US3583541A - Means for automatically reversing the direction of travel of an inking ribbon in a calculating machine or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

Mechanism for automatically reversing the direction of travel of an inking ribbon without tensioning the ribbon, said mechanism including a pair of gear driven ribbon spools, axially movable gear means operable to alternately drive said spools and a pair of sensing levers, each associated with a respective spool and responsive to the quantity of ribbon on a spool to effect movement of said gear means to effect reversal of the direction of rotation of the spools to reverse the direction of the ribbon travel upon depletion of the quantity of ribbon on a spool. Means are also provided to render one sensing lever ineffective when the other sensing lever is effective.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Makoto Okuda lllgashi, Japan Appl. No. 732,806 Filed May 27, 1968 Patented June 8,1971 Assignee Marzusen Sewing Machine Co., Ltd.

Osaka, Japan Priority Apr. 27, 1967 Japan 42-27399 MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY REVERSING TI-IE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF AN INKING RIBBON IN A CALCULATING MACHINE OR THE LIKE 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

U.S.Cl 197/161, 197/153 Int. Cl 841 33/44, B41j 35/34 Field ofSearch 197/161,

[ References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,349,483 5/1944 Willheim 197/153 Primary ExaminerRobert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-Stephen C Pellegrino Anorneys-Frank H, Marks and Nathan N. Kraus ABSTRACT: Mechanism for automatically reversing the direction of travel of an inking ribbon without tensioning the ribbon, said mechanism including a pair of gear driven ribbon spools, axially movable gear means operable to alternately drive said spools and a pair of sensing levers, each associated with a respective spool and responsive to the quantity of ribbon on a spool to effect movement of said gear means to effect reversal of the direction of rotation of the spools to reverse the direction of the ribbon travel upon depletion of the quantity of ribbon on a spool. Means are also provided to render one sensing lever ineffective when the other sensing lever is effective.

PATENTED JUN 8 Ian SHEET 1 [1F 4 INVENTOR. MaKoTo OK Ud PATENTED JUN 8 m7:

SHEET t 0F 4 INVENTOR. Na/(o to O/( da. BY haw i- K MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY REVERSING TIIE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF AN INKING RIBBON IN A CALCULATING MACHINE OR THE LIKE This invention relates to means for automatically effecting a reversal in the direction of travel of an inking ribbon in a calculating machine, typewriter or the like upon the exhaustion of a ribbon supply spool.

Heretofore, the mechanism operative to effect reversal of the direction of travel of an inking ribbon in a calculating machine or the like depended on the restraining action of the ribbon, at the end of an unwinding cycle, to effect a change in the operating position of a feed pawl in relation to a ratchet associated with a takeup spool. Such tensioning of the ribbon sometimes resulted in tearing of the end of the ribbon from the spool or injury to the ribbon itself.

In accordance with my invention, I provide an improved means including sensing levers adapted to sense the quantity of inking ribbon on each of the two spools to actuate mechanism to effect a reversal in the direction of travel of the ribbon, thereby avoiding tensioning of the ribbon at the end of an unwinding cycle. Means are also provided to deactivate one of the sensing levers so that only one spool is operative for winding up the ribbon at any one time.

In the drawing,

FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of the spool operating mechanism of a calculating machine embodying the present invention, with certain conventional parts eliminated for purposes of clarity.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the mechanism illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ribbon sensing means embodied in my invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line X-X of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a structural detail.

Referring to the drawing, the calculating machine includes a frame 1 in which is supported a shaft 2 carrying a plurality of freely rotatable type sectors 3. A platen 4 is disposed rearwardly and above said sectors 3 and is rotatably supported between arms 5 on a shaft 6 supported on said arms. The arms 5 are rockably supported on shaft 7 supported in the frame 1. The arms 5 are connected by means ofa link 8 to an actuating plate 9 fixed on main shaft10. As will be apparent, rocking of shaft 10 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, will effect rocking of the arms 5 in the direction of arrow A to engage the tape 45 wound around the platen 4 with the type elements of the type sectors 3. Platen 4 is advanced in a well known manner by a pawl 33a acting against ratchet wheel 33. A knob 34 permits manual rotation of the platen 4.

