US3334585A - Electro-mechanical apparatus - Google Patents

Electro-mechanical apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US3334585A
US3334585A US376630A US37663064A US3334585A US 3334585 A US3334585 A US 3334585A US 376630 A US376630 A US 376630A US 37663064 A US37663064 A US 37663064A US 3334585 A US3334585 A US 3334585A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
ribbon
housing
contact terminals
print
pair
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US376630A
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English (en)
Inventor
Robert J Moran
David W Bernard
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Honeywell Inc
Original Assignee
Honeywell Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Honeywell Inc filed Critical Honeywell Inc
Priority to US376630A priority Critical patent/US3334585A/en
Priority to GB23825/65A priority patent/GB1114783A/en
Priority to NO158416A priority patent/NO118821B/no
Priority to SE8103/65A priority patent/SE308729B/xx
Priority to DE19651436658 priority patent/DE1436658A1/de
Priority to BE665700D priority patent/BE665700A/xx
Priority to CH862765A priority patent/CH443362A/fr
Priority to FR21861A priority patent/FR1440317A/fr
Priority to AT564365A priority patent/AT265707B/de
Priority to NL6508001A priority patent/NL6508001A/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3334585A publication Critical patent/US3334585A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J17/00—Mechanisms for manipulating page-width impression-transfer material, e.g. carbon paper
    • B41J17/02—Feeding mechanisms
    • B41J17/14—Automatic arrangements for reversing the feed direction

