Methods and apparatus for recording information, supplying wound materials and retaining tubular objects
AssigneeBell & Howell Company
InventorGary G. Gordon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for releasably retaining any one of several tubular objects of different lengths between a pair of mutually adjustable retention members employ a supporting rod. One of the retention members is mounted on the supporting rod which is inserted into any one of said tubular objects. The other of the retention members is moved along the supporting rod to place the retention members against opposite ends of said one tubular object. The placed retention members are then locked against movement away from each other.
Claims61
In a method of releasably retaining any one of several tubular objects of different lengths between a pair of mutually adjustable retention members, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:
- providing a supporting rod;
- mounting one of said retention members on said supporting rod;
- inserting said supporting rod into any one of said tubular objects;
- moving the other of said retention members along said supporting rod to place said retention members against opposite ends of said one tubular object;
- locking said placed retention members against movement away from each other;
- mounting said supporting rod;
- and
- resiliently biasing said supporting rod in an axial direction.
In a method of supplying wound material from any one of several rolls of wound material located on different tubular supports of different lengths, with the aid of a pair of mutually adjustable retention members, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:
- providing a supporting rod;
- mounting one of said retention members on said supporting rod;
- inserting said supporting rod into any one of said tubular supports having a roll of material wound thereon;
- moving the other of said retention members along said supporting rod to place said retention members against opposite ends of said one tubular support;
- locking said placed retention members against movement away from each other;
- mounting said supporting rod for rotation about an axis;
- resiliently biasing said supporting rod in an axial direction;
- maintaining said resilient bias of said supporting rod during removal of said wound material;
- and
- removing wound material from said roll and rotating said one tubular support and said supporting rod.
In a method of recording information at a recording station on a recording medium strip supplied from any one of several supply rolls located on different tubular supports of different lengths, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:
- providing a supporting rod;
- providing a pair of retention members;
- mounting one of said retention members on said supporting rod;
- inserting said supporting rod into any one of said tubular supports having a supply roll of a recording medium strip wound thereon;
- moving the other of said retention members along said supporting rod to place said retention members against opposite ends of said one tubular support;
- locking said placed retention members against movement away from each other;
- mounting said supporting rod for rotation about an axis, moving the latter recording medium strip from said roll to said recording station and rotating said one tubular support and said supporting rod;
- and
- recording information on the latter recording medium strip at the recording station.
An apparatus for releasably retaining any one of several tubular objects of different lengths, comprising in combination:
- a supporting rod insertable into any one of said tubular objects;
- a pair of mutually adjustable retention members on said supporting rod for releasably retaining any one of said tubular objects therebetween;
- means connected between said retention members for selectively locking said retention members against movement away from each other;
- means coupled to said supporting rod for mounting said supporting rod;
- and
- means coupled to said supporting rod for resiliently biasing said supporting rod in an axial direction.
An apparatus for supplying wound material from any one of several rolls of wound material located on diffferent tubular supports of different lengths, comprising in combination:
- a supporting rod insertable into any one of said tubular supports having a roll of material wound thereon;
- a pair of mutually adjustable retention members on said supporting rod for releasably retaining any one of said tubular supports therebetween;
- means connected between said retention members for selectively locking said retention members against movement away from each other;
- means coupled to said supporting rod for resiliently biasing said supporting rod in an axial direction at least after said locking of said retention members;
- and
- means coupled to said supporting rod for mounting said supporting rod for rotation about an axis.
An apparatus for recording information at a recording station on a recording medium strip supplied from any one of several supply rolls located on different tubular supports of different lengths, comprising in combination:
- a supporting rod insertable into any one of said tubular supports having a supply roll of a recording medium strip thereon;
- a pair of mutually adjustable retention members on said supporting rod for releasably retaining any one of said tubular supports therebetween;
- means connected between said retention members for selectively locking said retention members movement away from each other;
- means coupled to said supporting rod for mounting said supporting rod for rotation about an axis;
- means for moving the latter recording medium strip from said roll to said recording station and rotating said one tubular support;
- and
- means for recording information on the latter recording medium strip at the recording station.
In a method of recording information at a recording station on a recording medium strip supplied from any one of several supply rolls located on different tubular supports of different lengths, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:
- providing a supporting rod;
- providing a pair of retention members;
- providing a brake;
- mounting one of said retention members on said supporting rod;
- inserting said supporting rod into any one of said tubular supports having a supply roll of a recording medium strip wound thereon;
- moving the other of said retention members along said supporting rod to place said retention members against opposite ends of said one tubular support;
- locking said placed retention members against movement away from each other;
- mounting said supporting rod for rotation about an axis and releasably coupling said supporting rod at one end to said brake;
- moving the latter recording medium strip from said roll to said recording station and rotating said one tubular support and said supporting rod;
- braking said rotating supporting rod with said brake;
- resiliently biasing said rotating supporting rod in an axial direction toward said brake;
- and
- recording information on the latter recording medium strip at the recording station.
An apparatus for recording information at a recording station on a recording medium strip supplied from any one of several supply rolls located on different tubular supports of different lengths, comprising in combination:
- a brake;
- a supporting rod insertable into any one of said tubular supports having a supply roll of a recording medium strip thereon;
- means at one end of said supporting rod for releasably coupling said supporting rod to said brake;
- means coupled to said supporting rod for resiliently biasing said supporting rod in an axial direction toward said brake;
- a pair of mutually adjustable retention members on said supporting rod for releasably retaining any one of said tubular supports therebetween;
- means connected between said retention members for selectively locking said retention members against movement away from each other;
- means coupled to said supporting rod for mounting said supporting rod for rotation about an axis;
- means for moving the latter recording medium strip from said roll to said recording station and rotating said one tubular support;
- and
- means for recording information on the latter recording medium strip at the recording station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.