Abstract: A sheet-feed tractor for printers employs two principal frame members, one of which is integrally molded with a part of the tractor clamp. A second clamp part is assembled onto the first clamp part, and the two clamp parts together hold the frame members in assembly. A snap-fit cover prevents rotation of the second clamp part to a position in which it can be removed from the first clamp part, so the tractor is held in assembly so long as the cover is in place. Disassembly is easily achieved by removing the cover, pivoting the second clamp part to a position in which it can be removed from the first clamp part, and then easily removing the remaining parts of the tractor.

Abstract: A sheet-feed tractor in which the frame members are held together by the clamp parts employs a movable clamp part with a ring portion from which extend a lever and an extension portion. The stationary clamp portion provides a tab on its outer surface, and the frame member from which the stationary clamp part extends also has a post extending from it with a tab on the post. The interior surface of the ring portion provides an engagement surface that engages the tab on the stationary clamp part, while the extension provides an engagement surface that engages the tab on the post. The two sets of tabs and posts cause the movable clamp part to bear against one of the frame members at least at two positions and thereby hold the frame members reliably in position.

Abstract: The drive shaft 30 of a printer 10 engages a tractor 16 which, in turn, moves a paper web 12 across a print mechanism 14. Located on the drive shaft 30 is a drive shaft advance cam 78 which is fixed to drive the shaft 30 and rotate therewith. Additionally, located upon the drive shaft 30 for limited rotational movement with respect to the drive shaft advance cam 78 is a paper advance cam 90. The shape of the drive shaft cam 78 is similar to the shape of the paper advance cam 90. The paper advance cam 90 carries an O-ring 102 defining a high frictional surface for engaging the paper web 12. The door 50 of the tractor 16 carries a paper pressure roller 104 having a circumferential groove 106 positioned for cooperation with the O-ring 102. During normal paper web 12 drive, the cams 78, 90 are out of registration and rotate in unison.

Abstract: A punch for a pattern card for textile machines, for instance shedding machines or automatic knitting machines, having a step-by-step transport device and a centering device for pin wheels arranged on a shaft, for the transport of the pattern card. In order to increase the punching output and reduce the noise level, the step-by-step transport device comprises a stepping motor, and a coupling is arranged between the stepping motor and the shaft, and a centering wheel, which cooperates with a lever which simultaneously actuates the coupling, is fastened on the shaft.

Abstract: A bi-directional feed mechanism for webs, especially for plotting and generating special characters, forms and shapes on the webs, uses twin pairs of tractors which feed a web around a loop which may contain a platen roller. Each pair of tractors is mounted on and driven by its own drive shaft. The drive shaft of one of the tractor pairs is driven from the drive shaft of the other tractor pair through a manually releasable clutch which may be mounted on, and movable along the axis of, the driven shaft. The tension in the loop may be adjusted by releasing the clutch so that one of the tractor pairs may be driven while the other is stationary. Webs and other documents which may vary in length and require tension adjustments may readily be fed by means of the mechanism. The arrangement of the tractors also enables the webs to be easily loaded from the top.

Abstract: A locking system for directly clamping the tractor assemblies in a printer to the stationary platen in order to prevent any relative motion of the tractors with respect to the platen which may be caused by a lack of straightness of a drive bar which drives the tractors. The locking device includes an L-shaped lever which is pivotal so as to clamp a rearwardly extending portion of the platen between the bottom of the tractor and the top of a leg of the lever. The device may include a cam action locking knob which positively locks the lever in its clamped position. Both the lever and the knob are made of molded plastic. In order to balance the clamping force which is applied, a lever may be connected to each side of the tractor and actuated by a pair of connected cam action knobs. Several alternate locking systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A dispenser for notepaper having a pressure sensitive coating which dispenser has an endless belt to transport notepaper through dispenser and a guide roller to direct notepaper about one end of the belt.

Abstract: A tractor 10 is disclosed for engaging and advancing a web of paper 20 by engaging a series of holes 21 along an edge of the paper 20. The tractor 10 includes a pair of parallel side plates 12, 14 and an elongated guide member 32 defining a continuous guide track 34. The guide member 32 is positioned between the side plates 12, 14 so as to define a continuous guide channel 36 in cooperation with the guide plates 12, 14. The tractor 10 also includes a drive belt assembly 22 comprising a continuous belt 62 carrying a plurality of spaced drive members 38 adapted to engage the holes 21 along the edge of the paper 20. A drive sprocket 33 located at one end of the guide channel 36 engages the drive members 38. Each guide member 38 has a hemicylindrically shaped base 64 with a notch 66 therein, thereby defining two parallel edges 67 which ride along the guide track 34. Additionally, each drive member 38 includes a drive pin 80, the profile of the surface of the drive pin 80 has the shape of a segment of an involute.

