US2329129A - Ribbon mechanism - Google Patents

Description

p T. o. -MEHAN RIBBON MECHANISMS ori inal Filed May 25, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet 1 liiiilll l INVEN'iOR. BY 1720222425 QMe/ZQJZ:

Sept. 7, 1943. T. 0.,MEHAN 2,329,129

RIBBON MECHANISMS Original Filed May 25, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 INVENTOR.

Thoma QJVe/zm Sept. 7, 1943. T.'O. MEHAN RIBBON MECHANISMS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed May 25, 1939 Z INVENTOR. Th0 maaafie zw Patented Sept. 7, 1943' "275,662. Divided a nd this ap lication October 30;;941, Serial No. 417,155 I 8 Claims. goi s z iti Thi's invention relates to ribbon mechanisms" of the type which directly grip the ribbon and feed it through the pri ti g si r ngmachine. Y f

'' Woven fabric ink impregnated ribbons 'which have been more generally in use are usually" mounted on a pair of spools on which the feeding mechanism acts directly to draw the ribbon through the printing position, and by means of a reversing device" feed it back again to rewind it on the spool from which it previously had been unwound. When such ribbon mechanisms are used with calculating machines, each ribbon customarily has such length and durability that it outlasts several paper rolls, when subject to irequent use. I I s V Howeve1 when a calculatingmachine is infre'quently usedthroughout the course of a year; the ribbon may become too dry and mus't'then be discarded without having rendered any substantial proportion of its possible full service;

' To eliminate such wastage and other disadvantages of the'spool-driven and reusable fabric ribbons, I propose by this invention'to make it convenient to employ single use paper ribbons and especially in such lengths and in such a manner :thatwhen adapted to calculating niachines, a single ribbon will be used and discarded as each paper roll is used by the machine. Such.

an embodiment of the invention is herein illustrated, but it is not to be understood; however, that this invention is restricted to such employment.

While the ribbon which may be. used with this invention may be of any suitable material it is economical to use paper which is durable enough for a'single use. I

' One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive ribbon feed m'ech anism suitable for the purp'osejabove described.

I Another object of the" invention is to provide a feed mechanism designed to make easy the in- 'stallation of a fresh ribbon.

Another object is to provide means'for carrying the starting end of a newly installed ribbon across the printing position of the machineand operatively connecting it with the feeding device.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specificae .tiori "in which is described an embodiment in Fig. 4.

Fig. 2 isa-sectional'view on the line 2--2 of Fig'Ai ,Fig. 3 is aside eleva'tionoi a portion of themachine asviewed from the side opposite tothat shown in Fig. 1, and showing the-machine at rest. g r I Fig. 4 is a side elevation similar to that of Fig. 3 except that the 'platen'roll has been rotated'iorwardly'and downwardly into the print-J. ing; position. i r I Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the machine. Fig. 6 is a plan View of a portion of the ma chine. v K i Fig. 7 is aperspective View of 'a ribbon inserter forming a part of'the invention.

Fig. 8 is'a perspective view of a ribbon holder suitable for mounting in theinserter of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a central sectional view of the ribbon holder shown in' Fig. 8. Y c I Referring now to the drawings, the ribbon mechanism is illustrated as mounted on'an adding machine having a base plate l and two main side frame plates 2 and 3, secured to the base plate. The machine illustrated is provided with type carrying Wheels located in the position indicated by the wheel 4,while a rockable platen frame; generally indicated as 5 in 4,:carries a platen roll 6, this frame being rockable abouta pivot l to bring the platen roll forwardly and downwardlyagainst the type wheels, as shown.

- A'ribbon roll is mounted on the right-hand frame plate, and the ribbon is carried across selected for illustrating the nature of the inven- I 'tion. v h J -Inthedrawings, Fig.1 isa side elevation of an adding machine equipped in accordanc withf invention.

- the printingposition formed attheplane where the platen .roll contacts the type Wheels and is 'with offset members l6 and li'whose reduced ends extend through apertures in the: associated plates and are swaged over in order to lock these two plates together in a spaced apart relation.

The centrally located hole. in each plate is providedwith an inwardly extending boss. indicated as 18 and l'9',-Which form a bearing for a ribbon 2 l. coiled about a sleeve 22. s

. The ribbon insertenlbest shown 7 r in Fig. .7, consists of an elongated member generally indicated as 23; havingan'ofiset step 24 on which the free end of the ribbon will then be drawn out to the opposite extremity of the ribbon inextend through the recess 32 in the ribbon inserter to firmly engage the ribbon against the driven roller.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the ribbon feeding mechanism is operated as follows. The handle 56 is pulled forwardly to rock a main shaft 51 thereby rotating a cam plate 58 fixed on that shaft. Other functions of the shaft and cam do not formi'a partfof "this; invention, hence will not be discussed here. Pivotally connected with the cam plate is a link 59 whose rear end is serter and impaled on the prongs 3|. This a's- I sembly is then inserted into the machine in such a manner as to carry the end of the rib;-

bon across the printing position until the step "pivotally connected at 6| with the left-hand platen frame plate 45. A rotative force is also applied to theother side of the platen frame 24 slides in between the retaining flanges l2and l3 of the bracket 8.

t e? s r m n prongs on the inserter and the rib-bon will beffff pushed between the ribbon feed rolls and will pass slightly beyond them, so that the tworoll's'" will grip the ribbon between them inthe iaj ea formed by the aperture 32 of the ribbon in serter. Thus, the roll of ribbon is located and supported in the bracket at the right-hand; side of the machine while the free end of the ribbon is gripped by the feed rolls at the left side of. the machine, as clearly shown in Fig. 2

. .As'soon as the feed rolls begin to operate; they push the end of the ribbon off the prongs 3|, and gradually draw the rest of the ribbon through the printing position, across. the flat portions 33 and. 34 of the inserter, which then serve as guide plates for the ribbon. The used portion of the ribbon passing beyond the feed rollers will accumulate within the casing with which such a machine is usually covered and may be discarded at the time a new ribbonis inserted into the machine, at,which time the inserter will be withdrawn in order to mount the new ribbon holder thereon.

- One of the ribbon feeding rolls 35 is a knurled roller positioned beneath the ribbon and-formed on a shaft 35 carried by a bracket secured on the inside of the side frame plate by the screw 31 and having a pair of flanges 38 and 39 through which the shaft extends. A ratchet wheel 4| is fixed on this shaft, and a spring 42 wound about the. shaft bears against the flange 38 and the ratchet wheel to hold the ratchet wheel snugly against a washer '43 lying between the ratchet wheel and the bracket flange"39'. The spring 42 introduces enough friction on the knurled feed roller. to hold'it stationary,

except when positively advanced byzthe pawl. A pawl 44 fixed on the side frameplat'e .45 of the rockable platen mechanism has .a resilient portion 46 terminating in a hook 41 which will engage the teeth of the ratchet on the return stroke of the platen frame to thereby .rotatezthe ratchet and knurled roller .to the extent of one tooth on each return stroke.

An idler roller 48 is carried byza' 'swingable bracket having arms '49 and 5! which are lpivoted one post 52, the latter being fixed in the flange 53 of a bracket 54 mounted on the cuti side of the main frame plate 3 and securedby the screw 31. A spring 55 surrounds the :post 52 and is connected with the sivingable bracket in which the [idler roller is carrier in such-1a manner as to press the idler against the driven roller, but to permit sufficient yielding so'that the prongs of the ribbon inserter may. pass :between the rollers. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the central portion of the idler roller is enlarged relatively to the ends-of the roller soithat-it; may

- by a link 52 which is connected at with platen frame plate .63, in order to equalize the pressure throughout theIl'e'ngth of the platen roll against 1 the typewheel's," but for the purpose of explaining the \operationof the feed rollers, it is necessary only to refer to Figs. 3' and 4. On the forwardstroke, the rear end 41 of I the spring pawl 46 will clear the ratchet. wheel 4'3, but on the return stroke, it will engage the ratchet and rotate it to the extent of one tooth. As shown in Fig. 2, the several type wheels 4 extend slightly through -a comb 641 and the platen roll will press the paper to be printed upon against the ribbon overlying the type wheels. The fiat surfaces 313 and 34 of the inserter hold the ribbon in proper alignment with the printing plane. I

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 275,662, filed May25, 1939, for a patent on Adding machines.

