Patent GB-711216-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to printing machines
Inventor: LINGARD FREDERICK ERNEST
IPC: B41L47/58
Filed: 1951-01-12
Abstract: 711,216. Addressing &c. machines. ADDRESSOGRAPH-MULTIGRAPH, Ltd. Dec. 31, 1951 [Jan. 12, 1951], No. 945/51. Class 100 (2) A printing machine arranged to feed printing plates 3, having selectively arranged identifying means 21A, in sequence to a plate-sensing device 21 where the identifying means are sensed, the plates then being moved to a printing mechanism 8 where an impression of the printing plate is made or not according to the result of the sensing, is adapted for operation with a sensing mechanism 59 for sensing identifications on record carriers which 'are fed in succession through the sensing mechanism, and has means for coupling the plate sensing device to the record sensing mechanism to effect control of the printing mechanism so that when the identifying means of the plate being sensed are in agreement with the identification of the record carrier being sensed a printing impression of the plate is made when the plate reaches the printing mechanism, whilst when there is no such agreement no printing impression is made, the coupling means being arranged to ensure that the record sensing mechanism retains each record carrier in the sensing position until the agreement occurs. The printing plates 3 are fed from a magazine 4 to the printing position 5 via the sensing device 21 and are then discharged into a drawer 7. The carriage 10 for the platen mechanism 8 is mounted for reciprocation from front to rear and has a roller 11 which may be lowered into operative position. The plates 3 carrying for example a name and address have struck out guides, stop, and latch 15 by which the metal printing sheet is received and retained, guides which receive an index card, and twelve sockets 19 to receive lugs 20 of tabs 21A so that part of the tab projects. The sensing device 21 has a bar 23 extending across the plate guideway with a recess 24 to receive a beam 25 supported at one end by a lip 29 and at the other by the head 28 of a pin 26 passing through a recess 27 in the beam. Twelve depending pins 30 are spaced along beam 25 for co-operation with tabs 21 on plates 3, each pin co-operating with a plunger 31 which reciprocates vertically in bar 23. An upwardly extending pin on each plunger passes through a slug 33 on bar 23 and is urged downwardly by spring 34, the downward movement being limited by nuts 35, 36. A pair of contacts 37, 38 carried by spring reeds 39, 40 which are insulated from each other are associated with each nut 36 and are normally apart but brought into contact by the upward movement of pin 30. The beam 25 is locked in recess 24 by an arm 45 pivoted at 46. One end of a spring wire 48 bears on a pin 49 projecting from arm 45 while the other end 50 passes between pins 51, 52 projecting from bar 23. A recess 53 at the free end of arm 45 engages over a stud 54 on beam 25. Angular movement of arm 45 is limited by a pin 55 on bar 23 engaging in a slot 56 on arm 45. When arm 45 is lifted so that pin 55 encounters the lower end of slot 56 the lower edge of arm 45 is clear of the heads 43 of pins 30. The device 21 is moved vertically on guide rods 57, 58, and on the downward sensing movement the pins 30 that encounter tabs 21 move upwardly to close the corresponding contacts 37, 38 which are electrically connected to a relay system controlled by the card sensing mechanism 59. When the relay system receives agreeing information from mechanism 59 and device 21 it operates a delay device which ensures that the plate 3 giving the information is used for printing at position 5. The delay device consists of a drum 60 having six longitudinally extending grooves equally spaced around the surface in which blocks 62 are slidable from a first position (Fig. 9) to a second position further within the grooves. When a plate 3 is being sensed a block 62 is opposite the head 63 of a striker arm 64 which is pivoted at 65 to bracket 66 and carries a cam follower 67 urged by spring 70, to co-operate with a cam surface 68 on means 69 connected to move up and down with device 21. One end of the armature 72 of a solenoid 71 supported from bracket 66 is pivoted to one arm 73 of a bell crank pivoted at 74, the other arm being urged by spring 76 to the position shown in Fig. 8. When solenoid 71 is energized the armature moves to pivot the bell crank clockwise so that the end 76A or arm 75 is raised level with an abutment 77 on arm 64. Each block 62 has a lug 78 to co-operate with a cam 79 fixed relative to drum 60, and a lug 80 to co-operate with a lever 81 pivoted at 82. For each complete up and down movement of the device 21 drum 60 rotates through 60 degrees to position the next block 62 beneath head 63. The upper block 62, in Fig. 11, is in the second position within drum 60 the lug 80 being positioned to trip lever 81. Then as the drum rotates the lug 78 of the block engages cam 79 to move the block to the