Patent US3742848A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3742848A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Endless carrier printer
Assignee: AT&T Teletype Corp
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Filing: 1971-12-15
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Granted: 1973-07-03
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Expires: 1991-12-15
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of printing pallets have a plurality of type members secured on the inner end portions of shanks which are removably mounted in uniformly fashioned and spaced apertures extending transversely of an endless carrier, therey enabling type replacement in the printer. The upper edges of sides forming a fixed channel disposed below the upper course of the carrier are disposed at a level for engaging the inner and outer end portions of the shanks and adjusting the type faces vertically for printing. Gross positioning of the pallets in a path transversely of the carrier is effected by a pair of opposed bosses disposed at opposite sides of the carrier for engaging the type members and the shanks. Fine or final positioning of type faces in printing positions transversely of the carrier is achieved by printing action which drives the outer ends of the shanks against a backstop.
Inventors
- 👤 F Huntoon
- 👤 J Kearney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 12:44
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/08; B; B41; B41J; B41J1/00; B41J1/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
320 words
An improved belt printer of the class wherein a plurality of type members are carried by a driveable endless belt for continuous horizontal movement with the belt past a printing station when the belt is running, wherein the improvement comprises: a plurality of type pallets comprising the type members, the pallets having rectangular shanks of a length greater than the width of the belt; means for mounting the type pallets To the belt for horizontal sliding movement with respect to the belt in a direction transverse to the direction of belt movement past the printing station, the belt being formed of elastomeric material and provided with a plurality of equally spaced, transverse rectangular apertures extending through the belt and within which the shanks are slidably received so that type faces formed at one end of the shanks project from the belt toward the printing station and the opposite ends of the shanks project from the belt on the opposite side, the belt apertures being proportioned to yieldingly grip the shanks while permitting transverse movement to position the pallets and to permit individual removal of the pallets from the belt by withdrawing them in the transverse direction while the belt is not running; and means, engageable with successive pallets when the belt is running, for adjusting the positions of the pallets in the transverse direction and for preventing inadvertent detachment of the pallets from the belt while running, the adjusting means including a pair of fixed camming bars mounted adjacent to the belt in advance of the printing station, each camming bar being positioned to engage one end of an incorrectly positioned pallet and tapered to slide the pallet transversely of the belt toward the desired transverse position, and further including a backstop bar provided along the opposite side of the belt at the printing station for stopping pallet movement during printing and precisely positioning the pallets in the transverse direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
320 words
An improved belt printer of the class wherein a plurality of type members are carried by a driveable endless belt for continuous horizontal movement with the belt past a printing station when the belt is running, wherein the improvement comprises: a plurality of type pallets comprising the type members, the pallets having rectangular shanks of a length greater than the width of the belt; means for mounting the type pallets To the belt for horizontal sliding movement with respect to the belt in a direction transverse to the direction of belt movement past the printing station, the belt being formed of elastomeric material and provided with a plurality of equally spaced, transverse rectangular apertures extending through the belt and within which the shanks are slidably received so that type faces formed at one end of the shanks project from the belt toward the printing station and the opposite ends of the shanks project from the belt on the opposite side, the belt apertures being proportioned to yieldingly grip the shanks while permitting transverse movement to position the pallets and to permit individual removal of the pallets from the belt by withdrawing them in the transverse direction while the belt is not running; and means, engageable with successive pallets when the belt is running, for adjusting the positions of the pallets in the transverse direction and for preventing inadvertent detachment of the pallets from the belt while running, the adjusting means including a pair of fixed camming bars mounted adjacent to the belt in advance of the printing station, each camming bar being positioned to engage one end of an incorrectly positioned pallet and tapered to slide the pallet transversely of the belt toward the desired transverse position, and further including a backstop bar provided along the opposite side of the belt at the printing station for stopping pallet movement during printing and precisely positioning the pallets in the transverse direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
124 words
