Patent GB-324516-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in duplicating machines
IPC: B41L9/04
Filed: 1929-01-21
Abstract: 324,516. Flanigan, J. J. Jan. 21, 1929. Copying documents, drawings, and the like; feeding and winding webs.- In a hectograph copying-machine of the kind in which the printing-surface consists of a gelatine band stretched over a support, a number of spools each containing a band is carried by a conveyer, which is actuated to bring each spool in succession into an operative position where it may be unwound and stretched over the support. A complete machine is described including, in addition to winding and re-winding devices for the gelatine bands, impression mechanism means for damping the band in use and removing surplus moisture, and sheetfeeding devices. As shown, the conveyer consists of endless chains 20, Figs. 1 and 3, passing over sprockets on shafts 12 - - 15 to bring a number of spools 18 into use in succession, the chains being driven by turning a shaft 64 connected by bevel gears to the shaft 13. A spring plunger engaging a recess in a hub 67 on the shaft 64 locks the conveyer when a spool is accurately positioned, and reverse movement of the chains is prevented by means of a free-wheel device mounted on the hub of the sprocket wheel on the shaft 13. Each spool is mounted on the chains 20 by means of trunnions 23, 24, Fig. 23, and, as the chains pass over a support 28, Fig. 19, and bring the spool into the operative position, each trunnion 24 is in turn alined with a spindle 27 carrying a sprocket 38 connected by a chain to a sprocket 40, Fig. 15, on a shaft 41 adapted to be rotated by a hand-whee 43. The band is unrolled, stretched over a bed 17, Fig. 3, and its end is connected to a take-up reel 19 adapted to be rotated by the shaft 41 as follows. When the wheel 43 is turned clockwise to wind the band on to the reel 19, a pin 47, Fig. 15, on the shaft 41 by engaging an inclined slot in a hub 44 causes a spring-pressed pin mounted on the hub to engage a recess in a hub 51 to couple the shaft to the reel 19. At the same time, the shaft 27, Fig. 19, rotates, and a spiral groove 32 therein by engaging a pin 31 on a sleeve 30 disengages a claw coupling 25, 26 and frees the spool 18. When the whole of the band has been used up, the wheel 43 is reversed, the' coupling to the reel 19 is thereby released, and the shaft 27 is coupled up to the spool 18 for re-winding. Brake pads mounted on spring arms engage the sleeve 30 and similar pads engage the hub 44 to ensure the lostmotion necessary to disengage and engage' the couplings; also, the coupling part 26 is spring mounted so as to yield and avoid damage if incorrectly alined with the part 25. To prevent movement of the gelatine band when in the position of use, a pawl 61, Fig. 3, is rocked into engagement with a ratchet disc on the reel 19, and a brake 77 is applied to a disc 78 on the spool 18 by turning a lever 79 fixed to a disc 81 carrying pins 82, 83 connected by adjustable rods 84, 85 to the pawl and brake respectively. The disc 78 is pressed down on to pins 78<1> which assist the braking action, and a hook 100 is simultaneously caused to engage a pin 101 to brace the framework against the stresses set up. Fig. 23 shows a spool which must be destroyed before it can be removed from the conveyer. A metal shell 111 is fixed at one end to a hub 112 adapted to receive a rectangular block on the trunnion 23, a bolt 115 being passed through the parts, and at the other end to a hub 117 by crimping the metal into a groove in the hub. The trunnion 24 carries a pointed pin 119 adapted to push past a pawl 132 which drops into a groove behind the pointed end and prevents removal. Openings 126 are provided in the shell 111 for inserting a tool to cut the shell when removal is necessary. Fig. 28 shows a detachable form of spool in which the trunnion 24 has a rectangular projection 128 enlarged at 130 which is inserted sideways into a slot in the end of a wooden roller 129, a bolt 131 being then passed through. At the other end, the roller 129 is bored to receive a circular projection on the trunnion 23 having pins 136 engaging slots 137 in the roller. The end of the gelatine band is permanently secured to the spool 18 by inserting it into a groove and then inserting a wire which is covered by the band and is prevented from longitudinal move. ment by the disc 78 at one end and by crimping the metal of the groove at the other end. Where a wooden roller 129 is used, the end of the band is wrapped round and sewed, tacks being also used if required. The reel 19 consists of a metaJ shell 57, Fig. 15, fixed to pins 55, 59, the end of the band being clipped on to a hook 62 struck up from the metal. Printing is effected by means of an impression roller 157, Fig. 9, mounted in a reciprocatable carriage 140 provided at each side with pairs of rollers engaging a guide rail 147 and with pinions 143 engaging a rack 141. Shims 140<1> provide for vertical adjustment of the carriage for wear. The spindle of the roller 157 is mounted by means of a releasable arm in a yoke carried by a handle 160, the yoke being pivoted in a frame 150. which is pivoted to the carriage 140 so that, after hooks have been released, the frame may be turned up to facilitate removal of the roller. At the commencement of an operation, the roller 157 is raised so that a sheet placed on a feed shoot 161 slides down between the roller 168 until its front edge rests on stop 164 pivoted on the frame 150, 164, the stop being raised when the handle is swung forward so as to allow the sheet to be pressed on the band. A pawl engaging a ratchet on the roller 157 prevents rotation thereof before it presses the sheet on the band, the pawl being released by engaging a fixed stop. The roller 157 is locked in the operative position by a. pawl which is released by engaging a stop 180, Fig. 1, after a complete reciprocation of the carriage 140. If it is desired to inspect the impression on the gelatine band, a transparent plate is substituted for the plate 17, under which electric lamps with reflectors are arranged, the wiring being placed in tubular members of the machine frame. A pin 167, Fig. 9, on the frame engages a slot 166 in a.n arm carrying the stop 164, the lower part only of the slot being effective and operating to raise the stop when the handle 160 is swung forward. An alternative front stop 184 is loosely pivoted and is retained in operative position by a detent engaging a notch in the machine frame. By lifting the stop to release the detent, the stop may be swung down into an inoperative position. The shoot 161 is provided with a laterally adjustable side guide held in place by a spring clamp 163 engaging the back of the shoot. Counting-apparatus. - To provide a check on the number of times the series of spools is used, one of them is adapted in passing to actuate a counter. Damping-apparatus. - The gelatine band is moistened by means of a roller 90, Fig. 3, arranged in a water pan 89 and supported by counterweighted arms 91 so as to bear against the spool 18. A pivoted arm 94 provided with a slot engaging a pin on one of the arms 91 is connected to a, rod 97 which may be adjusted by hand to move the roller 90 into or out of operation. A drip pan 89<1> is arranged below the spool 19. Surplus water on the band may be removed by means of a sponge normally resting in a tray 106, Fig. 1, supported by a bracket 103 on which is a receptacle 107 for use in squeezing out the sponge.