US3003415A - Imprinter - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 10; 1961 J. F. HERBERT, JR

IMPRINTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 3, 1959 JOHN EMQ'QBEQZJQ INVENTOR. YBY

a roava s I JOHN C DOE kq? EHH BUD Oct. 10, 1961 J. F. HERBERT, JR 3,003,415

IMPRINTER Filed NOV. 3, .1959

4 SheetsSheet 4 JOHN E A/EQEEQZJQ,

INVENTOR.

dr a ys United States Patent M John F. Herbert, In, Santa Clara, Calif.', assignor to of America National Trust and Savings Association, San Francisco, Calif., a national banking association Filed Nov. 3, 1952, Ser. No. 850,668 5 Claims. (Cl. 101-269) This invention relates to an imprinter, and, more particularly, to improved apparatus for impringting on paper data in the form of raised lettering on a card.

The credit card has become a very widely used device. The card usually consists of plastic material, on which certain information has been printed, and, in addition, other information for identifying the user of the credit card is present inthe form of raised lettering and numbers. The mechanics of the transfer of this identifying information to a document, whereby the credit-card user may be billed and the merchant who has sold him merchandise may be paid, is simple. An arrangement is provided for pressing the card against a sheet of transfer paper which is in contact with the document. The credit-card user is then asked to sign the document, signifying the authenticity thereof. 7 7

Although the actual mechanics of the transfer of the credit-card information to the document is simple, the mechanical arrangements for'carrying out such imprinting dovary. In every instance, however, there is required a stable base position for the imprinter being employed, as a result of which these imprinters must remain at a fixed location. in stores or service stations where large areas are covered by the sales personnehthis requires either a large number of the imprinters to be placed about such areas or that the salespeople do a great deal of walking to and from the locations at which the imprinters are positioned.

An object of this invention is to provide an imprinter which is portable.

Another problem which arises with imprinters is in getting the pressure, to obtain the best transfer between the credit card and the document through the transfer paper, Too great a pressure causes distortion of theinformation; too little pressure causes a poor transfer. This is important, in view of the fact that automatic charactersensing techniques are desired to be used for reading the documents. Unless a substantially perfect transfer occurs, automatic character-recognition techniques can provide faultyresults. The adjustment of the pressure of the roller mechanism employed for applying such pressure heretofore has been complicated, difficult, and time consuming.

A further object of the-present invention is to provide an imprinter, wherein the adjustment of roller pressures is performed very simply. p

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a portable imprinter, wherein thealignment of 'a credit card and a document; towhich information is to be transr d i h T-i m d Simply. v V

Yet another object of the present invention is a novel, useful, and ineirpensive portable-imprinting apparatus.

in These and other objects of the invention are achieved in an arrangement wherein an imprinter is in the form of a box, having a cover which is hingedly attached thereto for covering one side of the box. The cover has milled recesses for the insertion thereto of the credit card. When the cover is closed on the box, it positions the credit card on transfer paper which is on the document, to which information from the card is to be transferred. The document rests on 'a template which has suitable positioning and holding means for the document. The template has openings therein which are aligned with the portions of the card bearing raised lettering which is to be Patented Oct. 10, 1951 transferred to the document. Within the box there are supported rollers which extend through the openings in the template. Further, there are provided means for moving these rollers to rotate along the areas of the document to which transfer is desired, with sufiicient pressure to effectuate such transfer. Means are provided in the form of an accessible screw adjustment for adjusting the pressure exerted by the rollers on the document and credit card. A releasable latch is provided which holds the cover, when closed, against the pressure of the rollers. When the rollers have been moved over the area of the document for efiectuating the desired transfer, they effectively cause the latch to release the cover for removal of the credit card and the document on which the imprinting has been done.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, both as to its organization and method of operation, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view, illustrating an embodiment 'of the invention open to receive a credit card and document upon which the creditcard information is to be transferred;

FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the invention in its data-transfer operating position;

FIGURE 3 is a view in section along the lines 33 of FIGURE 2 and illustrates the roller pressure-adjusting means of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view along the lines 44 of FIGURE 3, illustrating the rollers and how they serve to release the latch which is employed to hold the cover;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view along the lines 55 of FIGURE 3, illustrating the drive shaft assembly;

FIGURE 6 is a partial section along the lines 66 of FIGURE 4, illustrating the latch assembly when holding the cover closed;

FIGURE 7 is a view such as FIGURE 6, which illustrates operation of the latch assembly for opening the cover;

FIGURE 8 is a partial section along the lines 8-8 of FIGURE 4, which illustrates the manner in which the roller exerts pressure for effectuating imprinting;

FIGURE 9 is a partial'section along the lines 99 of FIGURE 6, illustrating the details of a clip for holding a document and transfer paper in position;

FIGURE 10 illustrates a typical document of the type on which credit-card data is to be imprinted;

FIGURE 11 illustrates a typical credit card suitable for use with the invention; and

FIGURE 12 is an isometric exploded view, illustrating the layout of the various parts of the embodiment of the invention.

In the description that follows, besides the figures of the drawings, to which specific reference is made, reference should also be made to FIGURE 12. FIGURE '12 is anexploded, isometric view of the invention and assists inunderstanding the relationship between all the parts.

' Reference is now made to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, which is an isometric view of an embodiment of this invention. The imprinter is shown in an open position to receive a credit card ill and a document 12A, to which the data on the credit card is to be transferred. The document has attached thereto a sheet of transfer paper 12B, to provide the ink for the transferred lettering. It

theupper side of which there is supported a template ls upon which the document 12A and transfer paper 123 are placed. A credit card is placed in a suitable recess 13 which is milled in the cover. The credit card is held in place by a pair of clips 17, 20. The card is brought up against an edge of the milled recess which is opposite the finger hole 22. An'opening 30 is milled in the cover to be engaged by a latch 37, which is located in the shell, when the cover is closed. The remaining openings 34, 36, which are milled in the cover, are provided to enable the proper closing of the cover, allowing for the presence of holding clips 38, 40, which are respectively mounted on the templateand on the shell, and which are a may be turned, in order to rotate the rollers and roll them over the areas on the document over which the transfer is'to take place.

FIGURE 2 shows the embodiment of the invention in its closed position during which the transfer of data from the credit card is made to occur by rotating the knurled knob 48. Such rotation, as well as lateral motion, occurs from one end to the other of a slot 50, which is in the wall of the shell, aifording communication between the knurled knob 48 and the rollers 42A, 42B from outside the shell. When the knob 48 has traveled from the hinged to the latched end of the shell, as shown in FIGURE 2, the latch 37 is released, whereby the cover 14 is released and partially opened, enabling the removal of the credit card and the document.

FIGURE 3 is a section along the lines 33 of FIGURE 2, showing the relative positions of the card, transfer paper, and document,as well as the rollers, when the cover 14. is closed. The card 10 is positioned ad-' jacent to transfer paper 12B, which in turn is held in contact with thepaper 12A upon which the credit-card data is to be transferred. It should be understood that more than one set of transfer papers and documents may be employed for the simultaneous transfer to all of the documents of the data on the credit card. Only one is being shown here by way of example, and not by way of limitation. The rollers 42A, 42B extend through the slots in the template 18 in contact with the document 12A. The cover 14 is attached to the shell 16 by means of a hinge pin 15. Both the cover and shell have their respective ends formed into tubes (as may be seen in FIGURE 12), for the purpose of receiving the hinge pin 15. The rollers are carried in a roller assembly frame 52, which fits within the shell 16. Tapped holes 54A, 5413, 56A, 56B (see FIGURE 12) extend through the walls 58, 60 of the roller assembly shell. Screws 62A, 62B, 64A, 64B (see FIGURE 12) are threaded into these 7 holes and bear against the bottom of the shell. By turning the screws there is provided both a leveling arrauge- V ment, as well as a means whereby the pressure exerted by the rollers 42A, 42B against the document 12 may be easily adjusted. Further, as may be seen in FIGURE 12, these screws are readily accessible through the template when the cover is opened for any required adjustment.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view in elevation along the lines 4-4 of FIGURE 3. FIGURE 5 is a view in section along the lines 5-5 of FIGURE 3. FIGURES 4 and 5 together show the arrangement employed in the embodiment of the invention for the purpose of mounting and supporting the rollers 42A, 42B, as well as for securing the rolling motion required to eflectuate the desired transfer of data. In addition, FIGURE 4 shows in dotted lines the position of the rollers at the end of an imprinting operation and just before releasing the latch. The two rollers 42A, 42B are spaced apart on a hollow shaft 42C a distance to enable them to extend through the apertures of the template. The roller shaft 42Cexments.

4 tends on either side of the rollers, until it is proximal to the opposite walls 66, 68 of the roller assembly frame.

An axle or subshaft 70 extends through the hollow shaft 42C and supports the roller 42. This shaft has attached thereto by means of set screws at each of its ends a pinion gear, respectively, 72, 74. The shaft 70 has been made partially flat on each end to accommodate the set' screws in the pinion gears 72 and 74." The opposite walls 66, 68 of the roller assembly frame have aligned slots therein extending along their lengths. These slots effectively comprise a first opening 76, 78, which is on the inside of the frame wall and which is just large enough to permit the axle-70 to be rolled therealong. The first openings open into second- openings 80, 82, which are wide enough to accommodate both the pinion gears 72, 74 as well as two rack gears 84, 86, which are attached to the walls 66, 68 by means of screws. An arrangement for atfording external rotation of the rollers is provided by means of an inner shaft 88, on one end of which there is attached by means of a. set screw the knurled knob 48. The inner shaft 88 is attached to the axle '70 he means of two set screws 90A and 90B, leaving the roller shaft 420 free to turn on the axle 70.

For the purpose of achieving the imprinting operation, the knurled knob is first brought to the side of the imprinter to which the cover is attached. The card and document forms are then inserted and the cover isclosed and latched. The knurled knob is then turned toward the latch side of the imprinter. When it reaches the latch side 'of the imprinter, it releases the latch 37. The position of the roller assembly just before reaching the latch release is shown by the dashed-dotted lines in FIGURE 4.

FIGURES 6 and 7 shown in sectional views the appearance of'the latch mechanism, respectively in the latched and released positions. FIGURES 6 and 7 are partial sectional views taken along the lines 6-6 of FIGURE 4. When the cover 14 is closed to engage the latch 37, a hook end of the latch catches a suitably shaped projection, which is in the latch aperture 30 in the cover. The latch lever 37 is maintained in the engaging position by spring pressure provided by a helical spring 100, which is inserted through a suitable. aperture in the shell wall and held in position by a spring stopper 102 which is used to plug the aperture. The latch 37 is pivotally mounted on a pin 104 which is supported by the outer shell wall. A latch release pin 106 is moved 'of FIGURE 4. This view is shown to illustrate how the roller 42 presses the document, including the transfer paper 12B and the document 12A, up against the raised lettering 10B on the credit card 10. The rollers are free to rotate on shaft 70;.however, they are rolled by reason of their contact with document 12A while being laterally transported from the hinged end of the imprinter to the latch end. When this occurs, the latch is actuated to release the cover 14.

FIGURE 9 is a detail in section and shows how the clip 40 is mounted in the shell wall. This clip assists in holding thetransfer paper and the document 12B, 12A, respectively, in position. The clip 40 is a spring clip and can be readily bent to release or admit the docu- Eachclip is held in position by an associated screw 40A, which is threaded into a suitably tapped hole in the shell wall.

FIGURE 10 is shown to illustrate a typical document 12, to which the credit data is to be transferred. Illustrative information can consist of space for the name of the salesman, the dealers name, the dealers account In the space imprinted the data which is transferred from the credit card. n

A credit card i sribwnjnaro'unn 11. rrma consist of the name of the iss ing o ganization, terms and conditions governing the use 'of the credit card, and pertinent information on the individual to whomthe credit card is issued. In the space on the card which lie opposite the apertures in the template 18 there is provided the raised lettering 10A, and 10B, the nameof the individual, and, other, pertinent information onthe owner of the credit card; as well as his aecount number. A credit c rd s ri v 1 5 51s ..r 1a t ma r a reb it sir t .i r .Qt..1 .m nsa s.. 2 .s=a hs a 11 rollerpresl'sur e required for transferring data in the imprinter warrant the letters being flattened out.

FIGURE 12 is an exploded view of the embodiment of the invention from which the association of the various parts thereof may be seen. The cover 14 has hinge tubes 14A, 14B formed on one end. The shell 16 has a mating-hinge tube 16A formed at one side thereof. The cover is attached to the shell by means of the pin 15, which is passed through the hinge tubes 14A, 16A, 14B. Spring chps 17, 20 are attached to the cover by means of screws for the purpose of holding the credit card in position thereon.

The template 18 has an aligning edge 18A for the document formed therein by an increase in the thickness of the template at the desired location. A spring clip 38, attached to the template, assists in holding the document in place. The spring clip 38 is fastened to the template by a screw. The template 18 has recesses 18B, 18C milled therein, to provide clearance for spring clips 17 and 20. The template is fastened by screws onto the base shell 16. Leveling and pressure-adjusting screws 62A, 62B, 64A, 64B are threaded into the respective apertures 54A, 54B, 56A, 568, which extend through the opposite frame walls 58, 60. These screws are turned until they bear against the base of the shell 16 for the purpose of leveling and adjusting the pressure of the rollers. The template 18 has suitably located apertures to afford access to the screws 62A, 62B, 64A, 64B at all times.

The roller-assembly frame is fitted within the shell 16. Thereafter, the subshaft 88 is inserted in the shaft 70, and the knurled knob 48 is mounted on the subshaft 88, whereby the rollers may be operated from outside the shell. The template 18 is then fastened onto the shell.

Also attached to the base shell 16 is a spring clip 40, which assists in holding the document in position and the latch 37, including the pin 104 on which the latch 37 is pivotally supported. A spring 100 and spring plug 102 bias the latch to hold the cover closed, until actuated to release the cover 'by the axle shaft 70.

There has accordingly been shown and described herein a novel and useful apparatus for imprinting from a credit card the data which is in raised lettering thereon to one or more documents suitably arranged for receiving such imprinting. The structure is simple to operate. It is portable and may be hand-held while being operated, if desired. Furthermore, the procedures required for aligning the document and credit card, in order for the desired imprinting to take place, is extremely simple and substantially foolproof.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for imprinting on a sheet of paper the raised lettering on a card comprising a box; a cover for said box, hinge means for attaching said cover to said box at one edge thereof, means on said cover for releasably holding said card, means for releasably holding said sheet of paper at the side of said box upon which said cover will close, latch means for holding said cover closed with said card next to said paper, roller means, means for supporting said roller means in said box for rolling motion over the surface of said paper and pressing same against said card including a box-shaped roller-assembly frame having a top and b'otto'm side joined by four walls, said top side being open and slots being formed in each of two opposite walls of said rollerassembIy frame, said slots extending along the length of said opposite walls parallel to each other and to said top side, a rack gear in each of said slots, a shaft means on which said roller means are mounted, two pinion gears, and means for attaching said two pinion gears to said shaft means at a distance from one another for engaging said rack gears for moving said roller, means extending external to said box for moving said roller means, and means actuated by said roller means for re leasing said latch means when said roller means has been rolled over the entire area of said paper which is to be imprinted.

2. Apparatus for imprinting on a sheet of paper the raised lettering on a card comprising a box-shaped shell having top and bottom sides joined by four walls, said top side being open, and a slot extending substantially along the length of one of said walls and being parallel to said top sides, a cover for said shell top side, hinge means for attaching said cover to said shell for closing on its top side, clip means attached to the side of said cover which closes on said shell for releasably holding said card, a template attached to and covering the top side of said shell, said template having slots therein at locations corresponding to those of the raised lettering on said card which it is desired to imprint, clip means attached to said template for releasably holding said sheet of paper in position to be imprinted by said card, latch means for holding said cover closed with said card next to said paper, roller means, means for supporting said roller means within said shell for rolling motion and pressure against said paper through the slots of said template, means for applying rolling motion to said roller means through the slot in the wall of said shell, and means for releasing said latch means when said roller means has been rolled over the area of said paper which is to be imprinted.

3. Apparatus for imprinting as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for supporting said roller means within said shell for rolling motion and pressure against said paper through the slots of said template comprises a box-shaped roller assembly frame having top and bottom sides joined by four walls, said roller assembly frame fitting within said shell, the top side of said roller assembly frame being open and a slot extending along each of the walls parallel with the wall in said shell which has a slot, said slots all being substantially aligned, a rack gear in each of the slots in the walls of said roller assembly frame, shaft means on which said roller means are mounted, two pinion gears, and means for attaching said two pinion gears to said shaft means spaced apart from one another for engaging said rack gears for rolling said rollers therealong, and means for adjusting the pressure of said roller means against said paper.

4. Apparatus for imprinting as recited in claim 3 wherein said means for adjusting the pressure of said roller means against said paper comprises a plurality of screws, and a plurality of tapped holes extending through the walls of said roller assembly frame from the top to bottom sides in which said screws are threaded to afford adjustment of the distance of said roller assembly frame from the bottom side of said shell.

5. Apparatus for imprinting on a sheet of paper the raised lettering on a card comprising a box-shaped shell having top and bottom sides joined by four Walls, said top side being open, and a slot extending substantially along the length of one of said walls and being parallel to said top sides, a cover for said shell top side, hinge means for attaching said cover to said shell for closing on its top side, clip means attached to the side of said cover which closes on said shell for releasably holding said card, a template attached to and covering the top side of said shell, said template having slots therein at locations corresponding to those of the raised lettering on said card whichit is desired to imprint, clip means attached to said ,named means including a roller assembly frame having walls parallel'to the wall of said shell having a slot, slots in said roller assembly frame walls,,a]l said slots being coextensive and substantialy aligned with one another, shaft means on which said roller means are mounted, said shaft means extending into and being supported by said slots in said roller frame assembly, means attached to said shaft 5 2,9 99

means through said slot in said shell for applying a rolling motion thereto, means for adjusting the pressure of said roller means, and means forv releasing said latch means when said roller' means has been rolled over the area of said paper which is to be imprinted, f

References Cited the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS H 7 677,910 Woodrufi .'J1ily 9, 1901 700,119 Higgins May 13,1902 2,530,049 Ekblow -5. Nov. 14, 1950 2,598,161 Gruver May 27, 1952 2,848,943 Simons Aug. 26, 1958 Evans Aug. 25, 1959

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