US1995022A - Check writer - Google Patents

Description

March 19, 1935. J. w. CARLSON 1,995,022

CHECK WRITER Filed June 16 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 2.26. 4270 1451 Lf/(ZZZK L'azi ozf &" .1? 69 I March 19, 1935. J. w. c'ARLsoN CHECK WRITER F' iled June 16, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z3 l j jy 9/ Q7/3013 March 19, 1935.

CHECK WRITER Filed June 16, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 J. w. CARLSON 1,995,022

Mal ch 19, 1935. J, w. cARLsON CHECK WRITER Filed June 16, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 1 9, 1935.

CHECK WRITER Filed June 16, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 .1. w. CARLSQN 1,995,022

Patented Mar. 19, 1935 UNITED srsrss CHECK. WRITER John W. Carlson, Chicago, 111., assignor to Hezlman Manufacturing Gompany,

Chicago,

111., a corporation of Kllinois Application June 16,1932, Serial No.6l7,553

14 Claims. (Ci. ll9'l) My invention relates generally to check writing machines, and more particularly to improvements in the set-up and printingmechanism for this type of machine.

It is an object of my invention to provide improved means for setting the type wheels which may be operated more conveniently andmore rapidly.

A further object is to provide an improved type set-up mechanism for check writing machines in which a longitudinal slidable member operable by means of a stylus is employed.

A further object is to providean improved connection between the stylus-operated slide and the type segments.

A further object is to provide an improvedrepeat mechanism.

A further object is to provide an improved mechanism for operating a check writer of the above mentioned type. Otherobjects will appear from the followin description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l-is a plan view of the check'writer;

Figure la shows the stylus used for .operating the machine;

Figure 2 is a right-side'elevation of the check writerwith the outer casing-removed;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the check writer, a portion of the casing being broken away to show the operating parts;

Figure 4 is a rear elevation with. the back plate of the casing removed;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3; and

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical'sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5. r

The check writer of my invention comprises a. base 10 having rubber feet 12 secured'thereto by brackets 14. A pair of side frame plates 16 and 18 (Fig. 6) are secured to the downwardly extending flanges 20 of .a U-shaped plate 22 which is secured to the base 10 by screws 24. A pair of supporting brackets 26- and 28 are likewise secured to the flanges 20. The workingparts of the machine are suitably enclosed in a casing, which may comprise-atop sheet ,30', front sheet 32, and rear sheet 34.

A pair of platens 36, 38 are adjustably secured to the base 10 in a well-known manner, the platen. 36 being adapted to cooperate with the serrated: type and the platen 38 with the matrix 40 of a payee name line perforating mechanism. The matrix 40 is supported by a plate '42 which has upwardly bent ears 44'apertured to receive shaft 46. A ball comprising apair of arms 48 pivoted on the shaft 46 and having a cross rod 50 is normally swungcounter-clockwise by means of a torsion spring 52, with its rod 50 held in engagement with a cam 54 rigidly carried on a shaft 56. The shaft 56 is journaled in the side frames 16 and 18 and has an operating handle 58 secured to its left-hand end. A torsion spring 66 (Fig. 4) mounted in a manner similar to the spring 52 normally depresses the rear edge of the plate 42 and thus swings the matrix 40 up-. wardly. It will be apparent that depression of the operating lever 58 will rotatethe shaft 56 counterclockwise (Fig. 5), and through the cam 54 depress the. ball 48, 50 and-thereby force the matrix 40 into engagement'with its platen 38. A stripper 62 is slidable in the platen 38 and is adapted to remove perforatedrpaper from the platen.

A typesegment shaft 64 is mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement in slots 66 formed in the side frame-plates 16 and 18, the ends of the shaft'having washers 68 secured-thereto'to prevent axial movement of the shaft. A plurality of type segments '70 are rotatably mounted upon the shaft 64, each segment. comprising a gear sector portion '72 having teeth '74,. and a type portion bearing numeral type '76. The type segments '70 are separatedjby a pair of spacing washers '78. A slidable logotype 80, and fixed logotypes 82 and .84 are'rigidly secured to the shaft 64 and bear suitable 'indicia, such as The Sum of 8, and, and Cts.. A guide 86 is positioned adjacent each ofv the type segments,

having its upper end bifurcated to surround a sleeve 88 on an alining shaft 90; and its lower end similarly formed to engage 'one'of the separating washers '78. A pair of grasshopperv springs 89 are stressed between the rod 90 and the shaft 64 so as normally to move the latter downwardly.

A plurality of set-upbars' 92 are guided for longitudinal movement on a plate 94. A plurality of vertical partitions 96 are secured at their ends to the plate 94. Each of thepartitions 96 has a horizontal portion 98 forming a means to hold the bars 92 in place between their adjacent partitions. The horizontally bent portions 98 also have marked upon their upper facesposition designating numeralathe digits 1 to 9, inclusive, for the units, tens andhundreds denominational order, and. 0 to 9, inclusive, fortheremaining' orders. The bars 92 have regularly spaced re-' cesses" 100- formed therein which are adapted to receivethe endof a stylus 102. The bars also same means have numerals marked upon their upper faces, one adjacent each of the recesses reading upwardly consecutively from 0 to 9 upon each of the bars. The numerals 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 appearing on the plan view of Fig. 1 are illustrative of the figures which are marked upon the bars 92. It will be noted that the lower ends of the horizontally bent portions 98 of the partitions are cut away as at 104 to provide sight openings for these numerals.

Each of the bars has a finger piece 106 secured at its upper end, and each bar is supported by a metallic strip 108, the bar being secured thereto by screws 110, or by any other suitable means. Each of the strips 108 has adepending arm 112, the extremity of which projects through one of a plurality of guide slots 114 formed in plate 116, which is secured to the plate 94 by screws 118. A pin or screw projects through the extremity of the arm 112 beneath the plate 116 so as to hold the arm against upward movement. A rack 122, having its teeth engageable with those of the segment 72, has a'yoke 124 secured thereto, the yoke surrounding the extremity of the arm 112 and being freely slidable thereupon. A pin 126having its opposite ends projecting from the lower extremity of the arm 112 holds the yoke 124 on the extremity of the arm. From this description, it will be apparent that as the bar 92 is moved downwardly, either by manipulation of the finger piece 106 or by engagement of the stylus in one of the recesses 100, this motion will be transmitted through the arm 112 to the rack 122, and'hence diiferentially set the type segment '70 in accordance with the position of the bar 92. The operating handle 128 is detachably secured to operating shaft 130 and the latter has a pair of short arms 132 rigidly secured thereto. These arms are connected by means of links 134-to the.

ends of toggle levers 136. The other ends of'the toggle levers are pivotally mounted upon the type segment shaft 64. Links 138 supported at their upper ends by shaft have theirlower ends pivotally connected to the toggle levers'136 at a point intermediate the ends of thelatter by pivot pins 142. It will thus be apparent that by counterclockwise movement of the shaft 130 (Fig. 5), the links 134 will be moved toward the left and upwardly, thereby swinging the toggle levers 136 counterclockwise around the pivot pins 142. The links 138 are free to swing about the shaft 140 so that the pivotal movement of the toggle levers 136 results in downward movement of the shaft 64.

Means are provided to ink the type '76. This means may be of well-known construction, and comprises a pair of removable ink rollers 144 and an inking pad 146. The latter is carried on a slidable plate 148, to which a pair of links are pivotally secured. Therear ends of the links 150 are pivotally connected to gooseneck arms 152 pivoted upon pivot studs 154. Each of the arms 152 has a slot 156 formed therein to receive a pin 160 secured to the link 134. Thus, as the link 134 moves forwardly during the operation of the machine, the pin 160 will engage the walls of the slot 156 and swing the arm 152 clockwise about its pivot stud 154, thereby moving the links 150 and the inking pad 146 forwardly. The latter parts are retracted upon the return stroke by the A pair of two-armed levers 162 are rigidly secured to the shaft 130, the lower arm 164 of each of these levers being adapted to abut against the shaft 46 and thereby limit the stroke of the operating shaft. The upper arms 166 of these levers 162 are arranged to engage a rod 63 which is slidably supported in a pair of slots 170 formed in arms 172. The arms 172 are pivoted at their lower ends about shaft 46 and at their upper ends carry a bail 174 which has a transverse portion 1'76 which lies in front of the depending arms 112 of the set-up bars 92 and is adapted to slide upon the plate 116. The rod 168 is normally held at the lower end of slots 1'70 by a tension spring 1'78, the lower end of which is anchored to rod 180, the ends of which are secured to the arms 172.

A pair of arms 182 fixed to a shaft 184 have their mid portions lying beneath the rod 168 and their extremities normally resting upon the shaft '70. A torsion spring 186 (Fig. 4) normally holds the arms 182 in their lowermost position. One end of the torsion spring 186 is hooked around one of the arms 182 and the other end engages one of a pair of stationary guide plates 188, which is supported by a rod 190 secured in the side frame plates l6, 18. These guide plates have inward extensions 192 which support the ends of shaft 46. The upper ends of the plates 188 are supported by a rod 194 secured in the side frame plates 16, 18.

The logotype 80 is adapted to be moved by a wire-shaped lever 196 (Fig. 4), which is pivoted about a stud 198 and has its upper end 200 projecting through a slot 202 (Fig. 5) in an arm 204 of a bell crank lever 206 which is pivoted upon pivot stud 154. The other arm 208 of the bell crank lever is pivoted to a link 210 which has a bifurcated end 212 which surrounds the end of one of the toggle levers 136. The bell crank lever 206 is stressed to move counterclockwise (Fig. 5) We torsion spring 214 which is wound about the shaft 130,

A repeat key'216 (Fig. 2) is securedto a key bar 218, the latter being pivoted at 220. The. rearward end of the bar 218 is pivoted to an arm 222 which is secured to the end of rod 184 by a screw 224. The right-side casing plate 226 (Fig.

3) has a notch 228 out in the inwardly bent flange at the forward end thereof, the notch being staggered to form a shoulder 230. The key bar 218 is adapted to be flexed slightly to the right (Fig. 3) when the repeat key is depressed, and thus engage beneath the shoulder 230 and be locked in depressed position. It will be noted that when the repeat key is depressed, the rod 184 will be swung clockwise (Fig. 5) and the arms 182, which are rigidly secured to the rod 184, will be raised and thereby elevate the rod 168 so that the latter will be held out of the path of movement of the arms 166 of the two-armed levers 162.

The operation of the parts of the machine has been generally indicated in the above description and the description of the operation of the machine will therefore be of general nature. To set up the amount which it is desired to print and scarify upon the check or other document to be protected, the operator may set the bars 92 by manuallygrasping the finger pieces 106 or may utilize the stylus 102. The use of the stylus is recommended because of the greater speed with which the amounts may be set up in the machine, The operator inserts the stylus in the recess 100 adjacent the digit desired and slides the bar for.- wardly until the movement is arrested by abutment of the stylus with the upper edge of the casing plate 30. The bars may of course be thus operated in any desired order but the higher order bars will usually be operated first in writing sequence. Having set up the amount of the machine, theoperator may verifyhis operation by observing indications through the recesseslMx For example, Fig; 1 shows the machine as having the amount$123xl5set uptherein. Y

Forward sliding movement 0f the bars. 102 causes corresponding counterclockwise rotation of the type sectors '70, the sectorsbeing held in adjusted position by suitable'detent mechanism. The-amount having been'set up, the operator swings the operating handle 128 forwardly,rotat'- ing the shaft 130 counterclockwise (Fig. 5), thereby causing an imprinting and scarification of the-checker negotiable'instrument which has been place-din position above the ,platen36.1 During this operation the ink pad 146 is of course moved forwardly through its operating linkages so asto be re-inked-by theinking mechanisml l i. During this downward movement of the typesectors,t-he logotyperiid is moved to the right (Fig. 6) into abutment with the highest order type sector '70 which has been operated, thus justifying the set-up. Upon return movement of the operating handle 128, the type sectors '70 are raised by means of the-togglelinkage, the logotype returnedto-normal position, and through engagement of arms 166 with rod 168, the bail arms 1'72 are swung rearwardly, thereby sliding the transverse piece 1'76 of the bail 174 to the rear to return bars 92 to normal position.

When the repeat'key has been depressed the latter operation does not take-place since the arms 182 will have raised the rod 168 so as to prevent engagement of the latter by the arms- 166; The bail- 176 will thus remain in its forward position, and upon repeated operation of the operating handle 128 the same amount will be imprinted and scarified upon the checks. The use of this repeat key is of course desirable in connection with the issuance of checks for payrolls and dividends and similar purposes, when a large number of checks for the same amount are drawn.

While I have shown'and described a particular embodiment of my invention, I do not desire the scope thereof to be limited to this particular construction but desire the following claims to include all such variations and modifications thereof as will occur to one skilled in the art.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a check writer, the combination of a platen, a plurality of type sectors having type spaced along a portion of the periphery thereof and engageable with said platen, each of said type sectors having a gear sector portion on the periphery thereof, racks engageable with said gear sector portions, a plurality of manually operable longitudinally movable slides each having a loose pivotal connection with one of said racks, and means for moving said type sectors against said platen.

2; In a machine of the class described, the combination of differentially settable type carrying members, longitudinally'slidable bars operably connected with said members, said bars having a plurality of stylus receiving recesses formed therein and digit indicia adjacent said recesses, and a guide for each of saidbars, said guide overlying all except the lowermost digit indicia on its associated bar.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of differentially movable type carriers, a rack associated with each of said carriers and engageable with the carrier to differentially set the same, and a manually operable slide for each of said type carriers and having a slidable connection with -its associated rack thereby per-- mitting lateral movement of --said "carriers with respect-to-said'bars. v

4, In a machine of the class described; the combination of a shaftg'a plurality of type carriersmountedupon-said shaft, each of said carriers comprising agearsector portion and a portion having type secured at the peripheral edge thereof, a rack meshing with the gear sector portion of each of said carriers,manually engageable means for difierentially moving said racks, a platen, an operating handle having a forwardand return stroke, a toggle connection between said operating handle and said shaft for moving the latter downwardly'thereby to press said type against saidplaten, and'a bail operativeupon thereturn stroke-of said ha-ndle torestoresaid racks and-carriers to normal position;

53in a machine of the'class described, the combination of a plurality of differentially movabie'bars, each of said bars having a plurality of recesses therein for the reception ofa stylus,

a bracket secured to each of-saidbars; a plurality of racks each having one end operatively connectedwith one of said-brackets, a plurality of type carriers, each of said carriers having a gear sector portion engageable with one of said racks,-

a transverse bar positioned across the line of movement of saidbrackets, oscillatory operating means, and cam means for moving said transverse bar upon the return'oscillationof said operating means thereby to restore any of-said bars which have been-moved from normal position;

6, In a machine of the class described, the

combination of a plurality of type carrying elements mounted for rotation upon a shaft, and means for differentially positioning said elements, said means comprising a plurality of longitudinally slidable bars, each of said bars having a plurality of recesses formed therein for receiving actuating means, guide means for said bars, and a stop adapted to be engaged by the actuating.

means when the latter is positioned in one ofsaid recesses and moved thereagainst, thereby to limit the longitudinal sliding movement of the bar.

'7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of differentially settable members, each of said members comprising a bar having a plurality of recesses formed therein for receiving actuating means, means for guiding said bars comprising a plurality of angle strips each having a vertical and a horizontal portion, each of the horizontal portions overlying a portion of one of said bars, a stop for limiting the movement of the actuating means, and differentially settable type carrying elements operatively connected with said bars.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of differentially movable type carriers, manipulative means for differentially setting said carriers, restoring mechanism, an operating shaft, cams on said operating shaft, a rod normally engageable by said cams and operatively connected to said restoring mechanism to actuate the latter, a repeat key, and means operable upon depression of said repeat key to move said rod out of the path of said cams.

9. In a check writer, the combination of a platen, a plurality of type sectors having type thereon engageable with said platen, each of said type sectors having a gear sector portion, racks engageable with said gear sector portions, a plurality of recessed manually operated slides each having a loose connection with one of said racks, and means for moving said type'sectors against said platen.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of differentially settable type carrying members, longitudinally slidable bars operably connected with said members, said bars having a plurality of recesses formed therein to receive actuating means and digit indicia adjacent said recesses, a guide for each of. said bars, said guide overlying all except the lowermost digit indicia on its associated bar, an operating handle, and means actuated upon the return stroke of said handle to restore said bars and members.

11. In a -machine of the class described, the combination of differentially movable type carriers, a rack associated with each of said carriers and engageable with the carrier to differentially move the same from normal position, a manually operable slide for each of said bars and having a slidable connection with its associated rack thereby permitting lateral movement of said carriers with respect to said bars, and means for restoring said slides and carriers to normal position.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a shaft, a plurality of type carriers mounted upon said shaft, each of said car- Iiers comprising a gear sector portion and a portion having type secured at the peripheral edge .thereof, a rack engaged with the gear sector por-- tion of each of said carriers, manually actuated means for differentially moving said racks, said means being loosely connected. with said racks, a platen, an operating handle having a forward and return stroke, a connection between said operating handle. and said shaft for moving the latter downwardly thereby to press said type against said platen, and means operative upon the return stroke of said handle to restore said racks and carriers to normal position. 7

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of bars having recesses formed therein, a bracket secured to each of said bars, a plurality of racks each having one end loosely connected with one of said brackets, a plurality of type carriers each having a gear sector portion engageable with one of said racks, a transverse bar positioned in the line of movement' of said brackets, oscillatory operating means, cam means for'moving said transverse bar upon the return oscillation of said operating means thereby to restore any of said set-up members which have been removed from normal position, and selectively operable means for renclering said cam means inoperative.

14. In a machine of the classdescribed, the combination of differentially settable type carrying members, longitudinally slidable manually engageable bars operably connected with said members, said bars having a plurality of recesses formed therein, means for eflecting a printing impression from the set type carriers, operating mechanism for actuating said means, and means actuated by said operating mechanism for restoring said bars upon completion of a printing operation. 1

JOHN W. CARLSON.

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