Transportable strip chart recorder

Claim 2

A portable strip chart recorder comprising a case having a base and top, mounting means in said case for holding a strip chart, drive means in said case for advancing said strip chart, a battery circuit for powering said drive means, a transducer for sensing an environmental variable and having a stylus engageable with said strip chart, switch means positionable for closing said battery circuit to power the drive means and for opening said circuit to conserve the battery, and means for manually advancing said strip chart and overriding the drive means when initiating use thereof, said mounting means including a disposable chart dispenser removable from said case and having means for accurately positioning the dispenser in said case, said dispenser including a lower portion and an upper portion, a window in said upper portion for exposing a strip chart to said stylus and for manually writing on the strip chart prior to closing the top, a container on said dispenser for holding a rolled end of strip chart and means for guiding the free end of the strip chart between said upper and lower portions, said drive means including a spool operable to be secured to said free end of the strip chart, said dispenser being detachable from said spool as well as said case whereby the dispenser contains only the strip chart and thus is expendable at a minimum cost, said lower portion having a smooth writing surface disposed opposite said window to facilitate writing on said chart and to provide a new writing surface for the stylus, said switch means including a first switch for partially completing said circuit, said lower portion having a switch operator engageable with said first switch for closing said first switch only when the dispenser is in said case whereby removal of said dispenser opens said circuit to conserve the battery.

Claim 3

A portable strip chart recorder comprising a case having a base and top, mounting means in said case for holding a strip chart, drive means in said case for advancing said strip chart, a battery circuit for powering said drive means, a transducer for sensing an environmental variable and having a stylus engageable with said strip chart, switch means positionable for closing said battery circuit to power the drive means and for opening said circuit to conserve the battery, and means for manually advancing the strip chart and overriding the drive means when initiating the use thereof, said mounting means including a disposable chart dispenser removable from said case and having means for accurately positioning the dispenser in said case, said switch means including a first switch for partially completing said circuit and a second switch for finally completing said circuit, means on said dispenser for closing said first switch only when said dispenser is in said case, and means on said strip chart manual advancing means for automatically completing said circuit when said dispenser is in said case and said strip chart is manually advanced whereby the circuit is closed by advancing the strip chart and Is open both prior to advancement and after the dispenser is removed.

Claim 4

A portable strip chart recorder comprising a case having a base and top, mounting means in said case for holding a strip chart, drive means in said case for advancing said strip chart, a battery circuit for powering said drive means, a transducer for sensing an environmental variable and having a stylus engageable with said strip chart, switch means positionable for closing said battery circuit to power the drive means and for opening said circuit to conserve the battery, and means for manually advancing the strip chart and overriding the drive means when initiating the use thereof, said mounting means including a disposable chart dispenser removable from said case and having means for accurately positioning the dispenser in said case, said switch means including a first switch for partially completing said circuit and a second switch for finally completing said circuit, means on said dispenser for closing said first switch only when said dispenser is in said case, and means on said strip chart manual advancing means for automatically completing said circuit when said dispenser is in said case and said strip chart is manually advanced whereby the circuit is closed by advancing the strip chart and Is open both prior to advancement and after the dispenser is removed.

Claim 5

A portable strip chart recorder comprising a case having a base and top, mounting means in said case for holding a strip chart, drive means in said case for advancing said strip chart, a battery circuit for powering said drive means, a transducer for sensing an environmental variable and having a stylus engageable with said strip chart, switch means positionable for closing said battery circuit to power the drive means and for opening said circuit to conserve the battery, and means for manually advancing the strip chart and overriding the drive means when initiating use thereof, said switch means including a movable contact and means on said strip chart manual advancing means for actuating said contact to close the battery circuit whereby the circuit is automatically closed during the period the strip chart is being manually advanced, said mounting means including a disposable chart dispenser removable from said case and having means for accurately positioning the dispenser in said case relative to said drive means, said dispenser including a lower portion, an upper portion, a discharge opening, and an enlarged window in said upper portion for exposing the strip chart to said stylus and being large enough for manually writing on the strip chart prior to closing the top, said lower portion having a smooth writing surface disposed opposite said window to facilitate writing on said chart and to provide a new writing surface for the stylus, a container on said dispenser for holding a rolled end of strip chart, and means provided on said upper and lower portions between said window and said discharge opening for quiding the chart between said upper and lower portions and through said discharge opening, said drive including a spool operable to be secured to said free end of the strip chart as it leaves said discharge opening, said dispenser being detachable from said spool as well as said case whereby the dispenser contains only the strip chart and thus is expendable at a minimum cost.

Claim 6

A portable strip chart recorder comprising a case having a base and top, mounting means in said case for holding a strip chart, drive means in said case for advancing said strip chart, a battery circuit for powering said drive means, a transducer for sensing an environmental variable and having a stylus engageable with said strip chart, switch means positionable for closing said battery circuit to power the drive means and for opening said circuit to conserve the battery, and means for manually advancing the strip chart and overriding the drive means when initiating use thereof, said switch means including a movable contact and means on said strip chart manual advancing means for actuating said contact to close the battery circuit whereby the circuit is automatically closed during the period the strip chart is being manually advanced, said mounting means including a disposable chart dispenser removable from said case and having means for accurately positioning the dispenser in said case relative to said drive means, said dispenser including a lower portion, an upper portion, a discharge opening, and an enlarged window in said upper portion for exposing the strip chart to said stylus and being large enough for manually writing on the strip chart prior to closing the top, said lower portion having a smooth writing surface disposed opposite said window to facilitate writing on said chart and to provide a new writing surface for the stylus, a container on said dispenser for holding a rolled end of strip chart, and means provided on said upper and lower portions between said window and said discharge opening for quiding the chart between said upper and lower portions and through said discharge opening, said drive including a spool operable to be secured to said free end of the strip chart as it leaves said discharge opening, said dispenser being detachable from said spool as well as said case whereby the dispenser contains only the strip chart and thus is expendable at a minimum cost.

Claim 7

A portable strip chart recorder comprising a case having a base and top, mounting means in said case for holding a strip chart, drive means in said case for advancing said strip chart, a battery circuit for powering said drive means, a transducer for sensing an environmental variable and having a stylus engageable with said strip chart, switch means positionable for closing said battery circuit to power the drive means and for opening said circuit to conserve the battery, and means for manually advancing the strip chart and overriding the drive means when initiating use thereof, said switch means including a movable contact, and means on said strip chart manual advancing means for actuating said contact to close said circuit upon the manual advancement of said strip chart when initiating use thereof.

Claim 8

A portable strip chart recorder comprising a case having a base and top, mounting means in said case for holding a strip chart, drive means in said case for advancing said strip chart, a battery circuit for powering said drive means, a transducer for sensing an environmental variable and having a stylus engageable with said strip chart, switch means positionable for closing said battery circuit to power the drive means and for opening said circuit to conserve the battery, and means for manually advancing the strip chart and overriding the drive means when initiating use thereof, said switch means including a movable contact, and means on said strip chart manual advancing means for actuating said contact to close said circuit upon the manual advancement of said strip chart when initiating use thereof.