GB2045685A - Motor-operated memorandum device for telephone numbers - Google Patents

Abstract

A motor-operated memorandum device for telephone numbers and other types of information including a pair of rotatable reels (8a, 8b), a lengthy strip of paper (2) rolled around the reels (8a, 8b) and an electric motor (9) for driving either reel to wind the paper strip (2) in either direction from one reel to the other. The paper strip (2) has a large number of information spaces (2a) to be filled in, for example, with telephone numbers and telephone subscribers' names. The paper strip (2) is also separated into divisions (2b) each comprising a suitable number of information spaces (2a). The divisions (2b) are made visually distinguishable one from the other, and each has one or more large index letters (2c) imprinted so that telephone numbers or telephone subscriber's names can be entered readably thereupon in the spaces. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Motor-operated memorandum device for telephone numbers The present invention relates to a motoroperated memorandum device for information such as telephone numbers. More particularly, it relates to a lengthy strip of paper on which telephone numbers, telephone subscriber's names, or other information can be entered, said strip being rolled around a pair of reels and is wound by means of an electric motor, from one reel to the other.

Various motor-operated memorandum devices for telephone numbers with a lengthy strip of paper and a pair of rotatable reels have been known, but they have had the following disadvantages relating to the paper strip or tape. Because telephone numbers are written on the paper from one end to the other in a certain order, for instance, in alphabetical order, according to the telephone subscribers' names, the paper strip may have to be moved almost from end to end in some cases and therefore it may take a long time to search for a desired telephone number. If the paper is moved fast by rotating the reels at a high speed with a view to reducing the time required for the searching, it is difficult to read the telephone subscribers' names etc.

written in small letters on the paper and it is in possible to find the desired telephone number immediately. It is of course possible to put down large index letters on the paper to facilitate the searching, but they decrease the space available for the telephone subscribers' names, telephone numbers, or other information.

It is therefore a general aim of this invention to provide a motor-operated memorandum device for telephone numbers or other information which obviates the above-mentioned disadvantages of the devices of the prior art.

With this aim in view, the invention provides a motor-operated memorandum device for telephone numbers or other information in which the paper is provided with large index letters in such a way that they do not decrease the space for the telephone subscribers' names, telephone numbers, or other information.

An example of a motor-operated memorandum device in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a motoroperated memorandum device, for telephone numbers or other information, embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the reverse side thereof; Figure 3 is a plan view of a lengthy strip of paper; Figure 4 is a plan view illustrating a driving means for the paper; and Figure 5 is a sectional view illustrating the driving means.

Referring to the attached drawings, in Figs.

1 and 2, there is shown a casing 1 of a motor-operated memorandum device for telephone numbers or other information. The casing 1 is dividable into an upper body 1 a and a lower body 1 b. The upper body 1 a is provided with a window 3 so that a portion of a lengthy tape or strip of paper 2 enclosed in the casing 1 is visible therethrough, and with push buttons 4a and 4b to actuate, through switches, a reversible electric motor in either direction thereby moving the paper forward or backward as desired. The window 3 is fitted with a transparent plastic cover so that the paper 2 is not exposed. The lower body 1 b is provided at its bottom with a battery box 5, with a cover, containing one or more batteries 6. The casing 1 is further provided on its one side with a pair of knobs 7a and 7b which are respectively fixed to a pair of reel shafts inside the casing 1.

As shown in Fig. 3, the paper strip 2 has a large number of information spaces 2a, separated by transverse lines, to be filled in with telephone numbers, telephone subscribers' names or other information. The paper strip 2 also is separated into divisions 2b each comprising a suitable number of information spaces 2a. The divisions 2b are made visually distinguishable from one another as by coloring, shading or ground designs. This is achieved by lightly coloring alternate divisions. Each division 2b has one or more index letters 2cwhich, for example, can be the first letter of the telephone subscribers' names to be entered in the space 2a within that division.Each index letter, numeral or other symbol 2c is large enough to span a plurality of spaces 2a within the same division 2b, and is imprinted by whiting out, light coloring or the like, so that telephone numbers, telephone subscribers' names or other information can be written or otherwise entered readably in the spaces 2a.

As shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the casing 1 contains a driving means for the paper strip 2 comprising reels 8a and 8b to which the ends of the paper strip 2 are fixed, a reversible electric motor 9 for rotating the reels, and reduction gearing disposed between the reels and the motor. The reduction gearing comprises, for instance, pulleys 1 Oa and 1 orb fixed to the output shaft of the motor 9, pulleys 11 a and 11 b inter-connected with the pulleys 10a and lOb respectively, gears 12a and 1 2b fixed to the shafts of the pulleys 11 a and 11 b respectively, swing gears 1 3a and 1 3b always engaged with the gears 1 2a and 1 2b respectively, gears 1 4a and 1 4b which the swing gears 1 3a and 1 3b are engaged with and disengaged from respectively, pul leys 1 spa and 1 5b fixed to the shafts of the gears 14a and 1 4b respectively, and pulleys 1 spa and 1 6b inter-connected with the pulleys 1 5a and 1 sub respectively and fixed to the ends of the reel shafts respectively. The svving gears 1 3a and 1 3b are mounted on the ends of supporting arms 1 7a and 1 7b which are pivotally attached to the casing 1. The supporting arms 1 7 a and 1 7 b turn on their pivots as the swing gears 1 3a and 1 3b move along the circumferences of the gears 1 2a and 1 2b, and stoppers 18a and 1 8b are attached to the casing 1 to limit the movement of the supportin arms 17 a and 17b respectively.

Switches 1 9a and 1 b, connected with motor 9, control its rotation in one direction or the reverse thereby providing the power to move the paper forward and backward respectively, and are actuated by the push buttons 4a and 4b protruding from the casing 1. The driving means for the paper is disposed on the bottom of the lower body 1 b, and a flat cover plate 20 is disposed over the driving means so that the paper 2 passes between the upper surface of the cover plate 20 and the transparent plastic in the window 3 of the upper body 1 a.

In the operation of the above described device, the push button 4a or 4b is pushed according to the position of a desired telephone number on the paper to move the paper in either one direction or the other until the desired telephone number appears at the window 3. If the push button 4a is pushed, the motor rotates in the direction of moving the paper forwardly, and its rotation is transmitted through the pulleys 1 Oa and 11 a to the gear 1 2a, which pushes the swing gear 1 3a engaged therewith toward the gear 1 4a.

When the swing gear 1 3a is thus brought into meshing contact with the gear 1 4a, the motor power is further transmitted through the pulleys 1 5a and 16a to the shaft of the reel 8a.

Now the reel 8a is rotated, and the paper 2 is moved forwardly by being wound onto the reel Ba.

At the same time, the motor power is also transmitted through the pulleys lOb and 11 b to the gear 1 2b. However, the swing gear 1 3b is pulled away from the gear 1 4b by the gear 1 2b, and the motor power is not trans mitted to the gear 14b, pulley 1 sub, pulley 1 6b or reel 8b. This means that the reel 8b rotates independently of the motor 9 when the paper 2 is pulled from the reel 8b. As a result, when the paper 2 is wound onto the reel 8a, it is simultaneously unwound from the reel 8b. Incidentally, the swing gear 1 3b is not pulled away from the gear 1 4b beyond a certain limit because its supporting arm 17b is brought into contact with the stopper 1 8b at that time.

If the push botton 4b is pushed, the motor 9 is reversed and drives reel 8b instead of reel 8a in the same manner as mentioned above, and the paper 2 is moved backward from the reel 8a to the reel 8b.

The above described device has the following advantages: It makes it possible to find a desired telephone number simply by pushing the push button 4a or 4b. Particularly, it is easy to find the desired telephone number space on the paper strip because the divisions on the paper are made visually distinguishable from one another as by coloring, shading or ground designs and each of the divisions has one or more index letters much larger than the letters and figures written in the spaces. It is therefore possible to move the paper fast to shorten the time required for searching for telephone numbers.Furthermore, because the index letters are formed on the paper by whiting out, light coloring, etc., so that telephone numbers, telephone subscribers' names or other information can be readably written or otherwise entered thereupon, it is not necessary to provide special space for the index letters and the paper can be used effectively.

Thus the motor-operated memorandum de ce illustrated is for telephone numbers or other information and makes it possible to find the desired information easily and immediately even when the paper strip is moved at a high speed. An improved paper strip is used in the device.

While the illustrated device is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that modifications will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the present invention is therefore to be determined solely by the appended claims.

Claims (4)

1. A motor-operated memorandum device for telephone numbers comprising a pair of reels rotatably provided inside a casing, a lengthy strip of paper each end of which is attrached to one of said reels, the casing further containing a reversible electric motor for rotating said reels in either direction and gearing connecting said motor with said reels, wherein said paper strip is provided with a large number of telephone number spaces and is also separated into divisions each comprising a suitable number of telephone number spaces, each of said divisions being visually distinguishable one from the other as by coloring, shading or ground designs, each of said divisions having one or more index letters each large enough to span a plurality of spaces within the same division and imprinted so that telephone numbers, telephone subscribers' names and the like can be entered readably thereupon in said spaces.

2. A motor-operated memorandum device for pieces of information, such as telephone numbers, comprising a pair of reels rotatably mounted inside a casing, a length of paper strip each end of which is attached to one of said reels, a window in said casing for viewing said electric strip, the casing further containing a reversible electric motor for rotating said reels in either direction, and gearing connecting said motor with said reels, wherein said paper strip is provided with a number of spaces to receive information, said spaces being separated into divisions, each division comprising a suitable number of spaces, each of said divisions being visually distinguishable one from the other as by its coloring, shading or ground design, each of said divisions having one or more identifying symbols large enough to span a plurality of spaces within the same division, said symbols being imprinted so that information can be entered readably in said spaces.

3. A paper product for use in a motoroperated memorandum device, comprising a paper strip ruled to provide along its length a number of spaces in which information can be entered, said spaces being separated into divisions each comprising a number of said spaces, each of said divisions being visually distinguishable one from another as by coloring, shading or ground design, each of said divisions being identified further by a symbol large enough to span a plurality of said spaces within the same division, said symbols being imprinted upon said paper strip so that information can be entered readably in said spaces.

4. A motor-operated memorandum device constructed and arranged substantially as herein described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.