Selective positioning mechanisms for platens or the like

Claim 2

In a mechanism for controlling the movement of a platen: first and second selectively engageable motion transmitting devices, each having an input unit, and an output unit engaged with the input unit for transmitting motion; means for connecting the output unit of the first motion transmitting device to the input unit of the second motion transmitting device; means for imparting motion to the first motion transmitting device to drive the second motion transmitting device; means for imparting motion of the second motion transmitting device to the platen; an auxiliary drive means for moving the second motion transmitting device independently of the first motion transmitting device, to move the platen; and means operated by the auxiliary drive means for effectively disengaging the output unit of the first motion transmitting device from the input unit of the first motion transmitting device.

Claim 3

In a mechanism for moving a platen of a teletypewriter machine: a first clutch having a normally engaged driving unit and a driven unit; a second clutch having a normally engaged driving unit connected to the driven unit of the first clutch and a driven unit; means for connecting the platen to the driven unit of the second clutch; means responsive to a signal for driving said driving unit of the first clutch to impart movement through the first and second clutches to move the platen; auxiliary means for imparting movement through the second clutch to move the platen; and means operated by said auxiliary means for disengaging said first clutch.

Claim 4

In a mechanism for moving a platen of a teletypewriter machine: a first clutch having a normally engaged driving unit and a driven unit; a second clutch having a normally engaged driving unit connected to the driven unit of the first clutch and a driven unit; means for connecting the platen to the driven unit of the second clutch; means responsive to a signal for driving said driving unit of the first clutch to impart movement through the first and second clutches to move the platen; auxiliary means for imparting movement through the second clutch to move the platen; and means operated by said auxiliary means for disengaging said first clutch.

Claim 5

In a mechanism as defined in claim 2: a controller means for imparting the movement of the second clutch to the driven unit of the first clutch.

Claim 6

In a mechanism as defined in claim 2: means for disengaging the second clutch while imparting movement of the auxiliary means to the platen.

Claim 7

In a motion transmitting device: a first clutch having a first driving unit and a first driven unit; blocking means slidably mounted for engaging and holding the first driven unit in engagement with the first driving unit; a second clutch having a second driving unit connected to the first driven unit, and an output driven unit; means for rotating the first driving unit of the first clutch to transmit motion through the first driven unit, the second driving unit and the output driven unit; an auxiliary drive means for rotating the output driven unit; and means, rendered effective upon operation of the auxiliary drive means, for sliding the blocking means to move from holding engagement with the first driven unit.

Claim 8

In a motion transmitting device: a first clutch having a first driving unit and a first driven unit; blocking means slidably mounted for engaging and holding the first driven unit in engagement with the first driving unit; a second clutch having a second driving unit connected to the first driven unit, and an output driven unit; means for rotating the first driving unit of the first clutch to transmit motion through the first driven unit, the second driving unit and the output driven unit; an auxiliary drive means for rotating the output driven unit; and means, rendered effective upon operation of the auxiliary drive means, for sliding the blocking means to move from holding engagement with the first driven unit.

Claim 9

In an apparatus for driving a platen; a clutch having a driving unit and a driven unit; means for engaging and holding said driven unit in engagement with said driving unit to transmit movement from said driving unit to said driven unit; means for applying the movement transmitted from said driving unit to said driven unit to the platen to drive the platen; means selectively operable in one of a plurality of directions for driving the platen independently of the clutch; and means responsive to the operation of said independent driving means in any of the plurality of directions, for moving said engaging and holding means from holding engagement with said driven unit.

Claim 10

In an apparatus for driving a platen; a clutch having a driving unit and a driven unit; means for engaging and holding said driven unit in engagement with said driving unit to transmit movement from said driving unit to said driven unit; means for applying the movement transmitted from said driving unit to said driven unit to the platen to drive the platen; means selectively operable in one of a plurality of directions for driving the platen independently of the clutch; and means responsive to the operation of said independent driving means in any of the plurality of directions, for moving said engaging and holding means from holding engagement with said driven unit.

