US3140912A - Ink supply - Google Patents

Description

July 14, 1964 1.. K. DAVIS ETAL INK SUPPLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 11, 1962 FIG. II

INVENTOR LINCOLN K. DAVIS DAVID G.McLELLAND July 14, 1964 L. K. DAVIS ETAL INK SUPPLY s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 11 1962 INVENTOR LINCOLN K.DAVIS DAVID G. McLELLAND AGENT July 14, 1964 L. K. DAVIS ETAL INK SUPPLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 11 1962 FIG. 1

INVENTOR LINCOLN K. DAVIS DAVD G.Mc.LELLAND AGENT United States Patent 1 3,140,912 INK SUPPLY Lincoln K. Davis, South Easton, and David G. McLelland, Canton, Mass, assignors to The Foxhoro Company, Foxboro, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Sept. 11, 1962, Ser. No. 222,811 3 Claims. (Cl. 346-140) This invention relates to industrial instrumentation, and to chart recorders used therein. More specifically, this invention relates to the inking feature of such recorders and to ink supply systems therefor.

A continuous, efiicient, simple and practical ink supply system is a very important adjunct to modern chart recorders. With many installations involving many recorders, inspection, service, and replacement must necessarily be simple and trouble free.

This invention provides a new and improved ink supply system to obviate prior art difficulties and to meet modern needs.

In the inking system of this invention, means is provided for easy and clean start-up action, without ink spilling or loss, and this is accomplished through improved construction and maneuverability of the ink supply devices and mechanisms.

Specifically, an ink packet is provided which is flexible and squeezable for inking start-up without the extra care usually necessary, since full force squeezing may be used without ink spilling or loss, even if the ink packet is not fully closed off at the time. An ink packet which is thin, and wide, is provided for this purpose.

Further, maximum diassembly and ease of assembly and disassembly of the inking system is provided in conjunction with maximum maneuverability, for example, as may be provided by universal movement.

Further, a highly eflicient system is provided for mounting, using, and servicing a plurality of ink supplies in one recorder with maximum front visibility and maximum accessibility, for instance in a multi-color recording system.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a new and improved ink supply system for chart recorders in industrial instrumentation.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter and in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a generally schematic representation of the overall inking supply system according to this invention;

FIGURE II is a detail exploded view of the main structure of the ink supply and operational supports with respect thereto, according to this invention, and as generally indicated in FIGURE I;

FIGURE III is a detailed showing of ink and vent passage end formation for perforation of an ink supply packet in the operation of assembly of a new packet to the system;

FIGURE IV is an enlargement of a portion of FIGURE I and is an illustration of the assembly of the portions included in the exploded illustration of FIGURE II;

FIGURE V illustrates the start-up position and action with respect to the structure of FIGURE IV;

FIGURE VI is an illustration of the close grouping of multiple ink packets made possible by the structures of this invention;

FIGURE VII is an alternate structure of the ink packet supporting arrangement according to this invention;

FIGURE VIII illustrates a variation in ink packet design according to this invention; and

FIGURE IX is a section of FIGURE VIII taken on line IX-IX of FIGURE VIII.

In FIGURE I, by way of illustration, a rotatable chart 3,140,912 Patented July 14, 1 964 ice lull

10 is shown which is a part of a recorder such as used in industrial instrumentation for the provision of permanent representation of a process variable such as pressure, temperature and the like. The chart It is provided with movable pen arms 11 and 12 in any suitable mounting arrangement as is customary in devices of this nature. To the left of the chart, there is generally indicated an ink supply assembly 13 which comprises a mounting panel 14, a mounting block 15, mounting support assembly 16 and ink packet 17.

In the exploded view of FIGURE II, the mounting panel 14 is indicated. This is usually an inner side wall of a recorder cabinet or housing, which contains the chart 10 of FIGURE I and other associated devices customarily provided therewith. The mounting panel 14 is customarily vertical and in this instance, has established therein a cylindrical, horizontal pin 19 which is used as a pivot and a mounting and demounting device, as will be seen hereinafter. The pin is preferably rigid and firmly mounted in the mounting panel 14.

As will be seen hereinafter, the mounting block 15 is readily detachably mounted on the pin 19; the support assembly 16 is, in turn, readily removably and pivotally mounted on the block 15, and the ink packet 17 is readily and removably mounted on the support assembly 16. The support assembly 16 may be duplicated and severally mounted on the block 15 beside the first assembly in the event of a plurality of ink systems (note FIGURE VI).

Again in FIGURE II, the block 15 is preferably an essentially rectangular block made of polyethylene and formed with a transverse opening 20 therethrough for mounting the block 15 on the pin 19. The friction gripping action about the pin 19 from the relatively small hole 20 in the polyethylene block will efiectively frictionally hold the block in any desired position under the ordinary weights or pressures involved in the support of the structure under ordinary static conditions. However, in service operations, where it is desirable to remove the device from its operating attitude as in FIG- URE I, the block 15 may be manually rotated about the pin 19 by applying twisting force to the combination assembly of the block 15 and the support assembly 16.

