US1224279A - Numbering-machine for printing-presses. - Google Patents

Description

M. A. COURTNEY. NUMBERING MACHINE FOR PRINTING PRESS ES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.29| 1916.

Patented May 1,1917

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MINIDER A. COURTNEY, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES R. PATTERSON, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1, 1917;

Application filed September 29, 1916. Serial No. 122,921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MINDER A. COURTNEY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Birmingham, in the county of Jeflerson and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Numbering-Machines for Printing- Presses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic numbering machines for printing presses.

The object of my invention is to adapt such numbering machines as used on flat bed or platen presses to print the numerals of the number in a color different from that of the general form and to accomplish this end by making only one impression and without change ormodification of the press itself or its normal inking arrangements.

My preferred manner of accomplishing my object is to adapt the frame carrying the numeral dials to recede below type high level during the pass of the inking roll and to be automatically raised to type high level by the action of the cylinder or platen so that by means of a ribbon the numerals can be printed in any color contrasting with the rest of the printed matter. The depression of the plunger carrying the prefix No. by the printing platen or cylinder to automatically advance the dials step by step is the means I prefer to use to raise the dials into printing position. I also provide an ink font and rollers for inking the numbering ribbon which can be blocked in conveniently in the frame, the rollers being moved by the plunger to advance the ribbon.

These arrangements are those which I prefer, but I claim broadly to be the first to adapt a numbering machine to do two color work of the character described without chang in the press, and as it will en able me to print checks, tickets, transfers and like two color work, which now requires two impressions and two set ups, with a single impression and set up, I thus save one half of the labor and time now requlred for such work. I desire to claim as part of I my present invention any such adaptation of the numbering machine as will enable it, by means of any individual inking means, to print its numerals of a different color from the general form.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which Figure 1 shows my improved two color prlnting numbering machine and its individual inking apparatus in plan. I

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views taken on the lines 2-2 and 33, respectively, of Fig. 1.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

The numbering machine which I have adapted for use in accordance with my invention is of the type customarily used by printers, and comprises a main U-shaped frame having end walls 1 and 3 and a base 2 which extends beyond the wall 3 and forms the bottom of the compartment 4 for a depressible plunger 5. The plunger is normally raised by a spring 6 resting'on the bottom 2 below the plunger and I provide 1n its inner side face a transversely elongated slot 7 which receives a pin 8 onv the upper end of a crank arm 9 mounted to rotate on a journal pin 10 which rocks in a bearing in the end wall 3 of the main frame and is eccentrically connected or jointed to the cylinder 11 upon which are rotatably mounted the numeral printing dials 12. As shown there are siX of these dials which are juxtaposed and each provided with a ratchet wheel 13, each ratchet Wheel being engaged on one side by a dog 14 and on the opposite side by a pawl 15 which is pressed against the ratchet Wheel by its spring 16. The several dogs 14 are mounted rigidly upon a spring pressed shaft 17 which is journaled in the walls 1 and 3 of the frame, the dogs, in the manner well understood, being of clifferent length and set at different angles so as to effect the proper step by step advancing 9 of the type dials during the operation of the machine. The pawls 15 and springs 16 however are mounted on a floating frame- 18 which is also U-shaped and comprises vertical end walls 19 and 20, which walls fit loosely between the walls 1 and 3 of the main frame and have circular openings therein to receive and rest on to the ends of the type dial cylinder 11. This floating frame is provided with an arcuate slot 21 which receives a guide pin 22 fast in the wall 3 and adapted to hold the floating frame in upright position as it is vertically shifted by the eccentric action of the cylinder 11 when the latter turns about the cen- .bers.

ter of its supporting bearing pins 10. As shown in Fig. 1, the side wall of the plunger is cut away at 28 to receive the lever 9, and permit the latter to rock aboutits bearing 10. as the plunger rises and falls, and in thus moving to raise and lower the floating frame from full line to dotted position, Fig. 2. Theplunger carries a type 24: for printing the prefix No. of the same color as that used on the inking roll of the press. Each of the type, dials carries the type numerals from O to 9 arranged scriatz'm thereabout and adaptedin the manner wellunderstood to be. advanced step by step beginning with the numeral dial of lowest order and carrying from dial to dial as impressions are taken and the plunger 5 is reciprocated, each reciprocation serving to increase the number by. one.

It is not the. purpose of my present invention to! claim any special features or changes in. respect of. this well understood methodof operating the dials ofa number- 111g. machine, my. object being to modify it only to, such extent as is necessary'to adapt it toperform new and. additional functions in respect of two color work. Heretofore. the reciprocation. of the plunger 5 by. the printing cylinder or platen has served to rock the floating frame 18 insuch manner as-to. cause the resetting of the dials by the dogs 14' to. print serially. increasing num My preferred arrangement for adapting: thenumeral dials to print in a different color from that of the plunger type, consists. in the. provision of an endless inking ribbon 2.5 which passes over, the several dials andv then about a. guide roll 26 mounted at the lower right hand corner-of, the floating frame. From this point the ribbon passes under the mainframe. through a guide way. 27 and thence passes around a roll; 28 journaled ona removable bearing pin 29 which is mounted in an extension casing, 30. that: carries the inking font 31 and the ink drum 32 andthe ink roll- 33, whicliare respectively journaled on removablebearing-pins and 35. After passing around the roll 28 the ribbon passes under a gravity acting take-up roll 36 which ismounted on the freeend of a pivoted lever 37, and thence passes. above the dogs 1& to the type. dials. The drum 32.and:roll 28 are harclmetal rolls and the intermediate inkingroll is a. composition roll. The font: is mounted'to swing. about apivot pin 38 andby meansof set screws 39 is pressed against the drum 82. so asto apply a thin surface coatingonly of the ink thereto, in the manner well understood in'this art. A hinged top cover 40 overhangs andprotects-the ink font. The casing 30. forms a substantial continuation of equal width withthe main frame. 2. and has at its end an extension 41, equal in. length to the plunger casing so and not of the inking roll.

that it can be conveniently blocked in the printing frame. The drum 32 is fast on its ournalpin 34 which has mounted on its outer end a ratchet wheel. 42 and a rocking lever a3 carrying a pawl as disposed to engage the ratchet whichturns with the roll and advance both counter-clockwise as the lever is rocked. The lever 43 is pivotally connected by a link L5 to a stud'tS on the near upper corner of the floating frame 18 and the parts are so designed that theupward swinging movement of the floating frame and dials toward their printing position will retract the pawl a l sufficiently to engage a succeeding tooth on the ratchet wheel 42 and on the spring pressed return of the floating frame from printing position the pawl will advance the inking drum 32 one step and the rolls 33 and 28 will be rotated at the same time and the ribbon both inked and advanced. To aline and facilitate the connection of the frame of the numbering. and inking machines either of such frames is provided with dowel pins 46 in its end walls and the other frame is pro vided with dowel pin holes. The link 45 is readily. disconnectible at either end, and by the removal of set screws-47 the journal pin 29 of: the end roll 28 canlbe slipped out, thus permitting the roll to be removed and the ribbon to be released, whereupon the two frames canv be disconnected.

In. operation, the font 31 is filled with ink ofthe desired color, generally red, and after the inking and numbering: machine. frames have been connected by their dowel pins, the ribbon 25 is passed about the numbering machine parts in the manner desired andthe, roll'28 is inserted'in position so as to press the ribbon against the roll 33 while the take-up roll 36 holds it at the desired tension. The plunger 5, as is well understood, projects substantially above type high lever and asthe type dials, when in their lower position, are substantially below the type high lever, it follows that the passage of the yielding inking roll over the numbering machine will neither depress the plunger nor ink the ribbon over the type dials. l/Vhen the impression cylinder. or 11 platen however engages the plunger its spring 6 is overcome and the plunger is depressed to type high level and inso moving it acts through the connections described to raise the floating frame and the type dials also into type high position when they will .print. through the ribbon upon the sheet,

the number being inthe color of-the ribbon Immediately upon the release of the plunger, its spring 6 raises the latter and lowers the type dials in advance of the next passage of the inking roll and at the same time the movement of the floating frame, through the link 45 andratchet connections, will serve to turn the inking rolls and advance the ribbon step by step. The inking ribbon has enough slack to provide for the relative movements between the roll 28 and the type dials, this slack being taken care of and the tension maintained by the take-up roll 36. It thus follows that with a single impression the prefix No. and the numeral will be printed in different colors and without any modification of the press.

It is of course Within. the contemplation of my invention that these same results may be accomplished by other than the preferred means which I have described and I do not desire to be limited to the details of construction shown but to claim as my invention as follows:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a plunger adapted tobe fully depressed only by the printing element of a press, numeral type dials, mechanism controlled by the reciprocatory movements of the plunger to prevent the inking of the type dials by the press inking mechanism when the plunger is raised and to present the dials for cooperation with the printing element of the press when the plunger is lowered, and mechanism for inking the dials.

2. In a two-color printing numbering machine for presses, the combination of a plunger depressible by the printing element of a press, numeral dials which are relatively adjusted by said plunger and which set normally below the type high level, mechanism controlled by the depression of the plunger for raising the dials to type high level, and a separate inking means for the dials, substantially as described.

3. An automatic numbering machine at tachment for printing presses, comprising a frame carrying a depressible plunger element, numeral type dials mounted for bodily movement in the frame, mechanism for relatively adjusting the dials by the plunger 45 movements, mechanism controlled by the depression of the plunger to raise to type high level the dials which are normally below such level, and means to ink the type on the dials.

4. In an automatic numbering machine attachment for printing presses, the combination of a main frame, a spring supported depressible plunger therein, a floating frame, type dials journaled in the floating frame, 55 means controlled by the movements of the floating frame to relatively adjust the dials, means controlled by the depression of the plunger to elevate the floating frame and present the dials in printing position, and

60 means for inking the dials, substantially as described.

5. In an automatic numbering machine attachment for printing presses, a main frame carrying a depressible spring supported 65 plunger, a floating frame having journaled therein a series of type dials, means con-- trolled by the plunger for moving the dials into printing position, automatic mechanism for relatively advancing the dials to serially change the numbers to be printed, an inking ribbon movable over the dials, and mechanism for inking the ribbon, substantially as described.

6. An automatic numbering machine at tachment for printing presses comprising a type bearing depressible plunger, a spring to support the plunger, type bearing movable dials, mechanism to cause said dials to rise when the plunger is depressed and vice versa, an endless inking ribbon movable over the dials, and mechanism adjacent to the numbering machine and adapted to both feed and ink the ribbon, substantially as described.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a main frame carrying a spring supported, depressible type bearing plunger, type dials, a bearing on which the dials are rotatable, means controlled by the plunger movement to raise and lower the dial bearing, and means to ink the dials, substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a main frame carrying a depressible, spring supported, type bearing plunger, type dials, a bearing on which the dials are rotatable, eccentric means controlled by the plunger movements to raise and lower the dial bearing, and means to ink the dials, substantially as described.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a main frame carrying a depressible spring supported plunger, a crank mounted on the main frame and having a sliding connection with the plunger whereby it is rocked by the vertical movements of the plunger, a type dial cylinder eccentrically connected to said crank, type dials mounted to rotate on said cylinder, mechanism to relatively adjust the dials, and mechanism to ink the dials, substantially as described.

10. In combination, a numbering machine for' printing presses comprising a main frame, a floating frame movably mounted in the main frame, a spring supported plunger in the main frame depressible by the printing element of the press and adapted to control the movements of the floating frame, type dials mounted in the floating frame, mechanism responsive to the movements of the floating frame for relatively adjusting the dials, an endless printing ribbon passing over the dials and under the main frame, an extension casin feeding and inking mechanism for the ribbon mounted in said casing, means to connect said casing to the main frame, and tension means to take up the slack of the ribbon, substantially as described.

11. In combination, a numbering machine comprising a main frame having a bottom slideway for the ribbon, a plunger and floating frame mounted in the main frame and having operating connections, printing dials mounted in the floating frame, an endless ribbon passing over the dials and under the main frame, an inking attachment for the .main frame comprising a removable roll about Which the ribbon passes, a sleek takeup for the ribbon, and mechanism operable responsive to the movements of the dials for both feeding and inking the ribbon.

12. The combination with a numbering machine having its type dials vertically, movable and a plunger controlling the movements of the dials, of an inking attachment comprising rolls actuated responsive to the plunger movements, and an endless ribbon for inking the dials which is passed between adjacent roll-s, substantially as described;

13. The combination with a numbering machine having a plunger and dials which are relatively adjustable by the plunger movements, plunger controlled means to move the dials into and below type high level, a ribbon movable about the dials, an attachment comprising a casing detachably connected tothe numbering machine and comprising an inking font and inking rolls, and mechanism responsive to the plunger movements for moving the rolls between two of which said ribbon passes, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afliX' my signature.

MINDER A. COURTNEY.

Witness:

NoMIE Wiinsn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0."

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