Claim 11

In an apparatus as defined in claim 6, the combination wherein: said engaging and holding means comprises a plurality of slidably mounted stops; and said means for moving said engaging and holding means comprises a plurality of cams moved by said independent driving means for sliding said engaging and holding means from engagement with the clutch driven unit.

Claim 12

In an apparatus as defined in claim 6; the combination wherein the engaging and holding means comprises: resilient means for urging the driven unit into engagement with the driving unit.

Claim 13

In an apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said clutch is a first clutch, the combination further comprising: a second clutch for transmitting the motion of the first clutch to said platen; and means for disengaging the second clutch while said independent driving means rotates the platen.

Claim 14

In an apparatus as defined in claim 9, the combination wherein said second clutch includes a toothed member a plurality of pawls, first spring means for urging the pawls from engagement with the toothed member, and second spring means movably mounted to engage the pawls for overcoming the effect of the first spring means to urge the pawls into engagement with the toothed member; and wherein said second clutch disengaging means includes: a push rod slidably mounted within said independent driving means for moving said second spring means from engagement with the pawls to render said first spring means effective to disengage said pawls from the toothed member.

Claim 15

A mechanism for positioning a platen, which comprises: a clutch having a driving unit including a plurality of spaced positioning teeth and a driven unit normally engaging said teeth; means for holding the driving unit of said clutch from movement; a rotatable clutch controller connected to the platen for rotating the platen and for selectively controlling the disengagement of said driven unit from said driving unit to permit relative movement between said driven unit and said driving unit; and means operated by rotation of said clutch controller to rotate the platen for selectively and successively disengaging and engaging said driven unit with the teeth of said driving unit as said platen is rotated to successively position the platen in accordance with the spaced between said positioning teeth.

Claim 16

A mechanism for positioning a platen, which comprises: a clutch having a driving unit including a plurality of spaced positioning teeth and a driven unit normally engaging said teeth; means for holding the driving unit of said clutch from movement; a rotatable clutch controller connected to the platen for rotating the platen and for selectively controlling the disengagement of said driven unit from said driving unit to permit relative movement between said driven unit and said driving unit; and means operated by rotation of said clutch controller to rotate the platen for selectively and successively disengaging and engaging said driven unit with the teeth of said driving unit as said platen is rotated to successively position the platen in accordance with the spaced between said positioning teeth.

Claim 17

In a mechanism for rotatively positioning a cylindrical platen about a central axis: a spur gear mounted for rotary movement about the central axis and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced peripheral teeth indicative of the number of rotative positions of the platen; a ratchet secured to said spur gear and rotatable therewith and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial teeth corresponding to and normally aligned with the teeth of said spur gear; a normally engaged clutch having an input unit, and having an output unit connected to the platen; detent means connected to the input unit of said clutch and mounted for rotary movement; means for urging the detent means to engage the teeth of said ratchet to transmit motion from said spur gear through said clutch to the platen; and auxiliary means for selectively disengaging the detent means from said ratchet while imparting rotary motion to said output unit of said clutch to rotate the platen independently of said spur gear.

Claim 18

In a mechanism for rotatively positioning a cylindrical platen about a central axis: a spur gear mounted for rotary movement about the central axis and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced peripheral teeth indicative of the number of rotative positions of the platen; a ratchet secured to said spur gear and rotatable therewith and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial teeth corresponding to and normally aligned with the teeth of said spur gear; a normally engaged clutch having an input unit, and having an output unit connected to the platen; detent means connected to the input unit of said clutch and mounted for rotary movement; means for urging the detent means to engage the teeth of said ratchet to transmit motion from said spur gear through said clutch to the platen; and auxiliary means for selectively disengaging the detent means from said ratchet while imparting rotary motion to said output unit of said clutch to rotate the platen independently of said spur gear.

