US3279363A

US3279363A - Printing system

Info

Publication number: US3279363A
Application number: US353987A
Authority: US
Inventors: Chris A Christoff; Walter C Davie; Douglas H Sawin
Original assignee: Clary Corp
Current assignee: Clary Corp
Priority date: 1964-03-23
Filing date: 1964-03-23
Publication date: 1966-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 1983-10-18

Description

1966 c. A. CHRISTOFF ETAL 3,279,363

PRINTING SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 23, 1964 Oct. 18, 1966 c. A. CHRlSTOFF ETAL 7 PRINTING SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 23, 1964 mw &

Oct. 18, 1966 c. A. CHRISTOFF ETAL 3,279,363

PRINTING SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 23, 1964 &

1966 c. A. CHRISTOFF ETAL 3,279,363

PRINTING SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 23, 1964 I ||||v|l llllll lllllll lllll l.llll.lllllll..

INVENTOR United States Patent Filed Mar. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 353,987 14 Claims. (Cl. 10193) This invention relates to high speed data printers or recorders of the print-on-the-fly type wherein a type drum carrying a series of axially spaced columns of type elements spaced around its periphery is continuously moved past a row of recording devices.

Such a drum may be rotated at a constant speed as disclosed, for example, in the Hartley Patent No. 2,776,- 618, issued on January 8, 1957, or it may be moved in a non-uniform or hypocycloidal manner, as disclosed and claimed in Witt et al. Patent No. 2,915,968, issued on December 8, 1959.

Printers of the above type are capable of relatively high speed since the mass of the moving parts which must be accelerated or decelerated during printing operations, i.e., the hammers or platens, can be kept at a minimum and an entire line of characters can be printed in one revolution of the type drum.

Some type drums embodied in printers of the above type include numerical type characters only. Others contain alpha-numeric type characters which require the drum to be considerably larger in diameter. Still others may require inclusion of special type symbols to record special information such as mathematical or chemical symbols, etc., thus requiring type drums and associated equipment of different sizes and including different type characters on the drum in order to satisfy different installations and applications. Also, when many different type characters must be printed, the size of the type drum and associated equipment tends to become unwieldy.

It therefore become a principal object of the present invention to provide a high speed printer in which different combinations of type segments are employed to build up selected printed characters.

Another object is to provide a line-at-a-time printer capable of building up selected printed characters from different combinations of type segments.

Another object is to reduce the diameter of a type drum for a print-on-the-fiy type data printer capable of printing a given number of type characters.

Another object is to provide a line-at-a-time printer capable of printing a wide variety of different characters from a font of type character segments.

It is well known to utilize segmental type for building up different printed characters in serial type printers as shown, for example, in the patent to D. E. Foley et al., No. 3,099,711. However, such printers require separate actuating mechanism for the individual type segments, making it impractical, if not impossible, to provide a lineat-a-time printer based on such construction.

The manner in which the foregoing and other objects of the invention are accomplished will be readily understood on reference to the following specification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a transverse sectional view through a printer embodying a preferred form of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through the printing drum unit.

3,279,363 Patented Oct. 18, 1966 FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the control circuitry for the printer.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating how different segments are printed to form different characters.

FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating the timing of the main and high speed clock pulses.

FIG. 6 is a developed view of part of the type drum illustrating the arrangement of the different type segments thereon.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating the relative positions of all of the type segments when successively presented to the printing station.

FIG. 8 is a schematic circuit diagram of the look-up matrix.

FIG. 9 is a schematic circuit diagram of the 6-48 line conversion matrix.

The particular printer drum unit illustrated in connection with the present invention is disclosed basically in the above Witt et al patent nad therefore reference may be had to such patent for a complete disclosure of the basic construction of the unit. The invention is particularly applicable to such printer drum units because of the accuracy of registration of the different printed characters. It is to be understood, however, that the invention could equally well be applied to any type of print-on-the-fly printer wherein the drum is constantly moved past a printing point.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular, the printer unit comprises a hollow cylindrical type drum 11 mounted at its opposite ends on an eccentric shaft 12 by ball bearings, one of which is shown at 13. The shaft 12 is concentric with the drum and forms an integral part of a shaft 14 which is rotatably supported in suitable bearings, not shown, carried by a housing 15, which, in turn, is supported by the frame of the printer unit.

