Patent GB-144273-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in printing device separators for addressing machines
IPC: B41L47/58
Filed: 1920-05-31
Abstract: 144,273. Addressograph, Ltd., (Assignees of Duncan, J. S.). Aug. 6, 1917, [Convention date]. Addressing-machines are constructed so that the printing-plates after printing are separated into classes which are delivered to separate receptacles, The delivery of the plate is controlled by feelermechanism which may comprise tabs attached in various positions on the plates, the feelermechanism comprises pins which can be adjusted to co-operate with the tabs of a given position, e.g. the tabs may be similarly arranged on the plates of subscribers to a magazine whose subscriptions expire at the end of a certain month, and these plates are delivered into a different receptacle from the plates of the other subscribers. The feeler-mechanism is arranged in front of the printing positior., but there is a lag in the operation of the pivoted gate, which directs certain of the plates to a separate receptacle, so that this gate co-operates correctly with the required printing plate. As shown applied to a machine in which the plates are forwarded from a magazine 6, Fig. 3, by a chain 10 past an inking device 8 to printing position beneath a platen 9 carried by a lever 16 depressed against the action of a spring 18 by a cam 14 on the main shaft 13, the printing plates are normally delivered down a chute 36, Fig. 5, and pass to a chute 39 and a tray 41 into which the plates are directed by an oscillating packer 48 which pushes the plates past spring- pressed stops 50. A gate 37 may however be moved to the right of the position shown in Fig. 5, when the plates are directed down the chute 36 to a tray 40 and are delivered thereto by an oscillating packer 44. The packers are oscillated from a rockshaft 27, which is fitted with an arm 28 provided with a dog 29 for intermittently rotating tho sprocket wheel of the chain 10, a spring 31 supporting the dog on its return stroke. The shaft 27 also oscillates the inking device 8. An arm on the shaft 27 is connected by a rod 43 to the packer 44, and the rod 43 is connected by means of a hook 51 and adjustable screw to the packer 48. This connection is, however, broken when the tray 41 is lowered from its normal position by rotating a shaft 57 fitted with a support 57<1> for the tray. To cause the printing plates to be delivered to tray 40, the gate 37 is moved to the right by a feeler-mechanism comprising a pin 111, Fig. 5, which is adjusted in its pivoted holder 109 so as to contact with a tab on the plates which correspond to expiring subscriptions. The pivoted member 109 controls the movements of a rod 91, which normally restrains the movement of an arm 90 on a shaft 89 fitted with an arm 92 connected by a rod 93 to a rocker 94, which is moved to the right so as to declutch a cam 81 from its shaft 70 when the feeler-mechanism is dealing with a plate to be delivered to the tray 40. The plates are normally delivered with the gate 37 in the position shown in Fig. 5, the shaft 38 of the gate being controlled by a yoke 65, Fig. 8, fixed .to the shaft 38 and a lever 66 freely mounted thereon. The gate 37 is oscillated by a cam 81, which acts on a roller 88 on the lever 66, and at each rotation of a shaft 70, Fig. 10, driven by disconnectible sprocket gearing from the shaft 13, the gate is moved to the right as viewed in Fig. 5, but the drive is timed so that normally the roller 88 returns to the lower part of the cam while the plates are delivered to the chute 36, and the plate is directed on to the chute 39 and tray 41. If, however, the pin 109 contacts with a tab on the plate, the rod 91 is caused to release the arm 90, and the arm 92 actuates the rocker 94 and brings an arm 97 into the path of a pivoted dog 82 which normally engages a notch 87 in a cam and couples this cam to the shaft. The cam is thus uncoupled, and this enables a second spring-controlled rocker, similar to 94, to act in a similar manner to uncouple the cam 81 in such a position that the lever 66 remains in contact with the high part of this cam, which is formed with a slight recess to allow the roller 88 to remain stationary in this position, and the gate 37 then directs the plate to the tray 40. This action of the gate is delayed to an extent equivalent to two revolutions of the shaft 13, so that after the tab on the plate has actuated the rod 91, the printing operation can take place, and the gate is operated in time to deal with the correct plate. The mechanism is reset by the action of the cam 78 as soon as the plate is delivered, and the cams are automatically coupled again to the shaft 70.