Patent GB-1145160-A (GB)
Title: Multiple item printing apparatus
Inventor: SHOUP ROBERT WALTER
IPC: B41F17/02
Filed: 1967-05-10
Abstract: 1,145,160. Printing machines; carbon and like transfer-paper mechanism. AUTOGRAPHIC BUSINESS FORMS Inc. 10 May, 1967, No. 21617/67. Headings B6C and B6F. In a machine for over-printing groups of indicia, such as addresses and account numbers, on a preselected number of cheques, the cheques are fed in the form of a web 38 past a printing station at which an intermittently-operating impression device (86a, 86b), Fig. 3 (not shown), causes overprinting on each cheque, the printing elements 213b, Fig. 5, being rotatably mounted and having two type bar holders 217, 218, a first holder 218 being in a printing position and a second holder 217 being in an accessible position for manual removal and replacement of the type bars 102b. After the preselected number of cheques has been printed, the printing element 213b is automatically rotated to bring the second type bar holder 217 into the printing position and the first holder 218 into the accessible position. Two such printing elements (213a, 213b, Fig. 3) are provided, each coacting with a carbon strip 47a, 47b to effect printing, one of which prints addresses in ink and the other of which prints account numbers in magnetic ink. Driving arrangements.-An electric motor 50, Fig. 1, acts through an electromagnetic or mechanical clutch 58 operated by a solenoid (362), Fig. 9 (not shown), to drive a main shaft 66 by a chain 62. Shafts 76, 78, which operate the impression devices, are driven from the shaft 66 by a belt 70. Shafts 126, 142, which operate the web feeding and carbon strip feeding mechanisms are driven from the shaft 66 by belts 118, 138 respectively. Series printing; counting apparatus.-The number of cheques required to be printed with a first group of indicia is manually set on a counter 330, and a main switch 304 is closed to commence operation of the machine. While the printing is in progress, the next groups of indicia required to be printed are set up in the accessible type bar holders. When the preselected number of cheques has been printed, a switch (348, Fig. 9) is thrown by the counter mechanism to de-energize the solenoid (362) which disengages the clutch 58, thus stopping the web and the impression devices. Solenoids (276a, 276b), Figs. 2, 6, 9 (not shown), are simultaneously energized, and act to open switches (354a, 354b, Fig. 9) and disengage locking members (268a, 268b) from the printing elements (213a, 213b). Constantly active stall torque motors (278a, 278b) then rotate the printing elements through 180 degrees to their alternative positions, the open switches (354a, 354b) preventing energization of the clutchactuating solenoid (362) until the half-revolution is completed. As the elements (213a, 213b) rotate, cam surfaces (378, Figs. 6, 9) close microswitches (382) to reset the counter mechanism 330 and the switch (348). A safety switch 375 is provided, which is manually opened when the printing is stopped and while the type bars are being replaced, and which prevents energization of the solenoids (276a, 276b), thereby preventing premature rotation of the printing elements. After the replacement of the type bars is completed, the safety switch is manually closed. A switch (367, Fig. 9) operated by the clutch-actuating solenoid prevents energization of the solenoids (276a, 276b) while the clutch is engaged. Hammer mechanism.-Each impression device (86a, 86b), Fig. 3 (not shown), comprises a hammer (94), having an anvil 100, Fig. 5. The hammer is biased by a leaf spring (92) towards the corresponding printing element (213a, 213b), and is operated by a cam surface (82, 84) which coacts with a lip (98) to tension the spring and then releases the hammer to effect an impression. The first cam surface (82) is advanced with respect to the second (84). The amount of advance, and thus the separation of the printed impressions, may be adjusted by disengaging either shaft from its driving pulley 72, 74, Fig. 1, by disengaging a collar (390, 392), Fig. 2 (not shown), fixed to the pulley, from the shaft, and rotating it manually by the required amount. Construction of type bar holders.-Each printing element comprises a block 214, Fig. 5, rotatably mounted on a fixed axle 216, recesses being formed in two diagonally opposite corners, to receive clamping bars 220, 222 for the type bars 102b. Each clamping bar is provided with a manual quick release device comprising a lever 248 acting through a toggle linkage on the clamping bar. Each axle 216 may be rotatably adjusted by a mechanism 289a, 289b comprising screws (300), Fig. 7 (not shown), abutting against a boss (296) mounted on a stub shaft (290) fixed to the shaft 216. A cam disc (261), Fig. 6 (not shown), is mounted on one end of each printing element, and is formed with recesses (262, 264) each adapted to receive a locking member (268). The cam surfaces 378 are also formed on the discs. A mechanical locking device (Fig. 11, not shown) may be included in the release mechanism to prevent the printing elements from rotating if the toggle clamps are not fully closed. A pin (414) mounted on a lever (402) actuated by the operating lever (248) enters a bore (418) in the shaft (216) when the clamp is released. Feeding webs.-The web 38 carrying the preprinted cheques is formed with pin holes (D), Fig. 10 (not shown), which are engaged by pin tractors (130), Fig. 3 (not shown), driven by the motor 50. Guides (143) hold the web in engagement with the pins. The guides (143) may be slidably mounted to accommodate different widths of web. Carbon strip feeding mechanism.-A gear 152, meshing with a gear 150 mounted on the pin tractor drive shaft 142, drives a pinch roller 168 through belts 158, 164 and gears 170, 172. A second pinch roller 174 is urged toward the pinch roller 168 by a spring 180, to bring the rollers 168, 174 into frictional feeding engagement with the carbon strips 47a, 47b. The strips 47a, 47b are fed from spools 182, 190 and are taken up by spools 198, 200 rotated by stall torque motors 202, 204. The carbon strips are fed at a slower speed than the web 38.