Plural Lineal Movement System And Process

Abstract

A pair of electrical coils, which are disposed in a magnetic flux field, are constrained for movement in intersecting paths in a plane. A mechanical coupling assembly has a first part connected to one of said coils and to a second part of said assembly. The other of said coils is connected to said second part. A displaceable member is also connected to said second part and has a single position in a plane for each combination of positions of the coils along their respective paths.

Parent Case Text

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 41,485, filed May 28, 1970 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,696,204.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to teleprinters and printing methods. Particularly the invention relates to a mechanism in a teleprinter for controlling a carrier to present any selected die supported thereby at each in a succession of printing stations for reproducing a line of intelligence.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A teleprinter adapted as a terminal is often associated with an intelligence storage or bank for intelligence translation. Conventionally, a teleprinter has a carrier for dies of a plurality of symbols or characters from which selection is made for printing. The dies are arranged selectively to be driven at a printing station by an impeller into a printing mode.

In one class of teleprinters, the web on which intelligence is reproduced is immobilized from horizontal shifting during printing. To effect printing then, the impeller is adapted for translocation in steps to successive adjoining horizontally aligned stations. At each successive station a selected die is presented; and to that end means are adapted for moving the die carrier to successive stations and for adjusting the carrier to align a selected die with the impeller.

In the art of intelligence recovery, significant resources have been and currently are being invested to increase the speed of intelligence reproduction to maximize the availability of intelligence bank or storage facilities or the intelligence contained therein. Production costs of improvements which heretofore have been developed parallel increase in the speed of intelligence reproduction achieved thereby and accordingly, tend to limit exploitation of the innovations.

It is an object of the present invention rapidly to translate intelligence.

It is another object of the invention to minimize the cost of intelligence translation.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide an improved motor.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved terminal for a data storage system.

Moreover, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved teleprinter and method of printing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To effect the foregoing and other objects which shall become apparent from ensuing description, the present invention has adapted for teleprinters a transducer of the type which is described and claimed in two contemporaneously filed applications which have been assigned to the assignee of the present application and are herein incorporated by reference and are further identified as follows: (1) Ser. No. 41,486, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,641,583, of the inventor of the present application and Jerome L. DeBoo, titled ELECTRODYNAMIC TRANSDUCER and (2) Ser. No. 41,335, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,696,204, of Allan G. Wallskog, titled PRINTER. That is to say, in a teleprinter, a plurality of dies which comprise its printing means are supported in a plurality of rows and columns from a carrier which is moveably arranged for disposition at a printing station. A linear electric motor with a combination output having axial components in a plurality of dimensions is adapted for adjusting the carrier to present any selected die at the printing station.

From another aspect, the foregoing objects are achieved according to the invention summarized as aforesaid with means for moving any selected die between passive and printing modes and additional means associated with the motor for translocating said moving means to successive printing stations.

From yet another aspect, said objects are achieved by providing a motor which is adaptable for a teleprinter. The transducer is characterized by an assembly of first and second members arranged for relative and simultaneous movement in a pair of lineal transversely extending paths. Electrodynamic means and mechanical means associated in input-output relationship with said assembly are adapted for translating power in one form to power in another. Thereby, through the use of electricity, a type box can be moved to any selected station for printing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the ensuing detailed description, reference is had to the accompanying drawings on which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention embodied in a teleprinter and looking toward the front thereof from its platen;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the teleprinter looking from the front thereof toward the platen, parts being broken away for illustration;

FIG. 3 is a view according to the section line 3--3 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view according to the section line 4--4 on FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is an electrical scheme for the teleprinter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

Having reference now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, a teleprinter, only sufficient of which is shown to illustrate the invention, is generally designated 10. The teleprinter comprises a platen 12 which may be of conventional construction and cylindrical configuration and is immobilized from lateral or horizontal shifting. The platen is adapted for supporting a web 14 (FIG. 3), such as paper or the like on which intelligence is reproduced, and is rotatable about its longitudinal and horizontally extending axis for shifting the web vertically a line at a time in a conventional manner. Means (not shown) which may be conventional are arranged for supporting an inked ribbon 16 longitudinally of the axis of platen 12 and spaced slightly forwardly of the web.