The polyethylene mounting block 15 is provided with a second transverse hole as at 21 for mounting on the pin 19 when the bodies within a recorder necessitates a location adjustment of the block. Therefore, the block may be placed on the pin 19 by means of either the pivot opening 20 or the pivot opening 21.

Further, the block 15 is provided with a transverse pin 22 extending lengthwise of the block and transversely of the pin 19 when mounted. Also, there are vertical slots 23 cut into the polyethylene block 15 transversely of the pin 22 for the purpose of mounting the support device in these slots and on the pin 22 as will be seen hereinafter.

The slots 23 are cut down through the polyethylene block 15 to expose portions of the transverse pin 22 so that the'support member 16 may be inserted therein and hung upon the pin 22 in each of the respective slots 23. The member used to enter the slots as a portion of the support member 16 is a flat metal strip arm 24 of a thickness close to that of the transverse dimensions of the slots 23 so they are laterally slightly bound within these slots.

A notch 25 is provided in the upper portion of the support member arm 24 for mounting on the pin 22 within the slots 23. The upper portion of the arm 24 is rounded as at 26 and with thisarrangement, the arm 24 may be readily inserted into one of the slots 23 of the block 15 from below and at an outward angle so as to 3 slip upwardly inside and past the transverse pin 22 to engage it with the notch 25 in an effective and strong mounting relation when the arm 24 is thereafter pivoted into vertical position. Disassembly is accomplished by the reverse of this action, simply by pivoting the whole unit 16 about the transverse pin 22 until the notch 25 is facing substantially upwards, so that the whole assembly 16 may be dropped downward and pulled free of the block 15. Notches 18 are provided farther down the arm 24 on the inner edge, to provide a choice of vertical locations of the support unit 16 on the pin 22. This permits variation of the ink supply height as needed for ink flow in relation to pen height.

The universal movement provided in the overall device generally established in FIGURE II is an important feature of this invention. That is to say, the block is pivotable about the pin 19, and the assembly 16 is pivotable about the transverse pin 22 so that the overall possible movement of the support unit 16 is a universal movement of substantial convenience, ease, and maneuverability for effective service, assembly, disassembly, inspection and other functions.

On the support unit 16, at the bottom portion of the flat arm 24, a base is provided in the form of a horizontally extending dog leg 27 which supports a two-sided depending housing 28 with a back wall 29 stepped off rearward as at 30 from the dog leg 27 and an end wall 31 with a tab 32 essentially in place of the front wall, the whole providing an overall housing or containment for the flexible ink packet 17. An ink pick-up pipe 34 is secured to the dog leg 27. This pipe extends down past the dog leg 27 and into the ink packet 17 through a puncture point 33 and is thus extended deeply into the ink packet. A form of the lower end of this ink supply, pick-up pipe 34 is indicated in FIGURE III at 34. This pipe end is formed by slicing the pipe end to a point and crimping the two fingers thus formed, toward each other.

Again in FIGURE II, and in FIGURE IV, at the outer end of the dog leg 27, whereas the ink pick-up pipe is at the inner area, there is a vent pipe 36 side-secured to the dog leg 27 and extended down within the containment of the unit 28 and into the flexible ink packet 17 through a puncture point 37. The puncture points are formed with downwardly, inwardly tapered sides ending in an easily punctured thin-wall membrane 33 (see FIGURE III). The membranes have relatively small diameters with respect to the pipes 34 and 36, and the ink packet 17 may be shoved up into the containment of the unit 28 while being pierced by the pipes 34 and 36 and is essentially suspended and held by the friction gripping of the pipe within the puncture points 33, 37. The side wall 31 and the front tab 32 of the containment 28 locate the ink packet 17 and support it laterally, however, there is sufficient strength in the holding of the polyethylene ink packet on the ink pick-up pipe 34 and the vent pipe 36 to maintain the ink packet 17 in its operational relationship in the containment 28. The ink packet 17 extends laterally to the right substantially beyond the backing plate 29 of the containment 28 so, in this device, the backplate 29 may be placed flat against a member within a recorder housing such as a chart plate. The ink packet may thus extend out thereover and even over a portion of a rotating chart without interfering with the rotation of the chart due to the spacing provided by the thickness of the backing plate 29.

Further with respect to FIGURE II, the ink pick-up pipe 34 continues through suitable means to the recorder pen as indicated in FIGURE I by the dotted line 34.