It will now .be appreciated that the invention herein described is applicable not only to adding through 'theprinting position and drawing it across the machine through the printing position thereof, means actuated by each printing stroke of the machine forpositively rotating :one ofsaid rollers, .a'nda ribbon-supporting device having means at one end thereof. for retaining :a ribbon spooLand-means at the other end of said device for temporarily retaining the unrol'led freeend of a ribbon as the device is being attached: to the-machine for-carrying said end through the printing position of the-machine and operatively positioning gi-t between 'said rollers without further unrolli-ng of the ribbon.

-2;-In combination with a printing machine, a pair of feed rollers mounted onfl't-he machine at one side of the printing position for directly grip ping a ribbon after it has passed through the printing position, means for driving one of said rollers, the other roll'er being mounted to bear yieldingly against the first roller, a ribbon-supporting device having a cradle at one end thereof for reta ning a ribbon spool, arigid member on s aid devioe extending from the cradle across the printing position to said rollers, means' on the end of said member for retaining the unwound end of a ribbon for inserting it between said rollers as the device is being attached to the machine, and means on the machine for retaining said device when the ribbon has been inserted between said rollers.

3. In combination with a printing machine, a

pair. of feed rollers constructed and positioned for directly gripping a ribbon after it has passed having means at one end thereof for retaining a ribbon spoohmeans at the other end of said device for temporarily retaining the freeend of a I ribbon as the device is being attached to the machine for carrying said end through the printing position of the machine and operatively p0 sitioning it between said rollers withoutfurther unwinding, said ribbon gripping means being'so 3 constructed that the subsequent feeding of the ribbon by the rollers will release the ribbon end from said means.

4. In combination with a printing machine,ja

pair of rollers constructed and positionedfor directly gripping a ribbon after it has passed thereof, means actuated by each printing stroke of the machine for positively rotating one of said the rollers into feeding relation therewith when said device is being attached to the machine, the

feeding of the ribbon by the rollers thereafter being adapted to release the ribbon from said gripv ping means, and .means on the machine for releasably retaining said device in operative position.

6. In combination with a printing machine, a pair of feedrollers mounted on the machine at one side of the printingposition for directly gripping a ribbon after it has passed through the printing position, means for driving one of said rollers,'a ribbon-supporting and guiding device having means at one end thereof for retaining a ribbon spool, a rigid-member on said device constructed for extending from the position of the spool across the machine past the printing position to the rollers, means at the extremity of i porting and retaining said device, the whole bethrough the printing position and drawing it across the machine through the printing position 30 rollers, and aribbon-supporting and guiding device having means at one end thereof for retainmoved into operative position on the machine,

the intermediate portion of said device havinga a a ribbon roll,.a pair of feed rolls for gripping and ribbon and carrying it between saidrollers without further unwinding as the device is being slot for embracing the printingposition and having surfaces for guiding the ribbon on either side of said position.

5. In combination with a printing machine, a

pair of rollers mounted on the machine at one side of the printing position for directly gripping a ribbon after it has passed through the printing position, means for drivingone of, said 'roll-, ers, a ribbon support and guide device bodily removable from the machine having means at one end thereof for releasably retaining a ribbon spool, a rigid extension on said device constructed for extending across the machine from the ing so arranged that said devicemaygbe attached to the machine by moving saidmember transversely across the machine until the end of the ribbon is inserted by said holding means between the feed rollers into feeding relation therewith. v '7. Ina machine having a printing mechanism,

feeding the ribbon, and a ribbon inserter having means at one end for supporting there-ll and by said retaining means without further unwinding. r Y 8. In amachine having a printing mechanism,

, a ribbon roll, a pair of feed rolls at one side of the machine for gripping the ribbon after it has passed throughthe printing positioma ribbon. supporter and inserter having means at one end '1 for supporting the roll. and having rigid -means' at the other end for temporarily retaining the unwound free end of theribbon and. so con- :structed and proportionedthat when the inserter is beinginse'rtedinto the maohinethe free end of the ribbon will be forced between said feed rollers by the retaining means without further unwinding.

i THOMAS O. MEHAN;

Images