US1756177A - Block printing machine and method of printing - Google Patents

Description

April 29, 1930.

V W. P. BRINTON BLOCK PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF PRINTING Filed Jan. 17, 1928 8 Sheets-Sheet l April 29, 1930. w. P. BRINTON 1,756,177

BLOCK PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF PRINTING Filed Jan. 17, 1928 8 $heeis$heet 2 April 29, 1930.

W. P. BRINTQN BLQCK PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF PRINTING 8 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 17

INVENTOR April 29, 1930. w. P, BRINTON ,75 ,17

. BLOCK PRINTING MACHINE AND METHbD OF PRINTING Filed Jan. 17, 1928 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 29, 1930. w. P. BRINTON ,1

BLOCK PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF PRINTING Filed Jan. 1'7, 1928 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR April 29, 1930. w. P. BRINTON BLOCK PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF PRINTING 7 Filed Ja n. 17, 1928 W 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 [MWMWM A. N W II W/W E K mm x w 6 INVENTOR 79 mm April 29, 1930. w. P. BRINTON BLOCK PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF PRINTING Filed Jan. 17 1928 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR 7 April 1930- w. P. BRl-NTON 1,756,177

BLOCK PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF PRINTING Filed Jan. 17, 1928 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR gjwzjm Patented A r. 29,1930

, WILLIAM rnnn-nnmron, [or LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, Assad-Non To nnivisrnone norm GOMPANYjOFPITTSBUiRG-H, PEIJNSYIJVANIA, A conronarion-onrnnnsr i- Vanni BLOCK PRINTING IIIACHIIIE AND METHOD ,OF PRINTIIXIG Application fileflylanuary 17, 15328. Serial No. 247,319, A

, This invention relates .to the art of printing fioor coverings,such as linoleum and felt base goods, and is for faniniprovement in vniaintermittently advanced-under the series of printing heads, andthe lowering-0f the heads is selectively controlled so as to V procure the desired sequencefof operation in order to re= produce {the desired pattern. ,According to the},;present usual practice the art, each head carries a single printing block "which prints any one-{color in'the pattern of the rug or piece .ofgoods fheingf'printed, Since each i head carri'es only; one :block, and thatblock is capable of printing onlyjone color, zit, will be s h t in produ ng a -is e Pa e n in 7 several colors, it is necessary to use a series borderandfijeld, land oneior more medallions,

of -complementary blocks. In the-printing of a rug, for -in stance,=where1n there is across :it is necessary to haven set-oi blocks for each, color in the cross border, anotherset of blocks :for the ,fielchpandpossibly, although not; neeessa-rilyysa Seliyd'f complementary blocks :for the medallion. Greater flexibility is sometimes secured-by using I dividedv color boxes, wherebydifierent portions ofthe same lock will print di'fierent colors at the same time, but Without any selection, all i portions of :they block-printingat the same time;

- Because of the number of blocks required in the printing of arug, the varietyzof colors which cairbe used is igr atlyr duee or the :i'easeni -tliat th mbero bloc is lim d by he numbe .ofip int -ng "h d n th m shin i the num e ni e er i in d ,the pattern must zbe'yery sine-p le. T /he presentinvention provides a method and mach n :bZY which 'i igle r, fie b .,ity is obtained ,in the printing of floor leovthe invention securing a: greater va- .the invention and in which riety of colors and a wider range of possible patterns, together with lessreg-nlarity in the.

repeat thanhasheretofore been considered possible in block printing machines and without increasing the number of printingheads.

In the present invention 1 provide a plurality of individually selectively operable printing blocks on a single cr'osshe'ad whereby'th'e separate blocks on the heads may be selectively moved into printing position, so

that when the printing head drops to print ingposition any selected one or more of the individual blocks will print while the remainingblo'cks on the head will not print, and preferably, will not receive'fpaint. The invention contemplates the division of the available printing area of a printing head either longitudinally or transversely ofthe head, or both, into any desired number of ndividual. printing blocks. lhe invention further contemplates the provision'of a machine wherein some of the printing heads may havebutone single block, while other printing heads :may have a plurality of blocks, or a machine wherein all ofthe print ing heads have aplurality of separate blocks. Furthermore, the lnvention provides a vInachine wherein divided color boxes may be used in combination withprintlng heads having a plurality of individual selectively operableprinting blocks so as to secure an even Wider variation of the pattern and color co1n-' binations obtainable.

