, 1951,, .Bakelaar et a]. Patent No. 2,684,746, issued on July 27, 1954, and the Cunningham et al. Patent2,747,717, issued on May 29, 1956.

It will be noted hereinafter with reference to the wiring diagram that the feeding controls for double space, triple space skip to 1, skip to 2, etc. are all pluggable to receive control impulses from the card reader and printer. They take precedence over each other in the order mentioned with single line spacing dominating all. The skip to controls refer to the tape sensing brushes as they are picked up in successive order so that when the skip to 5 control is plugged, it means thatthe fifth tape brush is to'sense a tape perforation and control the stop magnets regardless of tape perforations in all lower channel positions. Ordinarily it is for only the advances of four or more spaces that skip stop perforation con trol is put-in the tape to determine where a headingis to start, where item impressions are to start, 'or where a total impression is to be placed.

When there are too many related items to be recorded on one form it is necessary to put the overflow items on a second form. In such cases the endsensing brush or twelfth brush of the stop brush set, in cooperation with a perforation at the side of the tape, determines where the overflow skip is "to start. Any predetermined posi: tion may be chosen as the last line of a form and the These forms of channel selection control tape punched in the twelfth channel at a corresponding position to initiate overflow skipping.

The feeding devices operate at two speeds which are governed by thecontrol over the variable speed motor which is operable at a record movement speed of 75 inches per second for skips of more than nine line spaces, end at the slower speed of 25 inches per second for skips of less than nine line spaces. These changes of speed since they are not abrupt are smoothed out in a sort of harmonic motion change or gradual variation from high to low speed. The demand for high-speed operation is automatically called for by a skip when a tape control perforation fails to make evident the passage beyond the slowdown brushes SL at the time the skip is initiated.

The feeding devices are provided with line spacing controls for single, double and triple spacing. The selection of control is made by operation of pluggable controls described hereinafter with relation to the wiring diagram. A single space control'is the normal operation and will take place invariably in conjunction with serial order printing unless the feed controls are signaled otherwise.

The line spacing controls involve the use of the commutator 175 best shown in Fig. 6a where it is seen to be connected to shaft 69 and placed near the outer face of the side frame 50. Cooperating with the commutator are four sensing brushes best shown in Fig. 2 where they are seen to project radially from an arcuate block of insulation 176 which is fastened to the outside of frame 50. In Fig. 6a it is noted that commutator 175 has a continuous metallic band in one area and a regular series of separate segments or metal inserts spaced apart the equivalent of three line spaces. Cooperating with the continuous commutator band is a common line space conducting brush LSC (Fig. 2). The other three brushes LS1, LS2, and LS3 are spaced apart with their operating ends touching the commutator where it has the separated segments. One of these three brushes is always active and in contact with a segment and it may be any one of the three. When one is in the active position the other two are spaced one and two spaces respectively away from other commutator segments. The wiring controls later considered in connection with the wiring diagram are flexible so that upon a demand from the printer for one line space, such a demand is communicated to the particular one of the three line space control brushes which happens to be on an active segment. The wiring connections serve to initiate a pair of impulses to activate the start and stop magnets of the random clutch to cause the shift of one line space which also moves the commutator segments to pass from one control brush to another. In the event of a setting for double line spacing, then the control is varied to embrace the brush which stands one space removed from a conductive commutator segment. The double space control then calls for a stop impulse derived from the secondary control brush source and this necessitates the movement of the commutator and all connected controls including the record to a position involving two successive brush sensing stations on the commutator. In this same fashion a triple line space selection requires the cooperation of a spaced pair of line space brushes involving the brush which is on a segment and a brush twice removed, i. e., in a position which establishes contact only after two degrees of movement of the commutator and becomes effective for stopping after the spacing of three line spaces.

