US3507431A - Pin feed tractor mechanism - Google Patents

Pin feed tractor mechanism Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3507431A
US3507431A US726396A US3507431DA US3507431A US 3507431 A US3507431 A US 3507431A US 726396 A US726396 A US 726396A US 3507431D A US3507431D A US 3507431DA US 3507431 A US3507431 A US 3507431A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
belt
links
paper
sprocket
link
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
US726396A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Harold E Hepp
Roger W Biser
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.)
NCR Voyix Corp
National Cash Register Co
Original Assignee
NCR Corp
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 NCR Corp filed Critical NCR Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3507431A publication Critical patent/US3507431A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H20/00—Advancing webs
    • B65H20/20—Advancing webs by web-penetrating means, e.g. pins
    • 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
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/26—Pin feeds
    • B41J11/30—Pin traction elements other than wheels, e.g. pins on endless bands
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/49826—Assembling or joining

Definitions

  • An endless drive means for advancing paper or other record material through a printing station including a toothed flexible belt trained on sprockets and carrying spaced links and pins for engaging the paper, the links being positioned to embed alternate teeth of the belt.
  • the drive means has guide elements disposed on either side of the belt to maintain the pin-carrying links in a straight path between the sprockets for optimum driving relationship with the paper.
  • the chain and sprocket type feed mechanism are subject to wearing of the individual links and connector pins, which changes the center-to-center distance between the pins driving the paper, with .resultant deformation of the apertures in the paper and loss of exact control of the paper traveling through the machine. While many of these mechanisms have been satisfactory, improved devices and materials are desired as the speed of the machines is increased to fulfill the demand for higher volume output.
  • the present invention relates to tractor or like drive mechanism for advancing paper or other record material through a printing station.
  • the paper is perforated at spaced intervals along each side, and the drive mechanism on each side of the paper includes pins which enter the perforations and carry the paper into position for the recording of data thereon.
  • the present invention will be described as adaptable for feeding paper through a high'speed printer, the principles used in the design of the device, especially the construction of the belt employed, could be applied to other feedtype mechanisms.
  • the invention is utilized with a tractor ice mechanism having drive means in the form of a splined shaft, and a second or idler shaft for carrying and supporting the mechanism in proper position.
  • the splined shaft carries a drive sprocket, and the second shaft carries an idler sprocket.
  • a timing belt is trained over the sprockets, the belt being of the flexible type and including links laterally positioned therefrom, the links carrying paper-engaging pins for moving the paper along in its travel through the machine.
  • the drive mechanisms there are at least two of the drive mechanisms, one on each side of the paper for the purpose of insuring exact control over the paper as it travels through the printing station.
  • Each mechanism is alike except that one is for right hand and the other is for left hand, so that only one will be herein shown and described.
  • the timing belt is of the endless type and includes drive lugs or teeth around the interior periphery thereof, the drive means being so constructed that every other tooth of the belt is embedded in a recessed portion of a link which carries the pin.
  • the belt meshes with the drive and idler sprockets, which are formed with grooves to fit alternate exposed belt teeth and also adjacent links of the embedded teeth.
  • the pin-carrying links so positioned at every other tooth, are secured to the belt by capturing the belt between each link and a suitable plate affixed thereto.
  • a guide plate is secured to the body of the mechanism in a position adjacent the links to maintain the paper at the proper level therewith.
  • a bracket is also provided on the mechanism body and is so positioned that the links ride along and are contained by the bracket when in the paper-engaging position maintaining the links in a straight condition and thus preventing uneven or wavy travel when engaging the paper, as well as providing a means to suppress the tendency of the belt to continue in a curved path after leaving a sprocket.
  • the mechanismbody also includes a raised belt guide ortion along which the links slide in their paper-engaging position.
  • the support shaft does not change location when adjusting the belt tension.
  • a portion of the bushing eccentric to the centerline of the bore supports the idler sprocket and its hearing, so that angular rotation of the bushing changes the center-to-center distance between the driving sprocket and the idler sprocket.
  • the principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved tractor mechanism for advancing paper or other record material through a printing station at the higher speeds.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a linkcarrying toothed belt cooperating with a sprocket drive wherein the sprocket engages alternate teeth on the belt and also engages adjacent links for driving the belt.
  • An additional object of the invention is to provide a timing belt for maintaining proper drive and tension on the paper being handled.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide an endless belt having pin-carrying record material drive links attached thereto and constructed to prevent twisting of the links during the belt travel.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of an improved pin feed tractor mechanism according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention for moving sheets of record material;
  • FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the improved tractor mechanism taken on line 22 of FIG. 1, with parts being broken away;
  • FIG. 3 is an end view of the tractor mechanism
  • FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the pin-carrying links employed in the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a view in section taken on line 66 of FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 1 there is shown a top or plan view of a pin feed type tractor mechanism which incorporates the structure of the present invention, the particular tractor shown being of a left hand unit and it being understood that a right hand unit is spaced the width of the paper from the left hand unit.
  • tractor mechanisms are useful for advancing or feeding continuous paper or other record material into or through a station or machine, a plurality of such mechanisms are typically provided to control movement of the paper.
  • the mechanisms are essential to control paper tension and alignment to properly position said paper at the time an operation, such as printing or the like, is performed with respect thereto.
  • tractor mechanisms spaced on the printer for controlling the movement of the continuous form paper through the printing station.
  • the tractor mechanisms are alike, except that there are left hand and right hand units to insure the precise control of the paper, which is a requirement in the field of higher speed printers. As the printing speed of these machines is increased, the demand for this precise control of the paper in the printing operation has justified the development of the present invention.
  • the tractor mechanism generally designated as 10 in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, includes a frame or body 11 of irregushape having spaced bores therethrough, one bore 12 being for a drive shaft and its associated parts and the other bore 13 being for a support shaft.
  • the bore 12 carries a fixed bearing 14, in which is journaled a hub 15, and the bore 13 carries a fixed bearing 16 and an eccentric bushing 17.
  • a drive shaft 18 of the splined type is fitted through the hub 15, such shaft being connected to a suitable drive means (not shown), and a support shaft 19 runs through the bushing 17the entire mechanism being suitably carried for slidable movement along the several shafts 18 and 19.
  • a pulley 20 is placed on the shaft 18 adjacent the body 11, and internal grooves 20a thereof, in conjunction with associated cap screws 21 received therethrough, provide means for adjustably securing the pulley to the outer face of the hub 15, which is constructed to carry the shaft 18 for driving the pulley 20 in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 2).
  • suitable spacers, collars, retaining rings, and the like are used to align and make secure the various parts of the mechanism, so that the body 11 and the pulleys 20 and 22 move as a unit along the shafts 18 and 19.
  • the pulleys 20 and 22 may also be aptly named sprockets, in that each has grooves or recesses in its outer periphery, there being first or deep recesses 23 and second or shallow recesses 24.
  • first recesses 23 are formed, circular depressions
  • second recesses 24 are sloped-wall or near gear-tooth-shaped deressions, it being noted that such recesses alternate b tween the deep 23 and shallow 24 types.
  • every other recess is circular, and the recess between the circular ones is generally sloped-wall-shaped for purposes to be described.
  • Each sprocket is made of a synthetic material to combine the qualities of strength and light weight in the drive mechanism.
  • An endless belt 32 is placed or trained over the sprockets 20 and 22, such belt being made of a flexible material such as rubber and being formed with equally spaced lugs or teeth 33 on one side thereof, in the present embodiment on the interior periphery, for engaging and meshing with recesses in the sprockets.
  • the lugs or teeth 33 are identical and assume a shape cooperative with the shallow or sloped-wall-shaped recesses 24 in the sprockets 20 and 22.
  • Secured to the belt 32 are a plurality of links, generally designated as 34, each comprising, as best seen in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, upstanding side portions 35 and 36, a central connecting portion 37, and an extending arm portion 38 carrying an upstanding pin 39.
  • Each link it also made of a synthetic material compatible with the sprocket material and thus combines the qualities of strength and light weight so important for good performance in highspeed record material advancing operations.
  • the side portions 35 and 36 are generally rectangular, but each has a section removed therefrom to form an upper cutout 40 to be used for the purpose of attaching the link 34 to the belt. As per FIG. 5, the several cutouts 41) leave four upstanding projections 41, all for the purpose to be described later in relation to the traveling of the belt between the sprockets.
  • each link 34 is molded or otherwise formed with a semicircular lower surface 42 and has a generally slopedwall-shaped groove or recess 43 in the upper side opposite the circular surface.
  • the recess 43 receives therein a lug or tooth 33 of the belt 32 and that the rounded portion 42 seats in the deep, circular recess in each of the sprockets 20 and 22, as seen in FIG. 2.
  • Adjacent the link recess 43 are top portions 44 and 45, which are slightly curved to correspond to the radius of the belt 32 as it travels around the sprockets.
  • the links are secured to alternate teeth 33 of the belt 32, and, since they mate with and seat in the circular depressions on the driving sprockets 20, they serve as an aid to the remaining such teeth 33 in driving the belt.
  • This provides a closer and more exacting fit betweenthe belt and the sprocket, so as to avoid lost motion and back-lash in the mechanism when performing in a high-speed stop-and-go operation.
  • the cutout 40 is made available in the formation of the link 34 for attaching the link to the belt 32.
  • Each of the side portions 35 and 36 includes a small upstanding pin 48 as an integral part of the portion and centrally located in its respective cutout 40.
  • the links 34 are placed on the belt 32 in such a manner that the central portion of adjacent links seats or embeds every other lug or tooth on the belt.
  • the plate 49 is pressed within the link cutouts 40 and over the outer peripheral surface of the belt 32, the pins 48 protruding the apertures 50.
  • the pins 48 are then peened, or upset, as seen in FIG. 4, to firmly secure the links to the belt, thus completing the belt assembly.
  • Both the embedment of the belt tooth 33 in the link recess 43 and the capturing of the belt by the plate 49 insure that the link will not tend to twist in a longitudinal direction with the belt.
  • FIG. 6 is shown a sectional view through one portion of the tractor body 11, also through the belt 32, and.
  • the body 11 includes, as an integral part thereof, an upper rail portion '60, along which the links 34 ride when traveling between the sprockets.
  • Such rail 60 is formed so as to provide a track for the link side portions 35 and 36 to ride along when the links move across the top of the tractor body 11, the side portions 35 and 36 engaging the sides of the rail.
  • This rail maintains all the links 34 in both a fixed parallel and side-by-side aligned relationship when moving along the upper surface of the tractor body 11.
  • the rail portion 60 shown dotted in FIG.
  • bracket 62 secured by one leg to the side of the mechanism, as with screws 64, and having its other leg so positioned as to maintain the links 34 in a straight or planar position throughout the period when the pins thereof are engaged with the paper.
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 show such bracket 62, it being noted in FIG. 3 that space is provided between the bracket and the top of the link projections 41 sufficient only for the links to slide therealong.
  • the bracket 62 also includes sloping or beveled end portions 65 and 66 (FIG.
  • a paper guide 68 secured to the top surface of the body 11 (FIG. 1), is so positioned that the paper 70 or other record material employed (FIG. 3) is thereby maintained in the proper elevation with respect to each of the pincarrying links.
  • a cover plate 72 shown in phantom in FIG. 1, is placed in the usual manner over the paper 70 to maintain it in position on the link pins 39 throughout the time of its engagement therewith.
  • the support shaft 19 is carried by the eccentric bushing 17 provided in the tractor body 11. With this, belt tension can be maintained by turning the bushing, which supports the shaft, and which thus maintains proper tension on the paper being advanced through the machine.
  • the use of such an eccentric element for carrying the shaft 19 eliminates the need for a separate support shaft, which, of course, is an advantage by reducing the mass to be driven in high-speed operations.
  • Angular rotation of the bushing 17 can be performed by use of a spanner-type tool in a notch 71 provided therein (FIGS. 1 and 3), and a set screw inserted through the body 11 to impinge on the bushing effectively maintains its desired setting after adjustment for proper belt tension.
  • the link 34 carrying belt 32 and the sprockets 20 and 22 are assembled on the driving and supporting shafts 18 and 19.
  • the sprocket 20 is turned, and the belt is driven by the standard teeth 33 thereof being engageable with the corresponding sloped-wall-shaped recesses 24 in the sprocket, and also by the circular central portion 37 of the links being engageable with the circular recesses 23 in the sprocket.
  • the belt 32 Upon this rotation of the driving shaft and the sprocket, the belt 32 is driven along the paper-engaging side of the tractor body 11, the links 34 being maintained parallel and also in a straight line, so that there is no wavy motion upon engagement of the pins 39 thereof with the apertures in the paper 70.
  • the pitch of the belt 32 is so selected that the spacing of the links 34, when attached thereto, will be equal to the spacing between adjacent apertures in the margin of the paper being advanced.
  • rail 60 and the bracket 62 provide guide means permitting the belt to be driven at high speeds, with the link pins in proper position to move the continuous form paper through the printing station.
  • a pin feed device for controlling the movement of record material having spaced apertures therein; including an endless belt having a plurality of teeth on one side thereof, links extending from said belt, each of said links having:
  • each of said links includes a central portion having a recess therein for mating with one of the teeth on said belt.
  • each of said links includes a plate member for maintaining the belt tooth in the central portion recess.
  • each of said links defining a pin engageable with one of said record material marginal apertures
  • each of said sprockets has recesses on the periphery thereof and every other recess engages with an adjacent link on the belt.
  • each of said sprockets has recesses on the periphery thereof and every other recess engages with alternate teeth on the belt.
  • a tractor feed mechanism for advancing edge perforated record material through a printing station including:
  • each of said links extending from said element and having a pin secured at one end thereof for engaging with a perforation of the record material, and each of said links including a central portion having a recess therein seating over a tooth of said element for maintaining the links in parallel alignment, and
  • a mechanism in accordance with claim 7 including a guide bracket on the body portion adjacent the belt element, the belt element being slidable along the bracket and contained thereby for moving the links along a straight path in their record-material-engaging travel.
  • said links include projections extending outwardly from the belt element and slidable along the bracket to be contained thereby for maintaining a straight path of travel upon leaving the sprocket and engaging the record material.
  • bracket includes a sloping portion at one end thereof for guiding the links into a straight path of travel when engaging with the record material.
  • a method of making an endless drive means having a belt with a plurality of teeth on one side thereof comprising the steps of forming a plurality of links each having a recessed central portion and an arm portion having a pin thereon,
  • a method of making a drive means in accordance with claim 12 including the additional step of:
  • a method of making a drive means in accordance with claim 13 including the additional steps of:
  • a pin feed tractor mechanism of the type having means for advancing perforated record material through a printing station, said means including a drive shaft and an idler shaft, a body portion carried by said shafts, the idler shaft constituting a supporting shaft and spaced from the drive shaft, a drive sprocket and an idler sprocket on their respective shafts, said sprockets having a plurality of first and second recesses around the periphery thereof, an endless timing belt on said sprockets, said belt having:
  • eccentric means for moving the idler sprocket in relation to the drive sprocket to maintain tension On the linkcarrying timing belt.
  • said body portion includes a rail for slidably carrying said links

Landscapes

  • Handling Of Sheets (AREA)
  • Delivering By Means Of Belts And Rollers (AREA)
  • Advancing Webs (AREA)
  • Recording Measured Values (AREA)
US726396A 1968-05-03 1968-05-03 Pin feed tractor mechanism Expired - Lifetime US3507431A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US72639668A 1968-05-03 1968-05-03

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3507431A true US3507431A (en) 1970-04-21

Family

ID=24918439

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US726396A Expired - Lifetime US3507431A (en) 1968-05-03 1968-05-03 Pin feed tractor mechanism

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3507431A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS499646B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE6917830U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR1595482A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1216178A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4079633A (en) * 1976-08-30 1978-03-21 Airborne Mfg. Co. Tractor belt
US4214691A (en) * 1978-12-15 1980-07-29 Centronics Data Computer Corp. Pin-feed assembly
US4314696A (en) * 1979-11-15 1982-02-09 Diebold, Incorporated Paper currency transport construction
US4316567A (en) * 1980-04-21 1982-02-23 Teletype Corporation Tractor for engaging and advancing a web of paper
WO1984001038A1 (en) * 1982-09-08 1984-03-15 Ncr Co Pin feed mechanism for transporting continuous stationery
US4453660A (en) * 1980-10-23 1984-06-12 International Business Machines Corporation Forms feed tractor
US4773579A (en) * 1986-04-08 1988-09-27 Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Web feed tractor
US5139190A (en) * 1991-04-22 1992-08-18 Precision Handling Devices Inc. Document feed tractor with height adjustable web support surface
CN109641712A (zh) * 2016-10-20 2019-04-16 日高精机株式会社 用于输送换热器用翅片成形体的装置

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3930601A (en) * 1974-11-22 1976-01-06 Centronics Data Computer Corporation Sheet material pin feed tractor mechanism

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2171003A (en) * 1936-08-17 1939-08-29 Gilman Fanfold Corp Strip feeding and aligning mechanism
US3113823A (en) * 1960-05-17 1963-12-10 Beckman Instruments Inc Drive for recorder chart paper

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3006520A (en) * 1959-09-21 1961-10-31 Anelex Corp Paper feed for high speed printers
FR1436624A (fr) * 1965-02-15 1966-04-29 Bull General Electric Perfectionnements aux mécanismes d'entraînement du papier dans les machines imprimantes ou autres machines enregistreuses

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2171003A (en) * 1936-08-17 1939-08-29 Gilman Fanfold Corp Strip feeding and aligning mechanism
US3113823A (en) * 1960-05-17 1963-12-10 Beckman Instruments Inc Drive for recorder chart paper

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4079633A (en) * 1976-08-30 1978-03-21 Airborne Mfg. Co. Tractor belt
US4214691A (en) * 1978-12-15 1980-07-29 Centronics Data Computer Corp. Pin-feed assembly
US4314696A (en) * 1979-11-15 1982-02-09 Diebold, Incorporated Paper currency transport construction
US4316567A (en) * 1980-04-21 1982-02-23 Teletype Corporation Tractor for engaging and advancing a web of paper
US4453660A (en) * 1980-10-23 1984-06-12 International Business Machines Corporation Forms feed tractor
WO1984001038A1 (en) * 1982-09-08 1984-03-15 Ncr Co Pin feed mechanism for transporting continuous stationery
US4773579A (en) * 1986-04-08 1988-09-27 Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Web feed tractor
US5139190A (en) * 1991-04-22 1992-08-18 Precision Handling Devices Inc. Document feed tractor with height adjustable web support surface
CN109641712A (zh) * 2016-10-20 2019-04-16 日高精机株式会社 用于输送换热器用翅片成形体的装置
US10583990B2 (en) 2016-10-20 2020-03-10 Hidaka Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha Apparatus for conveying molded body for heat exchanger fins
CN109641712B (zh) * 2016-10-20 2020-12-15 日高精机株式会社 用于输送换热器用翅片成形体的装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS499646B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-03-06
FR1595482A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-06-08
DE6917830U (de) 1969-10-16
GB1216178A (en) 1970-12-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3507431A (en) Pin feed tractor mechanism
US2633354A (en) Sprocket type paper feed device
JPH0327798Y2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
US3972460A (en) Paper transport mechanism
US4652160A (en) Transporting device for marginal punched webs
US2910936A (en) Printer mechanism
GB2104491A (en) Data carrier feed devices with web tensioning means
EP0404850A1 (en) PRINTER TAPE DRIVE MECHANISM.
US3147900A (en) Paper-feed mechanism for printing machines, having improved means for tensioning and positioning paper
US3772988A (en) Print carrier and transportable cartridge for same
US2482108A (en) Paper feed for writing machines
US4531849A (en) Ribbon feed mechanism
US4248146A (en) Impact printing apparatus having pivotable frame structures
US3073497A (en) Web feed means
US3746228A (en) Tractor feeding device for marginally perforated webs
US3317102A (en) Tractor assemblies for perforated forms
US3739970A (en) Transport head on collating machines for endless forms
EP0106630B1 (en) Drive mechanisms for inked ribbon cassettes
US3732810A (en) Character aligning restraints for high speed printers
US3633501A (en) Print slug mounting means in type chain assembly
JPH0515640Y2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
US3570736A (en) Paper tension and registration apparatus
JPH0734687Y2 (ja) プリンタ装置のキャリッジ駆動機構
US4952087A (en) Printer for use with continuous form
US4874121A (en) Web feed tractor belt assembly