Patent GB-740535-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to printing machines for producing business instruments
IPC: B41L45/00
Filed: 1951-12-21
Abstract: 740,535. Selective punching machines. ADDRESSOGRAPH - MULTIGRAPH CORPORATION. Dec. 21, 1951, No. 29972/51. Class 31 (2). [Also in Groups XVI and XXII] In a machine for producing business instruments such as checks, insurance premium notices, bills and the like, printing and control devices D, Figs. 1, 2 and 23A, are fed from a magazine M in succession to a sensing station below a sensing head SH and to a printing station below a platen P, and thence to a collecting tray. Cards C, Figs. 1 and 3, are fed from a magazine CM to a punch unit PU, Figs. 1, 6 and 10, and to the printing station, and thence to a hopper K. Each printing device D comprises a frame 150 cairying a printing plate 151 and an index card 160. Subject-matter on the plate 151 is printed on to the card C at printing position. Certain numerical data is represented by perforations 168 in the card 160 and frame 150, and is transferred to the card C in the form of perforations of rectangular shape, Fig. 3, formed by the punches. The perforations 168 are formed according to a five-position numerical code, see Fig. 2A, while the perforations are punched in the card C according to a tenposition code. The perforations 168 are sensed at the sensing station by means of pins 460, Fig. 23A, which transmit motion to Bowden cables 465, according to the positions of the perforations, there being one pin and cable for each index point of the card 160. Further pins 468P sense tabs 165 on the devices D to control the print-skip operation of the machine, to decide whether each individual device D is to be used for a printing operation or not. Each card C which is to be printed on is also subjected to a punching operation. The sensing head SH is moved downwards during each machine cycle through a sensing stroke. Driving-arrangements.-The machine is driven by an electric motor MM, Fig. 6, which transmits motion to the various control mechanisms through normally open one-ievolution clutches CL-1 to CL-6 closed by the operation of solenoids SOL-1 to SOL-6. Thus, clutch CL-1 operates a main cam-shaft CS having a section CS-1 carrying eleven cams 1521C- 1531C which actuate timing switches 1521- 1531, Fig. 31, for controlling the sequence of operations of the machine, and a section CS-2 which governs the feeding of cards C through the machine. Clutch CL-3 operates a plate feed shaft PF, which governs the feeding of devices D through the machine, operates the sensing head SH, and carries four cams 1515C- 1518C actuating further timing switches 1515- 1518, and a shaft 267 carrying three cams 810, 780, 790, which control various functions of the punch unit PU. Clutch CL-4 operates a shaft 265 carrying two cams 690, 705, which control further functions of the punch unit. Clutch CL-5 operates a shaft 266 which operates the punch unit ram. Clutch CL-6 controls the platen and clutch CL-2 an initial card feed member CP. Various safety switches are provided to stop the machine when cards are present or missing at certain points, or when certain mechanism is overloaded. Each card is stopped at punching position by a stop finger locker 258 controlled by a cam 255C on shaft CS-2. The sensing of tabs 165 causes through a lever 468 the setting of a selector switch SS, Fig. 31A, to a print or skip position. Punch unit.-The punch unit comprises two blocks 610G, 610D, Fig. 13, between which a card is placed for punching, and punches 611 arranged in forty columns each of twelve punches, ten representing the ten-position numerical code and two special positions. In every machine cycle, the punch ram 626 is moved downwards, and in each column punches are actuated selectively according to the position of interposers 650A, 650M-1. The interposers 650A are set automatically by means of the Bowden cables 465. The interposers 650M-1 are manually settable to actuate desired punches. Members 650M are also manually settable to limit the setting movement of interposers 650A. Each interposer 650A is set by means of a rack bar 680, through a lever 740, Figs. 10, 23A, a special sliding pivot 745 being provided which, in the event of an interposer becoming stuck, actuates a switch 1630 to stop the machine. The rack bars are urged rearwardly to setting position, to the right in Fig. 10, by springs 684, and are restored by a bail 687 actuated by the cam 690, being locked in restored position by a zero gate 692, Fig. 16, which engages pawls 695 pivoted on the rack bars and is actuated by the cam 705. When in set position, the rack bars are looked by pawls 710 operated by the cam 705. On release of the gate 692, the rack bars move rearwardly to an extent limited by pins 761, there being five pins 761 in a carrier 760 for each rack bar. The pins are numbered 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and are movable between upper set positions where they engage the ends of pawls 695 and lower restored positions. The pins 761 are separated by one unit or pin width, and the carriage 760 is slidable one unit to the right and spring-urged to its rightward positions. As shown in Fig. 2A, the " 9 " pin is raised for all odd numbers, and this pin engages a comb bar 770 to hold the carrier 760 in its leftward position. Since the end of the rack bar in restored position is situated one unit to the left of pin " 1," it is permitted to move 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 units to the right according to which if any of the remaining pins are raised. For even numbers, the " 9 " pin is down and the carrier 760 is in its rightward position, so that the rack bars move 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 units. The pins 761 are restored by a bail 775 operated by the cam 780. The carriers 760 are restored by a plate 785 operated by the cam 790. The pins 761 are set by means of pins 803 in a pattern locking unit 802, which pins are locked and unlocked by a plate 805 controlled by the cam 810. The Bowden cables 465 actuate pins 855, Figs. 15 and 16, in a transmitting unit 800, and the pins 855 actuate the pins 803 through wires 870 manually inserted selectively in a transfer frame 801 which is then manually inserted between the locking unit 802 and the cables. The wires 870 are utilized to transfer the data transmitted by the cables to the desired columns of punches. In columns where it is desired that the interposers 650A be under the control of members 650M, which are manually set by means of a stylus, wires 870M are provided, resting on a yielding actuating bar 890, so as to maintain the " 9 " pins raised in those columns and hold the pawls 695 released. Electrical control system.-There is provided a start relay 1570 controlling the cam-shaft solenoid SOL-1, a group control relay 1572, Fig. 31, an emergency relay 1571 for breaking the circuit of the relay 1570 to stop the machine under certain conditions, and a selector relay 1513 for controlling the print-skip and thus the punch-skip operation of the machine. The relay 1513 is positively set and restored by coils 1574, 1575 respectively, and when set closes a switch 1577 and opens a switch 1576, while when restored it closes switch 1576 and opens switch 1577. In relays 1570, 1571, 1572, the operating coils are connected between contacts 7, 8, while contacts 1-2, 4-5 are connected when the relays are not energized, and contacts 2-3, 5-6 when energized. The various control circuits are connected between supply lines 1511, 1512. An overload safety switch 1614 for the punch unit drive is provided. Circuit for the start relay is made from line 1511 through contacts 5, 4 of emergency relay 1571, switches 1614, 1630, relay 1570 and a normally open manual start switch 1620 to line 1512. A holding circuit is established through contacts 6, 5 of relay 1570 and a normally closed stop switch 1621. When the start relay is energized, circuit is established from line 1512 through contacts 2, 3 thereof, switch 1577 and SOL-1 to line 1511 to operate the cam-shaft CS when a plate is to be printed from and a card C punched and printed. Switch 1577 is accordingly closed when the selector relay 1513 is set, circuit therefor being from line 1511 through coil 1574, a timing switch 1518 closed by cam 1518C on shaft PF at 90 degrees of rotation thereof, a manual selector switch 1915 in its " on " position, skip-print switch 1926, and selector switch SS in a print position to line 1512. Switch SS has a movable member 1591 set in one of several positions by lever 468 according to whether and what tabs 165 are sensed, while switch 1926 alters the control'ling action of switch SS according to whether sensed tabs are to cause printing or skipping. If switch 1915 is " off," switches 1926 and SS are by-passed. Relay 1513 is restored by a circuit through coil 1575, switch 1515 closed by cam 1515C on shaft PF, and switch 1915 in its " on position. Circuit for the punch ram 626 is established through SOL-5, manual punch ram switch 2000 and switch 1526 closed by cam 1526C on shaft CS at 85 degrees. Circuit for the plate feed and punch unit is established through contacts 5, 4 of relay 1571, SOL-3 and SOL-4 in parallel, switch 1522 closed by cam 1522C on shaft CS at 240 degrees, and a manual group control switch 1902 in its " off " position. When the emergency relay 1571 is energized, as a result of the presence or absence of a card C in certain positions, contacts 5, 4 thereof are disconnected, thus disabling SOL-3, SOL-4, and SOL-6, and de-energizing relay 1570 to break the circuit to SOL-1 through the selector relay switch 1577. Group operation and electrical control system therefor.-In group operation, the devices D in magazine M are special group printing devices, and each such device is retained at printing position while a group of cards C in succession are pun ched and printed, each such groups being preceded by a special group card which is also punched and printed, and which has a large perforation near its top left corner which is sensed by a finger 252 controlled by a cam 252C on shaft CS-2. Sensing of the group card causes the group relay 1572