US3812778A - Plate retainer assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A facsimile signature plate is retained on a data recorder machine by a plate retainer assembly comprising a leaf spring secured to the bed of the machine and a plate retainer mounted on the leaf spring with the plate retainer having locator pins for cooperating with apertures in the facsimile signature plate and the bed and a flange on the plate retainer for pivoting the assembly against the bias of the leaf spring to release the facsimile signature plate.

Description

United States Patent [191 Ziska I PLATE RETAINER ASSEMBLY [75] Inventor: John C. Ziska, Wickliffe, Ohio [73] Assignee: Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio [22] Filed: Jan. 19, 1973 [21] Appl. No.2 324,937

[52] U.S. Cl. 101/110, 24/81 AE, 24/230 CF, 101/369, 101/408, 248/316 B, 269/54 [51] Int. Cl B411 47/04 [58] Field of Search 101/269, 368, 369, 383, 101/385, 382 R, 407 BP, 408; 269/47, 49,

50, 52, 54; 24/81 AB, 230 CF, 230 F, 230

SC; 248/316 B, 475 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 687,862 12/1901 Smith 269/254 R Maszczyk 269/49 Bates 101/407 BP [451 May-28, 1974 3,138,091 6/1964 Maul 101/269 X 3,198,168 8/1965 Grupe 101/297 X 3,478,683 11/1969 Hopkins et al 101/368 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 958,926 4/1957 Germany 101/408 Primary Examiner-Clyde l. Coughenour Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ray S. Pyle 7 1 ABSTRACT A facsimile signature plate is retained on a data recorder machine by a plate retainer assembly comprising a leaf spring secured to the bed of the machine and a plate retainer mounted on the leaf spring with the plate retainer having locator pins for cooperating with apertures in the facsimile signature plate and the bed and a flange on the plate retainer for pivoting the assembly against the bias of the leaf spring to release the facsimile signature plate.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEH HAY 2 8 5974 FIG. I

NTH W I PLATE RETAINER ASSEMBLY This invention relates to data recorder machines for imprinting documents such as negotiable instruments or the like and, more particularly, to a quick release plate retainer assembly for securing facsimile signature plates in position on such machines.

Manually operated data recorders are adapted to be used with plastic identification cards for imprinting various types of documents such as negotiable instruments. In imprinting such documents, a facsimile signature plate is used to imprint the document with a facsimile of an authorized signature. Hleretofore, facsimile signature plates have been secured on such machines by screws which mount the plate on the bed of the machine. Since each operator has their own facsimile signature plate, each time there is a change in operators using a machine, it entails a substantial time lapse while one facsimile signature plate is removed and another one is installed.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a facsimile signature plate retainer assembly which permits the interchanging of facsimile signature plates with a minimum interruption in operation of the data recorder machine.

A further object is to make operation of the device from the customers side of the machine quit akward in order to discourage attempt to steal the signature plate out of the machine.

In accordance with the invention, a plate retainer assembly is provided which comprises a leaf spring secured to the bed of the data recorder machine adjacent to the position for the facsimile signature plate. The leaf spring supports a plate retainer which has a pair of locator pins adjacent to forward edge adapted to cooperate with apertures both in the facsimile signature plate and the bed of the machine. The plate retainer includes an up-turned flange at the rearward edge thereof with the flange defining a fulcrum point so that by depressing the flange, the plate retainer is pivoted against the normal bias of the leaf spring thereby withdrawing the locator pins from the apertures in the base and permitting either the insertion or the removal of a facsimile signature plate.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical data recorder machine in which this invention may be utilized;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the facsimile signature plate retainer assembly constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the plate retainer assembly showing the free state condition of the leaf spring.

FIG. 1 illustrates a data recorder machine, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, in which this invention may be employed. This machine comprises a bed 12, a space 14 on the bed adapted to receive an identification or credit card, a movable platen 16 adapted to reciprocate through an imprinting cycle across the bed 12, a pair of variable print units l7, 18, a keyboard 19 and a facsimile signature plate 20. The keys on the keyboard 19 are adapted to set the desired information in the variable print units 17, 18. As is well understood in the art, as the platen 16 moves across the bed in an imprinting cycle, the information set in the variable print units 17, 18 together with the information appearing on the credit card and the signature on the facsimile signature plate 20, are imprinted on the document.

In accordance with the invention, the facsimile signature plate 20 is retained in position on the bed 12 by a plate retainer assembly indicated generally by the reference numeral 22.

The plate retainer assembly comprises a leaf spring 24 which, in its free state, is shaped as shown in FIG. 4. Mounted on the leaf spring is a plate retainer 26. A pair of locator pins 28 extend through the forward edge of both the leaf spring 24 and the plate retainer 26 with the end of the locator pins 28 formed into a shoulder under plate retainer 21 and being upset to form a rivet which secures the leaf spring to the plate retainer. The

plate retainer further includes an upturned flange 30 at the rearward edge thereof.

The retainer assembly is mounted on the bed 12 in the manner shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Screws 32 extend through suitable openings in the leaf spring 24 to clamp the leaf spring against the bed 12. Due to the free state shape of the leaf spring 24, the flattening of the leaf spring stresses it so that it exerts a clamping pressure against bed 12. It also normally biases the plate retainer 26 and the locator pins 28 to the position shown in FIG. 3 where the locator pins 28 are positioned in apertures 34 in the bed 12.

Usually the operator will stand at the keyboard side of the machine while inserting plate 20. Plate retainer 26 will then obscure the location of aperture 34. Therefore, a plate 35 is placed under the retainer'assembly with a front edge 35 thereof positioned to serve as a gauge abutment. The operator may then drop the signature plate 20 on the bed, press it against the edge 35, and release the leaf spring to urge the pins 28 to aperture 34. If the openings 40 are not properly aligned to accept pins 28, the operator merely slides the plate 20 laterally, using guide 35, until registration occurs.

To insert a facsimile signature plate 20, the operator presses down on the flange 30 which causes the plate retainer 26 to pivot about the fulcrum 36 defined at the junction between the main body of the plate retainer 26 and the flange 30. This pivoting action causes the plate retainer 26 and the free end of the leaf spring 24 to move away from the bed 12 and withdraw the locator pins 28 from the openings 34. Thereafter, a facsimile signature plate 20 may be inserted and the flange 30 released. The stressed leaf spring 24 then returns the plate retainer 26 to the position shown in H0. 3 with the leaf spring 24 engaging an edge of the facsimile signature plate and the locator pins 28 passing through openings 40 in the facsimile signature plate 20 into the apertures 34 in the bed. In this manner, the facsimile signature plate is firmly held in a properly located position for imprinting the document.

I claim:

1. In a data recorder machine for imprinting documents, said machine including a bed, a variable data imprint wheel set, and a roller platen movable across said bed in a path from a home position to a terminous and return, the improvement of a rapid change imprint plate retainer assembly for holding an imprint plate on said bed, comprising:

a spring having an anchor end and a free end with means for securing said anchor end to said bed; and

a spring actuator for manual operation of said spring,

said actuator having a first portion anchored to said spring and a second portion projecting upwardly 2. In a data recordei machine for imprinting documents, as defined invclaim l, the provision of a gauge plate underlying said spring to establish a limit of plate insertion under said spring for alignment of a hole in a plate with said socket and pin.

3. In a data recorder machine for imprinting documents, as defined in claim 1, wherein said spring is a flat leaf spring, and two sockets and two pins are provided for alignment of a plate.

Claims (3)

1. In a data recorder machine for imprinting documents, said machine including a bed, a variable data imprint wheel set, and a roller platen movable across said bed in a path from a home position to a terminous and return, the improvement of a rapid change imprint plate retainer assembly for holding an imprint plate on said bed, comprising: a spring having an anchor end and a free end with means for securing said anchor end to said bed; and a spring actuator for manual operation of said spring, said actuator having a first portion anchored to said spring and a second portion projecting upwardly from said bed and angled away from said spring, said first and second portion merging in a fulcrum joint located between said spring ends; said bed having at least one socket for receipt of a lock pin; and said assembly having a pin located in said spring free end and orientated to project into said socket; whereby said pin is liftable from said socket by said actuator for insert and removal of an imprint plate, and locking such plate to said base.

2. In a data recorder machine for imprinting documents, as defined in claim 1, the provision of a gauge plate underlying said spring to establish a limit of plate insertion under said spring for alignment of a hole in a plate with said socket and pin.

3. In a data recorder machine for imprinting documents, as defined in claim 1, wherein said spring is a flat leaf spring, and two sockets and two pins are provided for alignment of a plate.

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