A device is provided for producing manually adjusted lateral movement of the record forms and the feed devices cooperating therewith by shifting the upper frame comprising the main side frames 50 and 51 and the arch-shaped casting 40 (Fig. 2) relative to the heavy lower casting 30 (Fig. 8). It is already noted herein before that the upper portion is slidably arranged relative to the lower portion by means of the notched constr uctionshown at the left in Fig. 8 and involving the 'a gear 180. In mesh with gear 1 (Figs. 2 and 6a) is 'an -idler gear 181 having in cooperation therewith a spring deterit 182 which is formed with a V-shaped portion extending between the teeth of the gear. Also meshing with idler 181 is a drive pinion 183 which is loosely mounted on a stud 184 extending from the side frame 50, and connected to the pinion is an adjustment disk 185 from which there projects a handle 186. When the handle 186 is grasped and rotated about the center 184, the train of gearing drives the screw 179 and since the screw is immovable axially between the side frames 50 and 51 it merely revolves therein, but the threaded connection to block 178 (Fig. 8) causes the production of relative movement between the two main frames. In other words, the whole upper section of the feed unit is shifted laterally along the top of the lower frame 30 and in this way the sets of tractors and record strip R (Fig. l) are shifted laterally with respect to the print heads of the printer. This form of adjustment makes it unnecessary to shift the'four'tractor units individually when it is merely a matter of centralizing or shifting the recording control generally. It is only when the form width is changed that a requirement is made to vary the positions of the feed tractors laterally.

An example is given in Fig. 7 of the construction of one of the pin feed tractor devices. This sectional showing also applies in general to the construction of the other three similar units. Assuming that the unit shown in Fig. 7 is a lower tractor unit LTl, then it is driven by shaft 122 and supported on shaft 223. The unit is built around a heavy block 188 which has an inner section of tubing 189 slidable on the guide shaft 223. Attached to 'one side of block 188 is a plate 190 which acts as a support for a cover, not shown. A bushing 191 on shaft 122 is supported by'block 188 and loosely mounted with respect to plate 190 but guided thereby and keyed to the drive shaft 122 by a tapered slidable key 192. Secured on the bushing 191 is a sprocket 193 over which is drawn the chain 194, the regularly spaced links of which are formed with a U-shaped holder 195 having an extension 196 from which there projects a feeding pin 197. At the lower end the chain 194 is drawn around another sprocket 198 which has aifixed thereon a stud 199 carrying one section or inner race of a ball bearing 200, the outer race of which is secured to the elongated frame portion 201 which is formed as part of block 188 and provides an elliptical form of support over which the propections 196 are slidable and which forms a sort of backing for the thin projections 196 carrying the feeding pins 197.

The tractors are provided with means for placing them axially along the shafts 122 and 223 and clamping them there as well as providing for their shift or removal whenever desired. The inner end of sleeve 189 is formed with a thread 202 and cooperating therewith is a threaded adjustment nut 204 which is loosely mounted on shaft 223 and formed with a cooperating thread and also with an inner shoulder 205 which confines a split ring 207 of nylon which is suitable to be wedged into the tapered formation 206 formed as a flared end of the sleeve 189. Thus the unit may be placed in any axial position along shaft 223 and then the nut 204 may be screwed down and tightened to cause the ring 207 to be biased into a wed'ging position against the flared formation 206 as forced by the shoulder 205.

The upper sleeve 191 also has a section of threading 209 for clamping the tapered key 192 against the shaft 55. Cooperating with this threaded section 209 is a nut 210 with an inner shoulder 211 passing behind the raised "13 i end formation of the key 192. "For further confining the'key and causing it to move with nut 21 0,there is secured on the outer face ofthe nut a circular plate 212 which has a restricted opening around shaft 122 .and

fastens in front of one end of the key. From'the construction shown, it is evident that when the nut 210 is loosened, the key 192 is drawn along therewith to be pulled out of the key way in the sleeve 191 and shaft 122.

However, when the nut is tightened in the other direction, the key is not only inserted, but also clamped towards the center of shaft 122 and held firmly in the driving.

printer blocks and over to the left,- then the lower tractors assume a vertical position as shown dotted at the left. This is done to make the feed pins more accessible and to insure that the record strip stays on the pins until it is drawn taut across an adjustable guide cylinder 214 which is fastened across the inside of the printer frame. When brought to the right and into, the operating position, the lower tractor LT1 is seen to be slanted to agree with the angle of a paper guide plate 215 which is secured to the feed unit casting 30. It also agrees in position with a straight line path from where the record curves around the guide cylinder 214. Therefore,the hinging or pivotal construction of the lower tractors about to be described is furnished for the purposes of affording automatic angular adjustment of the lower pin feed chains as mentioned.

The lower tractor drive shaft 122 (Figs. 6a and 6b) passes through two rectangular block's 217 and 218, one near the inner face of each side frame 50 and 51. ,The blocks are each pivoted on a bushing 219 (Fig.8) extending from the side frame and concentric with the shaft 122. Thus the two blocks 217 and 218 are pivotally mounted with respect to the axis of shaft 122 without putting any burden or torque on the shaft. Attached'to the inside faces of the blocks are spring holders and cam plates 220 and 221 to which are connected springs 222 tending to pull the blocks to a vertical position. The two blocks carry between them a shaft 223 which is the supporting means for the lower tractors and corresponds to shaft 62 of the upper tractors. It is shaft 223 and the tractors thereon which are swung in and out of the vertical position when the holder blocks are rocked about the bearings 219. I

As noted in Figs. 6a, 6b and 8, the lower. ends of cam plates 220 and 221 extend downwardly an appreciable extent, the former being bent offset at 224 and the latter extending straight down. Both lower plate ends are in the path of an adjustment rod or shaft 225, (Fig. 10) which extends across the printer frame. The arrange ment is such that when the feed unit is pushed toward the printer to be latched thereon, the lower ends of plates 220, 221 strike against the side of shaft 225 and for the last inch or two, automatically swing the lower tractor frame of blocks 2 17, 218 andshaft 223, back to the angular position shown in full lines in Fig. 8. The purpose of studs 227 is to properly position the lower tractors in line with the paper path. After the blocks 217 and 218 have struck the stops, further motion on the part of the plates 220 and 221 will cause the plates only to pivot about the shaft 223 against the force of the spring 222 and two other springs, not shown, attached to the studs on the blocks 217 and 218. The purpose of this differential movement is to absorb the effects of tolerances andadjustments of the carriage position for various paper thicknesses. In order to prevent the blocks 217 and 218 from swinging too far under the urging of springs 222 "and going beyond the vertical position, an extending washer 228 (Fig. 6b) is fastened on the front edge of frame51 and projects to stop block 218 in the vertical position.

In order to detect a break in the record material, or the passage of the end of the continuous strip, there is provided a mechanical sensing finger or lever which ordinarily rides along the surface of the advancing record material and changes its position when there is a' break or absence of thematerial. It is already noted with refer-, ence to Fig.- 8 that there projects beyond the front of the base casting 30 of the paper feed unit, a sheet guide 215 extending across the feed unit front end position at an angle coinciding with the angle'of the path of the record material. This guide 215 is a form of backing plate againstwhich the ,record material rests and it is slotted vertically in one; position. opposite-a detecting finger or sensing arm 230 attached toand rocking with a shaft 231 (Fig. 10) which is carried by bearings in two large brackets 232 and 233 adjustably fastened on the top of the rails 27 and 28 which are part of theprinter frame. In other words when the feed unit and the printer are separated by retraction of the two along the heavy rods 32, the -guide 215 (Fig. 8) moves along with the feed unit, while :the sensing lever 230 remains behind because it is mounted onpart of the printer frame. i

. he shaft 231 extends beyond the 'bracket 232 (Fig. 10) at the left and there it carries a bell crank lever 235 which is attachedto the shaft and formed with a horizontal arm to which is attached one endof a spring 236 tending to rock it in-a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 8). The upper end of spring 236 is attached to an extension 237 fastened to bracket 232. a

The vertical arm of crank 235 is threaded and there extends from'it an adjustable screw, the head of which cooperates with the plunger of a micro switch 238. The switch is fastened to the side of bracket 232 along with the extension 237.. d

From the arrangementof the parts as shown in Fig. 8 it is evident that as longas one or more Webs of paper are present between theguide 215 and the sensing lever 230 it remains positioned to the right with-the micro switch open. However, upon the absence of paper for any reason, the lever 230 is then free to rock counterclockwise into the opening in guide plate 215 under the urging of spring 236. When the lever is so moved, the

.bell crank 235 is moved along with the rocking shaft 231, and switch 238 is operated so that Various controls in' both the printer and feed unit may be signaled to cause stoppage or other control'occasioned by the absence of record material.

Early in the specification it was pointed out how the feed unit is made retractable with respect to the printer by being slidable thereon through the heavy extending slide rods passing through the blocks fastened to the printer frame. Now it is appropriate to explain how the feed unit is latched in either of the positions, and the first one to 'be considered is the position wherein the feed unit is latched close to the printer and in position to receive printing impressions on the record material.

When the feed unit is pushed into cooperation with the printer and reaches the proper position, a pair of latches 240 and 242 (Fig. 10) engage with shouldered latching plates 241 and 243 attached to the sides of the blocks 232 and 233 already mentioned as being forms of adjustable brackets secured to opposite sides of the printer frame. The latches 240 and 242 are pivotally mounted to swing in a horizontal plane from the pivots provided in the base casting 30- of the feed unit. The side view of one of such pivotal mountings is shown in Fig. 8 and there it is seen that a vertical shaft 245 passes through a pair of extending ears 246 and 247 formed on casting 30. Between ears 246 and 247 there ispinned to shaft 245 an operating arm casting 248 which is shown in section in Fig. 10 and there it is notedthat it has attached to it an extending operating handle 249 with an opening 250 into which four fingers may be inserted to grasp the handle and swing it in a clockwise direction to disengage the latches 240 and 242. An adjustable stop 251 projects 15 from handle portion 248 and limits the counterclockwise position of the operating handle. Springs 252 tend to keep the latches rocked inward to the engaging positions. 7

The disengaging control of the single lever 249 is communicated from the left side latch 240 (Fig. to the other latch 242 by means of a pair of rods 254 and 255 extending across the bottom of the feed unit. This is done by attaching to the lower ends of the two vertical shafts 245, double ended levers 256 which are formed with holes to receive the ends of the rods 254 and 255 which are connected to the levers on the opposite shafts 245. In Fig. '10 it is seen that the rods crossnear the center of the feed unit and this is done because it is necessary to reverse the direction of movement of the latch operating parts because the latches swing inwardly in opposite directions.

The latches are released by movement of the handle in a novel manner by a combination of movements involving the eccentricity of the pivot and a positive rotary actuator. The eccentric manner of mounting the latches of shafts 245 is illustrated at the right in Fig. 10 where it is seen that the portion of the shaft 245 passing through the pivoting end of latch 242 is formed circular with a ring or crank portion 258 which is eccentric with respect to the long shaft portion 245 connected therewith. This offset arrangement 258 is also shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8. With this kind of construction it is apparent that when lever 249 (Fig. 10) is rocked clockwise, the eccentric mounting of both latches tends to rock forwardly and therefore the shouldered points of the latches are shifted forwardly to the partly open position as represented by the dotted line position 259 at the right in Fig. 10. In a converse fashion, when the feed unit is being assembled on the printer, the counterclockwise motion of the lever 249 will tend to draw backward on the latches and cause them to clamp tightly against the latch plate shoulders and thereby compress the soft bumper members or rubber washers 260 which are mounted on the slide rods 32 and presented between the abutting ends of the feed unit and printer unit castings.