The shaft 7 is rotatably supported in the frame 1 and rotatably mounted on the respective ends of said shaft 7 are" spools 12 and 13 carryingan inking ribbon 11. These spools 12 and 13 are provided with gears 14 and I5 respectively, fixed thereto. A driving gear 47 is fixed on shaft 7.adjacent the gear 15. An arm 50 is pivotally supported on a pin 49 carried on the right hand arm 5, as viewed in FIG. 1, its pivotal axis being eccentric to the axis of shaft 7. The arm 50 is provided at its distal end with a pin 48 which is adapted to extend across the face of gear 47 and to engage in one of the spaces between the teeth thereof, as will be hereinafter explained. A torsion spring 51 engages the arm 50 and biases the same in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 5. The other end of the spring 51 engages the right-hand arm 5. A spring pawl 43 is suitably mounted on the frame 1 and engages against the gear 47'to prevent rotation of the same in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4. As the arms 5 are caused'to move in the direction indicated by the arrow A which corresponds to the direction of movement of the platen 4 into engagement with the type sectors 3, the gear 47 is caused to be rotated for a fraction of a revolution, in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4, until pin 48 is caused to be freed from engagement with the teeth of the gear 47, and upon return of the arm 5 to normal nonoperating position, the pin 48 moves correspondingly in a clockwise direction to the position illustrated in FIG. 4 to effect engagement with a tooth on the gear 47. In such movement the gear 47 is prevented from rotating in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4, by the spring pawl 43.

The shaft 18 is suitably supported in the arms 5 for axial and rotational movement and fixed on the ends of said shaft 18 are pinions 16 and 17. The pinion 16 has a relatively narrow face and is adapted to mesh with gear 14 while the pinion 17 has a substantially wider face and is adapted to mesh with the gears 15 and47. As was hereinabove noted, the shaft 18 is axially slideable. Thus, pinion 16 may be moved into or out of engagement with gear 14 and pinion 17 may be moved into and out of engagement with gear 15. However, in either condition of movement the pinion I7 is always in engagement with gear 47.

Referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen that as gear 47 is caused to be rotated by pin 48 in the course of movement of arm 5, in the direction of the arrow A, pinion 17 will be caused to be locked in relation to gear 47 so that it revolves about the axis of shaft 7 to the same degree that arm 5 has rocked about the axis of shaft 7. Assuming that the parts are in the relationship illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein pinion 16 is in meshing engagement with gear 14, when arms 5 are moved in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by arrow A, through angle 6 since pinion l7 and gear 47 are locked together against rotation, pinion 16 which is similarly locked however, effects rotation of gear 14 by reason of the movement of the arms 5. Thus, spool 12 which is secured to gear 14 will be rotated to the same degree as gear 14.

Now assuming that the pinion 16 is disengaged from the gear 14, in a manner as will be hereinafter explained, and that pinion 17 is caused to be moved into engagement with gear 15, it will also be seen that pinion 17 which is locked with gear 47 will cause gear 15 to be rotated with gear 47, as previously explained, and spool 13 which is associated with gear 15 will be correspondingly rotated. Thus, each of the spools l2 and I3 is alternately driven an incremental distance to wind up a predetermined length of inking ribbon thereon.

As the arms 5 are caused to return to their normal nonoperating position, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, moving in the direction indicated by arrow 1?, reverse movement of gear 47 is arrested by spring pawl 43. Accordingly, pinions 16 and 17 will revolve idly about the respective gears14, 47 and 15 with which they may be in meshing engagement without effecting movement of either of the gears 14 and 15. In such reverse movement, pin 48 slides over the surface of the teeth of gear 47 to return to normal starting position, as illustrated in FIG. 4 preparatory for the next feed cycle.

Axial movement of the shaft 18 to effect engagement or disengagement of pinions I6 and 17 with respective gears 14, 47 and 15 is effected by a spool changeover mechanism presently to be described. The spool changeover mechanism includes a pair of levers l9 and 20 pivotally supported as at 22 and 23, respectively, on a bracket 21 secured to arms 5, 5, rearwardly thereof. The lever 19 includes a forked portion 19a engageable in an annular groove of a collar 24 mounted on shaft 18. The lever 19 also includes a laterally extending portion 19b. The lever 20 is constructed allochirally to lever 19 and includes a forked portion 20a engageable in an annular groove of a collar 25 fixed on shaft 18. The lower portion of the lever 20 includes a laterally extending portion 20b. It will be apparent that rocking of the levers 19 and 20, as will be hereinafter described, will effect axial movement of the shaft 18 so as to effect engagement or disengagement of pinion 16 with the gear 14 and pinion 17 with gear 15.

The means for actuating levers 19 and 20 is illustrated in FIG. 3 and includes a shaft 30 journaled in brackets 35 and 36 mounted on frame 1. A pair of sensing levers 28'and 29-are independently pivotally supported on shaft 30 and said levers 28. and 29 are biased by torsion springs 31 and 32 respectively, in a counterclockwise direction, as indicated by arrow C in FIG.

2. The lever 28 includes a sensing finger 28a bent forwardly of the plane of the body of the lever 28 and also a portion 28b bent at a right angle to the plane of the body of the lever 28. The lever 28 also includes an integral depending arm 28c also bent at a right angle to the plane of the body. The lever 29 is allochirally formed and includes a sensing finger 29a, a right angle portion 29b which in this instance is additionally bent to provide an offset portion and a depending arm 290. The sensing fingers 28a and 290 by reason of the bias of levers 28 and 29 are urged into engagement with ribbon l1 wound on the respective spools 12 and 13, as seen in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the top of portion 28b of lever 28 is disposed so that under certain conditions it is adapted to engage the lower edge of lateral extension 19b of lever 19. correspondingly, the top edge of portion 29b is adapted to engage the lower edge of lateral extension 20b of lever 20. In each case when engagement between the portions 28b and 29b and the lever extension 19b and 20b respectively, is effected, as will be hereinafter described, levers 19 and 20 are caused to be rocked to effect axial movement of shaft 18 and engagement or disengagement of the respective pinions l6 and I7 and gears, 14 and 15 as the case may be.

In FIG. 2, the portion 28b is shown as being held out of engagement with extension 19b by reason of the quantity of ribbon wound on spool 12. However, as the quantity of ribbon progressively is depleted, lever 28 moves in the direction of the arrow C to the point where the forward edge of portion 28b will engage against the rearward side of extension 19b. When the main shaft is actuated to effect rocking of the arms 5 in the direction of arrow A bracket 21 together with the levers l9 and 20 will move upwardly so that the portion 28b may then clear the extension 19b and position itself immediately therebelow in the path of its return movement. As the arms 5 return to normal nonoperating position, moving in the direction indicated by the arrow B, the lower edge of portion 19b will engage the top edge of the extension 28b and effect rocking of the lever 19 in a direction indicated by arrow D (FIG. 1). Such movement of lever 19 effects axial movement of the shaft 18 to the position illustrated in FIG. 1 wherein pinion 16 is in engagement with gear 14. Similarly, portion 29b will be caused to rock lever 20 in the direction of arrow E to effect movement of the shaft 18 axially to the right, as viewed in FIG. 1, wherein the pinion 17 is in engagement with gears and 47. It will be understood that in any condition of operation, one of the levers 19 or 20 always assumes a rocked position.

A buffer element 27 mounted on shaft 18 functions to resiliently retain shaft 18 in the position in whichit has been moved, thereby preventing inadvertent disengagement of cooperating pinions 16 and 17 and gears 14 and 15.

A locking lever 40 is pivoted as at 26 to the base of frame 1 rearwardly of the levers 28 and 29. The ends 40a and 40b of lever 40 extend across the depending arms 28c and 29c, respectively, so that under certain conditions 14 operation, as will be hereinafter explained, the arms 28c and 290 will be caused to engage with the ends 40a and 40b, respectively, as the case may be.

The operation of my invention should be apparent from the foregoing description but briefly stated it is as follows.

Referring to FIG. 2 when the main shaft 10 is caused to be rocked as with an operating crank or by a motor, not shown, the arms 5 carrying the platen 4 are caused to be rocked in the direction of arrow A through link 8 and actuating plate 9. The paper web 45 wrapped around platen 4 is caused to engage ribbon 11 extending across the type elements of type sectors 3 so that printing on the paper web 45 is effected. With each rocking movement of the arms 5, as above described, the paper web 45 is advanced a predetermined distance. Assuming that the parts are in the relationship illustrated in FIG. 1 wherein pinion I6 is in engagement with gear 14 which is fixed to spool 12, the gear 14 will be caused to rotate a fractional revolution with each movement of the arms 5, thereby effecting winding of the ribbon 11 on spool 12 which now functions as a takeup spool. On the other hand, since pinion 17 is disengaged from gear 15 spool 13 may rotate freely serving as a supply spool to reel out the ribbon 11. When the quantity of ribbon 11 on each of the spools l2 and 13 is greater than a predetermined amount, the arms 28 and 29 by reason of the sensing fingers 28a and 29a will position the respective portions 28b and 29b out of the path of movement of the lever extensions 19b and 20b so that winding and unwinding of the ribbon 11 as above described will take place. However, as the quantity of ribbon 11 on supply spool 13 becomes depleted beyond a certain point, the position of lever 29 will change so that portion 29b will be positioned in the path of travel of extension 20b of lever 20 so that as the arms 5 in a cycle of operation return to nonoperating position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the upper edge of portion 29b will engage the lower edge of lever extension 20b and effect rocking of lever 20 in the direction of the arrow E (FIG. 1) to effect axial movement of shaft 18 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 1, wherein pinion 17 will engage gear 15. Thus, since spool 13 is fixed to gear 15 spool 13 will be rotated and will now function as a takeup spool, while spool 12 is now serving as a supply spool. When spool 12 is depleted as sensed by the sensing finger 28a, shaft 18 will again be shifted to the left, as viewed in FIG. 1, so as to convert spool 12 to a takeup spool while spool 13 now rotates freely as a supply spool. In the foregoing manner the functions of the spools l2 and 13 are automatically alternately reversed in the course of operation of the calculating machine.

It will be understood that only one of the sensing levers 28 or 29 is effective at any one time, while the other lever is rendered ineffective or is deactivated. This is readily seen by reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. Assuming that a reversal of the ribbon travel has just been effected and that spool 12 is just beginning to function as a takeup spool, lever 28 is now in its extreme left position and depending arm 28c is in its extreme right position and in engagement with end portion 40a oflever 40. Accordingly, lever 40 has been rocked about pin 26 so that lever 40b is engaged against arm 29c causing lever 29 to rock so that finger 29a is moved away from the ribbon on spool 13 and thus rendered ineffective. As spool 12 continues to wind up the ribbon upon itself, lever 28 will be rocked to the right thereby moving arm 28c away from end portion 40a so that lever 40 may be rocked in an opposite direction to permit lever 29 to move towards spool 13. When spool 13 later functions as a takeup spool as hereinabove described, its associated sensing lever 29 is rendered effective and lever 28 is rendered ineffective.

When no spools 12 or 13 are mounted on the ends of shaft 7 or when the spools l2 and 13 are empty, the sensing fingers 28a and 29a will, of course, tend to bear against the shaft 7 or the hubs of the spools 12 and 13. In such case both levers 28 and 29 would be in positions to effect a changeover of the functioning of the spools 12 and 13 and, accordingly, this could result in jamming of the machine with resulting injury to the machine, if the same were to be operated. However, assuming that lever 28 is in a position whereinthe sensing finger 28a is in contact with shaft 7 orhub of spool 12, depending arm 28c associated with the lever 28 will have assumed a position in engagement with end portion 40a of lever 40 so that said lever 40 is swung in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3, which results in the opposite end 40b of lever 40 engaging against the depending arm 29c of lever 29 and rocking the same so that the sensing finger 29a is moved in a direction away from the shaft 7, which corresponds to the position assumed for a supply reel condition. Accordingly, the reel 13 functions as a supply reel wherein its associated gear 15 is free of engagement with pinion l7 and any likelihood of jamming is completely obviated. It will be understood that either of the levers 28 or 29 may function, as above described.

Various changes coming within the spirit of my invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art; hence, I do not wish to be limited to the specific embodiments shown and described or uses mentioned, but intend the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of my invention being limited only by the appended claims.

lclaim:

l. in a calculating machine or the like having a main frame, a shaft supported on said frame, a pair of spaced arms rockably supported on said shaft, and means for rocking said arms, the combination comprising a ribbon, first and second ribbon spools carried on respective ends of said shaft, first and second gears coaxially attached each to a respective spool, a driving gear disposed adjacent said first gear and coaxial therewith, means for intermittently driving said driving gear, a rotatable shaft carried by said arms in parallel relation to said first mentioned shaft and supported for axial movement, first and second pinions spacedly fixed on said rotatable shaft, said first pinion being always in meshing engagement with said driving gear, said rotatable shaft being axially movable so as to effect alternate meshing engagement of said first pinion with said first gear and said second pinion with said second gear, a bracket supported on said arms, first and second shift levers pivotally supported on said bracket and being in engagement with said rotatable shaft, said shift levers being arranged to move said rotatable shaft axially each in a different direction, first and second sensing levers pivotally supported on said frame, each sensing lever having a sensing finger biased in a direction to engage the ribbon on a respective spool, means associated with each sensing lever arranged to engage a respective shift lever in response to the sensing action of a respective finger and the rocking action of said arms to move said rotatable shaft whereby said first pinion is caused to be meshed with said first gear to rotate said first spool to wind up the ribbon thereon in one direction or alternately to move said shaft to cause said second pinion to mesh with said second gear to rotate said second spool to wind up the ribbon thereon in an opposite direction.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 including an extension on each of said sensing levers extending in a direction opposite from the sensing finger, a lever medially pivotally supported on said frame between said extensions, the ends of said last-mentioned lever being arranged to engage respective extensions so that when one sensing lever is caused to be rocked in response to the depletion of ribbon on one reel the other sensing lever is caused to be rocked by said pivotal lever to a position where its sensing finger is out of engagement with the ribbon ofsaid other spool.

Claims (2)

1. In a calculating machine or the like having a main frame, a shaft supported on said frame, a pair of spaced arms rockably supported on said shaft, and means for rocking said arms, the combination comprising a ribbon, first and second ribbon spools carried on respective ends of said shaft, first and second gears coaxially attached each to a respective spool, a driving gear disposed adjacent said first gear and coaxial therewith, means for intermittently driving said driving gear, a rotatable shaft carried by said arms in parallel relation to said first mentioned shaft and supported for axial movement, first and second pinions spacedly fixed on said rotatable shaft, said first pinion being always in meshing engagement with said driving gear, said rotatable shaft being axially movable so as to effect alternate meshing engagement of said first pinion with said first gear and said second pinion with said second gear, a bracket supported on said arms, first and second shift levers pivotally supported on said bracket and being in engagement with said rotatable shaft, said shift levers being arranged to move said rotatable shaft axially each in a different direction, first and second sensing levers pivotally supported on said frame, eacH sensing lever having a sensing finger biased in a direction to engage the ribbon on a respective spool, means associated with each sensing lever arranged to engage a respective shift lever in response to the sensing action of a respective finger and the rocking action of said arms to move said rotatable shaft whereby said first pinion is caused to be meshed with said first gear to rotate said first spool to wind up the ribbon thereon in one direction or alternately to move said shaft to cause said second pinion to mesh with said second gear to rotate said second spool to wind up the ribbon thereon in an opposite direction.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 including an extension on each of said sensing levers extending in a direction opposite from the sensing finger, a lever medially pivotally supported on said frame between said extensions, the ends of said last-mentioned lever being arranged to engage respective extensions so that when one sensing lever is caused to be rocked in response to the depletion of ribbon on one reel the other sensing lever is caused to be rocked by said pivotal lever to a position where its sensing finger is out of engagement with the ribbon of said other spool.

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