US2409232A - Automatic mark clearing device - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 15, 1946. E. F. WESELY 2,409,232

- AUTOMATIC MARK CLEARING DEVICE Filed Dec. 6, 1945 v Patented Oct. 15, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT.OFFICE AUTOMATIC MARK CLEARING DEVICE Edwin Francis Wesely, Chevy Chase, Md. Application December 6, 1943, Serial No. 513,115

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an automatic clearing device for a machine such as a numbering machine or a device for printing or otherwise applying identifying marks on materials. More specifically the invention aims to coordinate the operation of two machines so that when one machine is manually actuated to carry out a function the other machine also operates to carry out a specific function in synchronism.

While this invention is applicable to many different types of machines and devices for various uses, it is particularly adapted for and is described in its application to a listing machine and a numbering or marking machine for laundries. As is well known, present up-to-date laundries list and number all the articles of a customer which are to be laundered and a specific identifying number or mark is assigned to each customer, this number being stamped on each piece of laundry by means of a visible ink or an invisible ink which is only visible under certain light or electric rays such as a fluorescent lamp and is not destroyed during the process of cleaning. This work is carried out with the aid of two machines, one of which lists the articles and the total number of each and the other stamps or prints the assigned customers number on each article. When all the articles have been entered in the listing machineand the numbers applied to the articles, the operator prints or records the listing on a work sheet together with the customers assigned number. This operation locks the listing machine which is independently cleared and is then ready for the listing of a new batch of articles. At this point it some times happens that an operator forgets to clear or change the numbering machine to the next customers assigned number so that when this next batch of articles is listed and numbered, the wrong number will be assigned and printed on the articles and the work sheet. In order to avoid such a mistake the present invention contemplates the clearing or blanking of the numbering machine automatically and simultaneously upon the operation of the listing machine when the latter prints the items on the work sheet.

It is therefore an object of the invention to interconnect the listing and numbering machines in such a way that upon the operation of the listing machine to print the items set up therein, the numbering machine will be automatically cleared or blanked. It is a further object of the invention to provide a pneumatic or fluid pressure system which operates a blanking or clearing member on the numbering machine upon operation of a valve which is tripped by and upon operation of the listing machine. Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a U-shaped member which is provided in an inverted position over the numbering machine to contact the numbersetting knobs in its sweep over the machine to bring all the number printing wheels to the blank positions.

Further objects will be apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevation showing the invention applied to the listing and numbering machines;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofv the numbering machine;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the valve showing also a pair of tubes connected thereto in side elevation and a side of the listing machine, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a piston and cylinder of the numbering machine.

Only a number of the details of the listing machine 5 and the numbering machineS have been illustrated on the drawing since any suitable types of machines may be used and such machines per se do not form an part of this invention. For instance, a listing machine of the type shown in Patent No. 1,695,964, issued December 18, 1928, and No. 1,103,063, issued July 14, 1914, and a numbering machine shown in Patent No. 858, 19, issued July 2, 1907, and No. 1,556,168, issued October 6, 1925, may be used.

The listing machine 5 is provided with the usual flat-bed platen 1 having an operating handle 8 and to this platen there is secured a right-angle actuating member 9.

The numbering machine 6 is provided with the usual number setting knobs or projecting fingers I0 which travel in slots II in the curved cover E2. The U-shaped clearing member l3 extends over the machine and is pivoted on a shaft or stub shafts I4 which are suitably secured near the bottom of the machine. A cylinder I5 is provided with a pin 16 and this cylinder is pivoted to the side of the numbering machine by means of this pin. A piston rod [1 projects from the cylinder [5 and has a piston at its inner end and an eyelet [8 at the outer end. The rod I1 is pivotally connected to the arm I9 of the member l3 at 20. A spring clip 2| is secured at the upper part of one or both sides of the machine and this clip is adapted to retain the clearing member IS in its upright or non-operating position.

A valve 22 of any suitable construction is supported by its connecting tubes or may be secured to the listing machine 5 in any suitable manner and this valve is provided with an actuating stem 23 which latter cooperates with the actuating or trip member 9. A tube 24 leads from a source of fluid pressure (not shown) to the valve and a section of flexible tubing 25 connects the valve with the cylinder [5.

Th system may be operated as follows:

The operator starts on a bundle or quantity of clothes and linen to be laundered and first sets the numbering machine 6 by adjusting the fin gers l corresponding to the number assigned to the particular customer. The number set up in the machine 6 is stamped on the work sheet and the latter is next placed on the platen i. The individual pieces of laundry then are each listed on the listing machine and numbered on the machine 6 and after all the pieces have been so listed and numbered, the operator lifts the handle 8 which will print the listings and number of pieces set up in the machine 5 simultaneously operating the valve 22 to permit air under pressure to enter the cylinder l5 which will swing the member l3 to the right, Fig. 2. This sweep of the member I3 over the top of the casing of the machine 6 will result in the member I3 striking and carrying with it all the fingers It! to move or rotate the numbers to blank or non-print positions, as shown in the foregoing patents, thereby clearing the machine 6. When the machine 6 is blanked, the operating parts are in the dotted line position, Fig. 2, and the member 13 will remain in this position until moved back up by the operator. It is of course obvious that a spring may be provided of which one end is secured to the member l3 and the other to the machine to automatically return the member l3 to the vertical position to be retained in such position by the clip 2i. It is also obvious that the listing machine 5 and the numbering machine 6 are provided with the usual numeral printing wheels, or type plates and inking devices as, for instance, shown in the foregoing patents.

The valve, Fig. 3, is provided with a member 26 which slides on the inside of the valve 22, when the valve stem 23' is actuated, to thereby close a port 21 therein when the clearing device I3 is operated and to open the port 21 upon completion of the clearing action to permit escape of air from the cylinder 15. This will allow for an easy and quick return of the clearing member to the position of Fig. 2. It is of course obvious that a spring for the valve stem 23 must be strong enough to overcome the air pressure in the tube 24 so that the valve stem may return to seat the valve after the clearing operation.

I claim as my invention:

1. A listing and marking machine particularly for laundries comprising a listing device adapted to print a list of laundry items and having an operating handle to actuate means to print the items which have been set up in the device, a numbering device adapted to print identifying numbers on the laundry listed in the listing device and having a member which when operated will clear the number set up in the numbering device, a fluid pressure system connected to both devices including a valve operated by the operating handle of the listing device and a piston and cylinder secured to the numbering device with the piston connected to the clearing member thereof, and means operative when the operating handle is actuated to actuate the valve and thereby cause the fluid pressure to move the piston and thereby operate the clearing member to clear the numbering device when the listing device prints the list of items.

2. A listing and marking machine particularly for laundries comprising a listing device adapted to print a list of laundry items and having an operating handle to actuate means to print the items which have been set up in the device, a numbering device adapted to print identifying numbers on the laundry listed in the listing device and having a member which when operated will clear the number set up in the numbering device, and a fluid pressure system connected to both devices including a valve operated by the operating handle of the listing device and a piston and cylinder secured to the numbering device with the piston connected to the clearing member thereof, said system being operative when the operating handle is actuated to actuate the valve and thereby the piston acts on the clearing member to clear the numbering device when the listing device prints the list of items.

EDWIN FRANCIS WESELY.

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