Patent GB-190203511-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Printing Machines Intended more Particularly for Printing Circulars and Addresses.
Filed: 1902-02-11
Granted: 1903-01-01
Abstract: 3511. Addressograph, Ltd., and Clement, J. O. Feb. 11. Platen presses; addressing-machines;inking-apparatus.-Relates to machines, more particularly intended for printing circulars and the like, which have, in addition to the means for printing the ordinary matter, means for printing addresses and the like, and means for printing, in the same or another colour, an autograph signature or date &c. Fig. 1 shows a sectional elevation of the machine, which may be driven by hand or power, but preferably by an electromotor 2 placed within the framing 1. The motor is geared to the main shaft 8 by wheels 3, 4, 6, &c. The types are set up in troughs or trays, each containing one or more lines, and these are placed on a bed 12, on which they are secured at one side by a lip engaging their ends, and at the other side by a similar lip or by a movable locking-bar. Any of the trays may be removed without disturbing the others. An opening is made in the bed 12 through which the addressing-types project and print. The addressing-types are in trays or holders linked together into an endless chain, which is passed round a drum on a shaft 45, rotatedintermittently by a toothed wheel 46* and a pawl 47 on a rod 48 operated by a lever 49 and cam 51. The rod 48 disengages a detent pawl 48* at each forward movement. A part of the framing at one side of the bed 12 is hinged, to permit of access to the drum, and the shaft 45 may be mounted in pivoted arms, which are lowered, on opening out the hinged part of the frame, to facilitate removal &c. of the addressing-chains. The types are inked by rollers 17 in a holder having a shank sliding in an arm 19 and drawn inwards by an internal spring. The arm 19 is pivoted at 20, and is oscillated by a rod 23 and crank 24 on one end of the shaft 8. The shaft 8 is in a depending bearing 10. The inking- rollers may be perforated tubes containing a supply of ink and covered with felt. The platen 25 is hinged at 26, and is formed with toothed segments 27 engaging toothed segments 29 pivoted on a shaft 30, and oscillated by rods 34 and cranks on the shaft 8. The pivot shaft 30 is mounted eccentrically, and may be turned to move the segments 29 into or out of gear with segments 27, so that the machine may be run for inking-up, without operating the platen. In another arrangement, the bearings 10 are mounted to slide horizontally, so that they may be moved into position to prevent the impression, the platen 25 not moving far enough to reach the types. The bearings 10 are moved by a link and eccentric, and when moved into the throw-off portion operate a lever 49 &c., to stop the feed of the addressing-chain. The sheets to be printed are held on the platen by spring-closed grippers, pivoted at one side of the platen, and operated by a cam &c. to open when the platen reaches its outward position. The motor circuit may be broken or closed by a switch 9, and is also broken automatically, to stop the machine, by a switch operated when the last address has been printed. The last address holder on the chain has a projection which engages an arm on a shaft passing through the shaft of the drum, which is hollow, and the other end of the shaft carries the switch contacts. If the machine is driven by mechanical power, this device may be arranged to operate a clutch to stop the machine. The autograph signature or date &c. is printed on the sheet after the impression from the types on the bed 12 and before the sheet is removed from the platen. The printing-surface, for this purpose, is mounted in a holder 60 on a rod 61 mounted to rotate in, and adjustable longitudinally of, a socket 62 fixed on a hollow bar or standard 63, mounted to rotate in a bracket attached to the frame of the machine. Adjustable vertically on this bracket, is a bracket carrying an ink pad 59, and the rod 63 is adjusted vertically with the pad. The rod 61 parses through, but rotates with, a spur-pinion engaged by a rack-bar sliding through the bar 63. The rack-bar is raised by a spring and held in engagement with a fixed cam-piece on the framing. The bar 63 is rotated by a toothed wheel and rack operated from a cam. As the platen closes on to the types, a projection upon it engages a piece attached to the bar 63 and depresses it to press the printing-surface down on to the pad 59. When the platen has moved to its outward position, the bar 63 is rapidly rotated to press the printing- surface on to the paper, and the rod 61 is simuL- taneously rotated, to bring the holder 60 to its printing position. The movable bearings 10 may operate a clutch, to stop the action of this mechanism when the impression is thrown-off for inking-up &c.