Patent GB-409562-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to selecting means for address-printing machines
IPC: B41L47/58
Filed: 1933-08-30
Abstract: 409,562. Addressing - machines. ADREMA MASCHINENBAUGES., 62, Alt Moabit, Berlin. Aug. 30, 1933, No. 24044. Convention date, Sept. 2, 1932. [Class 100 (ii).] Tripping - arrangements. -In electric selection mechanism for addressing- machines wherein the selection depends upon the sequence of the address plates or stencils and is effected by means of a feeler associated with a perforated card &c., the latter is in the form of a narrow strip, which need not be in close contact with its support at any part of its length except the part that is being tested, and which is provided with transverse rows of control positions and is moved intermittently, after each row has been tested, to bring the next row into operation. As shown applied to a machine comprising address-plates 4 fed along a guideway to printing position beneath an impression pad 6 carried by a rocking arm 2, a strip 48 provided with printed rows of perforation positions arranged in groups and perforated as required is attached to a drum 9 by means of holes 49 in the side edges of the strip and studs 12 on the drum, and is retained in position by means of grooved rollers 44 carried by arms 41 connected by springs 45. The drum 9 is made of conducting material and is loosely mounted on a shaft 8 rotated intermittently by a pawl carried by a rocking arm 15 connected to the usual address-plate feed-slide 5 by a Bowden cable 21. A disc 22 fixed to the shaft 8 carries a contact adapted to engage a ring of studs 30 each connected to one of a row of feelers 31 resting on the strip 48, whereby each control position is tested in turn and whenever a perforation is encountered a circuit is closed to energize an electromagnet controlling the printing operation ; the drum 9 is rotated one step after each rotation of the shaft 8 to bring the rows into operation in succession. In applying the strip 48 to the drum, a mark 52 on the strip is registered with the uppermost of a series of marks 66 on the drum, and a dial 39 indicating the contact 30 in use is rotated to turn the shaft 8 into correct starting position. Fig. 7 shows the circuit diagram. A lead 29 is connected to a contact-arm x engaging in turn contacts I .. X connected to the feelers 31, the drum 9 being connected in series with a control electro-magnet St through a switch arm 53 which may be thrown over into the broken-line position to connect with a relay 57 when the selected plates are to be skipped instead of printed. The sequence of plates is tested periodically by means of a tabbed plate adapted to close a switch 63 in series with a resistance 64, a parallel resistance 60 being in series with one of the contacts I .. X whereby a coil 65 is energized to stop the machine unless current flows in both resistances. In modifications, (1) the strip 48 is in the form of an endless band, a second drum being provided as a support ; (2) the drum 9 is replaced by a flat conductor ; and (3) a single feeler 31 moved from point to point is used instead of the stationary series shown. In a further modification, Figs. 8 and 9 (not shown), the feelers 31 are replaced by a single wide brush, the drum 9 is of insulating material and is fixed to the shaft 8, the strip 48 is attached to rings rotated one step for each rotation of the drum, and contact is made through a narrow metal ribbon wound helically on the drum. Selection mechanism comprising a disc-like pattern card resting on a rotatable circular conductor is acknowledged.