Patent GB-190305368-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Type-setting, Distributing and Printing Machines.
Inventor: BOULT ALFRED JULIUS
Filed: 1903-03-07
Granted: 1904-03-07
Abstract: 5368. Boult, A. J., [Gammeter, H. C., and Osborn, H. C.]. March 7. Printing in imitation of typewritten matter; rotary machines; type, setting and distributing.- For producing circular letters, or similar written matter, in large quantities, and particularly for producing many copies of letters having all the appearances of having been type-written, a rotary printing-machine using an inked ribbon and provided with means for setting and distributing type is employed. The printing-drum 2 is mounted in longitudinal alignment with a drum 1, which carries a supply of types 13, Fig. 10, having slots 14 with enlarged ends. Each cylinder has a number of spiders supporting longitudinal bare 10, upon which the types are threaded. When it is desired to assemble on the drum 2 the types necessary for use in printing a circular &c., the drum 1 is rotated, by means of a handle 16, until the bar carrying the required letter is brought into alignment with a corresponding bar or drum 2. The two drums are then locked together, and the letter is transferred to the bar or drum 2 ; this operation is repeated so as to assemble all the letters required for printing a line, and then the drum 2 is rotated so as to bring another bar into position for receiving the types for the next line. In this way, types for an entire page may be set up on the drum. The means for transferring the types from drum 1 to drum 2 comprises a rotary head 17 having across its upper part a slot, from the base of which springs a short bar 19 corresponding in cross-section with the bars 10 ; on this bar is a sliding-block 21 of such length that there is room in the slot both for the block and a single type. A type is transferred to the head 17, from a line of types or drum 1, by means of a follower 36, Fig. 2, actuated by a toothed bar 33 connected by links 34 to a U-shaped frame 35 and actuated by a shaft 28, toothed segment 29, and rack 30 connected by a link 32 to the bar 33. The shaft 28 is actuated by means of a projection 26 on a bell-crank lever 23, carrying a finger-key 24. 'The head 17 is then rotated through two right-angles, so as to bring the selected type opposite the receiving-bar 10 on the drum 2 ; this is effected by rack teeth on a plate 42 engaging with teeth 45 on the lower end of the shank 46 of the head 17 ; the plate 42 is pivoted concentrically with the lever 23, and is actuated by a spring arm 41 carried by that lever. Finally, the type is pushed on to the receiving-bar of the drum 2 by an arm 52, which strikes the sliding block 21 and is carried by a rotary sleeve 57 on the shaft 28 ; this sleeve is actuated by a spring 48, which strikes a lug 49 on the sleeve. The inked ribbon 71 passes over the assembled types, and extends between two drums 73, 74 mounted opposite a gap in the printing-drum. The ribbon is moved slightly after each rotation of the drum 2, by means of gearing and a star-wheel 105, which engages with one of two pins 112, 113 on the framing. Beneath the drum 2 is an adjustable impression cylinder 15 with a rubber or other soft padding 85. The sheets to be printed are fed between soft rollers 96, 97, and pass between a soft roller 100 and the cylinder 15. The roller 97 is driven by a pinion 98 engaging with a short rack 99 formed on a band 103, which is adjustable circumferentially on the drum 2. When the desired number of copies has been printed, the types are transferred to the drum, by means of a follower 118 and ratchet bar 117 operated in a manner similar to the follower 36 and bar 33.