In accordance with the present invention, a plurality of type segments 16 are formed around the periphery of the type drum. Such segments are arranged in two groups of 12 rows 19, as shown in the developed View of FIG. 6, extending lengthwise of the drum and spaced around the periphery thereof. The segments are located in a plurality of identical columns 17 extending circumferentially of the drum, as will be described more fully later on.

An external gear 18 is formed integrally with the drum 11 and concentric therewith. Such gear meshes with a stationary internal gear 20 secured to the housing 15 and extending concentrically of the shaft 14.

The ratio between the number of teeth of gear 18 and the number of teeth of gear 20 is such that as the drum 11 orbits about the axis A of the shaft 14 during rotation of the latter in one direction, the drum will advance in the opposite direction an amount equal to the spacing between two adjacent rows 19 of segments during each revolution of the shaft. Thus, during each revolution of the drive shaft, a new row of type segments 16 will be moved to a printing point or printing station PS formed by a row of type platens 21.

The shaft 14 is constantly rotated by a motor 50 (FIG. 3) coupled to the shaft through pulleys and a belt 51.

Each platen 21 is slideable lengthwise in a guide slot formed in a stationary guide block 22 and is pivotally connected at 23 to the armature 24 of an electromagnet 25. The armature is pivotally supported at 26 and is normally held in its lower illustrated position by a tension spring 27 extending between the armature and a post 28 .so as. to maintain the platen out of cooperative relation with the type drum 11.

Upon energization of an electromagnet 25, its associated platen 21 will be raised a sufficient amount so that as the drum moves downwardly in a hypocycloidal motion during its orbital movement about the center of the drive shaft 14, it will effect a printing contact with the platen 11 so as to transmit a printing impression from an aligned type segment in the associated column of segments onto a strip of paper at the printing station PS. Such downward movement of the drum is also effective to force the raised platen back toward its normal lower position shown in FIG. 1.

Suitable means, including an inking roller 31, are provided to apply a film of ink to the surfaces of the type segments as the drum 11 moves past the follower.

The paper strip 30 is fed lengthwise past the printing station from a suitable source of supply, not shown, by a feed roller 32. The latter is normally stationary and is intermittently advanced so as to advance the strip from one printing line to a next by an electromagnetically controlled paper space mechanism diagrammatically indicated at 33, FIG. 3.

Each column 17 of type segments includes two fonts of twelve type segments each, the different segments in the font extending in different directions and being located in different positions relative to each other. By successively printing selected ones of the segments of one of the fonts at the printing station, difierent printed characters, such as the group shown in FIG. 4 can be printed during each passage of a font past the printing station. Such groups include alphabetic, numeric and symbol characters.

FIG. 7 shows a complete pattern of type segments successively presented at the printing station and accordingly would represent a printed character if printing was obtained from all such type segments.

Referring to FIG. 3, the printer receives information from an electronic data registering device 35, such as an electronic computer, which presents data in binary decimal coded output manner, there being six output lines for each decade which are preferably weighted in accordance with the binary system of progression, i.e., 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32.

The output lines of each decade of the data registering device are connected to corresponding inputs of a respective six-channel comparison gate 36 capable of comparing two sets of binary coded signals and applying an output signal to one input of an associated an .gate 37 when a coincidence occurs.

In the present embodiment, provision is made to print 48 different characters, as shown in FIG. 4, using 12 different type segments in a font. Accordingly, means are provided for applying 48 different binary interrogating signals to all of the comparison gates 36 corresponding to the possible 48 different binary output signals provided by the different input lines from the data registering device 35. Such 48 different interrogating signals will be successively applied to the gates 36 as each row of type segments approaches the printing station. Thus, a segment of a character will be printed in those columns where such segments are called for to build up the respective whole character. For this purpose, a suitable timing track and main clock generatongenerally indicated at 38, FIG. 3, is provided for applying a pulse to an amplifier and pulse shaping circuit as each row 19 of type segments approaches the printing station. The device 38 and circuit 40 may be of any well known type capable of producing timing pulses 39, typically shown in FIG. 5, in which the leading edge 41 of each pulse is spaced in time from its trailing edge 42 an amount equal to approximately one-third the length of time between the leading edges of two successive pulses.

The leading edge 41 of each main clock pulse is caused to gate a high speed pulse generator 43 which applies 48 interrogating pulses to a six stage binary counter 44 during the interval between the leading and trailing edge of each main clock pulse, as indicated at 45, in FIG. 5. The output lines of the counter 44 are applied in parallel to the comparison inputs of all of the comparison gates 36.

The counter 44 may, if desired, produce more than 48 pulses during the time allotted. Also, the counter may continue to count after passage of the trailing edge of the main clock pulse. In fact, it may be continuously recycled by the pulse generator 43 until reset by the leading edges of the main clock pulses.

Means are provided to determine printing of a segment in one or more columns as a particular row of segments approaches the printing station, in accordance with the data information presented by the device 35. For this purpose, and as a comparison is being made by the different comparison gates 36, a look-up matrix is scanned to determine those segments in the approaching row which are to be printed.

The main clock pulses are applied over line 47 to a four-stage binary tracking counter 46 causing the counter to apply coded binary signals to a 412 line conversion matrix 52 representing the different rows of type segments approaching the printing station. The matrix 52 decodes such binary information and activates discreet ones of twelve output lines 53 connected to respective columns of the look-up matrix 145 (see also FIG. 8).

In the meantime and as a particular column of the look-up matrix is maintained in activated condition, the 48 different coded binary interrogation signals from the counter 44 are applied to a 6-48 line conversion matrix 54 (see also FIG. 9). The latter decodes the various coded binary signals and activates respective discreet ones of 48 output lines 55 connected to respective rows of the look-up matrix 145.

Typically, the 648 line conversion matrix 54 comprises six pairs of input lines 63 connected to the 0 and 1 output terminals of the different stages of the binary counter 44. Such lines are connected to the 48 output lines 55 through diodes 64 which are appropriately connected in accordance with the binary series of progression. The lines 55 are connected through dropping resistors 65 to a -27-volt supply line 66. Thus, when a counter 44 registers a particular count, in which appropriate terminals thereof representing true values are lowered from approximately 0 volts to approximately 12 volts, a corresponding output line 55 will be lowered to represent such count. All other output lines will be maintained at a significantly more positive voltage.

The 4-12 line conversion matrix is basically similar to the matrix 54 but with obvious modifications.

The look-up matrix 145 (FIG. 8) comprises 12 input lines 53 and 48 input lines 55, appropriately connected by diodes 67 in accordance with the location of the type segments on the drum 11 and the existence of the different segment imprints in the particular characters to be printed.

Typically, the various input lines 53 of the look-up matrix are connected through dropping resistors 68 to a -27-volt supply line '70. When the voltage on a particular input line 53 is lowered to approximately 12 volts, representing a particular segment approaching the printing station, and when a particular input line 55 is likewise lowered, representing a particular character to be printed in a certain denomination of the printer, the voltage of a respective one of 12 output lines 71 is likewise lowered, indicating that the corresponding character segment will be printed.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a comparison is made between the input data information and the row of type segments approaching the printing station and a determination is made that a particular segment or segments approaching the printing station is to be printed to form part of the desired printed character or charac ters. These two items of information are used to control printing, and for this purpose the 12 output lines 71 of the look-up matrix are connected through an or gate 72 and amplifier 73 to the second inputs of the and gates 37.

Thus, in those cases where the gates 37 are opened, flip-flops 74 will be set to apply a print signal to one input of associated print width and gates 75. Each flip-flop forms a memory device to hold the print signal until all 48 comparisons have been made, i.e., until the trailing edge of the corresponding timing pulse arrives. For this purpose, the main clock pulses are applied through line 76, or gate 77 and inverter amplifier 78 to the second inputs of the gates 75. Accordingly, the trailing edge 42 of each timing pulse will open the gates 75, allowing those print signals registered by the flipflops 74 to be passed through amplifiers 80 to the corresponding platen control electromagnets 25.

Printing is effected at desired times by a print command signal applied over lines 81 and 82 to one input of an and gate 83, the other-input of which is con trolled by the main clock pulses. Upon receipt of a print command signal and as the next clock pulse is received, the gate 83 will be opened to set a control flip-flop 84 and thus render the connected input to an and gate 85 true. The latter gate, when opened, steps a print control counter 86.

A second input 102 to the gate 85 is normally maintained true and is rendered false when the counter 86 registers the count of 14. For this purpose, when the counter reaches the count of 14 an output pulse will be applied over line 87 and inverter circuitry 88 to such second input. A third input 163 to gate 85 is timed by the main clock pulses applied over line 76. Thus, the counter 86 is caused to advance in time with passage of the various rows of type segments past the printing station.

The print command signal, the print control counter 86 and the trailing edges of the various main clock pulses jointly control the various gates 75 to open the same only after the aforementioned comparisons have been made and for this purpose, the 12 output terminal of the counter 86, the main clock pulse line 76 and the reset output line 90 of the fiip-flop 84 are connected to respective input terminals of the or gate 77. The reset input of the flip-flop 84 is connected to the print command line 81 through an inverter circuit 91.

Accordingly, the or gate 77 will pass the logix term W-l-lZ-l-C. This term is inverted by the inverter circuit 78 to generate the term PC. 12 E so as to open the gates 75 to permit print signals to be applied to appropriate electromagnets 25 upon receipt of the trailing edges of the main clock pulses.

When the print control counter 86 reaches the count of 12, indicating that a complete font of type segments has passed the printing station, a pulse will be applied over

lines

93 and 94 to close the gates 75 and concurrently to cause actuation of the paper space mechanisms 33 so as to advance the paper strip 32 to a new print line.

The paper spacing operation occurs during passage of two rows of type segments past the printing station and accordingly, at the count of 14, the inverted output signal passed by line 87 of the counter 86 will be re-inverted by an inverter circuit 95 and applied over line 96 to the device 35, thus indicating completion of a printing operation.

The comparison counter 44 is reset by the leading edge 41 of each main clock pulse just prior to its counting operation and for this purpose the line 47 is connected via line 97 to the reset terminal of counter 44. In order to permit such resetting, it will be noted in FIG. 5 that the first interrogating pulse 101 is preferably delayed slightly after reception of the leading edge 41 of the main clock pulse. Also, the tracking counter 46 is reset as the drum reaches a predetermined point. For this purpose, a reset pulse generator, generally indicated at 98, is provided.

6 Such generator is similar to the pulse generator 38 but applies a reset pulse over line only once during passage of a font of type segments past a printing station. Such reset pulse is applied to the reset terminal of the tracking counter 46.

The printer may be readily modified to print different characters or symbols, for example, as may be found in different foreign languages or in different sciences, i.e., chemical symbols, merely by appropriately changing the connections between the various diodes 67 in the look-up matrix and different ones of the

line

53 and 55. Also, in accordance with presently known electrical technology, the look-up matrix 145 may be constructed in the form of a plug-in unit so that a matrix of one configuration may be readily replaced by another of a different configuration.

Also, with obvious modifications, the number of type segments and the number of possibly different characters to be printed may be readily changed as desired.

Although the invention has been described in detail and certain specific terms and languages have been used, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is illustrative rather than restrictive and that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A recording system comprising a type drum having a font of type character segments arranged therearound,

means for advancing said drum past a recording station whereby to successively present said segments to said recording station,

different ones of said segments extending in different directions and assuming different positions when presented to said station,

means for supporting a record medium at said recording station,

means for effecting recording by said segments onto said record medium at said recording station,

and means for successively actuating said last mentioned means as selected ones of said segments pass said station whereby to cause those segments which make up a desired recorded character to be recorded on said record medium.

2. A recording system comprising a type drum having a font of type character segments arranged therearound,

means for revolving said drum past a record station whereby to successively present .said segments to said recording station,

means for supporting a record medium at said recording station,

and means for successively actuating said last mentioned means as selected ones of said segments pass said station whereby to cause those segments which make up a desired recorded character to be recorded on said record medium during passage of said font past said recording station.

3. A recording system comprising a type drum having a plurality of type character systems arranged therearound,

there being vertical, horizonal and diagonal type character segments,

means for supporting a record medium at said recording station,

a normally disabled recording device for recording by said type character segments onto said record medium at said recording station,

and means for successively enabling said recording desavages a font of type character segments spaced therearound,

means for supporting a record medium at said recording station,

a recording device for elfecting recording by any of said segments onto said record medium at said recording station, I

a first pulse generator controlled by said drum for generating an impulse as each of said segments pass adjacent said station, I

a first counter for counting said impulses,

a high speed impulse generator,

means controlled by each of said first mentioned impulses for initiating operation of said high speed generator,

at second counter for counting said high speed impulses,

a comparator for comparing the output of said second counter with a coded signal representing a character to be printed,

said comparator providing an output pulse in response to coincidence between said output of said second counter and said signal,

means controlled by said output pulses and including a normally closed gate for actuating said recording device;

a look-up matrix controlled jointly by said first counter and said second counter to apply an output signal when a said segment representing part of a complete character to be printed is at such station.

and means controlled by said output signal for opening said gate.

5. A recording system comprising a type drum having a font of type character segments spaced therearound,

means for supporting a record medium at said recording station,

a recording device for effecting recording by any of said segments onto said recording medium at said recording station,

means controlled by said drum for generating an impulse as each of said segments pass adjacent said station,

a first counter for counting said impulses,

a second counter,

means controlled by each of said impulses for applying a number of pulses to said second counter equal to the number of possibly different characters to be printed, I

a look-up matrix controlled jointly by said first counter and said second counter to apply an output signal when a said segment representing part of a comand means controlled by said output signal for open ing said gate.

6. A recording system comprising a type drum having a font of type character segments spaced therearound,

means for supporting :a record medium at said recording station,

a recording device for effecting recording by any of said segments onto said record medium at said recording station,

a first binary counting parallel output counter for counting said impulses,

a second binary counting parallel output counter,

means controlled by each of said impulses for applying a number of pulses to said second counter equal to the number of possibly different characters to be printed,

a comparator for comparing the output of said second counter with a parallel binary coded signal representing a character to be printed,

said comparator providing an output pulse in response to a match between said output of said second counter and said signal,

a look-up matrix controlled jointly by said first counter and said second counter to apply an output signal when a said segment representing part of a complete character to be printed is at said station,

and means controlled by said output signal for opening said gate.

7. A recording station according to claim 6 comprising means operable upon passage of said font past said recording station for advancing said record medium from one recording position to a next.

8. A recording system comprising a type drum having a font of type character segments spaced therearound,

means for supporting a record medium at said recording station,

a recording device for eiTecting recording by any of said segments onto said recording medium at said recording station,

a first counter for counting said impulses,

a second counter,

means controlled by each of said impulses for applying a number of pulses to said second counter equal to the number of possibly difierent characters to be printed,

said comparator producing an output pulse in response to a coincidence between said output of said second counter and said signal,

a pulse memory device,

means controlled by a said output pulse and including a normally closed gate for actuating said memory device; a

a lock-up matrix controlled jointly by said first counter and said second counter for opening said gate when a said segment representing part of a complete character to be printed at said station passes adjacent said station,

means controlled by said memory device and including a second normally closed gate for actuating said recording device;

and means operable after application of said number of pulses to said second counter for opening said second gate.

9. A recording system comprising a type drum having a font of type character segments spaced therearound,

means for supporting a recording medium at said recording station,

a counter for counting said impulses,

means controlled by each of said impulses for successively producing different coded signals representing the possibly different characters to be printed,

a comparator for comparing said coded signals with a coded signal representing a character to be printed,

said comparator producing an output signal in response to coincidence between said signals being compared,

means controlled by a said output signal and including a normally closed gate for actuating said recording device;

and means comprising a look-up matrix controlled jointly by said counter and said coded signal producing means for opening said gate when a said segment representing part of a complete character to be printed at said station passes adjacent said station.

10. A recording device according to claim 9 comprising means controlled by said drum after passage of said font past said recording station for resetting said counter.

11. A recording system comprising a type drum having a font of type character segments spaced therearouud,

means for supporting a recording medium at said recording station,

means controlled by said drum for successively producing different coded signals representing the possibly different characters to be printed as each said segment passes adjacent said recording station,

said comparator producing an output signal in response to a coincidence between said signals being compared,

and means comprising a look-up matrix controlled jointly by said drum and said coded signal producing means for opening said gate when a said segment representing part of acomplete character to be printed at said station passes adjacent said station.

10 -12. A recording system comprising a type drum having a font of type character segments spaced therearound,

means for supporting a recording medium at said recording station,

a counter for counting said impulses,

means controlled by each of said impulses for successively producing a number of different coded signals representing the possibly different characters to be printed,

a comparator for comparing said coded signals with a signal representing a character to be printed,

a pulse memory device,

means controlled by a said output signal and including -a normally closed gate for actuating said memory device;

means comprising a look-up matrix controlled jointly by said counter and said coded signal producing means for opening said gate when a said segment representing part of a complete character to be printed at said station passes adjacent said station,

and means operable after operation of said signal producing means for opening said second gate.

13. A recording system comprising a type drum having a font of type character segments spaced therearound,

means for supporting a recording medium at said recording station,

means comprising a pulse generator for generating a number of pulses equal to the possible number of different characters to be printed as each said segment passes adjacent said recording station,

a counter controlled by said pulse generator for producing different coded signals representing the possibly different characters to be printed,

a comparator for comparing said coded signals with a coded signal representing a character to be printed, said comparator producing an output signal in response to coincidence between said signals being compared,

means controlled by said output signal including a normally closed gate for actuating said recording device;

means comprising a look-up matrix controlled jointly by said drum and said coded signal producing means for opening said gate when a said segment representing a part of a complete character to be printed at said station passes adjacent said station,

and means responsive to each said impulse for resetting said counter.

14. A recording system according to claim 13 compris- 1 1 ing means controlled by each said impulse for causing 2,800,073 said generator to generate said pulses. 2,910,936 2,915,968 References Cited by the Examiner 3,099,711

UNITED STATES PATENTS r 5 10/ 1950 Brumbaugh 1971.1 A i 2/ 1951 Molin 197-8-3 X 8/ 1955 Brown 101-92 146,743 8/1956 Dumey v 101--9-3 1/1957 Hartley 10193 12 V 7/1957 Block 101--93 11/1959 Christoif et a1 10193 12/1959 Witt et a]. 101-93 7/1963 Foley et a1 178-3O 12/ 1963 Williams et a1 1971 X 6/1965 Foley et a1. 178-30 FOREIGN PATENTS 9/1962 Russia.

10 WILLIAM B. PENN, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A RECORDING SYSTEM COMPRISING A TYPE DRUM HAVING A FONT OF TYPE CHARACTER SEGMENTS ARRANGED THEREAROUND, MEANS FOR ADVANCING SAID DRUM PAST A RECORDING STATION WHEREBY TO SUCCESSIVELY PRESENT SAID SEGMENTS TO SAID RECORDING STATION, DIFFERENT ONES OF SAID SEGMENTS EXTENDING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AND ASSUMING DIFFERENT POSITIONS WHEN PRESENTED TO SAID STATION, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A RECORD MEDIUM AT SAID RECORDING STATION, MEANS FOR EFFECTING RECORDING BY SAID SEGMENTS ONTO SAID RECORD MEDIUM AT SAID RECORDING STATION, AND MEANS FOR SUCCESSIVELY ACTUATING SAID LAST MENTIONED MEANS AS SELECTED ONES OF SAID SEGMENTS PASS SAID STATION WHEREBY TO CAUSE THOSE SEGMENTS WICH MAKE UP A DESIRED RECORDED CHARACTER TO BE RECORDED ON SAID RECORD MEDIUM.