US2916129A - Form handling device for business machines - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 8, 1959 Filed May 12. 1958 c. A. PARKER 2,916,129

FORM HANDLING DEVICE FOR BUSINESS MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 1NVENTO& amass A. PARKER M FMMM/ Dec. 8, 1959 c. A. PARKER 2,916,129

FORM HANDLING DEVICE FOR BUSINESS MACHINES CHARLES A. PARKER BY F- A r'me/vsr.

Dec. 8, 1959 c. A. PARKER FORM HANDLING DEVICE FOR BUSINESS MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 12, 1958 (HA RLES A. make-k ATTORNEY Dec. 8, 1959 c. A. PARKER FORM HANDLING DEVICE FOR BUSINESS MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet.4

Filed May 12, 1958 4 RR ,7 4 mm N Q x \y \\\N m m A 5 u M H C 00000000 .553221 0 o o o a 8 8 a a Mm 4994449 S A 4 44 a u I m L n A o 4 O O O O w 0 O O O O O O O O C Q O G O G O O O vuuvu A 0 w F IIIIH|HH HhHUWl lJxH PHHHH I BY; W /1.1mm

Dec. 8, 1959 c. A. PARKER 2,

FORM HANDLING DEVICE FOR BUSINESS MACHINES Filed May 12. 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet, 5

it 3/4 ,1; {A J g; I

INVENTOR. CHARLES A. PARKER United States Patent FORM HANDLING DEVICE FOR BUSINESS MACHINES Charles A. Parker, East Orange, N.J., assignor to Monroe Calculating Machine Company, Orange, N .J., a corporation of Delaware Application May 12, 1958, Serial No. 734,781

14 Claims. (Cl. 197-128) The present invention pertains to form handling devices. More particularly, it relates to form handling devices of the type which automatically position a work sheet in proper line position for receiving printing impressions from a machine such as a typewriter or an accounting machine.

One such form handling device is disclosed in United States patent application Serial No. 485,782 filed February .2, 1955 by M. Oberholzer and W. Reber under the title Front Feed Apparatus for Bookkeeping or Typewriting Machines, now Patent No. 2,831,560. As set forth therein the device, which is mounted on the shiftable carriage of a printing machine, includes a front feed chute into which the operator inserts a work sheet. Thereupon, the sheet is automatically fed downwardly to the proper line position for printing as controlled by suitable feed control designations or representations carried by the sheet. When the carriage is returned afterprinting, another feed control designation is applied to the sheet to govern the feeding thereof the next time it is to be used, and the sheet is automatically fed upwardly for either a single line spacing or for ejection. After posting is completed on the last line of the sheet and the carriage returned, the sheet is automatically ejected upwardly.

The prior art device described above possesses one particular shortcoming in that a full sheet, i.e., one which has been posted on all its available lines, if inadvertently inserted into the device will be fed downwardly to position its last line for printing and will remain there. Accordingly, the current printing will improperly be superimposed over the previous printing which already appears on the last line.

In accordance with the present invention, this situation is prevented by providing that a full sheet inserted into the form handling device will be automatically ejected immediately upon termination of downward feed thereof to its last line position.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved form handling devicev for a printing machine.

It is a further object to provide a form handling device which will prevent printing on afull sheet. in serted into the device.

It is a further object to provide a form handling unit which will provide the operator with an indication that a full sheet has been inserted.

' It is a more specific object to provide a form handling unit which will automatically eject an inserted full sheet 2,916,129 Patented Dec. 8, 1959 Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation of a work sheet used with the form handling device. I

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view-taken on line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a schematic wiring diagram of the electrical circuitry of the form handling device of the invention.

The present invention is an improvement over aform handling device of the type disclosed in patent application Serial No. 485,782 filed by M. Oberholzer and W. Reber. Reference is hereby made to said application for conventional details of structure not fully disclosed herein. To the extent practical, parts of the instant device which correspond to like or equivalent parts of the application device will be similarly numbered. Referring now to Fig. 1, the form handling unit 1 is there shown rigidly mounted in any suitable fashion on the shiftable platen carriage 2a of an accounting machine 2 which may be constructed as disclosed in Patent No. 2,809,782 issued October 15, 1957 to H. M. Fleming. Differentially adjustable type members 3 of the machine are adapted to print digital values on a work sheet 4 held in front of platen 2b as controlled by operation of the machine. It will of course be realized that unit 1 may be suitably incorporated in any desired type of type- Writing or accounting machine.

