Patent GB-554932-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in printing machines
Filed: 1942-01-22
Abstract: 554,932. Slotting and selective punching apparatus. ADDRESSOGRAPH - MULTIGRAPH CORPORATION. Jan. 22, 1942, No. 948. Convention date, Jan. 13, 1941. [Classes 31 (i) and 31 (ii)] [Also in Groups XVI and XXIV] Sheets fed through a printing machine receive direct impressions from address or other printing devices fed in sequence to printing position, and also receive further records from a storage apparatus which is set in accordance with matter represented on the printing revices and which, at the proper time, controls means for making the further records. The storage apparatus may comprise a group of solenoids which are energized selectively according to the position of tabs on the printing devices, and control the operation of corresponding punches of a group of punches adapted to form notches in the edges of the sheets, the position of the tabs on the printing devices and the notches in the sheets representing data according to a code of classification. Further punches set by hand for recording other data on the sheets, and a further set of punches set by an electrically operated counting mechanism for numbering the sheets consecutively in accordance with a code may be provided. The machine described is for use in preparation of public utility bills produced from a web which passes from a roll through feeding, printing and scoring devices, and then to a cutting device. The cut sheet then passes through a punching mechanism for producing lines of perforations in the sheet. These perforations facilitate sorting of the bills and also indicate certain classification and other data. The punching mechanism is driven from an electric motor through a one revolution clutch. After the punching operation, the sheet is fed to a printing apparatus. From this apparatus, the sheets pass to a slotting apparatus in which slots are cut in the sheets at certain positions defined by the perforations to represent various items of classifying matter. Some of the slotting devices are set for operation by hand, others automatically, under the control of tabs on the printing plates, and those for the consecutive numbering notches, by an electrically operated counter. The slotting apparatus comprises two punch-carrying heads 292, 293, Fig. 32, the head 293 having a single row of punches 301, and the head 292 having three rows of punches, these punches being arranged to coincide with the rows of perforations. The punch heads are reciprocated vertically by eccentrics from a shaft driven by a one revolution clutch. The punches 301 which are guided in blocks 277, 282 have notches 302 engaged by the edges of plates 299 on the punch heads so that the punch heads are not depressed with the punch heads unless a punch interponent 305, of which there is one for each punch, has previously been interposed between the punch head and the top of the punch to bring a thrust projection 306 above the punch. The interponents for the book number punches are set by the depression of keys 337, which, through linkage 331, 330, 329 move the selected interponents into operative position in which they are held by spring pins 309. The restoration of the interponents to inactive position is effected by levers 341, 346 linked together, and actuated by keys 343. The interponents for the consecutive numbering punches are actuated by bell crank levers 314 each connected by linkage to the armature of a solenoid 322 controlled by a counter. These interponents are returned to the inoperative position towards the end of the punching stroke of the head 292 by the engagement of lugs 324 on the interponents with a fixed cam 323. The interponent for the 'REG punch is moved into and out of position by the manual operation of a lever 349 but the other interponents for the punches along the upper edge of the sheet are selectively actuated by levers 355 and solenoids 358 controlled by tabs on the printing plates and these interponents are returned to inoperative position by a cam such as 323. If a sheet is not fed to the slotting device, a feeler roller 409, which is normally lifted by a sheet to close contacts 417, 418. falls through an opening 403, preventing closure of the contacts 417, 418 and interrupting the operation of the counter. The sheets are fed from the slotting device to a receiver. The selective energization of the solenoids 358 is controlled by the engagement of sensing pins with tabs on the printing plates, but is delayed until the sheet printed by the sensed plate reaches its position beneath the slotting mechanism. This delay is obtained by causing the contact of the sensing pins with the tabs to energize corresponding storage relay solenoids which, under the control of a timing switch, cause the energization of the solenoids 358 at the proper time. In the machine described the sensing of a plate is followed by the sensing of three other plates before the sheet corresponding to the first plate is in slotting position so that four banks of storage relay solenoids are provided. Each printing plate is provided with twenty four tab positions corresponding to the twenty four perforations in the upper edge of the sheet and there are twenty-four sensing pins which operate in unison with a " skip " sensing pin. Each pin except the one in the twentyfourth position corresponding to the position of the " skip " tab is connected by a Bowden cable 496 to one part of a normally open switch 505-1-505-23 of which a few are shown in Fig. 53A. The twenty-fourth pin is connected by a Bowden cable to one part of a normally closed switch connecting a source of current to a conductor 531. One side of the switches 505-1-505-23 is connected through a normally closed switch 564 to earth and the other side to a contact 519 of a solenoid 518. For convenience the twenty three contacts 519 are divided into three groups each actuated by a separate solenoid 518 but a single solenoid may be employed. The windings of these solenoids are connected on one side to earth and on the other side to one contact of a timing switch 526-A the other contact of which is connected to the live conductor 531. When the switch 526-A is closed as shown, by the cam projection 526-X, the solenoids 518 are energized to close the contacts 519 which are connected by conductors 523, Figs. 53A, 54A, to one end of the windings of a bank of twenty-three storage relay solenoids 510-1-510-23, the other ends of these windings being connected by a conductor 524 through the timing switch 526-A to the conductor 531. The closure of any one or more of the switches 505-1-505-23 by the sensing pins engaging tabs on the printing plates, thus causes the corresponding solenoids 510-1-510-23 to be energized and to close contacts 516, 517. The contacts 516 serves to close holding circuits tor the solenoids. These circuits lead from a source of current through a conductor 532. switch contacts 516 and conductor 533 to a closed timing switch 527-A which is earthed on one side. The contacts 517 are earthed on one side and connected at the other side by a conductor 552 to a contact 533 of a solenoid 551, the contacts 533 when closed connecting the conductors 552 through conductors 554 to one end of the windings of the punch setting solenoids 358, the other ends of these windings being connected to a source of current. The energization of the solenoids 551 and thus the energization of the solenoids 358 is determined by the closure of a third timing switch 528A one side of which is earthed and the other side of which is connected by a conductor 550 with one end of the windings of the solenoids 551, the other ends of which are connected with a source of current. The three further sets of timing switches shown in Fig. 53A and corresponding to the switches 526-A, 527-A, and 528-A, control the three other banks of storage solenoids in a similar manner. When the tab-selected solenoids 510-1-510-23 have been energized, they are retained by the holding circuits controlled by the switch 527-A until, after three more printing plates have been sensed, the cam 528X closes the switch 528A to cause the energization of the punch setting solenoids 358 and then the switch 527-A is opened by the cam 527X to de-energize the solenoids 510-1-510-23 in readiness to be selectively energized by the sensing of the next plate. The storage solenoids may be rendered inoperative at any time by opening the switch 564. If a tab is in the " skip position the operation of the twenty fourth sensing pin opens the normally closed switch supplying current to the conductor 531 and the storage solenoids are renderd inoperative as no sheet will be printed from the skipped plate. Consecutive numbering of the sheets. - The solenoids 322 comprise units, tens and hundreds groups, each of four solenoids representing the digits " 1," " 2," " 4 " and " 7." Each group is controlled by a switch comprising five double armed wipers 449-1-449-5, Figs. 45 and 46 co-operating with sets of fixed contacts 460-1- 460-5. The wipers are fixed to a shaft 448 actuated by a ratchet ,wheel 454 and a pawl 452 carried by an arm 451 connected to the armature 450 of an electromagnet 444-U. When the magnet is energized, the arm 451 is drawn downwardly to move the pawl 452 back one step and at the same time, a projection 470 on the arm opens a switch 469. Upon de-energization of the magnet, a spring 455 acting on the arm 451 causes the pawl to turn the ratchet wheel to move the wipers into engagement with the next row of fixed contacts and at the same time the switch 469 is re-closed. The electrical connections are shown in Fig. 47. The wipers 449-1, 449-1<SP>1</SP> and 449-1<SP>11</SP> of the units, tens and hundreds switches 441-U, 441-T, 441-H, respectively are effective only in zeroizing the mechanism which is the position shown in Fig. 47. Referring to the units switch 441-U, the passage of a sheet past the detecting roller 409 first closes and then opens the contacts 417, 418 to e