US3188946A

US3188946A - Hammer control mechanism for record marking machine

Info

Publication number: US3188946A
Application number: US248540A
Authority: US
Inventors: Schacht Gunter Heinz
Original assignee: International Business Machines Corp
Current assignee: International Business Machines Corp
Priority date: 1962-12-31
Filing date: 1962-12-31
Publication date: 1965-06-15
Anticipated expiration: 1982-06-15

Description

J1me 1965 s. H. SCHACHT 3,188,946

HAMMER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR RECORD MARKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 31. 1962 5 Sheets$heet 1 INVENTOR. GUNTER H. SCHDCHT AGENT June 15, 1965 G. H. SCHACHT HAMMER CONTROL MECHANISM 'FOR RECORD MARKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 31, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 15, 1965 G. H. SCHACHT' HAMMER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR RECORD MARKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 31, 1962 FIG. 4

ECCENTRIC AT PT. H

UP & DOWN DISPLACEMENT 0F WEDGE RIGHT & LEFT DISPLACEMENT 0F RESTORE BAIL VOLTAGE T0 MAGNET 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3,188,946 HAMMER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR RECGRD MARKING MACHINE Gunter Heinz Schacht, Boblingen, Germany, assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 31, 1962, Ser. No. 248,540 6 Claims. ((31. 101-93) This invention relates to a machine for applying a code marking to a record, and, more particularly, to control mechanism for a printing apparatus of the type wherein the marking operation occurs during a relative motion between the marking member and the record.

In a record marking machine such as a drum printer, for example, the mechanical operations are the limiting factors on the overall speed of operation. Since a decision must be made well in advance of the mechanical operation that the mechanical operation is to occur, it is advantageous to decide as late as possible within an operative cycle what mechanical operation is to occur and, once the decision is made, to provide means that are substantially instantly actuable to start the mechanical operation. For example, in a printing machine wherein the alternate quadrants of the type carrier have alphabetic and numeric data, it is desirable as the end of each quadrant of the type carrier passes the print station to decide whether the print line is complete and, if so, to start another print cycle by restoring the print hammers. To accomplish this purpose, it is necessary to have a device that is selectively actuable and also one that is substantially instantly actuable once a decision is made to start a new print cycle.

- Prior art devices use cams or cyclic arms which are not easily selectively actuable and which generally perform their cycles whether or not the restore cycles are actually needed. Other prior art devices use a spring urged restore mechanism which exerts no control over the velocities of the members thereby resulting in high impact loading of the mechanical components.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an improved high-speed record marking machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved restore mechanism for a high-speed record marking machine.

' A further object of the present invention is to provide a restore mechanism for a high-speed record marking machine which is selectively controllable by a low energy electric pulse.

A still further object of the present invention is to pro vide a restore mechanism which operates at high speed with minimum acceleration of mechanical parts.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a restore mechanism for a high-speed record marking machine capable of selectively actuating heavy and variable loading at high speed by means of a low energy electric pulse.

According to the invention the improved restore mechanism for a marking machine comprises control means ineffective for restoring a marking member when the elements of the control means are in contact with a cam means. When a holding means, such as an electromagnet, is rendered effective, one of the control elements is held in a position effectively disengaged from the rotating cam means in a motion transferring position so that, as the cam means rotates, the cam means will act through a cam following control element to move the marking member to a restored position.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the inventionwill be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

* United States Patent FIGURE 1 is a side view partially in cross section of a record marking machine embodying the invention, showing the restore mechanism in its selective position.

FIGURE 2 is a side view partially in cross section of a record marking machine embodying the invention, showing the restore mechanism in the operative position.

FIGURE 3 is a side view partially in cross section of a record marking machine embodying the invention, showing the restore mechanism in the ineffective position.

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic timing diagram showing the relative times at which various components may be actuated.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the improved record marking machine illustrated therein comprises briefly means designated generally 10 for actuating a movable member 12 to a restored position adjacent print magnet 14 wherein the movable member may be held and subsequently released to print on record 16 by forcing the record 16 and ribbon 18 into the selected type carrier 20. The control means is selectively actuated by holding means 22 in con junction with cam means 24. The operation of holding means 22 causes the control element 26 to be held in a position shown in FIGURE 1 so that, upon further rotation of the cam, the control element 26 is held from the cam following position and causes a wedge member 33 to be interposed between

control elements

28 and 30 thereby transmitting motion of the cam to the movable member achieving a fully restored condition when the high point of cam 24 is adjacent member 28.