'As disclosed in the Oberholzer et al. application, the form handling unit 1 is automatically operable to place the work sheet in proper line position for receiving printing impressions from type members 3. The machine operator need merely insert .the Work sheet into the upper end of one or the other of two paper receiving chutes 20, 20a. In response to sheet insertion, operation of sheet feeding mechanism is automatically initiated whereby the sheet is driven downwardly. The downward feed will be terminated in either one of two ways, depending upon whether the sheet is fresh, i.e., has never been printed on previously, or has been used before. In the case of a fresh sheet, the downward feed thereof will continue to a maximum extent until its first (or uppermost) available lines is positioned to receive printing, at which time the feed will be terminated in response to operation of a preset control means. However, if the sheet has previously received printing on one or more lines, it will contain corresponding feed control designations applied by suitable devices of unit 1 during the prior handling of the sheet. These designations comprise a series of tabs 4a (Figs. 5, 6) punched in descending order along one side of the sheet, the lowermost tab having been punched following the most recent line posting operation. As the sheet is fed downwardly, the said lowermost tab is brought into cooperable relation with a sensing means, the latter thereupon being operable to control termination of feed whereby the next blank line is positioned to receive entries. Since the particular type of control designation forms no part of the invention, other suitable designations may be employed if desired.

After printing has been completed on the line, the carriage is returned in any conventional manner. The carriage return movement will operate a switch 236 (Fig.

3) which is elfective to cause punching of another tab, said tab controlling the automatic line positioning of the Sheet the next time it is used. Following the punching operation, the paper feed means is automatically operated in reverse direction to drive the sheet upwardly. Depending on the setting of a two-position manually settable switch, the upward feed will either be terminated after a single line space of movement, or will continue until the paper is ejected, that is to say, until the paper is fed upwardly to the maximum extent permitted by its feed holes.

As best seen in Figs. 1 and'2, the sheet handling unit '1 includes three vertical closely spaced plates 17, 18, 19 i which define front and rear paper receiving chutes 20 and 20a respectively. The instant description will'deal only with paper inserted into the front chute 20; however, it will be understood that, as disclosed in the aforementioned Oberholzer et al. application, substantially identical mechanism is provided for independently controlling a separate sheet of paper in chute 20a. Either or both chutes may contain paper. In the latter case, printing can be effected on the rear sheet through the medium of carbon paper interposed between the two 'sheets; or, the rear sheet may be wider than the front sheet and printing performed directly on that portion of the former which lies to the side of the latter.

Feeding of a sheet 4 in chute 20 is effected by means of a pair of spaced sprocket wheels '16 each engageable with preformed feed holes 4b of the sheet. Wheels 16 are secured to a shaft 15 which is adapted to be rotated in one or the other direction by a reversible motor 30 (shown schematically in Fig. 7) acting through a suitable drive train (not shown).

Fixed to the left-hand end portion of shaft 15 is a radially recessed detent wheel 21 (Fig. 3) which is normally engaged by the forward end of a spring urged detent lever 40 pivotally mounted on the left side framing plate of unit 1.

The angular spacing of adjacent recesses of wheel 21 corresponds to the line spacing of a sheet, whereby detent lever 40 will accurately and positively locate the sheet in its various vertical positions. Lever 40 is adapted to be rocked clockwise to release shaft 15 by means of a relay 170 (Fig. 2) whose armature is connected to the lever by a link 175. Such movement of lever 40 will also be effective to operate three normally open switches 41, 42, 43 which overlie the rear end thereof. Closure of switch 41 completes a circuit for motor 30 which will thereupon be energized to operate feed sprockets 16.

Introduction of a work sheet into chute 20 will automatically initiate operation of the drive for the paper feed sprockets 16 to cause the sheet to be fed downwardly. For this purpose, a sensing member 120 projects into the chute a short distance above the sprockets, and will, upon being engaged by the lower edge of the sheet, be shifted to the rear to close a switch 151. A circuit for a relay 150 will thereby be completed, the operating movement of whose armature serves to withdraw the sensing member -from chute 20 so that said member will not interfere with downward movement of the sheet.

Operation of relay 150 will be effective to operate a relay 160 (Fig. 7), contacts 161 and 162 of the latter relay controlling the polarity (and therefore the direction of rotation) of motor 30. When relay 160 is deenergized, the direction of motor rotation will be such as to drive sprockets counterclockwise (Figs. 1, 2) to feed a sheet upward; conversely, when the relay is energized, the motor will operate the feed sprockets clockwise to feed the sheet in descending direction.

Operation of relay 160 will establish a circuit for relay 170 which will withdraw detent arm 40 from engagement with detent Wheel 21, this movement of the arm closing switch 41 and thus initiating motor operation. In view of the energized condition of relay 160,

4 the sprockets 16 will be rotated clockwise and will feed the paper downwardly. It should be noted that the work sheet will have dropped to cooperable relation with sprockets 16 by the time the latter elements start to rotate.

If the sheet is free of any previous entries, it will be fed downwardly to a maximum extent to position its first line for printing, the feed being terminated under control of a pin 50 mounted on a control gear 24 (Fig. 3). Gear 24 is driven by a pinion 23 fast on shaft 15, the incremental angular positions of said gear corresponding to the various line spaced positions of the work sheet. Gear 24 is provided with an annular series of apertures 31, any one of which is adapted to receive pin 50 whereby the feed may be terminated at any preset selected line position. Gear 24 will rotate clockwise as the paper descends and in the course of such movement pin 50 will move into engagement with the forward arm of a bell crank 51, rocking the latter clockwise to close a normally open switch 54 and thus complete a circuit for a relay 180, the operation of which is effective to terminate the downward paper feed.

If the sheet has previously received entries, it will contain the aforementioned control tabs 4a, the lowermost of which is sensed to terminate the feed with the next blank line properly positioned to receive printing. The means for sensing said lowermost tab comprises an elongated strip 102 (Figs. 3, 4) which is guided at its lower end for vertical movement in guide channel 108 defined by respective opposed walls of a block 107 and a member 100. The lower resilient end 103 of said strip is bent upwardly and outwardly, the free end 104 thereof being adapted to frictionally contact the rear face of a sheet within chute 20. To insure that portion 104 will not obstruct the downward passage of the lower end of a descending sheet, sensing member 102 is normally disposed in a position somewhat lower than that shown in Fig. 4 whereby guide channel 108 will hold portion 104 closely adjacent to the main body portion of member 102. As described in the aforementioned Oberholzer application, this function is performed by a pivoted member 86 (Fig. 3) whose slotted forward end is engageable with a horizontal offset 106 of member 102. A depending portion 81 of member 86 is normally prevented from rocking counterclockwise by a pin mounted on control gear 24. When the paper has moved downwardly a distance suflicient to allow its lower end to clear sensing portion 104, pin 80 of control gear 24 will no longer block member 86, the latter thereupon being free to rock counterclockwise under the urge of a suitable spring and raise portion 104 to active sensing position. When the lowermost tab 411 encounters sensing portion 104, it will shift member 102 in downward direction, closing a switch 110. This will complete a circuit for the feed terminating relay and the paper will come to rest in proper line position.

When gear 24 is in its normal unoperated position seen in Fig. 3, pin 80 abuts and maintains bell crank 51 in clockwise position, the latter thereby holding open a switch 53 which is resiliently biased toward closed position. As soon as downward feeding movement of the work sheet is initiated, pin 80 will be removed clockwise from engagement with the bell crank, allowing switch 53 to close. The switch will then remain closed until the sheet is subsequently restored to its starting position at which time pin 80 will once again engage bell crank 51 and open the switch.

Control gear 24 is also provided with a laterally protruding button 260 positioned so that it closes a transfer switch 261 when the paper is in position to receive printing on its last (or lowermost) line. The operation of switches 53 and 261 will be discussed in some detail subsequently in connection with the electrical contact circuitry of the invention.

