Patent GB-920224-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to printing machines
IPC: B41L19/00
Filed: 1960-07-07
Abstract: 920,224. Printing-machines; feeding sheets. ADDRESSOGRAPH - MULTIGRAPH CORPORATION. July 7, 1960 [July 16, 1959], No. 23785/60. Classes 100 (2) and 100 (1). A number printing machine comprises a plurality of individual indexable numbering mechanisms mounted on a first operating shaft for rotation therewith, an impression cylinder mounted on a second operating shaft, means for mounting one of said shafts for movement toward and away from the other between print and non-print positions, at least one indexing member engageable with the numbering mechanisms to change their number settings, an electrically operable automatic print control system connected to the mounting means for selectively moving said one shaft between the print and the non-print positions, an electrically operable automatic indexing control system for moving the indexing member between indexing and non-indexing positions, and means for manually overriding each of the automatic control systems independently of the other. Number-printing apparatus, inking-apparatus. -Sheets are fed from an information printing machine 31, Fig. 1, to a number-printing machine 32 by a conveyer 33. The sheets may be personal cheques 112, Fig. 2 (not shown), cheque-book re-order forms 123, Fig. 3 (not shown), or deposit forms 126, Fig. 4 (not shown). The machine 32, Fig. 9, has a main shaft 133 rotated during each printing cycle through one revolution by a gear 138 meshing with a gear 142 rotated in synchronism with the machine 31, Fig. 1. A cam ring 143, Fig. 19 (not shown), is circumferentially adjustable with respect to the gear 138, Fig. 9, to provide adjustment of such synchronism. The shaft 133 carries a plurality of axially adjustable rings, e.g. 155, 156 for supporting numbering boxes, e.g. 157. Each ring may support a plurality of boxes. The boxes may be mounted as shown in Figs. 20 or 24 (not shown) so as to be circumferentially adjustable. Each box 157, Fig. 21, includes an indexing lever 167 for changing the numerals on type wheels 165 present at a printing position 166, the lever 167 being movable into an indexing position 168A to change the number present by one digit. The type wheels 165 are inked by eccentrically mounted forme rolls 186, 187, Fig. 9, which can be tripped by actuation of a handle 191. The forme rolls 186, 187 are supplied with ink from a reservoir, not shown, through transfer rolls, not shown. Cams 215, 221, Fig. 14, on a shaft 204 engage cam followers, e.g. 168 on arm 167 to index the type wheels 165, Fig. 21, when set in indexing position, Fig. 13 (not shown), but may be tripped, for repetitive numbering, away from the followers 168 into the position shown in Fig. 14 by counterclockwise rotation of a shaft 208. The shaft 208 is actuated by a manual or automatic control by an indexing control mechanism. The indexing control mechanism comprises an arm 231, link 232, and a bell-crank lever 233 having a roller 236 engaging a cam 237 carried by the shaft 133, Fig. 9. The lever 233, Fig. 14, has a keeper member 241 for engagement with a lug 246 on an indexing pawl 247, the pawl 247 being actuated by a lever 249 positioned for engagement with a pin 255 on a lever 256 pivotally connected to a link 258. The link 258 is mechanically connected to a solenoid 259 energized to prevent indexing of the type wheels 165, Fig. 21. When the solenoid 259, Fig. 14, is energized the lug 246 is tripped from the member 241 to permit clockwise movement of the lever 233, thereby rotating shaft 208 counterclockwise into non-indexing position. De-energization of the solenoid 259 causes the cams 215, 221 to be returned to the indexing position, and be retained by the keeper 241 engaging the pawl 247. Impression cylinder control.-The impression cylinder 226, Fig. 9, is movable toward and away from the numbering boxes, e.g. 157, under the control of a solenoid 271, Fig. 12, to determine whether sheets passed through the machine 32 are numbered. A feeler finger, not shown, on a shaft 303 engages each sheet fed into the number printing machine, thereby rotating the shaft 303 clockwise. During each machine cycle a cam 284 swings a lever 264 counterclockwise while the shaft 303 is rotated counterclockwise by a sheet entering the machine, thereby limiting swinging of lever 264 by engagement of a stop 301 with a pawl 302. Thus, the lever 264 is retained in the printing position shown in Fig. 12 in which the eccentrically mounted shaft 292 of the impression cylinder 226 has been moved to a printing position by energization of the solenoid 271. A link 273 is connected to the armature 272 of the solenoid 271. An arm 281 of lever 264 is connected to a link 285 pivoted to an adjustment arm 287 adjustably secured to a segment 291 secured to bearings 296 for the shaft 292. A screw 293 engages serrations on the portion 295 of the segment 291. Adjustment of the screw 293 moves the shaft 292 