An improved belt printer as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a pair of vertical-positioning rails mounted on opposite sides of the belt and extending in advance of and along the printing station, the positioning rails being positioned to engage the under surfaces of the advancing shanks in sequence, on opposite sides of the belt, in advance of the printing station and being tapered to elevate each pallet in sequence to a desired vertical position for printing at the printing station, the belt following the course of the pallets due to engagement of the shanks with the surfaces of the apertures in the belt; and means for tensioning the belt so that the belt exerts a force urging the shanks against the positioning rails.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
215 words
An improved belt printer of the class wherein a plurality of type members are carried by a driveable endless belt for continuous horizontal movement with the belt past a printing station, wherein the improvement comprises: a plurality of type pallets comprising the type members; means for mounting the type pallets to the belt so that portions of the pallets extend outward from the belt on opposite sides thereof in a direction transverse to the direction of belt movement; and means, engageable with portions of successive pallets on opposite sides of the belt, for vertically positioning the pallets as they approach the printing station, the positioning means comprising a pair of vertical-positioning rails mounted on opposite sides of the belt and extending in advance of and along the printing station, the positioning rails being positioned to engage under surfaces of the advancing pallets in sequence, on opposite sides of the belt, in advance of the printing station and being tapered to elevate each pallet in sequence to a desired vertical position for printing at the printing station, the pallets being engaged with the belt so that the belt follows the course of the pallets, and further comprising means for tensioning the belt so that the belt exerts a force urging the pallets against the positioning rails.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
215 words
An improved belt printer of the class wherein a plurality of type members are carried by a driveable endless belt for continuous horizontal movement with the belt past a printing station, wherein the improvement comprises: a plurality of type pallets comprising the type members; means for mounting the type pallets to the belt so that portions of the pallets extend outward from the belt on opposite sides thereof in a direction transverse to the direction of belt movement; and means, engageable with portions of successive pallets on opposite sides of the belt, for vertically positioning the pallets as they approach the printing station, the positioning means comprising a pair of vertical-positioning rails mounted on opposite sides of the belt and extending in advance of and along the printing station, the positioning rails being positioned to engage under surfaces of the advancing pallets in sequence, on opposite sides of the belt, in advance of the printing station and being tapered to elevate each pallet in sequence to a desired vertical position for printing at the printing station, the pallets being engaged with the belt so that the belt follows the course of the pallets, and further comprising means for tensioning the belt so that the belt exerts a force urging the pallets against the positioning rails.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
153 words
An endless belt printer of the class having type elements carried by an endless belt for horizontal movement therewith in a printing course past a printing position, characterized by: a. the type elements comprising type pallets, each having a type face secured to an elongated shank, the shanks being mounted in apertures formed through the belt and having lengths such that end portions of the shanks project from the belt on each side of the belt in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction of belt movement in the printing course; and b. means, engaging only portions of the shanks on both sides of the belt, for supporting and elevating the pallets prior to the printing course and for supporting and vertically positioning the pallets throughout the printing course in a predetermined horizontal printing line, the belt being unsupported in the printing course except for the means engaging the shanks of the pallets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
153 words
An endless belt printer of the class having type elements carried by an endless belt for horizontal movement therewith in a printing course past a printing position, characterized by: a. the type elements comprising type pallets, each having a type face secured to an elongated shank, the shanks being mounted in apertures formed through the belt and having lengths such that end portions of the shanks project from the belt on each side of the belt in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction of belt movement in the printing course; and b. means, engaging only portions of the shanks on both sides of the belt, for supporting and elevating the pallets prior to the printing course and for supporting and vertically positioning the pallets throughout the printing course in a predetermined horizontal printing line, the belt being unsupported in the printing course except for the means engaging the shanks of the pallets.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
A printer as recited in claim 4, wherein: the belt is supported and rotated by parallel rollers mounted for rotation about horizontally aligned, spaced horizontal axes so that the belt has an upper generally horizontal run comprising the printing course and a lower horizontal run comprising a return course; and the engaging means, by elevating the pallets, elevates the belt in the upper run above its normal line of travel between the rollers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A printer as recited in claim 4, further comprising means for maintaining the pallets stationary, with respect to the belt during the printing operation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