In the embodiment shown, cam means 24 is mounted on shaft 2 5 which is continuously rotated (by means not shown). The actuating means 10 comprises

control elements

26, 28 and actuating member 30. Control element 26 is an L-shaped member mounted for pivotable movement about shaft 32. The element 26 is biased toward a cam following position by spring 34. On one end of element 26 is mounted a flexible support member 36 which is coupled to a wedge-shaped member 38. Control element 28 is mounted for pivotable movement about shaft 40 and is biased toward a cam engaging position by spring 42. Actuating element 30 is mounted for pivotable motion about shaft 40 and is biased to a position abutting stop 44- by spring 4-6. One end 48 of element 30 is cut at an angle so that it matches the angle of wedge member 38 when fully inserted between 28 and 30. The other end 50 of element 30 is mounted adjacent the marking member 12 and when the restore mechanism is actuated, the marking member 12 is moved from the position adjacent resilient stop 48 to the position adjacent print magnet 14. The wedge member 38 is mounted for slidable movement between

control elements

28 and 30. When control element 26 is in the cam following position (FIGURE 3) and the cam high position is at control element 28, the element 30 is not moved to the restore position since the amount that control element 28 is moved to the right (FIGURE 3) is balanced by the amount that wedge member 33 is moved downward (FIGURE 3). The net resultant movement on member 39 is insuificient to restore member 12.

Cam member 24 may comprise any suitably shaped cam, but the most desirable shape is an eccentric, since this shape can be easily and cheaply machined. As shown in FIGURE 4, the rotation of cam 24 produces essentially a harmonic motion in member 28 and in wedge member 38. Once in each rotation of cam 24 a decision may be made as to whether the marking member 12 should be restored during the coming cycle of the control means. This time occurs when the control means and the cam assumes the position shown in FIGURE 1 degree position of FIG. 4) wherein the top arm 52 of element 26 is adjacent :the armature 54 of holding means 22. At this time a low current pulse may be applied to winding 56 of holding means 22' to hold member 26 in this position. Since the holding means does'not have to move element 26 into position, a much smaller magnet may be used. As the cam 24 continues to rotate so that the high point moves 1 80 degrees from the position shown in'FIG-URE lto the position shown in FIGURE Z, the element 30 is 'moved from its rest position abutting stop 44' to. the position for restoring the marking member shown in FIGURE 2. During this operation the wedgemember 38 is held in position by the member 26 and the control rod 35 so that there is no sliding motion between the wedge 38.. and control elements 28, 3d. The angle of the wedge 38- and the end 48 of element 30 are chosen sothat the wedgeis locked in place during this operationand is not squeezed out by the pressure of: member 2-8 as: it ismoved by the rotation of cam 24. v 7

As shown in FIGURE 4,.the current to the winding 56 of holding means 22' is maintained until the high point of the cam again reaches the point adjacent core member 54 as shown in FIGURE 1. At this point, a new decision can be made for the next cycle of restore mechanism operation not to rest-ore during this cycle, theoperation is as shown in the full line of the second half of the diagram of FIG- URE 4. The rest-orev cycles-may have any desired timing relationship to the cycle for marking. :Forexample,in the case where a print drum is arranged-with alternate quadrants of alphabetic and numeric characters, the timing of the, restore mechanism may be chosen so that the marking members may be restored atthe'end of any of the. quadrants.

It can be seen that there is provided a mechanismf-or selectively actuating a restoremechanism for a marking machinewhich is substantially. instantly operable once the decision is made to restore, and cont-rolof the restore mechanism is accomplished by a low current control pulse.

and,.if it is desired to restore the marking memher, the conditions are as shown dotted. in the latter. half of the. diagram of FIGURE 4. Whereas, if it is desired;

While the invention has been particularly shown and 7 described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in the form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention.

What is-claimed is:

1. -In a machine for marking a record, the combinationof: e r

a member movable to a record marking position and a restore position; rotating cam means;

- an actuating member for moving said movable member;

control means coupling said cam means and'said actu 'atingmember, said control means comprising first and second pivoted carn following members movable between a first and a second position and a wedge member coupled to said firstcam following member;

said wedge memberv being slid-ably interposedbetween said second cam following member-and saidactuating member in a motion transmitting position when said first cam following memberis in said first position and in an idlingposition when's'aid first cam following member is in said second position; and I electromagnetic holding means for selectively holding saidfirst cam following member from following said cam while in said first position so that said actuating member moves said movable member to said restore position when said second cam following member is moved by saidcam means to its second position. 2. 'In a. machine for marking areeord, the combination of: 1 a

a member movable to 'a record marking position and a restore position; rotating cam means; 7 an actuating member, for movingsaidmovable member; cont-r01 means toselectivelytransmit motion from the cam means to themovable member to move the latter to said res-tore position, said control means comprising first and second pivoted cam following members movable between a first and a second position and a wedge member coupled to said first cam following member, said, wedge member beinginterposed between said second cam following member and'said movable member and. movable between a motlon transmit-ting position and an idling position; and

electromagnetic holding means, for selectively holding said first control member insaid first'position so that the wedge member is-held in saidmotion transmitting position and said movable member is actuated to said re'store'posit-i'on as saidsecond cam following member is-moved. to said second position by said ,camrneans. 3. 'In a machine. for 'markinga. record,'the-'combination off a i a member movable to a record marking position and a restore position; rotating'cam means; actuatingmeans for movingsaid movable member; control means for selectively controlling said'actuating means, said control means comprising first and second cam following members" movable between a first and a second position, said first cam following: member comprising a cam' engaging portion and an extended portion; a wedge. member coupled to, said extended portion and interposed between said actuatingmeans and said, second cam engaging member, said wedge memberibeing movable between a motion transmitting position and an idling posit-ionwhen said first cam-following memher is; in said first and said; second positions respectively; and electromagnetic holding means-for selectively retaining b said first cam; followingmember in said. 'fir-stposition wherein said wedge member is positioned in said motion transmitting position so that the movable member is moved, to the restore position when th cam moves the second cam following'member to its second position. j

s 4., In a machine, for marking; a record, mechanism fo restoring a marking member comprising, in; combination: a member movable to a record marking position and a restore position; a rotating cam means;

' actuating means toselectively transmit motion-from the cam means to the movable member to move the latter to said restore position, said actuating means compris- Y tion, said wedge-shaped extension portion being interposed between-said actuating member and said second cam following member andmovable between a I motion transmitting position and an idling position when-said first cam following member is in said first and said second positions respectively; and

said first camfollowing' member in said first position so that the movable member isactuated to said restore position as the cam is rotated to move said -second cam following member to-said second position, SQJ In a machine for marking a record, a mechanism a rotating cam means; a pivotally mounted cam-following member; arestore member; r v 'a bell crank biased-toward contact with said cam means; electromagnetic holding means mounted adjacent one armof said bellcrank; i wedge means attached to the crank; said wedge means beingposit-ioned between saidpivotallvmounted cam following member and i electromagnetic holding means for selectivelyholding other arm of said bell-- 5 said restore member and movable between a restoring position when said bell crank is closely adjacent said holding means and an idling position when said bell crank is away from said holding means; and

means for selectively energizing said electromagnetic means when said bell crank is closest thereto to hold said wedge member in said restoring position so that as the cam means rotates, said cam following member is moved to actuate said restore member to restoring position.

6. In a machine for marking a record, the combination of an actuating member movable to a predetermined position;

control means comprising a plurality of cam actuated members movable between a first and a second position;

a wedge member coupled to one of said control mem- WILLIAM B. PENN, Primary Examiner.

electromagnetic means to selectively hold said vone control member in said first position so that said wedge member is positioned to move the actuating member to said predetermined position as the cam moves said another control member to said second position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/59 Bonner l0193 X 8/62 Brown et al 101-409 X

Claims

1. IN A MACHINE FOR MARKING A RECORD, THE COMBINATION OF: A MEMBER MOVABLE TO A RECORD MARKING POSITION AND A RESTORE POSITION; ROTATING CAM MEANS; AN ACTUATING MEMBER FOR MOVING SAID MOVABLE MEMBER; CONTROL MEANS COUPLING SAID CAM MEANS AND SAID ACTUATING MEMBER, SAID CONTROL MEANS COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND PIVOTED CAM FOLLOWING MEMBERS MOVABLE BETWEEN A FIRST AND SECOND POSITION AND A WEDGE MEMBER COUPLED TO SAID FIRSTG CAM FOLLOWING MEMBER, SAID WEDGE MEMBER BEING SLIDABLY INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID SECOND CAM FOLLOWING MEMBER AND SAID