US1944964A - Ribbon feed - Google Patents

Description

I. BROWN RIBBON FEED Jan. 30, 1934.

Filed Oct. 23. 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR I ATTORNEY TI 1. BROWN Jan. 30, 1934.

RIBBON FEED ATTORNEY Jan. 30, 1934. T. I. BROWN 3 1,944,964

RIBBON FEED Filed Oct. 25. 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 VENTOR 72 00795 (570mm, B Y

ATTORNEY Jan. 30, 1934.

BROWN RIBBON FEED Filed 00t- 23. 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 760/2905 fi/aw/v.

BY y 54% ATTORNEY Jan. 30, 1934. T. 1. BROWN 1,944,964

RIBBON FEED Filed Oct. 23. 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 720070: 5mm

BY p/mnm %%/zr ATTORN EY T. 1. BROWN Jan. 30, I934.

RIBBON FEED Filed Oct. 23

. 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 I INVENTOR 720074: fl/val/ BY J ATTORN EY other spindle until the operation is repeated.

Patented Jan. 30, 1934 UITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RIBBON FEED Application October 23, 1931. Serial No. 570,627

7 Claims.

This invention relates to ribbon feed mechanism designed to be used in a parcel post machine such as is disclosed in a co-pending application Serial Number 367,106, filed May 29, 1929, by William J. Pearson, titled Parcel Post weighing and stamp printing machine. This machine is designed for printing purposes, more particularly the printing of metered parcel post stamps, wherein it may be required to print a stamp bearing the name of the place of original mailing, the date, the zone number to which the package is addressed, the weight of the package in pounds, the monetary value of the stamp derived from the weight and the zone, a serial number, and such other words, phrases, and figures, or decorations and designations as it may be desired to print. This machine is used in conjunction with a scale, meters and a .paper supply, and may be motor driven and used for any printing purpose. This invention is particularly adapted for the printing of parcel post stamps upon a paper strip which is delivered from the machine, cut to the proper stamp length, and, being gummed on the ,reverse side, may be moistened at the delivery point of the machine, and in this condition attached to the package to be mailed.

This invention provides a means for making a duplicate copy of the recited stamp, and further provides a platen for the printing of the stamp. The ribbon feed device is situated immediately below the numeral printer and in the line of travel of the paper tape. It is provided with a sectional guide means wherein the paper tapes are separated and passed through the guides in such relation that the inking ribbon lays between them during the process of printing and the separation of the paper tapes permits the stamp proper to be passed directly out of the machine and cut off, and the duplicate to be passed below the knife level and wound on a spindle provided for that purpose. However, the duplicate tape may be cut off and issued from the machine with the stamp if desired by slight modification of construction.

This invention further provides in the ribbon feed device means for holding and operating a ribbon feed for the duplicate printing operation wherein the ribbon is fed past the printing zone a certain distance of its length before each operation of the numeral printer, and, upon the ribbon being unwound from one of the spools, theresistance offered by the pull from the spindle to which it is secured reverses the feeding mecha nism, whereupon the ribbon is Wound upon the It further provides a means whereby, should the ribbon become caught by being torn or wrinkled and refuse to feed in one direction, the feeding mechanism will immediately reverse and continue to feed and reverse within that limit with- -59 out disrupting the operation of the machine. The drive for the feed mechanism is a positive drive through ratchets and provides movement throughout that portion of operation wherein it is necessary to actuate the ribbon feed mechanism.

An object of my invention is to provide a ribbon feed device that is readily accessible for replacing the ribbon used therein, that is of simpleand durable construction, that contains in one unit the platen for the numeral printer, the guide ways for the paper strips, separating means for the paper strips, a cutting edge for the knife, and a feeding mechanism including the reversing elements for the ribbon.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will hereinafter be set forth, and I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one particular embodiment of my invention, which, however, is capable of various changes in form, construction, and

combination of parts within the scope of my in- Vention.

To the above purposes my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts as hereinafter fully, clearly and r ing device, the numeral printer, the moistener, 9

and the keyboard, taken from the left side of .a parcel post machine.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the ribbon feeding device showing the numeral printer, the rotary printer, and the drive mechanism vfor the ribbon A feed.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the numeral printer unit and the ribbon feeding devicefrom the front of the parcel post machine.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the numeral 31 printer unit and the ribbon feeding device from the rear of the parcel post machine. 7

Fig. 5 is an elevational view, partlyinsection of the numeral printer unit and the ribbon feeding device from the rear similar to Fig. 4, but 13 9 in solid linesanda second position inbrokendines.