Abstract: A sheet-feed tractor includes clamp means made of two members through which a passage is provided defined partly by both members. One member is pivotably mounted on the other in such a manner that the size of the passage is reduced by pivoting of the pivotable member. Reduction of the size of the passage can clamp a support shaft received in the passage, and the clamping force tends to enhance the static friction between the members so as to keep the clamping means in clamping position.

Abstract: A modular bidirectional tractor feed assembly having its own platen, which is substituted for the platen normally in the printer, is installed on the printer as a single unit using projections on the side platen of the feed assembly. Adjustments are performed on the assembly during manufacture to assure proper alignment of elements to provide error-free feeding of record material and properly aligned printing thereon. The assembly includes mechanism to provide positive assist in loading the record material, mechanism to prevent the perforations in the record material from becoming stuck on the drive pins when the record material leaves the feed mechanism, mechanism for easily locking and unlocking the feed mechanism in position to accommodate various widths of record material and mechanism to easily adjust the tension in the drive pin carrying chains of the feed mechanism.

Abstract: A continuous fan-folded form feeder is applied to a copying machine and has a receiver for the folded form from which the form is trained over the top of the copying machine platen and then beneath the platen to the rear of the copying machine for engagement by form tractors to be progressively fed in stages beneath the platen to a re-fold tray. Drive means for the tractors feeds the form step-by-step in selected increments of length.

Abstract: An automatic electrostatographic duplicating machine in which computer fanfold documents are fed by an automatic handling means from a supply position above the machine platen to a second position overlaying the platen below the supply position by a tractor means having motor driven sprocket means operative to advance the document material, and control means for supplying control signals to said motor driven means to advance the document material continuously, intermittently, or to selected positions.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a forms feed tractor mechanism having a belt with pins and driving elements extending therethrough. The pins are adapted to engage perforated holes along the edge of a recorded medium. Driver means are provided for rotating the belt and pins and thereby rotate the engaged record medium. Also, there is provided a spring tensioner for maintaining tension on the belt. The tractor includes a door which is rotatably snapped fitted into the housing of the tractor and maintained above the plane of the record medium by an extension on the lower surface thereof.

Abstract: A pin-feed tractor assembly for advancing a web of indeterminate length through a printing station and including a timing belt having spaced teeth defining interspersed grooves. The drive sprocket is arranged to engage the notches for moving the belt. Sections of the belt between adjacent notches are rigid while the region of the notches is flexible to permit bending of the belt only at the notches, thereby providing equal stresses in the belt. The outer surface of the belt is provided with feed pins arranged at equi-spaced intervals. The pitch of the belt teeth is one-half the pitch of the perforations in the elongated web which receive the feed pins. The pitch circle of the equi-spaced feed pins is smaller than the pitch circle over the rigid flat portions causing the feed pin to retract somewhat from the web before starting its circular path around the drive sprocket to prevent the web from being damaged or torn.The belt is a molded one-piece member.

Abstract: A recording carrier transport and feed unit is disclosed which includes attached together transport and feed assemblies for moving a side margin punched recording carrier web to, and withdrawing it from, the intermediate carrier of an electrostatic printer or copier. The transport assembly includes spaced parallel drive belts, each trained about at least three spaced wheel means, one of which is rotatably driven. One span of the belts presents the recording carrier to the feed device while another span withdraws the recording carrier from the feed device. The feed device presents the recording carrier to the intermediate carrier and directs it away from the intermediate carrier. The entire unit is pivotable towards and away from the intermediate carrier.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding marginally punched record material comprises a main support member, and a plurality of drive pins mounted to the main support member for movement along a predefined path past a first location at which record material is inserted into the apparatus. Means included on the main support member adjacent the first location facilitates the buckling of record material inserted into the apparatus in a direction away from the pins during movement of the pins along the predefined path when there is no initial engagement of a pin with a marginal opening of the record material. When a pin thereafter moves into substantial registration with a marginal opening of the record material, the natural bias of the buckled portion of the record material in the direction of the pins will return it to a substantially unbuckled state to thereby engage the pin with the opening.

Abstract: In order to removably yet reliably assemble the frame parts, endless belt and sprocket of a document tractor, holes are provided in the hub of one of the frame parts which provide a guide platform for the endless belt which has pins engageable with perforations on the document to be metered. Flexible rods in registry with these holes extend from the other frame part. Latches on the outer ends of these rods engage the outsides of the holes when the rods move into latching engagement as the frame parts are brought together. The tractor may be disassembled by manually deflecting the rods to release the latches.

Abstract: A sheet-feed tractor is provided with raised land portions adjacent its drive and idler wheels. The raised land portions are positioned on the chassis of the tractor and shaped to form wall surfaces that are in radial registration with borders on a drive belt trained around the drive and idler wheels. The wall surfaces provide a positive means for preventing outward movement of the drive belt off the drive wheel and therefore prevent their disengagement.

Abstract: Transport device for transporting a foil-like data recording strip of material having perforations along its borders for receiving pins disposed in endless transport belts entained about sprocket wheels. The belt pins have respective recesses which are engaged by the sprockets of at least a driving sprocket wheel in a form-fitting manner with the engagement being at a level which is at least at if not beyond the outer surface of the transport belt.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for securing a paper driving tractor device along a relatively thin elongate member effective in the released condition to permit the tractor to be positioned at will along said elongate member while in the locked condition enabling, positive, secured, engagement of the tractor with said elongate member effective to prevent any movement of the tractor relative to said member, also permitting locking an elongate member repeatedly at the same position without affecting the original characteristics of the elongate member.

Abstract: A packaging machine for fabricating individual bag-like containers from a continuous web of polyethylene or like material comprising a frame having a substantially elongated configuration on which is mounted a plurality of work stations at least partially defining a flow path along which the web travels as it is being fabricated. A web carrier means in the form of one or more carrier belts supportingly engages said web by finger means to penetrate a predetermined portion of the web by virtue of the finger means being oriented to extend outwardly relative to the interior of the web. A drive assembly is interconnected in driving relation to the carrier means and serves to feed the web along said flow path and to a fill assembly whereby the web material passes into and out of said fill assembly in a predetermined manner to allow for an open orientation or configuration at the fill station to permit filling.

Abstract: The accurate and uniform indexing of paper business forms with line hole punched margins. The index drive overcomes any possible accumulation of errors. A pawl and ratchet device is employed in the feeding of the paper form. The ratchet is rotated approximately one-half tooth beyond the ultimate desired stop. A spring urged arm then pulls the ratchet wheel back that one-half tooth turn so the pawl rests solidly in a single ratchet tooth. It is this same spring arm that pulls back the over-fed paper form. The form pull back is permitted by reason of a magnetic one-way clutch being momentarily released at the end of the mechanical feed-out. The present device is a combination of a mechanical drive with a magnetically releasable clutch to effect a constantly accurate feed out of paper forms resulting in identical positioning of each of the series of continuous paper forms.

Abstract: A device for printing data on a paper chart which is provided on both sides with a perforation track. The device comprises at least one pair of tractors, one of which engages in the one perforation track while the other engages in the other perforation track so as to transport the paper chart along the printing location. The device furthermore comprises a paper guide for guiding the paper after its departure from the tractors. A paper drawing device is arranged substantially at the end of the guide and is coupled to the drive system for the tractor pair by way of an elastic transmission.

Abstract: A tractor belt adapted to be trained over and driven and supported by sprockets in a mechanism for advancing and positioning a strip of material having hole-in-line perforations, the belt comprising a wire-cored band having perforation engaging lugs integral with and projecting from one surface of the band and sprocket engaging lugs integral with and projecting from the opposite surface of the band. A method for making such a belt.

Abstract: A device for pulling up and paying out an oil boom comprises a structural frame, a pair of end pulleys horizontally journaled on the frame, an endless belt engaged with the end pulleys and having a plurality of engaging projections for oil boom and a pusher member for slightly urging the oil boom against the endless belt, the pusher member being resiliently supported by a supporting member with a proper distance held between the bottom portion of the pusher member and the upper surface of the endless belt.

