US3587813A - Feed and reverse mechanism for an inking ribbon - Google Patents

Feed and reverse mechanism for an inking ribbon Download PDF

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Publication number
US3587813A
US3587813A US727935A US3587813DA US3587813A US 3587813 A US3587813 A US 3587813A US 727935 A US727935 A US 727935A US 3587813D A US3587813D A US 3587813DA US 3587813 A US3587813 A US 3587813A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
ribbon
shaft
worm
spool
pair
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US727935A
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English (en)
Inventor
Pierre L Dugeny
Jean R Gerain
Michel C Quinaud
Daniel C Zangheri
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.)
Unisys Corp
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Burroughs Corp
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Publication of US3587813A publication Critical patent/US3587813A/en
Assigned to BURROUGHS CORPORATION reassignment BURROUGHS CORPORATION MERGER (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). DELAWARE EFFECTIVE MAY 30, 1982. Assignors: BURROUGHS CORPORATION A CORP OF MI (MERGED INTO), BURROUGHS DELAWARE INCORPORATED A DE CORP. (CHANGED TO)
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J33/00—Apparatus or arrangements for feeding ink ribbons or like character-size impression-transfer material
    • B41J33/14—Ribbon-feed devices or mechanisms
    • B41J33/40—Ribbon-feed devices or mechanisms with arrangements for reversing the feed direction
    • B41J33/44—Ribbon-feed devices or mechanisms with arrangements for reversing the feed direction automatically
    • B41J33/51—Ribbon-feed devices or mechanisms with arrangements for reversing the feed direction automatically and characterised by the use of particular reversing control means
    • B41J33/516—Ribbon-feed devices or mechanisms with arrangements for reversing the feed direction automatically and characterised by the use of particular reversing control means using a reversing-feeler responsive to the tension of the ribbon

