US2708217A - Automatic carriage return - Google Patents

Description

May 10, 1955 B. F. MADSEN 2,703,217

AUT MATIC CARRIAGE RETURN Filed Dec. 6, 1951 a Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BERTHEL F. MADSEN ATTORNEY May 10, 1955 B. F. MADSEN AUTOMATIC CARRIAGE RETURN Filed Dec. 6, 1951 FIG. 5

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BERTHEL F. MADSEN QRNEY May 10, 1955 B. F. MADSEN AUTOMATIC CARRIAGE RETURN 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 6, 1951 INVENTOR BERTHEL F. MADSEN ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 2,708,217 Patented May 10, 1955 AUTOMATIC CARRIAGE RETURN Berthel F. Madsen, Chicago, 11]., assignor to Teletype Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application December 6, 1951, Serial No. 260,151

Claims. (Cl. 178-25) This invention relates to printing telegraph apparatus and more particularly to improvements in function controlling mechanisms therefor.

The present invention contemplates the etfectuation automatically of the carriage return and line feed functrons simultaneously in a printer substantially of the type operated at a predetermined spacing position by the 5 spacing drum to shift a special code bar that controls the selection simultaneously of a line feed function bar and a carriage return function bar which through their respective function pawls and levers cause the carriage return and line feed functions to occur simultaneously.

The primary object of the invention is to provide in a page printer an improved means for effecting automatically the simultaneous operations of the carriage return and line feed mechanisms upon the arrival of the character spacing mechanism at a predetermined operative position relative to the positionment of the movable carriage.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will be more apparent in the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a transverse cross sectional view of the selective control unit taken substantially at the position of the line feed function lever;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental rear view of the selective control unit showing the single and double line feed arrangement;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the line feed mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a schematic elevational view of a printer embodying the mechanism according to the present inventron;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the carriage return mechanism, and

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view, in part broken away, of the carriage return mechanism.

Having reference to Fig. 1, there is shown the basic function mechanism with which the carriage return and line feed mechanisms according to the present invention are associated. This basic function mechanism is located in the receiving page printers at all outlying stations. For a more thorough description of the printer with which the basic function mechanism shown in Fig. l is designedto be used, reference should be had to United States Patent No. 2,505,729, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Reference may also be had to copending application Serial No. 250,056 filed October 6, 1951 by W. J. Zenner, covering the basic function mechanism.

A set of code bars, indicated generally by the numeral 20, is suitably mounted within the printer, which code bars are comparable to code bars 62 to 70 of said Patent No. 2,505,729. Certain of said code bars are movable longitudinally to one of two positions in accordance with the marking and spacing impulses of the well known Baudot code. Other of said code bars 20 are shifted longitudinally under predetermined operating conditions, as will hereinafter appear. A plurality of function bars 21 are suitably mounted in the apparatus with respect to the code bars 20, and are urged to the right (as viewed in Fig. 1) towards the code bars 20 by means of springs 22 individual to each function bar. Each function bar 21 has a plurality of code projections 23 which cooperate with code notches 24 in each of the code bars 20, in well known manner. As will appear hereinafter, certain of the function bars, for example 25 and 26 are provided with only a single code lug or projection 27 adapted to cooperate with an automatic carriage return and line feed code bar 28 (Figs. 1 and 4).

A power shaft 31 carries thereon an eccentric cam (Fig. 7). A collar 81 is mounted rotatably on the eccentric 30 and has an arm 82 by which the cam 30 is attached pivotally to a lever 32 supported pivotally on a stationary shaft 33. A bail 34 (Fig. 1) has a pair of arms 35 which are mounted pivotally on a stationary shaft 36. A pair of toggle links 37 are secured pivotally at 38 to the arm 35, and are secured at the other ends thereof to pivots 40 to which the lever 32 is also secured. As the shaft 31 rotates, the lever 32 is oscillated about the shaft 33 to thereby through the toggle links 37, oscillate the bail 34.