Abstract: Apparatus for laminating film strips to a transport web, the laminating apparatus adaptable to handle film strips of different sizes having different perforation formats. The laminating apparatus comprises a module for positioning a film strip of a particular film size with respect to the transport web. The film strip and the transport web are then advanced through a laminating station where they are laminated together with a tape. The laminating apparatus is designed to interchangeably receive the positioning module. Thus, film strips of different film sizes may be laminated using the disclosed laminating apparatus by interchanging the positioning module to suit the particular film size to be laminated.

Abstract: The apparatus is removably mounted on a copying machine, for feeding a web, such as an output medium of a computer, as it is paid out of a web supply tray. The apparatus comprises pin chains for driving the web, a roller for reversing the direction of movement of the web driven by the pin chains, a conveyor pivotally movable between a horizontal position and a vertical position, an operating device for operating the pin chains, a discharged web receiving tray disposed beneath the web supply tray, and a window for taking readings on the scale attached to the copying machine and indicating the sizes of copy sheets.

Abstract: A mechanism for driving a computer form web along a predetermined path includes a ratchet wheel having two sets of oppositely facing teeth, mounted on a support shaft for rotation. The wheel is driven in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions. A drive gear in meshing engagement with a plurality of gears for driving the sprocket mechanism transporting the computer form web is also mounted on the support shaft for rotation. The gear is joined to a coupling plate also mounted on the support shaft for rotation thereon. The coupling plate includes first and second pawls which extend therefrom for cooperative engagement with the ratchet teeth sets, respectively. Pawl actuator arms also mounted on the coupling plate are movable to first and second positions and when in a first position engage the pawls to maintain the latter out of engagement with respective ratchet teeth sets. Pawl actuator arm engaging levers are mounted adjacent the pawl actuator arms and are movable to first and second positions.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a highspeed digital print-out apparatus. The apparatus involved is provided with tractors which move the paper in a first direction past a stationary print-out wheel which in conjunction with a print hammer imprints preselected indicia upon the paper. The paper is movable in the reverse or third direction, again by the tractors, to initiate a new line of indicia and in a second direction normal to said forward and reverse directions to provide spacing between adjacent lines. There is also provided a reversing mechanism for moving the paper in a fourth direction reverse to the second direction to position the paper for the start of a new sheet.

Abstract: Feed mechanism for a continuous strip having a series of uniformly spaced holes in which an endless conveyor having a multiplicity of laterally projecting pins is adapted to engage one side of the strip with a plurality of pins extending simultaneously into a corresponding plurality of holes, together with means for driving the conveyor so as to advance the continuous strip.

Abstract: A device for holding down sheet material on a conveyor belt, the device having a spring-loaded flap which can be locked in the holding down position and which when the lock is released, is moved into an open position by the spring pull and is thus swivelled about a shaft which is arranged parallel to the direction in which the conveyor belt moves.

Abstract: A thread delivery device for a textile machine in which a member associated with a thread delivery arrangement is driven by a driving belt which in turn is driven by a driving wheel whose effective diameter can be varied to vary the speed of the driving belt. The driving belt is engaged with a running surface associated with the driving wheel. The driving belt is provided with holes therein, and the running surface of the driving wheel is formed by a second driving belt with pins on its outer face which engage in the holes of the first-mentioned driving belt to provide a slip-free connection therebetween. The second driving belt is engaged with and extends between the driving wheel and a further guide or idler wheel.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for positioning a paper web with respect to the print mechanism of a high speed printer. The apparatus includes a rod supported by the main frame of the printer and a slide tube is coaxially positionable on the rod. A pair of tractors for driving the web across the print station are carried upon the slide tube. One of the tractors is fixed to one end of the slide tube and the second tractor is positionally adjustable upon the slide tube. A clamp is provided for securing the second tractor to the slide tube after the spacing between the tractors is adjusted in relation to the width of the paper web. The slide tube is positioned to locate the type margin on the web at the desired location and a second clamp secures the slide tube to the rod.

Abstract: A drive for advancing paper or other sheet material through a printing station, or the like, including: a toothed, flexible belt carrying spaced pins for engaging the sheet material, the belt having a respective drive sprocket engaging tooth for each pin; a drive sprocket with which the belt teeth are engaged and including grooves for receiving and engaging the belt teeth; a stationsry idler guide cooperating with the drive sprocket for tensioning and guiding the belt. The support frames for the pins on the belt are designed to prevent the pins from twisting during paper and feed operations. A linear guide serves to maintain the pins in alignment; a mounting means clamps the drive sprocket to a drive shaft without play therebetween.