Patent GB-651263-A (GB)
Title: An improved machine for printing memoranda on documents and associated dockets
IPC: B41L45/02
Filed: 1947-12-10
Abstract: 651,263. Printing-machines. SCHUSTER, U. Dec. 10, 1947, No. 32565. Convention date Dec. 28, 1946. [Classes 100 (i), 100 (ii) and 100 (iv)] Platen-machines.-In a machine with a movable printing head by which are printed simultaneously complete inscriptions on relatively thick documents, each brought to the printing position by a pusher 47, Fig. 2, from a magazine 42, Figs. 2 and 4, and abridged inscriptions on a summary docket or strip 15 advanced between impressions by a mechanism other than that which actuates the pusher, both mechanisms are connected to the printing head, in such a way that the individual documents and summary docket are brought to printing position only as the printing head is approaching its printing position, the printing face of each document being inaccessible in the machine until the document is expelled therefrom, except while passing beneath a ribbon behind a window aperture through which the printing head is applied to the ribbon, the dimension of the window in the direction of the feed of the documents being substantially equal to that of the complete inscriptions in this direction. The printing head is fitted with a removable printing block and carried on arms 4 keyed to a shaft 5 mounted in the frame of the machine and keyed to which is a two-armed lever 93, 94 pivoted to the ends of which are dogs 95, 96 urged by springs 103, 102 towards the pusher 47. As the arm 4 rises, with the pusher in its rear position, the dog 96 feeds the pusher forward by means of an abutment 98 until the retreating dog 95 passes over an abutment 97, the arm 4 then descending to retract the dog 96 while the dog 95 completes the feed by means of the abutment 97. At the end of the feed, a cam 99 passing into a slot 100 in the pusher raises the dog 95 clear of the abutment 97 and a spring 101 returns the pusher to its starting position. A document 104 is then fed from the bottom of the magazine 42, first below a line-marking roller 105 in contact with an inking roller 106, which roller 105 prints a network of fine lines on the document and then to the printing station resting on a flat support 6 covered with a layer of hardened rubber and below an ink ribbon 110 for printing by the printing head. The advance of the next document partly ejects the preceding document for manual removal. When the printing head descends, it simultaneously prints on the document and on the strip 15 below an ink ribbon 116, the strip 15 being unwound from a roll 16 and supported on a steel roller 7 covered with a layer of hardened rubber. The machine may be equipped with a device for printing on the documents the number of successive impressions effected. Feeding webs.-The strip 15 passes between a roller 17 and a roller 18 urged against the roller 17 by a spring 90 acting on a lever 91 pivoted at 92 and supporting the roller 18. Freely pivoted on the spindle of the roller 17 are levers 144, 145 on which are articulated pawls 142, 143 engaging a ratchet-wheel 141 rigid with the roller 17. The arms 144, 145 are connected by links 146, 147 to the lever arm 94, and the strip 15 is thus advanced during each stroke of the printing head. Ink-ribbon mechanism.-Ink ribbons 110, 116 are spaced apart and wound between two drums each common to both ribbons and rigid with ratchet-wheels 122, 140 actuated by detents 123, 139 mounted on a piece 125 pivoted at 138 and rigid with a horizontal spindle sliding in a hole in a claw formed at the end of a bent lever rocking about a horizontal pivot and connected by a link to the lever arm 94. Thus the piece 125 is raised on each upward stroke of the printing head to actuate one of the ratchet-wheels 122, 140. Only one detent 123, 139 is in engagement with its ratchet-wheel at one time, according to the angular position of the piece 125 relative to its pivot 138. This is controlled by a pivoted hand-lever, the lower end of which engages in a fork on a bent lever rocking on a vertical pivot and having at its lower end a claw 137 engaging the lower end of the piece 125, whereby the hand-lever acts to reverse the direction of feed of the ribbon. The ribbons 110, 116 are covered by plates 108, 117, Figs. 2 and 5, having openings 109, 118 to permit printing, the plate 117 having an extension 119 passing below the document at the printing position to avoid its entanglement with the ribbon 116. Preventing unauthorised insertion of documents.-The ribbon 110 rests on a support 111 having an opening 112 to permit printing and formed with alternately upwardly and downwardly projecting teeth 113, 114, between which are teeth 115 acting to deflect the delivered documents upwards, the teeth 113, 114, 115 also preventing a document or the like being inserted between the ribbon 110 and the document to be printed.