US2070310A - ostler - Google Patents

Description

E. S. OSTLER RECORDING MECHANISM Fil ed March-l8 1935 2 Sheet-Shee t 1 Inventor Emeat S. OAiler m Mm? Feb. 9,- 1937. E. s. OS'TLER RECORDING MECHANISM Filed March 18,1935 2 s'ubz's sn et 2 EA a .E

FIG. 4

V O T I,

p'r'." Afldrhey u lrEo STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,070,310 nnconnmo MECHANISM Ernest S. Ostler, Park Ridge, 111., a'ssignor to.

Stromberg Electric Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application March is, 1935, Serial No. 11,692 15 Claims. (oi. 101-297) The present invention relates in general to recording mechanisms, and moreparticularly to that class of recording mechanisms in which the printing operation is automatically effected by the insertion of a sheet upon which the im print is made. The main object of the invention is to rovide novel contact arrangements for recording mechanisms of this type.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a good firm contact is essential for properly closing the electrical circuit to the operating magnet or solenoid of a recorder or printing mechanism in the class to which the present inyention relates. It will also be appreciated that the member which is engaged by a sheet of paper on which an imprint is to be made must be easily movable or operable so that the circuit can be completed and the printing operation eflected.

by only a slight pressure with the sheet against the operating member. One of the most important features of the present inventiomtherefore, relates to the manner in which a firm pressure at the circuit closing contact is obtained by only a slight pressure against the operating member. This enables the printing operation to be effected by the insertion of a single sheet of thin paper into printing position in the recorder.

Another feature of the invention relates to the manner in which the circuit to the operating magnet is opened by the printing operation; and

cannot be again closed until the paper has been removed or partially withdrawn, and reinserted.

A feature of one embodiment of the invention lies in a novel mercury contacting device arranged so that the mercury'switch may be closed by only a slight pressure on the operating member engaged. by the inserted sheet.

Another embodiment of the invention is featured by the use of a leaf spring snap switch and the. manner of operating the switch fromthe operating member by means of compound leverage so that only a slight pressure with the paper against'the operating member will effect the operation of the switch.

The above and other objects and features of the invention not specifically mentioned will best be understood from a perusalof the following specification when read in connection with the' accompanying drawings, comprising Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, which disclose two embodiments of the present invention and in whicha Figure l discloses that portion of a time stamp ,necessaryfora'complete understanding of the present invention, including one embodiment .of

the novel paper-controlled switch or contacting I device; v

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the contactor 3 ,of'Figure 1 as viewed from the left in Figure 1;

and

of Figure 4.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, the invention is shown as applied toa, time stamp such as is disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 651,243,.filed January 11th,1933. Only suilicient of the general construction of the time stamp has been disclosed iniFigure 1 as is necessary for an understanding of the present invention. Reference may be had to my aforementioned application for a complete disclosure and description of one form of time stamp or printing mechanism to which the present invention isv applicable.

The time stamp in general comprises a casing i which encloses the contact mechanism 3 and "a time stamp similar to that shown in Figure l;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the contactor the electro-magnet 2 for performing the printing operation. Pivoted on the base casing l is the oscillatable stamp head 4 which is arranged to swing on pivot 8. The-upward movement of the stamp head is limited by suitable stops (not '-for operating the same, which may include a typewheel operating magnet and the necessary ratchet and pawl for driving the typewheels by means of the magnet. The magnet maybe operated by impulses from a synchronous motor contacting device within the stamp itself or by impulses from a master or control clock at a remote point. 1 a

The printing electro-magnet 2 is mounted in the base casing I by means of the mounting screws l3 which securely hold'the electro-magnet to lugs provided on the base casing for this purpose. A

[yielding connection is provided between the plunger of the electro magnet and the stamp head. This yielding connection is effected by means of a yoke member 9a which has upwardly tained in its raised position by means of the coil compression spring 12. By adjusting the slidably mounted abutment by means of the screw I l, the force of the stamping blow may be adjusted to any desired value. This adjustment and the detailed construction of the yielding connection between the plunger of the electro-magnet and the stamp head is fully described in my previously referred to application.

The circuit to the printing electro-magnet 2 is-controlled by means of the contacting device 3 which is secured to the base casing l by means of screws 20a. The contactor comprises two base plates 29 having outwardly extending flanges at their upper ends, thru which the screws 20a are passed to secure the contactor to'the casing.

The paper-controlled arm or operating member 24 is pivotally mounted on shaft 21 extending between the two side plates 20. This operating lever is normally held in the position shown by means of coil tension spring 4!, one end of which is secured to the pin 42 attached to the left hand side plate 20 (as viewed in Figure 2) and the other end of which is attached to pin 43 mounted on the lever 24. In this normal position of the lever, the upper end thereof engages stop pin 28, and a projection 39 on the lower end of the lever abuts against the post 40 which also serves to hold the two-plates 20 in spaced relationship.

The upper end of the operating lever 24 is provided with three headed studs 26'which are engaged by the lower portion of a fingertip 25, the upper end of which projects thru a hole in the upper plate of the base casing in such position that it will be engaged by a sheet of paper which is inserted in the recorder for a printing operation. This finger tip 25 is readily detachable so that other tips of different design may be substituted therefor in order to vary the position of the imprint on the paper.

The electrical circuit to the printing magnet is closed by means of the cylindrical mercury switch 22, a cross-section of which is shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. This switch consists of an open end casing or jacket 54 and a cover- 55 which forms an air-tight container for the mercury. switch. This container is provided with a semicylindrical shapedpiece of molded insulation 44 having two wells or chambers each containing a pool of mercury 46. These wells or chambers are separated by a central wall of insulating material 56 provided with a hole 45 which is normally above the levelof the mercury and is located to one side of a vertical center line, as shown in Figure 1, so that as the mercury switch is rotated about a central axis, the hole 45 will be lowered to permit the two pools of mercury to come together and close the electrical circuit.

with the mercury therein in all positions of the switch. The shaft pins 2| and 2| a extend laterally from a central axis of the cylindrical container and mount in bearings in the side plates 20. The operating arm 23 is rigidly attached to the shaftpin 2la and serves as the operating arm for rotating the switch about its central axis. The switch is normally held in the position shown in Figure 1 by means of the coil tension spring 5|, one end of which is secured to a pin 52 mounted on the side plate 20 and the other endof which is fastened to the operating arm 23.

Pivotally mounted on the upper end of the paper-controlled operating lever 24 is an oscillatable member 29 terminating in a hook portion 30 which is normally in position to engage the laterally extending projection 53 of the contact operating member 23. The member 29 is normally in the position shown in Figure 1 with the shank portion of the member resting on the projection 53 due to the weight of member 29. A

downwardly extending projection of member 29 has apin and slot connection 3| with lever 24 in order to limit the movement of member 2-9.

From the structure just described, it will be apparent that when a sheet of paper is inserted will engage the laterally extending projection 53 -on the contact operating lever 23. 'I'hisrotates the mercury switch 22 about its pivots 2| and 2Ia in a clockwise direction.

The mercury switch 22 disclosed in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, of the drawings is especially adaptable to this type of paper-controlled contacting device since very little power need'be expended in order to rotate .the switch about its axis. The advantage of the disclosed switch over the usual type of mercury switch is that the mercury in-the switch need not be raised against the force ofgravity since it remains in the bottom of the chambers while the switch rotates, and the only force required to rotate 'the switch is tition 56 which normally separates the two pools of mercury 46 is lowered until it is below the level of the mercury and permits the two pools of mercury to come together thru the hole and complete the circuit to the printing magnet 2. As is well known, the closing of a circuit thru a mercury switch is highly satisfactory in that a good low resistance contact is made as soon as the two portions of mercury come together. The circuit to the electro-magnet 2 is closed thru the mercury, the two terminals 41 which are in contact with the two portions of mercury at all times, the leads 48 connecting terminals 41 to the terminals 49, which are mounted on a block of insulating material 50 secured to the side plates 20 of the contacting device. The terminals 49 are connected by suitable leads (not shown) to the terminals of the magnet core, thru a suitable source of current.

When the printing magnetis energized due to the closing of \the electric circuit by the insertion of the sheet of .paper to be printed as described above, the plunger is drawn into the magnet and the stamp head containing the typethat which is necessary to overcome the friction A rock arm is pivotally mounted on shaft 33 extending between the two side plates 20. This shaft also serves as a spacing pin for the two plates to maintain them in spaced relationship. One end of the rock lever 32 terminates in a laterally extending projection 34 which normally lies below the shank of member 23. Mounted on the other end of the rock lever 32 is an anvil or shock plate 38 which lies directly below the contact opening'mechanism M which in turn is mounted on one of the side members 9 connected to the plunger of the printing magnet. The

rock lever 32 is normally maintained in the position shown in Figure 1 with'its left hand arm in engagement with the 'stop pin 35 by means of a coiled tension spring 36 having oneend connected to the rock lever 32 and its otherend connected to the pin3l on the side plate 20.

The switch opening mechanism i4 is arranged so that the time of opening of the switch with respect to the printing operation may be adjusted to vary the amount of energy furnished to the stamp head actuating magnet and thereby vary the vividness of the imprint. This construction comprises the yielding plunger l6 mounted for sliding movement in a bracket |5 secured to the side member 9 of the plunger. The plunger l6 lies directly above the anvil 38 on the rock lever 32 and is slidably mounted in the wings of the bracket and normally held in its lowermost position by means of the'coil compression spring H the lower end of which engages a shoulder on the plunger IS the upper end of which is in engagement'with the upper wing of the mounting bracket. The bracket itself is adjustably mounted on the guide member 3 and its adjustment is effected by means of an eccentric and associated mechanism indicated generally at l8 and which is fully disclosed in my previously mentioned pending application.

As the stamp head is brought down by the 'enerv gization of the printing magnet as previously explained, the plunger It strikes the anvil 38 on rock lever 32 and swings this lever about its pivot point 33. The laterally extending projection 34 on the'rock lever abuts against the member 29 and raises it, thereby disengaging the a hook 30 from the shoulder 53 on the contact operating arm 23. When released inthis manner,

the mercury switch 22 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction by means'of coil tension spring to its normal position, thereby raising the hole 45 above the level of the mercury and breaking the electric circuit to the printing magnet at this point. The circuit is-made and broken between two portions of the mercury andthis eliminates the pitting and burning of contactsand the accompanying deterioration there.- of which is usually present when an electric circuiif is made and broken between two metallic contacts or between one metallic contact and mercury. As previously explained, the member 29 has a pin and slot connection with lever'24 at 3| .and its movement is thereby limited when A it is thrown upward by'the rock lever 32.

As soon as the circuit to the printing magnet is broken as explained above, the magnet deepergizes and the stamp head returns to its normal position as shown'in Figure 1 of the drawings. The rock lever 32 is thereby released and returned to its position against stop pin 35 by the action of coil tension spring 36. This allows the member 29 to drop by gravity. In case the paper has not been withdrawn from the stamp and the lever 24 is still in its right hand position, the hooked portion 39 will come to rest on shoulder 53 with the shoulder engaging surface of the hook to the right of the edge of shoulder Thus any slight movement of the paper which might oscillate the lever 24 back and forth will not cause. a repeated printing operation since the hooking edge of hook 30 is not in engage ment with shoulder 53. Thus it is seen that only one operation will result from a single insertion of a sheet of paper into the stamp. When the' sheet of paper is withdrawn, the paper controlled lever 24 is returned to its normal position as shown in the drawings by means of the coil tension spring 4| with its lower projection 39 against .post 48 and the upper end of the lever restin against the stop pin 28. The lever 29 is thereby moved to the left and the engaging edge of hook 3i| drops over the shoulder 53 on contact operating lever 23 in readiness for operating the mercury switch when a sheet of paper is again inserted in the stamp.

