Patent GB-191417230-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Printing Machines for Printing from Record Plates.
Inventor: BARNES JOHN EDWARD LLOYD
IPC: B41L19/00
Filed: 1914-07-21
Granted: 1915-07-21
Abstract: 17,230. Barnes, J. E. L., [Montague Mailing Machinery Co.]. July 21. Addressing and like machines. - Printing- apparatus employing embossed printing-plates comprises means for taking multiple impressions simultaneously, means for feeding the printing-plates, auxiliary plate-feeding means being also provided for effecting an additional feed when necessary, means for simultaneously feeding a number of forms to be printed, and means for printing less than the whole of the matter on the plates. These means enable a series of pay checks and an auditing-strip or a bill and its attached coupons to be printed simultaneously, or the matter on a plate may be printed on a form in different columns but on the same line, by moving each printing-plate from one impression point to another. Means are also provided for taking duplicate or triplicate impressions from the same plate. The plates are fed by a reciprocating shuttle bar from a hopper which will receive a drawer full of plates faced either towards the front or rear of the machine, under a series of impression pads, and are received in a stacker shoot adjustable to stack the plates in correct position. The apparatus comprises a reciprocating impression head provided with uprights 2 operated from a rock-shaft 43. The impression head is provided with a number of adjustable impression pads 3. The plates are fed from a hopper 4 which comprises front and rear standards 9, 10 pivoted at 11 and held together by a latch 12. To enable the drawer full of plates to be placed with the plates either towards the front or rear, a locking-pin 13 is provided which can be set to hold either the standard 9 or 10, the hopper thus opening from either side. The drawer is provided with catches for holding the plates; these catches engage side plates in the hopper and permit the plates to fall freely. The hopper is provided with a loose frame which presents a flush surface to the top edges of the plates. The hopper is provided with a lifting-rod 91 which is operated by a cam 94 actuated by a pawl 99 and ratchet 97 operated from the reciprocating rods 2 by a link 100 and bell-crank 101. The pawl 99 is mounted on an arm 98 provided with three holes for connexion with the link 100; by these means a variable throw can be given to the arm 98 and the lifting-rod 91 is actuated to prevent the feed of a plate once every two, three, or four actuations of the impression head. The plates are fed by means of a shuttle bar 5 carrying dogs 6 and moving in a channel in a table 8; spring-pressed rollers prevent retraction of the plates. The shuttle bar is operated by a link 29, which is actuated by a lever 31 pivoted to the frame and having an arm 33 actuated by a link 34 from a rock-shaft 36. To stop the feed of the plates and permit duplicate or triplicate impressions to be made, the rock-shaft 36 is divided, and one end 36<1>, Fig. 9, is oscillated by an arm 39 thereon being engaged by an arm 40 operated by an arm 41, which is actuated by a rod 42 from any suitable part of the machine. The arms 41, 42 are provided with interengaging shoulders and are connected by a spring 44; these connexions prevent damage in the event of a plate jamming. The two sections of the shaft 36 are connected by a clutch comprising a disk 45 on the section 36 engaged by a spring pawl 46 carried by a casing 47 on the section 36<1>. The pawl 46 is controlled by a cam 48 having two notches with high parts between, and formed in one piece with toothed controllers 49, 50 having four and six teeth respectively and engaged by detents 51, 52 pivoted to the frame. The sleeve 48<1> carrying the controllers 49, 50 is actuated by a friction clutch 53 carried by a part of the casing 47. The pawl 46 is adapted to engage a notch in the clutch disk, one side of the notch being higher than the other. The clutch disk is also provided with a tooth 56, Fig. 10, to be struck by one side of the pawl 46. When the controller sleeve is set by the operation of its friction clutch 53 and one of its detents 51 or 52 to bring one of its notches under the pawl 46, this pawl enters the notch 55, the two shaft sections being then interlocked and the plates are fed step by step without intermission. The detents 51, 52 are controlled by a hand-operated cam 57 on a shaft 58 by the. rotation of which either or both detents can be raised out of active position. By turning the shaft 58 to engage the detent 51 or 52, the interlocking of the shaft sections may be effected every two or three reciprocations of the impression head and duplicate or triplicate impressions will then be taken. For feeding the plates an additional amount, an auxiliary shuttle bar 103 is provided, the dog on which engages the plates at their front depressed margins. This shuttle bar is operated by links 104, 106 and a lever 105 from the shaft 43, and may be removed or disconnected when not required. The plates are received in a curved receiver 25, which can be rotated to extend either forward or backward from the machine. The plates are packed into the receiver by a reciprocating packer 25<a>. The forme-feeding means comprises two feed-rolls 61, 62 and spring-pressed companion rolls 63 by means of which two strips &c. may be fed across the machine at variable rates. The rolls are on shafts 64, 65, which are rotated by gears 69 in mesh with gears 70 on the shaft 67. Each gear 70 is actuated on the reciprocation of the impression head by means of a clutch 72, Fig. 16, operated by a spring-controlled lever 76, one arm 79 of which projects in an opening in an adjustable micrometer rod 81 carried by the impression head 1 ; the arm 79 is engaged by a roller 84 on the rod 81 which is fitted with a nut 83. By turning the nut 83, the initial point of contact of the roller 84 with the arm 79 can be varied, thus adjusting the feed. Backward motion of the feed driving-gear 70 is prevented by a second clutch 72' carried on a sleeve 75<1> pinned to the shaft 67. At one end of the machine, the sleeve 75<1> is pinned to a hand-lever 85 having a pivoted locking-lever 86. On releasing the hand-lever 85, the feed rolls may be actuated by hand, the clutch 72<1> serving to drive the gear 70 and the clutch 72 preventing back motion. For printing part of the matter on the plates only, the impression pads are suitably cut away. Printing is effected through an ink ribbon.