US3455431A

US3455431A - Method and apparatus for simultaneously moving a marking tape and other tape

Info

Publication number: US3455431A
Application number: US718294A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roy A Martin
Original assignee: Citizens and Southern National Bank
Current assignee: Citizens and Southern National Bank
Priority date: 1968-03-07
Filing date: 1968-03-07
Publication date: 1969-07-15
Anticipated expiration: 1986-07-15

Description

July v15, 1969 R. A. MARTIN y3,455,431

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY MOVING A MARKING TAPE AND OTHER TAPE Original Filed Jan. 8, 1965 mvzsmonv R YA. MAR. TIN

Afro/ave United States Patent O 3,455,431 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANE- OUSLY MOVING A MARKING TAPE AND OTHER TAPE Roy A. Martin, Atlanta, Ga., assignor to Trustees, Employees Savings and Profit Sharing Trust Fund of The Citizens and Southern National Bank, Atlanta, Ga.

Continuation of application Ser. No. 424,303, Jan. 8, 1965. This application Mar. 7, 1968, Ser. No. 718,294 Int. Cl. B41j15/20, 1.7/58, 15/00 U.S. Cl. 197-134 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method and apparatus for simultaneously moving a marking tape Iand another tape which is to be marked and on, for example, a business machine that has a -magnetic ink marking tape moving simultaneously with a continuous roll of paper tape which is the tape to be marked on which magnetic characters are printed from time to time for bookkeeping purposes. The machine supports a continuous roll of inked ribbon, magnetic ink paper or other continuous marking tape so that the roll drops by gravity as it is depleted and the continuous marking tape rests on a second roll of continuous paper tape which must stay supported on the machine. The two rolls are in contact and the rotation of the two rolls against each other induces a. frictional drag which tensions both the ribbon continuous marking tape and the second paper tape as it is fed. The second paper tape roll is fed directly to the machine and the inked-ribbon or marking roll tape is fed down the back and co-extensive With the length on the back side of the second paper tape and thence both are fed beneath and out of the front of the platen or other machine element. The marking portion of the marking tape is superposed against the second paper tape at a particular time during which impressions may be made from the marking tape to the paper tape and beyond this point the second tape which has been marked is separated from the marking tape which is turned and led to .a power driven take-up spool on one side of the machine.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a continuation application of my abandoned application Ser. No. 424,303, filed Ian. 8, 1965, for Method and Apparatus for Simultaneously Moving a Printing Tape and Other Tape.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION In ordinary business machines the marking or printing tape, such as the inked ribbon, is moved transversely to the line of movement by the paper. Even in typewriters which use disposable carbon and plastic ribbons, the ribbon normally moves across the paper. In certain instances it is not desirable to move the continuous marking or printing tape across the paper or blank tape Iand the present invention makes it possible to move the printing tape co-extensive with part of the length of the paper tape and to feed the printing tape and the paper tape simultaneous and co-extensive in length for a distance and to collect the printing tape separately at a storage point.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a simple, expedient and inexpensive way of moving a printing tape, such as a magnetic ink tape co-extensive with and superposed on a portion of paper tape for the purpose of printing, separation and storage.

Frice Another object of this invention is to support a printing tape, such as a magnetic ink tape, resting on top of the paper roll and freely mounted for movement thereagainst so tha-t compensation is automatically made as the rolls deplete themselves and also so that there is a friction drag between the rolls which tensions both the printing tape or ribbon and the paper tape.

Still another object of this invention is to utilize the inexpensive method of feed which efliciently moves both the paper tape and the printing ribbon or tape without the need for additional motors or extra control mechanism A further feature of the present invention is found in the separation of the ribbon or magnetic printing tape and the paper tape, Ia-fter the normal printing operation position, so that other material may be inserted between the two for printing.

Another advantage of the present invention resides in the availability of the platen rotary motion to take up the used printing ribbon thereby eliminating separate mechanism.

Another advantage of the present invention resides in the automatic compensation for changes in diameter of both of the roll of printing ribbon and the blank tape along with the frictional tensioning of the ribbon and tape by contact with each other.