A box or carrier 18 is disposed slightly forwardly from ribbon 16; and is arranged for movement horizontally, longitudinally of the axis of platen 12. The carrier supports a font of type or dies 20 (FIG. 1) which are arranged in horizontal rows 19 and in vertical columns 21 only some of which are numbered. In accordance with conventional practice, the dies may be faced with alphanumeric characters and selected other designs or symbols; and each has an exposed shank 22 which extends forwardly (to the right in FIG. 4) from the carrier.

By means not shown, each of the dies 20 is biased or urged forwardly to a non-print or passive mode in which its printing face is spaced slightly forwardly from ribbon 16. However, each die is mounted for movement horizontally transversely of the axis of platen 12 between its passive or non-print mode and a print mode in which it has been driven rearwardly against its normal bias into contact with ribbon 16 for printing in a conventional fashion on web 14.

Means for moving any selected of dies 20 between passive and printing modes comprises an impeller or solenoid 24 whose driven member terminates in a print hammer or striker 26. The latter is normally biased or urged to a withdrawn or forward position and is arranged for movement in a path coincident with the path of movement of a selected die. Moreover, the dimensions of the striker are such that when the impeller is actuated only a selected die will be driven toward a print mode.

Carrier 18 is arranged for adjustment vertically as well as horizontally; and the parts are proportioned such that at any adjusted position a single one of the dies 20 will be disposed suitably for printing at a printing station. Teleprinter 10 includes a printing station which moves horizontally a space at a time, whereby a succession of symbols can be formed to print a line of intelligence. Accordingly, impeller 24, the position of which defines a printing station, is arranged for successive horizontal movements.

In accordance with the present invention, a linear electric motor, generally designated 28, comprises means for adjusting carrier 18 along a vector having values referable to a pair of orthogonal coordinates (herein being vertical and horizontal) in a planar or two axes system to select a die for printing. Moreover, said motor comprises means for moving said carrier to successive printing stations; and said motor also comprises means for translocating impeller 24 to successive printing stations simultaneously with movement and adjustment of carrier 18.

Motor 28 is comprised of a permanent magnet 30 and a magnet loop defining a magnetic circuit. The latter is fashioned from a pair of horizontally extending parallel magnetic bars or rails 32 and 34 which are preferably of equal length. They have opposed end portions 36 and 38 which are connected by a magnetic bridge 40 and opposed end portions 42 and 44 which are connected by a magnetic bridge 46. Rails 32 and 34 and bridges 40 and 46 are fabricated from a material of low magnetic reluctance and retentivity, such as soft iron, said rails being magnetic segments in said magnetic circuit between which a non-magnetic or air gap 48 is formed.

As illustrated, the permanent magnet may be a rectangular block which is disposed within the magnetic loop. It is magnetized through its thickness (its North and South poles being conventionally designated N and S) with one of its polar faces secured by a suitable cement to the inner face of rail 32 and its opposite polar face spaced from and parallel to the inner face of rail 34. Thereby, a magnetic flux field is generated across gap 48.

In accordance with the teachings of the aforesaid contemporaneously filed applications, or one of them, a pair of electrical coils 50 and 52, respectively, have coil segments 54 and 56 which are disposed in air gap 48 whereby upon development of an electrical effect in said coils, they become inductively coupled in the magnetic flux field. Coil 50 is circumposed about rail 34 with the direction of its winding in segment 54 cutting the lines of flux in air gap 48 such that when a current passes through said coil a magnetomotive force is generated impelling coil 50 longitudinally of said rail in a horizontal path defined thereby and parallel to rows 19 of said dies. Segment 56 of coil 52 is disposed in a plane which is parallel to a plane in which segment 54 is disposed. However, the direction of the winding of segment 56 is such that upon the passage of a current through coil 52, a magnetomotive force will be generated for driving said coil in a vertical path parallel to columns 21 of said dies and normal to the path along which coil 50 is moveable.

Coils 50 and 52 are physically connected through the agency of a coupler fashioned as a trolley 58 such that when coil 50 moves, coil 52 will also move horizontally with coil 50. On the other hand, when coil 52 is caused to move vertically, such movement is independent of movement of coil 50.

Trolley 58 has a body 60 from which are supported a plurality of upper and lower guide rollers 62. They engage a pair of opposed ribs 63 (FIG. 4) fashioned on and longitudinally of the upper and lower surfaces of rail 34 for moving the trolley longitudinally, thereof. Coil 50 is rigidly secured to body 60. Thereby, when said coil moves, trolley 58 will be caused to move horizontally and in a direction to or fro, corresponding to the direction of current flowing in said coil.

An output element 64 fashioned as an arm comprises output means mounted from body 60. The output element engages in a plurality of guide bearings 66 which are arranged from said body and define a track for enabling vertical reciprocation thereof. The character and proportions of the parts are such that the output element is frictionally gripped by said bearings and will be retained at any vertical level to which it is driven.

Carrier 18 is secured from the upper end portion of output element 64. Accordingly, an appropriate electromagnetic effect in coil 52 will adjust carrier 18 up or down according to the direction of the current, the horizontal position of said carrier being governed by the position of the trolley.

Means associated with motor 28 for translocating impeller 24 to successive printing stations comprises an electrical coil or winding 68. It is circumposed about rail 34 and has a vertical segment 70 with strands extending transversely of said rail 34 and disposed in air gap 48 such that upon production of an electrical effect in said coil, a magnetomotive force will be generated causing coil movement in a horizontal path longitudinally of rail 34.

A bracket 72 which supports impeller 24 is rigidly secured to coil 68 for translocating said impeller horizontally, parallel to rows 19, the direction of translocation being according to the direction of current flow in said coil. Translocation of the impeller is facilitated by a plurality of upper and lower rollers 74 which are carried from bracket 72 and engage opposed ribs 63 for guiding the impeller longitudinally of rail 34.

Exemplary means for simultaneously adjusting carrier 18 whereby any selected die is disposed at a printing station and for stepping or moving said carrier to successive printing stations and also for correspondingly translocating impeller 24 comprises circuitry 76 (FIG. 5). It comprises signal generating means herein shown as a character generator 78 adapted to produce three electric outputs, signals or effects which may be genereated by known means simultaneously through conducotrs 80, 82 and 84 whenever effects representative of a character to be reproduced are available. The outputs through conductors 80 and 84, respectively, represent the row 19 and column 21 in which a die 20 corresponding to an available character is disposed. Successive outputs through conductor 82 may be identical.

The output through conductor 80 is adapted to adjust or drive carrier 18 vertically; and to that end is connected to a servo amplifier 86. Amplifier 86 has an additional input through a conductor 88 from a suitably mounted feed-back sensor 90 which is adapted to generate a signal according to the instantaneous vertical position of carrier 18. Amplifier 86 is adapted algebraically to add its inputs through conductors 80 and 88 to produce an output for vertically adjusting carrier 18 from any position at which it is disposed to a selected ensuing position for printing such available character.

An output wire 92 connects amplifier 86 to electrical coil 52. Said coil together with coils 50 and 68 are connected to a plane of reference herein shown as ground 94.

The output through conductor 82 is connected to a column counter 96 through a lead 98 for generating a signal in a wire 100 which connects the column counter to a servo amplifier 102. Suitably mounted feed-back means 104, which may be of any well-known construction, generates a signal according to the instantaneous position of impeller 24. It is applied through a lead 106 as an input to amplifier 102 where it is algebraically added to the input through wire 100 for generating an amplifier output through a conductor 108. The latter provides an input to coil 68, whereby for each of a succession of characters, the impeller is moved horizontally one space to an ensuing printing station.

The output of character generator 78 through conductor 82 is also imposed on impeller 24 through a delay circuit 110. Its output is connected to the striker actuating coil (not shown) of said impeller through a conductor 112. The construction of the delay circuit is such that actuation of striker 26 is held in abeyance after a signal indicating character availability for a sufficient period to permit movement and adjustment of carrier 18 and translocation of said impeller.

The output through conductor 84 is adapted to adjust or drive carrier 18 horizontally; and to that end it is connected to an adder 114. The latter is adapted algebraically to add the signal from conductor 84 to an input from column counter 96 through a lead 116. The resultant output signal of the adder thereby considers the column of a selected die and the station at which it is to be printed. A conductor 118 imposes the output signal of the adder as an input to a servo amplifier 120. The amplifier produces an output by algebraically adding said last input to another input through a lead 122 from a feed-back sensor 124 which is suitably arranged for generating a signal corresponding to the instantaneous horizontal position of carrier 18.