However, it is not sufficient for withdrawal of the feed unit that the latches should be merely moved forward. It is necessary that they be rocked out of the path of the latch plates and this is performed by rocking means about to be described. Loosely pivoted on each shaft 245 (Fig. 8) is an arm 262 which is on the same hub with the double ended lever 256 and located just under the latch 240. Arm 262 is formed with an upstanding lug or tab 253 which is keyed into a notch 257 in the eccentric portion 258 for ease of assembly and positive connection. This arm 262 (Fig. 10) is also formed with an upwardly positioned extension 263 on which there is an adjustment screw 264. The screw end is in the path of a projection 265 formed on the latch 240 near the pivot. A similar arrangement of lever 262, screw 264 and extension 265 is associated with the other latch 242 shown at the right in Fig. 10. After the lever 249 has rocked the eccentrics 258 through about 90 degrees of movement, the screw 264 on lever 262 then comes into an abutting relation with the extension 265 on the latch to swing the latch. The ensuing movement is represented at the right in Fig. 10 where it is seen that the second degree of movement of latch 242 is represented by the dotted line 267 showing the position of the latch after it has been operated both longitudinally and with rotation. Therefore the operation of the lever 249 through a swinging motion of about 90 degrees causes the latches to not only be retracted, but also rocked out of the path of the latch plates so that the paper feed unit isdisengaged and free to be retracted.

The carriage latch is so arranged that the natural unlatching movement of the latch handle from right to left (Fig. 8) corresponds with the required carriage movement from right to left when opening. The carriage maybe closed against the printer, regardless of the position of the latch handle with out danger of damage to the latch.

, Rejoining the feed unit carriage to the printer is also a simple operation. When the lever 249 is rocked back near the home position the first thing that happens is that the springs 252 cause the latches to follow along after the arms 262 and the latches move inward ready for locking action. Then the two units may be brought together and finallythe lever 249 operated to bring it to a closed position against the side frame of the feed'unit and in so doingthe latches are drawn backward andthe two units are joined firmly with a clamping action exercising pressure onthe bumpers.

Inorder to compensate for various thicknesses of the record material which may be comprised of one or more layers of continuous forms and carbon strips, there is provided a means for varying the joining position of the feed unit on the printer. This is done by shifting the 'latch plates 241, 243 (Fig. 10) so that the feed unit is held in a position allowing room for a variable number of strips between the ribbon of the printer and the platen bar 63 of the feed unit. In order to shift the position of the latch plates, the blocks 232 and 233 upon which they are mounted are shifted by eccentric portions such as section 269 shown as formed near one end of shaft 225 and passing through a block 270 which is held in a U-shaped opening in the top of block 232. Although the parts will be described with reference to the sectional showing at the lower left hand corner of Fig. 10, it will be realized that the construction is duplicated at the opposite end of shaft 225 to shift the two latch plates in synchronism. Turning again to the manner in which shaft 225 governs the thickness adjustment, it will be noted that this shaft is mounted in adjustable eccentric bushings 281 near either end, said bushings being in the vertical walls of a pair of stationary brackets 271 and 272 secured to the top of the base frame 29 of the printer unit. These eccentrics 281 are separately adjusted for an askew correction which is in addition to the common thickness adjustment control of shaft 225. The shaft ends project beyond bushings 281 with two eccentric portions such as portion 269 .which passes through the notch opening of the adjustable blocks 232 and 233. Each of these blocks is held on a printer base by three large screws 273 which pass through slots in the brackets 232 and 233. When it is proposed to make an adjustment, the blocks 232 and 233 may be shifted longitudinally under the shouldered screws 273. Oversize holes are provided in these blocks to permit such movement. Blocks 232 and 233 are positioned and guided by strips 274 (Fig. 8) fastened to the printer frame which fit into slots in the bottom of these blocks running parallel to the support rods 32. The square blocks 270 which are formed with cylindrical openings through Which the eccentric portions pass are seated in the U-shaped openings cut into the top of brackets 232 and 233, and these square blocks 270 are held over to one side and made readily removable by a clamping piece 274 which is pressed into position by an adjustable screw 275 which passes through the one side of the U- shaped opening and has a lock nut for holding it and the block 270 in position.

