Patent GB-303378-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to selection devices for addressing and similar machines
IPC: B41L47/58
Filed: 1928-12-31
Abstract: 303,378. Addressograph, Ltd., (Assignees of Kindervater, A. H.). Dec. 31, 1927, [Convention date]. Addressing and like machines ; tripping arrangements. - In an addressing or similar printing machine of the type comprising a series of printing-plates moved in succession through the machine, and in which a selecting-device is provided comprising feeler levers co-operating with tabs on the plates, the feelers co-act with a second set of feelers adjustably mounted on a movable member by means of which the printing operation is controlled. As shown, plates from a stack 1 are fed to printing position beneath an oscillating printing arm 3 provided with a pin 25 engaging a slot 24 in a reciprocating bar 22. A series of sideby-side feelers 6 are pivoted on a shaft 36 in a housing 5 fixed on a shaft 11, which is rocked by means of a lever 12, so that the feelers 6 are moved towards the plate 2 next in turn for printing. The lever 12 is oscillated by a cam 9 on a shaft 8 carrying also a cam 26 adapted to reciprocate the bar 22. At one end, each feeler 6 has a forked end adjacent to which is a feeler pin 16, and each pin 16 is adapted to be secured in various positions of vertical adjustment in a slide 15, which is moved laterally when released. The slide 15 can only move when the arm 3 is in the position shown in Fig. 1; in all other positions, a projection 18 on the lever 12 obstructs the movement. Further, the movement can only take place when the forked ends of the feelers 6 do not obstruct the pins 16. When each plate 2 carries a single tab 4 and the printing operation is to be prevented by the absence of a tab, the pins 16 are secured in the position shown in Fig. 1, the feelers 6 are not rocked about the shaft 36, and their forked ends clear the pins 16 so that the slide 16 moves out of the path of the end of a spring-pressed arm 20, the lower end of which enters a notch 21 in the bar 22, and, when this moves to the left, pushes it down, so that the pin 25 rides in the horizontal part of the slot and the oscillation of the arm 3 is prevented. When a feeler 6 is displaced by meeting a tab, the end obstructs the corresponding pin 16, and the slide is locked against movement. Alternatively, all those plates carrying certain tabs may be skipped by securing the corresponding feelers 16 in positions where they ane out of reach of the feelers 6. When printing is only required from those plates carrying a certain combination of tabs, the cover of the slide 15 is replaced by one normally presenting a gap to the end of the arm 20, and the corresponding pins 16 are raised to positions opposite the tops of the forks on the feelers 6, so that when the whole of the combination is present the slide 15 is released and moves into a position where it prevents movement of the arm. If additional tabs are present, the corresponding feelers 6 are displaced and obstruct the pins 16. The slide 15 is returned to normal position by engagement of the projection 18 with the end 19 of the slide 15, and the arm 20 is returned by a projection on the bar 22.