Patent GB-199397-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in addressing machines
IPC: B41L45/00
Filed: 1923-06-14
Abstract: 199,397. Scheuner, J. June 16. 1922, [Convention date]. Addressing-machines.-In addressing-machines of the kind employing slugs which are arranged side by side and are printed from consecutively by raising them, the slugs are arranged in rectangular drawers which are advanced step by step under an inking device and past platens which raise and lower the slugs at each printing operation. A special form of inking- apparatus and arrangements for feeding and discharging the drawers, for providing the impression, and for interrupting the feed if no newspaper &c. is in printing position, are also described. Feeding address-slugs. Drawers 2 containing slugs 3 are fed down an inclined platform 6 into a main trackway 1 by means of a follower 8 from which a cord 9 leads over a pulley 10 to a spring- controlled pulley (not shown). The lowest drawer falls on to bridges 14, Fig. 4, pivoted at 13 and pressed upwards by weights 16 to a position determined by a stop 20. In falling the drawer releases a spring catch 19 by striking against a lug 4 thereon, whereby the bridges are lowered and the drawer passes into the trackway 1. Simultaneously, a catch 12, on a pivoted arm 23, is pressed against the next drawer on the platform 6 to. prevent its advance by the engagement of a pin 24 on the arm with a slot 22 in one bridge 14. The drawer 2 is advanced step by step along the trackway 1 by means of a reciprocating rack 5 engaging a pawl 27 on the drawer. The rack 5 is fixed to a slide 29, Fig. 1, provided with a downwardly-projecting pin 30 connected by links 31, 32 to pivotal arms 33, 34 respectively, the former carrying a roller 38 engaging a cam 39 and the latter being connected to spring-pressed rod, the arrangement providing the necessary reciprocation of the slide. The stroke of the slide may be varied according to the setting of a lever fixed to a shaft 50 provided with cams 51, 52 adapted to engage either of two side-by-side pivoted arms 49 which serve to raise stops 43, 44 into the path of projections 41 on the slide, the stops corresponding respectively to a feed of one and two slugs. In addition, both cams may be inoperative so that a fixed stop comes into action, thus allowing a stroke of three slugs. An automatic variation of the feed is effected by feelers 65, 66, Fig. 3, mounted on axles 64 and slidably locked to square shafts 61 from which extend fingers 59 bearing under pins 57 fixed to the stops 43. 44. These fingers are pressed upwardly by weighted levers 69, 70 which may be rendered inoperative when the feed is to be constant by means of cams 79 on the shaft 51 which lift pivoted arms 75, Fig. 1, engaging pins 76 on the weights to lower one or both feelers 65, 66 out of contact with the slugs. Impression mechanism. The article to be addressed is laid between stops 83, 84, Fig. 1, and below an impression block 106' suspended bv a ball joint 104 from a vertically reciprocated member operated in known manner, e.g. like the needle bar of a sewing machine. The slugs are raised to printing position by platens 85, 86, 87 provided with lugs 89 to engage recesses in the sides of the slugs and operated by cams 90 on shafts 91, 92 geared together and connected by rods 98 to arms 100 projecting down from the elide 29, the stroke of the letter determining the longitudinal position of the cams 80 and therefore the number of platens in operation. The slugs are justified prior to printing by wedge-plates 102. Discharging slugs. Each drawer 2 of slugs 3 on reaching the end of the main trackway 1 rests on a falling bridge 126, Fig. 1, pivoted at 125 and retained horizontally by means of a member 132 the ends 127 of which are held in notches in fixed plates 129 by a spring 130. The member 132 is released to lower the bridge by means of a trip lever 134 connected to the member by a cord 133 and situated in the path of the drawers. The drawer is retained on the bridge bv a catch 137 which finally meets a stop 139 so that the drawer is released and slides down a discharge track 140. The bridge is then raised by a cord 142 led over a pulley to the housing 144 o.. a spiral spring. In order to cushion the movements of the bridge it is connected by a rod 145 to the piston of an air brake. Inking-apparatus. - The pivots of an inking- roller 120, Fig. 1, rest in slots in the sides of a carriage 116 reciprocated by a crank 118 and connecting rod 117. In the backward travel the roller runs up an incline 121 and on to the inclined edges of the carriage and so contacts with an ink-distributing roller 122. In its forward travel the roller returns into normal position and rolls over the address-slugs. Throw-out arrangements.-If no article is present on the worktable 82, a roller 109, Fig. 1, depending from a pivoted arm 108, falls on to the table, thus lowering a rod 10 which pushes a pivoted stop-arm into the path of a lever 33 forming part of the mechanism for feeding forward drawers 2 containing the slugs and interrupting the feed.