In order to twist shaft 225 to variable angular positions and thereby rotate the eccentrics to shift the latch blocks back or forth, there is secured to the left end of shaft 225, a manipulative knob 276 which extends beyond the left side of the printer. The extending portion of the shaft upon which the knob is fixed is supported in a detent block 277 which projects from a bracket 278 fastened to the rail 27 forming part of the printer frame. Near the ends of shaft 225 there are attached collars 279 for confining the shaft laterally. Detent block 277 has two diametrically opposite spring loaded ball detents 17 projecting from its outer face against the inner face of the knob 276 which in turn has conical detent holes radially displaced therein so as to give controlled increments of spacing.

There are times when an adjustment other than the parallel motion provided by eccentrics 269 is required. Then the separate bushings 281 may be turned individually in the fixed brackets 271, 272 and in that way either end of shaft 225 and the corresponding latch plate may be shifted to align the platen with respect to all print heads. Another position maintaining device cooperates with the bracket blocks 232 and 233 in all positions. This other device forms a sort of prop between the feed unit and the printer unit and takes the form of the bolt 283 (Fig. which is threaded into one end of block 232 and provided with a lock nut for holding it in the adjusted position. The head of bolt 283 cooperates with a machined surface 284 out into the side of the base casting 30 of the feed unit. The bolts 283 are adjustable in order to absorb tolerances in the carriage latch system. Thus the first operation is to adjust the stop bolts 283 so that the latch will draw up the carriage snugly against the printer and yet not require excessive handle pressure to latch. Once adjusted, readjustment of the bolts 233 is never required for changes in paper thickness or for skewed alignment of the platen.

It is explained hereinbefore how the feed unit is latched in place when it is in position to receive printing impressions. It is also required that the feed unit should be stopped and held in a certain position when it is retracted away from the printer unit. In other words, it is not enough merely to put enlarged portions on the ends of the sliding rods 32, but there should be some assurance that when the units are separated and the operator has her hands between them that they should not come together. In order to provide such a stop and latch arrangement for the retracted position, there is pivoted a swinging latch dog 288 (Figs. 8 and 9) on the side of the printer unit and pivotally mounted on center 2E9 extending from the side of block 34. A compression spring 287 between block 34 and the inside surface of dog 288 tends to hold it in the angular position to which it is turned. Cooperating with this dog 288 is a latching member 290 fastened to the end of the slide rod 32 by nut 291. Latch member 290 is formed with a long upper section and has a cross-sectional area in the form of a reclining L-shape. The long upper portion of 290 normally slides over the top of dog 268 (Fig. 8) which is normally positioned in a horizontal manner, as shown, and the retracting member 290 is unobstructed in the movement to the left until the small lower extension 292 strikes against the lower portion 293 of the dog and rocks it in a clockwise direction. Then the dog assumes the position shown in Fig. 9 where a pointed portion at the upper left corner of the dog is projected through a slot in the top portion of the member 290. Thus the retracting rod and member 290 is not only brought to a halt by the rubber bumper, but the dog 288 is also projected up into a latching position to prevent an immeoiate return movement of the feed unit. In order to impart a return movement of the feed unit to the closed position towards the printer, it is necessary to give the unit and the attached latching member 2% another short retracting movement to swing the dog 288 further clockwise to a vertical position in the slots, and then the feed unit is free for movement toward the right and in so doing again swings the dog 90 degrees more in a clockwise direction and back to the horizontal position of Fig. 8.