In summation: In a method for simultaneously feeding la marking tape, which has a marking surface on one side and a non-marking surface on the back side, such as a printing tape or ribbon on a machine, such as a business machine like a bank tabulating machine, and bringing said machine tape into contact over and with the marking surface superposed on another, and second tape which is to be marked by the marking surface of the marking tape as by contact and pressure of a printing character means on the machine, the steps of: feeding the marking tape and the other, second tape with each tape fed initially in an arcuate direction and with the non-marking surface of the marking tape touching the surface of the other, second tape during the time each is moving at an arcuately disposed direction, said tapes separating thereafter, and then bringing the tapes together again with the lengths thereof in coextensive relation with the marking surface of the marking tape facing the said other, second tape, and with the marking tape superposed along the length of the second tape, and thereafter transporting and accumulating the marking tape separately from the second tape.

Other and further objects a-nd advantages of my invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. l is a perspective'view of the present invention mounted in association with conventional business machine parts such as a motor driven platen.

FIG. 2 is a detail of a modified slip-clutch arrangement which 4may be substituted for the belt drive in FIG. 1.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, the entire machine is an assembly designated by the general reference numeral 10 and the machine comprises a paper guide 12 which is more or less standard equipment together with the conventional rubber coated or covered platen roller 14 which has a shaft 16 and the usual paper guide 18 together with a paper bar 20 and a paper severing edge 22, all of which are standard equipment on many business machines. Visibly mounted on the machine frame is a pair of opposed supports 26 of substantially identical construction each having an elongated, normally ver tically disposed notch 28 therein in which rests the opposite ends 30 of a ribbon or roll tape support shaft 32 which normally supports a marking tape roll 35 of marking tape 36 which may be magnetic inked-tape or ribbon,

coated ribbon or coated tape to be used for a marking operation on the machine which normally involves marking a character or several characters on a spot on the marking tape 36 and then moving the marking tape 36 successive increment and the printing of another character or characters at this point Without, usually, the normal redistribution of ink and rather using a different spot on the tape 36 each time.

Also mounted on the supports 26 on a shaft 38 is a second blank tape roll 39 of blank tape 40, which can be a roll of paper similar to that found on most adding machines. Shaft 38 supports blank tape roll 39 for rotation in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 1 thereon but normally does not move in any other direction. The marking roll rests on top of the surface of the roll 39 of second blank tape 40 and as the

tapes

36, 40 are moved through the machine the contact of roll 39 with marking or printing roll 35, which rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1, induces a frictional drag between fthe two. The tape 36 from its roll 35 is directed behind the tape 40 from its roll 39 and is superposed thereagainst yfor a length shown in the dotted lines in FIG. l until the two

tapes

36, 40 are led from the paper guide 20 whereat the plain paper tape 40 is led through the severing guide 22 and the marking or printing tape 36 is directed across a guide member 44 to give a partial turn and change in direction, thence across the frame to a second guide roller 46 and thence to a tape collection roller 48 mounted on a shaft 50 supported on the machine 10. Shaft 50 has on the other end thereof a drive roller 52 which is driven by a small belt 54 from a drive spool 56 mounted on the end of shaft 16 on platen 14 so that as the platen 14 turns, the drive roll 56 turns and drives shaft 50 through belt 54 and roller 52 to take up the used tape 36 on tape collection spool 48.

It should be noticed that the frictional engagement between the roll 35 and the roll 39 together with the automatic compensation for the size of the roll 36 by shaft 32 by virtue of the shaft 32 dropping in slots or notches 28 as the roll 35 is depleted, provides a suiicient frietional drag and automatic compensation which replaces more involved or more expensive arrangements. Also, the collection arrangement for taking up the used printing tape 36 on the collection roll 48 is a simple and inexpensive way which avoids more expensive and complex arrangements.

FIGURE 2 shows a modication of the drive arrangement of the take up spool 48 for the used printing tape 36. In the place of belt drive 54, shaft 16 is provided with a conventional friction clutch 60 which consists of a pair of opposed

friction drive members

62, 64 normally in face to face engagement according to a pares'et pressure between them but slipping when the frictional force caused by the preset pressure between the engagling surfaces of

drive members

62 and 64 is overcome. These

pieces

62, 64 may be made from rubber, plastic or other suitable material. Member 64 is attached to the output shaft 66 which has a beveled gear 68 thereon matching with a beveled gear 70 on drive shaft 72 having another beveled gear '74 on the bottom end thereof driving still another beveled gear 76 mounted on the end of shaft 50. Thus, shaft 50 is driven through the

beveled gears

68, 70 and 74, 76 to cause the tape collection roll 48 to take up the used printing tape 36 in the same manner as discussed in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

What is claimed isz 1. In a method for simultaneously feeding a marking tape which has a marking surface such as a printing tape or ribbon on a machine such as a business machine like a bank tabulating machine, and bringing said marking tape into Contact over and with the marking surface superposed on another, second tape which is to be marked by the marking surface of the marking tape as by contact and pressure of a printing character means on the machine, the steps of: feeding the marking tape and the other, second tape with each tape fed initially in an arcuate direction and with the nonmarking-surface of the marking tape touching the surface of the other, second tape during the time each is moving at an arcuately disposed direction, said tapes separating thereafter, and then bringing the tapes together again with the lengths thereof in coextensive relation with the marking surface of the marking tape facing the said other, second tape, and with the marking tape superposed along the length of said other, second tape.

2. The method defined in claim 1, wherein: there is a roll of marking tape on said machine and said marking :tape is initially supplied and fed by continually unwinding same from said roll of marking tape and there is also a roll of other, second tape on said machine and the other, second tape is fed by continuously unwinding same from said roll of other, second tape, and one of said marking tape and other, second tape rolls is in engagement touching the other of said marking tape and other, second rolls providing a friction drag therebetween.

3. The method claimed in claim 2, wherein: said one of said rolls of marking and other, second tape rests on the other and becomes smaller in diameter as it depletes and said one of said rolls moves downwardly by gravity as it unwinds, said tape from the roll of tape that moves by gravity being brought around the underside of said other roll upon which said roll of tape that moves by gravity is resting.

4. The method claimed in claim 3, wherein: said machine has a movable platen thereon, and including the step of directing the superposed lengths of marking tape and other, second tape around the platen, and then separating said marking tape from said other, second tape near the top of the platen so that a piece of paper may be inserted therebetween.

5. In an apparatus for transporting a marking tape for use with a blank tape,

(a) a support having a tape roll support means there- (b) a blank tape roll of blank tape normally supported on said support means `for rotation thereon,

(c) a marking tape roll of marking tape supported above sa-id blank tape roll and touching same, said marking tape having a marking and a non-marking surface on opposite sides thereof, and said nonmarking surface touching said blank tape roll as the two rolls unwinds and said blank tape roll and said marking tape roll rotating in contact with each other at the location of touching therebetween causing a friction drag,

.(d) and means for maintaining said marking tape and said blank tape in contact with each other to maintain the friction drag therebetween.

6. The device claimed in claim 5, wherein: said means for maintaining comprises separate slots on said support means, said marking tape roll of marking tape being mounted for movement in respective slots on the support means at each end thereof in contact with said blank tape, and the depletion of said marking tape roll of marking tape causes same to move downwardly in said slots still remaining in engagement with said blank tape roll.

7. The device claimed in claim 5 wherein there is a means for directing said marking tape and said blank tape simultaneously and superposed for a portion of the length thereof and means for taking up said marking tape after it is used on the apparatus.

8. The device claimed in claim 7 wherein: said means rfor taking up said marking tape includes a take-up spool mounted on said machine, and drive means for said spool driven by said apparatus.

9. The device claimed in claim 8, Wherein: said ap' 754,435 3/ 1904 Dufur. paratus has a platen thereon around which both sa-id 1,169,318 1/1916` Cooper. blank tape and said marking tape are driven, said drive 1,254,368 1/ 1918 Sherman et al. means for said take-up spool for said marking tape com- 1,298,752 4/ 1919 Manning. prising a first drive member connected to said platen, 5 2,000,100 5/ 1935 Sherman. a shaft for said take-up spool for said marking .tape roll, 2,080,986 5/1137 Pierce. and a belt drive means between said rst drive member 2,391,760 12/ 1945 Willard. and said shaft. 2,788,879 4/ 1957 Rand.

10. The device claimed in claim 8, wherein: said 2,790,638 4/1957 Wockenfuss. drive means for said spool includes a friction clutch 10 2,869,705 1/ 1959 Gates. which slips when the preset amount of frictional Iforce 3,205,997 9/1965 Przybylowicz. -is overcome.

References Cited ERNEST T. WRIGHT, JR., Primary Examiner' UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 Us. CL XR' 489,920 1/1893 Bieg et al. 197-126, 133

734,660 7/ 1903 Bellamy.