US3929276A

US3929276A - Device for setting type carrying means in a printing device having at least one printing position, especially for cash registers

Info

Publication number: US3929276A
Application number: US461354A
Authority: US
Inventors: Goran Ingemar Lundstrom; Friedrich Hartmann; Willem Huijsers
Original assignee: Hugin Kassaregister AB
Current assignee: Hugin Kassaregister AB
Priority date: 1973-04-17
Filing date: 1974-04-16
Publication date: 1975-12-30
Anticipated expiration: 1992-12-30
Also published as: SE375167B; GB1452008A; DE2418256A1; CH571953A5; FR2226280A1

Abstract

A setting device for a printing device, there being provided for each character location an electromagnet which is arranged to change state when a calculating unit has received a number of pulses corresponding to the symbol to be set. Each electromagnet is cooperating with a driven setting unit which is in turn cooperating with a type carrying means. The setting units are arranged side by side on a common, driven axle and have essentially smaller extension in the axial direction of the axle than in the radial direction of the same. Each setting unit disengages a central means in the setting unit from the axle when the corresponding electromagnet changes state. The axle reverses its direction of rotation for setting and resetting.

Description

United States Patent Lundstriim et al.

[ Dec, 30, 1975 DEVICE FOR SETTING TYPE CARRYING MEANS IN A PRINTING DEVICE HAVING AT LEAST ONE PRINTING POSITION,

ESPECIALLY FOR CASH REGISTERS Inventors: G'o'ran Ingemar Lundstr'dm,

Johanneshov; Friedrich I-Iartmann, Saltsjobaden; Willem l-luijsers, Farsta, all of Sweden Hugin Kassaregister AB, Stockholm, Sweden Filed: Apr. 16, 1974 Appl. No.: 461,354

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 17, 1973 Sweden 7305458 U.S. Cl. 235/61 PK; 235/60 P Int. Cl. G06C 29/00; G06C 11/04 Field of Search 235/61 PK, 59 BF, 61 PJ,

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 6/1958 Ash et al 101/9325 2,896,845 7/1959 Hansen et al. 235/61 PK 3,022,939 2/1962 Flagge 235/61 PK 3,097,789 7/1963 Kassel et al 235/61 PK 3,176,610 4/1965 Benson et al...... 101/9318 3,179,044 4/1965 Schierbeek.... 101/9328 3,691,360 9/1972 Gross et al 235/61 PK Primary Examiner-Stephen J. Tomsky Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Cushman, Darby & Cushman [57] ABSTRACT A setting device for a printing device, there being provided for each character location an electromagnet which is arranged to change state when a calculating unit has received a number of pulses corresponding to the symbol to be set. Each electromagnet is cooperating with a driven setting unit which is in turn cooperating with a type carrying means. The setting units are arranged side by side on a common, driven axle and have essentially smaller extension in the axial direction of the axle than in the radial direction of the same. Each setting unit disengages a central means in the setting unit from the axle when the corresponding electromagnet changes state. The axle reverses its direction of rotation for setting and resetting.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 30, 1975 DEVICE FOR SETTING TYPE CARRYING MEANS IN A PRINTING DEVICE HAVING AT LEAST ONE PRINTING POSITION, ESPECIALLY FOR CASH REGISTERS The present invention relates to a device for setting typecarrying means in a printing device having at least one printing position, especially for use in cash regis ters, said device comprising a pulse generating means which emits pulses to a calculating or counting unit and also comprising an electromagnet for each of the character locations, said electromagnet being arranged to change its magnetic state when the calculating unit has received a predetermined number of pulses from the pulse generating means, said number of pulses corresponding to the symbol which is to be set and in which device a driven setting unit is provided for each electromagnet, said setting unit being arranged to cooperate with a type carrying means of each respective character location.

Such devices for setting type are previously known in various embodiments. That which the majority of these previously known devices have in common is that their construction is extremely complicated by means of a large number of axles upon which mutually cooperating units are arranged, said units requiring great space and, further, limiting the number of character locations which are to be set. Due to the space-demanding design, special transfer gears are required in order to transfer the setting movement to the type-carrying means. This further increases the demands for space. Another disadvantage is that the moveable masses become rather large, causing problems during the high speed of the setting process. The great number of parts further increases the noise level when in operation and also impairs accuracy. This is a great disadvantage, for instance when the printed products are to be optically read.

