US2907438A

US2907438A - Line finder

Info

Publication number: US2907438A
Application number: US536381A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles L Winter; John E Euth
Original assignee: Uarco Inc
Current assignee: Uarco Inc
Priority date: 1955-09-26
Filing date: 1955-09-26
Publication date: 1959-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 1976-10-06

Description

1959 c. WINTER ET AL 2,

LINE FINDER Filed Sept. 26, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Cfiarles A. Mrz

Oct, 6, 1959 c, L, WINTER ET AL 2,907,438

LINE FINDER Filed Sept. 26, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIE/1+ 1959 c. L. WINTER ET AL 2,907,438

LINE FINDER Filed Sept. 26, 1955 5 Sheets-Shet s United States Patent LINE FINDER ,Application September 26, 1955, Serial No. 536,381

i 4 Claims; (CL 197-'114) V This invention relates to an attachment for a writing machine, and more particularly to a mechanism for advancing continuous-form stationery to predetermined writing positions upon each form length.

The present application is a continuation-impart of our co-pending application, Serial No. 407,127, filed Ianuary 29, 1954, and now issued as Patent No. 2,788,108, entitled Stationery Advancing Mechanism for a Writing Machine.

Continuous-form stationery is often used in writing machines for the purpose of typing bills, invoices, and the like which are similarly formed in continuous strips. The operator of the machine, whether it be a typewriter, an accounting machine or a billing machine, generally has to type a name and address on the form and thereafter the body of the form must usually be filled in at one or more places. There may be considerable space between each bit of typing on each form, and, in addi: tion, often there is a space between the last line of typing and the first line on the next succeeding form length. The present device is particularly well adapted to advance portions of each form length into proper typing position and to advance the continuous strip so that the next succeeding form length may be quickly brought into proper writing position. The ability of the device to properly position each form length of a strip is independent of the amount of typing done on a preceding form length.

Previous mechanisms for advancing the platen of a writing machine have been provided with auxiliary levers for stopping the movement of the platen intermediate the ends of a form length. These mechanisms have generally required an additional manual operation .over and above the mere grasping of the handle and pulling of the handle forwardly to advance the platen. The structure of the present invention obviates the necessity ofadditional manual operations and permits the advancement of stationery around the platen of the writing machine frombeginning to the end of a form length or to intermediate positions on the form length with a single type of manual operation on the part of the operator.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved platen advancing lever assembly.

' Another object is to provide a platen advancing lever assembly having an improved stop mechanism which is automatically advanced into operative position with each manual operation of the handle of the lever assembly.

A further object is to provide a stop mechanism which, after arresting movement of the platen, will automatically move out of engagement and forwardly of the stopping stud of the stop mechanism when the manual pull on the handle of the lever assembly is relaxed.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view with the outer cover removed to expose the working parts, of the platen advancing mechanism showing the lever assembly in its rearward position;

2,907,438 Patented Oct 6, 1959.

Fig. 2, an elevational view as shown in Fig. 1, but with the lever assembly in its forward position;

Fig. 3, a view as in Fig. 1, but showingthe lever assembly in an intermediate position in which the cooperating studs are shown in engagement, the dotted line position showing the action of the handle and lever assembly when the handle is released after a manual. operation;

Fig. 4, a fragmentary side elevational view of the writing machine attachment showing the stop stud which is mounted in the frame;

Fig. 5, a fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6, a side elevational view of the platen advancing lever assembly shown isolated from the remainder of the writing machine atachment Fig. 7, a top plan view of the lever assembly shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8, a side elevational view of the lever assembly from the opposite side as that shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9, aside elevational view of the handle mounting portion of the lever assembly;

Fig. 10, a side elevational view of the handle portion I of the lever assembly; and

Fig. 11, a side elevational view of the platen advancing pawl of the writing attachment.

The attachment of the present invention operates with a cylindrical platen usually equipped with feed pins which enter into perforated feed bands of continuous-form stationery. The stationery strips are preferably divided by lines of weakening into a series of similar form length so that after typing or Writing on the forms, they may be separated into individual invoices, vouchers or the like. For example, an operator may only wish to type a name and address on the heading of the form length and one or more lines just below the heading. There is considerable space between-the heading on one form and the heading on the next succeeding form. Previously, the manual line feed of the writing machine would be used or the operator would grasp the knobs 15 at the ends of the platen to turn the forms through the machine to the heading of the next form. More recently, devices have been attached to platens which pennit the advancement or extraction of the forms through the machine to the next line of typing upon the pulling of a lever. 11: is with this type of mechanism that the present invention is concerned.

The present mechanism is adapted to move with the platen and may be secured to the carriage of the writing machine in a conventional manner. The mechanism has a frame including a back plate 16 and a front cover 17, formed with a slotted rim portion 18 and secured to the back plate by a number of machine screws 20. The cover 17 along with the portion 18 is removable to expose the inside mechanism of the device.

The device may be provided with a clutch mechanism such as is described in our aforementioned co-pending application, Serial No. 407,127, but it is sufiicient for an understanding of the present invention to merely describe the connecting means operably joining the lever assembly, generally designated 21, to a journal 22v of the platen of the writing machine.

As best seen in Figs. 1 through 3, a small spur gear 23 is operably connected to the platen journal 22, and meshes with a larger spur gear 24 on a shaft 25 which is journale d in the frame of the platen advancing mechanism sothat the platen rotationimparts rotation to the shaft 25, and vice versa. Adjacent the larger gear 24 a ratchet wheel 26 is mounted having square-sided notches 27 at diametrically opposed sides of its periphery to accommodate. a pawl 28 pivoted to the lever assembly 21. The pawl 28 has a detent 30 of a size and shape to fit into the notches 27 and is normally held in the notches by the end of a torsion spring 31 bearing on a stud 32.

During a typing operation, the platen is rotated which turns the

gears

23 and 24 and advances the ratchet wheel 26. Since "the pawl 28 is inengagement with the ratchet wheel 26 and is pivotally secured to the lever assembly 21, the lever :assembly 2 is carried along with the ratchet wheel. The typing operation maybe continued until the lever assembly bears against an adjustable forward stop 33. As the lever assembly approaches the stop 33, a'roller 34 on the leading end of the pawl 28 engages the cam surface 35 of a locking pawl 36 and removes the detent 30 from the notch 27. The locking pawl is provided with a shallow square-sided notch 37 adapted to snap around a square boss 38 secured on the side of the ratchet wheel 26 at the instant the detent 30 leaves the notch 27. A torsion spring 40 urges the locking pawl 36 about its pivot'41 toward the shaft 25.

The lever assembly 21 is returned against a rearward adjustable stop 42 under action of a torsion spring 43 coiled around the shaft 25 and attached to the lever assembly with its other end secured in the forward stop 33. When the lever assembly returns against the rearward stop 42, -a lower edge portion 44 engages a boss 45 on the locking pawl .36 forcing it downwardly to disengage the notch 37 from the square boss 38 on the ratchet wheel. At the same time, the advance pawl 28 will reengage the ratchet wheel by permitting the detent 30 to enter the opposite notch 27 in the ratchet wheel 26. Frequently, it is desirable to use the platen advancing mechanism to advance a form length of stationery from an initial writing position at the heading of the form to a'second writing position on the body of the form length. The structure of'the lever assembly 21 is particularly well formulated to attain this result. The stopping of the lever assembly 21 in an intermediate position is accomplished by a pair of cooperating studs which are brought into engagement with each other. As best seen in Figs. 4 and 5, a stud or stop member 46is adjustably secured by a screw 47 in an arcuate slot 48 in the cover plate 17, the slot preferably having its center coincident with the axis of the shaft 25. The movement of the lever assembly 21 is arrested when a second stud or stop member 50 is caused to be moved from a path which normally clears the stud 46 to a path which intersects with the stud 46.

This movement of the stud 46 is attained in the present lever assembly by providing a handle portion 51 pivotally secured to a handle mounting portion 52 which is idly mounted on the shaft 25. The handle portion 51 projects outwardly through a curved slot in the top of the frame so that it is readily accessible for manual operation. The relative pivotal movement between the handle 51 and the mounting portion 52 is limited by a lost motion connection preferably provided by a projection 53 on the portion 52 extending outwardly through an enlarged, preferably circular, opening 54 in the handle 51. The torsion spring 55 is passed around the pivot pin 4? between the handle 51 and mounting portion 52 with its ends bearing against a boss 56 on the handle 51 and the projection 53 on the mounting portion 52 to urge the handle about the pivot pin 49 toward the shaft 25, as best seen in Fig. 1. The handle 51 carries a movable stud Stl mounted in a slot 57 positioned to be generally coincident with the arcuate slot 48 in the cover member when the lost motion connection is taken up between the handle and its mounting member. Generally the straight-sided slot 57 is tangent to the inner side of the arcuate slot (Fig. 3) when the lost motion connection is taken up. 7

When it is desired to advance a form length to an intermediate writingposition, the handle 51 is swung forwardly. Initially, only the handle 51 moves until, the inner marginal edge of the opening .54 is brought to bear on the projection 53 (as shown in Fig. 2). After this initial take-up of the lost motion connection, the mounting portion 52 moves with the handle 51. The initial pivoting of the handle through the lost motion connection carries the stud 50 outwardly of the axis of the shaft 25 into a path which intersects the stud 46 on the frame. As the handle 51 and mounting portion 52 are'swung forwardly together, the two

studs

46 and 50 are brought into engage ment, as shown in Fig. 3, signifying that the form length of stationery is at the proper intermediate writing position. When the handle is released, the torsion spring 55 pivots the handle clockwise, as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 3, so that stud St) is carried to a position where it will clear the stud 46 as typing is resumed on the Writing machine.

Occasionally a single line'or less of writing is typed at this intermediate position. In prior devices a manual turn of the platen a few degrees before resuming use of the handle 51 was required since the stop studs would still be in engagement as neither the platen nor the handle would be advanced. a

To obviate this defect, the lever assembly 21 in the present invention is preferably formed so that the stud 50 will pass out of engagement and forwardly of the stud 46 when the handle is released or relaxed after manual turning to the intermediate position. To this end, as seen in Fig. 1, the stud 50 is preferably slidably mounted in the slot 57 and is normally held in the forward end of the slot by a torsion spring 58 anchored on a boss 60 on handle 51 and having arms bearing against the stud 50 and the boss 56.

When the handle 51 is advanced forwardly, the stud 50 is carried outwardly by the pivoting handle so that the stud 50 will engagethe stud 46, as described above. After the initial engagement between the two studs, the handle 51 continues "forwardly a few more degrees, and thestud, 59 is forced to the rearward end of the slot 57, in which position it arrests forward movement of the handle 51. The handle is then released so that typing may be resumed, and the stud 50 is carried downwardly by the clockwise pivoting of the handle :51, as seen in dotted outline in Fig. 3. As the stud 50 passes out of engagement with the stud 46, the torsion spring' 53 forces the stud Stl forwardly to its normal positionat the forward end of the slot 57, in which position it is moved forwardly of the'stud 46. In this case, even if only a vsingle line is typed and the handle is swung forwardly, the stud 5.0 will not reengage the stud 46 because the stud 5.0 then occupies a position at the forward end of slot .57 which is forwardly of the stud 46. This action in eflect allows the stud 50 in slot 57 to pass around the adjustable .stop provided on the casing cover. If it is desired to type at several difierent places in the body of a form length, it is of course contemplated that additional stops similar to stud 46 may be used, and they may be adjustably disposed in the slot 48 as desired.

The foregoing detailed description .has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, for some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.-

We claim: v l. A platen advancing mechanism for a Writing machine adapted to .move continuous-form stationery through the machine to predetermined positions on each form length comprising: aframe for attachment to the writing machine; a rotatable ratchet wheel mounted in.

the frame; connecting means for providing a driving connection from the platen to said rotatable ratchetwheel; a pivoted platen advancing lever swingable between a forward and a rearward position and having a pawl engageable with the ratchet wheel to turn the connect ing means and the platen, the pawl and ratchet wheel having a configuration to prevent disengagement thereof during writing advancement of the platen, said lever including a handle portion .and a handle mounting portion, the handle portion being pivotally secured to the handle mounting portion and having a lost motion connection with the mounting portion providing for movement between the two portions in the plane of the are through which the lever is swung to advance the platen; stop members limiting pivotal movement of the lever at forward and rearward poistions; means for disengaging the pawl from the ratchet wheel when the handle portion moves against the forward stop; and a pair of cooperating studs for arresting movement of said lever between said forward and rearward positions, one of the studs being Secured to the frame, and the other stud being secured to the handle portion, the lost motion connection permitting said other stud to be advanced from a path clearing the one stud to a path intersecting said one stud when the lever is swung forwardly from its rearward position, the engagement of the studs arresting advancement of the stationery in a predetermined position different from the position obtained with the handle portion against the forward stop.

2. Mechanism as specified in claim 1, in which the handle portion is spring-urged to a position in which the other stud will lie in a path clearing the one stud so that, after the lever is swung to a position engaging the two studs, release of the handle portion will move the studs out of engagement for a subsequent platen advance.

3. Mechanism as specified in claim 1, in which the handle portion is spring-urged to a position in which the other stud will normally lie in a path clearing the one stud, and the handle portion is provided with an elongated slot in which the other stud is movably mounted, said other stud being spring-urged to the forward end of the slot whereby when the lever is swung forwardly to engage the studs, said other stud is forced into abutment with the rearward end of the slot before arresting pivotal movement of the lever, the release of the lever permitting the other stud to pivot to said path clearing the one stud and to be urged again to the forward end of the slot in a position where said other stud can no longer engage said one stud when the handle portion is again swung forwardly.

4. A platen advancing mechanism for a writing machine adapted to move continuous-form stationery through the machine to a predetermined position on each form length, comprising: a frame for attachment to the writing machine; a rotatable shaft journaled in the frame;

connecting means for providing a driving connection from the platen to said rotatable shaft; a platen-advancing lever secured to said shaft and swingable between a forward and a rearward position, said lever including a handle portion and a handle mounting portion on the shaft, the handle portion being pivoted to the handle mounting portion and having a lost motion connection therewith providing for movement between the two portions in the plane of the are through which the lever is swung to advance the platen; and a pair of cooperating studs, one of the studs being secured to the frame, and the other stud being secured to the handle portion, the lost motion connection permitting said other stud to be moved from a path clearing the one stud to a path intersecting said one stud when the lever is advanced forwardly, the engagement of the, studs arresting forward movement of the lever and stopping the platen in a predetermined position, said handle portion being normally spring-urged to a position in which the other stud will normally lie in a path clearing the one stud, said handle portion being provided with an elongated slot in which the other stud is movably mounted, said other stud being spring urged to the forward end of the slot whereby, when the lever is swung forwardly to engage the studs, said other stud is forced into abutment with the rearward end of the slot before arresting pivotal movement of the lever, the release of the lever permitting the other stud to pivot with the handle portion to said path clearing the one stud and to be urged again to the forward end of the slot in a position where said other stud can no longer engage said onestud when the handle portion is again swung forwardly.

848,678 McCormack Apr. 2, 1907