Definitions

  • the present invention relates in general to web transports, and in particular to ribbon transports for highspeed printers.
  • the function of an inked ribbon in a printer is to effect printing on a paper web when a print hammer drives the paper web and the ribbon joint-1y against a platen. Either the platen or the print hammer may carry the type character to be printed.
  • a moving type carrier is generally used, which presents successive type characters to the print station at which the print hammers are located.
  • the type car-- rier constitutes a constantly rotating print roll with up to 132 identical columns of characters around the periphery arranged to form rows of identical characters, some or all of which may be struck simultaneously by corresponding print hammers as each row of characters passes the print station.
  • the inked ribbon In order to expose different ribbon areas to the print hammers and to prevent excessive ribbon wear, the inked ribbon must be moved past the print station. When the extreme ribbon positions are reached, a ribbon reversal is effected and the ribbon is moved past the print station in the opposite direction.
  • any ribbon reversing mechanism requires means for sensing the end of the ribbon.
  • the sensing device may produce a mechanical action for directly reversing the ribbon movement, or for generating an electrical signal which effects the ribbon reversal. Alter natively an electrical or other signal may be generated directly, which is then employed to effect the aforesaid ribbon reversal.
  • the ribbon leaders i.e. the terminal portions of the ribbon
  • the actuation of the microswitch may be employed to establish a circuit for energizing the idle ribbon-moving motor and for de-energizing the active motor.
  • An undesirable feature of the aforesaid technique is the fact that the microswitch must be positioned in close proximity to the ribbon.
  • Ribbon and paper dust may cause suflicient ribbon build-up to inadvertently actuate the microswitch before the extreme ribbon positions are reached. By coating the microswitch contacts, such dust may also produce a failure of the switch itself. Finally, the thickened ribbon leader areas may interfere with the proper spooling of the ribbon.
  • an arm rides in contact with the ribbon both of whose leaders have slots cut therein.
  • Still another technique employs a transparent portion in each ribbon leader, or a hole, through which a light beam actuates a photocell in the extreme ribbon position.
  • the photocell produces the requisite actuating signal.
  • This technique is superior to those discussed above insofar as the relays may be located at a remote location where their operation is not affected by dirt and dust created by the ribbon and paper web. However, the operation is still subject to error. For example, a film of ink may gradually build up on the transparent Window of the ribbon leader to interfere with the operation of the photocell.
  • the photocell itself may become coated where only a hole in the ribbon is used.
  • this technique is relatively expensive to implement.
  • FIGURE 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • FIGURE 2 illustrates in detail certain features of the present invention.
  • FIGURE 3 illustrates a preferred control circuit which may be used with the apparatus of FIGURE 1.
  • FIGURE 1 is a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • a print roll 10 having raised characters on its periphery is adapted to rotate in the direction of the arrow shown, to move successive data. characters past a print station 11.
  • the latter includes a plurality of print hammers 12, one facing each column of characters on the print roll 10. In a preferred embodiment, up to 132 print hammers may be employed, aligned side by side.
  • the print roll 10 is partly enclosed by a housing 14, which contains an opening 16 opposite the print station 11.
  • a paper web 18 and a ribbon 20 are positioned between the print roll 10 and the print station 11.
  • the ribbon Z0 terminates in a pair of ribbon leaders 21, consisting of Mylar or the like, only one of which is shown in FIGURE 1. Each leader is aflixed to the ribbon and further includes a conductive foil 23 glued thereto in a position to face the housing 14.
  • Printing is carried out in conventional manner. If a data character is to appear in a particular print line, all the print hammers 12 corresponding to the print positions wherein the character is to be printed, are simultaneously actuated when the character row which contains the desired characters is at the print station. The actuated hammers drive the paper web 18 and the ribbon 20 against the print roll 10 through the opening 16 to effect printing on the paper web.
  • the ribbon transport for moving the ribbon comprises a pair of motors 22 and 24 and the associated ribbon spools 26 and 28 respectively, which are coupled to the aforesaid motors and which are adapted to rotate in the direction shown by the arrows in the drawing. Only one motor at a time is energized, the ribbon spool coupled to the other motor acting as a drag brake during this period in order to create tension in the ribbon 20.
  • the spool 26 includes a hub 30 looped by a friction band 34, having one end anchored to a fixed point and the other end coupled to a yielding tension spring 38.
  • the spool 28 contains a hub 32 looped by. a friction band 36 Whose ends are coupled to a fixed point and to the spring 33 respectively.
  • the housing 14 is positioned to act as a guide so as to determine, in part, the path of the ribbon 20.
  • the housing 14 includes a pair of substantially identical insulators 40 and 45, which may consist of Teflon or the like, positioned on opposite sides of the opening 16.
  • the insulator 40 carries a pair of contact terminals 42 in the form of a pair of conductive brass bars of substantially semicircular cross-section.
  • the bars 42 are positioned transversely in the path of the ribbon 24) to make wiping contact with the latter during the movement of the ribbon.
  • the insulator 45 carries a pair of contact terminals 43, substantially identical to the contact terminals 42, and similarly positioned in the ribbon path.
  • FIGURE 2 illustrates in greater detail the aforesaid features with reference to one pair of contact terminals, applicable reference numerals having been carried forward.
