Patent GB-191113082-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to Printing Machines.
Inventor: MCPHERSON ALFRED
IPC: B41L47/46
Filed: 1911-05-31
Granted: 1912-05-16
Abstract: 13,082. McPherson, A. May 31. Addressing - machines; cylinder machines; tripping - arrangements. - In a machine for printing letters &c. together with variable matter such as names, addresses, &c., the type bars which print the latter are assembled one upon another in a hopper, or side-by-side on a feed table and are carried to the printing position by a plunger which periodically rises and falls through a slot in the type holder for the constant matter. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the letter is printed by a machine comprising a fixed bed and an impression roller D reciprocated over the bed by links D<3>, rock arms D<4>, and a grooved cam E<2> on the main driving shaft E. The axis of the roller D is transverse to the lines of the types so that each line is printed letter by letter as the roller D moves over the lines. The constant matter to be printed consists of type C<1> in a holder C supported on a bed B, and the holder C is formed with a slot C<2> through which a plunger G works to raise the variable matter, such as an address type-bar F, into printing position. The roller D prints in one direction only, and in the other direction the slotted guides D<2> in which the roller moves, are turned about a lug d, so as to raise the roller from the forme, by means of bars e<4> actuated by levers e<1> and cams e. The bars e<4> are suitably guided and bear on angle-plates d<4> attached to the guides D<2>, the plate d<4> being acted on by springs d<1> which embrace pivoted rods d<2> passing through the plates d<4> and fitted with adjustable collars or nuts d<3> against which the springs d<1> also bear. These springs normally keep the roller in printing position. The type-bars F are fed to the reciprocating plunger G, which is intermittently raised by cam mechanism to carry the bars through the slot C<2> in the type holder C into printing position. The feed mechanism comprises a stationary bridge H upon the right hand end of which the bars F are placed, and a pair of connected rails H<1> moving in vertical slots in the bridge in such a manner that the rails may be raised slightly to take the bars F from the bridge. Normally the rails are depressed, but a cam G<Î> acts on a lug H<3> on the rails to raise them, and then a cam E<Î> permits a spring H<2> to pull the rails to the left and bring the bars F against the wall of a guide G<1> in which the plunger works. The plunger G, which is suitably grooved, then raises the bar F to printing position, and when the plunger descends its bar is stripped by strippers J on to the .rails H<1> at a level above that of unused bars F. The right hand end of the rails H<1> then descend below the bridge H before moving to the left, and the strippers J move past the plunger G to the position shown in Fig. 6, displacing the used bars on the rails H' towards the left. The bars F may be delivered as above and fed by means of a common type of laying-on board with a chain-feed for constantly thrusting them towards the vertical face of the plunger. As applied to a machine with a reciprocating printing bed B, Fig. 9, the type - bars F are fed from a hopper K, Figs. 9 and 11, fitted with two pairs of stops which form an escapement device permitting one bar to fall on a support J<2> for each complete reciprocation of the bed. The plunger G rises to take the bar from the support J<2>, but as the bed B moves to the right to effect the printing a roller G<6> on the plunger G moves over an incline G<7>, and the plunger descends to bring the bar F into printing position. Grippers on the plunger simultaneously close on the bar to hold it securely. As the bed returns towards the hopper K, the used bar F is removed by a stripper J<1> on a cam-oscillated bar L, which is then raised to deliver the bar down a chute M. The bar L in its movements actuates the escapement stops referred to above by the aid of lever and link mechanism N<2>, N<3>, N<4>, N<5>, and O<2>. The machine may be used for addressing envelopes &c. by omitting the type forme which prints the letters &c.