US3200396A - Character read-out device - Google Patents

Description

Aug 10, 1965 Filed NOv- 2, 1961 C. R. STEVENS ETAL CHARACTER READ-OUT DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 10, 1965 C, R. sTEvENs ETAL 3,200,396

CHARACTER READ-OUT DEVICE Filed Nov. 2, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 10, 1965 c. R. STEVENS ETAL 3,200,396

CHARACTER READ-OUT DEVICE Filed Nov. 2,- 1961 v 5 sheets-sheet 3 Athe same as a single complete character.

United States Patent O 3,260,396 CHARACTER READ-@UI DEVIEE Cariile R. Stevens, Pasadena, and Hans C. Moritz, Alhambra, Calif., assignors to Royal Industries, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Nov. 2., 1961, Ser. No. 149,62@ I@ Claims. (Cl. 340-373) This invention relates to character read-out devices and more particularly, to improvements in read-out devices employing a drum for character display.

Character read-out devices are known having a drum with a plurality of characters positioned end-to-end in series about the periphery of the drum. This arrangement is undesirable because the size of the drum, therefore, the overall size of the read-out device, must be very large compared with the actual sizeof the characters.

The present invention provides an improved readout device of the drum type having the size of the drum and thereby the overall size of the read-out device reduced in the order of 50% of the above prior art read-out device and yet the size of the characters displayed are the same as in said prior art device. In addition, the window of the housing may be positioned close to the drum, thereby, allowing the characters to be easily read either in direct lighting or in a darkened room.

Briefly, the present invention provides a digital readout device employing a drum having characters recorded in a serial end-to-end arrangement about the periphery of the drum. However, in contrast to the above prior art drum read-out devices, the characters on the drum according to the present invention overlap such that a portion of one character forms a part of an adjacent character. A housing is provided for rotatably mounting the drum. The housing has a window whose overall dimensions are The drum is positioned in the housing adjacent the window such that when the drum is rotated into the proper angular position a single character is masked out by the window for visual observation.

The drum is rotated by a motor coupled thereto by means of a slip clutch. The drum has two cams, one at either side of the drum and cam actuated switches are provided for sensing the angular position indicated by the cams. Electronic circuitry and a detent mechanism are provided for stopping the rotation of the drum at designated positions for character display through the window.

Other details of the present invention may be more fully understood with reference to the following description of the gures of which:

FlGURE 1 is a front elevation view of a plurality of digital read-out devices connected together to the output of a single motor, parts being broken away, and embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a developed view of portions of a drum surface having numbers and showing corresponding detente on the drum, for use in the read-out devices of FIG. 1 and embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a developed view of portions of an alternate drum having letters and showing the corresponding detents on the drum, for use in the read-out devices of FIGURE l and embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is la developed View of portions of another drum having the combination of letters and numbers and showing corresponding detente on the drum, for use in the ICC read-out devices of FIGURE l and embodying the present invention;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are side elevation views of cams for use in the read-out devices of FIGURE i;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged side elevation view of one of the digital read-out devices shown in FIGURE 1, parts of the control apparatus thereof being shown in block diagram;

FIGURE 8 is a schematic diagram of switches for use in the read-out devices of FIGURE l.

Refer more particularly to the drawings. FIGURE l shows four read-out devices 10 ganged together and connected to a Vsingle motor 12. Each of the read-out devices 10 are identical, therefore, although the following description is directed to a single read-out device the description appliesV equally to the other-s.

Each of the read-out devices Iii include a housing 14 and a drum 16a. The drum a is rotatably mounted to the housing by bearings (not shown) in the conventional fashion.

The drum 16a has a pair of cams 18a and Zita positioned at the right and left hand sides of the drum 16a as shown in FIGURE 1.