It should be noted in FIGURE 11 that the polyethylene ink packet 17 is thin and wide. Thus, the normal maximum ink level is such that full pressure applied front to back on the ink packet 17 need not force the ink wholly through the vent pipe 36.

The alternate structure of the ink packet as shown in FIGURES VIII and 1X provides even greater assurance against accidental pressure forcing ink from the packet through the vent. Additional thicknesses 17" of the polyethylene ink packet is provided centrally at the normal points of finger squeezing pressure to prevent over-squeezing and undesirable ink spurts. The practical and useful dimensions of the ink packet 17 also allow the packets to be placed in side to side compact, simple, effective relation for a multiple supply and ink pen system.

FIGURE 1V is a full assembly of the exploded view of FIGURE 11 and like reference numerals have been applied to like elements.

In the start-up situation, as shown in FIGURE V, ink is caused to flow into the pen by covering the vent with a finger and squeezing the packet. Thus, starting is easy and sure, servicing is quick and simple. Inspection of the ink level is possible since the polyethylene ink packets are translucent and the ink level may be seen therethrough. In most cases, there is a sufficiently large glass panel in the recorder so that such visual inspection may be accomplished without opening the case door.

As shown in FIGURE VI, this arrangement is designed to accommodate several separate plug-in packets of ink which may be in different colors, in a standard form of recorder case, either in a rectangular case or in a circular case, as may be desired.

Another feature of the mounting block 15 is that it, and the whole assembly, may be removed quickly in order to disassemble the chart recorder. Thus, the inking system may be mounted in a desirable location for its purposes without interfering with other functions since it can be removed quickly and readily in order to reach other parts of the device.

FIGURE VII is a showing of a screw pivot as an alternate mounting of this invention. A support arm 38 is pivotally mounted on a fixed backing 39 by means of a screw 40. The arm 38 may be made flexible so that the arm 33 may be lifted away from the backing 39 as well as being pivotable about the screw 40. A top plate 41 is attached to the arm 38 and the ink pick-up pipe 34 and the vent pipe 36 are attached thereto. A clip-like tab 42 is attached to the arm 38 near the bottom thereof and serves as a guide for the placement of the ink packet 1'7. This alternate support assembly is convenient for units where there is no space available for the full inking assembly of FIGURE IV or when only a single ink supply is wanted.

This invention, therefore, provides a new and improved ink supply system, especially one of compactness, convenience, easy and ready assembly and disassembly, and maneuverability.

As many embodiments may be made of the above invention, and as changes may be made in the embodiments set forth above without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. For use in an industrial instrumentation recorder wherein variable condition value representations are penned on a moving chart and for use in an ink supply system of the character described for continuously providing ink for said penning action, a recording ink supply packet comprising a narrow, flexible casing having wall thickness relief for puncturing by ink passage and vent means, the casing thickness to volume ratio being established to make possible full squeezing of said casing on a normal fill basis without ink loss through said vent, through the provision of an air space in said casing at normal fill, with said air space of greater volume than the volume change produced by said full squeezing.

2. An ink supply system of the character described for chart recorders comprising a mounting device for receiving tapered end tubings as ink passage and vent means, and a flexible, ink packet with wall thickness relief for penetration by said tapered ends of said tubings, said packet formed with an inner volume of substantial width and small depth, whereby squeezing said packet to its full depth may be accomplished, under normal fill basis Without causing ink to pass through said vent.

3. An ink supply system for chart recorders comprising a universal movement mounting device for receiving tapered end tubings as ink passage and vent means, and a flexible ink packet with wall thickness relief for penetration by said tapered ends of said tubings, said packet formed with an inner volume of substantial width and small depth, whereby squeezing said packet to its full depth may be accomplished under a normal fill basis without causing ink to pass through said vent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Lindemann Apr. 30, Krahulec Oct. 11, Keiter Sept. 7, Cannon July 23, Holloway Jan. 21, Weingart et al. May 3, Whiteley Feb. 28, Summers et al. July 24,

FOREIGN PATENTS France Jan. 30,

Claims (1)

1. FOR USE IN AN INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENTATION RECORDER WHEREIN VARIABLE CONDITION VALUE REPRESENTATIONS ARE PENNED ON A MOVING CHART AND FOR USE IN AN INK SUPPLY SYSTEM OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED FOR CONTINUOUSLY PROVIDING INK FOR SAID PENNING ACTION, A RECORDING INK SUPPLY PACKET COMPRISING A NARROW, FLEXIBLE CASING HAVING WALL THICKNESS RELIEF FOR PUNCTURING BY INK PASSAGE AND VENT MEANS, THE CASING THICKNESS TO VOLUME RATIO BEING ESTABLISHED TO MAKE POSSIBLE FULL SQUEEZING OF SAID CASING ON A NORMAL FILL BASIS WITHOUT INK LOSS THROUGH SAID VENT,

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