first position as in Fig. 9. The upper end of lever 81 is connected through a spring 83A so that when it is tripped it causes longitudinal movement of a control link 83 which is connected so as to permit operation of the platen mechanism 8 to cause a printing impression of plate 3 when lever 81 is not tripped by block 62, but when lever 81 is tripped link 83 is moved to cause the plate 3 at position 5 to be skipped. When the plate and card sensing operations are in agreement solenoid 71 is energized and the end 76 of arm 75 is brought level with abutment 77. As the means 69 with the cam 68 moves vertically follower 67 does not remain in contact with surface 68 since the abutment 77 encounters the end 76 so that the striker 63 is prevented from sliding the block 62 from the first to second position and the block will not then trip lever 81. The card sensing mechanism has a hopper 84 from which the bottom card 85 is withdrawn by contact roller 87 and then advanced by rollers 89, 91 to a receiver 90. The first roller 91A is mounted on a shaft 92 carried in a bearing 93 vertically slidable in guide 94. An arm 95 of member 93 is pivoted at one end to a lever 96 which is centrally pivoted and pivotally connected at the other end to a rod 97 which operates upper and lower micro switches 98, 99. A stop 100 with a follower 101 co-operating with cam 102 is movable vertically to prevent movement' of a card 85, and a similar stop 103, follower 104 and cam 105 are provided: these rollers and cams are driven by a chain 107 passing round a sprocket 108 driven by a motor 109 through clutch 110 and gears 111, 112, the clutch being operated by a pivoted lever 113 from a solenoid 114. Cam 106 co-operates with a follower 115 on a rod 116 which supports a plate 117 guided by rods 118 in pillars 119. Plate 117 carries thirty rows of needles 120 in three rows one behind the other, the needles being slidable with reference to plate 117, retained by nuts 121, and urged downwardly by springs 123. A plug 124 of insulation material secured to the upper end of each needle 120 has a central metal bond 125 electrically connected to a terminal 130 at the top of each plug. A contact 128 carried on a spring strip 129 is provided to co-operate with each band 125. When an impulse is received by solenoid 114 clutch 110 is engaged and remains engaged for a complete sensing cycle, chain 107 is driven, rod 116 rises, needles 120 clear the card at position C, stops 100, 103 descend, rollers 89 &c. move the card from position B to C, the card from position C to the receiver 90, and the lowermost card in the hopper 84 to position B, and stops 100, 103 rise to hold the cards in position. Rod 116 then descends for needles 120 to sense the card at position C, and the clutch disengages. If two cards are fed from the hopper roller 91 rises and actuates microswitch 96 and similarly if no card is fed switch 98 is operated. Each card has a central portion containing identifying means, name and address &c. and at one end three vertical columns of numbers from 0-9 reaching downwards, and a circular hole is punched through the card to remove one number in each column. When the card is sensed one needle in each row will pass through a hole 132 to contact the base plate 126, contact between the band 125 and the associated contact 128 of this needle thus being established. Terminal 130 and contacts 128 are connected to the electric relay system. The twelve pins 30 and their contacts 38 are connected in three groups 133, 134, 135 of four representing units, tens, and hundreds respectively. All the contacts 37 are connected to a positive terminal 139. The four contacts 38 of each group represent numerals " 1," "2," " 4," and " 7," and by using one of a combination of two of these contacts digits "0'-" 9 " are obtained. The relay system consists of three identical sub-divisions 136, 137, 138 dealing respectively with the units, tens, and hundreds contacts 130. The positive terminal 139 of a D.C. supply 140, obtained from an A.C. supply through a strip down transformer 141 and a copper oxide bridge rectifier 142, is connected to contacts 37. Contact 38 associated with the first pin 30 in the units group is connected by a line 143 to a terminal 144A of a solenoid 144, and the second, third, and fourth contacts are connected respectively by wires 145, 147, 149 to terminals 146A, 148A, 150A of solenoids 146, 148, 150. The other terminals 144B, 146B, 148B, 150B of the solenoids are connected to the negative terminal 151. Solenoid 144 controls switches 152A, 153A, 154A and solenoids 146, 148, and 150 control respectively switches 152 B &c., 152C &c., 152D &c. The switches are in the first position, as in Fig. 15, when the solenoids are not energized, and in the second position when the solenoids are energized. A solenoid 155 is connected between the terminal 151 and the contact 128 of each group and when energized close three master switches 156, 157, 158, in series. When the switches are closed solenoid 71 is energized and th