Characters are placed on the periphery of the drum 15a on a character surface 23a in between the cams 18a and 29a. The characters are painted, silk screened or recorded by other wall known processes to the drum 16a. Y

FIGURE 2 shows a developed view of the character surface 23a of the drum la which has numbers O through 9 and embodying the present invention. The numbers are generally rectangular shaped and are arranged on the drum 16a in series, with a portion of adjacent numbers common to both forming a part of both numbers.

Refer specifically to the arrangement of the numbers `on the drum loa. At the top of FIGURE 2 is a number 5. The bottom curved portion of the number 5 forms the top of the number 3. The bottom horizontal line of the number 3 form-s the top of the number 0. The number 0 is followed by a number 2 which is separated from the number 0. The lower vportions of the number 2, immediately below the curved portion thereof, forms the top part of the number 6. The lower circular portion of the number 6 froms the top half of the number 8. The bottom porltion of the number S forms the top portion of the number 9. The lower horizontal line of the top part of the number 9 forms the top of the number 7. The diagonal line of the number 7 forms the top diagonal line of the number 4. The vertical cross line at the bottom of the number 4 forms the tcp part of the number 1.

FIGURE 3 shows a development view of an alternate drum 16h for use in the read-out device 10, and embodying the present invention. The drum lob has overlapping letters rather `than numbers recorded on a character surface 23h. From top to bottom the letters on the drum lb include the letters U, H, R, G, B, P, L, E and F. Similar to FIG. 2 the letters of FIG. 3 are generally rectangular shaped.

Refer speciiically to the arrangement of the letters of FIGURE 3. The lower part of the letter U, along with a portion of the vertical lines, form the upper half of the letter H. The lower half of the letter H, including the horizontal cross line, forms the upper part of the letter R. The lower half of the letter R forms the top half of the letter G. The letter B is positioned immediately below the letter G and is separate therefrom. The lower portion 3 of the letter B forms the upper part of the letter P. The vertical line of the letter P forms the vertical line of the letter L. The bottom horizontal line of the letter L forms the top horizontal line of the letter E. The lower portion of the letter E, including the middle and lower horizontal lines, forms the top portion of the letter F.

FIGURE 4 shows an alternate drum 16C having the combination of a series of rectangular shaped overlapping numbers and letters recorded on a character surface 23e, and embodying the present invention. From top to bottom the letters and numbers on the drum 16C include 7, Z, E, S, 3, 0, T and I. The sixth character may either be the number zero or the letter O and the last character may either be the number one or the letter I.

Referring specifically to the characters of FIGURE 4, half of the horizontal line together with the diagonal line of the letter 7 form the top part of the letter Z. The bottom horizontal line of the letter Z forms the top horizontal line of the letter E. The lower portion of the letter E, together with the middle and bottom horizontal lines, form the upper portion of the letter S. The lower portion of the letter S, including the middle horizontal line, forms the upper portion of the number 3. The bottom horizontal line of the number 3 forms the top portion of the number zero or the letter O. The bottom of the number zero or letter O forms the top of the letter T. The vertical line of the letter T forms the top part of either a number one or a letter I.

Each complete character on the drums 16a, 16b and 16e of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 is about 1 inch high and 5/s inch wide. If the ten separate numbers on drum 16a are positioned end-to-end as in prior art read-out devices, the circumferential length of the drum 16a would be at least ten inches. However, due to the overlapping arrangement of the characters, the circumference of drum 16a lis 61/2 inches providing a reduction in the diameter of the drum 16a of approximately 35%. Similarly, the reduction in size of the alternate drum 16b is approximately 35% and the reduction in size of the drum 16C is approximately 50%.

A plurality of detents 24a are provided on the side of the drum 16a adjacent the cam 20a. One detent is provided corresponding to each of the numbers on the drum 16a. To be explained, a detent mechanism engages the detents and stops the rotation of the drum 16a at desired positions.

Similar to drum 16a the drums 16b and 16e have detents 24h and 24C corresponding to each of the characters thereon for engaging with the detent mechanism.

