Patent GB-372337-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to addressing and like seriesprinting machines
IPC: B41L47/58
Filed: 1930-12-03
Abstract: 372,337. Printing machines. ADDRESSOGRAPH CO., 901, West Van Buren Street, Chicago, U.S.A. Dec. 3, 1930, No. 36488. Convention date, July 23. [Class 100 (ii).] Addressing and like machines; stopping, starting, tripping, and like arrangements.-An addressing or like series-printing machine is provided with selector mechanism comprising detecting devices automatically and bodily moved between the printing-device in selecting position and an interchangeable control card bearing characteristics corresponding to those associated with the printing-devices to be skipped or from which it is desired to print. (1) Address-plates D are fed from a magazine 71, Fig. 6, along a guideway 72 to printing position by a reciprocating bar 77 carrying the usual feed-pawls 78. The bar 77 is connected by a rod 83 to a lever 85, which is adapted to rock about a shaft 86 and carries a pawl 100 spring-pressed into engagement with a lug 98 on a rocking lever mounted on the shaft 86. The pawl 100 carries a bent rod 109 lying in the path of a pin 104 projecting from an arm 103 which is rocked about a pivot 102 to disengage the pawl and interrupt the plate-feed either by automatic control mechanism or by a rod 105 actuated when the second pedal, described below, is depressed. The addressplate feed is interrupted to provide one or more repeat impressions by means of a centrallypivoted lever 146 one end of which engages the arm 103 while the other end engages a pin 152, Fig. 14, projecting from a bar 153 pivoted at 154 and spring-pressed towards an assemblage of toothed discs 140, 141, 142 rotatably mounted on a shaft 129. Normally, one of six equally spaced pins 156 joining the discs together engages a pin 155 on the bar 153 so as to hold the bar in the inoperative position, and the discs are rotated periodically to release the pin 155 and so to interrupt the plate feed. The discs have twelve, eighteen, and twenty-four teeth respectively and correspond to two, three, and four impressions. A pawl 130 carried by an arm 131 rocked about a shaft 111 by a curved member 137 on a platen arm 110 is aligned with one of the discs or moved into an inoperative position by adjustment of the arm 131 along the shaft. A shield 139 cut away in steps masks the movement of the pawls by different amounts so that whichever ratchet is engaged is advanced one tooth at each operation. Each time a repeat impression is printed, a shoulder 229 on the bar 153 engages behind a pin 230 on an arm 193 so as to detain this arm and prevent operation of the selector mechanism described below. (2) A platen P, Fig. 6, is carried by the arm 110, Fig. 14, which is adapted to be raised about the pivot 111 by means of a reciprocating bar 227, hooked over a pin on an extension 112 of the arm so as to allow the platen to fall by gravity ; injury caused by the presence of the operator's hand or other obstruction is thus avoided. One end 124 of a . dog 123 pivoted to the extension 112 rides on a stationary cam 127, and, immediately prior to attaining printing position, falls off the end of the cam, whereby a shoulder 125 on the dog moves into the path of a reciprocating bar 121 actuated by an eccentric 117 on a main shaft 34 and provides a final positive movement of the platen. (3) Each printing-plate D is provided along one side edge with one or more notches corresponding to various characteristics associated with the addressee, and a series of feelers 168, Fig. 14, one for each notch position, is carried by a block 171 mounted on an arm 169 fixed to a shaft 170, each feeler having a hook portion 174 and a notch 176 engaging pins 175, 177 respectively, and being detachable by pivotal movement against the action of a spring 178. A control card M provided with two horizontal rows of slots 180, 181, Fig. 19, is removably fitted in grooves in a block 182 pivoted at 183 on the arm 169 and spring- pressed towards the feelers 168. An arm of a bell crank rocked about the shaft 170 by a cam on the shaft 34 moves the block 182 away from the fingers at the same time as the fingers are moved towards the block by the arm 193, which is rocked about the shaft 170 bv a cam 204 on the shaft 34 and is connected to the arm 169 as described below. The tail ends of the feelers which encounter notches pass over a pin 206 and are aligned with the upper row of slots, and the ends of the remainder pass below the pin and align with the lower row. Certain of the slots in either the upper or the lower row are plugged in accordance with the selection, and where the