US3650206A - Print storage unit for data recording systems - Google Patents

Abstract

A print storage unit (PSU) for providing a visual read-out and a hard copy print-out of the contents of an electronic memory wherein a solenoid is energized by an operator striking a key on a keyboard. Energization of the solenoid activates an arm which simultaneously causes withdrawal of a detent from a display wheel and engagement of a pick-up wheel with a rotating power roll to enable a drive means to rotate the display wheel and a print wheel, which are in mesh engagement, until an electric signal from the keyboard is compared with a display wheel signal found on a commutator segment, after which the solenoid is deenergized to release the arm to simultaneously disengage the pick-up wheel from the power roll and engage the detent with the display wheel to lock the display wheel and print wheel into a stationary position, the display wheel exhibiting the selected character and the print wheel then being engaged by a platen to record the selected character on a suitable medium.

Description

[ 51 Mar. 21, 1972 Primary Examiner-William B. Penn Attorney-Leo C. Krazinski [57] ABSTRACT A print storage unit (PSU) for providing a visual read-out and a hard copy print-out of the contents of an electronic memory wherein a solenoid is energized by an operator striking a key on a keyboard. Energization of the solenoid activates an arm which simultaneously causes withdrawal of a detent from a display wheel and engagement of a pick-up wheel with a rotating power roll to enable a drive means to rotate the display wheel'and a print wheel, which are in mesh engagement, until an electric signal from the keyboard is compared with a dis play wheel signal found on a commutator segment, afier which the solenoid is deenergized to release the arm to simultaneously disengage the pick-up wheel from the power roll and engage the detent with the display wheel to lock the display wheel and print wheel into a stationary position, the display wheel exhibiting the selected character and the print wheel then being engaged by a platen to record the selected character on a suitable medium.

RECORDING SYSTEMS Inventor: William A. Seabury, III, Ulster Park, NY.

Assignee: Variialb, 1nc., Old Greenwich, Conn.

Filed: Feb. 25, 1970 Appl. No.: 14,152

US. Cl. C, 197/18 Int. Cl. l/40 101/93 C, 93 R, 94, 95; l97/l8, l6, 12

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS United States atent Seabury, III

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WILLIAM A. SEABURYm BY ATTORNEY FIG. 2

PRINT STORAGE UNIT FOR DATA RECORDING SYSTEMS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to print storage units for use in data recording systems and, more particularly, to a more simplified and improved print storage unit having a four bar linkage for performing two functions simultaneously, that is, unlocks and engages a gear train to a power roll to permit rotation of a display wheel and print wheel and then at a selected moment simultaneously locks and disengages the gear train from the power roll to stop the display wheel and print wheel at a selected position.

2. The Prior Art Heretofore, print storage units have been devised which accomplish substantially the same result but with more complex mechanism, as in U.S. Pats. No. 2,796,830 and No. 3,092,020.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a print storage unit which is simple, reliable and inexpensive.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a unit which is readily replaceable as a simple unitary structure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a unit which utilizes a gear train for interconnecting the display wheel and print wheel whereby both wheels are indexed simultaneously.

Other and further objects will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

In accordance with the present invention the foregoing objects are generally accomplished by providing a print storage unit for a data recording system which unit comprises a pickup wheel adapted to be driven by a motor driven power roll, the pickup wheel being connected by a gear train to a display wheel and a print wheel and being rotatably mounted upon a spring biased arm that is pivotally mounted and connected to a solenoid plunger, so that when the solenoid is energized, the arm is activated to simultaneously withdraw a detent from the display wheel and engage the pickup wheel with the revolving power roll to rotate the gear train. Upon release of the solenoid the spring biased arm and the pickup wheel are retracted to their original positions and simultaneously the detent locks the display wheel and print wheels through the gear train in the selected positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a print storage unit in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a blown-up perspective view of the unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a conductive disc with brushes adapted to contact a commutator of the unit.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a print storage unit is shown which comprises a frame on which a printed wiring board 11 is attached. Acommutator 12 comprising aninner ring 13 and a plurality ofsegments 14, spaced concentrically around theinner ring 13, is mounted, preferably printed, on the board 11. At the center of thecommutator 12 is shown astub shaft 16, in turn mounted on theframe 10, for pivotally carrying adisplay wheel assembly 17, which comprises a display wheel 18 (hollow drum) to which is attached a conductive contact disc 19 (FIGS. 1 & 3) having a pair ofbrushes 21 and 22, which are bifurcated for reliability. Thebrushes 21, 22 have a definite positional relationship withcharacters 23 that are printed on the periphery of thedisplay wheel 18,brush 21 being adapted to rotate in contact with theinner ring 13 and brush 22 in contact with thesegments 14. Thecommutator 12 is preferably hard gold plated in order to provide for resistance to wear, as well as low contact resistance and for its noncorrosive quality.

