GB2062543A - Motor-operated memorandum device - Google Patents

Abstract

A motor operated memorandum device comprises a casing (1) holding two reels (8a, 8b) and a lengthy strip of paper (2) extending between them. The ends of the strip (2) are wound one on each reel (8a, 8b). A window (3) in the casing (1) permits viewing of the strip (2). A reversible electric motor (9) is mounted centrally between the reels (8a, 8b). A pinion gear (15) is mounted on the output shaft (9a) of said electric motor (9). A pair of reduction gear trains (18a, 18b) are disposed one to each side of the pinion gear (15) and are connected to the reels (8a, 8b). Power transmission changeover from one of said gear trains to the other is by a floating gear mechanism comprising a floating gear (16, 17) mounted in meshing contact with the pinion (15) and movable into meshing contact with the first gear of one or other of the reduction gear trains (18a, 18b) when the output shaft (9a) of the electric motor (9) is rotated in one or other direction, respectively. A switch (11) is operable to change the polarity of the circuit to the electric motor. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Motor-operated memorandum device The present invention relates to a motoroperated memorandum device of the type in which a lengthy strip of paper or similar material the ends of which strip are wound on to two reels is moved past a window in the casing by an electric motor so that telephone numbers, addresses, etc., entered on the strip can be found, or so that a blank space on the upper paper can be found and an entry made.

Various kinds of motor-operated memorandum devices have been previously known in which a lengthy tape or strip of paper wound on two reels are moved from one reel to the other by rotating the reels to find telephone numbers, addresses or other information written on the paper strip or to find a blank space to write on. In these motoroperated memorandum devices of the prior art, a pair of reduction gear trains are disposed beside a pinion fixed on the output shaft of an electric motor so that the driving force of the electric motor is transmitted through the pinion to either of the reduction gear trains to rotate the reels in either direction. However, such power transmission changeover mechanisms have been complicated and susceptible to malfunction.

Furthermore, it has not been easy to replace the paper strip because the reels are not detachable.

Prior art devices also have been too large to carry in a pocket.

It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide a motor-operated memorandum device which avoids or minimizes one or more of the above-mentioned disadvantages.

The present invention provides a motoroperated memorandum device comprising a casing holding two reels and a lengthy strip of paper extending between them, the ends of said strip being wound one on each reel, a window in said casing for viewing said strip of paper, a reversible electric motor mounted in said casing centrally between said reels, an electric cell, a pinion gear mounted on the output shaft of said electric motor, a pair of reduction gear trains, disposed one to each side of said pinion gear and connected to said reels, means for effecting power transmission changeover from one of said gear trains to the other comprising a floating gear mechanism comprising of a floating gear mounted in meshing contact with said pinion and movable into meshing contact with the first gear of one of said reduction gear trains when the output shaft of said electric motor is rotated in one direction, and a floating gear mounted in meshing contact with said pinion and movable into meshing contact with the first gear of the second gear reduction train when said output shaft is rotated in the opposite direction, and a switch operable to change the polarity of the circuit to said electric motor.

In another aspect the present invention provides a motor-operated memorandum device comprising a casing having a window at the top thereof and containing an electric motor fixed to a plate disposed therein, a lengthy strip of paper arranged for movement across and under said window, a pair of reels on which each end of said paper strip is wound, each reel being supported between a bearing portion on one side of said plate and the end of an engagement shaft on a bearing portion on the other side thereof, a pinion fixed on the output shaft of said electric motor, a pair of reduction gear trains disposed inside said casing symmetrically one on each side of said pinion, a power transmission changeover mechanism comprising an arm swingingly attached to said output shaft, a planetary gear mounted on said arm in meshing contact with said pinion, said arm being rotatable in the direction of rotation of said pinion thereby bringing said planetary gear into meshing contact with the first gear in either of said reduction gear trains depending upon the direction of rotation of said electric motor, a pair of drive connectors each connecting the shaft of a final reduction gear in said reduction gear train with said engagement shaft of one of said reels, and a switch mechanism for selecting the direction of rotation of said reels by changing the polarity of said electric motor.