address plate possesses corresponding notches, all the feelers pass through slots on the return movements of the arms 169, 193 and the end 209 of a plate 208 fixed to the block 182 engages a surface 211 on a fixed member 210, whereby a triangular lug 216 on the arm 193 rocks an arm 218 about a pivot 116 and, by engaging a ridge 217 on the arm, holds it in the displaced position in which a notched bar 115 connected thereto is freed from a lug 113 on the extension 112 of the platen arm and allows printing movement thereof. Where, however, a feeler engages a plugged slot the block 182 is unable to approach so closely to the block 171 so that the member 209 engages the top end of a slot 213 whereby slightly greater movement of the arm 193 is allowed. The lug 216 then comes to rest above the ridge 217 and allows the slot in the bar 115 to engage the lug 113 and prevent movement of the platen arm. The machine may be arranged also for skipping selected printing- plates, and, for this purpose, the plate 208 is slidably mounted on the block 182 and is spring- pressed upwardly against a spindle 243 provided with a knob 245 rotatable to bring either of two flats on the spindle into operative position. When set for skipping, the plate 208 is in the lower position, and when the feelers pass freely through the slots, less movement of the arm 193 is allowed than before, whereby the lug 216 comes to rest below the ridge 217 and the bar 115 detains the platen arm ; when a feeler encounters a plugged slot, the part 209 engages the slot 213 lower down than before, and the lug 216 engages the ridge 217 so that printing is allowed. To prevent the use of a card plugged for skipping, when the machine is set for printing, and vice versa, a notch 230 is provided in the lower edge of each card at a different distance in each case from the side of the card, and an eccentric pin 250 on the end of the spindle 243 is aligned with the slot if the card is the correct one; otherwise, the pin prevents proper insertion of the card. A lever 195 pivoted to a lug 194 on the arm 193 is provided with a recess 196 engaging a pin 197 on the arm 169 so that by rocking the lever the selector mechanism may be disconnected. A bevelled edge 200 on the lever 195 is simultaneously disengaged from a notch in a catch 198 which moves under the end of the lever and holds it in the disengaged position. The arm 169 is first adjusted into the position where the lug 216 is above the ridge 217, the pin 197 forming a stop for a cam 202 fixed on the lever 195 whereby the arm 193 always returns to that position. (4) Skipping or printing, according to whether the machine is set to print or to skip, is signalled by ringing a bell. In place of using plugs flush with the surface of the card, raised plugs are used, whereby a projection 251 on the plate 208 engages a lug 254, Fig. 14, so as to release a catch 255 from an arm 258 which is swung round by a spring 261 so that a spring arm 263 is vibrated to ring the bell. The arm 258 is returned to normal position by a shoulder 268 on the arm 193 and is held again by the catch 255. The arrival in printing position of the last of a series of devices required to be skipped or printed from may be signalled by providing an additional notch in the printing- device and an additional hole in the card. Where the series is skipped, an extended plug is employed and the bell is rung as before, and where the series is printed, a still longer plug is used so that the part 209 engages below the recess 213 and the bell is rung without the position of the arm 193 being affected. Specification 357,987 is referred to. (5) The drive shaft 34 is driven from a rotary gear 36, Fig. 11, through a clutch comprising'a disc 37 fixed to the gear, a housing 38 fixed to the shaft, and a tumbler pin 43, which is carried by the housing, and, in one angular position, engages one of a series of notches 45 in the disc 37 to couple the housing thereto, and, in another, presents a concave side to the disc to release the housing. An arm 39 pivoted to the housing 38 carries a gear segment 41 engaging teeth on the pin 43, which is turned into the declutching position when a nose 47 on a pivoted lever 46 is moved into the path of a shoulder 48 on the arm 39 ; a friction band 49 carried by the gear 36 embraces the housing 38 and prevents reverse movement thereof when released. The lever 46 is actuated by means of a rod 50, Fig. 6, which is lowered to start the machine by depressing a pedal, connected to an arm fixed to the rod, by a manually-operated cam engaging the arm, or, where repeat printing is required, by a second pedal acting on the arm through the intermediary of a second arm.