Claim 19

A mechanism for rotating a platen, which comprises: a first clutch having a driving unit including a plurality of positioning elements and a driven unit engaging said positioning elements; a second clutch having a driving unit and a driven unit in engagement therewith; means for connecting the driven unit of said first clutch to the driving unit of said second clutch; rotatable means connected to the platen; means for connecting the driven unit of said second clutch to said rotatable means; primary means for imparting movement to the driving unit of said first clutch to rotate said rotatable means and the platen through said first and second clutches; means positively engaging said primary means for actuating Said primary means; auxiliary means including a first clutch controller for directly imparting movement to said rotatable means, the platen and the driven unit of said second clutch and for selectively disengaging said driven unit of said first clutch from said positioning elements and rotating the driven unit of said first clutch independently of the positively engaged primary means; and a second clutch controller for disengaging the driven unit of said second clutch from the driving unit of said second clutch from the driving unit of said second clutch to render said auxiliary means effective to impart free rotational movement to said rotatable means and the platen.

Claim 20

A mechanism for rotating a platen, which comprises: a first clutch having a driving unit including a plurality of positioning elements and a driven unit engaging said positioning elements; a second clutch having a driving unit and a driven unit in engagement therewith; means for connecting the driven unit of said first clutch to the driving unit of said second clutch; rotatable means connected to the platen; means for connecting the driven unit of said second clutch to said rotatable means; primary means for imparting movement to the driving unit of said first clutch to rotate said rotatable means and the platen through said first and second clutches; means positively engaging said primary means for actuating Said primary means; auxiliary means including a first clutch controller for directly imparting movement to said rotatable means, the platen and the driven unit of said second clutch and for selectively disengaging said driven unit of said first clutch from said positioning elements and rotating the driven unit of said first clutch independently of the positively engaged primary means; and a second clutch controller for disengaging the driven unit of said second clutch from the driving unit of said second clutch from the driving unit of said second clutch to render said auxiliary means effective to impart free rotational movement to said rotatable means and the platen.

Claim 21

A mechanism as defined in claim 13, which further comprises means for mounting the driven unit of the first clutch to move axially into and out of engagement with the driving unit of the first clutch, and wherein said first clutch controller includes: a cylindrical hub connected to said rotatable means; a rotatable shaft having a flange disposed within said hub, said flange having a plurality of camming notches formed therein; a plurality of movable lugs disposed for camming engagement within said notches and spaced from the inside cylindrical surface of said hub; resilient means for urging said lugs against said notches and in alignment with the driven unit of said first clutch to block the axial disengagement of said driven unit of said first clutch from the driving unit of said first clutch; and guide means within said hub and spanning said lugs for guiding said lugs for movement against the inside cylindrical surface of said hub when said shaft is rotated and said lugs are cammed against the urging of said resilient means to unblock the driven unit of said first clutch and to transmit rotary movement of said shaft to said hub and said rotatable means to drive said platen.

Claim 22

A mechanism for rotating a platen in response to two selectively operated motion inputs which comprises: a first selectively engageable motion transmitting device having a first input unit and a first output unit; means for holding said first output unit normally engaged with the first input unit; a second selectively engageable motion transmitting device having a second input unit driven by the first output unit, and having a second output unit connected to the platen; a first rotary motion input means for applying motion through the first input unit, the first output unit, the second input unit and the second output unit to positively drive the platen; a second rotary motion input means for applying motion to the second output unit to drive the platen and for driving the second input unit and first output unit; means operated by said second rotary motion input means for moving said holding means from said first output unit; and spring means rendered effective upon operation of said second motion input means for urging the first output unit into engagement with the first input unit while said first output unit is moved relative to said first input unit.

Claim 23

A mechanism for rotating a platen in response to two selectively operated motion inputs which comprises: a first selectively engageable motion transmitting device having a first input unit and a first output unit; means for holding said first output unit normally engaged with the first input unit; a second selectively engageable motion transmitting device having a second input unit driven by the first output unit, and having a second output unit connected to the platen; a first rotary motion input means for applying motion through the first input unit, the first output unit, the second input unit and the second output unit to positively drive the platen; a second rotary motion input means for applying motion to the second output unit to drive the platen and for driving the second input unit and first output unit; means operated by said second rotary motion input means for moving said holding means from said first output unit; and spring means rendered effective upon operation of said second motion input means for urging the first output unit into engagement with the first input unit while said first output unit is moved relative to said first input unit.

Claim 24

A mechanism as defined in claim 15 including: means for disengaging the second input and output units to drive the platen without driving said second input unit and said first output unit.