US3673960A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Traveling cylinder printer with platen roller driven in closed path
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-11-21
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Granted: 1972-07-04
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Expires: 1989-11-21
Abstract
Abstract Credit card printing apparatus for printing information embossed in a credit card on a sales slip, comprising a floatingly mounted, resiliently biased roller platen, drive means to drive said platen through a closed travel path having a substantially planar printing section and a spaced section substantially parallel to the printing section. The roller drive includes a slide crank mechanism to impart the desired motion to the roller platen, which traverses a path which is preferably defined by suitable guide blocks. Switch means are provided to regulate the printing cycle in response to proper insertion of a credit card in the credit card tray, proper placement of the credit card tray, the position of the roller in the printing cycle, and optionally in response to the availability of credit. The credit card tray includes means to permit proper location of printed indicia from a credit card on a sales slip, irrespective of the direction in which the indicia face when inserted. Means may also be provided to automatically release the tray upon completion of the printing portion of the printing cycle.
Inventors
- 👤 Vero Ricci
- 👤 Edward P Colalillo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 04:36
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41L; B41L47/00; B41L47/42; B41L47/46; B41L19/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
343 words
A credit card imprinting apparatus comprising: a. A frame having a base; b. A pair of guide blocks mounted on said base, each defining a closed path guide track facing the other and each track comprising a substantially linear track section proximal and substantially parallel to said base, and a substantially linear track section distal and substantially parallel to said base; c. A roller platen defining a hollow core; d. Follower means mounted within said hollow cave and having two ends, each of which slidably engages one of said guide tracks; e. Said roller platen being rotatably mounted on said follower means and loosely supported for vertical movement with respect thereto; f. Biasing means connected to said roller platen and resiliently biasing said platen against said follower means in a direction toward said base; g. Drive means mounted on said frame; h. Linkage means interconnecting said drive means and said follower means and rigidly mounting said follower means to drive said follower means along said distal track section, to lower said follower means at a first end of said distal track section to said proximal track section, to drive said follower means through an imprinting stroke along said proximal track section and to lift said follower means at the other end of said proximal track section to said distal track section to complete a closed path cycle; i. A tray slidably mounted on said base, adapted to receive a credit card and a sales slip whereby said roller platen is in pressure contact with said sales slip and said credit card to imprint indicia from said credit card on said sales slip when said roller platen traverses the proximal track section; and j. Means mounting said tray for movement from a first loading position wherein said tray extends at least substantially beyond said frame for insertion and removal of a credit card and sales slip in said tray to a second position wherein said tray extends substantially beneath said guide tracks for imprinting of indicia from said credit card onto said sales slip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
343 words
A credit card imprinting apparatus comprising: a. A frame having a base; b. A pair of guide blocks mounted on said base, each defining a closed path guide track facing the other and each track comprising a substantially linear track section proximal and substantially parallel to said base, and a substantially linear track section distal and substantially parallel to said base; c. A roller platen defining a hollow core; d. Follower means mounted within said hollow cave and having two ends, each of which slidably engages one of said guide tracks; e. Said roller platen being rotatably mounted on said follower means and loosely supported for vertical movement with respect thereto; f. Biasing means connected to said roller platen and resiliently biasing said platen against said follower means in a direction toward said base; g. Drive means mounted on said frame; h. Linkage means interconnecting said drive means and said follower means and rigidly mounting said follower means to drive said follower means along said distal track section, to lower said follower means at a first end of said distal track section to said proximal track section, to drive said follower means through an imprinting stroke along said proximal track section and to lift said follower means at the other end of said proximal track section to said distal track section to complete a closed path cycle; i. A tray slidably mounted on said base, adapted to receive a credit card and a sales slip whereby said roller platen is in pressure contact with said sales slip and said credit card to imprint indicia from said credit card on said sales slip when said roller platen traverses the proximal track section; and j. Means mounting said tray for movement from a first loading position wherein said tray extends at least substantially beyond said frame for insertion and removal of a credit card and sales slip in said tray to a second position wherein said tray extends substantially beneath said guide tracks for imprinting of indicia from said credit card onto said sales slip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including power supply means connected to said drive meanS to permit operation thereof, normally open switch means operatively connected between said power supply means and said drive means to prevent supply of power to and operation of said drive means when said switch is open, and means for closing said switch means in response to the presence of a credit card in said tray and insertion of said tray in a printing position to initiate operation of said drive means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including power supply means connected to said drive means to permit operation thereof, normally closed switch means operatively connected between said power supply means and said drive means to prevent supply of power to and discontinue operation of said drive means when open and means responsive to the positioning of said follower means in the upper seCtions of said tracks to open said switch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said linkage means comprises a yoke containing a pair of coaxial elongated upper and lower slots and having dependent arms rotatably mounting said follower means, a crank pin mounted on a crank and slidable in one of said slots, means drivingly interconnecting said crank and said drive means, and a pivot pin rigidly mounted on said frame and located in said upper slot.