towards or away from the shaft 133. Should number printing of a sheet being passed through the machine not be required, the solenoid 271 is de-energized, thereby, through counterclockwise swinging of lever 274 preventing movement of pawl 302 to its position for engagement with stop 301. Thus, the lever 264 swings clockwise to actuate the link 285 upwardly to rotate the bearings 296 such that the cylinder 292 is tripped. Also, lever 264 moves a stop member 263 into engagement with the foot 265 to prevent indexing of the type wheels 165, Fig. 21. Normally, the solenoid 271, Fig. 12, continues to be energized until the last sheet of a batch reaches the machine 32. The solenoid 271 is energized upon closure of a switch 317, Fig. 28 (not shown), closed after a delay provided by a clutchdriven cam 318, Figs. 24 and 25 (not shown). The clutch is engaged by a solenoid 320 energized upon closure of a switch 43, Fig. 28 (not shown), upon feeding of the last sheet from a container 41, Fig. 5. Inking apparatus.-The information printing machine 31, Fig. 29, has a planographic plate cylinder 455 supported in a pair of frame members such as 456, mounted on a shaft 458 for pivotal movement relative to frame 453 carrying impression cylinder 451 and offset cylinder 452. The cylinder 455 is inked by a fountain roller 461, a ductor roller 462 movable between the roller 461 and a distribution roller 463 by a rocking shaft 464, oscillating roller 466, and forme rollers 467, 468. The rollers 467, 468 are manually movable towards and away from the cylinder 455. Inking of the cylinder 455 may be interrupted to avoid an excessive accumulation of ink on the planographic plate, e.g. when no sheet is fed to the machine 31. A solenoid 471 actuates a rod 473 pivotally connected to a lever 474 carrying a pin 477 to engage a lever 478 mounted on a pin 479 also carrying a pawl 481 aligned with a latch member 485 on a lever 486. The lever 486 is rocked by a cam 489 to actuate a link 502 pivoted to a lever 503 secured to a shaft 504. A link 505 is pivoted to lever 503 and a lever 507 connected to a member 511. The member 511 is mounted on a shaft 512 on which an adjustment member 513 is eccentrically mounted to provide means for regulating the pressure between the plate and offset cylinders 455 and 452. An operating lever secured to member 511 is pivoted to a link 521 having a pin and slot connection with a lever 523 pivoted to a latch 527. The latch has an arm 531 engageable with a yoke 532 secured to the shaft 464. In operation, the inking mechanism is rendered operative by the solenoid 471 which is energized so long as sheets are being fed to the machine 31. When the solenoid 471 is de-energized the pawl 481 is held out of engagement with member 485, such that cylinders 455 and 452 do not contact one another. Also, the link 521 is pulled downwards to cause latch 527 to cause arm 531 to engage yoke 532, to prevent oscillating movement of the roller 462. The inking mechanism is also manually controlled by a handle 552, Fig. 33 (not shown), to effect latching of members 481, 485, Fig. 29. A manually operable lever 571 permits ink to be supplied to the cylinder 452 irrespective of whether sheets are being fed to the machine. A handle 534 permits inking of the rollers in the ink train without transfer of ink to the cylinder 452. Damping-apparatus.-Ink repellant is supplied from a fountain roller 581, Fig. 35, to a ductor roller 582, a distributing roller 583 and a forme roller 584 to the plate cylinder 455. The roller 582 is oscillated between the rollers 581 and 583 by a shaft 585. The shaft 585 carries a lever 586 having a latch member, 587 carrying an adjustable stop 588 engageable with a pawl 589 pivoted on a shaft 591 rocked by a lever 592 through a spring 593. Latching engagement of members 587 and 589 prevents rocking of shaft 585, thereby interrupting the supply of ink repellant to the roller 583 while the solenoid 471, Fig. 29, is de-energized, i.e. during a period when sheets are not fed into the machine 31. When the solenoid 471 is energized, a member 545 is pivoted clockwise to cause release the members 587, 589 from latching engagement. A lever 603 is operated manually in a counterclockwise direction to rock the lever 592 and pawl 589 away from the stop 588 to permit operation of the ductor roller 582 when it is required to apply repellant to the plate cylinder 455 even though no sheets are being fed through the machine 31. Feeding sheets, counting-apparatus.-Sheet feeding apparatus 36, Fig. 1, supplies the machine 31 with individual sheets, e.g. preprinted blank cheques from a stack 37, or with additional sheets, e.g. deposit slips from container 41, Fig. 5. Sensing switches 42, 43, 44 are provided to determine whether there are sheets present in the stack 37, the presence or absence of sheets in the container 41, and the passage of sheets along a conveyer 38 respectively. These switches are included in a control circuit, Fig. 28 (not shown), including sheet and book counting me