Patent GB-557308-A (GB)
Title: A new or improved printing machine
IPC: B41F17/18
Filed: 1942-08-04
Abstract: 557,308. Printing-machines. TIMSON, E. A. Aug. 4, 1942, No. 10873. [Class 100 (ii)] A machine for printing on curved articles such as shells with a marking such as one or more coloured bands and also with a printed impression, is constructed so that the shells are carried past the printing- devices by a chuck on a conveyer which may be associated only with the printing-devices but which may be one for conveying the shells from one processing-machine to another, and the shell may be printed on by both devices at one time or by either separately. As shown the shells are carried vertically by a chain conveyer 2, Figs. 1, 2, with a chuck 3 mounted on a support 19 formed with rollers 20, 21, 22 moving over supporting rails 23, 24. Before the shells engage an adjustably mounted pivoted platen bed 55, a sprocket wheel 31 on the chuck 3 engages the teeth of an adjustably mounted fixed chain which causes the shell to move with a rolling action over the type bars 58 which are held in position on the bed by means of spring-pressed wedge shaped pivoted clamps coacting with beveled edges of the type bars, or the chucks may be rotated by gears engaging fixed racks, or by friction. The bars are inked by travelling rollers 79 receiving ink from a duct roller 80 mounted in a detachable trough 78, the rollers 79 being mounted in links 95 connected to oscillating levers 96, 97 operated by crank mechanism driven by a clutch, Fig. 8, and a worm drive comprising a worm wheel 87 geared to the duct roller and driven by a worm on a shaft 90 on the main drive chain wheel 44 which drives the conveyor chain. The clutch Fig. 8, comprises a spring-pressed pawl 102 normally prevented from engaging a tooth 104 by a pivoted finger 105 on the frame held by a catch 106, which is actuated by the operator to release the finger and cause engagement of the clutch and operation of the levers 96, 97. The position of the bed 55 is controlled by a screw 64 which limits the pivotal movement produced by the action of an adjustable spring 59. The bands may be formed by pads projecting from troughs 26, 27 adjustably mounted. Rows of type may replace the bands, or rotary bands driven by a chain 32 may be used. The chain 32 rotates the chuck during the banding operation, and is driven by bevel gears 40, 41, and sprocket mechanism. In a modification, Fig. 9, the shells are carried by an inclined conveyor 107, and the printing bed 55 is oscillated into and out of printing position by lever mechanism operated by a cam 108 on the shaft 88 of the inking-mechanism. In this case the clutch Fig. 8, is arranged to be thrown in by the action of the shell on its way to or from the printing position, and after one revolution the drive ceases. The bands may be applied by felt wicks from a pair of superposed adjustably mounted troughs 119, 120 arranged on the same side of the shell as the printing- bed, or on the opposite side, and the troughs may be mounted resiliently. Travelling colour bands may move in the same direction or in a direction opposite to that of the shells,and may move at different speeds. If a stationary band is used it may be advanced intermittently by a Geneva stop.