In thedisplay wheel assembly 17 is also included a toothed wheel orpinion 24 rigidly secured to thedisplay wheel 18, or preferably molded integrally with thewheel 18. The number of teeth on thepinion 24 will correspond with the number of positions to which thedisplay wheel 18 may be indexed, twelve teeth being shown for the present embodiment. Thepinion 24 anddisplay wheel 18 are rotatably carried on theshaft 16 andpinion 24 meshes with anidler gear 26 which in turn meshes with apickup gear 27 rigidly secured to apickup wheel 28.Display wheel pinion 24 also meshes with anidler gear 29 having astub shaft 30 rotatably mounted on ahollow stub shaft 31 secured to theframe 10. Theidler gear 29 is adapted to mesh with agear 32 rigidly secured to aprint wheel 33 havingcharacters 34 on its periphery corresponding to thosecharacters 23 shown on thedisplay wheel 18, so that the characters indexed on thedisplay wheel 18 may be printed by theprint wheel 33. Theprint wheel gear 32 andprint wheel 33 are rotatably carried by ashaft 36 mounted exteriorly of the printstorage unit frame 10 and anink wheel 37, preferably of Porlon (trademark of Johnson Wax Co.), which is in contact with theprint wheel 33, is carried by ashaft 38 which is also mounted exteriorly of theframe 10. Amovable platen 39 is adapted to engage theprint wheel 37 and imprint upon a suitable medium, such as a tape or card (not shown), between theprint wheel 33 andplaten 39 the indexedcharacters 34.

Thepickup wheel 28 is preferably made of nylatron and its periphery is provided withserrations 41 for better engagement with apower roll 42 covered preferably with polyurethane. In normal operation a gap is present between the power roll and thepickup wheel 28 and contact therebetween is only made when it is desired to index thedisplay wheel 18 and, in turn, theprint wheel 33. Theidler gear 26 is provided with astub shaft 43 which is journaled in ahollow stub shaft 44 provided on theframe 10, thehollow stub shaft 44 being in turn journaled in asleeve 46 mounted at the upper end of amovable arm 47. It will be noted that thearm 47 is pivotally carried by thehollow shaft 44 for a purpose that will appear hereinafter. At its upper end thearm 47 includes alateral extension 48 which has astub shaft 49 mounted thereon on which thepickup wheel 28 andgear 27 are journaled. As shown, thestub shaft 49 is provided with anannular recess 51 for disposition thereon of a resilientretaining ring 52 for securing thepickup gear 27 andpickup wheel 28 to theshaft 49, as is conventional in such assemblies.

Near the lower end of thearm 47 is shown a T-shaped cross bar 53 having openings at its T-portion for pivotal mounting on a transverse pin 53a rigidly secured to thearm 47. Adjacent its free end thecross bar 53 has atransverse pin 54 rigidly secured thereto for pivotally supporting a detent 56 having at the latters upper end atooth 57 that normally meshes with thedisplay pinion 24 to lock thepinion 24 in position. Adjacent its lower end thedetent 56 has atransverse stub shaft 58, as a fulcrum, which shaft is journaled in ahollow stub shaft 59 on theframe 10. Adjacent its lower end thearm 47 has atransverse pin 61 upon which is pivotally mounted a transverse arm orsolenoid plunger 62 that is slidable in asolenoid coil 63 having acore 64 mounted on theframe 10. Thelower end 66 of thearm 47 is bent at about and is formed with anopening 67 for terminating one end of aspring 68 th'ereto while the other end of the spring is fastened to anextension 69 of theframe 10 to normally urge the lower end of thearm 47 to the left, as viewed in the drawings.

In conventional practice several print storage units are employed in a data recording system and since we are only concerned with the mechanism of the print storage unit, its operation will be directed for the most part to this one unit. Accordingly, when a key (not shown) is punched by an operator to select a particular character, that is, to index thedisplay wheel 18, thesolenoid coil 63 is energized, in a well known conventional circuit, and attracts theplunger 62, so that the plungersinner face 71 is attracted to abut theinner face 72 of thecore 64. Since thecore 64 is fixed to the frame and since theplunger 62 is pivotally mounted on thearm 47, thearm 47 is pulled to the right, as viewed in the drawings, on its upperpivotal connection 44, 46 and thespring 68 is stretched. Crossbar 53 onarm 47 is also moved to the right, as viewed in the drawings, which crossbar movement causes the upper end of the detent 56 to move to the left, as viewed in the drawings, on itspivotal connection 58,59, whereby thedetent tooth 57 is withdrawn from thedisplay gear 24 to permit free rotation of the gear train. At the same time, the upper end of thearm 47 has moved to the left, as viewed in the drawings, with itspickup wheel 28 to have the latter engage the rotatingpower roll 42 and thereby cause rotation of the gear train includingidler gear 26,unlocked display gear 24 withdisplay wheel 18,idler gear 29 andprint gear 32 withprint wheel 33. To position thedisplay wheel 18 with theselected character 34, an electrical signal is placed on theinner ring 13 of thecommutator 12 bybrush 21, as is conventional in data recording systems, so that as thedisplay wheel 18 revolves, thesegments 14 in the outer ring of thecommutator 12 are sequentially energized bybrush 22. Thesegments 14 are compared to the contents of some storage device, such as a switch bank, flip flop register or the like (not shown) and, whenbrush 22 contacts the desired segment, thesolenoid 63 is deenergized, thespring 68 retracts thearm 47 to its normal position and thedetent tooth 57 ondetent arm 56 meshes with thedisplay gear 24 to lock thedisplay wheel 18 in the character selected position. Assuming that thecharacter 34 selected on thedisplay wheel 18 is number 4, then the same number 4 will appear on theprint wheel 33 and this number 4 will be printed on a tape (not shown) upon movement of theplaten 39, which has aurethane pad 73 thereon, into engagement withcharacter 34 of theprint wheel 33. Thearm 47 having been returned to its original position and thepickup wheel 28 separated from thepower roll 42, the print storage unit will then be ready for its next operation, as heretofore explained.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the present invention provides a simplified, improved print storage unit which eliminates the difficulties of clutches of the prior units, is resilient in its action, and mechanically has a four bar linkage,frame 10,arm 47,crossbar 53 anddetent 56, that performs two functions simultaneously, that is, engages the power drive for rotating thegear train 27,26,24,30,32 and at the same time detents thedisplay wheel 18.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matters are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. A print storage unit of the type described for a data recording system having a rotating power roll comprising, in combination, a frame, an arm pivotally carried by said frame, a spring attached at one end to said frame and at its other end to said arm for biasing said arm, a pickup wheel adapted to engage said power roll carried by said arm, a pinion attached to said pickup wheel, means including a detent pivotally connected to said spring biased arm, a gear train carried by said frame, a print wheel responsive to operation of said gear train, said detent being in mesh engagement with said gear train, and electromechanical means connected to said spring biased arm, whereby upon energization of said electromechanical means said arm is actuated to simultaneously cause said pickup wheel to engage said power roll and cause said detent to unlock said gear train to permit rotation thereof by said power roll, and whereby upon deenergization of said electromechanical means said arm is retracted to its initial position to simultaneously cause said pickup wheel to be disengaged from the power roll and cause the detent to lock the gear train in a selected position.

2. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said gear train includes a pinion rigidly connected to a display wheel.

3. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 2, wherein said detent includes a tooth for mesh engagement with said gear train.

4. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 2, wherein said detent includes a tooth for mesh engagement with said display pinion.

5. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 4, wherein said detent means includes a crossbar having one end pivotally carried by said arm and wherein an end portion of said detent opposite said detent tooth is pivotally carried by a free end of said crossbar.

6. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 5, wherein said detent means includes a stub shaft adjacent said detent end portion pivotally carried by said frame.

7. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 6, wherein said electromechanical means includes a solenoid carried by said frame and a solenoid plunger pivotally connected to said spring biased arm.

8. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 7, wherein said gear train includes a pinion rigidly connected to said print wheel.

9. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 8, wherein said gear train includes an idler gear carried by said arm, said idler gear being in mesh engagement with said pickup pinion and said display pinion.

10. A print storage unit in accordance with'claim 7, wherein said electromechanical means includes a commutator having a central ring and a plurality of segments disposed around the ring, said commutator being carried by said frame, and a pair of brushes carried by said display wheel in contact with said ring and segments.

1 1. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 8, wherein said gear train includes a second idler gear carried by said frame, said second idler gear being in mesh engagement with said display pinion and said print pinion.

12. A print storage unit of the type described for a data recording system having a rotating power roll comprising a frame, a movable arm carried by said frame, a spring attached at one end to said frame and at its other end to said arm for biasing said arm, a solenoid plunger pivotally connected to said spring biased arm, a crossbar pivotally connected at one end to said spring biased arm, a detent having one end pivotally connected to another end of said crossbar and having an intermediate portion axially carried by said frame, a display wheel rotatably mounted on said frame, a display gear rigidly secured to said display wheel, a tooth at a free end of said detent for meshing with said display gear to lock the display wheel in a stationary position, an idler gear rotatably carried by said arm, a pickup gear rotatably carried by said arm, said idler gear being in mesh with said display gear and pickup gear, a pickup wheel rigidly secured to said pickup gear and adapted to be moved into contact with said rotating power roll upon movement of said arm, a print wheel rotatably mounted on said frame, a print gear rigidly secured to said print wheel, an idler gear in mesh engagement with said print gear and said display gear rotatably mounted upon said frame, a solenoid carried by said frame, said solenoid when energized being adapted to attract said plunger whereby said arm is actuated to disengage said detent tooth from said display gear to unlock said display wheel and simultaneously move said pickup wheel into contact with said rotating power roll whereby said pickup gear, idler gears, display and print gears are rotated by said power roll.

13. In a print storage unit for providing a visual indicator and a printed record of contents of an electronic memory wherein a solenoid controls movement of a gear train driving a display wheel and print wheel and driven by a rotating power roll, the combination with said solenoid, gear train, display wheel, print wheel and power roll; of a frame, a movable arm pivotally carried by said frame and connected to said solenoid, a spring attached at one end to said frame and at its other end to said arm for biasing said arm, a pickup wheel carried by said arm and connected to said gear train, said pickup wheel being normally disengaged from said power roll by said spring biased arm, a crossbar pivotally connected at one end to said spring biased arm, and a detent having a tooth at a free end in mesh with a gear of said gear train and having another end pivotally connected to said crossbar, said spring biased arm upon energization of said solenoid being actuated to simultaneously cause said pickup wheel to engage said power roll and disen-

Claims (13)

1. A print storage unit of the type described for a data recording system having a rotating power roll comprising, in combination, a frame, an arm pivotally carried by said frame, a spring attached at one end to said frame and at its other end to said arm for biasing said arm, a pickup wheel adapted to engage said power roll carried by said arm, a pinion attached to said pickup wheel, means including a detent pivotally connected to said spring biased arm, a gear train carried by said frame, a print wheel responsive to operation of said gear train, said detent being in mesh engagement with said gear train, and electromechanical means connected to said spring biased arm, whereby upon energization of said electromechanical means said arm is actuated to simultaneously cause said pickup wheel to engage said power roll and cause said detent to unlock said gear train to permit rotation thereof by said power roll, and whereby upon deenergization of said electromechanical means said arm is retracted to its initial position to simultaneously cause said pickup wheel to be disengaged from the power roll and cause the detent to lock the gear train in a selected position.

2. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said gear train includes a pinion rigidly connected to a display wheel.

3. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 2, wherein said detent includes a tooth for mesh engagement with said gear train.

4. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 2, wherein said detent includes a tooth for mesh engagement with said display pinion.

5. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 4, wherein said detent means includes a crossbar having one end pivotally carried by said arm and wherein an end portion of said detent opposite said detent tooth is pivotally carried by a free end of said crossbar.

6. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 5, wherein said detent means includes a stub shaft adjacent said detent end portion pivotally carried by said frame.

7. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 6, wherein said electromechanical means includes a solenoid carried by said frame and a solenoid plunger pivotally connected to said spring biased arm.

8. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 7, wherein said gear train includes a pinion rigidly connected to said print wheel.

9. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 8, wherein said gear train includes an idler gear carried by said arm, said idler gear being in mesh engagement with said pickup pinion and said display pinion.

10. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 7, wherein said electromechanical means includes a commutator having a central ring and a plurality of segments disposed around the ring, said commutator being carried by said frame, and a pair of brushes carried by said display wheel in contact with said ring and segments.

11. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 8, wherein said gear train includes a second idler gear carried by said frame, said second idler gear being in mesh engagement with said display pinion aNd said print pinion.

12. A print storage unit of the type described for a data recording system having a rotating power roll comprising a frame, a movable arm carried by said frame, a spring attached at one end to said frame and at its other end to said arm for biasing said arm, a solenoid plunger pivotally connected to said spring biased arm, a crossbar pivotally connected at one end to said spring biased arm, a detent having one end pivotally connected to another end of said crossbar and having an intermediate portion axially carried by said frame, a display wheel rotatably mounted on said frame, a display gear rigidly secured to said display wheel, a tooth at a free end of said detent for meshing with said display gear to lock the display wheel in a stationary position, an idler gear rotatably carried by said arm, a pickup gear rotatably carried by said arm, said idler gear being in mesh with said display gear and pickup gear, a pickup wheel rigidly secured to said pickup gear and adapted to be moved into contact with said rotating power roll upon movement of said arm, a print wheel rotatably mounted on said frame, a print gear rigidly secured to said print wheel, an idler gear in mesh engagement with said print gear and said display gear rotatably mounted upon said frame, a solenoid carried by said frame, said solenoid when energized being adapted to attract said plunger whereby said arm is actuated to disengage said detent tooth from said display gear to unlock said display wheel and simultaneously move said pickup wheel into contact with said rotating power roll whereby said pickup gear, idler gears, display and print gears are rotated by said power roll.

13. In a print storage unit for providing a visual indicator and a printed record of contents of an electronic memory wherein a solenoid controls movement of a gear train driving a display wheel and print wheel and driven by a rotating power roll, the combination with said solenoid, gear train, display wheel, print wheel and power roll; of a frame, a movable arm pivotally carried by said frame and connected to said solenoid, a spring attached at one end to said frame and at its other end to said arm for biasing said arm, a pickup wheel carried by said arm and connected to said gear train, said pickup wheel being normally disengaged from said power roll by said spring biased arm, a crossbar pivotally connected at one end to said spring biased arm, and a detent having a tooth at a free end in mesh with a gear of said gear train and having another end pivotally connected to said crossbar, said spring biased arm upon energization of said solenoid being actuated to simultaneously cause said pickup wheel to engage said power roll and disengage said detent tooth from said gear to unlock said gear train to permit rotation thereof by said power roll, and said arm upon deenergization of said solenoid being retracted to its initial position by said spring to simultaneously cause said pickup wheel to be disengaged from the power roll and cause the detent to lock the gear train, including the display wheel and print wheel in a selected position.

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