The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned problems and disadvantages and instead obtain a setting device which is simple and takes up little space and also makes possible accurate setting of a large number of character locations at several printing positions in a printing device.

This is achieved according to the invention by means of the setting units being arranged side by side on a common driven axle, said setting units having essentially lesser extension in the axial direction of the axle than in the radial direction of the same, and that one single setting unit is provided for each character location, said setting unit being arranged to, when its accompanying electromagnet changes state as a result of the calculating unit having received a predetermined number of pulses, disengage a central means in the setting unit from the driven axle, said central means cooperating with the type-carrying means of the printing location or locations. The driven axle is arranged to rotate in opposite directions during setting and resetting of said type-carrying means. By means of each setting unit only requiring a small space in axial direction, a large number of setting units can be fitted on the same driven axle and, thus, it is possible to use a large number of character locations without the dimensions of the device becoming too great.

According to an especially advantageous embodiment, the central means of each setting unit is in direct engagement with the type-carrying means of its respective character location. Beyond a compact design an increased setting accuracy is, in this manner, gained. However, space reasons can make it necessary to use some form of transfer to one or more printing positions which, unlike the others, cannot be placed near the driven axle.

A simple embodiment is obtained when the central means of each setting unit comprises a central wheel which rotates on the driven axle, said central wheel being provided with teeth along at least a portion of its periphery, said central wheel supporting a retaining mechanism arranged to cooperate with a driver which is permanently arranged on the driven axle and included in the setting unit. The retaining mechanism cooperates with the driver in order to lock and disengage the central wheel in relation to the driven axle.

Further advantages and advantageous embodiments are revealed in the accompanying description and claims.

A better understanding of the features and advantages of the invention will be had with the help of the following detailed description and the accompanying detailed drawing, in which FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a cash register equipped with a device according to the invention, FIG. 2 shows a setting device according to the invention in the initial position, FIG. 3 shows the setting device according to FIG. 2 in a set position, and FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the device along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2.

A cash register 1, in which only those details essential for the invention are schematically shown, is according to FIG. 1 equipped with a printing device 2 having three

different printing locations

3, 4 and 5 which print receipts, audit strips and bills, respectively. A keyboard 6 is connected to an electronic counting unit 7 for processing of information which is introduced into the cash register via said keyboard. The counting unit 7 is in turn connected to a setting device 8 whose function is to set the type-bearing means in the printing device so that printing can take place when the desired setting is accomplished for different character locations in the printing device.

Included in the setting device 8 is a driven axle 9 which, via a driving gear (not shown here), is driven by a driving motor (not shown here) which also drives the printing device and other parts in the cash register. A perforated pulse wheel 10, synchronized with the axle 9, together with a device 11 connected to the counting unit and comprising for example a light source and a photo cell, forms a pulse generating unit. On the driven axle 9 there are arranged side by side a number of setting units 12 of which only one is visible, said number corresponding to the number of character locations in the printing device. For each setting device there is an electromagnet 13 connected to the counting unit 7. The setting units 12 have, as is clear from FIG. 4, only a small dimension in the longitudinal direction of the axle 9. The result is that all of the electromagnets, because they have a larger extension in the longitudinal direction of axle 9 than each of the setting units, cannot be situated in the same row. In the embodiment shown here the electromagnets in the upper row 14 cooperate with setting units 12 having even position numbers while the electromagnets in the lower row 15 cooperate with setting units having odd position numbers.

The design of one of the mutually identical setting units 12 is shown more closely in FIG. 2. A central means 16 in the form of a central wheel which is rotatable about the driven axle 9 and which is, at least in part, provided with cogs 17 on its periphery, is in direct engagement with symbol-carrying means in the form of

type wheels

18, 19 and 20 for each of the

respective printing positions

3, 4 and 5. A driver 21 is affixed to the axle 9 and is prevented from rotating by means of a pin or other means. Said driver cooperates with a retaining mechanism 22 mounted on the central wheel 16 for locking and disengaging the central wheel 16 and the driven axle 9. The retaining mechanism 22 includes a retaining ring 23 concentric with and attached to the central wheel which is limited in rotation by means of pins 24 attached to the central wheel and engaging slots 25 in the retaining ring 23. The locking mechanism further comprises two pivotally mounted, conjointly operating pawls, an outer pawl 26 and an inner pawl 27 and a pivotable, journalled magnet ratchet 28 which is actuated by and belongs to an electromagnet. The retaining ring 23 is internally fitted with a lock boss 29 which cooperates with the outer pawl 26.

The inner pawl 27 is fitted with a dog 30 for engagement with a notch 31 in the driver 21. On the central wheel there is a resetting dog 32 which is designed to engage a resetting arm 33 on the driver. The resetting dog provides, in addition, support for one end of a curved spring 34 which is supported at its other end in a notch 35 in the retaining ring 23 and which strives to rotate the retaining ring and the central wheel to a position where the inner pawl 27, when the driver 21 is in a certain position, is forced to engage the notch 31.

The device operates in the following way.

At the beginning of the setting motion, the parts assume the reset position shown in FIG. 2 when the drive axle begins to rotate clockwise in the direction of arrow 36. The inner pawl 27 is held in engagement with the driver 21 via the lock boss 29 of the retaining ring 23 and the outer pawl 26, thereby causing the central means 16 to rotate and thus turn the

type wheels

18, 19 and 20. Meanwhile, the counting unit 7 receives pulses from the pulse generating unit. When the number of received pulses corresponds to the number of pulses representing the symbol to be set at the character location in question, the counting unit 7 actuates the electromagnet 13 altering its state and thereby causing the magnet ratchet 28 to turn. Depending on the design of the magnet ratchet 28, this can be achieved by energizing'the electromagnet which was previously not energized, or by deenergizing the electromagnet which was previously energized. The magnet ratchet 28 is thereby engaged with the desired cog 37 on the retaining ring and checks further rotation of the retaining ring as per FIG. 3. The central wheel continues its rotation to an extent which corresponds to the length of slot 25. The inner pawl 27 whose dog 30 is operated by the driver 21 can, since the outer pawl 26 is no longer obstructed by the lock boss 29, rotate outwards and disengage the central wheel 16 from driver 21 when the parts assume the position shown in FIG. 3. Since the pawls 26 and 27 are pressed outward toward the retaining ring, a gradual braking of the central wheel is accomplished, thus avoiding a recoil which is to great advantage at high speed.

Meanwhile, the driven axle and the driver continue to rotate though at most one revolution from the start position, allowing the setting to be completed for those setting units which have not yet assumed the desired position. When all setting units have completed their setting movement, an aligning device 38 is engaged with the central wheels, thus causing the central wheels and thereby the type wheels to be carefully aligned and kept in position, allowing printing with high precision. Driven axle 9 is now stationary. When resetting, the driven axle 9 is caused to rotate counter-clockwise in the direction of arrow 39, and the aligning device 38 is disengaged. After a while, the resetting arm 33 of the driver engages the resetting dog 32 of the central wheel and turns the central wheel so that the retaining mechanism 22 can reassume the position shown in FIG. 2 whereby the central wheel reengages the drive axle and continues back to the start position where a retaining boss 40 on the retaining ring comes to bear on a stop 41. The magnet ratchet 28 can be disengaged by means 7 of the retaining ring when the retaining ring begins its return movement, or it can be disengaged by other means obvious to one skilled in the art. After this, the setting unit is ready to commence a new setting movement.

Each retaining ring requires only as many cogs 37 as would correspond to the number of symbols which will be set, but for practical reasons it may be desirable to make all retaining rings identical. It should be observed at this point that already in the start position the number O or another symbol can be set. Because there is room for a large number of setting units on the driven axle, the number of electromagnets can be large and thus, it is desirable that the consumption of power by the electromagnets be reduced. This can be accomplished by energizing the electromagnets for as short a time as possible. Further, depending on the placement and frequency of application of commonly used symbols, one could choose to energize only certain electromagnets at the beginning of the setting movement, the remaining being dead and thus, only the electromagnets for which setting will take place need to be supplied with current.

The design described herein can, of course, be modified in several aspects. By way of example, the outer and inner pawls 26 and 27 can be replaced by a single pawl which operates on driver and retaining ring surfaces of a design other than that shown here. The number of printing positions can be greater or fewer than shown here.

What we claim is:

1. A device for setting type-carrying means in a printing device having a printing position, especially for cash registers, said device comprising a pulse generating means which emits pulses to an electronic counting unit and also comprising an electromagnet for each of the character locations, said electromagnet being arranged to change its magnetic state when the counting unit has received a predetermined number of pulses from the pulse generating means, said number of pulses corresponding to the symbol which is to be set, and in which device a driven setting unit is provided for each electromagnet, said setting unit being arranged to cooperate with a type-carrying means of each respective character location, the setting units being arranged side by side on a common driven axle and have lesser dimension in the axial direction of the axle than in the radial direction of the same, there being provided one single setting unit for each character location, said one setting unit being arranged to, when its accompanying electromagnet changes state as a result of the counting unit having received a predetermined number of pulses, disengage a central means in the setting unit from the driven axle, said central means cooperating with the type-carrying means of the printing location, the central means at each setting unit comprising a central wheel which is rotatable on the driven axle and which is provided with teeth along its periphery, said :entral Wheel supporting a retaining mechanism which 18 arranged for locking and disengaging the central wheel in relation to the drive axle, said retaining mechanism cooperating with a driver which is mounted on the drive axle, said retaining mechanism including a retaining ring which is mounted on one side of the central means, said retaining ring being rotatable to a limited extent in relation to the central wheel and also being concentric to said central means, said retaining ring on its outer periphery being provided with a number of engagement means for cooperation with the electromagnet, the inner periphery of said retaining ring being provided with a locking boss for cooperation with an outer pawl which is pivotable on the central wheel, an inner pawl being arranged to be in or out of engagement with the driver depending on the position of the outer pawl in relation to the locking boss of the retaining ring, the inner pawl and the outer pawl each being comprised of an arm which is journalled at one end, said arms being arranged to be turned outwards away from the driven axle and disengage the central 6 means as the rotation of the retaining ring is stopped by means of the electromagnet, the retaining ring being thereby turned to a disengagement position in relation to the central means.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the central means and the retaining ring are actuated by a spring which attempts to turn the retaining ring to a locking position in which the retaining mechanism is engaged with the driver, said spring being located radially inwards of the inner periphery of the retaining ring.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the central means is provided with a resetting dog which is arranged to be brought into engagement with a resetting arm on the driver during resetting.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the central means are arranged to be aligned by means of an alignment means after setting.

5. A device according to claim 1 the driven axle is arranged to rotate in the opposite directions during setting and resetting, respectively, of said type-carrying means.

6. A device according to claim 1, the central means of each setting unit is in direct engagement with the type-carrying means of its respective character location.

Claims

1. A device for setting type-carrying means in a printing device having a printing position, especially for cash registers, said device comprising a pulse generating means which emits pulses to an electronic counting unit and also comprising an electromagnet for each of the character locations, said electromagnet being arranged to change its magnetic state when the counting unit has received a predetermined number of pulses from the pulse generating means, said number of pulses corresponding to the symbol which is to be set, and in which device a driven setting unit is provided for each electromagnet, said setting unit being arranged to cooperate with a type-carrying means of each respective character location, the setting units being arranged side by side on a common driven axle and have lesser dimension in the axial direction of the axle than in the radial direction of the same, there being provided one single setting unit for each character location, said one setting unit being arranged to, when its accompanying electromagnet changes state as a result of the counting unit having received a predetermined number of pulses, disengage a central means in the setting unit from the driven axle, said central means cooperating with the type-carrying means of the printing location, the central means at each setting unit comprising a central wheel which is rotatable on the driven axle and which is provided with teeth along its periphery, said central wheel supporting a retaining mechanism which is arranged for locking and disengaging the central wheel in relation to the drive axle, said retaining mechanism cooperating with a driveR which is mounted on the drive axle, said retaining mechanism including a retaining ring which is mounted on one side of the central means, said retaining ring being rotatable to a limited extent in relation to the central wheel and also being concentric to said central means, said retaining ring on its outer periphery being provided with a number of engagement means for cooperation with the electromagnet, the inner periphery of said retaining ring being provided with a locking boss for cooperation with an outer pawl which is pivotable on the central wheel, an inner pawl being arranged to be in or out of engagement with the driver depending on the position of the outer pawl in relation to the locking boss of the retaining ring, the inner pawl and the outer pawl each being comprised of an arm which is journalled at one end, said arms being arranged to be turned outwards away from the driven axle and disengage the central means as the rotation of the retaining ring is stopped by means of the electromagnet, the retaining ring being thereby turned to a disengagement position in relation to the central means.