US3769626A

US3769626A - Printing element for multi point recorders

Info

Publication number: US3769626A
Application number: US00212247A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clenahan R Mc
Original assignee: Leeds and Northrup Co
Current assignee: Leeds and Northrup Co
Priority date: 1971-12-27
Filing date: 1971-12-27
Publication date: 1973-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-30
Also published as: FR2167123A5; DE2262777A1; GB1358362A; IT972819B; AU4881872A

Abstract

A printing mechanism for a multi-point recorder capable of recording as a function of time the magnitude of a number of different measured quantities, such as temperature, pressure, voltage, or the like. The printing mechanism is of the kind comprised of a print carriage having a type wheel or type belt cyclically engaging a chart. In a preferred modification a single type belt is employed which is driven by a drive wheel and has a loop carried on a guide wheel mounted on a print arm. The type belt, or a type wheel, is characterized by a novel arrangement of mark producing means and function identifying characters which prints marks on a recorder chart indicating the values of measured quantities some of which marks are accompanied by function identifying characters so that the records of the different measured quantities are readily distinguished one from another.

Description

Uted States Patent [191 McClenahan PRINTING ELEMENT FOR MULTI-POINT RECORDERS [75] Inventor: Robert W. McClenahan,

Philadelphia, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Leeds & Northrup Company,

Philadelphia, Pa.

[22] Filed: Dec. 27, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 212,247

[52] US. Cl 346/61, 101/368, 197/18,

. Oct. 30, 1973 Primary Examiner-Joseph W. Hartary Attorney-Philemon J. Moore et al [57] ABSTRACT A printing mechanism for a multi-point recorder capable of recording as a function of time the magnitude of a number of different measured quantities, such as temperature, pressure, voltage, or the like. The printing mechanism is of the kind comprised of a print carriage having a type wheel or type belt cyclically engaging a chart. In a preferred modification a single type belt is employed which is driven by a drive wheel and has a loop carried on a guide wheel mounted on a print arm. The type belt, or a type wheel, is characterized by a novel arrangement of mark producing means and function identifying characters which prints marks on a recorder chart indicating the values of measured quantities some of which marks are accompanied by function identifying characters so that the records of the different measured quantities are readily distinguished one from another.

5, Claims, 9 Drawing Figures new I ll lll lli PATENTEU OCT 30 I975 LEEDS NORTHRUP SPEEDOMHX IIIIIIHIIIHIII 0 IIIIIHIHIIIIII FIG.1

1 PRINTING ELEMENT FOR MULTl-POINT RECORDERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Applicants invention is for an improved print mechanism for a multi-point recorder of the type generally classified in the U.S. Patent Office with Recorders, Plural-Function Recorder, Distinguishable Recordings, Plural Markers and Single Record Receiver or similar apparatus.

2. Description of the Prior art Strip chart multi-point recorders including record distinguishing means of the print wheel type have been in use in the industry for many years. During the last or so years it has become increasingly popular for manufactures to provide printing mechanisms for multipoint recorders which will provide records comprised of dots and an occasional record identifying number beside a dot thereby to identify curves formed by series of dots from different input devices. Additionally, the records may also be further identified utilizing different colored inks for the various record traces.

German Patent No. 1,011,631 discloses mechanism capable of providing records of the type described above. This mechanism employs one or two printing devices which revolve about an axis which is disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the chart meterin g roll. In some modifications of this apparatus type elements forming dot-like marks on a chart, each indicative of the valve of a measured input, are supported in a manner to slide in and out along side of type elements for providing point identifications. ln other modifications disclosed in this German patent, separate marking wheels are disposed concentrically with one wheel.

movable along the rotational axis of both wheels. With the wheels displaced along the axis, only dots will be printed. With the wheels brought into the same printing plane, a printing motion of theassembly produces both a dot and a number.

Another mechanism for obtaining the record format described above is that disclosed in U.S. Pats. Nos. 3,195,141 and 3,317,913 wherein a tipping type wheel is employed. The type wheels disclosed in these patents include one or two rows of numbersdisposed about the periphery thereof and a row of dots indicative of the value of the measured inputs. The print wheel is tipped about an axis disposed at a right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of a chart metering roll in a manner such that the wheel prints dots only when tipped at one angle and when periodically tipped to another angle both a dot and a number is printedthus to produce dots accompanied by an occasional curveidentifying number.

