US1581726A

US1581726A - Printing machine

Info

Publication number: US1581726A
Application number: US587594A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harmon P Elliott
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1922-09-11
Filing date: 1922-09-11
Publication date: 1926-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 1943-04-20

Description

April 20 1926; 1,581,726

H. P. ELLIOTT PRINTING MACHINE JOHN DOE BLANK ST.

LBLANK,KN.

Y op 0-00. 0 00 oo April 20 1926.

H. P. ELLIOTT PRINTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 11, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 20, 1926. 1,581,726

- H. P. ELLIOTT PRINTING MACHINE Inve71?oi.

ApriTZO 1926.

H. P. ELLIOTT PRINTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 11, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 wN\ max Patented Apr. 20, 1926.

TES'

PATENT OFFICE. 4

HARMON I. ELLIOTT, 0F WATERTOWN, -MA SSACHUSETTS.

PRINTING MACHINE.

Application filed September 11, 1922. Serial No. 587,594.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARMON P. ELLIOTT, a. citizen of the United States, residing at \Vatertown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Printing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to printing machines of the type wherein the printing characters are borne by stencils which are adapted to be passed through the machine in suecession whereby to effect the printing of the characters borne by them upon the work to be printed.

An object of this invention is to provide a stencil printing machine of the type above set forth especially arranged to employ a thin and flexible stencil; and a further ob ject is to provide a thin and flexible stencil especially adapted for use in connection with the printing machine.

A yet further object is generally to im-' prove the construction and operation of printing machines.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a stencil adapted for use in connection with the printing machine.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the printing machine, the inking mechanism being removed.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation along line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken along line 44 of Fig. 2, and illustrating the right hand end of the machine.

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 and illustrating the left hand end of the machine.'

Fig. 6 is a perspective detail of the stencil track construction.

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation along line 7-7 of Fig. 2, and illustrating particularly the stencil holder and stencil-removing means.

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail illustratingthe suction cups by which the stencils are engaged and removed from the stencil stack.

Fig. 9 is a detail of the stencil stack and stripping means with a bottom stencil in position to leave the stencil stack.

Fig. 10 is a side detail of the selector mechanism.

Fig. 11 is a rear elevation of the nism of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a plan detail of the selector ban.

Fig. 13 is a plan detail of the hiking mechanism.

mecha- Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the mechanism of Fig. 13. I

Fig. 15 is an end view of the ink-depositing roll. a

Fig. 16 is a partial side view of the roll of Fig. 15. i

' S Fig. 17 is a front elevation of frame for supporting the inking mechanism.

The usual form of stencil adapted for use with stencil printing machines is relatively thick and rigid and includes a frame of thick cardboard which has a window over which is secured a thin stencil sheet adapted to bear the characters to be printed. The stencil associated with this invention is indicated by the numeral 20, .Fig. 1 and is or may be formed of a single sheet of relatively thin paper and, in contrast with the usual stencil, is inherently flexible and adapted to bend. The stencil may be of any desirable shape and size and may have the characters to be printed perforated in its middle. portion, as at 21. The upper edge of the stencil is or may be formed or provided with a notch 22 for convenience in filing the sten cils, as is common practice. The stencil also may have a portion, as the lower portion thereof, which is adapted to receive one or more selector perforations 23, and said perforations may cooperate with selector mechanism of the printing machine and control the printing operation thereof.

A stencil printing machine is or may he usually arranged to support a stack of superimposed stiff and relatively inflexible stencils in position for use and means are or may be provided to engage the edge of the lowermost stencil of the stackand push or slide it from under the pile of stencils and move it through the machine. The present stencil is thin and the edge of a single stencil in a pile of stencils cannot be engaged in a practicable manner. Furthermore, the stencil is flexible and may bend or buckle if it is attempted to push it sideways from the stack by a pressure applied at the edge thereof. The printing machine embodying the present invention includes novel means to effect the removal of the thin and flexible stencils singly from a stack of stencils.

' The printing machine includes the frame 25 whichsupports a table 26, which latter is adapted to support the Work, as envelopes, sheet and the like to be printed. A stencil track is supported upon and is or may be spaced above and extended longitudinally alon the table and the work to be printed is a apted to be passed under the stencil track;' The machine also has inking mechanism including a printing roll which is above the stencil track and table, and a movable platen disposed normally below the table, and power mechanism to actuate the various components of the machine.

Power mechanism.

The power mechanism is or maybe of any usual or desirable construction and may be carried by the frame beneath the table.

Said mechanism may include a motor 27 which is'or may be connected through suitable speed-reducing mechanism to drive the shaft 28, and also the shaft 29.

Printing mechanism.

or may be extended upwardly from a fixed support, as the frame of the power mechanism, and its upper end may be connected with said shaft 34, whereby to support the table and the mechanism associated therewith against the thrust of the power mechamsm. A y

A movable platen 37 is disposed normally in a position below the. table 26 and under the stencil track and is adapted to be moved upwardly through. an aperture 38 in said table to engagethe work to be printed and hold it in engagement with-the stencil during the printing operation. Said platen 37 is or may be formed or provided with arms 37 which are or may be pivoted to the bracket whereby movably to support the platen. -A'shaft 40 is or may be extended between said arms and may bear a cam roller 41 and said roller is adapted to be engaged by a platen-actuating cam 42. Said platenactuating cam 42 is or may be pivotally mounted on said shaft 34 and may have the arm 43 connected thereto which is extended rearwardly and downwardly for ioperative connection with an operating lever 44. Said operating lever 44 is or may be pivotally mounted on said shaft 34 and may be connected through the connectingrod 45 with a crank, not shown,.carried by the shaft 28 of the power mechanism. The arrangement is such that said lever 44 is reciprocated by the power mechanism, whereby to reciprocate the platen 37 and the printing roll into and away from printing position.

Means under control of selector mechanismhereinafter to be described, are provided by which the 'printing mechanism,

' which includes the plate 37 and the printing roll, maybe disconnected from the power mechanism and. particularly from the operating lever 44, whereby to permit the power mechanism to operate and actuate other components of the machine without actuating the printing mechanism. Said means 111- cludes the latch 47 which is pivoted to the arm 43 of the platen-actuating cam and has aprojection 48 adapted to be received re-' movably in a notch 49 of the operating lever 44. A spring 50 serves to hold said latch 47 yieldingly in locking engagement with said lever 44. When said latch and lever are 111 locking engagement, said arm 43 is reciprocated in unison with said operating lever 44 but when said latch is moved away fr om engagement with said lever 44, the printing mechanism may remain idle while the power mechanism may continue to operate.

The printing mechanism includes a horizontally-elongated frame 52 which ispivotally supported on the shaft 32 carried by said bracket 30. Said frame is or may be provided, above the table 26, with the horizontally-disposed aperture 53 therein through which wide sheets or other matter may be passed after having received the impressions borne by the stencils. Said frame may be formed or provided with the spaced arms 54 which extend forwardly above the table 26, and a printing roll 55 is rotatably received between and supported by said arms and is adapted to be moved downwardly, by a movement of the supporting frame 52, into printing engagement with astencil disposed beneath said roll in the stencil track. A

transfer roll 56 is or may be also disposed between and rotatably supported by said arms 54 and is arranged inrolling engagement with said printing roll and serves to tra-nsferink from an ink roll disposed thereabove to said printing roll.

Said printing roll 55 is adapted to be reciprocated vertically to effect the printing operation-and for this purpose, said frame 52 is arranged to be reciprocated. Said frame is or may be formed or provided with a downward extension 57 and said extension may have an adjusting member comprising a bolt 58 screw-threaded therein. A block 59 maybe swiveled on the end of said bolt and a link 60 may be pivoted to said block and .the arm 43. Said arm 43 and link 60 may form toggle members by which the frame 52 may be reciprocated and the arrangement is such that the printing roll 55 may be moved into forcible engagement with the stencil and the work supported on the platen 37. Said bolt 58 provides means by which '72, see Figs. 13 and 14:. Said ink reservoir the printing pressure may be varied and the position of the printing roll above the stencil may be adjusted. A spring 62 connected with said extension 57 and a fixed support, as the arm 33 of bracket 30, may serve to hold the printing roll 55 and platen 37 away from printing position when the latch 47 is operated to disconnect the arm 43 from the operating lever 44. of the power mechanism.

It will be apparent that, as said lever 44: is reciprocated in connection with the arm 43, the platen 37 and the printing roll 55 are moved inwardly and outwardly together.

inking mechanism.

The printing and transfer rolls are supplied with ink by an inking -mechanism which is disposed above said rolls and sup ported on a bracket 64: which rises above the table 26 at the rear of the stencil track. A supporting frame 65 is secured to said bracket and is or may be formed or provided with the arms 66. Links 67 are pivoted to said arms and a shaft 68 is extended between and connected with the outer ends of said arms. Airink roll 69 is disposed between said links 67 and is or may be rotatably sup ported on said shaft 68. Said ink roll is adapted, by its weight, to bear constantly upon and roll in engagement and move vertically with said transfer roll 56 and deliver ink to said transfer roll, and, by means of said roll, to the printing roll. If desired, a spring 71 may be connected with a link 67 and a fixed support, as the frame 65, and serve partially to support the ink roll.

A supply of ink is adapted to be contained in areservoir which may be formed by the spaced end-walls 72 and the U'shaped trough member 73 which is or may be secured in fluid-tight engagement with said end-walls is adapted to be pivotally supported and for this purpose the end-wal1s 72 may be formed or provided with the rearWardly-extended arms 74 which are or may be pivotally connected removably with arms 75 of said bracket 65 by suitable means, as the split p ns 76, which latter are or may be retained yieldingly in removable connection with said arms by their own spring action.

An 1n k depositing roll 78 is rotatably supported in said ink reservoir and may have the ends of its shaft 7 9 received loosely and rotatably supported in recesses 80 of the end-walls of said ink-reservoir, whereby and roll may be lifted bodily out of the reservoir. Said roll may be formed or pro: videdwith the peripheral spiral flange 81, see Figs. 15 and 16. Said flange may be provided with a plurality of notches whereby to form a plurality of spirally-arranged teeth each of which is adapted to deliver a small amount or dotof ink from the reservoir to an ink-distributing roll 82 disposed there-above and. the arrangement is such that dots of ink are deposited uniformly over the face of said roll 82. Normally the ink depositing roll 78 is supported below and free from engagement with said roll 82 and the ink reservoir is adapted to be raised manually, as by grasping the finger S3 of the ink reservoir, whereby to .may carry a pulley 86 which is driven by a belt 87 from a counter-shaft 88, which latter may be rotatably supported by the table 26; and be driven through a belt 89 or other suitable means from the shaft 28 of the power mechanism.

Said ink-distributing roll 82 is adapted to be normally in engagement with the ink roll 69, except when said roll is moved downward during the printing operation, and serves to rotate said roll 69and the transfer roll 56 and printing roll 55, whereby to maintain a supply of ink on-said printing roll.

Said ink-distributing roll 88 preferably is reciprocated axially as well as rotated, whereby-to distribute the ink uniformly over the surface of the ink roll 67. The reciprocating means may be as described in the co-pending application of Sterling Elliott. Serial No. 432,961, filed December 24,1920, and may include a worm 92 fixed to said shaft 84 and arranged in mesh with a worm gear 93, which latter is rotatably mounted on av stub shaft 94 carried by the frame 95,

and said frame is provided with arms 96' which are loosely supported on said shaft 84 and are adapted to engage opposite sides of said worm 92. Said frame 95 also is or may be slidably supported on an arm of the bracket 65. A link 97 is eccentrically pivotally connected with said worm gear 93 and is pivotally connected with the bracket 65. This arrangement is such that the ro tary movement of said worm gear acts upon said link 97 to reciprocate the shaft 84.

The inking mechanism herewith described is claimed in a co-pending divisional application Serial No. 654,015, filed July 26, 1923.

Stencil feeding mechanism.

'The stencils are adapted to be passed in a stencil track longitudinally from theright to the left hand end of the machine, Fig. 2, between the platenv 37 and the printing roll 55 and above tlie'table 26. The unused stenoils are adapted to be contained in a vertical pile or stack in a stencil holder disposed at the right side of the machine and the used stencils ,are adapted to be deposited in a stencil holder disposed at the left side of the machine.

The stencil holder, adapted to contain stencils, is adapted to be passed through the machine may include the rectangular frame 100 which may have an opening 101 through one side thereof to permit stencils in the holder to be readily grasped for removal. L-shaped members 102 are received in the corners of and secured to said frame and extendvertically thereahove and form guidemembers for the stencils. Said frame 100 is received removably on the spacer frame 103 which is secured on a raised portion 104 of the table 20. Said spacer frame has an inner rectangular opening which conforms substantially to the shape of the stencil. and the side walls of said opening slope inwardly and downwardly whereby to center a stencil removed from the stencil pile in position to be moved into the stencil track.

Means are provided to hold the stencils in the holder and permit the lowermost stencils to be withdrawn singly and hold the re maining stencils against withdrawal. Said holding means includes the spring fingers 106 which are secured to the frame 100 and extend through slots in the corner members 102 and depend into the holder close to the side walls thereof. Said fingers are formed or provided with reflexed'end-portions 107 which form seats adapted to engage the bottom edges of the stencils and upon which the stencil stack is adapted to be supported. Other stencil-supporting members 108 are or may be carried by said frame 100 and disposed to engage the opposite side edges of the lowermost stencils. Said members 108 are preferably formed with tapered inner ends and are adjustable inwardly and out- I holding members.

' wardlv of-the stencil holder by means of' the slots 109 in said members and the screws 110 which are passed through said slots and threaded into the frame 100, whereby to center the stencils in the holder. Preferably, the lower edges of said members are or may be substantially in line with the reflexed end-portions of said spring-fingers whereby all members may co-operate to support the stencil stack.

Pneumatic means are provided whereby to utilize the flexibility of the stencils in the stack to engage the lowermost stencil and move it downwardly and flex it in engagement with the stencil-holding members and withdraw it from engagement with said Said pneumatic means may include a plurality of suction cups 115 which are or may be carried in pairs on plates 116 which, in turn, are secured to a plate 117. Said suction cups are or may have been lowered sufficiently to stri eally-reciprocahle shaft 118 which is slidably supported in a bracket 119. An arm 120 is loosely connected pivotally to the lower end of said shaft .118 and is fixed to a horizontal shaft 121, which latter is supported for reciprocating movement in a bracket 122 carried by the frame 2550f the machine.

Said shaft 121 is provided with an arm 123 fixed thereto and said arm is connected, through a connecting rod 124, with the cam lever 12!), which latter is pivoted to a fixed bracket 126 and bears a cam roller 127 which is arranged to engage an eccentric cam 128 fixed to the shaft 20 of the power mechanism. The arrangement is such that each complete rotation of said shaft 29 effects a complete reciprocatory movement of the shaft 118 and the suction cups carried thereby.

Channels 130 are formed in said suction cup-supporting

plates

116 and 117 and serve to connect said cups with an axial channel 131 in the shaft 118, through which said 'cups may be connected with a source of suction. Said shaft is or may be formed, at its lower end with a laterally-exteluled nipple 132 to which a flexible pipe 133 is secured, and said pipe is extended to and is in communication with the interior of the cylinder 135 of an air suction pump.

The cylinder of said pump is or may be secured to the frame 25 of the machine below the table 26. A piston 130 is reciprocable within said cylinder and'its connecting rod'137 is connected to the crank arm 138 of the shaft 29 of the power mechanism.

Said suction pump and suction cups are or may be, arranged to operate conjointly and the suction pump is arranged to have its piston moving on the downward stroke when the suction cups are in engagement with the lowermost stencil of the stack and are beginning their downward movement. The pump piston may also be arranged to be moving upward when the suction cups t 1e lowermost stencil from the stack, where y to effect the release of the detached stencil from the suction cups by the cessation of the suction effect and blow off and thereby forcibly detach the stencil from the suction cups. Otherwise, the pump cylinder may be provided with an opening in its side wall and in position-to be uncovered by the piston, when the suction cups are in position to release the stencil,v whereby to break the vacuum and effect the release of the stencils.

The pump cylinder maybe provided with a relief valve 140, which may be loaded by the weight 141, to keep down the pressure within the cylinder on the up stroke of the piston. I

Fig. 9 illustrates the action of thesuction cups to detach the lowermost stenc1l from the stack of stencils. The suction cups are arranged to engage the body of the stencil, preferably beyond the region which may contain the printing characters and within the edges thereofand, by suction, securely grip the stencil. As the suction cups are moved downwardly the stencil is moved downwardly with the cups. The stencil is flexible and consequently the edges thereof are flexed as illustrated in Fig. 9 and are pulled inwardly and out from between the stencil-holding members and the next lowermost stencil of the stencil stack and are finally withdrawn clear of the holding members. The remaining stencils are held b the holding members from following the lowermost stencil.

The suction cups are arranged to deposit the stencil upon, the raised portion 104 of the table 26 and release it, while the .cups may continue to move downward to a position below a pusher which serves to shde the stencils laterally into the stencil track.

The pusher comprises a member 143 which is or may be formed with a dove-tailed lower portion 144 which is adapted to slide within a complementary-shaped 'slot 145 in a bracket 145 which latter is carried by the table 26 and as an, extension thereof. Said pusher includes the spaced arms 146 which are slidably received in parallel slots 147 extended lengthwise the'raised portion 104 of the table and beneath the stencil holder. Said arms extend above said raised portion and the inner ends of said arms are adapted to engage an edge of a stencil lying on said raised portion and move it laterally into the stencil track and into engagement with other stencil-moving means.

' Said pusher is adapted to be reciprocated in and out of the stencil holder in timed relation with the reciprocating movement of the suction cups and said pusher may be reciprocated by the lever 148 which latter is pivoted to a bracket 149 secured to the table of the machine. Said lever may be formed with a bi-furcated end-portion 150 between the furcations of which a block 151 may be slidably received; and said block may be pi'votally carried by the pusher. The other end of said lever'148 may be provided with a cam roller 152 which is adapted to be en gaged by a face-cam 153, which latter is or may be fixed to a horizontal shaft 154. Said shaft 154 may be rota'tably supported in suit-- able brackets, as the

brackets

149 and 155, which aresecured to said table 26, and said shaft may extend across the rear portion of said table.

Said shaft may be driven in timed relation with other components of the machine by suitable positive driving means as the sprocket 156 fixed to said shaft, and the chain 157 which meshes with said sprocket and a sprocket 158 fixed to the shaft 29 of the power mechanism. Suitable chaintightening means may be provided, as the idler pulleys 159 and 160, which are rotatably supported on stud shafts which are vertically adjustable in the vertical slot 162 of the standard 163. Y

The pusher operates after each down movement of the suction cups to move a detached stencil from the lower portion of the stencil holder into the stencil track.

The stencil track includes the parallel y printing roll and above the platen. A plate 171 is secured to the lower faces of said side rails and forms a support over which the stencils are moved. Flat strips 172 are secured to the proximate faces of said side rails and are spaced above the bottom plate 171 whereby to form grooves or tracks 17 3 in which the opposite edges of the stencils are received and retained. The ends of said strips 172 adjacent said stencil holder are or may be relieved whereby to facilitate the entrance of the stencils into the track.

Means are provided whereby to receive the stencils as they are delivered into the track from the stencil holder and drive them along the track into a selector position, hereinafter to be described, and into printing position and finally deliver them into a stencil re ceiver at the end of the track. Said driving means may include the shaft 175 which is or may be supported rotatably in bracket-s 176 parallel to the stencil track and, as here shown, at the rear of the stencil track,

although said shaft may be otherwise disposed. Said shaft may be rotated positively in timed relation with the movement of other components of the machine from the shaft 154 and by a chain 177 which passes over and is in positive driving engagement With

sprockets

178 and 179 carried by and fixed to said

shafts

175 and 154 respectively.

A plurality of driving rollers 180, preferably having relatively yielding driving faces, are supported rotatably in suitable brackets 181 and extend downwardly into the stencil track to engage and drive the stencils therein; and said rollers are or may be driven from said shaft 175 by thesets of spiral gears 182 carried by said shaft and rollers. Spring members or shoes 184 are or may be fixed to a suitable stationary part of the machine and the free ends thereof may extend through apertures 185' in the bottom plate 171 of the stencil tracks disposed beneath said rollers 180 and serve to press the stencils into driven engagement may be moved forward after a predetermined period of rest to permit the operation of the selector mechanism, hereinafter to be described, and the printing mechanism.

Said sectors are fixed to

shafts

189 and 190 respectively which are rotatably supported in fixed bearing supports and are driven positively from the shaft 175 through the sets of large and

small bevel gears

191 and 191 respectively.

Each stencil is adapted to be held at rest for a short period of time in the stencil track between the first driving roll 180 and the sector 187 to permit the operation of the selector mechanism. Means are or may be provided to arrest the stencils accurately in a predetermined position between said roll and sector and said means may include a latch 195 which may be pivoted toa bracket 195 carried by a side rail 170 of the stencil track. One end 192 of said latch is adapted to enter the stencil track and bear against the bottom plate 171 thereof and engage an edge of a stencil and .hold it from further movement along the track, until the latch is raised to permit the stencil to pass there under. In the particular embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, said latch is adapted to enter the notch 22 formed in the top edge of the stencil and engage. an edge thereof but the latch may be arranged to engage another part of the stencil. Said latch is adapted to be raised and lowered at the proper time, whereby to release or hold a stencil, by a earn 193 which is fixed to engage the end portion 194 of said latch 195 and operate it.

Said latch is arranged to engage a stencil just as it passes from beneath the bite of the first driving roll 180 and hold it from further forward movement to permit the operation of the selector mechanism. The sector 187 is so arranged and timed that, after the selector mechanism has operated, it has rotated into a position to engage the stencil and move it along the track and into the bite of the next drivin roll. Said driving roll moves the stenci along the track and into printing position under the printing roll 55 and above the platen 37. A pivotally-supported and weighted shoe 196 may be arranged to engage the stencil and.

hold it yieldingly in 1printing position, and while the printing ro and platen move inwardly on the printing operation. 11 printing position, the stencil is held a ovean aperture 197 in the bottom plate 171 of the track and the middle stencil is adapted to be pressed downwardly by the printing roll through said track and into engagement with the work disposed beneath the track and supported by the platen 37/ After the printing operation is completed,

the sector 188 is so arranged and timed as to engage the stencil and move it along the track and deliver it to driving rollers, which latter deliver it into a stencil receiver 198 disposed at the end of and below the stencil track.

Selector apparatus.

dresses of its customers may be grouped together. A selector mechanism is therefore employed to enable the printing machine to be set to select automatically the proper stencils for printing and pass all other stencils through the machine without operating it to print from such stencils.

Said selector mechanism may include an insulated bar 200 which is or may be formed with a plurality of apertures 201 which are adapted slidably to receive selector pins 202, which latter may be held yieldingly in said bar by the springs 203 connecting said pins with said bar. Said bar is adapted to be moved downwardly by suitable mechanism and said pins202 are adapted to register in position with the selector perforation positions 23 in the stencil; As many selector pins as required will be placed in suitable positions in the selector bar. When said bar is moved downward to .bring the pins into contact with the stencil, if no perforation is in register with a selector pin, the printing mechanism is arranged to be inoperative and the stencil will pass through the machine without being used. If, however, a stencil perforation is in register with a selector pin, said pin will pass through said perforation and make contact with the stencil track and complete an electric circuit which controls the operation of .the printing mechanism; and controls saidmechanism to print from the stencil. WVith this arrangement only those stencils having selector perforations corresponding to the position of the selector pins will be selected for use and all others will pass through the machine unused.

Said selector bar 200 is secured tothe ends. of arms 205 which extend above the stencil track and the shaft 175 and areformed with a "common hub 206 which is fixed to the shaft 207. Said shaft is rotat-- "ably supported in a bracket 208 carried by the table 26 and is insulated from saidbracket by suitable means, as by insulating bushings carried by said bracket in which said shaft is rotatably received. Said shaft 207 may have an arm 209. fixed thereto and a link 209 may e'onnect said arm pivotally with an arm 210 fixed to a shaft 211 and said shaft 211 may be rotatably supported in the fixed bracket 212. Said link 209 is insulated from said shaft 211 and consequently the selector bar 200 is insulated from the frame of the machine and is adapted to form one terminal of the control circuit for the printing mechanism, and the frame of the machine is adapted to form the other terminal of the control circuit.

Said shaft 211 has an arm 214 fixed there to which bears a cam roll. 215 and said cam roll is arranged to be engaged by a cam 216 fixed to the shaft 154 and 'a spring 217 serves to maintain said roll in engagement with said cam. The arrangement is such that said cam serves to reciprocate the selector bar 200 in timed relation with the operation of other components of the machine.

The selector is adapted to govern a control circuit which includes the electro-magnet 220 carried by a bracket 221, which latter is or may be secured to the rear edge of the table 26. Said electro-magnet is adapted to control an armature 222 which is pivoted on the screw 223 of the frame 212; and said armature is adapted to control the engagement and disengagement of the latch 47, Fig. 3, with the operating lever 44, whereby to render the printing mechanism operative or disable it undercontrol of stencils passing along the stencil track.

. or this purpose a lever 225 is pivotally supported by a depending arm 226 of the bracket 212 and has an offset fiat cam face 227 which is adapted to be engaged by a cam roll 228 carried by the upper end of said latch 47. The upper end of said lever 225 is provided with a cam roll 229 which is adapted to bear against a cam 230 fixed to the .shaft 154 and a spring 232 may serve to maintain sai-d cam roll in engagement with said cam. Said lever 225 is or may be provided with an extension 233 at its upper end which is adapted to be engaged.

by a gravity-operated latch 234 pivoted on the shaft 211, to hold said lever in the extreme position in which it is moved by said cam 230. Said latch is controlled by the armature 222, the end 235 of which is ex-- rocated at each rotation of the cam 230. The

upwardly a suflicient distance to move the cam roll 228 of the latch 47 clear of the end of said lever 225, so that said lever may reciprocate without disconnecting said latch 47 from the lever 44. With this arrangement each stencil will be used as it passes under the printing roll.

When, however, a stencil passes under the selector bar 200 and none of the pins thereof pass through selector perforations in the stencil, the electro-magnet 220 will not be energized and, consequently, said latch 234 will be in position to engage and hold the lever 225 at the outer end of its stroke and against further control by its cam 230. When the operating lever 44 descends on the return part of its stroke, the roll 22S carried by said latch 48 is moved downwardly into engagement with the flat cam face 227 of the lower end of the lever 225 and the latch is forced out of engagement with the operating lever 44, thereby disconnecting the printing mechanism from the power mechanism. The stencil-feeding and the selector-actuating mechanism continue to 0p era-te, however, and stencils continue to be moved along the stencil track. When a stencil having properly-positioned selector perforations is moved under the selector bar, the electro-magnet 220 is energized and releases the lever 225 and, when the operating lever 44 reaches about the bottom of its stroke, the latch 47 engages said lever and connects thev printing mechanism with the power mechanism for operation. During this movement, the stencil will have been moved into a printing position under theprinting roll and remains in such position while the printing mechanism operates.

The structure may be otherwise modified Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim: a

1. In a printing machine adapted to operate on a stackof flexible stencils characterized by having perforate printing characters in the middle thereof, a substantially vertical holder for a stack of stencils having holding means arranged to engage the edge of the lowermost stencils, means disposed below the stencil holder to withdraw the lowermost stencils singly from the stack comprising movable suction means arranged to engage the lowermost stencil at several points beyond the perforations and about and in from the edge thereof and withdraw the stencil against the holding means and flex the stencil out of engagement with said holdin means, and printing mechanism operab e upon the withdrawn stencils.

2. In a printing machine adapted tooperate from .a series of stencils, a table, a holder for a stack of stencils disposedabovesaid table, a suction device arranged to engage and remove the lowermost stencil of the stack downwardly and deliverit onto said table, a stencil track, and a reciprocatory pusher slidable on said table arranged to move beneath and engage the edge of a stencil thereon and move itonto said stencil track.

3. In a printing machine adapted to operate on a series of stencils, a holder adapted to hold a stack of stencils, a stencil track, means to deliver stencils from said holder to the track, and driving rolls arranged to engage the marginal portions of said stencils in said track and move them along said track. I

4. In a printing machine adapted to operate on a series of stencils, a holder adapted to hold a stack of stencils, a stencil track, means to deliver stencils from said holder to the track, and a plurality of driving rolls disposed in spaced alignment along the length of said-track arranged to engage the marginal portions of the stencils therein andniove them along the track.

5, In a printing machine adapted to operate on a series of stencils, a holder adapted to hold a stack of stencils, a stencil track, means to deliver stencils from said holder to the track, and means to move the stencils along said track comprising a driving roll disposed above said track and arranged to engage the margins of the stencils thereon, and means to press the stencils into driving engagement With said roll.

6. In a printing machine adapted to operate on a series of stencils, a holder adapted to hold a stack of stencils, a stencil track, means to deliver stencils from said holder to the track, and means. to move the stencils along said track comp-rising a driving roll disposed above said track and arranged to engage the stencils thereon, and means to press the stencils into driving-engagement with said roll comprising a spring-shoe disposed below said roll and the path of the stencils on the track.

7. In a printing machine adapted to operate on a series of stencils, a holder adapted to contain 'a stack of stencils, a stencil track, and stencil-driving mechanism including a pair of continuously rotatable driving Wheels disposed in line above said track and spaced farther apart than the length of a1.

stencil, and means disposed between said Wheels arranged intermittently to move into stencil-engaging position and arrangedto move the stencils from one to the other wheel. Y a

In a printing machine adapted to 0p erate on a series of stencils, a holderadapted to contain a stackyof stencils, a stencil track, means to deliver stencils from the holder to said track, and a continuously-operating driving mechanism having a combination of stencil driving wheels and an intervening driving sector arranged to pro-' vidc intermittent movement of said stencils along said track. 1

9. In a printing machine adapted'to' operate on a series of stencils, a holder adapted to contain a stack of stencils, a stencil track, means to deliver stencils from the holder to said track, and a continuouslyoperating driving mechanism having a rotatable sector arranged intermittently to engage and move said stencils along said track and driving wheels arranged to feed stencils to and take them from said sector.

10. In a printing machine adapted to 0p erate on a series of stencils, the combination of a holder'for a stack of stencils, a stencil track, means to deliver stencils from said holder onto said track, printing mechanism and selector mechanism disposed above said track and the stencils thereon and arranged to engage said stencils, means arranged to actuate said mechanism and means disposed,

ahead of said mechanisms arranged to drive said stencils along said track also arranged to arrest the movement of said stencils momentarily in positions under said mechanisms.

11. In a printing machine adapted to operate on a series of stencilsthe combination of a holder fora stack of stencils, a stencil track, means to deliver stencils from said holder onto said track, printing mechanism and selector mechanism disposed above said track and the stencils thereon and arranged to engage said stencils, means arranged to actuate said mechanisms, means disposed ahead of said selector mechanism arranged to drive said stencils to a position under said selector mechanism, means disposedahead of said printing mechanism arranged subsequently to engage and drive said stencils to a position under said printing mechanism, and means arranged subsequently to remove said stencils from such osition.

12. In a printing mac ine adapted to operate on a series of stencils, the combination of a holder for a stack of stencils, a stencil track, means to deliver stencils from said holder onto said track, printing mechanism and selector mechanism disposed above said track and the stencils thereon and arranged to engage said stencils, means arranged to actuate said mechanisms, means disposed ahead of said selector mechanism arranged to drive said stencils to a position under said selector mechanism, driving means including an intermittently actuating elementdisposed ahead of said printing mechanism arranged subsequently to engage and drive said stencils to a osition under said printing mechanism, and intermittently actuating means arranged subsequently to remove said stencils from such osition.

13. In a printing machine a apted to operate on a series of stencils, the combination of a holder for'a stack of stencils, a stencil track, means to deliver stencils from said holder onto said track, printing mechanism and selector mechanism disposed above said track and the'stencils thereon and arranged to engage said stencils, means arranged to V actuate said mechanisms, means arranged to drive said stencils to a position under said selector mechanism, driving means including means intermittently movable to a stencil-engaging position arranged subsequently to engage and drive said stencil to a position under said printing mechanism, and other driving means including means intermittently movable to a. stencil-engaging po sition arranged subsequently to engage said stencils and remove them from beneath said print-ing mechanism.

14. In a printing machine adapted to operate on a series of stencils, the combination of a holder for a stack of stencils, a

' stencil track, means to deliver stencils from said holder onto said track, printing mechanism and selector mechanism disposed above said track and the stencils thereon and arranged to engage said stencils, means arranged to actuate said mechanisms, means arranged to drive said stencils to a position under said selector mechanism, driving means including a driving roll and a driving sector arranged subsequently toengage and drive the stencils to a position under' along said track.

16. In a printing machine adapted to operate on a series of stencils, a holder adapted to contain a stack of stencils, a stencil track, means todeliver stencils from said holder tosaid track, and driving means including a plurality of driving sectors arranged to engage and drive the stencils intermi-ttently along said track.

v 17. In a printing machine adapted to operate on a'series of stencils, a holder adapted to contain a stack of stencils, a stencil track, means to deliver stencilsfrom said holder to said track, and driving means including aplurality of driving rolls andsecto'rs arranged to engage and drive said stencils along said trac 18. In .a printing machine adapted to operate on a series of stencils, a holderadapted to contain a stack of stencils, a stencil track, a selector mechanism disposed above said track. arranged to operate on the stencils therein, and means to move stencils from said holder along said track including means independent of the aforesaid stencil moving means arranged intermittently to move stencils to a position beneath said selector apparatus.

19. In a printing machine adapted to operate on a series of stencils, a holder adapted to contain a stack of stencils, a stencil track, selector mechanism disposed above said track arranged to operate on the stencil thereunder, and means to move stencils from said holder along said track including means arranged intermittently to move stenoils to a position beneath said selector apparatus and means positively to hold said stencils intermittently in such position.

20. In a printing machine adapted to operate on aseries of stencils aholder adapted to contain a stack of stencils, a stencil track, selector mechanism disposed above said track arranged to operate on the stencils therein, and means to move stencils from said holder along said track including means arranged intermittently to move stencils to a position beneath said'selector apparatus, means positively to hold said stencils intermittently in such position, and means to release said holding means.

21. In a' printing machine adapted to operate on a series of stencils, a holder adapted to contain a stack of stencils, a stencil track, selector mechanism disposed above said track arranged to operate on the stencils therein, and means to move stencils from said holder along said track including means arranged intermittently to move stencils to a position beneath said selector apparatus and means positively to hold said stencils intermittently in such position, comprising means to engage the stencils.

22. In a printin machine adapted to operate on a series 0% stencils, a holder adapted to contain a stack of stencils, a stencil track, selector mechanism disposed above said track arranged to operate on the stencils therein, and means to move stencils from said holder along said track including means arranged intermittently to move stencils to a position beneath said selector apparatus, means positively to hold said sten cils intermittently in such position, comprising means to engage the stencils and means to release said holding means.

.23. In a printing machine adapted to operate on a series of stencils, a holder adapted to contain a stack of stencils, astencil track, selector mechanism disposed above said track arranged to operate on the stencils therein, and means to move stencils from said holder along said track including means arranged intermittently to move sten oils to a position beneath said selector a paratus, and means positively to hold said stencilsintermittently in such position, com- 'and means positively to hold said stencils intermittently in such position, comprising means to engage an edge of the stencils and means to release said holding means.

25. In a printing machine adapted to operate on a series of stencils, a holder adapted to contain a stack of Stencils, a stencil track, selector mechanism disposed above said track arranged to operate on the stencil therein, and means to move stencils from said holder along said track including means arranged intermittently to-move stencils to a position beneath said selector apparatus and means positively to hold said stencils intermittently in such position comprising a lever] adapted to be moved into the path of movement of the stencils in the stencil track and engage edges of the stencils.

26. In a printing machine adapted to operate on a series of stencils, a holder adapted to contain a stack of stencils, a stencil track, selector mechanism disposed above said track arranged to operate on the stencils therein, and means to move stencils from said holder along said track including means arranged intermittently to move stencils to a position beneath said selector apparatus and means positively to hold said stencils intermittently in such position comprising a lever adapted to be moved into the path of movement of the stencils in the stencil track and engage edges of the stencils and means to move said lever away from stencil-engaging position. 27. In a printing machine adapted to operate on a series of stencils, the combination of printing mechanism, means to feed a series of stencils through the printing mechanism, continuously operating power mechanism for both said printing mechanism and stencil feeding means, means to disconnect said printing mechanism from said power mechanism, and electrically-governed controlling means for said disconnecting means including contact members disposed on opposite sides of the stencils and adapted to pass through perforations in the stencils and into contactto control the circuit for said electrically-governed controlling means.

28. In a. printing machine adapted to operate on a series of stencils, the combination of printing mechanism, means to feed a series of stencils through said printing mechanism, power mechanism for operating said printing mechanism and said stenciling mechanism releasingly with said power mechanism, selector mechanism in control of said connecting means including relatively movable circuit-terminal members disposed on opposite sides of the stencils and between which the stencils are adapted to be passed-and means governed by the stencils arranged to move saldcircuit-terminal members into contact, whereby to control said connecting means' 29. In a printing machine adapted'to operate on a series of stencils, the combination of printing mechanism arranged normally ,to be inoperative, means to feed a series of stencils through said printing mechanism, and electrically-operated means to control the operation of said printing mechanism including selector mechanism having relatively movable contact members disposed on opposite sides of the stencils and between which the stencils are adapted to be passed, and means governed by the stencils arranged to pass the movable contact member through thestencils and into engagement with the stationary contact member, whereby to render operative said printing mechanism.

30. In a printing machine adapted to operate on a series ofstencils, the combination of printing mechanism including a reciprocating arm, power mechanism including a feeding means, means to connect said printreciprocating lever, means including a latch arranged releasingly to connect said reciprocating arm and lever, power-actuated means to throw out said latch, meansfto feed a series of stencils through said printing mechanism, and means to control the connection between said power and printing mechanisms including a reciprocating latchoperating lever, means to reciprocate. said lever in timed relation with the cycle of operation of said printing mechanism, and selector apparatus governed by the stencils arranged to control the operation of said power-actuated means.

31. In a printing machine adapted to opcrate on a series of stencils, thecombination of printing mechanisms including a reciprocating arm, power mechanism including a reciprocating lever, means including a latch arranged releasingly to connect said reciprocating arm and lever, means to feed a series of stencils through said'printing mechanism, and means to control the connection between said power and printing mechanisms including a reciprocating latchoperating lever, means to reciprocate said lever in timed relation with the cycle of operation of said printing mechanism, and selector apparatus governed by the stencils arranged to control the operation of said latch-operating lever, said apparatus including a locking member for said latch-operating lever operable to hold said latch-operatllO ing lever against operation, and electrically controlled means to govern said locking member.

32. In a printing machine adapted to operate on a series of stencils, the combination of printing mechanism including a reciprecating arm, power mechanism includ-- -mg a reciprocating lever, means including a latch arranged releasingly to connect said reciprocating arm and lever, means to feed a series of stencils hrough said printing mechanism, and means to control the connection betweeen said power and printing mechanisms including a reciprocating latchoperating lever, means to reciprocate said. lever in timed relation with the cycle of operation of said printing mechanism, and

- selector apparatus governed by the stencils arranged to control the operation of said latch-operating lever, said apparatus including a locking-member for said latch-operating lever operable to' hold said'latch-operating lever against operation, and electricallycontrolled means to govern said lockingmember, including an armature arranged to govern said locking-member, and an electromagnet for said armature controlledby the stencils. I 1

33. In a printing machine adapted to oper-- ate on a series of stencils, the combination of printing mechanism including a reciprocating arm, power mechanism including a reholder er having holding means arranged to engage ciprocating lever, means including a latch arranged releasingly to connect said reciproca'ting arm and-lever, means to feed a series of stencils through said printing mechanism, and means to control the connection between said power and printing mechanisms including a reciprocating latch-operating lever,

means to reciprocate it in timed relation with the cycle of operation of said printing mechanism, and selector apparatus governe by the stencils arranged to control the operation of said latch-operating lever, saidapparatus including a locking-member for said latch-operating lever operable to hold said latch-operating lever against operation, and electrically-controlled means to govern said locking-member including an armature .arranged togovern said locking-member, an electro-magnet for said armature, relatively movable contact members between which the stencils are adapted to be passed, and means governed by the stencils arranged to effect the engagement of said contact members.

34. In a printing machine, the combina tion of a plurality of flexible stencils characterized by having perforate printing characters in the middle thereof and an imperforate marginal portion surrounding said printin characters, a substantially vertical %or a stack of said stencils, said hold the edge of the lowermost stencil, means disposed below said stencil holder to-withdraw the lowermost stencils singly from the stack' most stencil of the stack and remove it.

downwardly and deliver it onto said table,

a stencil track, and a reciprocatory pusher slidable on. said table arranged to move beneath and engage the end of a stencil thereon and move it onto said stencil track.

36. In a printing machine, the combination of a plurality of stencils, a holder con taining a stack of said stencils, a stencil track, and means to deliver said. stencils from said holder to said track, and driving rolls arranged to engage the marginal portions of said stencils in said track and move them along said track.

37. In aprinting machine, the combination of a plurality-. ofstencils, a holder adapted to contain a stack of'said stencils,

a stencil track, means to deliver said stencils from said holder tosaid track and a continuously o erating driving mechanism having a rotata le sector arranged intermittently to engage and move said stencils along said-track and driving wheels arranged to feed stencilsto and take them from said sector.

38. In a printing machine, the combination of a plurality of stencils, a holder for a stack of said stencils, a stencil track, means to deliver stencils from said holder onto said track, printing mechanism and selector mechanism disposed above said track and the stencils thereon and arranged to engage said stencils, means arranged to actuate said mechanism, means disposedahead of said selector mechanism arranged to drive said stencils to a position under said selector mechanism, means disposed ahead of said printing mechanism arranged subseqrientl to engage and drive said stenc1lstoapos1- tion under said rinting mechanism, and

means arranged su sequently to remove said stencils from said positions.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

Harmon P. ELLIOTT.