In a further aspect this invention provides a portable motor-operated memorandum device comprising two reels rotatably disposed inside a casing, a lengthy strip of paper the ends of which are wound on to the reels respectively, the casing further containing a reversible electric motor and two reduction gear trains for driving the reels, and switch mechanism adapted to rotate one reel or the other by means of said electric motor, wherein a plate is disposed just under the window of the casing, two bearing plates are disposed under one side of the plate, a pinion fixed to the output shaft of the electric motor and positioned between the bearing plates, said reduction gear trains being arranged in a straight line and symmetrically on opposite sides of said pinion, and a swing gear on opposite sides of said pinion, each swingably supported in arc-shaped slots in the bearing plates so that the rotation of the electric motor is transmitted only to the reduction gear train on one side when one button of the switch mechanism is pressed and to the other gear train when the second button is pressed.

The motor-operated memorandum device of the invention has a power transmission changeover mechanism which is relatively simple in its construction and precise in its operation, and can, at least in one form, be made relatively small in size without significant loss of performance.

Preferably a leaf spring, especially a very thin, leaf spring, double-pole, double-throw switch is employed between the reversible electric motor and the cells. The motor can be operated in either the forward or reverse direction by suitable means such as a push button.

As is described in detail below, the switch mechanism can be of very thin construction to permit the memorandum device to be made very compact. Two push buttons are conveniently provided; when one is pushed the circuit is closed causing the motor to rotate in one direction and when the other is pushed the polarity of the circuit is reversed causing the electric motor to rotate in the opposite direction.

When the electric motor of a device of the invention rotates in one direction the pinion causes a floating gear to move into contact with the first gear of one of the reduction gear trains, and when the motor is reversed the pinion brings a floating gear into meshing contact with the other gear train. In a preferred embodiment of the invention an arm supporting a planetary gear is swingingly attached to said output shaft so that the arm turns in the direction of rotation of the pinion until rotation of the pinion is transmitted through the planetary gear to the first gear of one of the two reduction gear trains to thereby rotate one of the reels in a given direction. In another embodiment of the present invention two floating gears (in this example, swing gears) are mounted in meshing contact with the pinion, one on each side.Depending upon the direction of rotation of the output shaft, the pinion brings one or the other of the floating gears into meshing contact with its respective reduction gear train. The shaft of these swing gears moves in slot guides.

Preferably also the reels are arranged so that they can be rotated not only by the electric motor but also manually and can be taken out of the casing so as to facilitate the replacement of the paper strip. This can be conveniently achieved by having the shaft of a final reduction gear in each reduction gear train connected with an engagement shaft for each reel by means of a frictional drive connector, and each reel provided at one end thereof with a knob for turning the reel by hand, and at the other end thereof with a recess into which said engagement piece is inserted.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a first motor-operated memorandum device of the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof; Fig. 4 is a partially cut-away view taken on line IV--IV in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line V-V in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line VI--VI in Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on line VIl-VIl in Fig. 3; and Fig. 8 is an electric circuit diagram of the device of Figs. 1 to 7; Fig. 9 is a partially cut-away plan view of a second embodiment of the invention illustrating a pocket-size device; Fig. 10 is a partially cut-away side view of the device of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is an end view thereof; Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view thereof; Fig. 13 is an enlarged side view illustrating some of the gears; Fig. 14 is a circuit diagram of the device of Figs.

9to 13; Fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of a switch mechanism for the device of Figs. 9 to 14; and Fig. 1 6 is an enlarged side view of another embodiment of the switch mechanism for the device of Figs. 9 to 14.