After posting is completed on the line, the carriage is returned. in any suitablefashion. During. a portion of thereturn movement, a lever 235 pivoted on unit 1 (Fig. 3) will engage a suitable cam surface provided on the fixed framing of the accounting machine and will be rocked clockwise to close a normally open switch 236. Closure of switch 236 will complete a circuit for a punch relay 190 (Fig. 2) whose armature is connected by a link 191 to a punch member 192. Punch member 192 is guided for longitudinal movement in an inclined hole of block 107 and will be actuated, upon operating movement of said armature, to form an index tab 4a which will serve to control the subsequent insertion of the sheet into unit 1. Immediately after the punching operation there will follow an automatically initiated upwardly directed feeding movement of the sheet. This upward movement will either be continuous to eject the sheet or will be limited to a single line spacing operation depending on the setting of a manually adjustable two-position switch 230 mounted on a control panel In of unit 1 (Fig. 1).

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT DIAGRAM AND OPERATION (FIG. 7)

Paper insertion As mentioned before, upon insertion of the sheet into chute 20, sensing member 120 will be operated to close switch 151. A circuit for relay 150 will be established as follows: line 314, relay 150, line 321, switch 151, normally closed contact 181 of relay 180, line 320. The energization of relay 150 will close a normally open contact 152 thereof completing a circuit for relay 160 through line 314, relay 160, contact 152, switch 151, normally closed contact 181 of relay 180, line 320. Transfer contacts 161 and 162 of relay 160 will accordingly be operated to adjust the polarity of motor 30 for downward paper feed. Two additional transfer contacts 163 and 164 of relay 160 will be operated, contact 163 completing a circuit for relay 170 through line 338, 170, line 319, contact 163, line 322, contact 181, line 320. The energization of relay 170 will cause disengagement of detent arm 40 from detent wheel 21, releasing shaft 15 for rotation and causing closure of switches 41, 42, and 43. This completes a circuit for motor 30 as follows: line 308, contact 162, line 312, motor 30, switch 41, line 311, line 310, contact 161, line 314. The motor will now operate to drive sprockets 16 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2, and the paper will be fed in downward direction.

Termination of downward feed Pin 50 will terminate the downward feed to position a. fresh sheet of paper for printing on its first line in the following fashion. As the sheet approaches this position, bell crank 51 will be engaged and rotated counterclockwise in Fig. 3 (clockwise in Fig. 7) by the pin, closing switch 54. This completes a circuit for the feed terminating relay 180 as follows: line 314, relay 180, line 326, line 325, switch 54, line 324, line 308. The normally closed contact 181 of relay 180 will open and will break the above described circuits for relays 150 and 170. However, even though relay 170 is now deenergized, detent arm 40 is at this time riding on the outer surface of detent wheel 21 and is thus still held in clockwise position. Switches 41, 42, and 43 therefore remain in closed condition, the motor remaining energized through switch 41, relay 150 (and consequently relay 160) remaining energized through switch 43 as follows: line 314, relay 150, line 321, switch 43, transfer contact 164 of relay 160, line 317, switch 53, line 324, "line 308. It will be recalled that switch 53 is permitted to close as soon as the downward paper movement commences. The feed continues for a short distance until detent arm 40 drops into the next recess of detent wheel 21 whereupon switches 41, 42, and 43 are permitted to open, breaking the motor circuit and the circuit for relay 150. Contact 152 of the latter relay will now open, deenergizing relay 160 so that its contacts 161, :162, 163, and 164 return to their normal condition shown in Fig. 7. j

If the paper has previously been posted on, it will contain the punched index tabs 4a, the lowermost of which will engage sensing member 102 to close switch before pin 50 reaches bell crank 51. A circuit for the terminating relay 180 will be established as follows: line 314, relay 180, line 326, switch 110, line 320. Relay 180 will now control termination of the downward feeding movement in the same fashion as described in the preceding paragraph.

Punching After posting on a line has been completed, the carriage is returned. During the return movement, lever 235 will maintain switch 236 closed for a period of time. A circuit for the punch relay 190 is accordingly established as follows: line 308, line 324, switch 53, line 317, transfer contact 164 of relay 160, line 301, line 302, switch 236, normally closed contact 201 of relay 200, transfer switch 261, normally closed contact 223 of relay 220, punch relay 190, and line 304; whereby the punch member 192 is actuated to form an index tab in the work sheet. Transfer contact 193 of punch relay 190 will hence be operated and will establish a circuit for relay 200 as follows: line 308, line 324, switch 53, line 317, contact 164, line 301, line 302, contact 193, relay 200, line 304. The normally closed contact 201 of relay 200 will now open deenergizing the punch relay 190, and a normally open contact 202 of relay 200 will now close to establish a holding circuit for this latter relay through switch 236, its primary circuit having been broken by the normalizing of transfer contact 193.

Ejection or line spacing after punching Relay 200 includes a second normally open contact 203 which, upon energization of said relay, will establish a circuit for initiating either ejection of the paper or a single line spacing thereof, depending on the setting of switch 230. If the switch is set to its upper position as shown in Fig. 3 (corresponding to the full line position of Fig. 7), contact 203 completes a circuit for the ejection control relay 220 through line 308, line 324, switch 53, line 317, contact 164, line 301, line 302, contact 193 (now normalized since relay 190 is deenergized), contact 203, switch 230, relay 220, line 304. A normally open contact 222 of relay 220 now establishes a circuit for relay 170 as follows: line 308, line 324, switch 53, line 317, contact 164, line 301, contact 222, contact 163, line 319, relay .170, and line 338; and detent arm 40 will be disengaged from detent wheel 21 to initiate motor operation in the manner heretofore described. As the carriage continues its return movement, switch 236 will open, breaking the circuit for relay 200 whereby the actuating circuit for relay 220 through contact 203 is opened. However, relay 220 will be held energized by its normally open holding contact 221 through the following circuit: line 304, relay 220, contact 221, lines 8 and 301, contact 164, line 317, switch 53, and lines 324 and 308.

Since relay is in deenergized condition, the direction of motor rotation will be such as to drive the work sheet in upward direction. The sheet will be continuously driven until pin 30, rotating counterclockwise (Fig. 3) engages bell crank 51, opening switch 53 and thereby breaking the above described holding circuit for relay 220. Contact 222 will open causing the circuit for relay to be broken, and the motor drive will be terminated when detent arm 40 drops into the next slot of detent wheel 21.

If switch 230 is set to its lower position (corresponding to the broken line showing in Fig. 7), the punching operation will be followed by an upward feed of the paper which will be limited to a single line space. When contact 203 closes, it will complete a circuit for relay 170 as follows: line 308, line 324, switch 53, line 317, con- .tact 164, lines 301 and 302, contact 193, contact 203, switch 230, normally closed contact 212 of relay 210, line 307, relay 170, line 338. Upward feeding movement will accordingly be initiated; however, the closing of switch 42 by detent arm 40 will complete a circuit for relay 210, opening contact 212 and causing deenergization of relay 170. The feed will terminate when arm 40 drops into the next recess of the detent wheel.

It has been found that on certain occasions switch 42 will energize relay 210 with such rapidity that the detent wheel has not advanced suflieiently far to prevent the detent arm 40 from reengaging with the same detent recess from which it was just disengaged. if this happens, it will be apparent that the paper will not advance. To prevent this from occurring, there is provided a cam wheel 25 (Figs. 3, 7) which is driven from control gear 24 and is effective to cyclically close a switch 97. As described in the Oberholzer et al. application, the lobes of cam wheel 25 are positioned to maintain switch 97 closed when detent arm 40 is aligned with a recess of the detent wheel and also for a short distance thereafter. Consequently, even though the circuit for relay 170 through contact 212 may have been broken by a very rapid operation of relay 210, another circuit for relay 170 will exist as follows: line 338, relay 170, line 319, contact 163, normally open (but now closed) contact 171 of relay 170, line 318, switch 97, lines 315, 302, and 301, contact 164, switch 53, lines 324 and 308. This circuit through switch 97 will be held closed by cam 25 until the detent wheel 21 has been rotated an amount sufiicient to prevent the detent arm from re-entering the same recess of the wheel. Cam 25 will now permit switch 97 to open; however, since the detent arm is at this time riding on the outer surface of the wheel, motor operation will continue until the arm engages with the succeeding recess.

Ejection of full sheet upon carriage return carriage return switch 236 now closes, a circuit for the ejection relay 220 will be established as follows: line 308, line 324, switch 53, line 317, contact 164, line 301, line 302, switch 236, contact 201, switch 261, line 7, relay 220, and line 304. It will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 7 that the punch relay 190 will not be operated in 'view of the operated condition of switch 261, and further that the circuit for relay 220 is independent of switch 230. Relay 220 will thereupon operate to initiate ejection of the paper as described earlier. Switch 236 will reopen as the carriage continues its return movement and switch 261 will be returned to normal position as soon as the upward movement of the paper commences; however,

holding contact 221 of relay 220 will continue energization of the relay until the eject operation is terminated by the opening of switch 53.

-. Ejection of full sheet immediately after downward feed to last line If a full work sheet is inserted into a conventional form handling device constructed in accordance with the foregoing description, the sheet will be fed downwardly and will come to rest (as controlled by a tab 4a) with the last line positioned to receive printing. Since the sheet already 'has been posted on the last line, it is apparent that the new posting will be superimposed on the last posting. In accordance with the present invention, this undesirable result is avoided by the provision of means for automatically operating the eject relay .220 as soon as the downward feed of the full sheet to its last line position is terminated. The sheet is consequently ejected immediately whereby a second posting on the last line is prevented and the operator is made aware that a new sheet should be begun.

For this purpose a capacitor 5 is connected in parallel with switch 236, a current limiting resistor 6 being provided in series with the capacitor. Capacitor 5 is normally discharged, and upon being charged the charging current will be effective to operate relay 220. Plate 5a of the capacitor is normally connected to the minus side of theline through contact 201, switch 261, contact 223 of relay 220, relay 190, and line 304. Its other plate 51) is adapted to have access to the positive side of the line through resistor 6, line 302, line 301, contact 164, line 317, switch 53, and lines 324 and 308. Switch 53 being normally open, the capacitor 5 will be uncharged. it will be recalled from the prior description under the heading Paper Insertion that the direction control relay (and therefore its contact 164) is operated prior to the commencement of downward feed and that as soon as the feed commences switch 53 is closed. In view of the operation of contact 164 prior to the closing of switch 53, the last described circuit between plate 51) and the positive side of the line will remain broken during the downward paper feed. As the full sheet moves into its last line position button 260 will operate switch 261 before relay 160 is deenergized and normalizes contact 164 upon termination of downward feed. Plate 5b is therefore now connected to the positive line, while plate 5a is connected to the negative side of the line through relay 220 as follows: contact 201, switch 261, line 7, relay 220, line 304. The charging current drawn by capacitor 5 through relay 220 will be sufficient to operate the relay, the latter thereupon being effective to control ejection of the paper as hereinbefore set forth.

As soon as relay 220 operates, its holding contact 221 will establish a short circuit discharge path for the capacitor as follows: line 7, switch 261, contact 201, capacitor 5, resistor 6, line 302, line 8, contact 221. The discharge path will be interrupted by the normalizing of switch 261 immediately upon the commencement of upward movement of the paper. Plate 5b of the capacitor is still connected to the positive line through contact 164 and switch 53; however, the circuit between plate 5a through relay to the negative side of the line has previously been broken by operation of normally closed contact 223 of relay 220 when the latter relay was energized by charging of the capacitor. The ejection operation will be concluded by opening of switch 53 which will, as described before, result in deenergizing of relay 220, and will therefore re-establish the circuit from the negative line through relay 190 and contact 223 to plate 511; but since switch 53 opens first and thereby breaks the positive circuit for plate 5b before the closing of contact 223, the capacitor will remain uncharged.

It should be noted that under certain conditions capacitor 5 will be charged through relay 190. For example, consider a situation in which the paper, upon insertion, is fed to an intermediate line position. As stated hereinbefore, plate 5a normally has access to the negative line. At the termination of the downward feed, contact 164 will be returned to its normal position shown in Fig. 7 and will thereby complete the circuit from plate 5b to the positive line. Capacitor 5 will thereupon charge through the punch relay 190. Such a charging of the capacitor, however, will be ineifective to operate said relay for the following reasons. The components here under discussion are of the values shown in Fig. 7, namely, relay 200, 3,400 ohms; relay 190, 600 ohms; capacitor 5, 8 mfd.; resistor 6, 100 ohms. Of course, these values merely represent one specific embodiment since those skilled in the art can readily arrive at different combinaoperation be speeded up.

.tion s of values which will be operative to function in the same fashion. It will be apparent therefore that the RC time of the charging path through relay 220 will be considerably. greater than the RC time of the path through relay 190. Further, relay 220 when energized has only its contacts as a mechanical load whereas relay 190 must operate punch 192 in addition to its contacts. For these reasons, the charging pulse through relay 220 is capable of operating this relay, while the charging pulse through relay 190 is insufiicient to energize this latter relay to perform its intended functions.