Definitions

  • the shaft When ribbon feeding is interrupted by the unwound condition of one spool, the shaft is shifted laterally to disengage the worm and worm wheel associated with the fully wound spool and to engage the worm and worm wheel associated with the unwound spool, such shifting movement of the shaft being initiated by the expelling action of the active worm from its associated wheel and completed by the action ofa biased detent pin against the rotating and declining slopes ofa double-coned actuator.
  • Devices of a ribbon feed and reverse nature are employed in typewriters, printing calculators and other business machines to render a fresh supply of ink constantly available to the printing elements.
  • These known devices commonly provide for the gradual winding of the ribbon onto one of a pair of ribbon spools as it unwinds from the opposite spool and as the printing elements are impressibly or impactably brought into contact with a transversely moving area of the ribbon disposed between the spools.
  • Devices of this type generally employ one or more of a variety of complicated mechanical motions, oftentimes involving the reciprocating action of links and detenting slides which are uniquely formed and contoured to suit the space limitations of the printing mechanisms to which they are adapted. These links and slides generally cooperate with biased pawls which in turn cooperate with a pair of ratchet wheels to rotatably activate the ribbon spools.
  • Such ribbon feed and reverse devices usually require considerable space and the exacting adjustment of parts in order to assure reliable performance and effective and timely ribbon feed and reversal.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a ribbon feed and reverse mechanism which is directly geared to and powered by the unidirectional rotation of a motor drive shaft, in contrast to the common practice of translating rotational power into a reciprocating motion of links or slides and then reconverting such motion to a pawl driven rotational winding of the ribbon spools.
  • the invention through these devices, achieves a higher level of reliability.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a ribbon feed and reverse mechanism wherein positively driven worms are employed to rotate spool supporting worm wheels, in contrast to less positive biased pawls and ratchet wheels.
  • the invention is accordingly designed for economy in maintenance, since its various parts require but a minimum of adjustment, at the time ofinitial assembly.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide a ribbon feed and reverse mechanism which comprises a minimum number of parts which may be fitted into very limited space in a printing mechanism. Economy of manufacture and space-saving compactness are thereby achieved.
  • An important aspect of the invention is the use of a rotatable and laterally movable shaft disposed in parallel relationship with the path oftravel of an inking ribbon between a pair of spaced-apart spools and rotatable worm wheels, to alternatively wind the ribbon onto each spool as the shaft is rotated in a predetermined direction.
  • Another aspect of the invention is a pair of oppositely threaded worms fixed to the shaft at a greater spaced-apart distance than the distance between the spools and worm wheels, such that when one of the worms is cooperably engaged with its associated worm wheel the opposite worm is disengaged and disposed outwardly from its associated wheel, the maximum lateral movement permitted the laterally movable shaft being effective to fully disengage one worm from its associated worm wheel and to engage the opposite worm with its associated worm wheel.
  • Another aspect of the invention is the use of a generally oval-shaped actuator comprising a pair of grooves and a raised central portion, such actuator being attached to the shaft at a predetermined point between the oppositely threaded worms.
  • the raised central portion of this actuator comprises a pair of end-butted truncated cones, the common base of which presents an ellipse representing the maximum radial distance from the axis of the shaft.
  • Still another aspect of the invention is a resiliently supported detent pin which is alternately engageable with each of the pair of grooves of the actuator to define the maximum lateral movement permitted the shaft.
  • the resiliency of this detent pin is sufficient, when applied against the rotating and declining slopes of either truncated cone, to complete the lateral transverse movement of the shaft, such movement being initiated by the expelling action of the rotating active worm against its associated halted worm wheel, such expelling action having caused the rising slopes of the opposite truncated cone and the ellipse formed by the common base of the two cones to be presented to the biased detent pin.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the various component parts ofthe mechanism
  • FIG. 2 is an elevation showing the details of one of the ribbon support posts
  • FIG. 3 is a view of a double-coned actuator which is used in the preferred embodiment of the invention, such actuator having an inclined ellipse and vertices eccentric to the revolution axis; and
  • FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the elongated pinion of FIG. 1 in relationship with a drive gear having a toothless area of predetermined length disposed along its periphery.
  • the preferred embodiment of the invention provides a pair of upright ribbon support posts 27 disposed in spaced-apart relationship by means of suitable attachment to the framing 30 of the machine or mechanism in which is is incorporated.
  • the upper end of each of these posts 27 comprises a shank member 27A and a shoulder hub 278 (see FIG. 2).
  • a pair of worm wheels 25 and 25 are positioned on the upper extremities of the posts 27 in contacting relationship with the shoulder hubs 27B, and are freely rotatable on the shank members 27A.
  • Each of these worm wheels 25 and 25 comprises a shoulder hub 258 (FIG. 2) and a stud 25A attached to the upper surface thereof at a predetermined point along its radius.
  • a pair of ribbon spools 21 each comprising an upper flange 22, a lower flange 24 and a central hub 26, are frictionally attached by means of spring members 21A disposed within the hubs 26 and forming the central openings thereof, to the shank members 27A of the posts 27, and are rotatably fixed to the worm wheels 25 and 25' by the engagement of one of a plurality of apertures 21B formed in the lower flanges 24 thereof with the studs 25A disposed on the upper surfaces of the worm wheels 25 and 25.
  • An inking ribbon 23 of predetermined length is anchored at each end, in any suitable and well-known manner, to one of the ribbon spools 21 such that when the ribbon 23 is completely unwound from either spool 21 it will not separate therefrom, even though the ribbon 23 is subjected to a moderate force applied in a separating direction.
  • the ribbon 23 is so wound onto the two spools 21 that it exits from and is introduced to the spools 21 at their twelve oclock positions, and the path of travel of the ribbon 23 between the two spools 21 is contiguous to and adjacent the printing elements (not shown).
  • the preferred embodiment of the invention also comprises a rotatable and laterally movable shaft 31 which is disposed in parallel relationship with the path of travel of the inking ribbon 23 between the two spools 21.
  • This shaft 31 is journaled within a pair of bearings 33 which are supportively fixed to a pair of frame members 29, such bearings 33 being permissive of both the rotational and transverse movement of the shaft 31.
  • the shaft 31 is continuously rotated in a clockwise direction during operation of the machine in which the embodiment of the invention is incorporated, such continuous rotation being accomplished through the cooperation of an elongated pinion 39 fixed to one extremity of the shaft 31 and a driving gear 41 fixed to one end of a motor drive shaft 43, the continuous rotation of the shaft 31 serving to wind the ribbon 23 onto one or the other of the spools 21 independently of the actuation of the printing elements of the machine.
  • the shaft 31 also comprises a pair of fixed and oppositely threaded worms 35 and 35', each of which is separately and compatibly engageable with the worm wheels and 25, respectively, by means of the lateral movement of the shaft 31 as between its two lateral positions, such worms 35 and 35' being attached to the shaft 31 at a greater spaced-apart distance than the distance between the two ribbon supporting posts 27.
  • the worm 35 is so threaded as to rotate its associated worm wheel 25 in a clockwise direction when the shaft 31 is rotated, and the worm 35 is so threaded as to rotate its associated worm wheel 25' in a counterclockwise direction.
