Patent GB-311357-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in printing machines
IPC: B41L47/24
Filed: 1928-02-08
Abstract: 311,357. Duncan, J. S. Feb. 8, 1928. Addressing and like machines; cylinder and like machines.-In an addressing or like printing machine comprising a number of printing- devices fed in succession to the printing position in timed relation to a sheet which is progressively advanced through printing position, relative motion is provided between the impression device and the sheet so that successive impressions are printed on the sheet in laterally offset columns. The machine is particularly adapted for printing tax lists comprising names and addresses in one column and particulars of property in another column, and, when the machine is for this " divided " printing, the sheet is both advanced and shifted sideways between impressions from different printing-plates in one holder, a mask being provided which is adjusted so as to uncover the required plate in each case. Where a number of properties belong to one owner, the information is spread over a "leader" printing-device and a number of " followers." The machine may also be adjusted for printing consecutively in a single column. An identifying-number is printed in a separate column opposite each name, the number-printing device being tripped as required. (1) The printing- devices are stacked in a magazine 103, Fig. 1,' and are fed to printing position beneath an impression roller 49 on a rocking arm 46, Fig. 4, by means of a fed device of known kind comprising dogs on a reciprocating slide. The slide is reciprocated by a lever 110, Fig 6, rocked about a pivot 111 by an oscillating arm 118 connected by a link 119 to an arm 120 fixed on a shaft 47 oscillated by connected with an operating arm 41, Fig. 4, which is rocked about a pivot 42 by means of a crank disc rotated through a pedal-controlled clutch driven by a motor arranged on the machine table. The arm 118 is connected to the lever 110 by a latch 117, which, when divided printing is required, is periodically displaced by a rod 129 bearing against and serving intermittently to rotate a disc 131 provided with alternate deep and shallow notches, the deep notches allowing the latch 117 to engage and the shallow ones causing it to be thrown out and to interrupt the plate feed. The rod 129 is connected to a bracket 130 pivoted to a lever 133 carrying a cam 135 engaged by a roller 136 on an extension 137 of the arm 46 to oscillate the lever 133 about the axis 132 of the disc 131 against spring action and thus actuate the rod 129. For consecutive printing, the lever 133 is moved into an inoperative position by a rod 142 pushed in by hand, the rod 129 being meanwhile placed in a deep notch where it remains. (2) The impression arm 46 is rocked about the shait 47, Fig. 4, a roller 44 on the arm engaging, for this purpose, a cam groove 43 in the arm 41. The groove 43 is designed to allow the arm 46 to remain at rest while the impression roller 49 is rolled over a printing-device. The roller 49 is mounted in the forked end of a reciprocating arm 51 connected to an arm 53, which is pivoted at 55 on the arm 46 and is connected by links 56, 57 to an arm 58 oscillated about the shaft 47 by lugs on a block 61 rocked about the same pivot by an arm 62 connected by a link 63 to the arm 41. (3) One side edge of a sheet 150, Fig. 1, on which a list is to be printed is fixed between a bar 152 and a clamping-bar 151 pivoted thereto at 156, Fig. 11, and provided with clamping- springs 159. A catch 157 holds the bar 151 in clamping position, a spring 151<a> raises the bar automatically when released, and a dowel pin 165 aligns the end of the bar. The sheet is fed forward intermittently by a reciprocating pawl 170, Fig. 1, engaging teeth 153 on the outer side of the bar 152, the pawl 170 being connected to a lever 171, which is pivoted by a pin 173 to the machine table and is connected by a rod 176 to a crank-pin on an oscillating gear 177. The bar 152 is mounted in a guide 167 reciprocated on rails 168 by links 185, 186 connected by bellcranks 187, 188 to a rod 190 reciprocated by a rod 192 pivoted to an intermittently rotating disc 86. For consecutive printing, the sheetclamping device is replaced by one with teeth 153 set further apart, the pawl 170 meanwhile being held out of action by means of a handlever 253<a>, the pin 173 is placed in a different pivot hole 173<b> or 173<c> to lengthen the stroke of the pawl 170, and the pivotal connection of the pawl is shifted slightly. The mechanism which shifts the sheet sideways is also put out of action by moving a pawl which rotates the disc 86 into an inoperative position. The sheet is positioned by means of a gauge 161 on the bar 152 and a side gauge 261a fixed by screws to the machine table, the gauge 261<a> being moved into the broken line position, Fig. 1, when, for consecutive work, a narrower sheet is used. The sheet is supported on metal plates 225, 226 secured on the machine table, the plate 226 being curved to clear levers &c. on the table. (4) In divided printing, the printing-plate which is to print is exposed through a rectangular aperture 216 in a masking-plate 215, Fig. 1, connected by a link 218 to a centrally pivoted lever 217 connected by links 221, 222 to the rod 190 so that, as the sheet is shifted sideways, the plate 215 is also shifted. For consecutive printing, the link 221 is disconnected and is moved to a position where the plate 215 exposes both printing-plates. Tripping and throw-out arrangements; numberprinting apparatus. (1) When the machine is set for divided printing, the impression roller 49 is raised after printing from one plate owing to the engagement of a roller 68, Fig. 4, on the end of the arm 51 with a depression 95 in a slidable cam bar 66 up against which it is pressed by a spring 94. At the next operation, an impression is printed from the remaining plate, the cam 66 having meanwhile been moved to the right. The cam 66 is connected by a link 70 to a lever 71, which is mounted on the pivot 55 and carries a pendulum arm 75 normally engaging between long and short bifurcations 77, 78, Fig. 15, on a block 76 slidable in guides 80. When the block 76 is moved to the left, the bifurcation 78 is in the path of the arm 75, and, at the next downward stroke of the arm 46, the arm 75 swings about its pivot, and the cam 66 is moved to the right, the bifurcation 77 engaging the arm 75 to effect the return movement. For consecutive printing, the block 76 is reversed so that the bifurcation 77 is at the opposite side and the cam 66 remains in the extreme right position. The block 76 is reciprocated by a lever 81 rocked about a pivot 83 by a cam 85 on the disc 86. (2) The clutch through which the machine is driven is thrown out (a) when the printing-plate magazine is empty; (b) when the list is fully printed; (c) manually. (a) When the last plate is withdrawn, a feeler 243, Fig. 14, on one arm 242 of a bell crank is pushed into the magazine 103 by a spring 237 pressing on the other arm 235. A plate 244 loosely fixed to the arm 242 is thereby moved out of the path of the end of a pivoted lever 245, and this lever, which is raised by a spring, is connected to the clutchactuating mechanism. (b) An arm 162, Fig. 1, projecting from the sheet-holder strikes against the end of a centrally pivoted lever 153 the other end of which engages a cam bar 254, which moves the plate 244, Fig. 14, inwardly to release the clutch-actuating arm 245. (c) The cam 254, Fig. 1, is connected by a rod 256 to a hand-lever 257 pivoted at 258. (3) A number-printing apparatus 320, Fig. 16, mounted on the end of a pivoted arm 321 is supported by a cam 317, which is rotated to lower the apparatus out of action when the second part of a divided impression is printed or when a follower is in the printing position. Each time the lever 110 is oscillated to feed a printing-device, a rod 115 pivoted to an extension 114 of this lever is moved to the right and, except when it is raised as described below, the rod hits a shoulder 337 on the end of a lever 332 which is pivoted at 333 and is adapted to advance the number-wheels on its return stroke through a rod 335 and arm 334. The lever 332 is connected by a latch 342 to a pivoted lever 312, which, through a rod 315 and arm 314, rotates the cam 317 to lower the apparatus 320. The rod 315 is supported midway by a roller 265 on one arm of a bell crank 267 pivoted on a shaft 270, the end of the other arm 268 normally bearing against a roller 122 on an extension of the arm 120 so that when the impression arm 46 descends, the roller 122 releases the bell crank 267 and the rod 115 drops by gravity into the operative position. The rod 115 is prevented from dropping if a follower is in the control position where its tab engages a feeler 287 so as to depress a rod 286 adapted to rotate the shaft 270 and with it a member 273 carrying a pivoted arm 281, which is spring- pressed upwardly and at the next anti-clockwise swing of the crank 267 engages behind a shoulder thereon and prevents the full return of the crank, whereby the rod 315 remains in the raised position and when next moved to the right misses the shoulder 337 and there is therefore no actuation of the number-wheels. The rod 315 has fixed to it a plate 294 on which are pivoted arms 295, 296. When setting for divided printing, an eccentric 307 is turned to raise the arm 296 into an active position, and when the rod 315 moves to the right while raised by a follower as described above, the arm 296 engages a lever 310 which rocks the lever 312 to lower the apparatus 320 out of action, the lever 312 being locked in this position by a catch 330. When the lever 332 is next actuated, a roller 331 thereon disengages the catch 330, and, through the latch 342, moves the lever 312 back to raise the device 320 into operation. For consecutive printing, the eccentric 307 is turned to lower the arm 295 into an active position, and the latch 342 is disconnected. Then, when the rod 31