US3645371A - Printing means for sorting and routing system - Google Patents

Abstract

A printing means of a type adapted to simultaneously print ordinary legible indicia and corresponding magnetic ink characters upon a label in which the activating for magnetic character operation is made by the presence of a label in a particular location upon a platen, whereby an electrical circuit is closed through a predetermined opening in said label.

Description

United States Patent J ovis 1 Feb. 29, 1972 [54] PRINTING MEANS FOR SORTING AND ROUTING SYSTEM Higonnet et al. ..l97/ 157 Bafour et a1. ..l97/l57 X 2,958,568 11/1960 Hagelbarger.... .....l97/l R X [72] lnventor: Arthur Jovis, 1501 Undercliff Ave., 2 9 2 339 1 1,19 0 W00 97 R X Bronx, NY. 10453 3,356,200 12/1967 De George... .....197/127 R [22] Filed: Nov. 26, 1969 3,412,838 11/1968 .lovis ..197/1 R 21 AppL N 8 0 114 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 696,475 1011965 ltaly ..l97/173 8' 97/1 97/156 133 Primary Exammer-EmestT. Wnght, Jr. 581 Field of Search ..197/1, 127, 154, 156, 157, Temk" 197/158, 159,173,174, 187 [57] ABSTRACT 55 Ref e Cited A printing means of a type adapted to simultaneously print ordinary legible indicia and corresponding magnetic ink charac- UNITED STATES PATENTS ters upon a label in which the activating for magnetic character operation is made by the presence of a label in a BrOOkS R Pa icu ar loc tio upo a p ten he y an e ric i it 1,517,843 12/1924 Lake ..197/157 is dosed through a predetermined p i g in said labeL 1,889,315 11/1932 Henderson... .197/159 X 2,788,879 4/1957 Rand Q. ..197/1 R 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEB 2 9 I972 SHEET 1 OF 2 DUUDDUUUUUU UUUUUDDUUUUUU LI UUUUUUDUUUDHU DUDUUUUDUUUB PATENTED F EH 2 9 I972 SHEET 2 [1F 2 PRINTING MEANS FOR SORTING AND ROUTING SYSTEM This invention relates generally to means and methods for directing an article to a destination by electronic sorting devices, and more particularly to an improved printing means for preparing a label or envelope to be affixed to said article. Reference is made to my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,412,838 dated Nov. 26, 1968, and entitled Printing Means for Sorting and Routing System, the present invention relating to an improved construction thereover.

In my prior construction, means is provided for interconnecting the keys which cause both nonmagnetic ink and magnetic ink characters to be simultaneously printed on the label. This construction requires the presence of additional keys as contrasted with a standard typewriter keyboard, and also requires the mental step of determining when the magnetic ink character keys are to be used.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved construction of the type disclosed in my above mentioned patent, in which a quasistandard typewriter keyboard may be utilized.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of improved means for preparing a sorting and routing label to be afi'rxed to an article, in which the requirement of a mental step determining when magnetic ink characters are to be printed is eliminated.

Yet a further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved construction of the class disclosed in which the activation of magnetic ink characters is accomplished automatically by the presence of a label in predetermined position upon a supporting platen, whereby an electrical circuit is closed resulting in the activation of said magnetic ink characters.

These objects, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a typewriter or a billing machine constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing means for activating a magnetic ink ribbon during certain phases of operation.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10, is used in conjunction with a label 11 generally resembling that disclosed in my abovementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,412,838. It differs from the device disclosed in this patent in the provision of an electrically conductive platen 13 which cooperates with an opening 15 in the label 11, to permit the passage of current through a brush 16 on the end of a resilient finger 17 (see FIG. 2). Current flows through a conductor 18, a pilot lamp 19in series therewith, a source of electrical energy 20, a solenoid 21, and to a connecting point 22 communicating with the platen 13.

The solenoid 21 is provided with an armature 23 connected to a ribbon supporting means 24 for moving a segment 25 thereof into active position as indicated by reference character 26 in FIG. 2. When the solenoid 21 is deenergized, the ribbon 25 assumes the inactive position shown by reference character 27.

As seen in FIG. 2, the upper row of keys 28 include the usual linkage 29 of the type disclosed in my above-mentioned prior patent, which impart motion to a type-carrying bar 30, the upper end of which includes an upper set of characters 31 and a lower set of characters 32. Except for the period in which the solenoid 21 is energized, only the upper set of characters 31 are operative, and are positioned to function in conjunction with the conventional ink ribbon 33. The lower set of characters 32 while positioned to strike the platen 13 place no indicia upon the label 11. As the label 11 is typed, a position is reached in which the opening 15 lies beneath the brush 16, which falls therethrough to complete a circuit with the platen 13, resulting in the upward movement of the means 24 so that the ribbon 25 is positioned to register an impression when struck by the lower set of characters 32. It will be observed that the solenoid 21 remains energized during the printing of the entire line of scannable information, since the finger 17 is mounted on the carriage 12 carrying the platen l3, and moves along a horizontal axis therewith.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is illustrated schematically one arrangement whereby the ribbon 25 may be advanced only during the time in which it is in active position. First and second spools 35-36 are mounted on and driven by shafts 38-39, respectively. Spools 40-41 are mounted concentrically on shafts 38-39, but rotate independently of these shafts. Shafts 38-39 are free to rotate in the support mechanism 24. Clutch wheels 43-42 are integrally mounted on spools 35-38 and 40-41, respectively, so that with the energizing of the solenoid 21, the magnetic ink ribbon 25 moves to position, this motion serving to engage the clutch wheels 43-42 so that the advancement of the magnetic ink ribbon takes place as the lower set of characters 32 transfers ink to the label 1 1.

It will be observed that the activation of the lower set of characters 32 by movement of the magnetic ink ribbon 25 into position opposite the same is completely automatic, and determined by the presence of the label 11 at the line of scanable information. Thus, no additional attention is required on the part of the operator for such activation, and the presence of the pilot lamp 19 is merely to assure the operator that the device 10 is in proper operation.

Although for purposes of this disclosure I have used the term label to designate the planar article upon which irnpression is made, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that, where desired, envelopes, documents and other planar articles capable of magnetic recognition of suitable size may be substituted. In such case, an opening is provided which extends through the body of the envelope to permit the brush 16 to complete a circuit as in the case of a label of single thickness. v

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. A writing machine comprising first means to print a line of information in normal type upon a label, second means to print simultaneously a line of corresponding information in magnetic ink type; said machine having an electrically conductive platen, a first normally inked ribbon and a second ribbon carrying ink with magnetic particles therein; said first and second means being mounted upon common type bars acuiated by a single set of keys; said first ribbon having a relatively fixed position with respect to said type bar, said second ribbon having electrically operated third means shifting said second ribbon into and out of active position with respect to said second means; and an electrically conductive finger selectively contacting said platen in the absence of said label to complete a circuit to said third means, whereby said third means is activated to shift said second ribbon to operative position.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1 in combination with a label having a through opening therein in predetermined location, positioning of said label in position for the reception of magnetic ink characters serving to align said opening with said electrically conductive finger, whereby said finger may communicate with said electrically conductive platen disposed therebeneath.

3. Structure in accordance with claim 1, said third means including an electrically operated solenoid.

4. Structure in accordance with claim 1, said machine including advancement means for advancing said first ribbon along the principal axis thereof, said third means including clutch means interconnecting said third means to said advancement means when in the active position thereof.

Claims (4)

1. A writing machine comprising first means to print a line of information in normal type upon a label, second means to print simultaneously a line of corresponding information in magnetic ink type; said machine having an electrically conductive platen, a first normally inked ribbon and a second ribbon carrying ink with magnetic parTicles therein; said first and second means being mounted upon common type bars actuated by a single set of keys; said first ribbon having a relatively fixed position with respect to said type bar, said second ribbon having electrically operated third means shifting said second ribbon into and out of active position with respect to said second means; and an electrically conductive finger selectively contacting said platen in the absence of said label to complete a circuit to said third means, whereby said third means is activated to shift said second ribbon to operative position.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1 in combination with a label having a through opening therein in predetermined location, positioning of said label in position for the reception of magnetic ink characters serving to align said opening with said electrically conductive finger, whereby said finger may communicate with said electrically conductive platen disposed therebeneath.

3. Structure in accordance with claim 1, said third means including an electrically operated solenoid.

4. Structure in accordance with claim 1, said machine including advancement means for advancing said first ribbon along the principal axis thereof, said third means including clutch means interconnecting said third means to said advancement means when in the active position thereof.

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