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the ribbon feed mechanism operating in the reverse direction to that shown in Fig. 6, one position being illustrated in solid lines and a second position in broken lines.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the gearing of the ribbon feed mechanism, partly in section.

Ribbon feed vice 10, which includes a carriage 11 and a dater block '12; a series of numeral printing wheels 13;

and an automatic serial numbering device 14; all of these parts are supported within the printer housing at either end by a frame 15, and ride vertically therein between tracks, not shown. One of the printer actuating elements,

the hammer 16, is also slidably mounted in frame 15, and in its descent engages the uppermost type presented at that point, and carries downwardly the entire printing mechanism for the purpose of printing, whereupon the type contacts the paper tapes between which is threaded the ink ribbon 17 The paper tapes and interposed ink ribbon lie within the guide plate 18, which has cut-out sec tions for printing purposes, supported by frames 19 upon the anvil 20 containing a semi-resilient platen 21 against which the type bears.

The ribbon device consists of a pair of supporting frames 22, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 5, in which are rotatably mounted ribbon re-wind spindles 23 and 24 upon which the ribbon 17 is wound and to which each end is secured; the spindles are connected at one end with the actuating mechanism comprising a gear 25, secured to the shaft of the spindle 24, and meshing with a similar gear 26 on the shaft 27, and a ratchet toothed wheel 28 keyed to the shaft 2'7 and actuated by a drive mechanism to operate the spindle 24 to roll thereon the ink ribbon 17; for the purpose of winding the ribbon in the opposite direction, the spindle 23 is related to a gear 29, which meshes with a similar gear wheel 30 mounted on a sleeve shaft rotatably supported on the shaft 27, the gear 30 having secured to one side of it a toothed ratchet wheel 31 which is actuated by the feed mechanism. The relation of these parts is best illustrated in Fig. 8.

The feed mechanism or ribbon re-wind comprises a device wherein either one or two ratchet elements are constantly in gear with one or the other of the two ratchet wheels 28 or 31. As the ribbon is wound upon one of the spindles in the original assembly of the machine it is required that the ribbon be wound therefrom upon the other spindle, which is done by means of the feed mechanism; upon the entire length of the ribbon being wound upon spindle 23, the drive mechanism is reversed and the contact made in the opposite direction with the ratchet wheel 28, which by its gearing operates spindle 24 to rewind the ribbon upon it. 7'5

either of the spindles 23 or 24; this re-wind operation will occur automatically also at any time that the mechanism may become jammed by the ribbon, for instance, the ribbon becoming caught in the guide plate 13, whereupon the drive mechanism will automatically reverse from the tension of the ribbon; the consequent pull will reverse the drive mechanism and wind the ribbon on the opposite spool until it is full, then reverse again j if the ribbon still catches at any point in its travel the tension created will cause the driving mechanism to again reverse, and this will continue until the ribbon is replaced or the mechanism cleared.

This device, therefore, provides a means for reversing a ribbon wherein the ribbon play may be utilized regardless of how short the ribbon may be, as it does not rely upon the size of the roll created by winding the ribbon on the spindle, but is controlled entirely by the tension of the ribbon while being re-wound.

For more clearly illustrating the relation of this ribbon feed to the operating units of a parcel post machine, I have illustrated such of those units as are most closely allied with the operation of the numeral printer, the ink ribbon and its mechanism. The moistening unit C (Fig. 1) is adapted to receive the paper tape to the full length of a printed stamp withinthe guide plate 32; when so received the tape is severed from the remaining paper tape by means of the knife 33. For the purpose of moistening the stamp there is provided a tank as containing a moistener roller 35; above roller 35 and adapted to contact it with the required pressure, is a pressure feed roller 36. The moistening roller 35, which is gear related to the driving means, is adapted to be rotated sufficiently to bring the moistening surface of the roller to the contact point of the stamp. To this end I have provided on the shaft of roller 35 a gear 37 meshing with another gear 38, which in turn meshes with the drive gear 39 manually operated by a handle 40; the pressure roller 36 is gear-related to the drive gear 39 by means of a secondary gear ll mounted upon a shaft 42, which is supported in arocking carriage 43 fulcrumed on the main shaft 44, to which the handle so and the main gear 39 are secured; the carriage 43 is tensioned toward the position disclosed in Fig. 1 by means of a spring 45.

