An Improved Machine for Printing on Matches.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 26th July, 1892-Accepted, 8th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Machine for Printing on Matches.
.
We, Max KÜSTERMANN, of 12 Weinmeisterstrasse, Manufacturer and
HERMANN GOTTSCHALK, of 9, Winterfeldstrasse, Engineer, both in Berlin, in
the Empire of Germany, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to a machine for printing on matches.
The machines up to the present time employed for the purpose of printing an
advertisement on matches have the disadvantage that the matches cannot be placed
exactly in the proper position for printing and that the process of printing by
placing one match after the other in position is very troublesome and expensive.
In order to avoid this disadvantage the machine which forms the subject of the
above mentioned invention is so arranged that a large number of matches is printed
at one and the same time, by the use of a laying-on bar which is divided by thin
transverse partitions into a number of guides corresponding with a number of lines
in a type-forme on the printing head of the machine, in each of which guides a
match is laid, so that when the laying-on bar with the matches laid on it is in the
printing position all the lines of type rest exactly upon the matches which are
securely held in position.
Such a laying-on bar also renders it possible to print two opposite sides of the
matches in the same machine, by printing one side at one turn and the other side
at another turn.
For this purpose the printing head of the machine, which can be
moved up and down, is supplied with two separate formes of type. By means of
the laying-on bar and of a system of reversing flaps connected by levers, the match
which has been printed on one side is reversed, so that the unprinted side of it
meets the second forme of type.
This arrangement comprises a pawl serving to hold the levers or guiding-arms
for the second flap, which pawl, when released by a projection of a cam by means
of a lever, allows the weight on another lever revolving on the framing to turn the
lever and the printing flap against one another, whereby a cam acts at the same
time upon a lever, raises a sector by means of a rod and the two flaps meet one
another, so that both can rotate with their guiding-arms, and the pawl can again
fix the guiding-arms.
Ejectors are employed to effect the removal of the empty laying-on bar after
the first printing flap has been driven back, such ejectors being operated by the
action of a lifting finger upon an arm connected with the shaft of the arm of the
ejector.
Another finger arranged upon the same shaft as the before mentioned finger
rotates by means of a lever and rod, a toothed sector and through it another
toothed sector and the second flap by which means the completely printed matches
are ejected from the machine.
A thruster effects the insertion of a fresh laying-on bar after the removal of an
empty one through the medium of a rod which connects the arms of the ejectors, by
a screw-bolt provided with a striking nut and guided in an eye in a rod, which
screw-bolt engages with an arm on a shaft which is connected with the thruster by
arms, rods and holders.
A pivotted angular striker allows, when raised, of the workman pushing in a
new laying-on bar with its load of matches and the said striker, by the action of

page_text: rods and a lifting finger, retreats when the thruster commences to push the laying-
on bar on to the first printing flap.
Dated the 20th day of January 1892.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Machine for Printing on Matches.
We, MAX KÜSTERMANN, of 12, Weinmeisterstrasse, Manufacturer, and
HERMANN GOTTSCHALK, of 9, Winterfeldstrasse, Engineer, both in Berlin, in
the Empire of Germany, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to a machine for printing on matches.
an
The machines up to the present time employed for the purpose of printing
advertisement on matches have the disadvantage that the matches cannot be placed
exactly in the proper position for printing and that the process of printing by
placing one match after the other in position is very troublesome and expensive.
In order to avoid this disadvantage the machine which forms the subject of the
above mentioned invention is so arranged that a large number of matches is printed
at one and the same time, by the use of a laying-on bar which is divided by thin
transverse partitions into a number of guides corresponding with a number of lines
in a type-forme on the printing head of the machine, in each of which guides
match is laid, so that when the laying-on bar with the matches laid on it is in the
printing position all the lines of type rest exactly upon the matches which are
securely held in position
Such a laying-on bar also renders it possible to print two opposite sides of the
matches in the same machine by printing one side at one turn and the other side at
another turn. For this purpose the printing head of the machine, which can be
moved up and down, is supplied with two separate formes of type. By means of
the laying-on bar and of a system of reversing flaps connected by levers, the batch
which has been printed on one side is reversed, so that the unprinted side of it
meets the second forme of type.
In this machine therefore the laying-on bar with the matches on it is carried
underneath the printing head of the machine, then the printing head for printing
the matches retreats and rises again; then the batch which has been printed on
one side is turned by the action of the reversing flaps, laid under the second forme
of type, and printed; and finally the matches which have been printed upon both
sides are thrown out of the machine, and the empty laying-on bar drawn back over
a taking-off table, and a bar carrying fresh matches is placed under the first forme
of type.
If only one side of the matches is to be printed the apparatus can of course be
made much more simply, inasmuch as it is then only necessary to carry the filled
laying-on bar under a suitably actuated printing head, in the same way as a sheet
of paper to be printed in a printing press. The matches which have been printed
upon one side.can also be turned round outside the machine and then printed upon
the reverse side.
To cuable our invention to be fully understood we will describe how it can be
carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a machine for printing on matches upon both
sides constructed according to our invention.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the same, the printing head and taking-off
table being removed.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of the machine.

page_text: Figures 4 to 9 are views shewing different positions of the reversing flaps and
the working parts belonging to them, when in operation, and
Figures 10 to 13 are views of parts of the mechanism.
The laying-on bar S, Figure 13, intended to receive the matches to be printed
is divided by their partitions into a number of guides in each of which lies a
match z. The transverse partitions s are for this purpose so arranged that they
can receive an india-rubber bedding 3 for the matches.
The longitudinal partitions allows of the even laying-on of the matches and
prevents them from falling out when the flaps are reversed. The laying-on bar S
previously supplied with matches is so pushed by hand from the laying-on table T,
Figure 3, (at which the workman takes up his position) in the direction of the
arrow upon the table T', and under the curved taking-off table G that it comes
to lie between the thruster U, Figure 4, and the raised angular striker e which
revolves upon c.
After the angular striker c has fallen and stands below the
surface of the table T', Figure 1, the thruster & begins to move in the direction of
the arrow 2, Figure 1, and pushes the laying-on bar Son to the printing flap d
Figure 5, rotating upon the axle d' under the printing head K, Figures 1 and 3.
order to secure the correct position of the laying-on bar S with the matches with
reference to the printing head, the bar S passes under guides d', Figures 11 and 12,
shaped like hooks, which also afterwards prevent the bar S from falling out when
the flap d turns.
In
The angular striker c is moved by means of rods c², Figures 3 and 5, from the
lifting disc C on the main axle W. The thruster with guides 62, Figures 1
to 5, is guided by means of the holder ³, Figures 2 and 5, in the slots 6 of the
table T secured to the frame X of the machine.
The arms 6, Figure 5, connected with the axle have, as the result of the
action of the spring 6' which is attached to the lower arm.613 of the axle 6, the
tendency to draw back the thruster b' by the rods 12 connected with the holders 6³.
If however the lever 68, Figure 4, be raised in the direction of the arrow 3 by the
lifting cam B upon the axle W the arms upon the axle b, Figures 1, 3 and 4,
swing back and bring about, by means of the connecting rod 10, Figure 3, a tension
on the screw bolt which is connected to the arm 13 and a thrusting forward of
the thruster in the direction of the arrow 2 into the position shewn in Figure 5.
The screw bolt & is adjustable on the rod 60 connected with both the extracting
arms ; its nut serves as a striker and allows the stroke of the thruster to
be regulated.
The axle W upon which in addition to the two lifting fingers B and C, already
mentioned, two lifting cams A and D Figure 3 are also placed, is driven from the
geared shaft E with the pulley belt R by means of spur wheels E and E. By
the previously described motion of the thruster the laying-on bar S with the
matches is brought into the printing position under the printing head, and the
printing may now be accomplished by reversing the movement of the printing head.
The printing head K provided with two formes of type 2, Figure 1, receives its
up and down motion by means of two driving rods F, Figure 3, of which one is
connected with the pin of the spur wheel E, and the other with a pin on the
cam F.
If the matches in the laying-on bar S lying upon the flap d are now printed, the
transfer of the matches thus printed upon one side to the second printing flap a is
so effected that their unprinted surface is now offered to the second forme of type ka
upon the printing head K.
The printing flap d is for this purpose so constructed that it can rotate through
an angle of 180° upon the axis d³, Figures 1 and 2 and 4 to 11. On both ends of
the axle d' are placed freely rotating levers connected with one another by the
bars Figures 10 and 11, and between these levers and the printing flap d are
situated the bearing rings d' Figure 11, connected with the framing X and through
these the axle d¹ passes free.
The second flap a whose axle a¹³ can revolve in the levers is held down by

page_text: springs a on the bar f, Figures 10 and 11, and a toothed sector a³, Figures 9
and 11, revolving freely on the axle engages with a smaller sector a keyed
firmly on the axle a'. The axle d' is connected at its opposite end with a sector d
Figures 6, 8, 9 and 11, which can be rotated by the larger sector d situated on the
framing X.
One of the bearing arms f is provided with a projecting piece f³, Figure 10,
over which catches the pawl which can be released by the lever, Figure 8,
and projection of the cam F which prevents the lever f' affected by the
weight, Figures 6 and 8 (which lever acts upon the arm f, Figures 10 and 11,
of a bearing arm) from turning the bearing arm f on the axle d'.
As soon as the printing head K has moved upwards after printing the matchesz
in the laying-on bar S upon the printing flap d, and is situated at a certain distance
from the printing table the lever as is quickly lifted by means of the lifting finger A
upon the axle W, Figures 3, 6 and 7, so that by means of the rod a and the toothed
sectors a, a, Figure 11, the axle a' effects a rapid motion in the direction of the
arrow 4 Figure 7 and the matches lying upon the flap a, as will be described
hereafter, are thrown off. The flap a then returns rapidly by the action of the
springs a² into the position, Figure 6, and the catch is now released by the action
of the projection in the cam F, Figures 1 and 8, so that the weight on the
lever which revolves on the framing brings the levers with the printing flap a
in the direction of the arrow 5 into the position shewn in Figure 8.
At the same moment the cam D on the axle W, Figures 3, 8 and 9, operates the
leverd and turns by means of the rod the sector in such a manner that the
sector d³ revolves in the direction of the arrow 6, Figure 6. The flap d with
the laying-on bar S partakes of this motion of the sector d³. When the flap d has
rotated through about 45° it meets the flap a, Figure 8, so that the india-rubber
bedding, Figure 10, of the flap lies upon the already printed side of the matches
on the laying-on bar S, Figure 8. Upon further rotation of the flap a in the
direction of the arrow 6, Figure 8, the flap a is carried on by the flap d whereby
the weight is raised and causes the. flaps to be pressed together with a certain
amount of force, so that the matches keep their proper position between the
flaps d and a whilst the latter are carried from the position of Figure 8 to that of
Figure 9. In this final position of the flaps a and d, Figure 9, the flap a is held
firmly in its position by the catch whilst the flap is rotated back in the
direction of the arrow 7, Figure 9, by means of the cam D, Figure 9. Thus the
matches which have been printed on one side, now lie with their unprinted side
upwards, that is to say, reversed, and properly spaced, but free, upon the india-
rubber bedding of the flap a. Before they are printed however, a fresh laying-
on bar S with unprinted matches must be laid in the machine as already described.
For this purpose it is first requisite to remove the empty laying-on bar from the
flap d. For this purpose the flap d is shifted by its movement of rotation in the
direction of the arrow 7, Figure 9, until it reaches the position of Figure 4, so that
its upper surface comes to lie approximately in the plane of the taking-off table G.
During the previously described motion of the flaps a and d the ejectors 6 are
shifted from the position of Figure 5 to that of Figure 4, so that they now lie
behind the projections on the laying-on bar S, Figures 2, 4, 11 and 13, when the
flap d takes up the position of Figure 4. The lifting finger B, Figures 3 and 4,
now begins to operate the lever 68 and the ejectors & remove the empty laying-on
bar S in the direction of the arrow & from the flap d. The laying-on bar reaches
the taking-off table G, Figures 1 and 4 and can be removed from the machine to
be filled afresh.
As soon as the laying-on bar S has left the flap d Figure 4, the movement of the
latter in the direction of the arrow 7 is completed, so that the flap d again takes
up the position of Figure 1 and is ready for the reception of a freshly filled laying-
on bar S.
Whilst the ejectors & are moving in the direction of the arrow 8, Figure 4, the
screw bolt in the connecting rod 610, Figure 3, of the ejector arms & moves
".

page_text: freely through it for a certain distance so that the thruster b¹ remains at rest, and
so that the workman can now push in the new laying on bar with its load of
matches from the laying-on table T, Figure 2, as already described, as soon as the
angular striker c is raised, Figure 4. When the insertion is effected the angular
striker returns (Figure 5), the nut 6 begins to lay on, the thruster & moves
forward in the direction of the arrow 2 and brings the fresh laying-on bar S upon
the printing flap d whereupon the printing head provided with the two formes of
type descends, and prints the matches upon the fresh laying-on bar S on the
flap d as well as the matches already printed on one side which are upon the flap a,
at the same time. As soon as the printing head K has ascended again, the
finger A. lifts the toothed sector a³ by means of the lever a, Figures 6 and 7, and
thrusting roda, turns the sector and the firmly attached flap a upwards, and
ejects the completely printed matches from the machine, Figure 7. The flap.a then
returns rapidly to its position by means of the action of the springs a on the
axle a', and thereupon the release of the catch is effected again by the
projection upon the cam F and the processes already described are repeated.
The printing head K which has an upward and downward motion imparted to it
by the thrusting rods F1, is guided vertically in the framing X by means of bars k,
Figure 3. The axle is adjustable in the heads of the thrusting rods k², so that
the pressure of the printing head K may be susceptible of regulation. The toothed
wheels upon the axle & roll upon the toothed rods (which are firmly attached
to the framing X Figures 1 and 3) when the printing head K moves up and down.
The guiding blocks which are connected to the toothed wheels lie in the guide
frames k, which carry the ink-spreading rollers A, so that the latter are made to
meet the ink rollers in the direction of the arrow 9 by the toothed wheels ko when
the printing head K is driven home for printing. The guide frame with the
rollers turns back in the direction of the .arrow 10 when the printing head K
rises, the rollers distribute the ink they have taken up upon the semi-cylindrical
jacket of the printing head and pass over the two formes of type k³ when the
printing head reaches its highest point.
In order that the rollers may come in contact with the ink rollers k at a
different point every time, the ink roller is provided with a ratchet wheel whose
ratchet is subjected to the action of a rod on the guide block k³ and is brought
by a spring into the position of exit.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. In machines for printing on matches, a laying-on bar S which for the purpose
of printing at one time on a larger quantity of matches thau hitherto is divided
into a number of guides corresponding with a number of lines in a forme of type by
transverse partitions in each of which guides a match is laid, so that when the
laying-on bar with the matches it carries is in the printing position the several lines
of type exactly correspond with the several matches, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2. In machines for printing on matches and provided with the laying-on bar
claimed in Claim 1 the arrangement with a view of printing two sets of matches =
together of two rotating flaps and a connected with one another by levers f, of
which flaps the first d receives the laying-on bar S at first, and after the matches have
been printed passes them on in a reversed and regular position to the second flap a
by means of a combined movement of both flaps, whereupon the printing of the
second surface of the matches can take place, substantially as herein before
described.
3. In the machine for printing on matches claimed in Claim 2,
(a) The pawlf serving to hold the levers or guiding arms for the second
flap a which pawl, when released by a projection of a cam F by means of
a lever allows a weight f' on a lever ƒ° revolving on the framing to turn

page_text: by
the levers f and the printing flap a against one another, whereby the cam D
on an axle W acts at the same time upon a lever d', raises a sector
means of a rod and the two flaps d, a meet one another, so that both can
rotate with the guiding arms and the pawl f* can again fix the guiding
arms.
6) The ejectors which effect the removal of the empty laying-on bar S
after the printing flap d has been driven back, which ejectors are operated
by a lifting finger B on an axle W by the action of this finger B upon an
arm connected with the shaft of the arms of the ejector.
c) A finger A arranged upon a shaft W which by means of a lever a³ and
rod a rotates upwards a toothed sector a³ and through it a toothed sector a
and flap a by which means the completely printed matches are ejected from
the machine.
-
d) The combination of a thruster which effects the insertion of a fresh
laying-ou bar S after the removal of an empty one with a rod 610 which
connects the arms of the ejectors, by a screw bolt provided with striking
nut and guided in an eye in the rod 10 which screw bolt engages with an
arm 13 of the shaft & which is connected with a thruster 6 by arms bº,
rods and holders .
An angular striker c rotating upon an axis c' which striker, by the action
of rods and lifting finger Cretreats when the thruster b' commences to
push the laying-on bar on to the printing flap d.
The improved machine for printing on matches hereinbefore described and
ated in the accompanying drawings.
ated the 26th day of July 1892.
G. F. REDFERN. & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.