Patent GB-703167-A (GB)
Title: Control of intermittently actuated strip feeding apparatus for use with addressing machines and similar imprinting equipment
IPC: B41L47/24
Filed: 1950-12-12
Abstract: 703,167. Addressing machines &c. SMITH & SON, Ltd., W. H. Dec. 12, 1950, No. 30376/50. Class 100 (2) A strip-feeding apparatus for use with addressing and like imprinting equipment comprises an intermittently-operated feed-mechanism which is alternately arrested and released and which is driven by a source of motive-power which is rendered inoperative immediately prior to each arrest of the feed mechanism and which is rendered operative immediately prior to each release of the feed mechanism. As described the record strip is fed to an imprinting position in step-by-step motion by the feed-mechanism associated with the printing equipment to effect line-by-line printing. This feed-mechanism comprises pin-wheels carried on a shaft 8 driven by a gear-wheel 9, gears 10, 11, and a gear-wheel 12 mounted together with a ratchet disc 15 on a stub shaft 17 which extends through a mounting plate 19 to a slipping clutch, and the motive power shown as an electric motor. When an imprint is to be made, electric contacts, closed by a machine-operated cam, energize an electromagnet 34 which moves its armature 38 to the right, Fig. 5, to rock anticlockwise an assembly 39 carrying an adjustably-positioned pusher 41 which engages a detent pawl 44. Pawl 44 moves clockwise but before its nose is clear of the ratchet tooth being held, a projection 48 formed on the pawl engages a switch 50 which causes the driving motor to start ready for driving the disc 15 when the pawl 44 is clear of the tooth 16. The pusher 41 travels past the pawl 44 which is thus free to return by the pull of spring 46 to arrest the rotation after releasing one tooth ; return of the pawl opens the switcti, 50 and the motor stops. When required, the strip is fed to the first impression-receiving position by the operation of a manual lever (not shown) on a shaft 62, Fig. 3, rocking an assembly 63 carrying a pusher 65 which engages with a lift-lever 68 contacting a stud 69 on the pawl 44 which is thus rocked clear of the teeth 16. The lift-lever 68 is held in its rocked position by a catch 70 which releases the lever when a pin 72, denoting required impression-receiving position, engages the tail 70a of the catch allowing pawl 44 to arrest rotation of the disc 15. The motor is operated by the pawl 44 and switch 50 in the same manner as above described. The mechanism is suitable for conversion to automatic strip feed operation described in Specification 703,168, so that after the last item entry on one form it is automatically fed to the heading of the succeeding form. To adjust the feed-mechanism for different-length forms or to alter the line-spacing feeds the disc 15 with gear 12 and the gears 10, 11 may be replaced by others. This is facilitated by the shaft 13 for gears 10, 11 being carried on a lever 14 which can be raised to allow the removal of the disc 15 with gear 12. The lever, according to the gearing carried, is set in required position by spring pressed pins 76, 75 engaging in the desired perforations 74 in the plate 19, the lever being held in position by a thumb-nut 77. For safety the power to the driving motor is fed through a switch which is opened if cover 56 is removed.