Patent GB-315043-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to feed machanism for keyboard-operated embossing or like machines
IPC: B41J3/38
Filed: 1928-05-09
Abstract: 315,043. Tennant, W. J., (American Multigraph Co.). May 9, 1928. Tabulating-mechanism; tabulating-key actions; type-case machines for embossing metal.-Keyboard machines, for instance machines for making embossed printing-strips, having character-forming devices, and letter-spacing mechanism driven by the operating-mechanism thereof, are provided with a tabulating-mechanism for automatically effecting a predetermined number of letter-spaces. The tabulating-mechanism may comprise a rotary member which is stepped forwards by the operating-mechanism and carries one or more adjustable tabulating-stops co-operating with an abutment controlled by a tabulating-key, which on depression starts the letter-spacing mechanism and is locked until the abutment is engaged by one or other of the tabulating-stops. As applied to strip-embossing machines, a strip-shearing key is arranged to restore the tabulating-mechanism to the initial position, and a hyphen or other character can be repeatedly embossed by simultaneously depressing the tabulating-key and a character-key. Fig. 1 shows the tabulating- mechanism 3 applied to the power-operated stripembossing machine described in Specification 241,022 and comprising mating pairs of dies mounted in a carriage 10 which is moved by means of solenoids 20 into positions determined by the key-levers 12 to bring selected pairs of dies into position for operation by plungers 45, 46. The key-levers operate indirectly a universal bail 35 controlling a one-revolution clutch 40 for coupling a pulley 47 to a cam shaft operating levers 43, 44 engaging the plungers. The strip 13 passes between the dies and is letter-spaced at each operation by means of ratchet-mechanism 53 connected to the shaft 55 of the lever 43. The tabulating-mechanism is mounted as a unit on a plate 120 and comprises a ratchet-wheel 140, Figs. 7 and 9, secured to a sleeve 130 revoluble on a bushing 125 secured to a stud 122. The ratchetwheel engages a pawl 170 on a rocking arm 160 which is connected to a spring 161 and abuts on a lever 165 connected to the lever 43. The ratchetwheel engages also a detent 175. An adjustable tabulating-stop 150 is mounted between discs 143, 146 secured by screws to the ratchet-wheel, an arcuate rib on the stop engaging a groove 149 in the disc 143. The tabulating-stop is provided with a spring knob 154 having a pin for engaging the toothed rim of the disc 143, the knob being raised to release the stop for adjustment. The tabulating-stop has an inclined face 210 for engaging an abutment 180 which is pivoted on a lever 181 and rests against a pin 185. The lever 181 co-operates with a lever 190 having a shoulder 195 for engaging a pin 201 on the tabulating-key lever 200. The tabulating-stop is adjusted with reference to a letter-space scale on a dial 147 which is secured to a disc 146 and is arranged under a stationary pointer 127. Initially a pivoted dog 251 engages a notch in a disc 141 secured to the ratchet-wheel. The tabulating-stop is set to the graduation representing the required number of letter-spaces in the line, and during each cycle of operations, the strip is fed by the ratchet-mechanism 53 and the pawl 170 advances the ratchet-wheel 140, thereby causing the tabulating-stop to approach the abutment. When the matter in a line has been embossed, the tabulating-key lever is depressed and a pin 206, Fig. 1 thereon raises the bail 35, thereby throwing in the clutch, and the lever 190 rocks and locks the tabulating-key lever so that the bail is held in raised position and the clutch is operative for a number of revolutions, repeated letter-spacing being imparted to the strip. When the strip has received the predetermined number less one ot the spacing movements, the tabulating stop engages the abutment and the lever 181 is rocked so that the lever 190 is moved backwards and the tabulating-key lever and bail are released. The clutch thereafter makes one further revolution and the strip receives one one further spacing movement. The mechanism is restored to the initial position by depressing a shearing-key lever 90, Fig. 1, which controls a pair of dies for severing the strip. The shearing-key lever engages a bell-crank 230, Fig. 7, abutting on a spring-urged plate 235 which is pivoted at 236 to the plate 120 and engages pins 239, 240 on the pawl 170 and detent 175. On depression of the shearing-key lever, the pawl and detent are released and a coiled spring 137 returns the ratchet-wheel and associated members to the initial position determined by the dog 251. The plate 235 is held in displaced position by means of a spring-urged pivoted catch 260 having a lug 262 for engaging a shoulder 264 on the plate. On depression of any of the key-levers, the catch is released by the arm 160 and the plate permits re-engagement of the pawl and detent, the pawl being idle during the cycle of operations determined by the depressed key-lever, and the zero graduation of the dial 147 being brought into register with the pointer during the next cycle. The plate 235 is formed with a braking-surface normally engaging the disc 141. The spring 137 is connected at the bottom to the sleeve 130 and at the top to a ring pivoted on a stationary collar 126. The spring is wound when the ratchet-wheel is advanced and on return of the ratchet-wheel the ring acts as a brake, the braking-effect being proportional to the displacement of the ratchetwheel. For column work the matter may be embossed line-by-line, a number of tabulating-stops 150 being employed and the shearing-key being operated at the end of the line to sever the strip; or the matter may be embossed column-bycolumn, one tabulating-stop being employed and the shearing-key being operated to sever the strip at the end' of each section of a column. Alarms.-For indicating when a pre-determined feed has been effected, the above-mentioned lever 181, Fig. 7, is provided with a hammer 221 which strikes a bell 222 when the tabulating-stop 150 engages the abutment 180.