US3739899A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Carriage indexing mechanism
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1970-08-03
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Granted: 1973-06-19
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Expires: 1990-08-03
Abstract
Abstract A carriage for a printer or the like comprises a movable carrier which is indexed by cooperating, sliding and stationary racks lying just beneath the circumference of an axially fixed carrier support shaft. Drive and hold latches on the carrier are spring biased into contact with respective racks. Solenoid oscillation of the sliding rack one column position causes like incrementation of the carrier. Angular rotation of the shaft moves the drive and hold latches from their racks into contact with smooth shaft surfaces, causing automatic return of the carrier under dashpot action to the first column print position.
Inventors
- 👤 P Brumbaugh
- 👤 R Harrington
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 10:25
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J19/00; B41J19/18; B41J19/20; B41J19/30; B41J19/305
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A mechanism for indexing a printer type wheel carrier or the like along a print line, said mechanism comprising: an axially fixed carrier support shaft, a carrier concentrically carried by said support shaft and movable axially along said shaft, means for spring biasing said carrier towards one end of said shaft defining a home columnar print position, a sliding rack carried by said shaft within the periphery thereof, a drive latch movably mounted on said carrier and spring biased for radial engagement with said sliding rack to cause said carrier to move axially with said sliding rack during incremental movement of said sliding rack in one direction, a stationary rack carried by said shaft within the periphery thereof, a hold latch movable mounted on said carrier and spring biased for radial contact with said stationary rack to act as a detent in preventing return movement of said carrier after incremental movement in said one direction by said sliding rack, and means for oscillating said sliding rack a distance of at least one column position to effect incrementing of said carrier a corresponding distance thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A mechanism for indexing a printer type wheel carrier or the like along a print line, said mechanism comprising: an axially fixed carrier support shaft, a carrier concentrically carried by said support shaft and movable axially along said shaft, means for spring biasing said carrier towards one end of said shaft defining a home columnar print position, a sliding rack carried by said shaft within the periphery thereof, a drive latch movably mounted on said carrier and spring biased for radial engagement with said sliding rack to cause said carrier to move axially with said sliding rack during incremental movement of said sliding rack in one direction, a stationary rack carried by said shaft within the periphery thereof, a hold latch movable mounted on said carrier and spring biased for radial contact with said stationary rack to act as a detent in preventing return movement of said carrier after incremental movement in said one direction by said sliding rack, and means for oscillating said sliding rack a distance of at least one column position to effect incrementing of said carrier a corresponding distance thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
The mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said racks are circumferentially spaced about said shaft and lie beneath the circumference thereof, said shaft includes smooth surfaces adjacent respective racks, and said mechanism further includes means for selectively rotating said shaft to simultaneously release both latches from their respective racks and to cause said latches to slide on said smooth shaft surfaces adjacent thereto and thereby return said carrier toward said one end of said shaft under the bias of said spring biasing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The mechanism as claimed in claim 2 further comprising dashpot means carried by said carrier and operative to slow movement of said carrier as said carrier nears said home columnar position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The mechanism as claimed in claim 2 further comprising means operable in response to the return of said carrier to said home columnar position for rotating said shaft to a position where said latches re-engage said respective racks to allow controlled incrementation of said carrier in stepwise fashion away from said home columnar position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
The mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means for selectively rotating said shaft to simultaneously release both of said latches, comprises a line space solenoid, a rocker arm fixedly coupled to said shaft, and linkage means responsive to energization of said solenoid for causing rotation of said rocker arm from latch engaging position to latch release position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
88 words
The mechanism as claimed in claim 5 wherein said linkage means includes a first lever coupled to said rocker arm and movable therewith from said latch engaging position to said latch release position, spring biasing means tending to bias said rocker arm and said first lever to rack latch engaging position, a spring biased shaft rotation interlock latch for locking said first lever in rack latch release position and means responsive to movement of said carrier to said home columnar position to release said shaft rotation interlock latch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
The mechanism as claimed in claim 6 wherein said linkage means includes a second spring biased lever loosely coupled to said first lever and operable to move to a first position and to move said first lever to said latch release position during energization of said solenoid, said second lever being movable to a second position under spring bias upon de-energization of said solenoid thereby causing said first lever to remain in said rack latch release position and to be held by said interlock latch until released thereby to contact between said carrier and said fixed rotation interlock latch.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-18 | 1976-12-18 | 1977-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-18 | 1980-12-18 | 1981-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-18 | 1984-12-18 | 1985-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |