Patent GB-191300560-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Keyboard Machines for Embossing.
Inventor: SLOAN ROBERT ALEXANDER
IPC: B41J3/38
Filed: 1913-01-08
Granted: 1914-03-09
Abstract: 560. Sloan, R. A., [Montague Mailing Machinery Co.]. Jan. 8. Type -wheel machines for embossing metal. - Relates to power - driven keyboard embossing- machines particularly for making address-printing plates and comprises (1) a die-wheel which carries sliding dies and is driven through a friction-clutch adapted to be released when the die-wheel is arrested, (2) an arrangement whereby the impression-mechanism is controlled by the joint action of the power-shaft and the keys in such a manner that quick or accidental depressions of the keys are ineffective, (3) positive means for returning the key set stops, and (4) spacing- mechanism. Type - wheel actions; alining for impression; hammer-impression arrangements; driving-mechanism.-(1) The die-wheel 1 carries upper and lower sets of sliding dies 2 provided with studs 4 engaging plates 5 which are engaged by a number of springs 6 and serve to return the dies after each operation. The dies are also engaged frictionally by spring-plugs 7. The die-wheel is secured to a hollow shaft 8 and is provided with a sleeve 10 connected by a plate-clutch 12 to a sleeve 15 which is loose on the shaft and is driven by a bevel-wheel 17 from the power-shaft. The clutch-plates are pressed together by a spring 20 arranged between a collar 19 on the shaft 8 and a ball bearing 18 which engages the sleeve 15. (2) The die-wheel is provided with a toothed alining- wheel 95 adapted to be engaged by an alinementdetent 96 which is moved vertically by a lever 26<1>, described below, the connexion comprising a spring 98 which is adapted to yield if the detent strikes an obstruction such as the top of the teeth of the wheel 95. The detent also separates slightly the clutch-plates so that the die-wheel is practically disconnected from the driving-wheel 17 during the impression stroke. (3) The key-levers 34 raise stop-pins 32 into the path of a stop 36, Fig. 9, secured to a plate 35, which is mounted between flanges 37, 38 on the die-wheel and can slide through a distance limited by the engagement of a stud 41 with a slot 40 in the plate. The plate is drawn to the left by a spring 42 connected to the die-wheel. When any of the key-levers 34 is depressed, the rotation of the die-wheel brings the stop 36 into engagement with the projected stop-pin 32 and the plate 35 is arrested. The die-wheel makes a slight further movement to take up the lost-motion in the slot 40, and is then arrested with the selected dies at the printing point 3. The spring 42 serves as a cushioning-device. The active face of the stop 36 is concave. To prevent rebound, the diewheel carries a pivoted dog 50 adapted to catch behind the projected stop-pin. The movement of the die-wheel relative to the plate 35 rocks a lever 45, which is connected by means of a slide 48 and a bell-crank lever 48', Fig. 1, to a slide 48 x adapted to control the impression-mechanism in the manner described below. (4) The dies are moved for impression by means of plungers 21, 22 engaged by levers 26, 26<1> which are pivoted at 27, 27<1> and are connected by a link 28. The connecting-pin 52 carries pivotally a latch 54 formed with a lug 63 adapted to engage a lug 64 on a cross-head 65 which is carried by links 67, 68 and is connected by a rod 29 to the continuously-rotating shaft 66. The latch is normally held clear of the lug 64 by means of a detent 54 which is pivoted on a pin 56 and is connected by a spring 58 to the arm 57 of a lever 55, which is pivoted on the pin 56 and is held by a spring 59 in engagement with the slide 48<x>. The latch is held in engagement with the detent by a spring 62. and the mating-parts are bevelled as shown. When one of the key-levers 34 is depressed, the die-wheel is arrested and the slide 48<x> rocks the lever 55 and compresses the spring 58, the latch not being released. If the key-lever is held down long enough, the latch is turned by means of a roller 70 on the cross-head, and the detent 54 is thrown to the left by the spring 58. On the downward stroke of the cross-head, the roller 70 releases the latch 53, which is thereupon swung to the right by the spring 62 into position to be engaged by the lug 63 on the next upward stroke of the cross-head, and the punches are then operated. A partial or accidental depression of the key-levers is ineffective as it is necessary to hold the key-lever depressed and consequently maintain compressed the spring 58 until the roller 70 has tilted the latch as described above. A separate key is provided for controlling the detent directly without operating the stop mechanism. (5) The stop-pins 32 are returned positively near the end of the impressionstroke by means of a lever 99 pivoted at 100 to the die-wheel and arranged to overlie the projected stop-pin. The lever 99 is connected by a rod 101 to a forked lever 104 which is pivoted at 105 in the lever 26 and is provided with an arm 106 which passes through the bracket 9. Letter-spacing mechanism.-(1) The carriage 72, Fig. 1, is geared to a vertical abaft 74 provided with a ratchet-wheel 75 engaged by a pawl which is mounted on a pivoted plate 77. This plate is connected to a link 78 which is connected to a lever 80 by a spring 85 and a pin and slot 79. The lever 80 is formed with a lateral arm connected to a link 81, which is slotted to engage the connecting- pin 52. The lever 80 is also formed with an arm 82 adapted to be engaged by a cam 84 on the shaft 66. The upward movement of the pin 52 rocks the lever 80 and moves the link 78 to the left through the agency of the spring 85, the pawl being retracted idly. The cam 84 then rocks the lever 80 back and thus moves the link 78 to the right, the pawl being then operative. To prevent overthrow, the mechanism described above is timed so that the feed stroke of the pawl is slower than the idle stroke. (2) To provide means for operating the dies without spacing the carriage, a 'non-spacing key' is provided. This key is adapted when depressed to lock the plate 77 by engaging a lever connected by a link 89 to the plate. When the key 86 is depressed, the movement of the lever 80 is taken up by the slot 79 and is not transmitted to the link 85. (3) For spacing between words, the die-wheel is provided with two diametrically opposite parts at which dies are omitted. The space-bar 107, Fig. 18, is adapted to raise two stop-pins z which act in the same manner as the stop-pins 32 described above. The rear stop-pin is raised directly by the pivoted frame 107, and the front stop-pin z is raised by a lever 109 connected to the space-bar. By providing two stop-pins z and two blank spaces on the die-wheel, the die-wheel is enabled to make only half a revolution in spacing between words.