The housing 14 has a window 22 which has the same dimensions as complete characters on the drums 16a, 16b and 16C. The window 22 is recessed and has an opening immediately adjacent the character surface of the drum. Thus, when the drum is in the correct angular position the window 22 masks olf the adjacent overlapping characters leaving a single character exposed for visual observation. For example, in the read-out device 10, of FIGURE l, wherein a number zero is displayed, the numbers 3 and 2 are masked olf from visual observation.

The motor 12 has an output shaft 26 having a connector at one end for coupling to the input shaft 28 of the connected read-out device 10. A slip clutch is provided having a plate 30 rigidly connected to the input shaft 28. The plate 30 frictionally engages the side of the drum 16a for causing the drum 16a to rotate when the detent mechanism is not engaging the detents 24a. Also, at the plate 30 end of the input Shaft 28 is a connector similar to that of the output shaft 16 of the motor 12 which may be coupled to the input of another read-out device 10.

FIGURE 7 shows the detent mechanism which includes a detent member 32. connected to the plunger 34a of a solenoid 34. The detent mechanism is arranged such that the detent member 32 engages the sharp rising edge of each of the detents 24a when the solenoid 34 is deenergized. When the detent member 32 engages one of the detents 24a, the corresponding character is positioned in front of the window 22 for visual observation.

Also provided in the read-out device 10 are two sets of cam actuated double pole single throw switches 36, 37 and 38, 39. The pair of switches 36, 37 are positioned with actuators engaging the cam 20a, whereas, the switches 38, 39 are positioned with actuators for engaging the other cam 18a of drum 16a.

FIGURE 5 shows a side elevation view of the cam 20a with the detents 24a removed. FIGURE 6 shows a side elevation view of the cam 18a. The beginnings of the developments of the cams 18a and 20a are indicated by a reference line.

Refer now to FIGURE 8 which shows a schematic diagram of the electrical circuits of the read-out devices of FIGURE 1. The single pole double throw switches 36, 37, 3S and 39 are connected to the output of a source of binary signals 40, which is positioned external to the read-out device 10. The source of binary signals 40 has eight output lines 40a, '0`, 40b, 40e, 74-05, 40d and m. The output lines 40a and m are connected to separate contacts of the switch 36. Similarly, the lines 40b and 4 077, 40C and and 40d and @T are connected to separate contacts of the switches 37, 38 and 39. The electrical signals applied to the eight output lines by the source 4t) are coded to specify a particular character on the drum 16a. The source 40 may be a digital computer or manually operated switches for supplying sufficient electrical power on each of its output lines to energize the solenoid 34.

The poles of each of the switches 36, 37, 38 and 39 are serially connected through an isolation diode 50 to one end of the coil of the solenoid 34. The other end of the coil of the solenoid 34 is connected to the same reference as the source 40.

The cams 18a and 20a are formed and positioned for actuating the poles of the switches 36, 37, 38 and 39 in contact with the output lines 40a, 40b, 40C and 40d when the number 0 is positioned in front of the window 22. The cams 18a and 20a are also formed and positioned for actuating the poles of the switches 36, 37, 38 and 39 into a unique combination of Contact closures for each number on the drum 23a positioned in front of the window 22.

Assume that the number 0 is positioned in front of the window 22 and that the poles of the switches 36, 37, 38 and 39 are connected to the lines 40a, 40b, 40e and 40d. When electrical power is applied to any one or more of the lines 40a, 40h, 40e and 40dy by the source 40 the solenoid 34 will be energized and actuate the detent member 32 out of engagement with the number O detent of the detents 24a. The motor 12 is arranged for continually rotating the shaft 28. Therefore, when the coil of the solenoid 34 is energized and the detent member 32 is actuated, the frictional engagement of the clutch plate 30 with the drum 16a rotates the drum 16a. The drum 16a rotates until the point is reached where the electrical power applied on the output lines of the source 40 is disconnected from the coil of the solenoid 34 by the correct combination of Contact openings and closures. At this point the correct number is positioned in front of Athe window 22 as specified by the output signals of the source 40. When the correct number is positioned in front of the window 22 and power is removed from the coil of the solenoid 34, the detent member 32 moves back for engaging the detent 24a corresponding to the number specified by the output signals from the source 40. Thus, the desired number on the drum 23a is locked by the detent mechanism in front of the window 22.