When the feed unit and the latching parts carried thereby are connected in the proper position ready to receive printing impressions, an indication is given that the printer may proceed to operate. This is done by the operation of a switch 295, the operating member of which is struck by the end of a slide rod 32 when the feed unit'is properly assembled as shown in the lower righthand corner of Fig. 8.

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 printing machine formed with two sets of aligned open-j ings toreceive said rod ends for sliding movement theremeans for holding said feed device in a closed position with respect to the printing machine ready for the record therein to receive printing.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 with two latching devices for holding said feed device either in a closed print receiving position, or an open retracted position wherein the parts are accessible.

4. The combination with a printing machine and a record feed device cooperating therewith, of a device for adjustably connecting said record feed device to said printing machine comprising a printing device and a record feeding unit associated therewith, said feeding unit having a platen at one end, said printing device having printing instrumentalities on an end facing the platen, of a separable joining means between the feeding unit and the printing device including a pair of spaced latches on one and latch plates on the other which are engaged by said latches, and means for varying the positions of said latch plates, whererby adjustment is made to vary the space between the platen and the printing instrumentalities in accordance with the number of layers of record material comprising the record.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 and shiftable blocks on which said latch plates are mounted, and manipulative eccentrics cooperating with said blocks to change the position of the blocks and latch plates.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 and a shaft and separate adjustable eccentric bushings therefor, and wherein said eccentrics are on said shaft which in turn is mounted in said separate adjustable eccentric bushings mounted on opposite sides of the machine, whereby separate lateral aligning adjustments may be made to correct askew setting of the feeding unit relative to the printing device.

7. The combination set forth in claim 4 and a pivot rod for each latch having an eccentric portion whereon each latch is pivoted, an arm also mounted on said rod with a lost motion connection to said latch, and manipulative means for rocking said rod with two degrees of movement, the first movement serving to swing the eccentic latch pivot portion so that the latch is shifted away from a shoulder on the latch plate, and the second movement causing the arm to engage and swing the latch there with away from the shoulder on the latch plate to release the feeding unit for retraction.

8. The combination set forth in claim .7 wherein said latches and pivot rods are duplicated on opposite sides of the unit, said manipulative means including a handle attached to one rod, and a pair of double ended levers on the rods with crossed connectors for transmitting the manipulative movement from one side to the other.

9. In a record feeding device, record advancing means comprising a line spacing device and means for making 2. The combination set forth in claim 1 with latching a minute adjustments of the record position relative to the spacing device including a set of planetary gearing between the driving and driven parts of said advancing means, said gearing including a worm gear the helical ridges of which act as gear teeth in planetary gearing, and manipulative means for rotating said worm gear to cause minute changes in the position of the planetary gearing and the record position.

10. In a record feeding device, a plurality of sets of pin feed tractors, said sets being arranged to define a confined record path of less than 180 with respect to 2. reference point on the path, a pivotal mounting for one of said sets, a retracting means for said feeding device, spring means tending to draw said pivoted set to a position wherein the record path is widened when the feeding device is retracted relative to an operator on the record, and an operating means for automatically swinging said pivoted set back to define the confined path when the feeding device is restored from the retracted position.

11. In a pin feeding device, a tractor pin feed unit with a pair of sprockets over which is drawn a chain with extending pins, 21 pair of shafts upon which said unit is mounted, one of said shafts carrying one of said sprockets for driving the unit, and the other shaft carrying a supporting frame for the unit, the other sprocket being mounted for rotation on said frame, means for locking said frame in an adjusted position on said other shaft comprising an annular wedge shaped ring on the frame and embracing said other shaft, a cylindrical split ring to be forced between the wedge ring and said other shaft, and a threaded nut on said frame for forcing said split ring between the Wedge ring and said other shaft, said drive sprocket being keyed to the first-mentioned shaft by a tapered key with a head, and a shouldered nut on said frame to engage said key head and thereby serving to extract the key when it is turned.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Pentecost et a1 Aug. 14, 1951

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