  • An insulator 44 in the form of a bar having substantially the same cross-section as the brass bars 42, is positioned between the latter.
  • Each conductive bar 42 is thus insulated from the housing by the insulator 40, as well as from the other bar by the insulator 44.
  • the contact terminals 42 are adapted to be energized from a pair of terminations 46 soldered to the contact terminals.
  • the ribbon leader 21 is joined to the ribbon 20 in the overlapping area shown, by glueing or the like.
  • the foil 23 constitutes a strip of conductive material such as copper, so positioned that, as the ribbon 20 moves in the direction of the arrow shown, the foil bridges the contact terminals 42 to short out the insulator 44.
  • the tension maintained in the ribbon 20 is responsible for good electrical contact between the foil 23 and the contact terminals 42. The latter are kept free of dirt by the wiping action, in both directions, of the ribbon 2tl.
  • FIGURE 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a control circuit which may be employed with the apparatus of FIGURE 1. Applicable reference numerals have again been retained.
  • a pair of relays R1 and R2 are connected in series circuit with a DC source and with the pairs of contact terminals 42 and 43 respectively.
  • the relay R2 has a single set of contacts R21. It is shown in its normal position in FIGURE 3, whence it couples the relay R1 to ground to complete an energizing circuit therefor through the DC source.
  • the relay R1 has a first set of contacts R11 which are shown in their actuated position and which are adapted to couple the relay R2 to the aforesaid set of contacts R2-1 in their normal position.
  • the relay R1 includes a second set of contacts R12, jointly actuated with the set of contacts R]l1 as indicated by the broken-line mechanical connection therebetween, and adapted to couple one of the motors 22 and 24 to an AC power source.
  • the energization of the relays R1 and R2 is mutually exclusive.
  • a completed energization circuit exists for the relay R1 in the normal position of the set of contacts R2-1 which connect the relay R1 to ground.
  • the contacts R11 are in their actuated position so as to break the connection between the relay R2 and the set of contacts R21.
  • the contacts R1-2 are in their actuated position, whence the motor 22 is energized from the AC source.
  • the conductive strip 23 approaches the contact terminals 42 in one extreme ribbon position.
  • the intermediate insulating bar 44 is shorted out and an energization circuit for the relay R2 is established between the DC source and ground.
  • the set of contacts R21 are actuated, causing the energization circuit of the relay R1 to open.
  • the contacts R1-2 then switch to their normal position in which AC power is supplied to the motor 24 and the direction of ribbon movement is reversed.
  • the contacts R1-1 assume their normal position to establish an energization circuit for the relay R2 by way of the DC source, the relay coil, the contacts Rl-l and the contacts R21 to ground.
  • the latter circuit maintains the relay R2 in its energized state when the conductive strip 23, which is only momentarily in contact with the contact terminals 42, moves off the latter owing to the reversal of movement of the ribbon.
  • the ribbon continues to move in the opposite direction until the other extreme ribbon position is reached when the conductive strip on the other ribbon leader bridges the contact terminals 43 to establish an energization circuit for the relay R1.
  • the set of contacts R1-2 is actuated to switch power to the motor 22, thereby reversing the direction of ribbon movement.
  • the contacts R11 open to interrupt the energization circuit of the relay R2.
  • the contacts R2-1 then assume their normal position, in which an energization circuit is established for the relay R1 which is maintained after the bridging conductive strip moves away from the contact terminals 43 upon the reversal of the ribbon.
  • the present invention provides a simple and economical ribbon reversal mechanism which requires only an inexpensive adaptation of the existing print roll housing and of the ribbon leader.
  • the invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment and may find employment in various applications. It is readily applicable to different printers and different ribbon transports.
  • the print roll housing is conveniently used as a ribbon guide to determine the ribbon path in the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1, it will be clear that separate ribbon guides with contact terminals may be employed.
  • the ribbon housing itself, or the print roll if the ribbon contacts the latter may be employed to establish the desired electrical contact with a conductive area of the ribbon.
  • the ribbon transport is not limited to the arrangement shown but may, for example, use a pair of counter-rotating motors whose relative energization is varied depending upon the direction in which it is desired to move the ribbon. Alternatively, a single reversible motor may be used.
  • the ribbon leader itself need not carry a separate strip of conductive foil. For example, it may consist of a material, such as aluminized Mylar, which is conductive throughout.
  • a housing partly surrounding said print roll and substantially concentric therewith, said housing having an opening opposite said print station to admit said hammers, a ribbon transport adapted to move said ribbon under predetermined tension in mutually opposite directions past said opening in a path a portion of which is determined by said housing, two pairs of spaced contact terminals supported on opposite sides of said opening and electrically insulated from said housing, each pair of said spaced contact terminals substantially spanning the full width of said ribbon and protruding into the prevailing ribbon path, said ribbon path being locally distorted around the periphery of said contact terminals on a radius which is small relative to that of said housing, said tensioned ribbon, when moving, providing a wiping action on said contact terminals at a pressure substantially in excess of that exerted on said housing by said ribbon and suificient to maintain self-cleaning conditions on said contact