The operation of moistening and discharging a stamp is performed moving the handle 40 toward the right of Fig. 1, which is toward the front of the machine as the operator faces the machine; this movement rotates drive gear 39 and by means of the connected gears 38, 3'7, rotates the moistening roller 35; by reason of the pressure between the gear wheel 39 and the gear wheel 41 the movement of drive gear 39 carries the gear 41 with it without relative movement of these gears, thereby rocking the carriage 43 with a downward movement until the rollers 35 and 36 contact, whereupon the vertical movement of the carriage 13 stops; the handle 40, then continuing to move thereby rotates the gear wheel 41, and consequently the engaging rollers 35 and 36. As the rollers 35 and 36 rotate in opposite directions, the stamp will pass to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, onto the discharge plate 46, Where it may be obtained by the operator; upon release of the handle 40 the mechanism, under tension of the spring 45, returns to original position.

In Fig. 1 there is indicated diagrammatically, a keyboard D, the purpose of which is to provide means for setting up on the numeral wheels 18 of numeral printer A a combination of figures which it is desired to print. 3 s

Fig. 1 also shows a spindle 47 for winding up a duplicate paper tape 48, which constitutes a duplicate print of the original stamp as printed by the numeral printer; the printing of this duplicate stamp is accomplished by means of the ink ribbon 17, which is so disposed as to normally lie between the two paper tapes comprising the original and duplicate stamp within the guide plate 18, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

In Fig. 2 a fragment of the main drive shaft 49 is shown at the top of the figure, to which are connected all of the driven elements of the machine, among which are the rotary printer E and the numeral printer A. The parcel post machine herein disclosed is designed to operate a complete cycle comprising the printing period wherein the main drive shaft 49 makes one revolution.

The rotary printing drum 54 rotates continuously with the drive shaft 49 through the connecting gears 51 and 52 and shaft 53, for the purpose of distributing ink from the inking pad 55 by means of the ink roller 56 onto the indicia plate 57; the indicia plate 57 occupies approximately one-third of the circumference of the drum 54 and the relation is so adjusted that the indicia plate 57 will contact" the paper tapeat the instant that the paper tape starts forward on its feed movement, thereby printing a stamp form upon the paper tape preparatory to the printing of the stamp upon the same tape and within the form by the numeral printer A.

The paper tape is forwarded within one-third 'of the machine cycle by means of the clutch 50 contacting the driven gear wheel 58, which, by means of the contacting gear 59 and an additional gear wheel, not shown, secured to one end of the shaft 60, effects the rotation of shaft 60 upon which is mounted a platen roller, not shown; the shaft 60 has secured to its opposite end a face cam 61 which is adapted to contact cam roller 62 mounted upon a rocker arm 63 fulcrumed on a post 64 and tensioned to cam 61 by spring 65; arm 63 is connected to the ribbon feed by means of the slotted end 66 in which rides a pin 67 mounted in the rocking arm 68 of the ribbon feed mechanism. The limited operation of the shaft 60, which is governed by the length of the stamp printed in relation to the circumference of the platen rollergis utilized to operate the ribbon feed and reversing mechanism; as the paper tape is forwarded only during the portion of the printing cycle wherein the numeral printer is not engaging the paper tapes and the ink ribbon, the ink ribbon may be actuated at this point in the operation without conflicting with the movement of any other part of the machine.

The rocking arm 68 is rockably mounted on shaft 27 and supports a rockably mounted bearing arm 69 which has a bifurcated section across which is mounted a shaft 70, on which are rotatably mounted within the bifurcated section toothed wheel elements 71, 72 and 73; these toothed wheel elements comprise one toothed star wheel 73, having V teeth, secured to each side of which in staggered toothed relation, are the two ratchet pawl Wheels 71 and 72, each provided with four teeth, of such character that their engagement with contacting teeth is limited by their shape and the depth of the cut on one side; the V toothed wheel 73 is tensioned for positioning the pawls '71 and 72 by a strong spring 74 having a curved engaging section '75 adapted under pressure to slide over the point of the V teeth of the star wheel 73 with which it engages, permitting the star wheel 73 to rotate relative to its shaft, thus rotating the pawls 71 and 72 relative to the star wheel 73.

As illustrated in Fig. 6 in solid lines, the members are in a position where the star wheel 73 is engaged by the spring 75, and attached pawl '72 is engaging a tooth of the ratchet wheel 28. In broken lines in the same figure is shown the limit of movement in the cycle of rocking operation of the ribbon feed device, wherein the rockably mounted parts have moved to the broken lines shown at '76, whereupon the ratchet wheel 28, mounted on shaft 27, has rotated the intermediate gear 26 which operates the gear 25 secured to the spindle 24, thereby winding the ribbon 17 by an amount equal to the distance traveled by the ratchet wheel 71. The mechanism is returned to original position by means of the spring 65 (Fig. 2), which tensions the bar 63.

Assuming for the purpose of illustration that the end of the ribbon has been reached as it was originally wound on spindle 23, and that the entire ribbon is now wound upon spindle 24, the tension created by a pull on the end of the ribbon secured to spindle 23, causes the feed mechanism to reverse.

This reversing process takes place through the contacting of the pawl '71 against one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 28; from the fact that the ratchet wheel 28 is now held rigid against rotation by the tension of the ink ribbon, the pawl 71 will of necessity be forced to rotate on the shaft by means of the toothed engagement with wheel 28; the star wheel '73 will thereby be rotated and caused to force the spring '75 out of engagement with the faces of the two teeth between which it has been residing and force it over the point of the next V tooth into contact with the faces of the next two teeth; the pawl 71 rotates sufiiciently to present to ratchet wheel 28 the blank area between its teeth, and pawl '72 is rotated to present one of its teeth for engagement with the ratchet wheel 31. By referring to Fig. 7, and comparing it with Fig. 6, the varied positions may be ascertained by the parts of the figures drawn in solid lines; in Fig. '7, the pawl 72, which is the companion pawl to pawl 71, is shown in engaging position against the ratchet wheel 28, connected to the gear wheel 30 (Fig. 8), which meshes with and actuates the wheel 29 secured to the shaft 77 to which is connected the spindle 23; therefore the operation of the rocking arm 68 will now actuate the feed mechanism to operate spindle 23 in place of the spindle 24, thus re-winding the ribbon upon the spindle 23 to the extent of the movement made at each printing operation; this process will be repeated as rapidly as each spindle becomes wound to the length of the ribbon unfed from the opposite spindle; also, this re-winding process may take place at any time that the ribbon becomes caught with any of the parts across or through which it passes and creates a sufficient tension to throw over the star wheel ,73. The bearing arm 69 is tensioned into contact with the ratchet wheels 28 and 31 by means of a proper tensioning spring '78, one end of the spring being mounted in the arm 69 and its other end being mounted in the rocker arm 68, thus providing even tension at all positions of the rocker arm 68. All of the parts of the ribbon feed are mounted on one of the plates 22 at one end of the-inking ribbon device.

The operation of the ribbon inking device has of necessity been explained in conjunction 5 with the description of the parts comprising the same; it is only necessary to remark that the movements described are timed to occur within the required portion of the printing cycle of operation and may be of such character that the drive cam 61 (Fig. 2) may stop at any point in its rotation, or if required, may make not only a portion of a rotation but a rotation plus an additional portion which may be required by the length of the stamp to be printed; the stopping of this cam at any point, and the consequent stopping of the feeding mechanism at any particular position in which it may be, will not in any way interfere with the successful operation of this device, as it is only required that the ribbon be fed past the printing zone a very small amount at each operation of the machine; thedisposition of the pawls and ratchet Wheels is such that at each printing operation the ribbon will be moved some degree, while at others it will be move-d a considerable degree, but in the course of a length ,of time the usage of the machine, the entire rib- -'bon will have been evenly utilized for printing purposes, and therefore the wear Will not be ex cessive on any particular part of the ribbon. The added value of this device in providing means whereby a ribbon may be reversed by the tension of the ribbon only, provides a safety measure for the operation of a parcel post machine which is very essential to meet the rigid requirements for machines of such character, wherein it Will be practically impossible to operate a machine without printing a duplicate stamp when required to do so by the Post Office regulations; to this end, I have provided mechanism wherein the reversing process will take place at any time that the ribbon becomes abnormally tensioned; therefore, if from any cause Whatever the ribbon becomes tangled with any portion of the machine upon its passage therethrough, the reversing process is instantly inaugurated and the ribbon reversed, thus preventing tearing of the ribbon or any further mutilation of it whatsoever, and further, providing a fresh area of ribbon to be contacted by the numeral printer during the process of printing a stamp.

While the form of mechanism here shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a pair of ribbon spindles, a gear on each of said spindles, a shaft adjacent said spindles, and ribbon-reversing means on said shaft adjacent one end thereof, said means comprising gears engaging said spindle gears, ratchet wheels associated with said gears, a rock arm on said shaft, a bearing arm rcckably supported on said rock arm, and springtensioned ratchet elements carried by said bearing arm for engaging one or the other of said ratchet wheels.

2. In a device of the character described, a pair of spindles, a ribbon adapted to be attached to and wound on said spindles, a gear on each of said spindles, a shaft adjacent said spindles and parallel thereto, a gear on said shaft engagelements carried by said rocking arm for engaging one of said ratchet wheels to wind said ribbon upon one spindle and for engaging the other ratchet wheel to reverse the winding of the ribbon and wind said ribbon on the other spindle.

3. In a device of the character described, a pair of spindles, a ribbon adapted to be attached to and wound upon said spindles, a shaft, gearing connecting said shaft and said spindles, a rocking arm supported on said shaft, a springtensioned bearing arm rockably supported on said rocking arm, ratchet wheels on said shaft associated with said gearing, and spring-pressed ratchet elements carried by said bearing arm for engaging one of said ratchet wheels to actuate one of said spindles through said gearing for winding said ribbon upon said actuated spindle,

and forengaging the otherratchet wheel to actuate the other spindle for winding said ribbon upon said other spindle upon a predetermined ribbon tension.

4. In a device of the character described, a pair of ribbon spindles, a gear on each of saidspindles, a shaft adjacent said spindles, a gear fixed to said shaft and engaging one of said spindle gears, a sleeve on said shaft, a gear fixed to said sleeve and engaging the other spindle gear, a rocking arm rockably supported on said shaft, ratchet wheels fixed to said shaft gear and said sleeve gear, respectively, said shaft gear, sleeve gear, rocking arm and ratchet wheels being adjacent one end of said shaft, and ratchet elements carried by said rocking arm adjacent said ratchet wheels for engaging one of said ratchet wheels to drive the gears connected with one ribbon spindle and for disengaging said ratchet wheel and engaging the other ratchet wheel upon a predetermined ribbontension to drive the gears connected to the other spindle and reverse the ribbon winding.

5. In a device of the character described, a pair of ribbon spindles, a gear on each of said spindles, a drive shaft adjacent said spindles and parallel thereto, gears on said shaft adjacent one end thereof engaging'said spindle gears respectively, and reversing mechanism comprising an engageable member adjacent each of said shaft gears and fixed thereto, a movable arm on said shaft, a bearing arm mounted on said movable arm and movable relative thereto, and engaging members on said bearing arm adapted to engage one or the other of said engageable members to connect one of said spindles with said drive shaft and for disengaging such connection and connecting the other spindle with said drive shaft upon a predetermined ribbon tension.

6. In a device of the character described, a pair of ribbon spindles, a gear on each of said spindles, a drive shaft, a sleeve on said shaft, differential gearing on said sleeve and shaft, ratchet wheels secured to said gearing, a movable arm on said shaft, a spring-tensioned bearing arm pivotally attached to said movable arm, and spring-ts sioned ratchet elements on said bearing arm for connecting first one spindle and then the other with said drive shaft.

'7. In a device of the character described, a pair of spindles, a ribbon adapted to be attached to and wound on said spindles, a gear on each of said spindles, a shaft adjacent said spindles and ried by said bearing arm for engaging one of said ratchet Wheels to wind said ribbon upon one spindle and for engaging the other ratchet Wheel to reverse the Winding of the ribbon, and spring means for holding said ratchet elements in engaged position.

THOMAS I. BROWN.

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