US1724671A - Machine for powdering plates to be etched - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 13, 1929. w, LOGAN 1,724,671

MACHINE FOR POWDERING PLATES Tb BE ETCHED Filed June 10, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 13, 1929. w. J. LOGAN I f 1,724,671 7 MACHINE FOR POWDERING PLATE S TO BE ETQHED Filed June 1 0, 1926 E Sheets-Sheet' 2 Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM J. LOGAN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

MACHINE FOR POWDERIN G PLATES TO BE ETCHED.

Application filed June 10,

This invention relates to machines for powdering plates to be etched, and has for its main object to provide a machine of simple compact construction, which is adapted to carry out the successive steps of brushing and heating at the will of the operator after the plates have been manually covered with powder.

ith the above and other objects in view as will be understood, the invention will be hereinafter fully described as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and the novel features thereof will be distinctly pointed out in the appended claims.

y In the drawings similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is an elevation looking at the lefthand end of the machine,

Fig. 3 is a plan View of Fig. 1, the hood being removed to better show the construction,

Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 2 looking at the right hand end of the machine,

Fig. 5 illustrates the mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the plate supporting rack to the threaded shaft, the lever '30 being in engagement with the threaded shaft,

Fig. 6 is a rear view of the upper part of the arm shown in Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a similar view to Fig. 5, the lever being disengaged from the threaded shaft.

Referring to the drawings 1 represents a suitable frame for supporting the stove for heating the plates to be etched. The stove consists of a plurality of gas burners indicated by 2, which gas burners are connected to a manifold 3 and this to a horizontal pipe 4, a downwardly extending pipe 5 and rearwardly extending pipe 6, which is adapted to be connected to the gas supply pipe. An automatically closing shut-off valve 7 is provided in the pipe 6, and this valve is opened to admit gas to the burners 2 by means of a foot-lever 8 which is pivoted to the frame at 9 and connected to the stem of said valve by a'link 10. The foot-lever 8 is provided with a pedal 11. An electrical igniting device 12 adapted to be actuated by the operator throwing a conveniently placed switch 13 is employed for quickly lighting the gas from the burners. Said stove frame is placed at the end of a suitable frame 14 for supporting 1926. Serial No. 114,959.

the mechanism now to be described. This frame 14, as does also the top of the frame 1 of the stove, supports a pair of angle irons 15 and 16 to provide rails for slidably supporting a rack 17 consisting of side bars 18 and 19 connected together by transverse bars 20, upon which are laid the plates after being powdered to be brushed and the powder burned thereto. Said plate is indicated by 21. The bars 20 are recessed or notched at 22 to permit the passage of the flames and heat from the burners of the stove under said plate. The end uprights of the frame 14 project above the tops thereof as at 2324 and 2526, and uprights 2728 are arranged opposite the uprights 23-24. Fixed to the inner faces of the uprights 23-27 and 2428 are pairs of bearings indicated by 29 and 30, which support transverse shafts 31 and 32 having fixed thereto pulleys 33 and 34, over which pass an endless belt 35. Transversely arranged brushes 36 are suitably fixed to the belt 35 for brush ing the powdered plate 21 as it passes thereunder. The downward pressure of the brushes 36 upon the powdered plate 21 tends to force the belt 35 upwardly and for preventing this upward movement of the belt, a guide 37 supported by the uprights 27 and 28 is provided at the inner side of the under side of said belt which slides thereunder.

The rack 17 which is normally over the burners 2 of the stove, is first moved quickly to the right for receiving the powdered plate 21 and then returned slowly carrying the powdered plate under the transversely traveling brushes 36 to its original position over the stove by means of the following described mechanism. The shaft 32 is extended and its other end is rotatably supported in a bearing 38 fixed to the upright extension 26 of the frame. The extension of the shaft 32 is threaded at 39, and fixed to its outer end is a toothed-wheel 40, over which passes achain 41 driven by an electric motor 42. Said motor is supported by a platform 43 of the frame and it is controlled by the operator by means of a conveniently located switch 44. An arm 45 is fixed at 46 to the end transverse bar of the rack 17, and formed integrally with its upper extension 47 is a pair of rearwardly extending lugs 48 and 49, which are provided with transverse openings at 50 for loosely receiving and sliding over the threaded shaft 39. For connecting and disconnecting the move'ment'of the rack 17.

threaded shaft 39 to the arm 47, a depending lever 51 is pivoted at 52 between a pair of cars 53 and 54 formed integrally with said extension of said arm, and a blade or tooth 55 forming a part of said lever is adapted to enter the space between the lugs 13 and 19 and between the teeth of said shaft. A suitable weight 56 at the freeend of the lever 51 tends to hold its blade or tooth 55 in firm engagement with the threaded shaft 39, and when so engaged, the arm 47 is forced forwardly or to the left and consequently the rack 17 is moved in the same direction. In order to move the rack 17 rearwardly or to the right quickly, which is accomplished by the action of a weight, the free end of the lever 51 is first raised upwardly a sufficient distance to disconnect its blade or tooth from the threaded shaft 39 but not clear of the lugs 18 and 49, and then held in said position, all as will now be described. A rod. or shaft 57 is rotatably supported in bearings 58 and 59 fixed to the uprights 26 and 28 of the frame 14, and a pair of arms 60 and 61 are rigidly connected to said shaft and to their ends is fixed bar 62 which is adapted to engage and serve as a guide for the lever 51. A lever-arm 63 is fixed to the end of the shaft 57, and its free end is pivoted to a connecting-rod 64 having its other end pivoted to a foot-lever 65, which is pivota-lly supported at 65 to the frame. The foot-lever '65 is provided with a pedal 67. When the operator presses upon the pedal 67, the lever 51 is raised, and the arm 47 being disconnected from and loose upon the threaded shaft 39, permits the action of a suitable weight 68, which is attached to a cable 69 passing over a pulley 70 and under a pulley 71 and connected to a coiled spring 72 havingits other end connected to the rack 17, to return said rack to its rear or righthand position. A stop 73 is adapted to limit the upward movement of the weight 68 before the rack 17 reaches the end of its forward or left-hand movement, so that there will be some tension upon the coiled spring 72 for startingthe rack rearwardly or to the right upon the disconnecting of the blade or tooth of the lever 51 from the threaded shaft 39. Stops, as indicated by 74. are fixed to the rails 15 and 16 for limiting thereturn After heating the plate 21over the stove to bake the powder thereon, and before applyingthereto another coating of powder, said plate is cooled quichly by means of air supplied by a fan 75, which is directly connected to and driven by an electric motor 7 6. An air pipe '77 leads from the 'fan 75'to the underside of he plate 21. A conveniently located'switch 78 is provided foroperatingtheelectric motor 7 6.

The u'pperpart of the frame 14 is preferably enclosed by a suitable hood as indieated'at 79,which is provided wit-han pening at 80 for passin the plates therethrough to the rack 17 after being manually sprinkled with powder, and an opening at 81 for permitting said raclr to pass in and out thereof. A drawer 82 is slidably supported upon rails 83 and 84: fixed to the uprights of the frame let for holding the powder to be sprinkled upon the plates, and also for receivingthe surplus powder brushed from the plates.

In practice the rack 17 is over the burners 2 of the stove, ano the blade or tooth 55 of the lever 51 is in engagement with the threaded shaft 39. The operator sprinkles powder taken from the drawer 82 upon the plate 21, and then steps upon the pedal 25, which causes the blade or tooth 55 to be lifted free of the threaded shaft 39 and permits the weight 68 to force the rack 17 rearwardly or to the right and over the powder drawer 82. He then lays the plate upon the rack 17 and releases the pedal 25, which causes the blade or tooth 55 to again engage the threaded shaft 39. Upon starting the electric motor 12 by means of the switch 44s, the rack 17 is forced forwardly or to the left thereby carrying the plate 21 under the transversely traveling brushes '36 for brushing the surplus powder therefrom. lVhen the rack 17 with the powder thereon is over the burners 2 of the stove, the operator stops the electric motor 42. He then steps upon the pedal 11 thereby opening the valve 7 f r admitting gas to the burners 2 of the stove, and at the same timeoperates switch 13 to ignite the from the burners for burning the powder to the plate. After the baking of the powder, the gas is extinguished by releasing the pedal 11, and the other electric motor 76 started by means of the switch 78 to cause the fan 75 to force air upon the plate and thereby cool the same, after which said electric motor is stopped. The plates have now been powdered once, and as it is necessary to powderthe plates several times, said successive steps are repeated after each sprinkling of the powder upon the plate.

From the drawings and description it will be seen that by means of this compact and conveniently operated machine, the successive steps necessary to the elficient powdering of plates to be etched may be carried out quickly. I

Having fully described my invention what 1 claim is:

1. In a machine for powdering plates to be etched, the combinationof a rack, a stove, brushes, the rack being adapted to move under the brushes and over the stove, the brushes being adapted to move as the rack in res thereunder, means for moving the rack slowly in one direction, means "for moving the brushes, and means for moving the rack quickly 111 the other direction for returningt 1e rack to its original position.

moves thereunder,

2. In a machine for powdering plates to be etched, the combination of a rack, a stove, brushes, the rack being adapted to move under the brushes and over the stove, the brushes being adapted to move as the rack moves thereunder, a rotatably supported shaft, means for rotating the shaft, means for moving the rack by rotation of the shaft, and means for moving the brushes by the rotation of the shaft.

3. In a machine for powdering plates to be etched, the combination of a rack, a stove, brushes, the rack being adapted to move under the brushes and over the stove, the brushes being adapted to move as the rack a rotatably supported shaft, means for rotating the shaft, means for moving the rack slowly in one direction by the rotation of the shaft, means for moving the brushes by the rotation of the shaft, and means for moving the rack quickly in the other direction for returning the rack to its original position.

4. In a machine for powdering plates to be etched, the combination of a rack, a stove, bruches being adapted to move as the rack der the brushes and over the stove, the brushes being adapted to move as the rock moves thereunder, a rotatably supported shaft, means for rotating the shaft, the shaft being threaded, an arm fixed to the rack, means whereby the arm may be connected to and disconnected from the threaded shaft, means for moving the brushes by the rotation of the shaft, and means for moving the rack upon disconnection of the arm from the shaft.

5. In a machine for powdering plates to be etched, the combination of a rack, a stove, brushes, the rack being adapted to move under the brushes and over the stove, the brushes being adapted to move as the rack moves thereunder, a rotatably supported shaft. means for rotating the shaft, the shaft being threaded, an arm fixed to the rack, means whereby the arm may be connected and disconnected from the threaded shaft, means for moving the brushes by the rotation of the shaft, and means forimparting to the rack quick movement in the other direction upon disconnection of the arm from the shaft for returnin the rack to its original position.

6. In a machine for powdering plates to be etched, the combination of a rack, a stove, brushes, the rack being adapted to move under the brushes, and over the stove, the brushes being adapted to move as the rack moves thereunder, a rotatably supported shaft, means for rotating the shaft, the shaft being threaded, an arm fixed to the rack, a lever pivoted to the arm and adapted to engage the threaded shaft for moving the rack in one direction. means for disengaging the lever from the threaded shaft and holding it in the disconnected position, and means for quickly returning the rack upon disconnection of the lever from the shaft.

7. In a machine for powdering plates to be etched, the combination of a rack, a stove, brushes, the rack being adapted to move under the brushes, and over the stove, the brushes being adapted to move as the rack moves thereunder, a rotatably supported shaft, means for rotating the shaft, the shaft being threaded, an arm fixed to the rack, a depending lever pivoted to the arm. the lever having a blade adapted to engage the thread ed shaft, a rotatably supported rod, arms fixed to the rod, a bar fixed to the arm adapted to engage said lever and serve as a guide therefor, and means for rocking said rod to actuate said bar for raising said lever out of engagement with said threaded shaft, and means for causing movement of said rack in the other direction upon the raising of said lever out of engagement with said threaded shaft.

8. In a machine for powdering plates to be etched, the combination of a rack, a stove, brushes, the rack being adapted to move under the brushes and over the stove, the brushes being adapted to move as the rack moves thereunder, a rotatably supported shaft, means for rotating the shaft, the shaft being threaded, an arm means whereby the arm may be connected and disconnected from the threaded shaft, means for connecting the arm to the threaded shaft to cause movement of the rack in one direction, a cable connected to the rack, the cable passing over pulleys, a weight attached to the cable, a coiled spring arranged in the cable, and a stop for limiting the movement of the weight when the rack is moved by the shaft to exert tension upon said coiled spring for starting the rack upon disengagement of the arm from the threaded shaft.

9. In a machine for powdering plates to be etched, the combination of a rack, a stove, brushes, the rack being adapted to move under the brushes and over the stove, pulleys, a belt carried by pulleys, brushes carried by the belt, one of the pulleys being fixed to a rotatably supported shaft, means for rotating the shaft, means for causing slow movement of the rack in one direction by the rotation of the shaft, and means for quickly moving the rack in the opposite direction.

10. In a machine for powdering plates to be etched, the combination of a rack, a stove, brushes, the rack being adapted to move under the brushes and over the stove, pulleys, a belt carried by pulleys, brushes carried by the belt, one of the pulleys being fixed to a rotatably supported shaft, means for rotat ing the shaft, the shaft being threaded, an arm fixed to the rack, a lever pivoted to the arm and adapted to engage the threaded Shaft for moving the rack in one direction,

fixed to the rack,

nected position, and means ineans for disengaging the lever from the threaded shaft and holding it in the disconfor returning the rack upon disconnection of the lever from the shaft.

11. In a machine for powdering plates to be etched, the combination of a frame, a stove supported by the frame, a rack slidably sup ported by the frame, brushes adapted to travel transversely of the movement of the rack, the brushes being carried by an endless belt, the belt passing around the pulleys, one of the pulleys being fixed to shafts rotatably supported by the frame, one of the shafts being extended, the extension of the shaft being threaded, means for rotating said extended siaft, an arm fixed to the rack, a depending link pivoted to the arm, the linkhaving a blade adapted to engage the threaded shaft, a rod rotatably supported by the frame and extended longitudinally, arms fixed to the rod, a bar fixed to the arms adapted to engage said lever and serve as a guide, means for rocking said rod to actuate said bar for raising said lever out of engagement with said threaded shaft, and means for causing the movement of said rack in the other direction upon the raising of said lever outef engagement with said threaded shaft.

In testimony whereof I my signature.

WiLLIAM J. LOGAN.

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