Patent GB-347310-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in hectograph copying-machines
IPC: B41L9/04
Filed: 1930-01-31
Abstract: 347,310. Hectograph apparatus. DEHN, F. B., 103, Kingsway, London.- (Ditto, Inc. ; 2243, West Harrison Street, Chicago, U.S.A.) Jan. 31, 1930, No. 3404. [Classes 100 (1) and 100 (ii).] In hectograph copying-machines of the type comprising an impression-roller carriage adapted to be reciprocated over a work-table to press a paper sheet into contact with a strip of gelatine or the like, means is provided on the carriage for operatively connecting it with a shaft, rotation of which causes the carriage to be reciprocated. The machine is particularly adapted for transferring, on to the gelatine, copies of a series of bills, and then printing a copy of the whole bill, and, at a subsequent operation, a duplicate of part of the bill. As shown, a carriage 22, Fig. 3, in which is mounted an impression roller 25 carried by a frame 24 adapted to be rocked about a pivot 23 by means of a handle 26 to move the roller 25 up to a feed roller 27, whereby, on movement of the carriage, sheets supported on an inclined feed table 29 are fed forward and rolled out on to a gelatine band 17 passing from spools 16 over a work-table 15. The carriage 22 is slidably and pivotally mounted at one side on a shaft 20, which is rotated by worm gearing 47, 48 from a motor 45, and has a screwed part 20<1>, Fig. 11, engaging a nut-block 52 carried by an arm 55 fixed to a pivot shaft 54 on the carriage so that, by rotation of the shaft 20, the carriage is reciprocated: by rocking the arm 55, the nut 52 may be disengaged from the screw and the movement of the carriage arrested. An arm 59 loosely pivoted on the shaft 54 is connected by a link 63 to the shaft 25<1> of the roller 25 and carries a spring pawl 61 engaging a ratchet 60 fixed to the shaft 54, whereby, on the downward movement of the roller 25, the arm 55 is rocked and the nut 52 is raised into engagement with the screw 20<1>. Mounted on a fixed stud is a triangular disc 65 provided with three projections 66, 67, 68, and, fixed to this disc, is a ratchet plate 71 with three teeth 72 ; a detent 77 prevents anticlockwise movement of the disc 65. On the forward stroke of the carriage 22 to the left in the first operation, a stud 56 on the arm 55 engages the cam 66 so that the arm is lowered and the nut 52 is disengaged from the screw whereby the movement of the carriage is arrested: a spring 95, Fig. 3, engaging an arm 88 pivoted at 87 and provided with a nose 88<1> engaging the carriage, then returns the carriage to normal position, a dashpot 96 being provided to check the movement of the arm 88. On the return stroke of the carriage, a pawl 74, Fig. 11, pivoted thereto engages the ratchet 71 and turns the projection 67 into operative position. The second forward stroke is of the same length as the first: at the third operation, however, the projection 68 is active, and, being nearer to the stud 56, stops the carriage after a short stroke. In operation, a number of original bills are arranged side-by-side on the table 29, the handle 26 is moved to bring the roller 25 into operative position, and the nut 52 simultaneously engages the screw 20<1> so that the carriage is actuated and the printing-matter is transferred to the gelatine band 17 A series of narrow sheets or a single wide sheet is then placed on the table 29 and at the next operation, a copy is printed of the whole of each bill. The printed sheets are then placed again on the table and part only of each bill is printed on detachable counterfoil portions. The impressionro.ler frame 24 is locked in lowered position during movement of carriage by a pawl which is released at the end of the return movement of carriage. When the carriage 22 is rocked about the shaft 20 into an idle position, switch bars 101, 102, Fig. 10, normally pressed together by a plunger 110 on the carriage, and connected to current leads 103, 104, are separated by springs 107 and cut off the current to the motor 45. Contacts 105, 106 are provided at each end of the bars to ensure contact even if the bars are relatively tilted. When required for printing multiple copies in the usual way, the nut 52 is held down in inoperative position by a latch, and the lever 88 is held also in inoperative position, the machine being then operated by the handle 26. A cabinet provided with compartments for master and copy sheets is arranged near to the table 29. Sheet-feed tables ; sheet-registering devices.-The feed-table 29, Fig. 3, is in the form of a tray provided with a series of laterally-adjustable plates 30 provided with ribs 31 which divide the tray into compartments each adapted to receive one bill. Each plate 30 is hooked over the lower end of the tray and is secured at the top end by a screw 33 which is threaded through a flange 30<1> bent over the top end of the tray and bears against a bar 32 fixed to the under side of the top edge of the tray. At the rear end of the table 15 is a margin plate 35 on which are three stops 36, 37, 38 for registering the front edges of the sheets. The end stops 33, 37 are in the form of undercut strips, and the intermediate stop comprises a set of fingers carried by a shaft 39 and passed through slots in the plate 35. The shaft 39 carries a notched disc 41 engaged at each return movement of the carriage by a pawl 43 on the carriage so that the fingers are raised into operative position at the end of every third operation. At the first operation, the original bills are placed up to the fingers 38, at the second, the sheets to be printed are placed up to the stop 36, and at the third to the stop 37 so as to provide the correct margin in each case.