US3865026A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Imprinter
Assignee: Dymo Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1973-07-23
•
Granted: 1975-02-11
•
Expires: 1993-07-23
Abstract
Abstract A data recorder for imprinting indicia from an embossed printing plate and variable indicia wheels onto a form includes a bed for retaining the form, the embossed printing plate, and the variable indicia wheels. On each variable indicia wheel, the indicia characters alternate with notches about the circumference of the wheel, one of the notches registering with a detent wedge carried on a pivotable detent arm. A platen carrier supported on wheels engaging tracks below the bed is manually moved across the bed, the wheels depressing an actuator extending into the track area and causing the detent arms to pivot and engage the notches of the indicia wheels. The presentation of the indicia wheels is controlled by manually slidable selectors which are resiliently maintained in set positions by means of detent pawls which are urged into engagement with teeth on the selectors by means of parallel springs, one end of each spring secured to each detent. The other end of each spring is fastened to a bail which is normally maintained in a spring-tensioning positioning by engagement with a slide riding on rails, providing maximum detent action on the selectors. The slide which is moved by a crank secured to the platen carrier includes a pivoting return latch which engages a pick-up on each selector only on the return stroke of the platen carrier, and returning all selectors to zero. Because the slide is disengaged from the bail during the return stroke of the platen carrier, the return latch acts against a decreased detent force on the selectors, thereby minimizing the manual force required to operate the platen carrier during the imprinting operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Mitchel A Trout
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 15:57
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41K; B41K3/00; B41K3/26; B41K3/263; B41L; B41L19/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A data recorder for printing indicia, including a housing, a printing bed secured to said housing and retaining a plurality of variable indicia, a platen carrier adapted to be moved over said printing bed, a plurality of selector arms slidably retained by said housing and vaRiably positionable to vary the presentation of said variable indicia wheels, and a reset apparatus for returning said variable indicia wheels and said selector arms to a neutral position, said reset apparatus comprising; slide means for reciprocally translating along said selector arms, latch means, pivotally secured to said slide means, for engaging said selector arms and returning said selector arms to said neutral position, crank means, secured to said slide means and operatively associated with said platen carrier, for translating said slide means, and tooth means, formed on said selector arms, for engaging said latch means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A data recorder for printing indicia, including a housing, a printing bed secured to said housing and retaining a plurality of variable indicia, a platen carrier adapted to be moved over said printing bed, a plurality of selector arms slidably retained by said housing and vaRiably positionable to vary the presentation of said variable indicia wheels, and a reset apparatus for returning said variable indicia wheels and said selector arms to a neutral position, said reset apparatus comprising; slide means for reciprocally translating along said selector arms, latch means, pivotally secured to said slide means, for engaging said selector arms and returning said selector arms to said neutral position, crank means, secured to said slide means and operatively associated with said platen carrier, for translating said slide means, and tooth means, formed on said selector arms, for engaging said latch means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The data recorder of claim 1, further including pawl means for retaining said selector arms in a preset position, and bail means for varying the force of engagement of said pawl means with said selector arms to minimize said retaining of said selector arms during said return of said selector arms to said neutral position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The data recorder of claim 1, wherein said selector arms are parallel and spaced apart and said slide means includes a channel-shaped slide adjacent and about said selector arms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The data recorder of claim 3, wherein said latch means includes a transverse web secured between arms pivotally secured to the sides of said slide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The data recorder of claim 4, wherein said tooth means comprises a sawtooth-shaped projection on each selector arm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The data recorder of claim 5, further including stop means for pivoting said web of said latch out of engagement with said projections.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The data recorder of claim 6, wherein said crank translates said slide reciprocally away from a home position and returning to a home position, said web of said latch means engaging said projections during said return stroke only.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
259 words
A data recorder for printing indicia, including a housing, a printing bed secured to said housing and retaining a plurality of variable indicia wheels, a platen carrier adapted to be moved over said printing bed, a plurality of selector arms operatively engaging said variable indicia wheels, slidably retained in said housing and variably positionable to vary the presentation of said variable indicia wheels, and a pawl apparatus for retaining said selector arms in a preset position with variable retaining force, said pawl apparatus comprising: a plurality of pawl levers, each pawl lever engaging a selector arm, each of said plurality of selector arms including spaced teeth for engaging said pawl levers, bail means operatively linked to said pawl levers for varying the amount of force of engagement applied by said pawl levers to said selector arms, resilient means linking said bail means and said pawl levers, said bail means including a bail adjacent to said selector arms, said resilient means including a plurality of extension springs, one of said extension springs secured between each pawl lever and said bail, said bail being pivotally secured to a pivot shaft disposed adjacent to said selector arms, said bail biased by said extension springs into a first position of minimum spring extensions and minimum force of engagement of said pawl levers with said spaced teeth on said selector arms, and slide means for selectively urging said bail to a second position to maximum spring extensions and maximum force of engagement of said pawl levers with said spaced teeth on said selector arms.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
259 words
A data recorder for printing indicia, including a housing, a printing bed secured to said housing and retaining a plurality of variable indicia wheels, a platen carrier adapted to be moved over said printing bed, a plurality of selector arms operatively engaging said variable indicia wheels, slidably retained in said housing and variably positionable to vary the presentation of said variable indicia wheels, and a pawl apparatus for retaining said selector arms in a preset position with variable retaining force, said pawl apparatus comprising: a plurality of pawl levers, each pawl lever engaging a selector arm, each of said plurality of selector arms including spaced teeth for engaging said pawl levers, bail means operatively linked to said pawl levers for varying the amount of force of engagement applied by said pawl levers to said selector arms, resilient means linking said bail means and said pawl levers, said bail means including a bail adjacent to said selector arms, said resilient means including a plurality of extension springs, one of said extension springs secured between each pawl lever and said bail, said bail being pivotally secured to a pivot shaft disposed adjacent to said selector arms, said bail biased by said extension springs into a first position of minimum spring extensions and minimum force of engagement of said pawl levers with said spaced teeth on said selector arms, and slide means for selectively urging said bail to a second position to maximum spring extensions and maximum force of engagement of said pawl levers with said spaced teeth on said selector arms.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
The data recorder of claim 8, wherein each of said pawl levers includes a pawl for engaging said spaced teeth on said selector arm, said pawl including spaced walls defining a slot therebetween, said slot slidably receiving said spaced teeth, and a ball secured between said walls in said slot for contacting the surface of said spaced teeth.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The data recorder of claim 8, further including crank means secured between said platen carrier and said slide means for translating said slide means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
179 words
A data recorder for printing indicia, including a housing, a printing Bed secured to said housing and retaining a plurality of variable indicia wheels, a platen carrier adapted to be moved over said printing bed, a plurality of selector arms operatively associated with said variable indicia wheels, slidably retained in said housing and variably positionable to vary the presentation of said variable indicia wheels, a pawl mechanism engaging said selector arms for exerting a selectively variable force on said selector arms and retaining said selector arms in a preset position, a separate locking apparatus for engaging said variable indicia wheels prior to printing and immobilizing said variable indicia wheels during printing, a reset apparatus operatively associated with said platen carrier and said selector arms for returning said variable indicia wheels and said selector arms to a neutral position after printing, said pawl mechanism including biasing means for driving said pawl mechanism into engagement with said selector arms with a reduced retaining force as said reset apparatus returns said variable indicia wheels and said selector arms to said neutral position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
179 words
A data recorder for printing indicia, including a housing, a printing Bed secured to said housing and retaining a plurality of variable indicia wheels, a platen carrier adapted to be moved over said printing bed, a plurality of selector arms operatively associated with said variable indicia wheels, slidably retained in said housing and variably positionable to vary the presentation of said variable indicia wheels, a pawl mechanism engaging said selector arms for exerting a selectively variable force on said selector arms and retaining said selector arms in a preset position, a separate locking apparatus for engaging said variable indicia wheels prior to printing and immobilizing said variable indicia wheels during printing, a reset apparatus operatively associated with said platen carrier and said selector arms for returning said variable indicia wheels and said selector arms to a neutral position after printing, said pawl mechanism including biasing means for driving said pawl mechanism into engagement with said selector arms with a reduced retaining force as said reset apparatus returns said variable indicia wheels and said selector arms to said neutral position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The data recorder of claim 11, further including slide means for engaging said biasing means and varying said retaining force of said pawl mechanism and for operating said reset apparatus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The data recorder of claim 12, wherein said slide means includes a slide reciprocally translatable along parallel slide rails.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The data recorder of claim 13, further including crank means operably associated with said platen carrier for reciprocally translating said slide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-10 | 1978-08-12 | 1979-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-10 | 1982-08-12 | 1983-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-10 | 1986-08-12 | 1987-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |