US2390549A - Recording apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 11, 1945. A. w. METZNER RECORDING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed April 29, 1942 5 Sheets-Shed 1 ATTORNEY Dec. 11, 1945. A. w. METZNER RECORDING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed April 29, 1942 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ALBERT WMETZ NE ll llllallll lllnll'll illll Lll n f. g g A i--- $2 E \w H Q M AN v NN m Q m .E w w E A w Q m J 00000O00O0O O AT TRNEY Dec. 11, 1945.

A. w. MET Z NER RECORDING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed A rii 29, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 F r w I, I INVENTGR f7 17 17 ALBERTWML'TZ/VER Patented Dec. 11, 1945 U TED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECORDING APPARATUS AND METHOD Albert W. Metmer, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The Standard Registe corporation of .Ohio

:- Company, Dayton, Ohio, I}

Application April-29, 1942,8erialNo. 441,000

28 Claims. (C l.282--11.5)

This invention pertains to recording and manifolding apparatus and more particularly means and method of producing an increased number of legible duplicate copies of'inscribed matter at a single writing, I

It is quite common practice to simultaneously produce plural copies of records by inscribingthe topmost sheet of a manifolding assembly of superposed record sheets and interleaved sheets of transfer or carbon material, wherein the pressure thereon incident to the original writing causes duplicate impressions thereof to be reproduced upon underlying record sheets.

However. due to the fact that the effective transfer pressure becomes progressively diflused, upon each succeeding sheet, the writing lines hecome blurred and faint and the records less legible upon each succeeding copy, the number of distinct copies obtainable by conventional methods is limited.

' The presently described method and apparatusenables simultaneous production of a mate-- rially greater number of legible copies to an extent of twice the number thereof heretofore possihle, by simultaneously tracing the written indicia under opposing pressures from opposite sides of a manifolding assembly comprising an increased number of alternating record and transfer sheets.

The result is achieved by exertion of a moving point of transfer pressure through a plurality of superposed sheets from the under side of the assembly in direct opposition to the application of a moving point of writing pressure upon the top of the maniiolding assembly.

While for illustrative purpose, but with no intent to unduly limit the scope or application ofthe invention, it is herein shown and described as applied to an autographic register employing strips of continuous series connected form stationery, it is to be understood that it is not limited thereto, but is applicable to other recording and duplicating apparatus employing other forms of stationery.

A primary object of the invention is to enable the simultaneous production at a single writing or a greater number of legible duplicate copies of inscribed matter than has heretofore been possible.

theaswellasthem am d oroperannnormanitoldmg p u e directandinvezaeinscribingoperationsmaybe peri m d and which in r A further object or the invention is to improve efiicient in use, simple in construction, having relatively few operating parts and be unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is to provide a manifolding apparatus wherein the reaction With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described or illustrated .in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein is shown the preferred but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a-perspective view of an autographic register to which the present invention has been applied.

Fig. 2.is a perspective view of the autosraphic register illustrated in Fig. 1 with the lid or cover raised.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the assembled autographic register to which the present invention has been applied.

F18. 4 is a detail sectional view from the side opposite Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the autographic' register with the cover removed.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation with a portion of the cabinet broken away. 7

Figs. 7 and 8 are transverse sectional views on lines l-I and H respectively, of Fig.5. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail plan view of the pantograph arm carrying the writing instrument.

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of the coacting writing devices.

Fig. ii is g sectional view on line ll of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a detail side elevation viewed from the 'nnlvbemmumtureamt white as rlshtoiFlaJ'J I applied, is of conventional form.

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view on line l3-I3 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged schematic view illustrating the pressure writing distribution from opposing writing points.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary plan view of a manifoldingassembly usable with the present recording apparatus, but not essential thereto.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

Recording apparatus The particular autographic register illustrated in the drawings to which the invention is shown It includes a cabinet. I having therein a supply compartment 2 for a packet of continuous form stationery 3 and a receiving or storage compartment 4, for at least a part of the inscribed record strips. The superposed record strips which may have alternating portions of carbon or transfer material interleaved therebetween, are withdrawn from the supply compartment 2 over a guide 5 and thence past the recording position, by a pin wheel feedin device 6 having progressive engagement in marginally punched holes I in the strips of record material.

The pin wheel may be power driven, or manually operated by the crank 6'.

Beyond the pin wheel feeding device one or more strips may be discharged from the appa-' ratus, to be torn off in individual slips or sheets while the remaining strip or strips are refolded into the storage compartment 4. In lieu of continuous interleaved strips of carbon or transfer material the transfer material may comprise separate sheets interposed between the strips at relatively spaced intervals and temporarily arrested in recording position while predetermined lengths of record strip are advanced past the arrested sheets, as set forth and claimed in a companion application for Letters Patent Serial No. 444,858, filed May 28, 1942, now Patent No. 2,366,745, dated January 9, 1945. Likewise the interleaved carbon or transfer material may comprise strips thereof transversely arranged intermediate the record strips, which are intermittently advanced relative to the record strips to present fresh transfer areas, as is common and well-known in autographic register mechanisms.

In the top of the cabinet I, in lieu of the usual writing tabletis a guide unit comprising the rear flat ledge 8 contiguous to the arcuate guide flange 5, and a forward ledge 9 contiguous to and supported substantially tangentially relative to the pin wheels 6, the feeding pins of which project abov the plane of the ledge 9 through slots therein, and an intermediate depressed portion ID of pan like shape. -The unit comprising the relatively spaced guide ledges 8 and 9 and intermediate pan I0 is pivoted to the cabinet at H for upward swinging movement to afford access to the supply compartment 2. The record strips are drawn in a plane from the guide ledge 8 to theguide ledge 9 in elevated relation over the pan In, by the action of the pin wheels 6. Overlying this guide unit is a cover or lid l2 for the cabinet, pivoted to the forward end thereof at I3, and having therein an opening I! through which succeeding portions of the manifolding assembly are .exposed for reception of record inscriptions. As shown in Figs. 1 and 6 the opening or window ll of the lidis ofirregular shape and includes a slot like extension M at one side thereof.

Mounted for universal movement in planes parallel with the record strips throughout the area of the lid opening I4 is a pair of pantograph arms I 5 and I6. These arms arepivotally mounted upon a reciprocatory slide I! having antifriction bearings in a longitudinal guide way or track 18 adjacent one side of the cabinet and underlying the slotted extension M of the access The reciprocatory slide I1 is proopening [4. vided with rollers ll which engage within the latterly recessed track groove l8. The latter is preferably formed by two spaced concave bars 18 between which the carrier or slide rollers H are disposed. The tracing or pantograph arms l5 and i6 are connected in vertically spaced relation to an upright post or support 20 which is journaled on a vertical axis projecting from the carrier or slide H. The lower arm I6 is fixed thereto and extends beneath the plane of the record strips as they traverse the depression or pan ll) of the guide unit. The upper arm I5 is'hinged to the upright or support 20 for vertical swinging'movement to facilitate the loadin of the register with the record strips extending over the arm I6 and beneath the am 55.

The lowermost arm I6 carriers at its extremity a tracer head 2| which slides upon the depressed portion ID of the guide unit to resist downward thrust pressure. The upper face of the head 2| is provided with a tracer point 22 which engages the under side of the manifolding assembly. Such tracer point 22 is preferably, but not necessarily a small bearing 'ball which is revolubly seated in the head 2|. The upper pantograph arm' l5 carries at its extremity a pen 23 for inscribing the topmost or original sheet of the assembly. The

point of the pen 2| is disposed in vertical alignment above the tracer point 22. Downward pressure applied to the pen 23 is resisted by the tracer point 22, which resistance is confined to a minute area. Th action and reaction being equal, the

all portions of the record area exposed within 7 the opening H to be reached by the pen. By guiding the pen 23 to and fro, with which the tracer point 22 moves in exact registry, various indicia, letters or figures maybe written upon the upper record sheet or diiferent designs may be drawn thereon. The tracer point 22 carried by the lower arm 16 will react against the lowermost record sheet with whatever pressure is applied to the top or original sheet during such inscription. In order to more easily control the movement of the pantograph arm and adapt the device to the normal writing habits and action of different operators who may have peculiar ways of pen 23, and with it'the underlying tracer point 22 as necessary to produce a written line, figures,

or designs.

The upper arm l5 being hinged to its support for vertical movement is readily raised at the.

end of a word or sentence or at completion of a figure or design to enable the tracing points to be idly shifted to a new starting position as desired. The upper arm I is preferably yieldingly supported in elevated position and out of .the original writing may be quite sharp and distinct, comprising relatively fine lines. However,

.the pressure is diffused or the pressure area broadened on each succeeding ply of the manifolding assembly so that the reproduced lines thereon become increasingly thicker. This effect is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 14 .wherein a greatly enlarged stack of alternating record and transfer plies 28 and 29 are shown. The line produced upon the initial copy a by the pencil 23 will be quite distinct. However, as illustrated the width of such lines upon underlying sheets will progressively increase as shown at a, b, c, d, and e. until finally the line would have the width X on the underlying sheet.