Although the source of binary signals 40 and the switches 36, 37, 38 and 39 have been described for the drum 16a having the numbers 0 through 9, by appropriate re-arrangement of the electrical circuits and substitution of cams the drum 16b and 16e may be substituted for displaying letters and the combination of letters and numbers. Also, other arrangement may be used for detecting the angular position of a drum such as coded wheels having slidable contacts and other suitable means.

What is claimed is:

1. A read-out device the combination which comprises a rotatable member having complete characters recorded in succession on said member and characterized by portions of successive characters being recorded in a preselected overlapping relationship to render the resulting characters substantially unintelligible when viewed as recorded on the member, means for selectively rotating said member to display a complete character and a mask having a viewing area dened for displaying a preselected portion of the member having the characters recorded thereon for rendering a selected single character visibly discernible when displayed in said viewing area.

2. A read-out device the combination which comprises a rotatable read-out drum, complete characters recorded in series about the periphery of said drum and characterized whereby portions of characters having a shape common to an adjacent character are recorded in overlapping relationship to form the corresponding part of the adjacent character, a mask having a viewing area of substantially the same size as said complete characters and positioned adjacent said drum for displaying only the portion of the drum corresponding to the area for dening a single character, and means for selectively rotating said drum for positioning the portion of the drum corresponding to the individual area delining a single character adjacent said mask to display a character.

3. A read-out device the combination which comprises a rotatable read-out drum, a plurality of numbers recorded on said drum and characterized whereby portions of numbers having a shape common to an adjacent number are recorded in overlapping relationship to form the corresponding part of said adjacent number, said numbers being arranged in series about the periphery of said drum including thef ollowing numbers in the following order: 5, 3, O, 2, 6, 8, 9, 7, 4 and l, a mask having a viewing area of substantially the same size as said numbers and positioned adjacent said drum for displaying only the portion of the drum corresponding to the area for defining a single number, and means for selectively rotating said drum for positioning the portion of the drum corresponding to a single character adjacent said mask to display a character.

4. A read-out unit the combination which comprises a rotatable cylindrical member, a series of characters recorded on the periphery of said member and characterized by having a portion of each forming an integral part of an adjacent character recorded in overlapping relationship, at least one cam mechanically coupled and positioned with respect to said characters to provide an angular indication thereof, at least one switch coupled to be actuated by said cam and coupled to be responsive to applied signals indicative of a desired character for display to provide an electrical indication thereof, means coupled to be responsive to the indication by said switches for selectively rotating said member, and a housing connected for mounting said cylindrical member including a Window of substantially the same size as one of said characters and positioned adjacent said member to provide a separate view of each individual character.

5. A numerical read-out unit the combination which comprises a rotatable cylindrical member, a series of numerals recorded on the periphery of said member and characterized by each having a portion forming an integral part of an adjacent numeral recorded in overlapping relationship, at least one cam mechanically coupled and positioned with respect to said numerals to provide an angular indication thereof, at least one switch coupled to be actuated by said cam and coupled to be responsive to applied signals indicative of a desired angular position of said member to provide an electrical indication thereof, means coupled to be responsive to the indication by said switches for selectively rotating said member, and a housing connected for mounting said cylindrical member including a window of substantially the same size as said numerals and positioned adjacent said member to provide a separate view of each numeral.

6. An alphabetic character read-out unit the combination which comprises a rotatable cylindrical member, a series of letters recorded on the periphery of said member and characterized by having a portion of each forming an integral part of an adjacent letter recorded in overlapping relationship, at least one cam mechanically defined and positioned with respect to said letters to provide an angular indication of preselected areas of the periphery of said member, at least one switch coupled to be actuated by said cam and coupled to be responsive to applied signals indicative of a letter to be displayed to provide an electrical indication thereof, a housing connected for mounting said cylindrical member including a window of substantially the same size as one of said characters and positioned adjacent said member to provide a separate View of each individual letter, and means coupled to be responsive to the indication by said switches for selectively rotating said member to position the preselected areas of the member adjacent the window for displaying a single letter.

7. An alpha-numeric character read-out unit the combination which comprises a rotatable cylindrical member, a series of characters including letters and numerals recorded on the periphery of said member and having a portion of each forming an integral part of an adjacent character recorded in overlapping relationship, at least one cam mechanically coupled and positioned with respect to said characters to provide an angular indication thereof, at least one switch coupled to be actuated by said cam and coupled to be responsive to applied signals indicative of a desired character to provide an electrical indication thereof, a housing connected for mounting said cylindrical member including a window of substantially the same size as One of said characters positioned adjacent said member to provide a separate view of each individual character, and means coupled to be responsive to the electrical indication provided by said switches for selectively rotating said member to position preselected areas of the member adjacent the window for displaying the area individual to a single character.

ti. A numerical read-out unit the combination which comprises, a rotatable cylindrical member, a series of complete numerals recorded on the periphery of said cylindrical member, each of said numerals having substantially the same overall dimensions and characterized by portions of the characters having an area common to an adjacent character recorded in overlapping relationship to form the corresponding part of the adjacent numeral whereby the resulting recording is substantially unintelligible when viewed as a whole, said cylindrical member comprising at least one cam being defined and connected to have a predetermined angular relawt'ignship with respect to said numerals and at least one detent corresponding to each of said numerals, a housing connected for mounting said cylindrical member and including a window positioned adjacent the numerals on said cylindrical member and having dimensions substantially the same as one of said complete numeralsLa plurality of switches positioned for actuation by said cam and connected to be responsive to applied signals indicative of a desired numeral to be displayed for providing a corresponding output signal, a latching member for engaging said detents and stopping the rotation of said cylindrical member, solenoid means coupled for normally forcing said latching member into engagement with one of said detents and connected to be responsive to signals from said switches for forcing said latching member out of engagement with said detents, motor means including a rotatable output shaft, means coupling said shaft to said cylindrical member, and electrical circuit means coupled for providing a signal to said switches indicative of a vdesired numeral for display.

itially arranged characters recorded in partial overlapping relationship whereby an individual character is visibly 10. VA character display element for a read out element as dened in claim 9 wherein said display element comprises a drum having alpha-numeric characters recorded on the periphery of the drum.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,748,382 5/56 Hults 340-316 discernible only when the area of the element individual 10 NEIL C. READ Primary Examiner.

to a single character is viewed.

Claims (1)

1. 3. A READ-OUT DEVICE THE COMBINATION WHICH COMPRISES A ROTATABLE READ-OUT DRUM, A PLUARLITY OF NUMBERS RECORDED ON SAID DRUM AND CHARACTERIZED WHEREBY PORTIONS OF NUMBERS HAVING A SHAPE COMMON TO AN ADJACENT NUMBER ARE RECORDED IN OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIP TO FORM THE CORRESPONDING PART OF SAID ADJACENT NUMBER, SAID NUMBERS BEING ARRANGED IN SERIES ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID DRUM INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER: 5, 3, 0, 2, 6, 8, 9, 7, 4 AND 1, A MASK HAVING A VIEWING AREA OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME SIZE AS SAID NUMBERS AND POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID DRUM FOR DISPLAYING ONLY THE PORTION OF THE DRUM CORRESPONDING TO THE AREA FOR DEFINING A SINGLE NUMBER, AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ROTATING SAID DRUM FOR POSITIONING THE PORTION OF THE DRUM CORRESPONDING TO A SINGLE CHARACTER ADJACENT SAID MASK TO DISPLAY A CHARACTER.

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