A function pawl 41 has an elongated slot 42 by means of which the function pawl 41 is mounted for longitudinal movement on a shaft 43. A spring 44 continuously urges the function pawl 41 to the right (Fig. 1) and counterclockwise about the shaft 43. The function pawl 41 has a latching shoulder 45 which cooperates with a shoulder 46 on the function bar 21. Normally the latch 45 rides on the top of the shoulder 46 (as illustrated in Fig. 1) thereby permitting the spring 44 to retain the function pawl 41 in its rightward position. A function operating lever 48 is mounted pivotally on a shaft 49 and cooperates with a laterally directed portion 51 on the function pawl 41. The function operating lever 48 is biased in a clockwise direction by a spring 52. Associated with the lower end of the function operating lever 48 is an interponent member 54 the purpose of which will be described hereinafter. Interponents 54 are slidably carried in a guide bracket 55.

Assuming that the permutation of positions of the code bars 20 has been set up which corresponds to the function bar 21, the bail 34 moves to the right and all of the projections 23 are opposite notches 24. The spring 22 is thereby permitted to move the function bar 21 to the right, the projections 23 entering the notches 24, and the shoulder 46 underriding the latching shoulder 45 to thereby engage said latching shoulder 45 due to the action of spring 44 upon function pawl 41. Thereafter as the bail 34 moves back to the left during its return stroke it moves the function bar 21 also, the function bar 21 in turn moving the function pawl 41 to the left. As the function pawl 41 moves to the left in this manner, the lateral projection 51 thereon engages and pivots the function operating lever 48 counterclockwise against the action of spring 52, thereby causing the interponent 54 to be thrust rightwardly (as viewed in Fig. l).

. Pu e hs ba e-a sntiqnsd se e i e sec etion o function bar ll, the function pawl 41 was shifted from its solid line position to the dotted line position 56 over a vertically reciprocating bail member 57. Thereafter, as a new selection is being made in the code bars 20, the ail 7 u dl to s p. or e a e m tur i n pawls 41 from latching engagement with their corresponding function bars 21. Stripper bail 57 is reciprocated vertically by suitable camrning instrumentalities associated with the shaft 3-1 through links 40.

I I aving reference to Fig. 5, the line feed mechanism contemplated herein is of the type disclosed in copending application Serial No. 210,910, filed February 14, 1951 now U. S. Patent No. 2,667,256 dated January 26, by B. F. Madsen, and comprises a gear 61 fixedly related to the platen 62 of the printer, and a pair of drive k m mbers 6 3 and 6,4. The gear 61 rotates with J I and the rack members 63 and 64- are adapted to. alternately engageablewith the teeth on the gear 61, with. a slight overlap of engageability being provided, so. as to impart rotative motion to the gear 61 and platen 62 The rack members 63 and 64am connected to eccentrics 66 and 67, respectively, which are operatively related to the. line feed clutch 65 (Fig. 1) hereinafter described. Power for operating said raclcs 63 and 64 is derived from the main. shaft 31 through said clutch 66. The eccentrics thus control the reciprocatory motion of the rack members 63 and 64. As shown in Fig. 5, the rack members 63 and 64 are adapted to be rocked on a: movable pivot 69. comprising a roller 71 cooperable with slots 72 and 73 in said rack members 63 and 64. The pivot roller 71 is carried on the vertical arm of a bell crank lever 74 pivotally mounted on a pivot stud 75 filled to the side frame of the apparatus. The bell crank 74 is. normally biased clockwise about pivot 75 by a a spring 7.6 against an adjustable stop 77.

Upon rotation of the eccentrics 66 and 67, a combination of rocking motion about pivot 69 and vertically reciprocating motion is imparted to the rack members (3V and. When the rack members 63 and are rotated clockwise about the pivot roller 71 by their respective eccentrics 66. and 67, the teeth on the rack members 63 and 64 will engage the teeth of gear 61. To permit the rack teeth to mesh with the gear teeth under pressure, they fulcrum or pivot roller 71 is made movable so that slight counterclockwise movement is imparted to hell crank 74, thus. increasing the tension of. spring 76.

As. viewed in Fig. 5, the eccentrics 66 and 67 are retative in. a counterclockwise direction. When the long radiusof eccentric 66 is operative tothe left of the vertical teeth from the gear 61. The. rack member 63 is further actuated upwardly with the teeth thereon freeof the gear 61. The same actions are imparted to the rack member by the eccentric 67 except that they occur alternatively, thereby imparting smoothly accelerated and. decelerat'ed movementto the gear 61.

In the performance of the line feed operation, the line feed code signal is received by the selector mechanism, such as describedin said Patent No. 2,505,729, to effect a setting of the code bars2t to select theline feed function bar 21 (similar to bar 39 shown in Fig. 29 of- Patent No. 2,505,729). Pursuant to the receiptof theline feed codesignal, the bail 34 will be oscillated, whereupon;

the function-bar 21 will be. reciprocated to permit shoulder 46to engagethe step 45. of the pawl 41. Then upon leftward movement of the function bar ZLth'e lever 48. will be rotated counterclockwise. toforce-theinterponent 54 rightwardly.

Cps ps atin ith the n ernmen 4 is an any 33 of a clutch trip lever 84, the other arm'SS of which is provided with a stop portion 86 adapted to coact with a laterally directed stop projection 87 on the stop disc 90 of the three-stop line feed clutch 60, which is operatively related (frictionally or otherwise) in well known manner to the power shaft 31. The clutch trip lever 84 is normally biased counterclockwise by a spring and is held against a stop 79. The line feed gearing is such that each one-third revolution of the clutch will advance, the platen by one line. That is, each one-third revolution of the line feed clutch 60' causes its attached spur gear '86 (Fig. 5) to rotate the line feed eccentric spur gear 89 and its attached: eccentrics 66 and 67 one-half revolution. Therefore, the length of time that the line feed clutch trip lever 84 is held away from the clutch will determine the number of line feeds'that' occur. In the embodiment shown, the timing relationship between the cycle of the stripper blade 57 and the rotation of the main shaft 31 is such that the function pawl (exemplified by pawl 41) is not stripped or disengaged from the function bar (21, 25,'etc.) until after more than one-third of a revolution of the clutch 60 has occurred. Thus, in the present illustration, the line feed clutch trip lever will stop the clutch 60 after two-thirds of a revolution, or double line feed has occurred. A

Accordingly, when single line feed is desired, it is neces.- sary to strip or disengage the function pawl 41 from the line feed function bar 21 before the line feed clutch 69 completes one-third of a revolution. This is accomplished by the use of an auxiliary line feed functionpawlstripper 91 (Figs. 1 and 2). The aforementioned stops 87 are integral with the stop disc 93' which is also. provided with three similar cam contours. on its periphery. Cooperating with said cam contour-s on disc is "a cam follower lever arm- 92 mounted pivotally at 93 and normally spring urged against said periphery by spring- 9 i. Integral with the follower arm 92 is an extension or stripper bail 95 which is articulated to the stripper 91. Stripper 91 is driven by the stripper bail 95.. The combination cam and stop disc 90 on the three-stop line feed clutch furnishes the motive force to operate the stripper bail 95 once each one-third revolution of the line; feed clutch 60.

The stripper 91 is slidably carried on the stripperv blade 57 through the instrumentality of slot 96v and stud 97. The stripper blade 57 on which the slot-ted line feed function pawl stripper 91-. resides may be shifted toward the right or left by the camming action of the single and double line feed control lever 98, mounted pivotally at 9 9 on the printer side plate 201. The carnrning end 102 of the control'lever 98 cooperates with a slot or notch 103 in the stripper blade57 is such a mall" ner that the lever 9% when pivoted about pivot- 99-ina counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. l)xthe stripper blade 57 will be shifted leftwardly (as viewed it Fig. 2) in which position thevertically projectingears 164 will not be presented directly below the pawls 4 1-, in whichevent the pawls 41. WillzDOt become disengaged from their respective function bars 2125 until the stripper blade'57 operates, which as previously mentioned, is not until after more than one-third of arevolutiontof'the clutch 60 has occurred. Thus, in this position, doubleline feed is obtained.

Now, when the lever 98 is returned to the position shown inFig. l the blade 57 is shifted rightwardly tothe position shown in Fig. 2, to position the ears 104 under the pawls 41. ceived, and the lever 48 is actuated, the interponent 54-, will trip the, clutch 6.0. as before. However, the. bail. 92-95 will be oscillated duringthe first one=third revolu:- tion of the cam disc 90- (and hence clutch 60) as before, but since the ears.10.4 arepresented directly. beow the p w s: saiipawls .1 Wills e. mmcdi elu tripped or disengaged from their respective function bar s Then when the line feed signal is re-.

during one-third revolution of clutch to effect a single line feed movement, instead of a double line feed; it being recalled that for each one-third rotation of clutch 60 (and hence gear 88) gear 89 rotates one-half revolution, and moreover, for each one-half revolution of gear 89 the pawls 63 or 64 will effect a single line feed movement. The lever 98 cooperates with a two-position detent bracket secured to side plate 101 (Fig. 3).

Having reference to Fig. 8, the character spacing mechanism is exemplified by a spacing ratchet 106 and a pair of driving pawl members 107 and 108. The pawl members 107 and 108 are connected to eccentrics 109 and 111, respectively, which are mounted on a cross shaft 112. Power for operating the cross shaft 112 is derived from the main shaft 31 through a spacing clutch comparable to clutch 108 shown in Figs. 29, 31, and 32 of said United States Patent No. 2,505,729.

The spacing ratchet 106 is integral with and rotates the drum or pulley 113, Fig. 6, comparable to pulley 362 shown in Fig. 25 of said Patent No. 2,505,729, around which the strap or cable 444 is wound to effect character spacing movement of the type carrier 114 (Fig. 6). To efiect this movement in the embodiment shown in Fig. 8, the pawl members 107 and 108 are adapted to be alternatively effective in a forward driving action to impart rotative motion to the ratchet member 106.

In Fig. 6 is illustrated schematically an arrangement showing the application of the invention to a printer; of the type, for example, shown in said Patent No.

2,505,729. The strap 115 is adapted to be wound around a carriage return drum 116, and extends around the idler pulleys 117 and 118 to the spacing drum 113. Fixed to the strap 115 is the movable type carriage 114 adapted to cooperate with a fixed platen 62. With the arrangement according to the invention forward spacing is accomplished in a step-by-step manner, and normal carriage return is also contemplated. The forward spacing (cloclo wise) imparted to drum 113 tends to wind up the cariiage return spring in the carriage return drum 116. In

the normal operation of the forward spacing mechanism, g

the shaft 112 rotates 180 during each spacing cycle so that the pawls 107 and 108 are effective alternatively to move the type carriage one character space; that is, from the position shown in Fig. 8 the pawl 108 is in readiness to step the spacing ratchet wheel 106 one angular step in a clockwise direction commensurate with character spacing, while the pawl 107 is retracted one step. Then upon the next one-half rotation of the shaft 112, the pawl 10% accomplishes the spacing movement, while the pawl 107 is slid back over the ratchet teeth in readiness for its next etfective movement. During the forward spacing operation, the pawls 107 and 108 are constantly engaging the periphery of the ratchet wheel 106 due to the pull of individual springs 117. That is, when the pawls 107 and 108 are drawn back to pick up the next tooth, the pawls merely ride over the ratchet teeth, and are not lifted therefrom during normal forward spacing operations. However, the pawls 107 and 108 are lifted from the ratchet as indicated in Fig. 8, during the carriage return operation which will now be described.

Having reference to Fig. 8, the spacing pawls 107 and 108 are normally operative alternatively to effect through the ratchet wheel 106 clockwise rotation of the spacing drum step-by-step for character spacing. Cooperating with the pawls 107 and 108 is a bell crank member 11S mounted pivotally on a stud 119. Member 118 is provided with a laterally directed portion 121 adapted to cooperate with the pawls 107 and 108. Member 113 is also pivotally articulated to a depending hook member 122. A spring 123 normally tends to impart upward movement to the member 122, which through its pivotal articulation with the ball crank member 118 biases member 118 in a clockwise direction. The hook extremity of member 122 is adapted to engage the lower edge 6 of the horizontal arm of a carriage return bell crank 124 mounted pivotally on a shaft 125 (Fig. 7).

Referring to Fig. 7, in response to a code combination of signals indicative of carriage return, the selection of the carriage return function bar 26 in the manner previously described, and the consequent operation of carriage return function lever 127 by the pawl 128 in a counterclockwise direction will be effected, whereupon interponent 129 is actuated rightwardly to impart clockwise movement to bell crank 124 against the pull of its spring 131. Clockwise movement of lever 124 causes the horizontal arm thereof to depress the hook member 122 to, in turn, rotate the bell crank 118 counterclockwise to cause the lateral portion 121 thereof to disengage the pawls 107 and 108 from the ratchet wheel 106. Simultaneously, the carriage return bell crank 124 will become latched up by the latch portion 132. The ratchet wheel 106 and the arm 133 rotatable therewith are now free to be rotated counterclockwise by the carriage return spring in well known manner. This counterclockwise rotation will continue until the lever arm 133 strikes the unlatching arm 134 of the latch lever 130, whereupon the lever is rotated clockwise about its pivot 135 against the pull of spring 138 to disengage latch 132 from the bell crank 124. Through the pull of spring 123 on book member 122, the bell crank 118 will be returned to its clockwise position to permit re-engagement of pawls 107 and 108 with the ratchet 106. An arm 136 is also associated with the spacing mechanism, which is adapted to cooperate with a dashpot shock absorbing device 137.

Facilities have been provided according to the present invention for accomplishing the carriage return and line feed functions simultaneously. For example, if an operator fails to send the carriage return and line feed function signals before the type carriage 114 is within substantially one character space of the right end of the line, the automatic carriage return arm 141 on the spacing drum 113 actuates the automatic return bell crank 142.

As the spacing drum 113 and ratchet 106 rotate clockwise in a step-by-step manner from the position shown in Fig. 8, pursuant to character spacing, the arms 133, 136, and 141 move therealong. Then as the arm 141 approaches the laterally directed portion 143 of bell crank 142 it will at a predetermined time concurrent with the last (or any predetermined) character space in the printed line coact with the portion 143 to rotate the bell crank 142 clockwise about its pivot 144 against the action of a spring 145. The vertical arm 146 of bell crank 142 is articulated to the automatic carriage return and line feed code bar 28 (Figs. 1 and 8). L0- cated adjacent to the carriage return function bar 126 and the line feed function bars 21 are the automatic carriage return and line feed function bars 25 and 26. These latter two function bars are identical and each have only one code projection 27 which are located opposite the automatic carriage return and line feed code bar 28 which normally blocks the bars 25 and 26.

When the code bar 28 is shifted to the right by the coaction of arm 141 and bell crank 142, the bars 25 and 26 are conditioned for selection. Then upon the ensuing operation of bail 34, the bars 25 and 26 are simultaneously actuated by their respective springs 22 to effect the operation of their respective pawls 41, and therethrough, their respective levers 48 are operated. Thus, the automatic carriage return and line feed operating levers 48 operate respectively the carriage return slide arm 129 (Fig. 7) and the line feed slide arm 54 (Fig. 1) to cause the carriage return and line feed functions to occur simultaneously.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangement is merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in I I the art which will embody principles of the invention and fall Within the spirit and scope thereof.

' What is claimed is: V

1. In a telegraph printer, selector mechanism comprising a plurality of permutation bars arranged in superposed horizontal planes, a plurality of function bars slidably mounted for movement toward and away from said permutation bars, the leading edge of each function bar adapted to cooperate selectively with said permutation bars, a bail member constantly contacting said leading edges to hold said function bars away from said permutation bars against the action of individual springs which normally tend to urge respective function bars toward said permutation bars, a secondary member associated with each function bar and disposed thereabove, spring means individually associated with said secondary membersto urge said secondary members in a direction toward said permutation bars, each secondary member provided'with an engaging portion adapted to be interengageable with an engaging portion onits'assoc'i'ated function bar, means for operating said bail member periodically to enable movement of saidfunction bars. .toward said permutation bars by said individual springs,

whereby one of said function bars is selected according to a permuted setting of said permutation bars to effect cooperative interengagement between the engaging portions of said selected function bar and its respective secondary member, whence upon the return movement of'the selected function bar by said bail, said secondary member is actuated positively, a lateral projection on said secondary member, means controlled by said lateral projection to control the initiation of a function, periodically operated stripper means effective under certain conditions of operation to disengage said secondary member from said selected function bar,'and an auxiliary stripper means operably associated with said periodically operated stripper means and effective-independently thereof to disengage predetermined ones of said secondary members.

2. .In a telegraph printer, selector mechanism comprising a plurality of permutation bars arranged in superposed horizontal planes, a plurality of function bars slidablymounted for movement toward and away from said permutation bars, a secondary member associated with each function bar and disposed thereabove, each secondary member provided with an engaging portionadapted to be 'interengageable with an engaging portion on its associated function bar, means to efiect cooperative interengagement between said engaging portions, whereby said secondary member is actuated positively, periodically operated stripper means effective to disengage said secondary member fromits associated function bar, and an auxiliary stripper means operably associated with said periodically operated stripper means and effective independently thereof to disengage predetermined ones of said secondary members.

3. In a telegraph printer, selector mechanism COIDPI'iS'! ing a plurality of permutation bars arranged in superposed horizontal planes, a plurality of functionbars slidably mounted for movement toward and away from said permutation bars, a secondary member associated with each function bar and disposed thereabove, each secondary member provided with an engaging portion adapted to be interengageable with an engaging portion on its associated function bar, means to efiect cooperative interengagenient between said engaging portions, whereby said secondary member is actuated posi 'vely, periodically operated stripper means effective to disengage said secondary member from its associated function bar, an auxiliary stripper means operably associated with said periodically operated stripper means and effective independently thereof to disengage predetermined'ones of said secondary members, and means to shift said periodicallyoperated stripper means to render said auxiliary stripper means alternately effective and ineffective/ 4. In a telegraph printer, selector mechanism comprising a plurality of permutation bars arranged insuperposed horizontal planes, a plurality of function bars slidably mounted for movementttoward and away from said permutation bars, a secondary member associated with each function bar and disposed thereabove, each secondary member provided with an engaging portion adapted to be interengageable with an engaging portion on its associated function bar, means to effect cooperative interengagement between said engaging portions in ac-.

cordance with the selective operation of said permutation bars, whereby'saidsecondary member is actuated positively, periodically operated stripper means efiectiveto disengage said secondary member from its associated function bar, an auxiliary stripper.means operably associated with said periodically operated stripper means and eifective independently thereof to disengage predetermined ones of said secondary members, cam actuated means for invariably operating cylically said auxiliary stripper means, and'means to shift said periodically operated stripper means to render said auxiliary stripper means alternately efiective and ineffective.

5. In a page printer including a type carriage and a platen carriage, carriage return means comprising a carriage return spring, line feed means, character spacing means for moving one carriage with respect to the other including a spacing ratchet and a pair of pawls alternatively operable on said ratchet to effect rotation there of to wind up said spring, selector mechanism compris-' ing a plurality of code bars arranged in superposed horizonal planes, signal responsive means for controlling the permutative positionment of said code bars, a plurality of function bars slidably mounted for movement toward and away from said code bars, said plurality of function bars including normally selective carriage return and line feed function bars, an additional code bar, a

pair of special function bars also adapted to control said carriage return means and said line feed means, an instrumentality adjustably related to said ratchet and rotatable therewith, and means articulated to said additional code bar and operably related to said instrumentality, whereby said additional code bar is selectively positioned independenlty of said signal responsive means to establish a predetermined selective arrangement of said code bars to select said pair of special function bars simultaneously to thereby effectuate the operations of said carriage return means and said line feed means simul taneously.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,291,759 Rothermel Aug. 4, 1942 2,367,901 Swezey Jan. 23, 1945 2,381,566 Anderson Aug. 7, 1945' 2,490,476 Roth et al Dc. 6, 1949

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