Patent GB-373610-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to addressing and like series printing machines
IPC: B41L47/24
Filed: 1931-02-24
Abstract: 373,610. Printing-machines. ADDRESSOGRAPH-MULTIGRAPH, Ltd., (formerly ADDRESSOGRAPH, Ltd.), Grange Road, and HODGKINSON, E. J., 137, Churchill Road, both in Willesden Green, London. Feb. 24, 1931, No. 5840. [Class 100 (ii).] Addressing and like machines.-A sheet on which a list of addresses &c. is to be printed is advanced intermittently by feed mechanism comprising a number of ratchet wheels with teeth of different pitch and a corresponding number of pawls adapted selectively to be moved into operation. The feed mechanism may be of the kind comprising an intermittentlydriven roller engaging the sheet, but, as shown, the front edge of the sheet is gripped by a clamp carried by a rack 52 advanced an adjustable amount by a pinion 53, Fig. 2, driven by change wheels 54, 55, 56 as described in Specification 302,285, [Class 100 (ii), Printing processes &c.], the ratchet mechanism enabling the amount of the advance to be varied still further. The gear 54 is fixed to a shaft 38 carrying ratchets 25, 26, 27, and corresponding pawls 28, 29, 30, Fig. 4, are mounted in a yoke 28a rocked about the shaft 38 by connection with an arm 8, Fig. 1, pivoted on a shaft 7 ; an adjacent arm 6 constantly oscillated from a main shaft 1 is connected to the arm 8 by a latch 9, which is released when a skipping-lever 12 is actuated, whereby the list-feed is simultaneously interrupted. A shaft 34, Fig. 4, provided with a number of flats may be turned by means of a knob 37 to release one of the pawls, or into intermediate positions where all the pawls are ineffective, a spring engaging the sides of a hexagon nut fixed to the shaft retaining the latter in adjusted position; to enable the operator to disengage the pawl in use without leaving his normal position, a quadrant plate 41, Fig. 2, mounted on the shaft 34 and connected to the knob 37 by a stud screwed into one of three holes in the knob is connected to a slidable bar 48 extending to the front of the machine. The rack may be operated manually to replace or supplement the automatic feed by a second set of pawls 66, 67, 68, Fig. 4, carried by a yoke 64, Fig. 1, rocked about the shaft 38 by link mechanism actuated from a handle 57, a control shaft 69 similar to the shaft 34 being provided. Also, the action of both sets of pawls may be wholly or partly masked by means of arcuate shields 76, 77, Fig. 4, interposed between the pawls and the ratchets ; an operating-lever 78 is fixed to a sleeve 74 carrying the shields. The sheet clamp comprises a spring-pressed clamping bar 89, shown in plan in Fig. 2, slidable in vertical guides in a member 85 adjustably secured to the rack 52 by one or a pair of screws 102. The bar 89 is pivoted to arms 95, 96 resting on a flat-sided rod 97 which is turned by means of a handle 98 to release the bar. The member 85 is registered in position by a lug 108 which depends from a plate 107 adjustably fixed to the member and abuts against the end of a part 82 of the machine frame. Stopping-arrangements.-The main drive shaft 1, Fig. 1, is driven through a clutch thrown in by depressing a pedal 2. A latch 3 maintaining the pedal in the. depressed position is held by a lever engaging an arm fixed to a shaft 111 carrying an arm 110 connected to the latch, until the list is fully printed, when a finger 120 adjustably fixed to the rack 52 engages the lever and releases the latch. The machine may also be stopped when the supply of address-plates is exhausted.