Referring to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 8, a motor operated memorandum device of the invention comprises a casing 1 having an upper body 1 a and lower body 1 b. The upper body la is provided with a window 3 through which a lengthy tape or strip 2 of paper or other suitable material enclosed in the casing 1 is visible. Push buttons 4a and 4b actuate a reversible electric motor in either direction thereby rotating reels 8a, Bb on which the paper strip 2 is wound. The window 3 may be covered with a transparent plastic plate so that the paper strip 2 is visible through it, said plate being preferably pivotable to an uncovered position or said window 3 having no covering at all, to make it possible to make an entry on the paper strip 2.The lower body 1 b is provided at its bottom with an electric battery cell box 5, with a cover, containing battery cells 6. A pair of reels 8a and 8b are disposed inside the casing 1 so that the window 3 is disposed laterally between them. One end of each reel 8a, 8b is provided with a knob 7a or 7b protruding from one side of the casing 1, by means of which knob the reels can be manually rotated. The other end of each reel has a recess 31 into which an engagement shaft 28 (described below) is fitted so that each reel is detachable therefrom.

The paper strip 2, the opposite ends of which are wound on the respective reels 8a and 8b, may or may not, according to particular user requirements, have back-ground design, colouring, ruled lines or the like.

The casing 1 contains means for driving the paper strip 2. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the means comprise the reels 8a and 8b; an electric motor 9; a power transmission changeover mechanism 10, a pair of reduction gear trains 1 boa and 1 8b with wrapping connectors or belts 28, respectively disposed between the reels 8a, 8b and the electric motor; and a switch mechanism 1 These members or circuit elements are disposed most compactly in the casing 1 as described below. As shown in Figs. 3,4 and 5, a rectangular plate 12 is disposed in the lower body 1 b under the window 3 so that the paper strip 2 - travels through the space between the upper surface of a guide plate 35 fixed to the plate 12 and the lower surface of the window cover 3. The plate 12 has projections 1 2a on its edges, by means of which it is fixed to the lower body 1 b of the casing 1 with setscrews 1 2b. On one side of the plate 1 2, two bearing plates 1 3 and 14 are vertically disposed so as to form a gear casing with rectangular section.

The output shaft 9a of the small electric motor 9, fixed to the base plate 12, extends through the bearing plate 14 and is provided at its end with the power transmission changeover mechanism 10 comprising a pinion 1 5 fixed to the end of the shaft 9a, an arm 1 6 swingingly attached to the end of the shaft 9a, and a planetary gear 17 supported on one end of the arm 16so as to be always in meshing contact with the pinion 1 5. In effect gear 1 7 functions as a floating gear, capable of adopting more than one position.When the electric motor 9 rotates, the arm 1 6 turns in the direction of rotation of the pinion 1 5 until it brings the planetary gear 17 into meshing engagement with first reduction gear 1 9 in the reduction gear train 1 boa or 1 Sb. Thus, the driving force of the electric motor 9 is transmitted through the planetary gear 1 7 to either of the reduction gear trains 1 boa or 1 bob, disposed one on one side and one on the other side of the pinion 1 5. As shown in Fig. 3, the bearing plate 1 3 is provided with a pair of stop means 24 which limit the swinging angle of the arm 1 6.

The reduction gear trains 1 boa and 1 8b each comprise a first reduction gear 1 9 with which the planetary gear 17 on arm 16 meshes when the arm 16 has turned in the direction of rotation of the pinion 15, a transmission gear 20 mounted coaxially with the gear 19, and a second reduction gear 21 in meshing engagement with the transmission gear 20. One end of the shaft 22 of each second reduction gear 21 is supported on the bearing plate 13, and the other end thereof is supported on a bearing portion 23 provided on the side opposite to the bearing plate 13.Each shaft 22 is provided with a pulley 25, which is connected with a pulley 27 mounted on an engagement shaft 26 fitted into the recess 31 of one of the reels, by means of a drive connector 28 of an elastic material such as a belt of synthetic plastics material, rubber or the like.

The driving force of the electric motor 9 is transmitted, through the planetary gear 17 in the power transmission changeover mechanism 10, to either of the reduction gear trains 1 8a or 1 8b.

Then, the driving force is further transmitted through the belt 28 to one of the engagement shafts 26, which drives one of the reels 8a and Sb, to move the paper strip 2 wound thereon. Each of the reels 8a and Sb, supported inside the casing 1 as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6, is provided in its main body with slits 29 into which one end of the paper strip 2 is inserted. One end of each reel is supported on a bearing portion 30 of the lower casing body 1 b, and the other end thereof has the recess 31 with polygonal section into which the engagement shaft 26 is fitted as mentioned above.

Reference will now be made to means for rotating the above-mentioned reels 8a and Sb in a desired direction, that is, a switch mechanism and an electric circuit for the operation of the reduction gearing. In an embodiment of the present invention, a double-pole, double-throw switch SW is connected between the electric motor 9 and the batteries 6 as shown in Fig. 8.

The switch is made very thin, and is adapted so that there is positive movement of the paper strip 2 in a desired direction when the push button 4a or 4b is pushed.

Fig.8 shows an example of the switch mechanism 11, in which contact members 32 of a leaf spring type are disposed correspondingly relative to the pushbuttons 4a and 4b, and contacts 33 and 34 are fixed above and below the ends of the contact members 32. The ends of the contact members 32 are bent, and are kept in contact with the upper contact 33 by spring force.

The upper contact 33 is connected with the positive side of the batteries 6, and the lower contact 34 is connected with the negative side of the batteries 6. The contact members 32 are connected with both poles of the electric motor 9.

When the push button 4a is pushed, the bent portion of the right contact member 32 leaves and is spaced from the upper contact 33, and comes into contact with the lower contact 34 as shown by a dot-dash line in Fig.8. Therefore, the left pole of the electric motor 9 becomes negative through the upper contact 33 and left contact member 32, and the right pole of the electric motor 9 becomes positive through the lower contact 34 and right contact member 32. Thus, the electric motor 9 rotates in the normal direction. When the push button 4a is released, the right contact member 32 returns to the original position as shown by a solid line in Fig.8, and the electric motor 9 stops rotating.When the other pushbutton 4b is pushed, the left contact member 32 comes into contact with the lower contact 34, and the electric motor 9 rotates in the reverse direction. Thus, when either the pushbutton 4a or 4b is pushed, either pole of the double-pole, double-throw switch is closed. As a result, the polarity of the circuit with respect to the electric motor 9 changes according to whether the pushbutton 4a or 4b is pushed.

Because the switch mechanism 11 used in the motor-operated memorandum device of the present invention is of leaf spring construction as mentioned above, it can be made thin and very small. Therefore, the switch mechanism 11 can be disposed just under the pushbutton 4a or 4b in the thin casing 1.

The motor-operated memorandum device of the present invention is used as follows: The casing 1 is opened, and the desired paper strip 2 is wound on the reels 8a and Sb. Then, the casing 1 is closed, and the paper strip 2 is moved by pushing the pushbutton 4a or 4b. Fig. 3 shows a state where the electric motor 9 is rotated in the normal direction by pushing the pushbutton 4a.

The counterclockwise rotation of the output shaft 9a of the electric motor 9 turns the arm 1 6 in the power transmission changeover mechanism 10 until it contacts the right stopper 24 and the planetary or floating gear 17 comes into meshing contact with the righthand first reduction gear 19.

Thus, the driving force of the electric motor 9 is transmitted, through the reduction gear train 18a and belt connector 28, to the right reel 8a, which rolls the paper strip 2 around it. In this state, the lefthand reduction gear train 18b is not driven because it is disengaged from the floating gear 17.

The left reel Sb is rotated by the movement of the paper strip 2 in the direction of unwinding the paper strip 2. Therefore, the paper strip 2 moves from the left reel Sb to the right reel 8a over the guide plate 35. When a desired portion of the paper strip 2 has appeared in the window 3, the pushbutton 4a is released to open the switch circuit and stop the paper strip 2.

When the pushbutton 4b is pushed, the polarity of the circuit to the electric motor 9 is reversed by the action of the switch mechanism 11, as described above with reference to Fig.8, and the electric motor 9 rotates in the reverse direction.

The pinion 15 rotates clockwise, and turns the arm 16 in the same direction until the floating gear 17 comes into meshing engagement with the first reduction gear 19 in the lefthand reduction gear train 1 sub. Thus, the lefthand reel Sb receives the driving force of the electric motor 9, and moves the paper strip 2 in the opposite direction.

A desired telephone number or other information on the paper strip 2, can be found simply by pushing the pushbutton 4a or 4b. If it is necessary to make an entry in the paper strip 2, a blank space therein can be easily found by pushing the pushbutton 4a or 4b.

The paper strip 2 can be replaced as follows: First, the casing 1 is opened, the recesses 31 of the reels 8a and Sb are detached from the engagement shafts 26, and the reels 8a and Sb are taken out of the casing 1. Then, another paper strip is attached to these or other reels, and the reels are set in the casing 1.

In a modification of the present embodiment, the casing 1 is provided at its one end with a large date indicator 36 which has a window 37 at the top thereof. As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 7, the date indicator 36 comprises a common shaft disposed between the righthand and lefthand walls 38 of the casing 1, and drums 41 42,43 and 44 for indicating the month, the day of the month and the day of the week, and/or any other data concerning the date, being mounted on the common shaft. The drum 43 for the 1 st order of the day of the month is fixed to an inner shaft 39, and the drum 42 for the 2nd order of the day of the month is fixed to an outer shaft 40.Each of the drums 43 and 42 is provided on its one side with projections 45, and there is an advancing member 46 adapted to advance the figure on the drum 42 each time the drum 43 turns through 36or.

Therefore, any desired day of the month from 1 st to 31st can be indicated through the window 37 by turning the drums 43 and 42 by means of a knob 47 fixed to one end of the inner shaft 39. A knob 48 for changing the month is provided outside the knob 47. The drum 41 for indicating the month is mounted on an outer shaft 50 adjacent to the outer shaft 40 of the drum 42. The drum 41 is provided on its one side with a ratchet wheel 51 which engages with a pawl 52 extending upwardly from the lower body 1 b of the casing 1 to prevent the drum 41 from turning back.The drum 44 for indicating the day of the week is mounted on the other end of said inner shaft 39, and is provided on its right side with a large number of (for instance 14) projections 53. A knob 49 for changing the day of the week is provided inside with a drum turning member 54 which engages with said projections 53 and turns the drum 44 pitch by pitch. With the aforesaid date indicator 36 providing the month, day of the month and day of the week, the motor-operated memorandum device also serves as a desk calendar.

A second principal embodiment has a casing 101, which is dividable into an upper body 101 a and a lower body 1016. The upper body 101a is provided with a window 103 through which a portion of a lengthy strip of paper 102 is visible, and with pushbuttons 104a and 104b for actuating the device for rotation of the reels of the paper in either direction. The window 103 may be covered with a transparent plastic plate so that the strip 102 is visible through it, which plate may be pivotable to an uncovered position or the window may have no covering at all, to make it possible to enter information on the strip. The lower body 101 b of the casing 101 is provided at its bottom with a battery cell box 105 with a cover, and battery cells 106 are contained therein.

The casing 101 is provided on its one side with two knobs 1 07a and 1 07b, which are respectively fixed to the shafts of two reels 108a and 108b disposed near opposite ends of the casing 101.

The ends of the paper 102 are wound on to the reels 108a and 108b respectively.

The casing 101 contains means for driving the paper 102. As shown in Fig. 9 and 10, the means comprise the reels 108a and 108b for the paper, an electric motor 109, reduction gearing 110 disposed between the reels and the electric motor, and a switch mechanism 111. These members or circuit elements are disposed most compactly in the casing 101 as described below. As shown in Fig. 12, a rectangular plate 112 is disposed under the window 103 so that the paper 102 travels through the space between the upper surface of the plate 112 and the lower surface of the window 103.The plate 112 has a projection 11 2a on its one edge, by means of which it is fixed to the lower body 101 b of the casing 101 with a setscrew 11 2b. Under one side of the plate 112, two bearing plates 113 and 113' are vertically disposed so as to form a gear casing of rectangular section. The reduction gearing 110 is mounted between the bearing plates 113 and 113' as shown in Fig. 9 and 10. The output shaft 109a + of the small electric motor 109 fixed to the lower surface of the plate 112 extends through bearing plate 113', and a gear 114 is fixed to that end of the output shaft 109a. The gear 114 is in meshing contact with a floating gear, in this case swing gear 115. The swing gear 115 is disengageably engaged with a gear 116 which is in meshing contact with a gear 117 which, in turn, is in meshing contact with a gear 118. The gears 116, 117 and 118 are fixed in their respective positions. The gears 115,116,117 and 117 are arranged in a straight line on both sides of the gear 114 fixed to the output shaft 1 09a of the electric motor 109 and comprises gears arranged on the right side in Fig. 10, 115a, 116a, ll7aand 11 boa respectively, and gears arranged on the left side in Fig. 10, 115b, 116b, ll7band 118b, respectively.The shafts of the swing gears 11 5a and 11 sub are supported in respective arcuate slots 11 9a and 11 9b made through the bearing plates 113 and 113', as shown in the enlarged view of Fig. 13. When the gear 114 fixed to the output shaft 1 09a of the electric motor 1 09 rotates in the direction of the arrow of solid line in Fig.13, the floating gear 11 5a in meshing contact therewith is moved down along the arc-shaped slots 11 9a, and is brought into meshing contact with the gear 11 6a. Therefore, the rotation of the gear 11 5a is transmitted to the gear 11 6a. At the same time, the floating gear 11 sub on the left side is moved up along the arcuate slots 11 9b, and is disengaged from the gear 11 6b positioned next thereto. Therefore, the rotation of the gear 11 sub is not transmitted to the gear 11 6b.

Thus, the rotation of the electric motor 109 is transmitted either to gear 11 boa or 11 sub. As shown in Fig. 9, the gears 11 boa and 11 8b each is provided with a pulley 120, and the corresponding end of each reel shaft is provided with a pulley 121. Belts 122 are attached between the pulleys 120 and 121 respectively so that the rotation of the above-mentioned gears is transmitted to the reel 108a or 108b.

Reference will now be made to means for rotating the above-mentioned reels 108a and 108b in a desired direction, that is, the switch mechanism and electric circuit for the operation of the reduction gearing 110. As in other embodiments of this invention, the electric circuit contains a double-pole, double-throw, leaf spring switch, shown as SWbetween the electric motor 109 and the cells 106 as shown in Fig. 14. This switch is made very thin, and is adapted so that the paper 102 travels in either direction when the pushbutton 104a or 104b is pushed.

Fig. 1 5 illustrates a switch mechanism comprising four thin metal plates 1 24a, 1 24b, 1 24c and 1 24d (made of phosphor bronze, for instance) stacked one above another with insulating plates 123 interposed between them. A set of these thin metal plates 124and is disposed just beneath the pushbutton 1 04a, and another set just beneath the pushbutton 1 04b. The two internal metal plates 1 24b and 1 24c are electrically isolated from each other by the insulating plates 123, and do not contact each other even when pressure is applied from above.

Between the two upper metal plates 1 24a and 1 24b and between the two lower metal plates 1 24c and 124d, there is a space on one side in which the insulating plate 123 does not exist. Only when the push button 1 04a or 104b disposed over the metal plates is pushed, the spaces are closed, that is, the metal plate 1 24a contacts the metal plate 1 24b and the metal plate 1 24c contacts the metal plate 124d.Because these metal plates are electrically connected with the electric motor 109 and the cells 106 as shown in Fig. 15, when the pushbutton 1 04a is pushed, the metal plates on the left side in Fig. 1 5 contact each other as mentioned above and the electric circuit is closed. Therefore, the electric motor 109 is electrified by the cells 106, and rotates in a certain direction. When the pushbutton 1 04a is released and the pushbutton 1 04b is pushed, the electric motor 109 is electrified in the same manner but now the polarity of the circuit is changed, and the motor 109 rotates in the opposite direction.Thus, when the button 1 04a or 1 04b is pushed, the electric motor 109 rotates in one direction or the other. As a result, the reel 108a or 108b is driven thereby through the reduction gearing on the right or on the left side, and the paper 102 travels in one direction or the other on the plate 112.

Fig. 16 shows another switch mechanism of the leaf spring type which is more compact than the switch mechanism shown in Fig. 15. Thin metal plates 125a,125b and 1 25c are the contact members of this switch mechanism.

When the push button is not pushed, the internal metal plate 1 25b is in contact with the lower metal plate 125c. When the end of the internal metal plate 1 25b is pressed by the pushbutton 1 04a or 1 04b, the internal metal plate 1 25b separates from the upper metal plate 1 25a and contacts the lower metal plate 125c. Thus, the polarity of the circuit changes according to whether pushbutton 1 04a or 1 04b is pushed.

Because the switch mechanism used in this portable motor-operated memorandum device is structured as described, it can be made thin and very small. Therefore, it is possible to put it just under the pushbutton 1 04a or 104b in the thin casing 101.

In order to change the paper strip 102, the reels 108a and 108b are taken out of the casing, the new strip is attached, one end on each reel, and the reels are set in the casing again.

The present invention has the following advantages; the number of necessary parts is relatively small and the changeover of power transmission is accurately performed, because the reel driving means in the casing comprises a power transmission changeover mechanism having a floating gear which is brought into meshing contact with one or the other of the reduction gear trains disposed symmetrically one on each side of the pinion, depending upon the direction of rotation of the electric motor. Also it is easy to replace the paper strip because the reels can be taken out of the casing. In this memorandum device the paper in the casing is moved automatically and as desired. Furthermore, because the means for driving the paper and the switch mechanism are both compact, the whole device can be made quite small; in one practical embodiment its thickness can be reduced to less than 20 mm, so that it can be carried in a pocket.

Whilst the invention has been described above with reference to certain preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

Naturally this invention also extends to a motor-operated memorandum device according to this invention which device does not include a said strip of paper and does not include a said electric cell.

Claims (12)

1. A motor-operated memorandum device comprising a casing holding two reels and lengthy strip of paper extending between them, the ends of said strip being wound one on each reel, a window in said casing for viewing said strip of paper, a reversible electric motor mounted in said casing centrally between said reels, an electric cell, a pinion gear mounted on the output shaft of said electric motor, a pair of reduction gear trains, disposed one to each side of said pinion gear and connected to said reels, means for effecting power transmission changeover from one of said gear trains to the other comprising a floating gear mechanism comprising of a floating gear mounted in meshing contact with said pinion and movable into meshing contact with the first gear of one of said reduction gear trains when the output shaft of said electric motor is rotated in one direction, and a floating gear mounted in meshing contact with said pinion and movable into meshing contact with the first gear of the second gear reduction train when said output shaft is rotated in the opposite direction, and a switch operable to change the polarity of the circuit to said electric motor.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said switch operable to change the plurality of the circuit to the electric motor is a leaf spring switch.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the floating gear mechanism comprises an arm pivotally connected to the output shaft of said electric motor, a pinion fixed to the end of the output shaft of said electric motor, a planetary gear mounted on said arm in meshing contact with said pinion, said arm being rotatable in the direction of rotation of said pinion to bring said planetary gear into meshing contact with the first gear of a reduction gear train.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the floating gear mechanism comprises a pinion mounted on the end of the output shaft of said electric motor, two swing gears, the shaft of each said swing gear being supported in a respective arcuate slot positioned to retain the gear in meshing contact with said pinion, the rotation of said pinion in one direction causing one of said swing gears to move into meshing contact with the first gear of one of said reduction gear trains while at the same time moving the second swing gear out of meshing contact with the second of said reduction gear trains, the rotation -of said pinion in the opposite direction causing the two swing gears to move in the reverse manner.

5. A motor-operated memorandum device comprising: a casing having a window at the top thereof and containing an electric motor fixed to a plate disposed therein, a lengthy strip of paper arranged for movement across and under said window, a pair of reels on which each end of said paper strip is wound, each reel being supported between a bearing portion on one side of said plate and the end of an engagement shaft on a bearing portion on the other side thereof, a pinion fixed on the output shaft of said electric motor, a pair of reduction gear trains disposed inside said casing symmetrically one on each side of said pinion, a power transmission changeover mechanism comprising an arm swingingly attached to said output shaft, a planetary gear mounted on said arm in meshing contact with said pinion, said arm being rotatable in the direction of rotation of said pinion thereby bringing said planetary gear into meshing contact with the first gear in either of said reduction gear trains depending upon the direction of rotation of said electric motor, a pair of drive connectors each connecting the shaft of a final reduction gear in said reduction gear train with said engagement shaft of one of said reels, and a switch mechanism for selecting the direction of rotation of said reels by changing the polarity of said electric motor

6.A device as claimed in Claim 5, wherein a pair of said reels are rotatably supported in said casing, each end of said paper strip being wound on one of said reels, said window being disposed at the top of said casing so that said paper strip moved by said reels is visible therethrough, said electric motor for rotating said reels being disposed substantially in the centre of said plate and just under said window, two parallel bearing plates extending at 900 from one side of said plate, said pinion on the output shaft of said electric motor being disposed centrally between said bearing plates, a pair of said reduction gear trains being attached to said bearing plates symmetrically on both sides of said pinion, the output shaft of said electric motor having said arm for changing the direction of-rotation of said pinion, said arm being provided on one end thereof with said planetary gear which is always in meshing contact with said pinion and is adapted to come into meshing contact with a gear in either of said reduction gear trains when said arm has turned in either direction, a pair of drive connectors of an elastic material each connecting the shaft of the final reduction gear in said reduction gear train with said engagement shaft of one of said reels, said casing being provided at the top thereof with a pair of pushbuttons and adapted to actuate said electric motor in either direction.

7. A device as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein each of said reels is provided at one end thereof with a knob for rotating said reels manually, and at the other end thereof with a recess into which said engagement shaft with said wrapping connector is fitted and so that each of said reels is detachable therefrom.

8. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 5 to 7 wherein said casing is provided at one end thereof with a manually operable indicator for displaying data concerning the date.

9. A portable motor-operated memorandum device comprising two reels rotatably disposed inside a casing, a lengthy strip of paper the ends of which are wound on to the reels respectively, the casing further containing a reversible electric motor and two reduction gear trains for driving the reels, and switch mechanism adapted to rotate one reel or the other by means of said electric motor, wherein a plate is disposed just under the window of the casing, two bearing plates are disposed under one side of the plate, a pinion fixed to the output shaft of the electric motor and positioned between the bearing plates, said reduction gear trains being arranged in a straight line and symmetrically on opposite sides of said pinion, and a swing gear on opposite sides of said pinion, each swingably supported in arcuate slots in the bearing plates so that the rotation of the electric motor is transmitted only to the reduction gear train on one side when one button of the switch mechanism is pressed and to the other gear train when the second button is pressed.

10. A portable motor-operated memorandum device as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said switch mechanism comprises two sets of four superimposed thin metal plates with insulating plates interposed between them, and two pushbuttons each disposed over the end of one set of the metal plates, so that, when a button is pushed, two upper metal plates and two lower metal plates in a set contact each other to close the electric circuit and start the electric motor, the polarity and direction of rotation being reversed when the second button is pressed.

11. A portable motor-operated memorandum device as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said switch mechanism comprises two sets of three superimposed metal plates with insulating plates interposed between them, and two pushbuttons, one disposed over the end of each set of the metal plates, the middle metal plate in each set normally being in contact with the upper metal plate and not in contact with the lower metal plate, the middle metal plate in either set separating from the upper metal plate and contacting the lower metal plate when pressed by a button.

12. A motor-operated memorandum device according to Claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to Figs. 1 to 8 or Figs. 9 to 14 and Fig. 15 or Fig. 16 of the accompanying drawings.