U.S. Pat. No 3,409,898 disclosed still another arrangement for obtaining records of the type above described. This patent employs a print wheel having a row of dot printing types disposed around the periphery thereof and a type element bearing an Arabic number disposed along side of every other dot printing element, the numbered type elements being sequentially numbered 1, 2, 3, et'c., for as many points as the recorder is to accommodate. In operation a planetary gear mechanism is employed such that the angular position of the type wheel about its axis of rotation canbe adjusted by a half space or 1% spaces to change from 2 printing dots to printing a dot accompanied by a numher.

One of the most recent mechanisms used in multipoint recorders for producing records comprised of curves formed by series of dots accompanied by occasional numbers to identify each curve is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,611,412. In this mechanism a pair of side-by-side print belts is employed. One belt is rythmically operated into printing engagement with the recorder chart to print dots indicating the values of measured quantities and the other belt is periodically caused to engage the chart to print occasional curve identifying numbers.

While each of the foregoing mechanisms produce records of the desired format, each in turn leaves something to be desired particularly with respect to use in a small recorder. Initially, such devices were very massive and heavy as well as being very complex. Inking problems arose as a result of ink gumming up parts meant to slide relative to each other so that proper sliding action did not occur. In some modifications the type for printing a series of marks such as dots to form curves indicating the values of the measured quantities and the type for printing occasional numbers for curve identification did not print equally well due to the fact that the same print motion was applied over different type areas when dots only and dot and number combinations were printed. In some of the modifications, particularly when it was desired to produce a record for as many as 24 different quantities, the type wheels were undesirably large in diameter. The double print-belt mechanism, while desirable for a record having a chart 6 or more inches wide, requires space consuming mechanism which is not available in a small recorder having a chart width of only 4 inches.

Applicant has found that these prior art problems may be overcome and a multi-point print mechanism applied to a recorder with a 4-inch wide chart by providing a single print wheel or flexible type belt having mark producing means and function identifying characters arranged in a predetermined order thereby to minimize the occurrence of superimposed function identifying characters in the printed record.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with applicants invention-there is provided a printing mechanism for a plural-function recorder. The printing mechanism is characterized by a printing element having a number of mark producing means serially disposed along a continuous surface such as that of a print wheel or print belt. The number of the mark producing means is equal to the number of different functions i.e. measured quantities to be recorded times ,an integral number greater than two thus to provide a plurality of groups of mark producing means equal in number to the integral number and with each group containing at least one mark producing means for each function. The printing element additionally hasat least one set of function identifying characters or symbols. The number of identifying characters in a set is equal to the number of functions to be recorded and each immediately succeeding character of the set is disposed adjacent a corresponding one of the mark producing means in a succeeding one of the groups to provide function identified mark producing means followed along the continuous surface by a number of, corresponding unidentified mark producing means of other groups for production of identified records on a chart consisting of a plurality of unidentified marks between identified marks.

It is an object of my-invention to provide a-printing element, such as a type wheel or type belt, for a plural function recorder. The element has a number of dot printing means spaced uniformly and serially in a first row about the element equal to at least the number of functions to be recorded times an integral number greater than two to provide groups of .dot printing meansarranged for printing a dot on a recorder chart for each of said functions one after the other and as many dots for each function per revolution of the printing element as there are groups of dot printing means. The element additionally has record identifying Arabic number printing meansconsisting of a single series of Arabic numbers having a different number for each function disposed in a second row about the printing element parallel to the first row. The first Arabic number of the series is located beside the dot printing means for the first of the functions in a first group of the groups of dot printing means. The second Arabic number is located beside the dot printing means for the second of the functions in a group, which follows the first group and every subsequent Arabic number in the series, if any, is located beside its corresponding subsequent dot printing means in a group following that having the immediately preceding Arabic number, by repeated usage of one or more groups if necessary. Hence, when there are fewer Arabic number printing means than there. are groups there will be no Arabic number printing means in one or more groups and when there are more Arabic number printing means than there are groups one or more groups will have more than one Arabic number printing means located therein but never will there be number printing means beside every dotprinting means. The position of the record identifying Arabic number printing means in the second row effects a reduction, that is to say, minimizes the printing of Arabic numbers one on top of another. It is more specifically an object of my invention to provide a printing element for-a four function recorder comprising a type orprint' wheel ortype or print belt having a continuous surface constituting a closed loop having 24'uniformly spaced dot or other mark printing means and four different function identifying character printing means serially disposed along the continuous surface thereof with afirst, the sixth, eleventh and sixteenth mark printing means each including adjacent thereto a different one of the four functionidentifying character printing means, leaving the remaining 20 continuous surface thereof with a first, the fifth, eighth,

twelfth, fifteenth, and twenty-second mark printing means each including adjacent thereto a different one of sixfunction identifying character printing means, leaving the remaining 18 mark printing means not having function identifying character printing means, leaving the remaining 18 mark printing means not having function identifying character printing means adjacent thereto for printing unidentified marks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For an understanding of applicants invention, the following specification and claims should be read while referring to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation with many parts omitted showing the relationship of the pertinent parts of a strip chart recorder in which applicants invention may be used,

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the relationship of parts of the recorder indicated in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale showing details of the printing assembly of the recorder illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIG. 4A is a plan view on an enlarged scale of a type belt illustrative of applicants invention,

FIG. 4B is a sideele'vation of the type belt of FIG. 4A,

FIG. 5A is a plan view on an enlarged scale of another type belt illustrative of applicants invention,

FIG. 5B is a side elevation of the type belt of FIG. 5A,

FIG. 6 is illustrative of a section of chart of a strip chart recorder showing curves applied using a printing element in accordance with applicants invention, and

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view of arrangements of dot and number printing means with. the circumference of a print wheel or belt considered as a flat strip the ends of which are to-be joined.

. DESCRIPTION PREFERRED' EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1 there is illustrated the manner-in which parts of a printing mechanism, in accordance with applicants invention, will be associated with a recorder of known type. While any one of many commerically available recorders may bemodified in a manner to incorporate a pplicants invention, it will 'be found that a recorder having a printing mechanism of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,61 l,4l2E. G. Gibby, which is assigned to applicants assignee, will be found easily modified in a manner to practice myinvention. In the various figures of the drawings the same reference numerals will be used throughout with the addition of a prime to some details slightly different in configuration which serve the same functions and with the same reference numerals increased by one hundred wherea different modification is described.- 7

ln FIGS. 1 and 2 there are shown parts of a strip chart recorder 30 wherein 31A,31B; 32A,32B indicate the side plates of a suitable frame structure for mounting parts of the recorder in a manner well known to those skilled in the art, hence the complete frame structure is not separately shown. The

sideplates

31A,32A support a chart metering roll 33 and the side plates 31B and 32Bsupport means toguide a print carriage 40 for movement back and forth across a chart 37, only a portion of whichis indicated. The chart is advanced by the chart metering roll,33 in any suitable manner. A guide rod 36 journaled in the side plates 3lB,32B of the frame is one portion of the print carriage guide means and a pinion shaft 35 journaled in the

side plates

31B,32B is the otherportion of the guide means. The

pinion shaft 35 also serves as an element in the drive train for the print mechanism. The print carriage 40 is adapted to be moved back and forth across the chart 37 by a cable 38 which is actuated by a servo mechanism in a manner which is customarily employed in strip chart recorders, hence neither measuring circuit or servo mechanism are shown since they form no part of the present invention. The print carriage 40 is a simplified modication of that described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,611,412 mentioned above. It includes a pair of

side plates

41 and 42 secured together in a manner later to be described to support various parts of the print mechanism. Also supported from the print

carriage side plates

41,42 is a pointer structure 43 cooperating with a scale 44. The print carriage 40 includes a single type belt 45 which as described in the Gibby patent may be made of Buna N rubber, black, type A. The mechanism for supporting and for advancing the type belt and effecting printing which are fully described in the Gibby patent will hereinafter be described to the extent required for an understanding of applicants invention.

Referring to FIG. 2 it will be noted that the pinion shaft 35, along which the print carriage 40 is slideable, is similar to that shown in the aforementioned Gibby patent. In the modification illustrated this shaft is driven by a constant speed motor 50 through a drive train comprised of a motor pinion 51, a spur gear 52, fixedly mounted on a shaft 55 which is journaled for rotation in side plates 318,328 and a spur gear 53 fixedly mounted to pinion shaft 35 which is likewise jounaled for rotation in side plates 318,328. There is a driving connection between the pinion shaft 35 and gears 46,47 mounted on the print carriage 40 to advance the type belt 45 in timed relation with operation ofa multipoint switch 60 which is driven by gear 61 which in turn is driven by gear 54 fixedly mounted on the shaft 55 with gear 52. Such a switch which connects one condition sensing device after another to a measuring system is well known to those skilled in the art and is indicated in some of the referenced patents. In order to simplify the disclosure it is believed needless to describe such switching mechanism and measuring system in this application since again these are well known to those skilled in the art.

While applicant's invention may be emboided in a print wheel actuated by mechanism known to those skilled in the art, it is deemed preferable by applicant to utilize a type belt as the printing element of his invention. FIG. 3 shows a side view of the print carriage 40 and the manner in'which it is supported on the pinion shaft 35 and'the shaft'36 relative tothe'chart 37.

The

side plates

41,42 of FIG. 2 correspond in function to the side plates 4L,4R of the Gibby patent. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a bushing 71 and a bearing block 72 are secured between the

side plates

41,42 and serve together with the side plates to form a rigid frame assembly for the print carriage 40. The internal diameter of the bushing 71 is a slide fit along the pinion shaft 35 and the bearing block 72 has a notch 72A with a rounded portion which is a slide fit on the shaft 36. As mentioned above, with the pinion shaft 35 and the shaft 36 serving as guide means the print carriage 40 may be moved back and forth across the chart 37.

A hub 48 is mounted for rotation around the bushing 71. This hub supports the spur gear 47 and a type belt driving sprocket 49 which are rigidly attached thereto so as to rotate therewith. An idler shaft 468 is journaled in the

side plates

41,42. Rigidly secured to the idler shaft is the spur gear 46, a triangular cam 46C and a pinion gear 46A. The spur gear 46 meshes with the pinion shaft 35 and the pinion gear 46A meshes with the spur gear 47 so its hub 48 and the attached sprocket 6 49 are rotated in timed relation with operation of the switch 60 and movement of the type belt 45 to bring printing elements one after the other to a printing position in synchronism with the switching operations of the switch 60.

As best seen in FIG. 3, a print arm 74 is mounted for rotation about the same axis of rotation as bushing 71. It supports a pivot shaft 74A at its free end. An idler sprocket 75 is mounted for rotation about the pivot shaft 74A The print or type belt 45 is looped around the belt driving sprocket 49 and the idler sprocket 75 and is advanced in the direction of the arrow in synchronism with operation of the selector switch 60. The print arm 74 has a downwardly extending bent-under portion which forms a cam follower 748 which cooperates with the triangular cam 46C periodically to raise the print arm 74 against the bias of an upper leg of a forked spring 76 moving the idler sprocket and the end of the type belt 45 associated therewith away from the chart 37. When the cam follower 74B drops off of the engaged lobe of cam 46C the force of gravity together with the stored energy in the upper leg of the forked spring 76 drives the outer end of the print arm downwardly toproduce a printing engagement of the then aligned type of the type belt with the chart 37. In so doing the lower leg of forked spring 76 is stressed in a manner to return the print arm 74 to its neutral position which is established by a stop member 77 which is straddled by the legs of the forked spring.

Since the multipoint selector switch 60 and the type belt 45 are moved in synchronism by the common drive means 50 through the various gear trains it will be seen that the mark producing means serially disposed along the continuous surface of the type belt may each be associated with a corresponding function to be recdrded. This is accomplished in the modification illustrated by selecting the gearing so that the switch 60 traverses a set of contacts, one for each of the functions to be recorded, as each of a corresponding group of marked producing means is positioned for printing on the chart. In the modification illustrated using a type belt as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B the recorder is for six functions and the multi-point selector switch 60 is constructed and arranged to connect the six functions one after the'other to the input of the recorder. The type belt 45 will have 24 mark producing means which by means of the gearing are associated in groups of six with six switch points of the multipoint selector switch.

FIGS. 4A,4B illustrate on a much enlarged scale the features of construction of a type belt in accordance with applicants invention which is suitable for use with a six function recorder, as may been seen in FIG. 4A, the type belt 45 includes sprocket holes 45A symmetrically spaced along the length thereof. In the modification illustrated there will be twenty-four of these sprocket holes. On the left hand side of the belt as viewed in FIG. 4A there are disposed a number of marked producing means 458 which as best seen in FIG. 4B are serially disposed along the continuous outer surface of the type belt. These mark producing means are in the form of cone shaped type elements which when inked and brought against the chart produce a mark in the form of a dot. By inspection it may be seen that there are 24such mark producing means. Associated with the first mark producing means to the right of the top center of the type belt 45 of FIG. 4B is a type element 45C which will print the Arabic manner 1 beside the dot when this combination of type elements is brought into engagement with a chart. Beginning with this mark producing means and counting clockwise it may be seen, that there are six mark producing means in this quadrant of the circle. In this group there is one mark producing means for each of the six functions to be recorded. Upon further inspection of FIG. 48, it may be determined that there is a group pf six mark producing means in each of the other quadrants which like the first group have mark producing means for each of the six functions to be recorded.

As is made clear in the Gibby patent mentioned above, some early prior art types of plural-function recorders printed a dot and number every time. The resulting mass of numbers and dots in the curves recorded by such a recorder produced records which were not particularly pleasing in appearance and resulted in curves difficult to distinguish one from the other and analyze when two or morecurves were close together for extended periods of time and likewise made it difficult to interpret the curves where they crossed. The subsequently developed printing format of a dot with an occasional number resulted in the production of chart records much more pleasing to the eye and much easier to interpret. As pointed out above and also in theGibby patent, the first mechanisms which were worked out to produce the dot and occasional number type of record had certain disadvantages because of their size and complexityand with the passage of time simplerand .smaller mechanisms were developed to produce this desirable record format'Prior to the applicants invention, however, such mechanisms have still been too complex and required too much space for use in the smaller recorders such as a strip chart recorder employing a chart of the order of four inches wide or less. Applicant, however, has found that a much simplified version of the Gibby structure employing a single belt can be utilized to produce the desirable record format of dots withoccasional identifying numbers utilizing properly located function identifying characters in association with selected ones of a number of mark producing means serially disposed along a continuous surface.

Referring again to FIG. 43, it will be seen that the Arabic numeral 1 of the type element 45C is a function identifying character for its associated mark producing means 45B. When utilizing the Arabic numbers 1 to 6 as a set of function identifying characters, the immediately succeeding character of the set following Arabic number I will be Arabic number 2. By including an Arabic number 2 as a function identifying character for the type element 45D, which includes the second mark I posite corresponding mark producing means in sucproducing means ofthe second group of six mark producing means, the identifying

characters

1 and 2 are spaced apart so that a number of unidentified mark producing means are disposed between these two function identified mark producing means and it may be ceeding groups. In the illustrated embodiment the groups of mark producing means in the first and second quadrants of the circle of types on the type belt 45, as shown in FIG. 4B, are succeeding groups with respect to the group in the fourth quadrant of the circle in the clockwise direction.

With placement of the identifying characters 1-6 as shown in FIG. 48, it may further be observed that in a clockwise direction around type belt 45 following the type element 45C bearing the function identifying character 1 in group 1 are corresponding unidentified mark producing means 45C, 45C", and 45C" in the second, third and fourth quadrants of the circle. Each of these unidentified mark producing means corresponding to function number 1 will print a dot between printouts of the mark producingmeans identified by the number 1. In like manner each function identified mark producing meansalong the continuous surface of th'etype belt. 45 is followed along the. surface by a plurality of corresponding unidentified mark producing means of the other groups. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated for a six-function recorder there.

will always be three unidentified marks printed on the chart betweenidentified marks.

InFIGS. 5A and 58 there is illustrated a type belt suitable for a four function recorder. In these figures reference numerals corresponding to those used in connection with FIGS. 4A and 48 have been increased by 100. The type belt of FIGS. 5A and 58 has twentyfour sprocket holes 145A and twenty-four mark producing means 14513. The function identifying character Arabic number 1 on the type block 145C identifies its accompanying mark producing means 145B. Progressing clockwise about the type circle there are four quadrants with the Arabic numbers 1 to 4 comprising the set of function identifying characters. There are six groups-of four mark producing means, thus there is a mark producing means in each group for each of the corresponding-functions l to 4 and each immediately succeeding character of the set of function identifying characters is disposed adjacent a selected corresponding one of the mark producing means in a succeeding one of the groups. That is to say, an Arabic numeral l identifies the number 1 mark producingmeans of the first group, an Arabic number 2, which is the character immediately succeeding the l, is disposed adjacent a mark producing means corresponding to the second function in the second group of mark producing means which is a group which succeeds the first group. In like manner the

Arabic numerals

3 and 4 are so placed thus providing spaced apart function identified mark producing means along the type belt with unidentified mark producing means disposed between each function identified mark producing means and additionally each function identified mark producing means is followed along the belt by corresponding unidentified mark producing means of the other groups. More specifically it will be noted that the identified mark producing means 145C is followed by corresponding unidentified mark producing means 145C',145C",145C",l45C"", 145C"". Each of the other mark producing means accompanied by function identifying characters will be found to be similarly followed by corresponding unidentified mark producing means in the other groups of mark producing means.

In FIG. 6 there is shown on 'an enlarged scale a reasonable facsimile of a section of chart 37 having recorded thereon curves for six different functions utilizing a printing element of applicants invention. An inspection of the record will show that between each pair of function identified dots there are three unidentified dots along the curve so that the function identifying characters are separated linearly of the chart in a manner to minimize the occurrence of superimposed function identifying characters.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view of arrangements of dot and number printing means with the circumference of a In FIG. 7 there are illustrated diagrammatically'the surface layouts of printing elements in accordance with applicantss invention wherein the'circumference of a print wheel or belt is considered as a flat strip the ends ofwhich will be joined. Arrangements are shown in FIG. 7 for two, three, four, five, and six function recorders respectively.

For a two function recorder it may be noted that if 24 uniformly spaced dot printing means, directed by the 12 groups labeled 1 2, l-2, 1 2 etc., are utilized in a first row about a print wheel or belt there may be utilized printing means for the

Arabic number

1 and 2 to form a single series of Arabic numbers in a second row parallel to the first row. The 1 is located beside the dot printing means for function one, i.e. the first of the two functions to be recorded, in'the first group of the 12 groups and the 2, i.e. the second of the Arabic numbers in the series, is located beside the dot printing means for the second of the functions to be recorded in a group which follows the first grpup, i.e. the second dot in the seventh group. If there be more than two functions, for example three to six, every subsequent Arabic numberin the series is placed beside its corresponding subsequent dot printing means in a group following that having the immediately preceding Arabic number. That is to say for a three function recorder the Arabic number printing means for 2 is beside the dot printing means for the second function in the third group of dots and the Arabic number printing means for 3 is beside the dot printing means forthe third function in the fifth group which is a group following the third group having 1 the immediately preceding Arabic number 2.

For a six function recorder having only 24 dot printing means it may be noted from FIG. 7 that it is necessary to use the first and second groups of dot printing means over again so that theArabic number printing means for the may be located beside its corresponding subsequent dot printing means in a group which follows that having the Arabic number printing means for 4 and the same is true for the 6. v From the foregoing it is believed evident to those skilled in the art that records formed of dots or marks accompanied by an occasional record identifying number or character may be produced in accordance with applicants invention using a single control cam drive in combination with a printing element which carried both mark printing means and function or record identifying character printing means in avoidance of the need for additional cams and other structure to effect in and out movement of dot printing types, tipping of a print wheel, advancing or retarding a print wheel, changing the length of the printing stroke, or using two print wheels or belts one for dots and one for numbers.

While for illustrative purposes rubber type belts have been described it is clearly to be understood that the printing element may be of any suitable material and/or configuration. Type wheels comprised of any suitable material can be utilized in the practice of my invention. It is likewise to be understood that while for illustrative purposes 24 mark producing means have been described specifically with four and six function recorders neither the kind or number of mark producing means, the kind of record identifying characters, nor the number of functions to be recorded is intended as a limiting factor since any of many combinations of a number of mark producing means may be used to effect printout of different numbersof functions in accordance with applicants invention. The terms fmark, dot, chara'cte'r", and Arabic number are used interchangeably in a generic sense throughout the specification and the claims since it is believed that the dot and number terminology enables one more easily to understand the gist of applicants invention.

What is claimed is: I

L'A printing mechanism for a plural-function rccorder of the type having a chart, a print carriage supporting a printing element such as type wheel or belt, means to move the print carriage relative to the chart in accordance with the value of a measured quantity as each of a plurality of condition responsive devices is connected to a measuring circuit of the recorder by multi-point switch means operated in synchronism with said printing element by a common drive means therefore, and means to effect periodic printing engagement of said printing element with said chart to record a plurality of curves, one for each function to be recorded, the improvement comprising:

said printing element having a number of uniformly spaced mark producing means serially disposed in a first row about said element, said number being equal at least to the number of functions to be recorded times an integral number greater than two thus to provide a plurality of groups of mark producing means equal in number to the integral number and with each group containing at least one of said mark producing means for each of said functions, and said printing element additionally having a series of function identifying character printing means,'the

ber of functions to be recorded, disposed in a second row about said printing element parallel to said first row, the first of said series of function identifying character printing means being located beside the mark producing means for the first of said functions in a first of said groups, the second of said function identifying character printing means of said series being located beside the mark producing means for the second of said functions in a group which follows said first group and each immediately succeeding function identifying character printing means of said series being located beside number of which insaid series is equal to said num-- its corresponding one of said mark producing means in a group following that having the immediately preceding function identifying character printing means for production of records on a chart consisting of a plurality of unidentified marks between identified marks with the function identifying characters displaced linearly of the chart to minimize the occurrence of superimposed function identifying characters.

2. A printing element, such as a type wheel or type belt, for a plural function recorder, said element having:

a number of dot printing means spaced uniformly and serially in a first row about said element, said number being equal to at least the number of functions to be recorded times'an integral number greater than two to provide groups of dot printing means arranged for printing a dot on a recorder chart for each of said functions one after the other and as many dots for each function per revolution of said printing element as there are groups of dot printing means, and

record identifying Arabic number printing means consisting of a single series of Arabic number having a different number for each function disposed in a second row about said printing element paralhim said first row, the first Arabic number of said series being located beside the dot printing means for the first of said functions in a first group of said groups of dot printing means, the second of said Arabic numbers being located beside the dot printing means for the second of said functions in a group which follows said first group, and every subsequent Arabic number in said series being located beside its corresponding subsequent dot printing means in a group following that having the immediately preceding Arabic number, by repeated usage of one or.more groups if necessary, hence when there are fewer Arabic number printing means than there are groups there will be no Arabic number printing means in one or more groups and when there are more Arabic number printing means than there are groups one or more groups will have more than one Arabic number printing means located therein but never will there be number printing means beside every dot printing means, the position of said record identifying Arabic number printing means in said second row effecting a reduction in the printing of said Arabic numbers one on top of another.

3. A printing element in accordance with claim 2 wherein said number of dot printing means is 24, said number of functions to be recorded is four, said integral number is six, the number of said groups is six, and said single series of Arabic numbers consists of the

numbers

1, 2, 3, 4, each beside a corresponding dot printing means of the first to the fourth respectively of said groups and with no Arabic number printing means in the fifth and sixth of said groups.

4. A printing element in accordance with claim 2 wherein said number of dot printing means is 24, said number of functions to be recorded is six, said integral number is four, the number of said groups is four, and said single series of Arabic numbers consists of the

numbers

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 with the l and 5 beside corresponding dot printing means of said first group, the 2 and 6 beside corresponding dot printing means in the second of said groups and with the 3 and 4 beside corresponding dot printing means in the third and fourth of said groups respectively.

5. A printing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said common dirve means includes motor means driving a gear train having a drive connection to said multi-point switch means and a drive connection to said printing element thereby to operate and switch means in synchronism with said printing element as said mark producing means and function identifying character printing means are moved one after the other into printing position for printing on said chart, and

means consisting of a single cam driven by said common drive means for controlling said periodic printing engagement of said printing element'with said chart for production of said plurality of curves, one for each function, having a series of marks and an occasional record identifying character with identifying characters spaced along said chart to minimize the occurrence of superimposed function identifying characters qg gr UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Page No. 3,769,626 Dated October 3 97 R. W; McClenahan Inventofls) It is certified that error appears in 'the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the Specification:

001. 6, line 2, "and" should read --to effect-- Col. 9, delete

lines

20, 21, and 22;

line 31, "directed" should read -indicated-- 001. 12, line 31, "and" should read --said- In the Drawings:

Figure 3, LOC" should read L6C-- Signed and sealed this l6th day of July 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON, JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 3 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,7 9, Dated October 1973 Inventor) R. W. McClenahan It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

[- In the Specification: 2 v 1 Col. 6, line 2, "and should read --to effect-- 001. 9, delete

lines

20, 21, and 22;

line 31, "directed" should read --indicated-- Col. 12, line 31, "and" should read --said-- In the Drawings:

Figure 3, "L OC" should read L6C-- Signed and sealed this lthday of July 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON, JR'. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer v Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. A printing mechanism for a plural-function recorder of the type having a chart, a print carriage supporting a printing element such as type wheel or belt, means to move the print carriage relative to the chart in accordance with the value of a measured quantity as each of a plurality of condition responsive devices is connected to a measuring circuit of the recorder by multi-point switch means operated in synchronism with said printing element by a common drive means therefore, and means to effect periodic printing engagement of said printing element with said chart to record a plurality of curves, one for each function to be recorded, the improvement comprising: said printing element having a number of uniformly spaced mark producing means serially disposed in a first row about said element, said number being equal at least to the number of functions to be recorded times an integral number greater than two thus to provide a plurality of groups of mark producing means equal in number to the integral number and with each group containing at least one of said mark producing means for each of said functions, and said printing element additionally having a series of function identifying Character printing means, the number of which in said series is equal to said number of functions to be recorded, disposed in a second row about said printing element parallel to said first row, the first of said series of function identifying character printing means being located beside the mark producing means for the first of said functions in a first of said groups, the second of said function identifying character printing means of said series being located beside the mark producing means for the second of said functions in a group which follows said first group and each immediately succeeding function identifying character printing means of said series being located beside its corresponding one of said mark producing means in a group following that having the immediately preceding function identifying character printing means for production of records on a chart consisting of a plurality of unidentified marks between identified marks with the function identifying characters displaced linearly of the chart to minimize the occurrence of superimposed function identifying characters.

2. A printing element, such as a type wheel or type belt, for a plural function recorder, said element having: a number of dot printing means spaced uniformly and serially in a first row about said element, said number being equal to at least the number of functions to be recorded times an integral number greater than two to provide groups of dot printing means arranged for printing a dot on a recorder chart for each of said functions one after the other and as many dots for each function per revolution of said printing element as there are groups of dot printing means, and record identifying Arabic number printing means consisting of a single series of Arabic number having a different number for each function disposed in a second row about said printing element parallel to said first row, the first Arabic number of said series being located beside the dot printing means for the first of said functions in a first group of said groups of dot printing means, the second of said Arabic numbers being located beside the dot printing means for the second of said functions in a group which follows said first group, and every subsequent Arabic number in said series being located beside its corresponding subsequent dot printing means in a group following that having the immediately preceding Arabic number, by repeated usage of one or more groups if necessary, hence when there are fewer Arabic number printing means than there are groups there will be no Arabic number printing means in one or more groups and when there are more Arabic number printing means than there are groups one or more groups will have more than one Arabic number printing means located therein but never will there be number printing means beside every dot printing means, the position of said record identifying Arabic number printing means in said second row effecting a reduction in the printing of said Arabic numbers one on top of another.

3. A printing element in accordance with claim 2 wherein said number of dot printing means is 24, said number of functions to be recorded is four, said integral number is six, the number of said groups is six, and said single series of Arabic numbers consists of the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, each beside a corresponding dot printing means of the first to the fourth respectively of said groups and with no Arabic number printing means in the fifth and sixth of said groups.

4. A printing element in accordance with claim 2 wherein said number of dot printing means is 24, said number of functions to be recorded is six, said integral number is four, the number of said groups is four, and said single series of Arabic numbers consists of the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 with the 1 and 5 beside corresponding dot printing means of said first group, the 2 and 6 beside corresponding dot printing means in the second of said gRoups and with the 3 and 4 beside corresponding dot printing means in the third and fourth of said groups respectively.

5. A printing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said common drive means includes motor means driving a gear train having a drive connection to said multi-point switch means and a drive connection to said printing element thereby to operate and switch means in synchronism with said printing element as said mark producing means and function identifying character printing means are moved one after the other into printing position for printing on said chart, and means consisting of a single cam driven by said common drive means for controlling said periodic printing engagement of said printing element with said chart for production of said plurality of curves, one for each function, having a series of marks and an occasional record identifying character with identifying characters spaced along said chart to minimize the occurrence of superimposed function identifying characters.