US3540373A - Reciprocable platen in selective print wheel printing machine - Google Patents

Reciprocable platen in selective print wheel printing machine Download PDF

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Publication number
US3540373A
US3540373A US655115A US3540373DA US3540373A US 3540373 A US3540373 A US 3540373A US 655115 A US655115 A US 655115A US 3540373D A US3540373D A US 3540373DA US 3540373 A US3540373 A US 3540373A
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United States
Prior art keywords
print
printing
shaft
print roller
roller
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Expired - Lifetime
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US655115A
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English (en)
Inventor
Paul Dubs
Robert Hoffman
Fritz Keiser
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SCM Corp
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SCM Corp
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Publication date
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K15/00—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers
    • G06K15/02—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers
    • G06K15/06—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers by type-wheel printers

Definitions

  • the print roller is rotatable about an axis parallel to a first shaft on which is rotatably mounted a set of print wheels having print facets thereon.
  • the roller is pivotally mounted on a second shaft which is also positioned parallel to and spaced apart from the first shaft at a distance sufficient for the print roller to exert a rolling pressure on a record material disposed between the print wheels and the reciprocating print roller.
  • a cyclically rotating cam drive is used for pivotally reciprocating the print roller during each printing operation to move it from a first position above those print facets which are in a printing position, to a second position which is defined by a plane that includes the axis of the print roller and the axis of rotation of the first shaft and intercepts the lower surface of the print facets in the printing position, and to return it to the first positron.
  • This invention relates to printing apparatus and, more p'articularly, to a printing mechanism of the type which is suitable for use in combination with business machines such as calculators, data processing machines, accounting machines, readout devices, and the like.
  • the printing mechanism includes a set of printing elements rotatably mounted on a first shaft, each printing element having a plurality of print facets and each facet being selectively rotatable to a printing position for each printing operation.
  • a record material is disposed in printing relationship with the printing elements.
  • Adjacent to the printing elements is a print roller which is pivotally reciprocable about an axis parallel to the first shaft, for the printing elements. and spaced apart therefrom at a distance sufficient for the roller to apply a rolling pressure during each reciprocating movement on selected areas of the record material against those facets in the printing position.
  • a power means provides a two-stroke reciprocating movement to the print roller for each printing operation.
  • the print roller is limited to reciprocation between a first and a second position.
  • the first position is above the print facets in the printing position and the second position is such that a plane including the axis of the print roller and the axis of rotation of the first shaft substantially intercepts the lower surface of the print facets in the printing position.
  • the print roller reciprocates'from the first to the second position and then returns to the first position.
  • FIG. I is a partially perspective view of the ribbon advance mechanism.
  • FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the drive mechanism for the printing unit.
  • FIG. 3 is a partial perspective of the aligning mechanism for the printing unit.
  • FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view, in perspective, of the paper feed mechanism.
  • FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view, illustrating part of the paper feed mechanism shown in FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 6 is a partial side elevation of the drive mechanism for the paper feed.
  • the printing mechanism of this invention includes a set ofprint wheels rotatable about a first shaft, a record material, a print roller and power means.
  • the record material preferably is in the form of an inked ribbon disposed in association with a sheet material such as paper.
  • the print roller is rotatable about an axis and pivotally mounted on a second shaft, both parallel to the axis of rotation of the print wheels. The distance between the axes of the second shaft and the print roller. plus the radius of the print roller, is slightly greater than the distance between the axis ofthe second shaft'and the print facets. by an amount sufficient to provide rolling pressure on the paper and ribbon against the print facets.
  • the power means is used to impart a reciprocating movement to the print roller, providing a rolling pressure on the paper and ribbon aligned with the print facets in the printing position.
  • a set of print wheels 50] mounted on and rotatable about a shaft 502 are disposed between the two standing portions of an endless ribbon 505 carried by two rotatable spools 506 and 507.
  • the spool 506 rotates about a shaft 508 which is fastened to a frame 503, and spool 507 is fastened to a drive shaft 509 which is mounted in a bracket 510 attached to the frame 503 and which carries a ribbon drive gear 511 at its lower end.
  • a web of paper 512 extending from a paper roll 513 (FIG.
  • a print roller 514 which is formed of a slightly resilient material. In printing, the print roller swings through an arc substantially in the vertical plane to press the paper and the adjacent standing portion of the ribbon 505 against a line of selected print facets of the print wheels 50!.
  • the ribbon spool 506 has a rim upon which the ribbon rides, in the form of an ink supply pad 515 which transfers ink to the endless ribbon 505.
  • the ink supply pad SIS is made of a material (0.8. woven wool felt) which is designed to maintain a supply of ink furnished thereto in suspension and to transfer ink to the ribbon 505 being pressed thereagainst.
  • the ribbon is made of a material (e.g. woven nylon) such that the ink picked up from the ink supply pad 515 is distributed throughout the ribbon by capillary action during the time between its inking and its application in printing.
  • a roller 516 mounted on an arm 517 presses the ribbon against the ink'supply pad 515 to assure adequate and even distribution of the ink on the ribbon 505.
  • the arm 517 is spring loaded against the ink pad 515 by a spring 518 anchored on the frame.
  • the spool 507 includes a rim 507a formed of a somewhat absorbent material (e.g. woven wool felt) designed to blot any excess ink out ofthe ribbon 505 as it passes around rim 507a and also to aid in evenly distributing the ink in the ribbon.
  • a somewhat absorbent material e.g. woven wool felt
  • the drive gear 511 on the ribbon shaft 509 meshes with a worm 519 provided on a shaft 4I4 which is driven by a star wheel 385 fixed to shaft 414.
  • Star wheel 385 is driven by drive pins 386 operatively connected to a drive shaft 387.
  • the drive shaft 387 is operatively associated with a conventional cyclically eon-trolled clutch mechanism (not shown).
  • the above described drive mechanism is detailed to advance the ribbon in the direction of the arrow A, preferably by an amount slightly greater than one character in width, once during each cycle of printing operation.
  • the drive mechanism is explained in detail in the concurrently filed application Ser. No. 655,131 referred to above.
  • the print wheel aligner bar 520 comprises a horizontal blade 521 with a V-shaped forward edge pivotable in the vertical plane on two arms which are mounted in the frame of the printer by means of pins 522.
  • the blade 521 is disposed such that it can move in and out of the V-shaped notches 523 disposed circumferentially about all of the print wheels 50l between adjacent print facets 501a.
  • the print wheels are set up by the rotation of a bank of entry gears 376 each of which meshes with a corresponding gear 504 mounted to drive a print wheel.
  • the entry gears 376 may be driven by any suitable means from the associated business machine, as described in greater detail in the copending application for U.S. Pat. of Robert C. Hoffman and Fritz Keiser, mentioned above.
  • the aligner bar 520 is moved upwardly so that the blade 521 moves all the way into the V-shaped slots 523. thereby aligning the print facets 501a of all of the print wheels 501.
  • the aligner bar is moved out of engagement with the print wheels so that the latter are again free to rotate.
  • Movement of the aligner bar 520 and the print roller 514 is governed by a pair of complementary drive cams 524 and 525 mounted on a shaft 344.
  • the complementary cams 524 and 525 act upon respective cam followers 526 and 527 carried by a double-armed rocker member 528 pivoted about a shaft 529 fixed to the frame.
  • the print roller 514 is preferably pivotally mounted on a bracket (not shown) which may include two rigidly aligned arms carrying a shaft 533 on which the print roller 514 is mounted.
  • the bracket is pivotally mounted on a shaft 534 between two frame members such that the distance d from the center of pivot shaft 534 to the outer circumference of print roller 514 is slightly greater than the distance d from the former to the print facets 501a, to provide adequate pressure between the print roller and the print facets for a good impres-
  • the print roller 514 is normally maintained in a first position above the print wheels 501.
  • the print roller 514 When printing occurs, the print roller 514 is swept downward across the type facets of the print wheels 50] so that it rolls across the type facets to a second position, leaving a clear and well delineated image. Printing occurs during the last portion of the downward travel of the print roller S14 and the beginning of its upward return movement. it is important that the print roller not travel so far downward as to disengage from the print facets before its upward return stroke; this prevents slippage between the paper and the print facets, assuring a clear image on the paper.
  • the print roller 514 is actuated by an actuating member 535 connected between the print roller shaft 533 and the doublearmed member 528 and is free to pivot with respect to both of them.
  • both of the complementary cams 524 and 525 are at all times in contact with the respective cam followers 526 and 527.
  • the cams 524 and 525 are of constant radius with respect to their followers so that the arm 528 is stationary and the print roller 514 remains in its first position.
  • cam S24 increases in radius. forcing the arm 528 and consequently the print roller 514 downward.
  • cam 525 decreases in radius (with respect to the cam follower 527) at a rate corresponding to the increase in radius of the cam 524 (with respect to the cam follower 526), so that the cams always remain in contact with their respective followers.
  • the cam 525 begins to increase in radius with respect to the cam follower 527 while the cam 524 begins to decrease correspondingly in radius with respect to the cam follower 526 thereby forcing the arm 528 upward and returning the print roller 514 to its home position. Positive action is thus provided both for the downward and upward movements ofthe print roller 514.
  • the former is controlled by a rocker arm 536.
  • the rocker arm 536 is pivoted about a pin 537 mounted on the frame of the printer.
  • the actuating member 535 includes a ledge 538 extending rearwardly at approximately the same level as the pin 537 so that a pin 539 extending from the rocker arm 536 is in a position to rest on the ledge 538.
  • a spring 540 under tension is mounted between pin 539 and the lower portion of member 535 so as to urge the pin 539 downwardly against ledge 538.
  • the forward end of the rocker arm 536 is formed as a fork 541 which cooperates with a pin 542 extending from the aligner bar 520. (FIG. 3).
  • the print wheel and aligner bar drive mechanisms cooperate in the following manner.
  • the print roller begins in its uppermost, or first, position at which time the pin 539 rests on ledge 538, the rocker arm 536 thereby being pivoted counterclockwise (as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3) to hold the aligner blade 52! out of engagement with the V-shaped slots 523 in the print wheels.
  • arm 528 moves downward, it drives the print roller 514 downward and at the same time lowers the ledge 538, permitting the spring 540 to pivot the rocker arm 536 clockwise about the pin 537, thereby driving the blade 52] into engagement with the print wheels.
  • PAPER FEED The path of the paper 512 which is interposed between the type facets 501a and the ribbon 505 (in front of the paper) and the roller 514 (behind it), can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 4.
  • the paper 511 is preferably positioned so that a number printed can be viewed above the print wheels 501 after each printing operation.
  • the printing position (that is, the position ofa portion of the paper 512 when it is contacted by the print wheels) is, however, normally more than one index (paper advance) space below such a viewing position and in the device described in the above-referenced copending application the printing position is two index spaces below the level of such a viewing position. Therefore. after each printout operation. the paper must be indexed upward two spaces so that the number just printed will appear at the viewing position. In order that successive numbers on the paper will be only one vertical (index) space apart, it is therefore necessary to index the paper downward one space before each printout operation, after which it is moved up two spaces.
  • a paper feed control shaft 543 is mounted between two frame members of the device.
  • the paper roll 513 may rest in any cavity or space provided for it, from which the paper 512 passes forward below the feed control shaft 543. then passing the viewing position and upward out of the printer.
  • a pair of arms 545 and 546 are fastened to the shaft 543 on opposite sides of the paper 512 and extend downwardly to carry a further shaft 547 substantially parallel with the feed control shaft 543.
  • the arms 545 and 546 are fastened to and rotate with the shaft 543 but the shaft 547 is rotatable independently of them by a gear 548 in mesh with a larger gear 549 rotatably mounted on the shaft 543 and which extends through an opening 120 in the cover of the printer.
  • the shaft 547 carries a friction roller550 which cooperates with friction rollers 551 carried by a shaft 552 which rides freely up and down in a pair of slots 553, 554, extending vertically in the arms 545 and 546.
  • the shaft 552 is forced downwardly by a pair of loop springs 555 which are fastened to the feed control shaft 543 so that the friction rollers 550 and 551 are urged together.
  • a ratchet wheel 556 is mounted on the shaft 547 outwardly of gear 548 and cooperates with a flexible ratchet member 557 which is mounted on the frame.
  • a detent gear 558 is mounted on shaft 547.
  • a detent arm 559 is rotatably mounted on the feed control shaft 543 to cooperate with detent gear 558, in the manner shown, and is spring biased toward gear 558 by means of a spring 560 held under tension between the detent arm 559 and shaft 547.
  • a crank 561 having a pin 562 extending horizontally from its lower portion is fixed to the feed control shaft 543.
  • the pin 562 rides in a lost motion slot 563 in a feed control arm 564 which reciprocates to drive the paper feed mechanism in the following manner.
  • the feed control arm 564 is in its forward position (toward the front of the printer). Before printout occurs, the arm 564 moves toward the rear of the printer, rotating the feed control shaft 543 counterclockwise (in FIG. 4) and thereby indexing the paper 512 downward one space so that it is properly aligned for printing. During this step, the arms 545 and 546 rotate the entire paper feed mechanism about the feed control shaft 543.
  • the ratchet wheel 556 has depressed the ratchet member 557 and has engaged it at approximately the rearmost point in its swing, as shown in FIG. 5.
  • the shaft 547 is prevented from rotating during this portion of the feed mechanism cycle with respect to the arms 54S and 546 by the locking action of the detent gear and arm 558 and 559.
  • the feed control arm 564 again moves toward the front of the device, rotating the feed control shaft 543 clockwise. This movement alone would index the paper 512 upward one space, returning it to its previous position.
  • the ratchet wheel 556 has engaged the ratchet member 557 so that clockwise movement of the shaft 547 about the feed control shaft 543 causes a further rotation of the shaft 547 with respect to arms 545 and 546. This turns the friction roller 550 to advance the paper 512 one additional index space for a total of two upward index spaces on the return stroke of the feed control arm 564.
  • Rotation of the shaft 547 with respect to the arms 545 and 546 is permitted on the return, or forward, stroke of the feed mechanism because the torque applied to it by the ratchet member 557 through the ratchet wheel 556 overcomes the resistance supplied by the detent arm and gear 559, 558.
  • the feed control arm 564 is operated by an eccentric mount 565 provided on the shaft 344.
  • a spring 566 biases the arm 564 toward the rear of the device so that the lost motion slot 563 provides a dwell period during which the arms 545 and 546 remain in their rearmost position.
  • the arm 564 Upon further rotation of the shaft 344, the arm 564 returns to its initial forward position, completing the printout operation.
  • a print roller rotatable about a second axis parallel to said first axis and including means mounting said print roller on said printing mechanism for reciprocal movement from a nonprinting position to a printing position and back to'a nonprinting position for each printing operation, and wherein the radius of the print roller and the location of the print roller axis when in a printing position is detailed such that the radius of the print roller is slightly greater than the distance between said print roller axis and the surface of said print facets located at said printing line, in an amount sufficient to provide a rolling pressure on said record material against said print facets; and
  • control means mounted on said printing mechanisms and operatively associated with said print roller for controlling said-reciprocal movement of said print roller, said control means being detailed to effect a limit of movement of said print roller into said print position such that a printing operation is effected during the last portion of travel of said print roller toward said limit and during the first portion of travel of said print roller away from said limit without said print roller being disengaged from said print facets and wherein said reciprocal movement of said print roller is controlled by said control means such that a plane, extending through said print roller axis at any two positions of movement of said print roller through said portions of travel, is located outside the circumference of said printing elements.
  • a printer according to claim I wherein the movement of said print roller to said limit position is detailed such that a plane including the axis of the print roller and the rotating axis of said print elements intercepts a lower surface of the print .facets when said print roller is in said limit position.
  • a printer according to claim 2 wherein the record material is an inked ribbon in association with a sheet material disposed in a printing position between the printing elements and the print roller.
  • a printer wherein the print facetsat their printing positions are aligned and firmly held therein by a longitudinal element yieldingly engaging said printing elements, said longitudinal element is connected to said power means for providing a reciprocating movement to the print roller by a spring bias linkage for cooperatively reciprocating according to the reciprocating movement of said print roller between the first position where said longitudinal element yieldingly engages the printing elements while the print roller imparts the rolling pressure on the record material against the print facets and a second position away from said printing elements, while the print roller is away from the print facets.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Common Mechanisms (AREA)
  • Character Spaces And Line Spaces In Printers (AREA)
  • Treating Waste Gases (AREA)
  • Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)
  • Transmission Devices (AREA)
  • Impression-Transfer Materials And Handling Thereof (AREA)
  • Handling Of Sheets (AREA)
  • Calculators And Similar Devices (AREA)
US655115A 1967-07-21 1967-07-21 Reciprocable platen in selective print wheel printing machine Expired - Lifetime US3540373A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US65511567A 1967-07-21 1967-07-21
US65513167A 1967-07-21 1967-07-21

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US3540373A true US3540373A (en) 1970-11-17

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US655115A Expired - Lifetime US3540373A (en) 1967-07-21 1967-07-21 Reciprocable platen in selective print wheel printing machine
US655131A Expired - Lifetime US3582938A (en) 1967-07-21 1967-07-21 Electromechanical data processing terminal

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US655131A Expired - Lifetime US3582938A (en) 1967-07-21 1967-07-21 Electromechanical data processing terminal

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US (2) US3540373A (xx)
AT (2) AT289426B (xx)
BE (1) BE718331A (xx)
CH (1) CH515556A (xx)
DE (1) DE1774576A1 (xx)
ES (2) ES372590A1 (xx)
FR (1) FR1582570A (xx)
GB (4) GB1248250A (xx)
IE (1) IE32259B1 (xx)
NL (1) NL6810162A (xx)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2224951A1 (de) * 1971-07-01 1973-01-18 Ibm Druckwerk mit beweglicher schreibwalze
US4092920A (en) * 1974-11-11 1978-06-06 Litton Business Systems, Inc. Document imprinter
US4403546A (en) * 1980-10-20 1983-09-13 General Signal Corporation Printing mechanism

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2488187A1 (fr) * 1980-08-08 1982-02-12 Shinshu Seiki Kk Imprimante de petite taille

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3022939A (en) * 1962-02-27 Flagge
US3200927A (en) * 1960-11-18 1965-08-17 Royal Mcbee Corp Positioning mechanism

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2224951A1 (de) * 1971-07-01 1973-01-18 Ibm Druckwerk mit beweglicher schreibwalze
US4092920A (en) * 1974-11-11 1978-06-06 Litton Business Systems, Inc. Document imprinter
US4403546A (en) * 1980-10-20 1983-09-13 General Signal Corporation Printing mechanism

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1248249A (en) 1971-09-29
DE1774576A1 (de) 1972-04-27
ES372590A1 (es) 1971-11-01
IE32259L (en) 1969-01-21
IE32259B1 (en) 1973-05-30
GB1248248A (en) 1971-09-29
AT289426B (de) 1971-04-26
US3582938A (en) 1971-06-01
ES372592A1 (es) 1971-11-01
AT304103B (de) 1972-12-27
BE718331A (xx) 1969-01-20
GB1248250A (en) 1971-09-29
NL6810162A (xx) 1969-01-23
GB1248247A (en) 1971-09-29
CH515556A (fr) 1971-11-15
FR1582570A (xx) 1969-10-03

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