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said follower means constitutes a pin, a bushing mounted on said pin and rotatably supporting said roller platen, said bushing having an inside diameter at least about one-thirty-second of an inch greater than the diameter of said pin, a bracket supporting said bushing, said biasing means comprising adjustable spring means urging said bracket and the bushing mounted therein against said follower means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including spring means connected to said tray and to said frame and biasing said tray to the loading and unloading position extending substantially beyond said frame, latch means mounted on said frame and adapted to engage said tray in a position in which the tray extends substantially beneath said guide block, and means responsive to completion of the printing stroke to release said latch means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said latch means include means connected thereto for operating said latch means to manually release said tray.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
127 words
A credit card printing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tray comprises a pair of separable, superimposed, substantially planar tray members defining aligned credit card receiving windows, locking means mounted beneath at least one of said tray members proximate said windows and adapted to releasably lockingly engage a credit card template, a credit card template mounted in said tray and comprising a substantially U-shaped planar member of resilient material adapted to snugly receive a credit card and having a pair of opposed legs of different widths, the narrower of said legs being resiliently bendable to permit releasable locking engagement of said template with said locking means, at least one of said legs defining an exterior detent adapted to be engaged by said locking means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
193 words
A printing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said follower means comprises an elongated pin, said roller platen being mounted on a bushing having ends extending beyond said roller platen, said bushing having an inner diameter in the range from about one-thirty-second of an inch to about one-quarter of an inch greater than the diameter of said pin, said adjustable spring means comprising a roller bracket having a pair of dependent arms rotably receiving said bushing and a connecting member joining said arms and defining at least one aperture slidably receiving an adjusting post, means axially adjustably mounting one end of said adjusting post, the other end of said adjusting post being slidably received in said aperture, a collar affixed to said post, and a coil spring encircling said post and extending from said collar to said connecting member, whereby axial adjustment of said post varies the compression of said spring and consequently varies the bias of the roller platen against the follower pin to permit adjustment of the pressure of the printing stroke while permitting the roller platen to move to accommodate variations in credit card and sales slip thickness.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said slider crank means comprises a yoke defining a pair of coaxial, elongated slots and a pair of dependent arms mounting said follower pin, a rotatable crank mounted on said frame and mounting a crank pin which rides in one of said slots, means drivingly interconnecting said drive means and crank, and a fixed pivot pin located in the other slot.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
123 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said crank has a cam surface, a cam follower rotatably mounted on said fixed pin and adapted to be engaged by said cam surface after the follower pin has completed traversal of the printing section of the tracks, normally closed switch means adapted to shut off said drive means when open, said switch means including an actuating arm adapted to be engaged by said cam follower to open said switch means, whereby said crank cam surface engages said cam follower to open said switch means and shut off said motor after the printing section of the track has been traversed and the follower pin glides to a stop on the upper section of said tracks.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including spring means secured to said tray and biasing said tray toward the loading and unloading position, latch means mounted on said frame and adapted to engage releasably said tray upon insertion of the tray beneath said guide blocks, and means connected to said latch means and responsive to the position of the roller platen after traversal of the printing section of the travel path to disengage said latch means and release said tray.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including a power supply circuit connected to said drive means, and a normally open switch means mounted in said circuit and including means responsive to the position of said tray beneath said guide blocks to insertion of a credit card in said tray to close said switch means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 13, including a relay switch in said power circuit in series with said normally open switch means and adapted to be closed in response to a predetermined signal whereby said printing apparatus may be used as a component of a computer operated credit check system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 14, including normally closed switch means in said power circuit in parallel with said relay, and means responsive to the position of said follower in the upper section of the travel path to open said normally closed switch means and responsive to the position of said follower out of said upper section of the travel path to close said normally closed switch means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including reversible template means adapted to receive a credit card in two supplementary positions while maintaining the embossed area of said credit card in the same area with respect to said tray, said tray including means releasably, fixedly mounting said template means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-04 | 1976-01-03 | 1976-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-04 | 1980-01-03 | 1980-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-04 | 1984-01-03 | 1984-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |