US 3,972,281 AGranted

Adjustable print-out selection mechanisms

AssigneeNorprint Limited

InventorBernard Sams

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Abstract

An adjustable facet print mechanism includes a plurality of print wheels in one embodiment each meshing constantly on an internal periphery with a pinion. Annular members are also provided and each meshes with a corresponding pinion of one of the print wheels and each carries read-out indicia corresponding to the print-facets of the print wheels. Drive to the print wheels to adjust their operative facets is effected through a splined shaft which engages a selected annular member when a notch in a cam engages the periphery of the annular member. A read-out arrangement includes an arm of transparent material with a prismatic face lying opposite the indicia selected. Other embodiments make use of slightly flexible print wheels to effect engagement with a splined shaft and one embodiment uses print bands in place of wheels. In the latter embodiment selection of a print band for adjustment is effected by an interrupted pinion carried on fingers integral with an adjusting knob. These fingers interdigitate with further fingers and relative axial sliding movement enables the interrupted pinion to engage selectively one of a plurality of annular members around which the respective print bands are trained.

Claims14

Dependent claims

In an adjustable-facet print mechanism

a plurality of endless print-facet carriers arranged side-by-side and movable independently of one another around a common axis to adjust the print-facets operative at any given setting, each said carrier comprising
a print wheel of annular form having
an internal annulus of teeth,
adjusting means accessible for actuation laterally of an outermost one of said print-facet carriers for adjusting at any given setting a selected one of the carriers to provide an alternative operative print-facet of that carrier, said adjusting means being arranged to engage the carriers internally and being common to all said carriers, and comprising
a splined shaft engageable selectively with the annulus of teeth of each print wheel,
selecting means for coupling the adjusting means to a selected said print-facet carrier, said selecting means being accessible for actuation at a position at least substantially aligned with the actuation position of the adjusting means, and comprising
a plurality of part-circular members, one being disposed within each print wheel and
a member movable within the print wheels along a path parallel to the common axis of the wheels and so disposed that when lying within a selected wheel the part-circular member thereof shifts the selected wheel so that the internal annulus of teeth thereof meshes with the splined shaft whereby the wheel can be adjusted to a fresh operative facet by rotation of the shaft,
prismatic read-out means for displaying visually and positively the characters of those print-facets of the carriers which are operative at any given setting in an array which corresponds substantially with that of the print-facets themselves.

6 more elements

In an adjustable-facet print mechanism, a plurality of endless print-facet carriers arranged side-by-side and movable, independently of one another, around a common axis to adjust the print-facets operative to produce a print impression;

respective hollow driving means operatively associated with each carrier and normally ineffective to adjust the associated carrier;
adjusting means, accessible for actuation at an actuation position laterally of an outermost one of said print-facet carriers operable, when actuated, to adjust the driving means of a selected one of said carriers to adjust the associated carrier to provide an alternative operative print-facet of the selected carrier;
said adjusting means continuously extending through all of said driving means;
selecting means operable to couple a selected driving means to said adjusting means to render the selected driving means effective to adjust its associated print-facet carrier, said selecting means being accessible for actuation at a position at least substantially aligned with the actuation position of said adjusting means;
respective detenting means for restraining each print-facet carrier against movement except when its associated driving means is effective to rotate the print-facet carrier;
and means for guiding the movement of the print-facet carriers during adjusting movement thereof, said guiding means including prismatic read-out means for displaying visually and positively the characters of those print-facets of the carriers which are then operative, in an array corresponding substantially with that of the print-facets themselves.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.