Patent GB-345954-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to addressing or similar printing machines
IPC: B41L47/58
Filed: 1929-12-30
Abstract: 345,954. Printing &c. machines. ADREMA MASCHINENBANGES, 62, Alt Moabit, Berlin. Dec. 30, 1929, No. 39796. Convention date, Dec. 29, 1928. [Class 100 (ii).] Addressing and like machines; tripping-arrangements ; statistical machines.-In an addressing or similar printing machine comprising printing-plates or stencils provided with tabs &c. acting in conjunction with a skipping-device to control the operation of the impression mechanism, a selector or card-reading device is provided which is controlled by cards, or an equivalent continuous strip having holes, projections, &c. and which permits impressions to be printed only from printing-plates &c. corresponding to the cards. In one form only those cards which correspond to plates from which impressions are required are passed through the machine, and the sequence of cards and plates is the same, each card remaining under the selector until the corresponding plate arrives in printing position. The cards may be the usual record cards, one corresponding to each addressee, and they are provided with perforations &c. corresponding to their index numbers. Alternatively, blank cards, or blank positions where a strip is used, may be interposed between the operative cards or positions so that the same number of cards &c. and printing- devices is passed through the machine. As shown, address-plates 3, Fig. 1, are fed in succession along a guideway 4 from a hopper 2 to printing position beneath a platen on the end of a rocking arm 1 by means of a reciprocating slide 6 actuated by a rod 27 oscillated about a pivot 29 by connection with an extension 1<1> of the arm 1, the feed being effected by the upward movement of the arm. The movement into operative position of the impression pad is controlled by mechanism of known construction comprising an electromagnet 8 to which current is supplied from a battery J, the circuit being controlled by a multiple switch including a number of levers 9 adapted to be rocked about a shaft 9<1> by tabs 11 on the address-plates 3 and so to actuate switches 40. All the switches 40 are normally closed by a cam 10, which releases those not retained in the closed position by the tabs 11 and simultaneously closes a normally-open main switch 13, this mechanism being fully described in Specification 292,121, [Class 100 (ii), Printing processes &c.]. Perforated cards 16 stacked in a hopper 19 are fed along a guideway 15 to selecting position 20 by a slide 18 connected to a bar 28 pivoted at 29 to the bar 27 and normally retained in line therewith by a yielding connection comprising a spring 31 pressing the bar 28 against a bracket 30 projecting from the bar 27. The cardreading device comprises spring-pressed, insulated pins 24 on the end of an arm 22 adapted to be rocked about a pivot 23 by connection with the bar 28. Where the perforations in the cards permit, the pins 24 make contact with a metal plate 26 below the guideway 15. The switches 40 and 24,26, Fig. 6, are arranged in groups of ten corresponding respectively to units, tens, and hundreds, each switch 40 being in series with a switch 24, 26, and the groups being arranged in series and in the circuit of the electromagnet 8 and the battery J. The circuit is completed when a corresponding pair of switches 40, and 24, 26 is closed in each group, whereupon the electromagnet 8 is energized and, by attracting its armature 39, moves the impression pad into operative position and, in addition closes a switch 38 which completes a circuit including an electromagnet 35, the armature 34 of which is attracted and frees the bar 28. On the downward movement of the platen arm 1 to print, the slide 6 is returned prior to the next feed stroke, the arm 22 is raised, and the slide 18 advances the next card to the selector; lost motion is provided so that the slide 18 does not commence feeding until the selector pins have been withdrawn from the cards. When the card and plate do not correspond, the electromagnets 8, 35 are not energized, the impression pad is inoperative, and the armature 34 prevents movement of the bar 28, so that the selector remains in the lowered position, and no card is advanced. Normally, ten tabs 11 and ten levers 9 are required for each figure in the index number; in a modification, Fig. 8, seven only are required. There are then two tabs 11 for each figure of the index number, one allotted either to the position x or to the position y and one to one of the numbers 0 .. 4. If the first tab is at x, the number under the second tab is correct for that figure ; if at y, five must be added. The switch 40 corresponding to each position y is connected to the second five of the corresponding switches 24, 26, that corresponding to x is connected to the first five, and each of the switches 40 corresponding to the positions 0 .. 4 is connected to a pair of switches 24, 26 differing by five. The remaining nine positions 11 .. 9<1> on the plate 3 may be utilized to control an ordinary multiple-switch skipping-device, a switch being provided for cutting out the automatic card control mechanism and transferring to the skipping-device.