The invention also provides-a new method in the art of printing floor coverings in'that heretofore only a single. pattern could be printed onthe floor covering at a given prints ling station orhead, whereas, with the present invention, selectively diiierent patterns may be'printed at one station on successive sec.- iilOIlS of material.

The invention may be readily understood reference to. the accompanying drawings which serve to illnstrate one embodiment of Figure 1 is a schematic plan view showing of a printing machine with various arrangements ofprinting' blocks, and with divided and undivided .colorjboxes, the purpose oi a plurality of printing heads and colorbox'es V this view being merely to show generally some of the variations which are obtainable in the present invention; v

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a portion oft a block printing machine embodying one form of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a detail endview of one of the end of one of the printing heads, showing V printing head and length of piece goods, il-

one of the individual printing blocks on the head in printing position with another block out of printing position;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a rug printed in various colors according to the present invention;

Figure 1s a schematic view showing a lustrating the application of the present invention tothe printing of scattered designs through alength of piece goods; and

Figure 8 is a schematic view or ancther type of mechanism-for operating one of the individual printing blocks on a cross head.

The nature of my invention may be best understood by reference to Figures 1 and 2.

. In Figure 2'there is shown a side view of the usual type of block printing machines having a frame 2 with spaced apart upright frames 3 thereon. The frames 3 carry vertically movable supports 4: for raising and lowering the printing heads carried at the top thereof, these printing heads being designated 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. Thebed of the machineis located at 10, and the material to be printed is intermittently advanced along this bed in uniform steps or sections. spacing of the printing heads is equal to the width of the printing heads so that as tne material advances, a given section is alternately located under a head and then under a space between. the heads.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 2, heads 5 and 9 areof'the usual construction, raving but single printing block 5 and 9 respectively secured thereto. The printing 7 blocks 5 and 9 are coextensive with the length and width of the head'and have no relative movement on the head.

In Figure 2 heads 6, 7 and 8 are provided with a plurality of individually movable printing blocks with a mechanism for selectively effecting the movement of the desired blocks on the head intoand out of printing position. I

he color carriagesior boxes for applying the paint to the printing blocks aredesignated 11. Each printing head is provided with a cam 11 for raislng 1t, and the cams The controlling the downward movement of the head. When a hold-out latch mechanism for a given head is in released position the head is free to lower into contact with the material to be printed upon and thereby print'upon the goods. If the latch mechanism is in holding position, the, head cannot drop and therefore it will not print upon the material. By controlling the hold-out latches, selective printing of the various heads is secured.

This selective operation of the hold-out latches iswell known and generally used in the operationof block printing machines.

In Figure 1. I- have illustrated the arrangement of the printing blocks and the color boxes apart from operating mechanism therefor, this view being a diagrammatic or schematic showing. In this view there is shown 'a printing head 13 having a single printing block. Cooperating-with this head 13 is a color box 14 which is co-extensive with the width of the printing block 18. At 15 is a second printing head'having two separate printing blocks 16 and 17; either of which'may be selectively operated, as hereinafter described. This block cooperates with a color box 18 that is divided in the middle to provide separate colors for the blocks 16and'1'7. The printing head which is located at 19 has threeindividual'sections, 19 19 and 19. A correspondingly divided color box for cooperation with this head is indicated at 20. The printing head at 21 has two separate . blocks 21 and 21". These blocks are coextensive with the lengthof the printing head and are not dividedtransversely. The color box 22'is provided for this head. At 23 is another printing head having'individual printing blocks23 28 23 and 23, the printing area of the head being divided both longitudinally and transversely. I have shown a'divided color box '24 for cooperation with this head. At 25 is another head having six separate printing blocks thereon, 25, 25", 25, 25 25 and 25. A color box 26 divided into three compartments is shown for cooperation with this head although, of course,'it need not be so divided. There are also six printing blocks in the head 27, but the'blo-cks 27. 27, 27

and 27 arelonger than the blocks 27 and V 'tion,'and shows the possibility of using divided'color boxes in combination with the printing heads having a plurality of individually movable printing blocks thereon. This drawing brings; out the idea that the printing area for some. of the headsmay be divided transversely, longitudinally, or both ways, and thatheads having the printed area divided may, if desired, beusedin combina j tion with other heads whoseprintingarea is not divided or in combination with heads Whose printing area is differently divided.

Figure 1 is intendedtoshow some of. the variations'andmodifications, and the flexibility obtainable with the present invention;

I One particular construction and operating 1 means for the printing blocks on the head may now'jbe described.

This construction andoperation may best understood by reference to Figures 3, 4, 5,

and 6. In these figures there is shown'indetail,,any one,ofthe heads 6, Tor 8 of Figure; 2p Referringt-o these figures, the linoleum or. floor covering materialto be printed upon, designated-A, is moved along over the bed 10 of themachinef, being supported onza pad. 30.

" T e m vem n :Qf emater s e c ed by i means of gall," endless belt 31 having pins-32 that pass, through {the edge;of the mate s i The-printing head, which; is carried ontne vertically reciprocal post 4 at eachside ofthe, machine is ordinarily comprisedof I-beams J 33 isuitablytrussed. and ibraced. The heads,

are adjustably and removablycarriedon the verticallypmovable post 4 ina manner well; understood in the art. "Depending-from the fr f heicre he e :a p urali y f blockpads, the number ofpadsand the size of V the pads depending .on the manner in. which the available printing area 'ofthe. head is to adjustments forv the printing block can be made by setting the-cam followers up or down.

by reason of the threadedconnection. Surrounding each of the posts36 1s a compression spring 40 that-is confined between a pin 41 on therod 36-and the lower part of the frame 37, the function of. thespringsg40 beingto raise the pads 34. In Figure 5 one ofthe pads34 is shown in ajdepressedposition..t The pad thus depressed-will, at the proper time, T

receive paintrfromthe paint carriage and will thereafterprint onthe material A,whi le j I the other padwill not receive pamt'and w ll notprintt The. 0therfpad 34 inFlgure, 5 1s showninthe normal position towhich it is returned, aifterf be'ing depressed, by j the ;.springs 40.;

As above stated,theactuation of the cams *;and46i serves to selectively depress the printing blocks. When theselected blocks are; thus depressed below the normalplanef to-which; they are urged by the springs 40 they-are in position to receive paint at the proper time in theoperation of} the machine.

Animportantadvantage of the invention; is. that the cams accuratelydetermine the paintreceiving position of the blocks. One of the important duties of the operator in setting upa block -printing. machineis the shim ming of the blocks so that theyallreceive I paint. Shimsgraduated in thousandths of an inch areemployed so asto accurately-position the blocks with respect to the paint roll. The various blocks must be accurately ad justed so as totake suflicientpaint from the 1 V paint roll and still not go so close that the roll will knockcanypegsfrom the printing block ,Since thecams provide positive back ing and positioning for the several printing blocks when .in, paint receiving position, the

)nicety of adjustment required may be'seej,

cu'redand indefinitely.maintained.

Located at each end of the frame of-the head is a bearing supporton which are carried split bearingsr43 and 44. The split bear-Q.

ing 43 supports ;a cam shaft 45 and thesplit r bearing'44 supports a cam shaft 46. The cam - shafts 45 and 46 are supportedinterme di ate the ends of the head in split bearings 47 as shown in F igurefr. Theshaft45 carries a a pair of} cams, 45?: andother .cams 45 the 2 number-' of cams being determinedbytne number of individual printing block sections on the head. The shaft; 46 carries similar,

.cams46 As the cam shafts 45 and 46 re,

volve, thecamscarried thereon are rotated.,.i

According to peand.diSPOsition of the.

cams on the shafts 45 and46, one or more of 1 the printing blocks 35 will" be depressed at one time while theothe'r printing blocks onthe head will remain in normal position. i

v .The cam shafts 4 5' must be. intermittently rotated and their-rotation must be synchonized-gwith referenceto the'operationof the head on which they are carried and with reference to the rest of the machine. Theymust I also be rotated; at a time whenthe rotation willnot interfere with the operation ofprinting, themovement of the color boxes under.

the head, or at time when the block which. is to print is receiving color from a" colorboX.

It is xthereforedesirable to rotate the shafts 45 one step. at-La time upon each lifting iorffl' 1 7 raising movement of the head." i The inter-- mittent orstep. by step rotation of the sh afts v I 45 mustbe anismq j ,7 In Figuresfi, 4 and 5', there'is'disclosed a mechanism for effecting this rotation mechanically from the raising and lowering movement of the headi In the construction shown in Figures 5, thereis mounted at one accomplished by a suitable mec h end of the head only, a supporting plate 50. Supported in bearings on the bearing su port 42 and-in the plate is a shaft 51'. v n the outere'nd of the shaft 51-is 'a disk 52 having pins. 5.3 projecting from the-side face thereof. -The pins 53 are preferably equally spaced. Carried-on the shaft 51 is a ratchet whee1'54. "Supported on the plate 50 is apawl-55 cooperating with the ratchet 5d for preventing reverse movementof the shaft 51.

Secured to the shaft 51 is a spur gear 56. Mountedion the shaft l5 is a gear 57 that mesheswiththe spur gear56. Supported on the bearing support 42 is an idler gear 58.

The idler gear 58 meshes witha'gearwheel 61 is preferably connected to the lever 60 through an adjustable eccentric pin 64. -By adjusting the position of the eccentric pin '6 lthe effective length of the link 61 can'be' varied to an of the pin. 7

Pivotally connected to the lever;60 between" its ends'is'a drop link 65 having apin" 66-at its lower end. The pin 66 passes through the end of 1a lever 67 pivotallysecuredto the extent equal toithe eccentricity support 50 at 68. The pin 66 carries avertically extending hook member 69. The hook memberj69'- has a hook 70 at its outer end, which hook is inclined at 71 to ride past the pins 53 on the disk 52 when the hook rides.

upwardly'with respect to the disk-52. The

hook 7 Ois adapted to engage one of, the pins 53 when the hook member 69 ismoved downwardly relative to the disk 52.

The operation of this portion of the mech anism' may now be understood. When :the

head isfat the uppermost limit of its travel the parts are in the position shownin Figure et. When the head moves down, the lever 60 is held stationaryby the link 61'. The shaft 51, and the wheel 52 with its pins 53 of course move down with the head. During this downward movement of the head, the inclined surface 71 of the book 7 0 comes into contact with one of the pins'53on the disk 52, and throws the hook member 69 out wardly. When the head has reached its lowermost position, the parts are intheposition shown in Figure 3. Uponupward movement .of'the head, the hook 70 of the hook member 69'engages one of the pins 53, and as the-head continues to rise, carrying the disk 52 up with "it, the hook rotates the' diski 52 a distance'equalto the spacing between the pins.

,The' rotation of the disk 52 isti'mpa'rtedi tothe "shaft- 51 which in'turn rotates the gear The particular mechanism forrotating thecam shafts as herein specifically described, forms no part of my present invention,'being the subject matter for an application for patent of Harry A. \"Jebster, Serial-No. 278,811,

1 filed May 18,- 1928, and is merely described herein as showing one mechanism contemplated by my invention for effecting relative movement of the individual printing blocks on the head. i r

In place of this mechanism, which is highly practical, any other suitable mechanism may be used. For instance,'the operation of the individual blocks might be effected through anelectrical arrangement, as disclosed in Figure 8, which is diagrammatic,

and wherein the printing head is designated 72 and 7 2 is one of the pads carried thereon.

Oneof the printing block members 72 is carried on the pad 72. Instead of cam shafts extending continuously :acrossthe length of the head,the reis provided a torque m0t0r7 3 for each block on the head. The torquemotor73drives a segment gear '74.

Movement-of the segment gear 7 4C transmits motion through a link 75 to levers 76 pivotally supported at 77 on the frame of the head. The levers 76 transmit motiontothe lever arms 78 which bear against a yoke 79 rig idly connected to the'pad' 71. The pad is suspended from the frame by means of-bolts 80 passingthrough a bedmember 81 form-; ing a part of the head, these bolts being s'urrounded by compression springs 82. WVhen ion the torque m'otor is energized it'rocks the lever 7 6," and the lever arms 78 force the yoke 79 down, thereby depressing the block 7 2, andcompressing the springs 82. When the motor 73 is deenergized the parts return to the normal positionshown in Figure 8. Energization of the motors 73 at the proper intervals may be controlled by any suitable selector synchronized with-the operation of the printing machine.

In Figure 8 I have shown one selector which maybe employed. The selector comprisesa disk 83 driven through a gear 84: from one of the operating shafts of the machine. The disk 83 carries a wiper 85. As the disk 83' rotates the wiper 85 passes succes'sively"over'contacts 86 arranged in its path of travel. A separate switch 87 is provided for opening the circuit to each contact. All of the contacts 86 with their'switches 87 are connected to a wire 88 leading to one side of the torque' motor 73. The other side 1 of the, motor is connected with a source of 7 operation. 7

representing the v width of the available when? from the source of power to the wiper '85 is completed through a Wire 91' and 'slipring contact 92. y Q j,

Such a selector wouldbef provided'tor each one of the torquemotors carried on a head and therewould be as many of these motors and their associatedrnechanisms' as there are individualv printing blocks on a single head. By setting theswitches 87' ,Qthe

' operation of the'mo'tor' 73 can be selectively controlled tosecure the 'desi'red'sequence of used in printing the rug pattern'shown. The i rugshown in Figure 61s comprlsed of eight sections,a, Z), 0, cl,'e,-f, g and h, each section printing area of ahead-in the printing ma- I chine. Theend sections a' and h carry the cross border pattern and every section c'ar- V ries a portion: of the side border pattern] 'tions. Sections 0 and f are divided into six An examination-of the dot and dashlines of section a shows that it is divided longitudinally along-its center, and atone side transversely along the lines 'j'and In, so that its area may be considered as being comprised of four sub-sections. A separate block'or aseparate set of blocks is necessary for printing the pattern in each sub-section. Section 6 is divided into but three sub-secsub-sections,and each of them contains the same pattern. Sections (Z and e are divided into six sub-sections, and are ust alike. Sec- 'tion 9 is just likesection 6, being comprised of only three sectionsi Section h is similar to sectiona with the exception that the patterns are reversed.

Therug shown inFigur'e 6, in addition to having side and cross borders, is printed with various patterns in the field thereof. The fieldpatterns are shown as being symmetrically :arranged, the patterns on each side of the mid portion of the rug being .the'saine. In the upper left hand corner of the rugthere is-a field pattern 100, which fallswithin section act the rug and insections d and e are like patterns 101 and 102.

In the upper'right hand corner-thereis a. field pattern 103. Thefieldpatterns 100 and A 103.ca'ch constitute half of the field patterns 101 and 102'. sections h andg' of the rug above the center portion thereof are: patterns -104; In thesectionsfc' and for the rug above the central portion-are field patterns 105.

The patter'ns 104 printed in two colors, orange and purple, and the patterns 105 con- ,stitute the purple portions only of the pat- 1 rel-11's 10:4. w y r v .In the central portion of the rug in' the section a there is a field pattern 106 printed "in 'four colors, green, blue, yellow and red.

In addition to the crossfhatching, initial-let ters have been used to designate the colors.

In thesection h of the rug there is a 'field' pattern 108. which is similar to pattern 106 oa'nd f of the rug in the central portionare like patterns 107. The 1 patterns 107 are -it'orrned-by placing the patterns 106 and108 together, but the color blue is omitted in patterns"107.' "In the central portions of sections 1. and e are like, patterns 109 formed of the red and yellow portions of patterns 106 and 108. The patterns in'the lower portionof the rug correspond to those in the upper portion. 1

{For printing the rug shown in Figure 6 there would'be one set of heads-for printing the cross" borders, and one set of heads for printing the'field patterns. Allof the blocks tor printing the cross borders would be containedon one set of heads. For instance, one

head would have the ,printingarea thereof dividedlinto individual printing blocks which ,abut is just thereverse thereof. In sections v would print the purple in the cross border,

' the blocks of the head being arranged like the blocks 21? and 21 of the'head21 in Figure 1. This head would lower twice during the {mint ;ing of a single rug to printing position, but on onedip just the block'for printing the cross border in the section a would be projected down to receive paint and to print while the block for printing the cross border in the section it would be held out of printing position.

Likewise,a single head would carry two blocks for printing the orange in the cross borders, and such head would dip twice during the printing of therug. On the first dip of the block on that head for printing the orange'in the cross border of sectiona would be operated and on the next dip of the head the'block for printing the orange in the section it would be operative. Thus a single head serves to alternately print the two'patterns merely by rendering one and then the other of the blocks carried thereon alter-- nately operable. If the border blocks were not divided, as shown, but werethe usual double cross border, blocks ordinarily employed, it would be difficult to secure the right spacing of'the borders with'respect to the field where the field, as in'the rug shown, has I a definite number of sections of full width and a half width field section lying along each border. l 1 7 In the printing of the field patterns, a single headwould carry a set of printing blocks necessary for printingonecolor iii-any ofthe patterns 100 101,102,103, 106, 107,

108 a11d109.. The heads for printing field patterns in sections a, 0, (Z; 6, f and it can be sections would have siX individually movable printing blocks thereon. For instance, the

head which prints the color green in any one of these sections will have SIX lndividually movable printing blocks. Since the color green appears in the field pattern in sections a, a d, 6, 7 and h, it will be seen that this head must dip to print in each one of these sections. However, not all of the blocks on the h eadfprint at any one time. ,the three individual blocks corresponding to In section a,

25 and25 of head 25 in Figure 1, are in operative position on the first dip of the head.

This prints in the green portions of the two patterns. 100 and the middle pattern 106.

* No'green appears in section b so that this head 108'v are printed.

; would not'dip to print in thissection of the rug. In section 0 no part of the pattern 100 is printed, but the green portions 1O6.and

ing green blocks corresponding to blocks 25 were inoperative." In section (Z of the rug the green is printed in the side portions but not in the middle portion of the rug. On. the

third dipv of the head carrying the blocks for printing in the green portion of the pattern,

the two central sections corresponding to 25 inoperative while all 01''? the other four sections or blocks would be projected to printing position.

For printing in. section f the various blocks would aga n shift to print the same as in section 0; In printing in 590171011 h the three blockscorresponding to 25 3.25 and 25 of block-25 in Figure 1 would be projected to printing position while the three blocks corresponding to blocks 25, 25 and 25 would be held inoperative. Likewise a single head would carry the blocks for printing the red in sections a, (Z, 6 and h. iinother block divided in similar manner would reproduce the I blue in the field patterns in sections a, (Z, 6 and For printing the patterns 10d and an- 7 other setof blocks is required. The head for printing the orange in patterns 104: would be dividedthesame as head 19in Figure .1.

Therefore, on the seconddip of the head carrying the blocks for print- The same would be true inprinting the green n section 6 of the rug.

Another head would carry the six blocks necessary for printing-in the yellow in sectrons a. 0, (1,6, f', and h: 1

controlled by the usual selector mechanism used for controlling the operation of the printing heads in block printing machines. The operation of the individual printing blocks carried on each head would be controlled by rotation of the cam shafts carried on each head and the shapes of the cams. 7

From the foregoing, it becomes apparent that theprinting area of each head nay be divided up in various ways into a plurality of individual sections, anyone of which can be selectively rendered operable while remaining blocks on the same head are held in a non-printing position. This allows for a flexibility and variety of design in a printing machine having a moderate'number of printing heads farin excess ofthe flexibility and variety which could be secured in present types of printing machineswith present types of presentmethods'having two or three times the number of printing heads. The selective use of a given portion of the area of a printing head to theexclusion of other printing surfaces on the same head provides for the use of a wide range of colors and intricate patterns without increasing the number of printing heads on the machine, and permits of afwide variation ofgpattern without. a repeat; -The diagram shown in Figure 6 illustrates'only a simple possibility .in the use'of the present invention. In this view patterns and colors have'been used which could be readily shown and to which conventional color indication can be applied.

The variationand' fiexibilityof the machine is even further increased where divided color and 25 -ot head 25 in Figure 1 would be held boxes are, used in combination with printing heads having the available printing surface divided into a plurality of selectively usable blocks. r

In Figure 7 I have shown the inventionas applied to the printing of piece goods, and particularly that type of piece goods'known as arabesque wherein small patterns of unique design are scatteredlwith an appearanceof irregularity over-the surface of the piece goods. r

In this view the piece material is designated 110', and the dot and dash lines 111 showthe sections in which the materialis printed. At 112 there is indicated'di'agrammatically a printing head or a printing station which is providedwith six selectively' operable printing blocks 113to 118 inclusive,

each printing block being provided witha differentpattern: The head 11'2;c'arrying the several 'printingblocks 113'to 1'18 inclusive will lower on each sectionof materiah because one of the 'patt'ern'sf113 to 1-18 appears on each sectionfiHowever,only one design-is printed with each dip .of the head. In Figure 7'- the pattern 114 has-just been printed. The previous printing of this design is in the sixth preceding section; Like- Wise eachot the other designs-is printed only i,"756,177 V V 7 once in every six sections; Since the width of a section is ordinarily eighteen inches, itwill be seen that the pattern onlyrepeats every one hundred eight inches. lHeretofore, in

order to secure this result it would have been necessary to have" SlX separate heads even if the patterns were only printed in one color.

Since the arabesque patterns are generally printed in several colors it will be seen that accordingto previous methods, it would have requirednearly all of the printing heads of the present invention the same result can be achieved with threeheads. r

From the foregoing it will be seen that the g U y 2 rately operable printin'g surfaces thereon.

invention lends itself to a new method in the printing of rugs or floor coverings. V Heretoh V I g v *rality of reciprocable prlntmg heads, at least "one of saicl 'heads having a plurality Qfjsepafore it has been the practice to print one pattern, and one pattern only at each printing station or cross head of the machine. With the present invention it is possible to ri p I i g n I .tion; of said printing blocks 111t0 and ut: of p l ve position. .1 1

anyone of a number of different patterns at a single printing station. The'number ofpatterns which can be printed at a given station rality'ofreciprocable printing heads, at least one of the heads" having the printing, area thereof provided, with a plurality of independently movable pr'inting, blocks, and divided color -boxes coopera'tingwith some -ot is limited only to the number of separate printing blocks which it is practical to provide in the area of a given head. Not only is it possible to selectively utilize any one of the several printing blocks at a givenprinting head or station, but various combinations thereof may be used. 7 As previously pointed out, the invention also makes it practical to use only certain colors in a set of blocks for producing a given pattern in some parts of the rug, and using allot the sets of blocks to print in all of the colors in a pattern in an- ,another part of the rug. This is due only to the fact that the printing area of each head or station is divided into a number of separate selectively operable printing blocks. Coupled with the use of divided color boxes, even wider variations" from present methods of printing can be practiced.

\Vhile I have shown and describedmy invention in connection with particular details j of construction and'in combination with particular'forms of operating mechanisms, it will be understood that the invention is not confined to any particular construction of parts or to any particular operatingsmechanism. I have also endeavored to show certain simple instances of the flexibility and novelty of my improved method and apparatus for printing floor coverings, but it will be understood that this is merely by way of illustra tion and that wide variations and various invention and under the scope of the followring claims.

I claim i lQIn block type 'pri'nti'n machine, a guided movable printing heaa mean's for moving the material through the machine in a step-by-step manner, and a printing surface onthe head divi'ded in'two directions, each partof the printing surface being movable p'jancldOwn gto alimited extent on the head relatively-to the other/ I I Y therewith, and movable toa slight extent up and down relativelythereto, and means for raisingand-lowering the printingbloclr's rela-" tii ely to the head. 3' In a block type-printing machine, a plurality of reciprocable printing heads, at'least' one.ofsaid heads havinga plurality of sepa:

4:.' In a'jbloclr type printing machine, a plurately operable printing surfaces thereon,

and'means on these heads for efiecting opera- '5. I a block type printingmachine, a plu those'heads'whose printing area is so divided. I 6. In a'block'type printing machine, a plurality of printing heads, some of said print- "ing heads having a single Iprinting block thereomother of said head's'h avin a plurality of [selectively operable print ng blocks thereon. V

7 In a block type printing machine, a plurality of printingjheads, someof said rintingheads leaving a single printing lock thereon, other of said heads having a plurality of selectively operable printingblocks thereon, aeolor'box for'each printing head, the color box for at leastoneof the heads, which carries a-plurality of printing blocks beingdivided'into; a plurality of *co'mpartinents.

' In themethod ofprinting floor cover- :ings in a'block type printing machine, having ahead, whicli'hea-d has a pluralityof por-' tions adapted to print in different colors, the

steps consisting in printing all of said colors 'on'a section of the floor covering, causing relative movementbetween the floor covering and the head so as tobring another section of the floor covering into printing position, and then printing on such section'with the head,

7 at least one color being omitted-on the lastmentioned printing step. 7 V V 9. In the method of printing floor coverlngs in a block type printin machine, having a head'with a plurality of relatively movable r printing portions, the steps consisting I in printing with onezofthe printing portions on a sect ibn otthefioor covering, eausingrelative movement;betweenthe floor vcovering and the head so as to.bringanother'sectionof the gfioor ,covering into printing. position and 2 then printing on such section with such printing portion and an additional printing portion; i.

' .10. Ina bloelntypeprintinginaehine,.a vertically reeiprocable printing head, pluralir I tylofprintingblocks carried byjthehead, a ,paint earriage movable under the; blocks, neans controlling the vertical movementot the printing head; said means beingetfed tive for holding the head in substantially fixed position during movement of the paint carriage thereunder. and for thereafter per- ;inittingthe head to lower so as to print,.and 1 means for moving it-192118110118 ofthe bloc ks.

7 into or out ofa position on'the head wherein n it will receive paint when the paint carriage moves thereunder and will head .is thereafter lowered.

print when the i .11.. In a block-type printing machine, a if vertically reciprocable.printing'head, a plurality of printing blocks carried bythe head, i

a paint carriage movable Sunder the blocks,

I paint carriage movable under. said head-for n eans controllingthe fvertical movement of the printinghead said means being effective V for holding the head in substantially fixed position duringmovement of the paint carriage V thereunder and for thereafter permitting the head tolowereso as, to. print, meansformoving atleast oneof the blocks into orout of a position on the head wherein it will receive paint when the paint carriage movesthereunder and will print when the head is thereafter lowered, and; means providing a positive backing for said block when it isin paint receiving posltlon.

blocks." lying in. a. line extending erosswise of the printing n1achine,,rneanscontrolthe; movement of the, printing head, a

supplying paint .to desired ones of the relativ'ely'movable printing blocks, the paint earriage being divided into oompartments corresponding to the blocks,, and means for efi'fe cting sue-h relative movement whereby desired printing blocks are brought into paint receiving position.

. :In testimony vWhereofI have hereunto set Z .my hand.

WlLLIAMl-PENN BRINTON.

. 12. :In a bloek-ype. printing machine, a printing head having a plurality of relative 1y movable printing blocksthereon, said

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