Coil 50 is connected to amplifier 120 through a conductor 126. Thereby an effect can be produced for moving and adjusting carrier 18 horizontally such that the column of the character to be reproduced is aligned with striker 26 at an appropriate printing station.

In consequence of the foregoing, through the agency of a linear electric motor with plural outputs, simultaneously electromagnetic forces can be applied tending to adjust and move carrier 18 vertically and horizontally in response to signals representative of: (1) a character to be reproduced and (2) a position of horizontal succession. Thereby, a die corresponding to such character can be aligned at a proper printing station, while impeller 24 is stepped or advanced by an output from said motor from an existing to the next ensuing printing station. Moreover, in the present embodiment, adjustment and movement of carrier 18 will be along a path comprised of a pair of values corresponding to intersecting coordinates in a planar two axes system and correlatable to effects which may be generated simultaneously in coils 50 and 52.

As many modifications in the described construction could be conceived, and as many changes could be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be considered as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

I claim:

1. A transducer comprising:

a magnetic structure defining a magnetic flux field;

first and second inductance coils magnetically coupled and constrained for movement in said magnetic flux field along a pair of angularly associated axes of a two axes system;

said first and second coils being disposed in spaced apart relationship in said magnetic flux field and having magnetically coupled portions in a pair of planes having aspects orthogonal each to the other;

means for changing the position of said coils simultaneously and alone, each relative to the other; and

an element connected to said means and arranged for movement to any selected position in said system according to the simultaneous and combined movement of said coils.

2. A transducer according to claim 1 wherein the magnetic structure comprises a rail, said second coil mounted about said rail and disposed in a plane extending transversely of said rail for movement along one of said axes, said first coil supported in a plane and spaced from said second coil in said flux field for reciprocation relative to said second coil.

3. A transducer comprising:

a first member mounted for reciprocation;

a second member mounted for movement in a lineal path transversely of the direction of reciprocation;

coupling means for simultaneously moving said first and second members in said lineal path; and

electrodynamic means and mechanical means associated in input-output relationship with said first and second members for translating power in one form to power in another, said electrodynamic means including:

a magnetic rail defining a magnetic flux field; and

a first electrical inductance coil connected to said second member and coupleably associated in said magnetic flux field for movement longitudinally of said magnetic rail along said lineal path.

4. A transducer according to claim 3 wherein said electrodynamic means also includes:

a second electrical inductance coil coupleably associated in said magnetic flux field and connected for reciprocation with said first member.

5. A transducer according to claim 4 wherein said electrodynamic means comprises a magnet assembly including said magnetic rail and defining an air gap with said magnetic flux field therein, and wherein said first and second electrical inductance coils are disposed in a pair of spaced apart planes in said air gap for movement with said first and second members.

6. A transducer according to claim 5 wherein said magnetic structure comprises:

an elongated section of magnetic material spaced from said rail and defining therebetween said air gap; and wherein

said first inductance coil is arranged for reciprocation in said air gap in a direction transverse to said section and said rail; and

said second inductance coil is circumposed about said rail for movement longitudinally thereof.

7. A motor according to claim 6 characterized by an output element carried from said first member and translocatable in response to electrical effects in said first and second inductance coils.

8. A method of converting electrical input to mechanical output comprising:

generating a first electrical effect in a first induction coil mounted in a magnetic flux field to produce movement in one of a pair of angularly associated axes;

generating a second electrical effect in a second induction coil disposed in spaced apart relationship to said first induction coil in said magnetic flux field and magnetically coupled to said first induction coil in a pair of planes having aspects orthogonal each to the other to produce movement in the remaining one of said pair of angularly associated axes; and

simultaneously applying the forces of said movement for translocating an output element.

9. A method according to claim 8 characterized by moving the induction coils magnetomotively in said magnetic flux field responsively to the effects generated.

10. A method according to claim 9 characterized by moving in intersecting paths and in response to coil move-ment a pair of members connected to said output element and coupled each to the other.