It will be apparent from theforegoing, that r only a very slight pressure by the ledge of the' paper against the finger tip 25 is required to effect the closing of the circuit to the printing magnet sr'nce, with the form of mercury switch shown, I

there are no parts which need to be raised against the force of gravity and the only energy which need be expended is to rotate the-mercury switch about its pivot points 2| and 2|c. In this way, the circuit may be closed and the printing operation'may be effected by a single sheet of paper inserted in the stamp irrespective of its stiffness.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, the embodiment of the-invention disclosed therein makes use of a leaf spring snap switch such as is disclosed in Patent No. 1,960,020 issued May 22nd, 1934, to P. K. McGall. The time stamp to which the contacting device is applied is similar to that disclosed in Figure 1 of the drawings and like reference numerals have been applied to corresponding parts so that it is thought unnecessary to again explain these parts in detail.

The contacting device in this embodiment co prises two parallel plates 62 held in spaced relax? by means of shafts or spacing posts 66, 8|, and 33 The snap switch 6|, which may be similar. in all respects to 'the embodiment disclosed in Figure 1 of the above mentioned patent to McGall, is

mounted on a side plate GZ by'means of mounting screws 81 and 88 As clearly disclosed in the above mentioned patent, the snap switch consists essentially of a container of insulating material 6| having mounted therein a contact arm 92 secured at one end so that its free end moves between two stops, one

of insulating material .85 and the other of con'- tact material 85. This contact arm comprises a thin leaf spring supported at one end in cantilever fashion in combination with adjacent parallel compression spring means 84 attached to the free end of the contact arm at 9|. The other end of the compressed spring means is pivoted at a point adjacent to the contact arm near its fixed end and the parts are so arranged-that the free end of the'leaf spring will move with a snap action when pressure is applied to it by the plunger 83 shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

relieved the free'end of the leaf spring snaps back into its normal position against the insulating stop 86.

Connections to thesnap switch are made by means of the terminal 89 which is in electrical contact with the fixed end of contact arm 92 and the terminal 90 which is in electrical contact with the contact plate 85. One of the incoming power leads is connected to the other terminal of the electromagnet so that when the snap switch is operated, the circuit to the electromagnet will be closed to efiect the printing operation.

A paper-controlled operating lever 65 is pivotally mounted on shaft 68 and is provided with a finger tip 63 held in place on the lever by means of the retaining pins 64 in the same manner as The operating lever 65 is normally retained in the position shown against the stop pin 61 by means of a coil tension spring 79 secured to the lever near its pivot point and having its other end'secured to a pin 83 on the side plate 62. Spring 19 is made relatively weak and its line of action is near the pivot point of the lever 65 so that very little force is required to move the lever 65 to its right hand position and yet the spring has suflicient power to restore the lever 65 when the sheet of paper is removed. Mounted on an extension of the lever 65 is a rock member 10 pivoted at II and normally held in the position shown with its extension 16 resting on the laterally extending projection 15,

which is a part of lever 65, by means of a coil tension spring I4 having one end secured to the arm 12 of member 10 and having its other end secured to the laterally extending projection 69 of lever 65. v

The operating arm 16 of the rock member 10 is retained against projection by spring M in a position so that the end of the arm will-abut against the laterally extending projection 18 of the plunger operating lever 11 which is pivotally mounted on shaft 8| and normally held against the post or pin 93 by the engagement of plunger 83 against the abutting surface82 on the lever 11.

' The lever 11 is free and the force exerted by the leaf spring contact arm 92 of the snap switch 6| whichkeeps the plunger 83 in its right hand position is sufiicient to maintain lever 11 against the stop pin 93.

When a sheet of paper is inserted in the stamp,

the edge of the sheet engages the finger tip 63 I arm 12 of rock member 10. At the proper time magnet and allowing the stamp head to return to its normal position. This movement of the contact arm 92 moves the plunger 83 to the right and returns the plunger operating lever T! to its normal position in engagement with the stop pin 93. Since the operating arm .16 of the rock member 19 is raised to disengage it from the projection 18, the movement of lever 11- to the right causes the projection 18 to pass underneath the operating arm "16 so that any slight movement 1 of the lever 65 caused by the shifting of the paper will not cause repeated operation of the stamp head. It is not until the paper has been com-. pletely withdrawn so that lever 65 can assume its normal position against stop pin 61 that the operating arm 16 again clears the projection I8 so that it can be returned by means of spring I4- to its engagement with the projection 15 and in her 10 against the projection 18 thereby moving.

lever 11 to the left about its pivot point 8|- The abutting projection 82 moves the operating plunger 83 to the left thereby depressing the contact arm leaf spring 92 at its point ofengagement therewith and-causing a snap action of this contact arm to carry the contact 9| into engagement with the contact stop 85. This completes th"electrical circuit to th printing magnet, 2

- which energizes and draws down the stamp head 4 for the printing operation.

,The contact opening mechanism- I4 is practically the same as thathisclosed in Figure 1 and described in connection therewith with the exceptionthat the slidahly mounted plunger 60 has secured to its lower end an'angle lever I3 the lower end ofwhich is positioned directly above the position to again move the'leverv TI to the left when a sheet of paper to be printed is again inserted in the stamp.

When the circuit to the printing magnet is opened in the above manner, the stamp head returns to its normally raised position, the angle lever 13 being moved with the plunger of the mag- I0 to be restored to its normal position.

lever 65 in this modification of the invention is accomplished by the compound leverage which has been described. This is possible since the movement of the operating plunger 83 required to cause the contact arm to snap fromone position to the other is very small and therefore the distance from the pivot point of each lever to the point at which it accomplishes its work can be made small in comparison to the distance from the pivot point of the lever to the point where the forceis applied thereto. In this manner, the force supplied to the finger tip 63 by the edge of the paper can be greatly increased by means of the levers to operate plunger 83 and thereby cause the operation of the snap switch. Thus, the circuit to the printing magnet can be closed by the insertion of a single sheet of thin paper into printing position in stamp, and yet a good firm contact is obtained at the circuit closing point which is impossible in a case where. the sheet of paper directly engages the centact and the pressure be- 1 tween the closed contacts is less than theppressure exerted by the paper.

Having described the invention, what is new and is desired to havesecured by Letters; Patent 1. In a printing device, an electrical circuit including means for effecting a printing operation, a'single pair of contacts in said circuit'continually biased to open-circuit position; means for closing said contacts to effect a printing operation responsive to the insertion of a sheet into printing position in said device, said means including a sheet-controlled member engaged by the edge of vthe sheet and operated thereby, and means net and freeing arm 12 to allow the rock member efiective during the printing operation for allowing said contacts to reassume open-circuit posi-'- tion irrespective of the position of said sheet-controlled membera 2. In a printing device, electrical means for effecting a printing operation, circuit-closing means for controlling said electrical means, said 'circuit. closing means biased to open-circuit poof asheet inserted in said device, asystem of levers connecting said member and said circuitclosing means, said levers being compounded so that a relatively large force is available to operate said circuit-closing means with only a slightpressure against said member with the edge of j the sheet, and means for interrupting the connection between said member and said circuit-closing means during the printing operation to allow the latter to return to open-cireuit'position.

i. A printing construction comprising printing means, electromagnetic means for eifecting the printing operation, a circuit for said electromagnetic means, and,means for closing said circuit by the insertion of a sheet into printing positioncomprising a sheet-controlled lever, a second lever pivotally mounted thereon, andnormally Open circuit-closing means including a member engaged by said second lever and operated thereby to effect the closing of said circuit responsive to the operation of said first lever by the insertion of a sheet.

5. A printing construction comprising printing means, electric power means for efiecting a printing operation, a circuit for said electric power means, circuit-closing means biased to open-circuit position, a sheet-controlled lever, a

second lever mounted thereon having means for.

engaging and operating said circuit-closing means when said sheet-controlled lever is opermally open circuit-closing means including a member engaged by Said second lever and tap-- erated thereby to effect the closing of said circuit responsive to the operation of said first verby the insertion of a sheet,- and means or disengaging said second lever from said circuitclosing member during the printing operation to allow said circuit-closing means to return to normal open position 7. A printing construction comprising a type element and a platen element, electromagnetic means for effecting relative movement between said elements for a printing operation, an electric circuit for said electromagnetic means, contacts in said circuit, a contact operating member, V

a sheet-controlled lever operated by a sheet inserted in printing position, a rock lever mounted on said sheet-controlled lever and adapted'to engage said contact operating member, movement of said sheet-controlled lever being transmitted thru said rock lever and said contact operating member to close the circuit thru said contacts, and means responsive to the printing operation for disengaging said rock lever from said contact operating member to permit the circuit to be opened at said contacts irrespective of continued pressure by the sheet against said sheet-controlled lever.

8. A printing construction comprising printing means, an electro-magnet {or efiecting the printing operation, acircuit for said electromagnet, a cylindrical-shaped mercury switch mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a sheet-controlled lever, and a second lever mounted on said sheet-controlled lever and adapted to engage said mercury switch to rotate the same about its axis and thereby efiect closure of said circuitwhen said sheet-controlled lever is operated by a sheet inserted into printing -position.

9. A printing construction'comprising printing means, an electro-magnet for effecting the printing operation, a circuit for said electromagnet, a cylindrical-shaped mercury switch -mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axisand retained in normal open-circuit position by a spring, a sheet-controlled lever, a second lever pivotally mounted on said sheet-controlled lever and adapted to engage said mercury switch and rotate the same to eflect closure of said circuit when said sheet-controlled lever is operated by the insertion of a sheet into printing'position, and means for automatically disengaging said second lever from said switch during the printing operation to allow said switch to be returned to normal open-circuit position by said spring.

10. A printing device comprising printing means, electric power means for effecting a printing operation, a rotatable drum-shaped mercury switch included in the circuit of said electric power means, a series of levers including a finger engaged by a sheet inserted into switch toefiect closure of said circuit, and means responsive to the resulting printing operation for disengaging one lever of said series to allow said switch to return to normal open-circuit position irrespective oi. the position of said finger.

11. In a printing device, the combination of printing means, electric power means for efiecting a printing operation, a leaf-spring snap switch included in the circuit of said electric power means, a plunger for operating said switch, a member engaged by a sheet when inserted into printing position in saiddevice, a syste f levers for transmitting the movement of said member to said plunger to operate said switch, thereby closing said circuit to effect the printing operation. Y

12. In a printing device, the combination of printing means, electricpower means for effecting a printing operation, a leaf-spring snap switch included in-the circuit of said electric power means, a plunger for operating said switch, a member engaged by a sheet wheninserted into printing position in-said device, a system 01 levers for transmitting the movement said member printing position in said device for rotating said p closing said circuit to efiect the printing operation, and means efi'ective during said printing operation for disengaging one of said levers to permit said switch to restore to open position irrespective of sheet position.

13. In a printing device, printing means, electric power means for effecting a printing operation, a snap switch included in the circuit of said electric power means, a plunger for operating said switch, a finger engaged by a sheet inserted in said device, and a system of compound leverage for transmitting movement of said finger to said plunger whereby said switch is operable to efiect a printing operation by a slight pressure against said finger with the inserted sheet.

14. In a printing device, printing means, electric power means for effecting a printing 0peration, circuit-closing means for completing a circuit to said power means, a finger engaged by a-sheet inserted in said device, and a system of to said plunger to operate said switch, thereby levers for transmitting movement of said finger to said circuit-closing means, said levers being compounded so that a relatively large force is effective at said circuit-closing means by the application of a relatively slight pressure against said finger with the edge of the inserted sheet.

15. In a printing device, electrical means for effecting a printing operation including a pair of contacts biased to open position, a finger enga'ged by the edge of a sheet inserted into printing position in said device, a system of levers ERNEST s. os'rmn.

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