US2140028A - Multiple form aligning device - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 13, 1938. E J. NICHOLS I MULTIPLE FORM ALIGNING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 22, 1956 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY. v

Dec. 13, 1938. E. J. NICHOLS MULTIPLE FORM ALIGNING DEVICE Filed May 22, 1936 5 Sheets-sheaf 2 INVENTOR IZZs'zJ-arZ/EJ 229L919 ATTORNEY Dec. 13, 1938. NICHOLS 2,140,028

MULTIPLE FORM ALIGNING DEVICE Filed May 22, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. is; 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MULTIPLE FORM meme nnvrcn I Ellsworth: J. Nichols, Newark, N. I. Application May 22, ms, Serial No. 81,281

This invention relates, generally, to means for maintaining multiple forms, such as are used in electric accounting and tabulating machines, in alignment, and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel multiple form aligning device adapted to be readily attached to the above mentioned and similar machines for accomplishing'this result. I

In operating electric accounting and tabulating machines considerable difficulty has been experienced in the past in endeavoring to maintain the several superimposed continuous forms in alignment while passing through the machines due to the slippage be een the success'ive forms. This slippage is c ulative so that with long forms considerable misalignment results between the upper and lower forms and if the forms have printed matter thereon, the typewritten material is not properly located 0 with respect thereto and such typewritten material at times is written upon the printed matter instead of in the spaces therebetween.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel multipleform aligning device that may be readily attached to accountin tabulating' and similar machines and which serves to positively. and continuously align the several superimposed "continuous length forms both horizontally and vertically, thereby pro'' viding fpr the proper and identical location of the typewritten matter on the, original and all of the duplicate form copies.

Another object of the present invention lies in the provision of a novel multiple form aligning device of the above character comprising a frame member carrying pulley driven non-slipping endless belts or tapes having driving pins thereon for engaging in rows of perforations pro vided in the continuous length forms, to thereby o insure the alignment oi the forms at all times, the said pulley driven belts operating ,syn-

chronism with the" machine form feed. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel multiple form aligning device of the above character wherein the aligning belts or tapes are readily adjustable simultaneously to accommcdate various widths of continuous length forms and are also simultaneously movable for operating upon forms" located 50 at any desired position along the length of the machine platen.

.Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will. be clearly understood from the following detailed 55 description of the same.

. of Fig. 8 with parts broken away.

9 Claims. .(01. 197-133) 'The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: a

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the novel mul-- tiple form aligning device shown applied to an electric accounting and tabulating machine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged part sectional view of a portion of the structure of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in plan 01 a portion of the structure of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view looking up at the structure of Fig. 3'from below. I

Fig. '5 isa-perspective view partly broken away ,of the endless; belt aligning means and associated parts.

Fig. 6 is a vertical view taken along line 6-6 I of Fig. 12.

Fig. '7 is a composite viewshowing the several parts of the aligning means prior to assembly.

Fig. 8 is a view in elevation of the'assembled aligning means of Fig. 7, and 'Fig. 9 is a perspective view or the structure Similar characters of reference are employed in said views, to indicate corresponding Darts.

Referring now to the several figures of the.

drawings, the reference numeral l designates an electric accounting and tabulating machine of a type well known to those skilled in the art. This machine is adapted to receive a continuous length form 2 supplied froma form pack I resting upon the shelf of a stand 5. Form 2 consists of an original and as many form copies as 'desired, carbon paper being intetlined between consecutive superimposed form copies for trans mitting the impression of the machine type to allcopies simultaneously. The form 2 is providedwith a series ofequally spaced perforations 6, adjacent itsside edges, the said periorations extending through all copies of the form.

The continuous length form 2 passes between metal'guides 1 and 8 and then down and around andup and over the cylindrical machine platen '9, whereuponthe form passes over the inclined guide 8 and then. over the flat guide ill to be supplied to a receiving pack ll resting upon a sheli l2 of stand 5.

According to the preferred arrangement, the novelmultiple form aligning device of this invention comprises a substantially rectangular frame member is made adjustable with respect to machine The frame member i3 is shown in the drawings as inclined somewhat to accommodate the same to the general inclination of the form 2 after it leaves the platen 9. A pair of spaced shafts l8 and I9 extend longitudinally of the frame I3 and have their end portions journaled in the end members ofthis frame.

Shafts l8 and I9 are splined, i. e. provided with key-ways 20 for slidingly receiving keys 20 fixed on pulleys 2| and. 22 that are slidably though non-rotatably mounted on these shafts. Two sets of pulleys 2| and 22 are employed, the two pulleys 2| being keyed upon shaft l8 and the two pulleys 22 being keyed upon shaft 9. Shaft I8 is suitably connected as by means of a sprocket chain drive 23 and spur gearing 24 to the platen shaft 25, whereby shaft I8 is caused to move in synchronism with the platen shaft 25; this latter shaft serving to drive shaft |8. Looped around the peripheries of pulleys 2| and 22 are endless belts or tapes 26 having regularlyspaced outwardly projecting pins 21 thereon, which pins are adapted to engage in the apertures or perforations 6 of the form set, to thereby positively retain all sheets of the form set in alignment while aiding in the movement of the form set.

In order to assure that the surface speed of the belts 26 shall be identical with that of the surface of platen 9, the belts 26 are also provided with inwardly projecting pins 28 that are adapted to engage in depressions or pockets 29 provided in the peripheries of pulleys 2| and 22. The gearing 23 and 24 is such that pulleys 2| drive belts 26 at a speed synchronized with the moving form so that any sheets of the form which tend to fall behind the desired speed are prevented from doing so by the pins 21 on belts 26 which pins serve to positively advance these sheets at the same rate as the inner sheet, i. e. the sheet adjacent the platen 8. In order to-insure the engagement of pins 21 in perforations 6, suitable guide means are carried by the frame member.

| 3 so, as to assure this result.

Such guide means comprises a plate member 36 associated with each pair of said pulleys 2|- '22.- This plate member 30 is supported on pulleys 2| 22 by being provided with substantially semicircular recesses 3| in its ends which recesses are adapted to engage around thehubs 36 of pulleys 2|22. The hubs 36 of these pulleysare provided with peripheral annular grooves 32 of a width to accommodate the ends of plate member 30 whereby the plate member may be suspended at its ends upon the hubs of pulleys 2|22 as especially shown in Fig. 5, the recesses 3| providing the plate member 30 with forked ends which engage in the grooves 32 and allow the pulleys to turn with respect to the plate member 30. Plate member 30 is provided with a lower guide projection 33 extending at right angles with respect to the main body of plate member,

36 for overlying the lower run of belt 26 so as to prevent the same from bulging up in use which would cause pins 21 to disengage one or more of the form sheets. This guide projection 33 is provided with a longitudinal slot or aperture 35 therein for accommodating the movement of pins 28. Guide 33 is provided with turned up ends 34 and 34' that extend above the pins 28 at the ends of slot 35 to provide metal for supporting,

the outer part of this guide, the ends 34 and 34' also facilitating the passage of the belt thereform 2 as it leaves this pulley. The upwardly.

moving pins 21 on belt 26 as it passes around pulley 22 tendto lift the form 2 upwardly somewhat but such upward lifting is prevented by guide 31. This guide has a recess 38 therein for enabling the passage of pins 21.

A bracket is provided with slots 46 for receiving wing bolts 41, whereby this bracket may be adjustably attached to the plate member 39. Bracket 45 is provided with a guide projection 48 of substantially rectangular shape which is adapted to underlie the form set 2 as it passes beneath the belt 26. The end portions of the guide projections 48 are down turned at 49 and 49' to facilitate the passage of the form set 2 thereover. This guide projection is also provided with a longitudinal slot 50 for accommodating the projecting ends of pins 21 that extend below the form set 2. The slots 46 and wing bolts 41 enable the guide projection 48 to be adjusted with respect to guide projection 33 to accommodate form sets of varying thicknesses, the thicknesses of the form sets depending upon the number of sheets therein.

In order to accommodate the transverse spacing of belts 26 to various widths of forms the plate members 30 have nuts 5| fixed thereon substantially midway of the length of the same. The nut 5| on one of the plate members 30 is provided with a right hand thread for engaging the right hand threads 52 provided on one half the length of a threaded rod 53. The nut 5| of the other plate member is provided with a left hand thread for engaging the left hand threads 54 on the remaining half of the'rod 53. A block 6| is journaled on an unthreaded portion of rod 53 at the mid-length thereof and collars 62 secured to rod 53 at each side of block 6| serve to confine this block to a fixed position longitudinally upon rod 53. Block 6| carries a threaded stud 55 that projects through a slot 56 provided in a bar 51 extending longitudinally of frame member l3 and parallel to rod 53, said bar 51 having its ends- It will be noted that the hubs 36 of pulleys 2| and 22 are provided with annular grooves 32' similar to grooves 32. Grooves 32' receive the bifurcated or semi-circular recessed ends of plates 38 that are secured to nuts 5| as by screws 39. Plates 38 are provided with circular apertures 49 for accommodating the rod 53. With plate 38 secured to nut 5| and hence to plate member 30, a rigid structure is provided for supporting the guides 33, 31 and 48 upon the hubs of pulleys 2| and 22, and for threadedly connecting rod 53 tothe aligning units.

In order to accommodate the aligning units to forms placed at different positions along the length of the platen 9, it is merely necessary to loosen wing nut 58 and move rod 53 longitudinally, thereby simultaneously moving the aligning units consisting of belts 26, pulleys 2| and 22,

, of frame members I3 are provided with aperturesplate members 30 and brackets 45 to the position desired transversely of the machine I. After lo cating the-spaced aligning units in the position desired the nut 58 is again tightened, The ends turndrive belts 26 so thatthe surface speed of thesebelts is the same as that of platen 9. Pins 28 on belts 26'by engaging in pulley recesses 29 prevent these belts from slipping so that the pins 21 of belts 26 engaging in the form apertures 6' serve to advance theform 2 at a rate truly synchronous with thatlimpart'ed to the form 2 by platen 9. Guides 33 .and 48 serve to insure the,

proper engagement of pins 21 in apertures or perforations 6 of the form 2 and prevent the transverse distortion of this form lwhilelpassing the aligning units; the guides 48 serving to support the form, and the guides 33 serving to hold the lower rim of belt-26 down n proper engagement with the form so that pi s 21 shall engage all sheets thereof to cause allsuch sheets to ad'- vance with the same intermittentmotion and at the same rate of speed, i

When it is desired to change from one width 0 form to another it is merely necessaryto turn crank 60, thereby accomplishing this result. The

- adjustment of rod 53 longitudinally ofbar, 51 bychine.

As manychanges could be made in the above means of wing nut 58 serves/to place the form in any transverse position desired acrossthe'ma-- construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made set is in engagement with the pins of said belt,-

without departing from the scope thereof, as

defined by the following claims, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting I claim:- 1. In a multiple continuous form aligning de-; vice for retaining the form copies of a form se in alignment while passing through a'machine,

' an aligningunit comprising, an endless b elt,[\

spaced pulleys for supporting said endless bltf driven by one'of said pulleys, projecting pins provided on said belt for engaging in perforations in the form set, guides carried by said pulleys for holding the form set in engagement with the pins of a run of said belts, said guides being longi tudinally slotted to accommodate movement of said pins, and means for rotating said driving pulley whereby said beltmoves synchronously with'the machine drive of said form set. J l

2. In a multiple continuous form aligning device for retaining the form copies of a form set in alignment while passing through a machine, an aligning-u t comprising, spa'ced pulleys for sup-'- porting an endless belt driven by'o'ne of said pulleys, said belt having a run thereof adjoining and extending parallel tosaid form set, project-F ing pins provided on said belt for engaging in perforations in the formset; guide members carrled by said pulleys for. confining said form set and said belt rungtherebetween while said form to thereby insure the projection of said pins through all sheets of said form set, and gearing operated from the machine for rotatingsaid drivlng pulley so that said belt moves at the ing unit, whereby s'aidbelt moves 3 same speed as the machine drive of said form set. v a a 3. In a multiple continuous form aligning device for retaining the'form copies of a form set I in'alignment while passing through a'machine, 5 1

an aligning unit comprising, spaced pulleys ior supporting an endless belt-driven by one of said pulleys, s'aid belt having a run thereof adjoining and extending parallel to said form set, cooperating' pin and socket means on said belt and driving pulley for eliminating slippage of said belt, projecting pins provided on said belt for engaging in perforations in thefforr'n set, guide members carried by said'pulleys for confining said belt run and said form set therebetween,

whereby all form copies of the form set are en-,

gaged, by said projecting pins, and means for rotating said driving pulley wherebythesurface speed of said belt is the same asthe machine speed of said form set. k

4. In a multiple i'orm aligning .device for accounting, tabulating and similar machines, a frame member mounted on the machine in overlying relation to a form set moving from the platen of the machine, aligning units carried by counting, 'tabulating and similar machines, a frame member mounted on the machine in overlying relation to a form set moving from the 5. In a multiple form aligiiing device for ac- I platen of the machine, aligning units carried by said frame member, said aligning units comprising endless belts provided with projecting pins for engaging perforations in the marginal edges of'said form set, screw means provided on said frame member for moving said aligning units simultaneously toward and away from each other for accommodating varying widths of form sets,

" and additional means formoving said aligning units simultaneously acrossthe machine to acconimodate iorm setsat various positions along the machine platen. 1

6.-'l'.n a multiple continuousform aligning device for accounting, tabulating and similar machines, a substantially rect'angularframe memher having legs for mounting the same on the machine, parallel spaced shafts journaled in-the- I ends of said frame member; a form aligning unit comprising pulleys mounted for longitudinal sliding movement on said shafts, an. endlessbelt mounted on said pulleys and having projecting pinsfor engaging" perforations in the form set after the same leaves the machine platen, guide" members carried by said pulleys and serving 1:97:00 hold a run-oi saidbelt in cooperative engagement with said form set, and power transmission means connecting the platen shaft to one of said parallel shafts for driving a pulley of said alignsynchronously with the machine platen. f "7'. In-a multiple form aligning device for accounting, tabulating and similar machines, a sub'- ,stantially rectangular frame member having legs for mounting the same on' the machine, parallel spaced shafts journaled in the ends of said frame member-fa form aligning unit comprising pulleys 1 mounted for. longitudinal slidingmovement on forations in the form set after the same leaves the machine platen, guide members carried by said pulleys and serving to hold a run of said belt in cooperative engagement with said form set, and power transmission means connecting the platen shaft to one of said parallel shafts for driving a pulley of said aligning unit, whereby said belt moves synchronously with the machine platen, and screw means for setting said form aligning unit at selected points along the length of said frame member.

8. In combination, an accounting and tabulating machine having a cylindrical platen for driving a continuous form set and an aligning device for maintaining the several copies of the form set in alignment, said aligning device comprising, a frame member mounted on said machine above the form set, a pair of spaced parallel shafts carried by said frame member, means for driving one of said shafts from said platen, a pair of aligning units carried by said shafts, each of said aligning units comprising pulleys mounted on said shafts, a belt passing over said pulleys and having projecting pins for engaging perforations in the form set, and guides carried by said pulleys for holding said belt in cooperative engagement with the form set.

9. In combination, an accounting and tabulating machine having a cylindrical platen for driving a continuous form set and an aligning device for maintaining the several copies of the form set in alignment, said aligning device comprising, a substantially rectangular frame member mounted on said machine above the form set, a pair of spaced parallel shafts carried by said frame member, means for driving one of said shafts from said platen, a pair of aligning units carried by

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