  • circuit means include a first relay connected in series circuit with an energizing source and one of said terminal pairs and having first and second sets of contacts, a second relay connected in series circuit with said energizing source and the other terminal pair and having a third set of contacts, said first set of contacts being connected to said other terminal pair and being normally open, said third set of contacts being connected respectively to said first set of contacts and to said first relay and normally coupling the latter to ground, and a pair of motors adapted to move said ribbon in mutually opposite directions upon energization from a power source, said second set of contacts being connected to said motors and normally coupling one of them to said power source.
  • a print station including a plurality of aligned print hammers, a print roll having raised characters adapted to rotate past said print station, a housing enclosing said print roll and substantially concentric therewith, said housing including an opening opposite said print station, a paper web and an inked ribbon positioned between said print station and said print roll and adapted to be driven against the latter by said print hammers to effect printing on said paper web, said ribbon terminating in pair of ribbon leaders each including a portion of conductive material extending substantially the full ribbon width, a ribbon transport including a pair of motors adapted to move said ribbon under predetermined tension in mutually opposite directions past said opening through a path a portion of which is determined by said housing, two pairs of spaced contact bars supported on opposite sides of said opening and electrically insulated from said housing, each pair of said spaced contact bars substantially spanning the full width of said ribbon, each of said bars having a substantially semicircular cross section with a radius which is small cornpared to that of said
  • said control circuit comprises first and second relays mutually exclusively energized from a DC. source, said first relay being connected in series circuit with said D.C. source and one of said bar pairs and having first and second sets of contacts, said second relay being connected between said D.C. source and said other bar pair and having a third set of contacts, said first set of contacts being connected between said second relay and said third set of contacts and being normally open, said third set of contacts being further connected to said first relay and normally adapted to ground the latter, said second set for contacts being connected to both said motors, and normally adapted to energize one of them from a source of power.
  • a type carrier moves successive data characters past a print station, a housing partly enclosing said type carrier and substantially concentric therewith, a paper web and an inked ribbon movably positioned between said print station and said housing, said print station including hammer means adapted to drive said paper web and said ribbon against selected characters of said moving type carrier through an opening in said housing, a ribbon leader at each end of said ribbon including a strip of conductive material transverse to the direction of ribbon movement and extending substantially the full ribbon width, a ribbon transport including a pair of motors selectively adapted to move said ribbon under predetermined tension in mutually opposite directions through a path a portion of which is determined by said housing, a pair of spaced, aligned, conductive bars positioned on each side of said opening of said housing and electrically insulated from the latter, one bar of each of said pairs being coupled to ground, the other bar of each pair being coupled to a DC.
  • each pair of said spaced conductive bars substantially spanning the full width of said ribbon and protruding into the prevailing ribbon path, said ribbon path being locally distorted around the periphery of said conductive bars on a radius which is small relatvie to that of said housing, said tensioned ribbon, when moving, providing a wiping action on said conductive bars at a pressure substantially in excess of that exerted on said housing by said ribbon and sufiicient to maintain self-cleaning conditions on said conductive bars, and relay means connected to said motors, said relay means being further connected to said conductive bars and being adapted to energize one or the other of said pair of motors in accordance with which pair of bars is shorted together upon the arrival of a conductive ribbon leader strip establishing positive electrical contact at said pressure.
  • a housing partly enclosing said type carrier and substantially concentric therewith, said housing including an opening opposite said print station, an inked ribbon movably positioned between said and said paper web and having a portion of its path determined in part by said housing, a ribbon leader at each end of said ribbon including a transverse strip of conductive material etxending substantially the full ribbon width, a ribbon transport including a pair of motors adapted to move said ribbon under predetermined tension in mutually opposite directions, first and second pairs of spaced, aligned, conductive bars carried by said housing transverse to the direction of ribbon movement on opposite sides of said opening, each pair of said spaced bars substantially spanning the full width of said ribbon, said bars being insulated and protruding outward from said housing into the prevailing ribbon path, said ribbon path being locally distorted around the periphery of said bars on a radius which is
  • a second relay coupled in series with said D.C. source and said second pair of bars and having a third set of contacts connected respectively to said first relay and to said first set of contacts normally coupling said second relay, said third set of contacts being normally adapted to energize said first relay from said D.C source, each of said a relays being adapted to be energized through its connected pair of spaced bars when the latter are bridged upon the arrival of one of said conductive leader strips establishing positive electrical contact at said pressure, said last recited energization of a relay terminating the prevailing energization of the other -relay to reverse the direction of ribbon movement.

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  • Impression-Transfer Materials And Handling Thereof (AREA)
  • Detergent Compositions (AREA)
US376630A 1964-06-22 1964-06-22 Electro-mechanical apparatus Expired - Lifetime US3334585A (en)

Priority Applications (10)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US376630A US3334585A (en) 1964-06-22 1964-06-22 Electro-mechanical apparatus
GB23825/65A GB1114783A (en) 1964-06-22 1965-06-03 Improvements in or relating to high speed printers
NO158416A NO118821B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1964-06-22 1965-06-09
SE8103/65A SE308729B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1964-06-22 1965-06-18
DE19651436658 DE1436658A1 (de) 1964-06-22 1965-06-19 Vorrichtung zur selbsttaetigen Richtungsumkehr des Farbbandantriebs,insbesondere in Schnelldruckern
BE665700D BE665700A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1964-06-22 1965-06-21
CH862765A CH443362A (fr) 1964-06-22 1965-06-21 Imprimeuse
FR21861A FR1440317A (fr) 1964-06-22 1965-06-22 Perfectionnements aux machines imprimeuses à grande vitesse
AT564365A AT265707B (de) 1964-06-22 1965-06-22 Schnelldrucker
NL6508001A NL6508001A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1964-06-22 1965-06-22

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US376630A US3334585A (en) 1964-06-22 1964-06-22 Electro-mechanical apparatus

Publications (1)

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US3334585A true US3334585A (en) 1967-08-08

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US376630A Expired - Lifetime US3334585A (en) 1964-06-22 1964-06-22 Electro-mechanical apparatus

Country Status (8)

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US (1) US3334585A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AT (1) AT265707B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE665700A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (1) CH443362A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1436658A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1114783A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NO (1) NO118821B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
SE (1) SE308729B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3901479A (en) * 1971-12-13 1975-08-26 Western Gear Corp Traction type hoist
US3902585A (en) * 1973-05-07 1975-09-02 Data Products Corp Electric switch actuated printer ribbon reversing mechanism
US4177731A (en) * 1976-07-26 1979-12-11 Printronix, Inc. Printer system ribbon drive having constant ribbon speed and tension
US4685818A (en) * 1985-09-16 1987-08-11 Printronix, Inc. Ribbon fault detection system

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS60165278A (ja) * 1984-02-09 1985-08-28 Toshiba Corp 画像形成装置
DE19514599C2 (de) * 1995-04-20 2001-09-06 Meto International Gmbh Drucker zum Bedrucken eines Aufzeichnungsträgers

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE518934C (de) * 1931-02-21 Heinrich Scheidig Vorrichtung an Schreibmaschinen zum Anzeigen der letzten zu beschreibenden Bogenzeile
US2199556A (en) * 1938-10-07 1940-05-07 Ibm Paper feeding device
US2400447A (en) * 1940-04-25 1946-05-14 American Mach & Foundry Web-registering device
US2705639A (en) * 1949-12-16 1955-04-05 James A Kennedy Magnetic type recorder and play back unit
US2821284A (en) * 1954-03-15 1958-01-28 Lamson Paragon Ltd Carbon transfer material with alarm means for an imprinting machine
US3077830A (en) * 1961-06-05 1963-02-19 Burroughs Corp High speed print mechanism
US3156181A (en) * 1961-08-03 1964-11-10 Telechrome Mfg Corp Type wheel printer
US3185083A (en) * 1961-09-21 1965-05-25 Control Data Corp Ribbon drive mechanism

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE518934C (de) * 1931-02-21 Heinrich Scheidig Vorrichtung an Schreibmaschinen zum Anzeigen der letzten zu beschreibenden Bogenzeile
US2199556A (en) * 1938-10-07 1940-05-07 Ibm Paper feeding device
US2400447A (en) * 1940-04-25 1946-05-14 American Mach & Foundry Web-registering device
US2705639A (en) * 1949-12-16 1955-04-05 James A Kennedy Magnetic type recorder and play back unit
US2821284A (en) * 1954-03-15 1958-01-28 Lamson Paragon Ltd Carbon transfer material with alarm means for an imprinting machine
US3077830A (en) * 1961-06-05 1963-02-19 Burroughs Corp High speed print mechanism
US3156181A (en) * 1961-08-03 1964-11-10 Telechrome Mfg Corp Type wheel printer
US3185083A (en) * 1961-09-21 1965-05-25 Control Data Corp Ribbon drive mechanism

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3901479A (en) * 1971-12-13 1975-08-26 Western Gear Corp Traction type hoist
US3902585A (en) * 1973-05-07 1975-09-02 Data Products Corp Electric switch actuated printer ribbon reversing mechanism
US4177731A (en) * 1976-07-26 1979-12-11 Printronix, Inc. Printer system ribbon drive having constant ribbon speed and tension
US4685818A (en) * 1985-09-16 1987-08-11 Printronix, Inc. Ribbon fault detection system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AT265707B (de) 1968-10-25
NO118821B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-02-16
SE308729B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1969-02-24
GB1114783A (en) 1968-05-22
BE665700A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1965-10-18
DE1436658A1 (de) 1968-11-14
CH443362A (fr) 1967-09-15

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