In addition to operating relay 220 as described before,

relay 200 will remain operated only so long as switch 236 is held closed, and that the switch is operated by lever 235 which is moved to operated position by a cam surface on the machine frame during return movement of the carriage. It is desirable that the carriage return movement be as rapid as possible in order that the overall machine It has been found however that when the carriage return speed is increased above a certain point, switch 236 will open (and will therefore break contact 203) before relay 170 has had sufficient time to disengage detent arm 40 from wheel 21. Capacitor will overcome this disadvantage'by allowing relay 200 to remain energized for a period of time sufiicient to enable relay 170 to perform its intended function, as follows. So long as switch 236 is closed, a discharge path for the capacitor will exist through the switch. By the time switch 236 again opens, relay 200 will of course be operated whereby its normally closed contact 201 is now open, interrupting the negative circuit to plate 5a through relay 1%. Furthermore, normally open contact 202 of relay 200 will be closed. Accordingly, the opening of switch 236 will interrupt the discharge path and will cause the capacitor to be charged through line 304 and relay 200, the charging current being of sufficient amount and duration to keep relay 200 energized long enough for its contact 203 to allow relay 170 to disengage detent arm 40 from wheel 21. When the work sheet is subsequently ejected by operation of relay 220, contact 221 will permit the capacitor to discharge as set forth earlier.

Manually initiated ejection and line spacing Means are provided whereby a sheet may be either line spaced or ejected under control of the operator without the necessity of returning the carriage. For this purpose there are provided on the control panel 1a (Fig. 1) two push buttons 240 and 250. Depression of button 240 will initiate ejection, and depression of button 250 will initiate a line spacing operation.

Referring to Fig. 7, operation of button 240 will close a switch 241 to complete a circuit for the ejection relay 220 as follows: line 304, relay 220, switch 241, line 8, line 301, contact 164, switch 53, and lines 324 and 308; and the relay will control ejection of the paper in the manner hereinbefore set forth.

With reference to the line space button 250, depression thereof will close a switch 251 to complete a circuit for relay 170 as follows: line 338, relay 170, line 307, normally closed contact 212 of relay 210, switch 251, line 8, line 301, contact 164, switch 53, and lines 324 and 308. Relay 170 will disengage detent arm 40, closing switches 41, 42, and 43 and thereby initiating motor operation. Switch 42 will complete a circuit, described earlier, for relay 210, opening contact 212 to break the circuit for relay 170. Therefore, detent arm 40 will be free to enprinting machines. foregoing disclosure be illustrative only and not limitative gage with the next slot of detent wheel 21 upon comple* tion of a single line space movement of the paper, and relay 210 will be normalized upon opening of switch 42.

Should the operator still have button 250 depressed at the time the line space operation is completed, relay would again be energized through contact 212 and the paper line spaced. To prevent this, a normally open contact 211 of relay 210 insures that a depression of line space button 250 will result in only a single line space movement of the paper regardless of how long the button is held depressed. When relay 210 is energized through switch 42, a holding circuit therefor will be established through contact 211. This holding circuit is as follows: line 304, relay 210, contact 211, switch 251, and thence through lines 8 and 301, contact 164, and switch 53 to the positive side of the line. Accordingly, if switch 251 is still held closed at the completion of the single line space movement, the holding circuit will prevent relay 210 from being deenergized. Contact 212 will accordingly remain open preventing a second operation of relay 170.

While there has been shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the form, detail, arrangement, and proportions of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, although the instant disclosure shows the invention as embodied in the device of the Oberholzer et al. patent application, the broader principles of the invention are equally applicable to many different types of work sheet handling mechanisms for Accordingly, it is intended that the of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a work sheet feeding device for a printing machine, sheet feeding means operable to feed a work sheet in'one direction to one of a plurality of line positions and alternatively operable thereafter to feed said sheet in the opposite direction for ejection thereof, first control means for controlling operation of said feeding means to feed said sheet to said one line position, and ejection control means operated immediately upon feeding of said sheet in said one direction to a predetermined line position for controlling operation of said feeding means to feed said sheet in the opposite direction for ejection thereof.

2. The invention according to claim 1, said first control means including means operable to terminate the feeding of said sheet in said one direction at said one line position, and normally ineffective operating means effective immediately upon termination of said feeding movement at said predetermined line position for operating said ejection control means.

3. The invention according to claim 2, said predetermined line position being the position in which the last line of the sheet is positioned to receive printing impressions from said printing machine.

4. The invention according to claim 2, said operating means comprising two normally disabled operating components both of which must be enabled to render said operating means effective, means for enabling one of said operating components upon operation of said terminating means, and means for enabling the other operating component upon movement of said sheet in said one direction into said predetermined line position.

5. In a work sheet feeding device for a printing machine, sheet feeding means operable to feed a work sheet in one direction to one of a plurality of line positions and alternatively operable thereafter to feed said sheet in the opposite direction for ejection thereof, control means for controlling operation of said feeding means to feed said sheet to said one line position, a normally ineffective ejection control relay operable to control operation of said feeding means to feed said sheet in said opposite direction for ejection thereof, and normally ineffective electric circuit means for operating said relay immedi- 11 ately upon termination of feeding movement of said sheet in saidone direction at a predetermined line position.

6. The invention according to claim 5, including means for rendering said electric circuit means eifective in response to termination of feeding movement of said sheet in said one direction at said predetermined line position.

7. The invention according to claim 5, said electric circuit means including two normally disabled circuit portions both of which must be enabled torender said electric circuit means eifective, means for enabling one of said circuit portions in response to termination of feeding movement in said one direction, and means for enabling the other circuit portion in response to movement of said sheet into said predetermined line position.

8. In a work sheet feeding device for a printing ma? chine, sheet feeding means operable to feed a work sheet in one direction to one of a plurality of line positions and alternatively operable thereafter to feed said sheet in the opposite direction for ejection thereof, control means for controlling operation of said feeding means to feed said sheet to said one line postion, a normally ineffective ejection control relay operable to control operation of the feeding means to feed the sheet in said opposite direction for ejection thereof, normally disabled circuit means for operating said relay, said circuit means comprising: a normally discharged capacitor in series with said relay for operating said relay by charging therethrough, and a normally open charging circuit for said capacitor, said charging circuit including said relay: and means for enabling said circuit means, said enabling means comprising means for closing said charging circuit upon termination of feeding movement of the sheet in said one direction at a predetermined line position.

I 9. The invention according to claim 8, said control means including means for terminating feeding movement of said sheet in said one direction, said charging circuit including a normally open circuit portion, said means for closing said charging circuit including means for closing 12 said circuit portion upon operation of said terminating means.

10. The invention according to claim 8, said control means including means for terminating feeding movement of said sheet in said one direction, said charging circuit including a normally open circuit portion, said means for closing said charging circuit including means operable to close said circuit portion upon movement of said sheet in said one direction into said predetermined line position.

11. The invention according to claim 8, said control means including means for terminating feeding movement of said sheet in said one direction, said charging circuit including two normally open circuit portions, said means for closing said charging circuit including: means for closing one of said circuit portions upon operation of said terminating means, and means for closing the other of said circuit portions upon movement of said sheet into said predetermined line position.

12. In a front feed Work sheet handling device for a printing machine, front feed guide means for said sheet, means for feeding said sheet to a postion wherein a blank line thereof below the lowermost previously printed line is positioned to receive printing from said machine, means for determining Whether said previously printed line is a predetermined line, and means controlled by said determining means for preventing any printing thereafter on said blank line when said previously printed line is said predetermined line.

13. The invention according to claim 12, said means fgr preventing printing comprising means for ejecting said 5 eet.

14. The invention according to claim 13, said predetermined line being the lowermost line upon which said sheet is to receive printing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,244,252 Keen June 3, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,916,129 December 8 1959 Charles A, Parker appears in the printed specification It is hereby certified that error correction and that the said Letters of the above numbered patent requiring Patent should read as corrected below.

1 Column 2 line 52 for "lines" read line column 5 line 38 after "338 insert relay -o This certificate supersedes Certificate of Correction issued July 12 1960.

' Signed and sealed this 8th day of November 1960,

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL H. AXLINE Attesting Officer ROBERT C. WATSUN Commissioner of Patents

Images