US3791291A — Dual printing apparatus with selective hammer arm…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 269 words

Apparatus for printing tickets showing units of quantity of a material delivered via a delivery device, comprising: a. delivery data printing means for printing delivery data in units of quantity at the beginning of a delivery and at the end of a delivery; b. delivery data advancing means for advancing said delivery data printing means; said delivery data advancing means being connected with said delivery device so as to effect said advancing of said delivery data printing means responsive to signals from said delivery device; and c. a ticket printer comprising: i. a frame; ii. drawer means for receiving a ticket thereinto; said drawer means being slidable longitudinally of said ticket printer frame; iii. print bar mounted adjacent said delivery data printing means with space therebetween for receiving said ticket when said drawer means is pushed inwardly; iv. print means for moving said print bar so as to effect printing of said ticket with information from said delivery data printing means; v. first arming means for arming said print means preparatory to printing beginning delivery data; said first arming means being connected with said drawer means and said print means so as to arm said print means when said drawer means is moved inwardly to a first location; vi. actuator means for actuating said print means after said print means is armed; and vii. second arming means for arming said print means preparatory to printing ending delivery data; said second arming means being connected with said drawer means and said print means so as to arm said print means when said drawer is moved inwardly to a second location.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 269 words

Apparatus for printing tickets showing units of quantity of a material delivered via a delivery device, comprising: a. delivery data printing means for printing delivery data in units of quantity at the beginning of a delivery and at the end of a delivery; b. delivery data advancing means for advancing said delivery data printing means; said delivery data advancing means being connected with said delivery device so as to effect said advancing of said delivery data printing means responsive to signals from said delivery device; and c. a ticket printer comprising: i. a frame; ii. drawer means for receiving a ticket thereinto; said drawer means being slidable longitudinally of said ticket printer frame; iii. print bar mounted adjacent said delivery data printing means with space therebetween for receiving said ticket when said drawer means is pushed inwardly; iv. print means for moving said print bar so as to effect printing of said ticket with information from said delivery data printing means; v. first arming means for arming said print means preparatory to printing beginning delivery data; said first arming means being connected with said drawer means and said print means so as to arm said print means when said drawer means is moved inwardly to a first location; vi. actuator means for actuating said print means after said print means is armed; and vii. second arming means for arming said print means preparatory to printing ending delivery data; said second arming means being connected with said drawer means and said print means so as to arm said print means when said drawer is moved inwardly to a second location.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 116 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a print bar positioning means is connected with said print bar for moving said print bar toward said delivery data printing means before said drawer means is moved inwardly to its said first location and for moving said print bar away from said delivery data printing means after said drawer means has been moved to its said second location and said print means has been actuated to print the beginning and the ending delivery data from said delivery data printing means, whereby a ticket with good printing and almost no smudging is produced, and said drawer means is readily movable in its respective directions without inference from said print bar.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 53 words

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said print bar positioning means comprises a roller attached to said print bar and a ledge mounted on said drawer means and traversing longitudinally thereof to a first predetermined position; said roller changing the position of said print bar when said first predetermined position passes said roller.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 57 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said printing means comprises first and second print hammers, said first print hammer being connected with said first arming means and said second print hammer being connected with said second arming means; each said print hammer being movable toward and away from said print bar and said delivery data printing means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 150 words

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein biasing means is provided for biasing said print hammer toward said print bar and said delivery data printing means; said first and second arming means include respective first and second moving means for moving respective said first and second print hammers away from said print bar and said delivery data printing means and against said biasing means to an armed position responsive to inward movement of said drawer means; and said actuator means includes a manually operable member accessible at the front of said ticket printer and a release means for releasing respective said print hammers after they have been moved into their armed position; said release means being connected with said manually operable member and said respective first and second moving means for effecting respective releases of armed said first and second print hammers responsive to manual operation of said manually operable member.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 197 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said first and second moving means include: a. first and second cams mounted on a rotatable shaft so as to rotate in unison therewith; b. a rack fixed to and extending longitudinally of said drawer; c. a drive pinion drivingly connected with said shaft so as to effect rotation thereof when said drive pinion is rotated in a first direction and engaging said rack so as to rotate when said dRawer is moved longitudinally of said ticket printer frame; and d. first and second cam followers connected to respective said first and second print hammers and riding on the peripheral surface of respective said cams for arming said print hammers as said first and second cams are rotated; and said release means includes: e. a precipitous drop-off of the respective cam surfaces radially interiorly of said cam for allowing respective said cam followers to move rapidly radially inwardly when said respective cams are rotated sufficiently; and f. a ratchet means including a ratchet wheel connected with said shaft and a ratchet tooth connected with said manually operable member for advancing respective said cams at respective times for releasing respective print hammers.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 44 words

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a ticket sensing switch is connected to said delivery device so as to inhibit operation thereof until a ticket is inserted into said ticket printer and moved upwardly by moving said drawer means to its said second location.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 111 words

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said drawer means has a rack fixed to and extending longitudinally thereof and a toggle mechanism is pivotally mounted on said frame; said toggle mechanism having two oppositely disposed arms such that one arm engages said rack when said toggle mechanism is at a first angle and allows movement of said drawer means in only one direction, and the other arm engages said rack when said toggle mechanism is at a second angle and allows movement of said drawer means in only the other direction; and toggle actuators are provided at each end of said rack for moving said toggle mechanism to its other angle.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 32 words

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said drawer means includes a ticket fixing means for trapping a ticket in place in said drawer means responsive to inward movement of said drawer means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 104 words

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said ticket fixing means comprises: a. a cross bar piercing mechanism for trapping a ticket and retaining it in place; and b. a cross bar positioning means for forcing said cross bar piercing mechanism downwardly to trap an inserted ticket when said drawer means is moved inwardly; said cross bar positioning means including: i. a cross bar biasing means biasing said cross bar to trap an inserted ticket; and ii. a cross bar camming means for also forcing said cross bar piercing mechanism to release said inserted ticket when said drawer is moved outwardly to its release position.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 88 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said cross bar positioning means comprises a pair of rollers mounted on said frame at respective sides of said cross bar piercing mechanism contiguous its upper surface so as to force said cross bar piercing mechanism downwardly to trap said inserted ticket as said drawer is moved inwardly; and an upwardly extending member on each side to engage said roller and lift said cross bar piercing mechanism to free said ticket when said drawer is moved outwardly to its said release position.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 198 words

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said ticket printer has a plurality of respective step positions that include: a. a step 1 position with said drawer means extended outwardly for insertion of a ticket thereinto; b. a step 2 position with said drawer means moved inwardly to a first location with said ticket having a beginning delivery data block adjacent said delivery data printing means, said print means being armed by said first arming means; c. a step 3 position with said drawer means at said first location and said print means actuated by said actuator means for effecting initial printing of beginning delivery data; d. a step 4 position with said drawer means moved to a second location with said ticket having an ending delivery data block adjacent said delivery data printing means, said print means being armed by said second arming means; e. a step 5 position effected by said print means having been actuated a second time by saId actuator means for printing said ending delivery data and releasing and moving said drawer means outwardly; and f. a return to said step 1 position for releasing said ticket and repeating said operation with another ticket.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 77 words

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a pulse generator is connected with said delivery device so as to generate a pulse each time a predetermined quantity of material is delivered and said delivery data advancing means is electrically connected with said pulse generator so as to advance said delivery data printing means responsive to said pulses from said pulse generator; whereby said apparatus for printing tickets may be employed at a location remote from said delivery device.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 52 words

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a transmission means that includes a one-way clutch is employed to drivingly connect said drive pinion with said first and second cams so as to rotate said cams when said drawer is moved inwardly and not to rotate said cams when said drawer is moved outwardly.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 90 words

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said print hammers are freely pivotally mounted on respective cam follower shafts that are connected with respective first and second cam followers; respective stops are connected with said cam follower shafts so as to move therewith; second biasing means bias said print hammers toward said stops; said print hammer being free to over travel because of inertia beyond the position of said cam follower shaft in moving with said respective cam followers rapidly radially interiorly down respective said drop-offs of respective said cam surfaces.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 160 words

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein respective first and second hammer carriages carry respective said print hammers; said hammer carriages being pivotally mounted on said frame and having respective first and second extensions; first and second stop arms are pivotally mounted on said frame; said first stop arm engaging said first extension so as to move into position to stop inward movement of said drawer means at said first location as said first hammer is armed by inward movement of said drawer means and moved out of said position when said first print hammer is actuated; said second stop arm engaging said second extension so as to move into its holding position to releasably retain said drawer means at its second location after said second print hammer is armed by inward movement of said drawer means toward its second location and to move out of its holding position to release said drawer means when said second print hammer is actuated.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 92 words

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein first and second dwell notches are provided on respective first and second cams; said first cam having its first dwell notch disposed so as to prevent overrunning thereof when said second cam is rotated by having its biased cam follower travel rapidly radially inwardly of its said drop-off; and said second cam has its second dwell notch positioned to prevent its overrunning when rotated by said first cam as it is rotated by having its biased cam follower travel rapidly radially inwardly of its said drop-off.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 111 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said drawer means has a rack fixed to and extending longitudinally thereof and a toggle mechanism is pivotally mounted on said frame; said toggle mechanism having two oppositely disposed arms such that one arm engages said rack when said toggle mechanism is at a first angle and allows movement of said drawer means in only one direction, and the other arm engages said rack when said toggle mechanism is at a second angle and allows movement of said drawer means in only the other direction; and toggle actuators are provided at each end of said rack for moving said toggle mechanism to its other angle.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 43 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a ticket sensing switch is connected to said delivery device so as to inhibit operation thereof until a ticket is inserted into said ticket printer and moved inwardly by moving said drawer means to said second location.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 75 words

The apparatuS of claim 1 wherein a pulse generator is connected with said delivery device so as to generate a pulse each time a predetermined quantity of material is delivered; and said delivery data advancing means is connected with said pulse generator so as to advance said delivery data printing means responsive to pulses from said pulse generator; whereby said apparatus for printing tickets may be employed at a location remote from said delivery device.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 32 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said drawer means includes a ticket fixing means for trapping a ticket in place in said drawer means responsive to inward movement of said drawer means.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 194 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ticket printer has a plurality of respective step positions that include: a. a step 1 position with said drawer means extended outwardly for insertion of a ticket thereinto; b. a step 2 positon with said drawer means moved inwardly to a first location with said ticket having a beginning delivery data block adjacent said delivery data printing means, said print means being armed by said first arming means; c. a step 3 position with said drawer means at said first location and said print means actuated by said actuator means for effecting initial printing of beginning delivery data; d. a step 4 position with said drawer means moved to a second location with said ticket having an ending delivery data block adjacent said delivery data printing means, said print means being armed by said second arming means; e. a step 5 position effected by having actuated said print means with said actuator means for printing said ending delivery data and releasing and moving said drawer means outwardly; and f. a return to said step 1 position for releasing said ticket and replacing said operation with another ticket.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-02-11	1977-08-13	1978-02-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-02-11	1981-08-13	1982-02-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-02-11	1985-08-13	1986-02-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Dual printing apparatus with selective hammer arming means

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