  • the unwound state of the ribbon 23 relative to either of the spools 21 is accordingly effective to restrain the worm wheels 25 and 25 against further rotational movement, such restraint being terminated by the translation of the shaft 31.
  • the shaft 31 also comprises a fixed actuator 37 disposed at a predetermined point between the worms 35 and 35'.
  • This actuator 37 comprises a pair of circumferential grooves 37A and 37B, and a central raised portion consisting of a pair of base-butted truncated cones each having a short slope 37C and a long slope 37D, the difference between these slopes 37C and 37D producing an inclined ellipse 37E representing the greatest radial dimension of the actuator 37.
  • the distance between the grooves 37A and 37B corresponds directly to the maximum lateral movement that is permitted the shaft 31, such lateral movement being defined by the alternate engagement of a resiliently supported detent pin 45 with the two grooves 37A and 378.
  • the detent pin 45 is supported by a spring 47 disposed within a cylindrical housing 49 which is attached to the machine framing at a predetermined point and which is provided with a central aperture 46 through which the detent pin 45 extends.
  • the relationship between the length of the short slopes 37C of the actuator 37 and the axial length of the worms and 35' is such that the ellipse 37E, at its point ofintersection with the slopes 37C, is encountered by and moved over the detent pin 45 at the same instant the active worm 35 or 35 is rotationally expelled from its associated and halted worm wheel 25 or 25' during the ribbon reversing process.
  • both worm wheels 25 and 25 are stopped and restrainably prevented from rotating and the active worm 35 or 35 is translatably expelled from its associated worm wheel 25 or 25 as a result of its screwing action relative thereto, to thereby initiate the lateral translatory movement of the shaft 31 toward its opposite lateral position.
  • the rising slopes 37C and 37D of the truncated cone of the actuator 37 adjacent the engaged groove 37A or 378 are presented to the detent pin 45 to thereby further compress the spring 47.
  • FIG. 1 provides for the continuous feeding of the ribbon 23 whenever the motor drive shaft 43 is rotationally activatedv
  • Another embodiment of the invention comprises a spur gear 41' shown in FIG. 4, said gear 41 having a toothless area 42 disposed a predetermined distance along its periphery. This area 42 provides for an interruption in ribbon feeding at that instant in the cyclical operation of the machine when the printing elements are impressed or impacted against the ribbon 23.
  • the toothless area 42 is so designed as to slidingly contact both sidewalls of one of the plurality of transverse grooves 40 formed in the elongated pinion 39, as the motor drive shaft 43 is rotated, to thereby retain the elongated pinion 39, the shaft 31, and the worm wheels 25 and 25' in a stationary position at the moment ofelement impact.
  • This clockwise rotation of the worm 35 causes the worm wheel 25 to be rotated in a clockwise direction to thereby wind the inking ribbon 23 onto the ribbon spool 21 associated therewith, and to unwind the ribbon 23 from the spool 21 associated with the worm wheel 25'.
  • the detent pin 45 continues to ride in the groove 37A of the actuator 37.
  • an anchoring device effectively attaching the leftmost extremity of the ribbon 23 to the leftmost spool 21 restrainably interrupts the clockwise rotation of both worm wheels 25 and 25 and effectively holds the worm wheel 25 in a stationary state.
  • the continued rotation of the worm 35, being cooperably engaged with the teeth of the worm wheel 25, causes the worm 35 to be translatably expelled in a rightward direction from such stationary teeth, to thereby initiate a rightward translatory lateral movement of the shaft 31.
  • the rising slopes 37C and 37D of the adjacent truncated cone of the actuator 37 are presented to the detent pin 45 to further depress the pin 45 and to further compress the spring 47.
  • a frame-supported ribbon feed and reverse mechanism having a ribbon, a pair of spaced-apart rotatably mounted ribbon spools to which the ends of said ribbon are connected, a rotatable and translatable driven shaft, means for unidirectionally rotating said translatable driven shaft, means for alternately coupling said driven shaft with each of said ribbon spools to thereby effectuate the feedable winding of said ribbon thereon, and wherein ribbon feed reversal is accomplished when said ribbon is fully wound onto one of said spools by the translation of said rotatable and translatable driven shaft to thereby effect coupling of said driven shaft with the opposite of said spools, said translation of said shaft being partially effectuated by said coupling means in response to the continued rotation of said shaft at a time when the fully wound spool is prevented from further windable rotation, said ribbon feed and reverse mechanism being characterized by shaft translating means comprising:
  • a a pair of base-butted truncated cones affixed to said shaft, the vertices of said cones being eccentric to axis of said shaft and the ellipse formed by said base butting being inclined relativeto said axis, said inclined ellipse providing each of said cones with declining slopes ofdifferential length, said slopes terminating in a pair of spaced-apart circumferential grooves, and
  • resilient detenting means mounted in juxtaposed and cooperating relationship with said slopes and said circumferential grooves of said pair of base-butted truncated cones on the'supporting frame of said ribbon feed and reverse mechanism, said resilient detenting means activatably cooperating with said declining slopes of one of said pair of coneswhen presented to said inclined ellipse formed by said base butting of said pair of cones during said partial translation of said translatable shaft by said coupling means, said activatable cooperation serving to complete the translation of said translatable driven shaft such that said shaft is coupled through said coupling means with the spool from which said ribbon has been unwound, said resilient detenting means alternately cooperating also with said pair of spaced-apart circumferential grooves to thereby secure the coupling of said translatable driven shaft, through said coupling means, with the ribbon spool onto which said ribbon is to be or is being wound.
  • a motive power transfer device effective for alternately coupling a translatable driving means with a first and a second driven means, said driving means having at least two effective positions and said driven means each being activatable for a predetermined interval such as the interval required to wind a ribbon or the like onto a spool, said transfer device comprising:
  • coupling means associated with said driving means and effective for coupling said first driven means with said driving means when said driving means is disposed in one of its said two effective positions, and effective also for coupling said second driven means with said driving means when said driving means is disposed in the opposite one of its said two effective positions, said coupling means being effective also to initiate the translation of said driving means as between its said two effective positions in response to the termination of said predetermined interval, and
  • said jointly effective means including a rotary actuator formed by a pair of base-butted conical frustums, each of said frustums being formed by the section ofa pair ofinclined planes, said base butting of said frustums forming an inclined ellipse relative to the axis of said driving means, the truncated ends of said conical frustums terminating in a pair of grooves defining the length of said rotary actuator.
  • resilient detent means disposed in cooperating relationship with said rotary actuator and with said pair of grooves, said detent means being displaced from one of said grooves and effectively brought into contact with the adjacent of said pair of conical frustums in response to said initation of said translation of said driving means by said coupling means, said detent means cooperating resiliently thereafter with the opposite of said conical frustums to ef-' fectively complete said translation of said driving means to the opposite of its said two effective positions, said translation of said driving means terminating when said detent means cooperably engages the opposite of said pair ofgrooves ofsaid rotary actuator.
  • a device for shuttling a rotatably and translatably mounted two-position shaft as between its said two positions comprising:

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  • Impression-Transfer Materials And Handling Thereof (AREA)
  • Transmission Devices (AREA)
  • Time Recorders, Dirve Recorders, Access Control (AREA)
US727935A 1968-05-09 1968-05-09 Feed and reverse mechanism for an inking ribbon Expired - Lifetime US3587813A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US72793568A 1968-05-09 1968-05-09

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3587813A true US3587813A (en) 1971-06-28

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US727935A Expired - Lifetime US3587813A (en) 1968-05-09 1968-05-09 Feed and reverse mechanism for an inking ribbon

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US3587813A (xx)
JP (1) JPS4838367B1 (xx)
BE (1) BE732669A (xx)
BR (1) BR6908654D0 (xx)
DE (1) DE1923498A1 (xx)
FR (1) FR1595357A (xx)
GB (1) GB1249254A (xx)
NL (1) NL6906390A (xx)
SE (1) SE347692B (xx)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3990563A (en) * 1974-06-20 1976-11-09 U.S. Philips Corporation Spool-ejecting ink ribbon device
US4083445A (en) * 1975-05-15 1978-04-11 Ing. C. Olivetti & C., S.P.A. Ribbon reversal mechanism for an office machine
US4265551A (en) * 1977-07-13 1981-05-05 U.S. Philips Corporation Drive for transporting and reversing an ink ribbon, and for withdrawing the printing head in printing devices

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1564607B1 (de) * 1966-05-21 1970-10-22 Siemens Ag Spulenkoerper aus Isolierstoff fuer elektrische Spulen
DE2437065C3 (de) * 1974-08-01 1981-10-08 Philips Patentverwaltung Gmbh, 2000 Hamburg Vorrichtung zur Umschaltung der Bewegungsrichtung eines Farbbandes

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3990563A (en) * 1974-06-20 1976-11-09 U.S. Philips Corporation Spool-ejecting ink ribbon device
US4083445A (en) * 1975-05-15 1978-04-11 Ing. C. Olivetti & C., S.P.A. Ribbon reversal mechanism for an office machine
US4265551A (en) * 1977-07-13 1981-05-05 U.S. Philips Corporation Drive for transporting and reversing an ink ribbon, and for withdrawing the printing head in printing devices

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL6906390A (xx) 1969-11-11
FR1595357A (xx) 1970-06-08
SE347692B (xx) 1972-08-14
BR6908654D0 (pt) 1973-01-11
DE1923498A1 (de) 1971-01-14
GB1249254A (en) 1971-10-13
JPS4838367B1 (xx) 1973-11-16
BE732669A (xx) 1969-10-16

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AS Assignment

Owner name: BURROUGHS CORPORATION

Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNORS:BURROUGHS CORPORATION A CORP OF MI (MERGED INTO);BURROUGHS DELAWARE INCORPORATEDA DE CORP. (CHANGED TO);REEL/FRAME:004312/0324

Effective date: 19840530