'Such diffusion or spreading, of the written lines renders those records upon the lower half of the assemblyillegible. It is quite possible to produce legible manifold copies to a total of five or six copies, and with some relatively thin materials a few additional legible copies may be had. By

- the present method and apparatus the number of legible copies may be doubled, since as shown in the diagrammatic view Fig. 14, the reaction of the tracer point 22 to the writing pressure of the pen or pencil 23 produces a like effect in an upward direction. Thus while legible copies are being produced in the upper half of the assembly, like legible copies A, B, C, D, and E, are being produced by the inverse writing or reaction pressure of the tracer point 22.upon the sheets comprising the lower half of the assembly. As the upper arm I5 and the pen 23 carried thereby copies, and moreover the copies of the greater number will be equally as clear and legible as if only half the number of copies had been produced by the conventional method.

Obviously, the pen 23, or "other marking. or writing instrument, is removably mounted to enable the ink or lead supply to be replenished.

The manner of supplying interleaved transfer material is immaterial, and per se forms no part of the present invention. As illustrative, however, of one arrangement and method for periodicaliy enabling sets of fresh interleaved transfer material to be automatically interchanged forthe worn out or exhausted transfer material there is shown in Fig. 15 a fragmentary view oflan assembly of record strips3 adapted for such operation and cooperating with detent fingers 30 shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 7. and 8. v The manifolding assembly com-prises superposed continuous record strips 3, between which are interleaved at longitudinally spaced intervals sets of transfer sheets 3|. Each transfer sheet 3| is attached at its trailing edge to an anchor bar or holder strip 32 the ends of which project beyond the margins of the record strips 3. The

are collectively intercoupled with the record strips by staples 33 located closely adjacent to the edges of the transfer sheets. In practice the sets of transfer sheets 3| are spaced considerable distance apart, depending on the quality of the material and the number of transfer impressions which can be made before the transfer capacity is exhausted; This is ordinarily thirty to fifty copies, the number of which is immaterial. In the drawings only one intermediate form length is shown, but it is to be understood that the numb'er thereof may be greatly increased.

are manually shifted to and fro while writing upon the topmost sheet of the assembly, the

lower arm and the tracer point 22 carried thereby 1 moves in unison through exactly the same path of travel while writing the' same inscription in reverse upon the under side of the manifolding assembly. This produces sharp lines on both the top and bottom copies. Intermediate copies both above and below a medial plane are reproduced with progressive quality of legibility.

The writing pressure and reaction thereto being equal, a materially less pressure will be required to produce a given number of copies than is necessary in conventional writing operation wherein the entire pressure is applied from above.

Whereas a considerable pressure was heretofore required to produce six copies, the fourth, fifth and sixth of which were less legible than the first three copies, in the present instance a much i the latter copies will be equally clear and legible as the initial group of copies. Thus; only approximately half the former writing pressure will be required to produce a given number of copies, orcontra a given pressure by the present mode ofoperation will produce twice the number of- Projecting upwardly at opposite sides of the path of advancement of the record strips are two spring tensioned detent fingers 33 with which the projecting ends 34 of the holders or anchor strips 32 engage. The tensile strength of the transfer sheets being materially less than the spring resistance of the detent fingers 33, the anchor strips and attached transfer sheets will be arrested by the detent fingers, while the continued advancement of the record strips by. the pin wheels will tear the staple 33 out of the transfer sheets. The set of transfer sheets are thus temporarily held at rest in recording position while the record strips continue to advance relative thereto.

The advancement of the record strips simul taneously advances the succeeding set of transfer sheets, which are stapled thereto, through a step by step movement as succeeding forms are inscribed and advanced beyond the recording position. As the succeeding fresh set of transfer sheets approaches the recording position, the staple 33 thereof engages the holdersof anchor bars of the stationary set of transfer sheets, and the tensile, strength of the record strips being greater than the spring resistance of the detent fingers, the thrust pressure of the staple against the anchor bars depresses the detent fingers against. their tension springs and so releases the used or worn transfer sheets which are carried forward by friction of the advancing record strips. As the anchor bar ends 34 of the succeeding set of fresh transfer sheets engage the detent fingers 3 0, the sheets-are arrested. Their tensile strength being less than the spring resistance of the detent fingers, the staple 33 is torn loose, and the set of fresh transfer sheets are held stationary in recording position by the detent fingers while the record strips continue to advance, thus completing the cycle, and automatically effecting interchange of fresh transfer sheets for the used sheets.

Such automatic interchange of transfer material is here shown merely for illustrative purpose, as one method of providing fresh transfer material, but the dual writing operation forming the subject matter hereof is in no way dependent thereon. The means and method of automatically interchanging the transfer material, as well as the particular manifolding assembly adapted to such operation forms the subject matter of separate applications for Letters Patent.

From the above description it will be apparent means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. A recording apparatus for manifold copies, including a cabinet to contain a supply portion of plural record strips, means for advancing plural strips into superposed record receiving relation with transfer material interposed therebetween, a pair of spaced pivotal arms interconnected for unison movement extending above and beneath the record receiving portions of the record strips and interleaved portions of transfer material, a shiftable mount for the spaced arms by the combined motion of which with the pivotal motion of the arms the extremities of the latter are enabled to reach every part of the record receiving area'of the portions of the superposed strips presented in record receiving position, tracer members carried by the respective spaced arms and engaging simultaneously the opposite sides of the record receiving positions of the superposed strips in registering relation with each other, the construction and arrangement being such that the inscribing pressure of onefiof the tracers is transmitted through the record receiving area of the superposed strips and resisted by the opposing tracer member,'the reaction of which is exerted against the corresponding side of the record receiving area of the record strips to produce thereon an inscription in reverse of that produced upon the opposite side of the record receiving area of the strips under a single application of pressure.

2. A recording apparatus for plural record copies, including strip feeding means for presenting plural record strips in superposed relation at a recording position with transfermaterial interposed therebetween, a pair of interconnected arms extending on opposite sides of the record receiving area. of thesuperposed strips and movable in unison relative thereto, a Pair of tracers carried by the arms in registering relation with each other and simultaneously engaging opposite sides of the superposed strips within the record receiving area under pressure transmitted through the interposed record and trans fer material from one tracer to the other, the opposed tracers being simultaneously movable through like optional paths of travel, the construction and arrangement being such that pressure applied to one tracer is transmitted through the superposed strips and resisted by the opp site tracer, the reaction of which produces a reverse inscription upon the strip assembly agreeing with the direct inscription upon the strip assembly agreeing with the direct inscription produced upon the opposite side of the strip assembly by the pressure applying tracer.

3. The herein described method of manifolding records, including the step of exerting thrust inscribing pressure concentrated upon a movable point upon one side of a manifolding assembly against the resistance of a movable point, against which the oppositeside of the manifolding assembly is pressed by the exerted thrust pressure and simultaneously moving the pressure and resistance points through an optional path of travel wherein the respective pressure and resistance a points. are directly opposed one to the other.

4. A recording apparatus wherein plural record copies are produced by tracing indicia upon a manifolding assembly of alternating record and transfer sheets, including a movable pressure tracer operable through anundefined optional course while in engagement with one side of the manifolding assembly, a movable pressure register having engagement with the opposite side of the manifolding assembly through the interposed manifolding assembly and to the pressure of the tracer simultaneously movable through a like ously inscribing opposite sides of a manifolding assembly under influence of traveling inscribing pressure applied'to one side only thereof, and the reaction of the applied pressure against the opposite sideof the manifolding assembly.-

6. In a recording apparatus, a movable pressure tracer and a movable resister opposing the tracer pressure, simultaneously engaging opposite sides of "a manifolding assembly under pressure applied to only one side thereof by said tracer, the reaction of which pressure is exerted by the resister against the opposite side ofthe assembly and intercoupling means, by which the pressure tracer and the resister are simultaneously directed through like paths of travel,

.7. In a recording apparatus, a support for a manifolding assembly, a pantagraph-like carrier for a pressure tracer engaging one side of the assembly, a pressure tracer movable therewith through an optional path of travel, an abutment having a-bearing surface of reduced area engaging the opposite side of the assembly in registering opposed relation with the tracer against which pressure is transmitted through the assembly by the tracer and movable in unison therewith through like path of travel, the manifolding assembly being subject to record making pressure upon one side thereof and to reaction of the applied pressure against the abutment exerted.

against the opposite side of the assembly to effect a succession of duplicate inscriptions throughout the thickness of the manifolding assembly. 8. In a recording apparatus, a support for a manifolding assembly, a traveling pressure tracer engaging one side of the assembly, a traveling second tracer engaging the opposite side of the manifolding assembly in. registr with the first tracer and movable in unison therewith through a like optional path of travel, the construction and arrangement being such that the pressure applied by one tracer is exerted through the assembly against the opposedv registering tracer, and the reaction thereof is exerted against the assembly to produce simultaneously a succession of duplicate recorded inscriptions throughout the thickness of the manifolding assembly. 9. In a recording apparatus, a holder for a man- Jfolding assembly, a pair of opposed traveling tracers simultaneously engaging opposite sides of the assembly in registering relation with each other, and means for applying pressure to one of the tracers and thence through the manifolding assembly where it is resisted by the other tracer, and a carrier for the tracers enabling the simultaneous movement thereof throughoptional identical paths of travel, the construction and arrangement being suchthat the reaction of the pressure applied through one tracer against one side of the assembly is exerted by the opposite tracer against the opposite side of the assembly to produce throughoutthe thickness of the manifolding assemblya succession of like record inscriptions in agreement with that produced upon the 'side of the assembly to which the inscribing pressure is directly applied.

10. The hereindescribed method of producing duplicate autographicrecord inscriptions by transmitting through a manifolding assembly traveling localized writing pressure applie to one side only thereof, and utilizing the reaction of such writing pressure upon progressively chang-i ing corresponding localized areas on the opp site side of the assembly to intensify at least a part of the record inscriptions so produced upon the manifolding assembly.

* 11. The herein described method of producing plural record copies upon successive piles of an assembly of superposed record sheets and interleaved transfer material by applying progressively meandrous pressure to one side only thereof 1 and thence through the assembly against traveling resistance of a movable tracer enga ing the opposite side of the assembly.

12. The. herein described method of producing duplicate plural record copies upon successive plies ofrecord material by simultaneously tracing under opposing pressures corresponding inscriptions the operator throughout the record receiving area of the manifolding assembly to simultaneously impress a written record upon the manifolding assembly from opposite sides thereof.

14. A recording device for record copies by dual writing upon opposite sides of a manifolding assembly, including a support for a series of superposed record sheets and interleaved transfer strata. a pair of opposed registering tracer members simultaneously engaging op- -posite sides of the assembly and movable in umson throughout corresponding optional paths of travel, a swinging arm to which the pair of tracers are connected, a reciprocatory carrier to which the carrier arm is pivoted, the combined movement of the swingirm arm and reciprocatory carrier enabling the tracer to be adjusted at will of the operator throughout the record receiving area of the manifolding assembly.

15. A'recordlng device for producing manifoldrecord copies by dual writing upon opposite sides of a manifolding assembly, including a support for a series'of superposed record sheets and interleaved transfer strata, a pair of opposed registering tracer members simultaneously engaging opposite sides of the assembly and movable in unison throughout corresponding optional paths of travel, and a manual control for said tracers including a handle shaft having universal connection therewith to be grasped by the operator for moving the tracers throughout the record receivlng area of the manifolding assembly.

16. A manifolding apparatus for producing dual writings upon opposite sides of a manifolding assembly, tracer members simultaneously engaging opposite sides of the manifolding assembly and movablerelative thereto through corresponding optional paths of travel relative to the record re- 40 ceiving area of the manifolding assembly, a hanperposed record strips past a writing position in reverse upon opp ite sides of a manifolding record sheets and inter- .sheets and interleaved transfer strata, a Pair of opposed re istering tracer members simultaneously engaging opposite sides of the assembly and movable in unison throughout corresponding optional paths of travel, the tracer members being operative to transmit pressure through the mani-' folding assembly from one side to the'other, an extensible and retractlblecarrier common to the pair of tracer members by adiustment of which the tracersiof-sa'id pair are movable at will of this shaft manually controlling the movement of the tracers, and a universal joint connecting the handle shaft with the tracers. a 17. An autographic register including strip feeding devices for progressively advancing suat which portions of transfer material are interleaved between the record strips, two opposing scriber points simultaneously engaging theoppo site sides of the manifolding assembly of record stripsand interleaved transfer material through .which opposing pressures are exerted thereby, and

movable in unison through identical .undetermined paths of travel, and a manually propelled traveling carrier therefor by manipulation of which inscribed indicia is simultaneously traced on the outermost plies of the manifolding assem bly and by the pressure thereon in opposite directions is transferred to intermediate plies of the assembly to produce duplicate record inscriptions thereon.

18. A manifolding apparatuswherein superposed plies of recordgmaterialand interleaved transfer material are disposed in a recording position, includng a pair of opposed traveling scriber points simultaneously engaging the opposite faces of the assembly of record and transfer material through which opposing pressures are exerted thereby. an operator device for manually propelling one of the scriber points under pressure in delineation of indicia upon the top surface of. the assembly, and a carrier for the opposite scriber pointmovable in unison with said operator, the construction and arrangement being such that the assembly is subjected to direct inproducing manifold scribing pressure on one side and to reaction of said pressure on the opposite side to simultaneously transfer in approaching directions onto intermediate plies of record material duplicate record inscriptions simultaneously traced on the opposite faces of the assembly.

19. The combination with a manifolding assembly, comprising superposed plies of record material and interleaved plies of transfer mate- .rial, and pressure applying devices for simultaneously applying shiftable opposing. pressure to restricted registering areas of the opposite sides of the assembly to effect simultaneous transfer of identical impressions of like area from the exterior to the interior plies of such assembly.

20. The herein described method of producing autographic manifolded copies, including delineating markings under opposing meandrous pressures traveling in registering relation simultaneously on opposite sides of a manifolding assemby of superposed plies of record material and interpressure from sheet to sheet of the assembly to leaved'plies of transfer material, and transferring identical markings simultaneously from both sides of the assembly onto intermediate plies thereof..

21. Means for localizing inscribing pressure on an assembly of superposed impression receiving sheets having interposed transfer strata, whereby a large number of clear copies may'be made of indicia inscribed on the topmost sheet of the assembly; which comprises a meandrous inscribing member of restricted area and meandrous inscribing pressure receiving member of restricted area, said meandrous members being connected together so as to move through identical sinuous paths during an inscribing operation, said pressure receiving member being located so as to engage the assembly in registry with the inscribing member on the opposite side thereof.

22. Th method of producing multiple clear copies of manifolded indicia upon superposed record sheets having transfer material strata interposed therebetween, including transmitting through the assembly progressively shifting inscribing pressure incident to inscription of indicia upon a selected sheet of the assembly, and receiving the transmitted inscribing pressure upon a movable restricted area registering with the point of inscribing pressure against which the opposite side 'of the assembly bears, and shifting the restricted resistance area while in engagement with the assembly in unison with the, progress of the shifting inscribing pressure through a corresponding path of travel.

23. An apparatus for producing multiple clear copies of manifolded indicia upon an assembly of superposed record sheets having transfer material strata interposed therebetween, including a traveling pressure inscriber movable through a variable path of travel, the pressure of which is transmitted through said assembly and a traveling pressure receiving member having engagement with the side of the assembly pposite that engaged by the traveling inscriber and resisting the pressure of the latter, and an interconnection therebetween by which the movements of the i scriber and pressure receiving member are synchronized for unison travel through corresponding paths during an inscribing operation.

24. The herein described method of produc-' ing mutiple clear copies of manifoided indicia upon an assembly of superposed record sheets having transfer material strata interposed there- I between, including subjecting the assembly to dual meandrous registering inscribing pressures simultaneously traveling in unison over corresponding lineal areas on opposite sides of the assembly, and effecting transfer of the inscribing produce duplicate inscriptions thereon.

25. An apparatus for producing multiple clear copies upon an assembly of superposed record sheets having transfer material strata interposed therebetween, including a pair of meandrous inscribing members tracing in unison sinous delineations upon opposite sides of the assembly,

under opposing pressure in registering relation of each other to transmit pressure from one sheet to another through the assembly.

26. An apparatus for producing multiple clear copies upon an assembly of superposed record.

sheets having transfer material strata interposed therebetween, including a pair of opposed tracing members, and a'member for actuating the tracing members simultaneously through meandrous paths of travel delineating correspondingregistering indicia simultaneously on opposite sides of the assembly under pressure, from which the impressed indicia is simultaneously transferred from opposite sides of the assembly to intermediate sheets thereof, and means for synchronizing the operation of the opposing tracing members.- i

28. An apparatus for producing multiple clear,

copies upon an assembly of superposed record sheets having transfer material strata interposed therebetween, including a pair of laterally shiftable tracers simultaneously engageable with the opposite sides of the assembly in opposing registering relation and operative to reversely trace sinuous lines upon the exterior faces of the assembly from which the traced lines 'are transferred from sheet to sheet throughout the assembly of superposed record sheets by the interposed strata of transfer material.

ALBERT W. ME'I'ZNER.

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