93 words
A printer as recited in claim 4, wherein: the positioning means comprises a pair of camming rails mounted in the path of movement of the shanks so as to engage the shanks, from beneath, on opposite sides of the belt as the pallets approach the printing position and to elevate the pallets to a desired horizontal printing course level; and further comprising means for tensioning the belt so as to exert a force uring the pallet shanks downward against the camming rails so that the pallets follow the course set by those rails.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
A printer according to claim 7, wherein said printing course is horizontal along an upper course of said belt, and said camming rails comprise the legs of a U-shaped channel member arranged below said upper course and having its edges disposed for engaging said shanks and vertically adjusting the type faces for printing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A printer according to claim 7, wherein the shanks are rectangular and are arranged with a flat surface downward and horizontal in the printing course, which downward flat surface rides along the edges of the channel prior to and in the printing course.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
93 words
A printer as recited in claim 4, wherein: the belt is formed of elastomeric material and the size of the apertures is such that the walls of the apertures frictionally grip the pallet shanks to releasably maintain the pallet positions once set, but with such force that the pallets can be moved in the apertures to permit removal and replacement; and further comprising transverse camming means, mounted in advance of the printing position, for engaging the ends of incorrectly positioned pallets and sliding them in the apertures toward their proper positions for printing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
69 words
A printer according to claim 10, wherein the transverse camming means comprises fixed inner and outer bosses, disposed on opposite sides of the path of movement of the pallets toward the printing course, said bosses being arranged and tapered for engaging the ends of incorrectly positioned pallets and moving them transversely of the belt for positioning the type faces at an approximate position transversely of said carrier for printing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
139 words
An endless belt printer of the class having type pallets mounted in apertures in a belt of elastomeric material, characterized by: a. the type elements comprising type pallets, each having a type face secured to an elongated shank, the shanks being closely received in the belt apertures and having lengths such that end portions of the shanks project from each side of the belt, the size of the apertures being such that the walls of the apertures frictionally grip the pallet shanks to releasably maintain the pallet positions once set, but with such force that the pallets can be moved in the apertures to permit removal and replacement; and b. camming means, mounted in advance of the printing position, for engaging the ends of incorrectly positioned pallets and sliding them in the apertures toward their proper positions for printing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
139 words
An endless belt printer of the class having type pallets mounted in apertures in a belt of elastomeric material, characterized by: a. the type elements comprising type pallets, each having a type face secured to an elongated shank, the shanks being closely received in the belt apertures and having lengths such that end portions of the shanks project from each side of the belt, the size of the apertures being such that the walls of the apertures frictionally grip the pallet shanks to releasably maintain the pallet positions once set, but with such force that the pallets can be moved in the apertures to permit removal and replacement; and b. camming means, mounted in advance of the printing position, for engaging the ends of incorrectly positioned pallets and sliding them in the apertures toward their proper positions for printing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
84 words
A printer as recited in claim 12, wherein: the pallets have rectangular shanks of a length greater than the width of the belt; and the apertures in the belt comprise a plurality of equally spaced, transverse rectantular apertures extending through the belt and within which the shanks are slidably received so that type faces formed at one end of the shanks project from the belt toward the printing station and the opposite ends of the shanks project from the belt on the opposite side.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
69 words
A printer according to claim 13, wherein the transverse camming means comprises fixed inner and outer bosses, disposed on opposite sides of the path of movement of the pallets toward the printing course, said bosses being arranged and tapered for engaging the ends of incorrectly positioned pallets and moving them transversely of the belt for positioning the type faces at an approximate position transversely of said carrier for printing.
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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) | 1976-07-02 | 1977-01-01 | 1977-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-02 | 1981-01-01 | 1981-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-02 | 1985-01-01 | 1985-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |