US1836552A - Printing machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. l5, 1931. P. M. POPE PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 30, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 vwemtoz P. M. POPE Dec. 1,5. 1931.

PRTNTING MACHINE Filed Jn. 30, 1929v 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 15, 1931. Y P. M. POPE 1,836,552

PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 30, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nw wk Y W *ws ,u r\ Qq m N N n v N-id: N M Fa- N lun *il Dec. 15, 1931. P. M. POPE PRINTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 30, 1929 lf du iwi: l L

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Patented Dee 15, 1931 1,836,552.

UNITED .STATIEISY PATENT OFFICE PAUL M. POPE, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO A. KIMBALL COMPANY, OFNEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK APRiNTINe MACHINE Application led January 30, 192.9. Serial No. 336,115.

This invention relates to printing ma- Figure 12 is a partial plan view showing chines, particularly to machines for printing the front left end of themachine;

strips adapted to forml a plurality of units Figure 13 is an elevational view partly in such as identification er price tags or tickets. section taken on the line 13-,13 of Figure 12;

One of the objects of the invention is the pro- Figure 14 is an enlarged elevational view V55 vision of an improved machine of this cliartaken at the right end of Figures 1 and 2; and

acter which will be rapid and accurate in its Figure 15 is a vertical section taken on the operation and which will not damage the line 15-15of Figure 12.

strips. The present invention is embodied in a m Among the more immediate objects of the printing machine similar to the one shown 60 invention is to avoid printing upon the backs and described in my ofi-pending application of the tags from the platen,-stated another Serial Number 254,658, filed February 16, way,-to avoid inking the platen by the l928.`v In that application the general purprinting head when no tag is interposed poses of the machine and the benefits 0b- ]5 therebetween; to avoid feeding more than tained by it were discussed at length so need 65 one small tag in cases where the machine is not be reviewed in detail in the present apalso adapted to handle larger tags which are -plication. multiples of the smaller tag widths; and to lt will be well, however, to explain that provide improved means for guiding strips the .machine as a. type is adapted to handle 20 of tags as they pass the printing position. strips of tags of definite though varying 70 Other objects and various novel construclengths, each strip usually comprising a fixed tional features will be apparent from the folnumber of individual tags; that the machine lowing description of an illustrative embodi- 'embraces means for moving the strips in ment of the invention when considered along steps of a length equal to the width of one S5 with the drawings thereof wherein: tag past a printing position wherev an im- 75 Figure 1 is a top plan View of an assembled `pression is made, either original where'the machine; tag is blank or-and more usually-*sec- Figure 2 is a front elevation; oiidary to fill in blanks left for the purpose Figure 3 is an enlarged. section taken onthe in a prior impression; and further that the "i9 line 3 3 of Figure 1; tai-gs may be and usually are partially severed 80 Figure 4 is a partial top plan view of the from each other and provided with strings, front portion of the machine as seen from staples or other devices for attaching the below the printing head, showing parts in tags to various articles.

initial position; Since staples comprise the attaching means Figure 5 is a similar view showing the most frequently employed at present, both S5 pal-tg in nal position; the prior application mentioned and the Figure 6 is a Side View of a platen Slide present one described an exemplary machine shown in Figures 4 and 5,*the position of the fldaptd t0 handle lags bea-Fmg Staplesslide corresponding to that of Figure 4; hm 1S lihe machmes not only proud@ proper- Figure 7 is a vertical section taken on the (lsposltlonvoif the Staples S0 the tags Wlu 90 um, 7 7 of Fiuum l, lie flat for printing but also make useof the g n Figure 8 is a vertical section taken on the "tapls for guidmg the Strips of tags pflst Y hun 8 of Fqure printing position. WVhere other attaching n devices are carried by the tags appropriate Figure 9 is a vertical section taken on the Structural Changes, if required may be made 95 lmet-9 of Figure 7', Y for handling them without departing from Figure 10 is a vertical section taken on the the nventol described herein. b line .l0-10 of Figure Comingnow to a description ofthe present Y Figure 11 is a section taken on the line embodiment Vof the invention and referring *7 11-11 of Figure 9; v Y first to` Figures 1, 2 and 3, the machine com- 100 prises a base frame 2O provided with lugs or feet 2l adapted to rest upon a table, frame or other suitable foundation on which the machine is to be placed. The machine is relatively small and light and may be transported from place to place by one person in the same manner as a typewriter or computing machine.

Upon the top of the frame 20 several plates 227 23, 24 and a front strip 26 are secured in any suitable manner so that their top surfaces together form a smooth and plane table over which the strips of tags 27, indicated in dotted lines, travel. The plates 23, 24 which are made fast to the frame 20 are spaced from each other so as to provide a recess or groove 28 for the reception of the protruding ends of the staples carried by tags of a certain size in order that the strips `may lie flat on the table and be guided'past printing position. lf no staples are present the guide means will conform to the type fastenings used, or the gripper mechanism hereinafter to be described may hold the strips sufficiently secure to guide them satisfactorily past printing position. The plates 23, 24 terminate at a desired line across the table to accommodate a print pad or platen (Figure 3) the top surface of which is flush with the top of the table. The platen is carried (see especially Figure 6) by a plate 25` secured beneath and extending beyond the right end of the plate 24.

In accordance with th isv invention means is provided for carrying the strips of tags in a.: step-by-step movement past the printing position asrepresented b y the print pad 33 and providing for the accurate positioning of the individual tags in the printing position. t is also proposed to providemeans which may be apart of or associated with the feeding means for handling strips of tags of different sizes. in the particular embodiment herein to be described :tour different sizes of tags can be handled but obviously provision may be made for handling a greater number of sizes if desired..

Thile the means mentioned above may have many different embodiments, that which is at present preferred vand which will be described herein, comprises a gripper device generally denoted bythe numeral 40 and means for moving the same as required.. Any selected means may be provided for imparting to the gripper device an intermittent or step-by-step forward movement to carry the stri-ps of tagspast the printing position but5 as. herein shown and described, this moving means comprises a reciprocating feed bar 4l, which barmay be actuated by any suitable mechanism. Referring to Figures 12 to l5', the gripper device comprises a block 42 slidable between a faced vertical Wall 43 and the strip 26, which strip is spaced from'the Wall 43 so aste form a guideWay from the printing position to the left end of the frame. The block 42 thus is guided to travel from print-ing position, to the left end of the apparatus Where it is stopped (Figure 4) by a spacer block 45 supporting the end of strip 26 upon the frame 20. The strip 26 is somewhat resilient and bears with a slight pressure upon the side of the block 42 so that the latter Will frictionally-hold its position atV any point to which it is moved except when a slight force is appliedv to move it.

Means is provided on the block 42 for gripping thc ends of the strips of tags and, While this means may assume different embodiments7it is shown as a. iiexibleiinger 46 secaired to a block 4'? which is pivoted 'to the sliding block-42by a pin'48. A coiled spring 49 disposed Within; a recegs 50 in the block 42 bears against the bottom ofthe recess and against the block 4? below the pin 48 tobias the finger 46 at all` times against the upper surface of the sliding block 42. The block beneath the end of linger 46 may be roughenedf. as at 51 to assist the holding action of the finger.l Stripsinserted between the finger and the block 42' will be firmly held and drawn forward in aceordal'ice With the movements of the slidingblock. pin or stud 52 may be secured in the sliding block` 42 alongthelength of the finger 46 to fix the position of the strips therebeneatherably the-pin 52 is also disposed intermediate thewvidth of the iinger 46. For example. it. may pass through a hole in the finger; the hole being somewhat larger in diameter than the outside diameter of the pinfor freedom' of movement.

lthough any suitable means may be employed for causing the gripper device 4.0 to bemoved` in one direction and one direction only by the feed bar 4l. the means here selected comprises a pawl 'pivoted tothe block 42by'-A a` pin 56 in such position that its offset end 57 may moveinto engagement with suitable operating members provided on the reciprocating feed bar. The freeend of `the pawvl is heavierfthan the operating endl-'i7 so that the latter will be biased by gravity tcvvardthe feed'bar.

It is desirable to free the gripperv device from the feed bar at certain times in order that it may. be moved up past the printing position to .engage a fresh strip of tags. For this purpose the paWl 55 is arranged to be disengaged or moved clear of the push rod by a cam 60 fixed on a hand rotated rod 6l mounted on the block 42. The cam 60 provided with a flat face 62 disposed Within a notch 63'of the pawl. The other portion 64 of the cam is concentric and when the pawl is raised by this concentric portion its operating end 57 Will be clear of the feed bar. n

Means is associated with the hand operated rod 6l for lifting the gripper linger 46 when the paw] is disengaged from the bar.

This may be accomplished by providing a pin in a bore 66 in the block 42 Vbetween the end of the pawl 55Vv and the finger 46.

will' engage the under surface of the fingerv 46 upon upward movement of the weighted end of the pawl. It is arranged that the finger 46 will`be lowered to engage the strip of tags slightly before the pawl engages the feed bar. This is Vdone in order that the gripper device will not be moved away hy action of the feed bar until the strip of tags is securely caught by the'finger.

A knob 67 may be provided on the outer end of the rod 61 to enable the same to be readily moved by an operator. lf desired the rotative movement of the rod 61 may be limited by a notched disk 68 fast on the rod 61 cooperating with a stud 69 fixed in the block against which one of the two abutments of the notch in the diskV may strike.

The feed bar 41 may be constructed in various ways so as to impart movement to the gripper device. As shown the means comprises several (four as shown) sets of equally spaced notches 71, the spacing of the different sets of notches, however', being different to provide the correct feeding for tickets of different widths. The set of notches 71a, for example. may be of one spacing; the notches 71?) of a slightly longer spacing; the notches 71e of still longer spacing and the notches 71d of the longest spacing. The four sizes provided will take care of the principal tag sizes at present employed but if further tag sizes are to be handled, it will be obvious that other sets of notches may be provided on the feed bar by making the same of larger diameter or bv allott-ing less of the peripheral length to each set. Y

According to the present invention means is provided for rotating and locking the feed bar 41 sothat any one of the several sets of notches may be instrumental in actuating the sliding gripper device. As shown in Figures 1. 2, 7 and 14 this means may comprise a sleeve or bushing 73 suitably mounted. in a bore 74 in the end of the base frame and slidably keyed to the feed bar 41. The sleeve 7 3 may be provided with a head 75 having lon- .Q'itudinal slots 76 therein. A stud 77 fixed in the base frame is arranged to engage the head 75 within. one of theA notches 76 when the head is pushed forward but wl'icu the head is moved. outward, it is released from engagement with the stud 77 and may be rotated so that another notch 76 will engage th(` stud. A hand screw 78 having a head 79 adapted to hear against the outer end of the head 75"of the bushing may be employed to hold. the same inforward position in engagement with the stud 77.

According to this invention suitable means is provided for causing reciprocation of the feed bar 41. Preferably it is arranged that the feed bar will be moved in feeding direction by a spring or other resilient means while it is moved inthe reverse direction by? positively actuated means. As shown ( Fig ures 1, 2, 3 and 7) the operating means may comprise a lug or collar 80 fast `on the feed bar 41 and a coil spring 81 disposed between the end of the collar 80 and the end of the "f sleeve 73. VAlever 82 pivoted to the base frame by a pin '83 has an end 84 adaptedto engage the collar 80 and to operate the feed bar against the spring. A cam 85 on a vertical shaft 86 may be employed to actua-te the lever 82 as by engagement with roller 87 mounted upon a` pin 88 in the outer end of vthe lever 82. A projection or abutment 89 may be provided on the outer end of the lever 82 for engagement with the end of a L.,

lustrated comprises a printing head mounted upon arms 96 journaled upon a pin 97 inA standards or brackets 98 bolted or otherwise secured to the frame 20.` An arm 99 integral with arms 96 may be connected with suitable mechanism for operating the `printing head. The arm 99, as here shown, carries a pin 100 operating in a bearing in one end of a con' necting rod 101, which rod is driven by a crank pin 102 carried upon the face of a gear 103. Means may be provided for ad order that the type carried by the printing head may at all times engage the strips.

Both the feeding mechanism and the printing mechanism may be operated by a motor M through suitable gearing. For example the motor shaft 104 may carry al pinion 105 engaging a gear 106 fast on a lay shaft 107, which latter shaft carries a pinion 108 engaging the gear 103 to which the crank 102 is affixed. The gear 103 may be fixed to a shaft 109 supported in a. Vbearing in the bracket 98. This shaft may also carry bevel gear 110 meshing with a similar bevel gear l111 fast on the shaft 86 driving the feed lever operatingrcam 85. V

The printing head 95 may comprise a. plate 114 attached to the two arms 96 and a chase holder 115 having a closed end 1.16 and ribs fioo `pasting the length of this connecting rod inV 117 along which the ch`ase 118' slides. The i passing through slots 123 in the. latter. By this arrangement the chase holder may be moved laterally of the path of movement of the tags so that the type may be accurately located with respect thereto. Also, the chase may be quickly removed and its type changed for different jobs.

Means is herein provided for inking the type when it is moved away from printing` position. This mechanism is shown quite clearly in Figure 3. The fulllines in that figure show the mechanism in printing position and the dot and dash lines shovv it in ofi' or inking position. This inking means may comprise an ink pad 126 adapted to be attached by a clip 127 to abar 128 rigid with the arm 129. The arm 129 may be pivotally supported through a pin 1:30 at its upper end by a bracket 131 aiiixed to the base 2O While the arm 129 at its lower end is connected by a link 132 with the printing head. The connection of the link 132 with the arm 129 may be made through pivot pin 133 Whilethe other end of the link 132 may be pivoted to` a fixed pin 134 fast on the printing head. By this arrangement movement imparted to the printing head through the connecting rod 101 Will cause the ink pad to swing upward and strike the type face to face and ink the same. The ink pad, however, when swinging' outwardly as the printing head moves down, Will stand above the strips of tags and the gripper mechanism. Y

The tags 27 indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1 are relatively short but the machine is adapted to handle tags of greater length and to print the tags on either end. For this purpose guides are provided both at the front and rear sides ofthe supporting table. These guides include Ythe stripsy 136, 137 spaced apart to provide a groove 138 to accommodate the staples. The leading ends of the strips 137 may be bent outwardlyas indicated at 139 to guide the staples intothe grooves. The top edges of the strips 136, 137 are arranged at the same height as the top ofthe table so as to constitute in effect an extension thereof. The strips 136, 137 may be adjusted in position relatively to the front and rear edges of the table and to this end they are mounted by collars 141 slidable upon fixed rods 142 and held in adjusted positionsthereon by thumb screws 143. Means is herein provided for guiding those strips Whose staples coincide with the groove 28 (between the plates 23, 24) after the rear ends of the strips pass the end of the groove at the printing position. VAsillus'trated in Figures 4, 5 and 10, a guide block 150 is slidably mounted'in the guideway constituted by the `Wall '43 and the stripY 26 quite like the gripper block 42 is mounted therein, the guide block 150, however, being mounted between the gripper block and the ends of the jogs 151 in the plates 23, 24. In its upper surface the guide block has a groove 152 which is aligned with the groove-28 and in effect forms a continuation thereof.

Then the gripper block is moved to its extreme right hand position to grasp a new strip of tags it pushes the block 'to the right. The guide block is provided with a socket 153 and the gripper block is provided with a mating resilient stud 154. This stud enters thesocket 153 when the tWo blocks meet in moving to the right and forms in effect a coupling Which carries the guide block back to the left with the gripper block as it moves to the left.

A stop rib 155 on the guide block strikes the end Wall of a groove 156 in the strip 26 in this left hand movement Which-uncouples the two blocks. The gripper block travels on to the left While the guide block is left in front of the printing platen Where it guides the staples of the trailing end of the` strip past printing position.

Means is provided for insuring that the platen is not inked bythe printing head. Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the means provided for this purpose While Vthe gripper block is engaging a freshvstrip of tags comprises a cover plate 160 secured to the gripper block and adapted to overlie the platen. The mounting of this plate on the block and its disposition over the table are best shown in Figure 15. The plate being quite thin, will not limit the normal travel of the printing head, its thickness in fact being only slightly greater than the thickness of the tags.

After the strip of tags passes printing position it again becomes necessary to protect the platen against inking. Preferably this is accomplished by moving the platen out of the path of the printing head after the last tag of the strip has been printed.

Referring to Figures 4 to 11, the plate 22 is slidably mounted on the frame, being provided with undercut slides 165, 166 operating Within correspondingly shaped guides in the left end Wall 167 and an intermediate cross Wall 168 respectively of the base frame 20.

The slide is attached to the plate by countersunk rivets 169. The slide 166 is formed (Figures 5, 6) as an extension of Yas on its lower surface carries a shift block 170 assembly is moved to .51., l

tion. This plate (Figures 1 and 7 comes -7`T1`1 against an ad'ustableshift plate 173 when the last tag of a strip has been printed and with the next movement of the gripper block moves the platen to the left.

The shift plate is adjustable totake care of different tag strip lengths, it having been remarked previously that Veach strip preferably contained the same number of tags. As shown in Figures 9 and 11 the shift plate 173 is hookedas at 174 at each end to slidably embrace the plate A setting block 175 secured upon the plate carries a setting pin 176 adapted to enter spaced holes 177 valong the plate 22 for holding the shift plate at various positions (refer to Figure 1) designated 1, 2, 3, 4, H, etc. corresponding to the lengths of the strips. A sight opening 178 in the shift plate permits visibility of the mark on Which the plate is set.

Means is provided for preventing ,overfeeding ofnarrow tags. This may be accomplished in various Ways. As shown in Figure 7 a notch 180 is formed on the feed bar 41 vto cooperate with a dog 181 pivoted as by a pin y, 182 to the frame 20.

This notch corresponds in use with the intended tag feeding notches on the bar, al though as shown it may be located on the` op posite side of the bar from the feeding .notches The dog limits the travel of the feed bar to the left by engaging the notch..

Since the bar is urged to the left only by the spring 49 there is no interference with normal operations by the travel limiting mechanism. It is also to he observed that the travel limitingmechanism will always function properly for the intended tag strips Without attention by the operator since the dog (which nor' mally remains down) and notch always coincide when the feed bar is turned to proper position for tags of that size.

By throwing the dog over 1n the reverse direction the feed mechanism Will take care ofdouble Width tags since the feeding mech- A anism is then allowed to operate two notches 187 in order that the shield maybe moved out.

of the Way when necessary.

The foregoing description isbelieved tobe sufliciently explicit to Warrant the omission of a recapitulation of the operation of the machine.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made Within the scope of the appended claims. y

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising Vin combination, yan oscillatory printer, a printing platen, a slidable plate supporting said platen, a slidable device for gripping a strip of tags and moving it pastv thel printer, a part carried bysaid device for covering said platen While a strip is being engaged, cooperating members on said device and slidable plate adapted to move the platenbeneath` the printer after it has been covered bysaid part, and an adjustable element on said slidable plate cooperating with said cover part to shift the platen away from said printer when the strip of tags has been completely printed.

2. Printing apparatus including in combination, a lprii'iting device, a platen cooperating therewith, means for engaging a strip at one side of said'platen and moving it in successive steps past the platen, means `on said strip-moving means for shifting and covering said platen When engaging a strip and for again shifting theplaten when the strip has passed.

3. Printing apparatus including in com@k bination, cooperative printing devices at a printing position, means for moving strips past said printing position, means associated With said strip-moving means for shifting one of said printing devices into cooperative relationship and for dissociating said devices When the strip-moving means is in one position, said associated means also shifting one of said printing ,devices out of cooperative relationship With the other When thev stripmovng means is in another position.

4. vPrinting apparatus including in combination, a platen, means for moving strips in successive steps past said platen, means associated with `said strip-moving means for shifting said platen, and means associated With said platen and cooperating Withsaid shifting means providing adjustment for timing the shift of said platen for strips of various lengths.

5. Printing apparatus including in. combination, a platen, means for moving strips past said platen, means associated with said strip-moving means for shifting said platen, and meansvassociated with said platen and cooperating with said shifting means providing adjustment for changing the point at which the platen is shifted, Y

6. Printing apparatus including in combination, a printing device, a platen cooperable therewith, means for moving a strip of tags past said platen, and means associated with said strip-moving means for separating said printing device and platen at times, said separating means including a member adapted to cover said platen and to shift said platen.

7.` Printing apparatus including in combination, a printing device, a platen coop erable therewith,lmeans for moving a strip of tagsin ksuccessive steps past said platen, and means associated with saidstrip-moving means kfor separating lsaid printing device and platen atvtimes, said separati-ng means including a means for shifting said platen relative to said printing device.

8. Printing apparatus including in combination, a printing device, a platen cooperable therewith, means for moving a strip of tags past said platen, and means associated with said strip-moving means for separating said printing device and platen at times, said separating means including a cover for said platen.

9. Printing apparatus including in combination, a printing device, a platen cooperable therewith, means for moving a strip of tags in successive steps past said platen, and means associated with said strip-moving means for separating said printing device and platen at times.

10. Apparatus of the character described comprising in combination, printing means, platen cooperating with said printing means, means for moving a strip between said printing meansand platen, and means providing a-separation between said printing means-and platen when a strip is not disposed therebetween, said means including a member movable attimes into position between the printing means and platen and mechanism operable at times for removing said platen out of cooperative relationship with said printingmeans.

11. Apparatus of the-character described comprising in combination, printing means, a platen cooperating with said printing means,'means for moving -astrip between said printing means and platen, and means providing a separation between said printing means and platen when a strip is not disposed therebetween, said means including mechanism for removi-ng said platenout of cooperative relationship with said printingfmeans.

12. Apparati-1s of the characterdescribed comprising in combination, printing means,

a platen cooperating with said printing l means, means 'for movinga strip between said printing means andr platen, and means -providi-ng a separation between -said printing means and platen when a strip is not disposed therebetween, said means including a. member movable into positionbetween'the printing means and platen.

13. Apparatus of the character described comprising in combination, 'printingl means, a platen cooperating with `said printing '.means, means for moving a strip between said printing means-and platen, and means shiftable transverselyT by the extent of the printing width of the printing means providing a separation between said print-ing means and platen when a strip is not disposed therebetween.

. 14. Apparatusof the character described for performing intermittent .printing or -related V'operation upon a strip of uniformly spaced tags comprising in combination means located at a denite station for intermittently performing the Voperation on said. strip, a table along which the strip may move, a strip engaging device, means for moving said device step-by-step for feeding the strips, saidl means including elements adapted selectively to accommodate for steps of several different` lengths, and means associated with said-feeding means for automatically limiting the movement of said device when short steps are taken.

15. kApparatus of the character described for performing intermittent printing or relatedd operation upon a strip of uniformly spaced tags comprising in combination means located at a definite station Aforintermittently performing the 'operation lon .said strip, 'a table along which the strip may move, a feed bar adapted to accommodate a plurality of different stroke lengths, an arm for operatingv said bar in one direction,said bar having a constant stroke as great as the greatestrequired stroke of said bar, a 'spring urging said bar in the other direction, and means for selectively limiting the stroke -ofzsaidfbaivat times.

16. Apparatus of the character 'described forperiforming yintermittent printing or related oper-ation upon -a strip of `uniformly spacedtags comprising in combinationm'eans located at a definite station lfor intermittently performing the operati-on on said strip, a table along which the strip Vmay move, means for selectively feeding tags of vdifferent widths andaneans associated with said feeding means for limiting its action to lprevent overfeedi'ngztags of narrow Width Whensuch tags are half or less than half the width of wider tags accommodated.

17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 in which said action-limiting means :comes into service :automatically upon settingfsaid feeding means for na-rrowtags.

18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 in Which .saidnction-limiting Imeans may berendered inoperative to adapt the feedinglmea-ns for feeding'tags'of widths which are multiples of the narrow widths.

19. A paratus of the character'described for per orming intermittent printing or related operation upon a strip fof uniformly spaced `tags comprisingfa reciproeable feed bar, a plurality of 'linearsets'of notches on said bar, a device adapted to 'be movedfin steps selectively by lvariousones of said sets of notches,and a dogfengageablewith said bar when acting through a given -set yof notches to limi-t itsreciprocati'on.

20. Apparatusof the `character described, comprising printing means, a taible having a groove 1for :guiding a staple-'bearing stripl vto said printing means, a stripfeeding device movable to a position adjacent saidprinting means for engaging a ystri-p, and means for guiding-the trailing endsiof strips past said printing means, said guiding` means being movable to make Way for said strip-feeding mea-ns.

21. Apparatus of the character described comprising in combination a printing device, a guideway alongside said printing device, a strip guide surface at one side of said printing device beyond the end of said guideWay, a staple groove in said guide surface terminating in said guideivay, a feeding device movable in said guideway to a position alongside said printing device, a staple guide block also slidable in said guideway and having a groove aligning with said table groove, said feeding device having a breakable traction coupling with said block established when said feeding device is Vmoved alongside the printing device, said feeding device pulling said block with it on return movement, and means to break said coupling and leave said block alongside said printing device.

22. Apparatus of the character described, in combination, printing means at a printing station, a slidable strip feeding gripper block for moving strips past said station, a slidable strip guiding block having a limited movement with reference to said sta-tion, and a resilient traction coupling between said blocks for imparting to said guiding block its limited movement by movement of said gripper block.

23. Apparatus of the character described, in combination, printing means at a printing station, a slidable strip feeding gripper block for moving strips past said station, a slidable strip guiding block having a. limited movement with reference to said station, and a resilient traction means between said blocks for imparting to said guiding block its limited movement by movement of said gripper block, said means including a resilient stud i on one block and a cooperating socket on the other block.

24. Apparatus of the character described comprising in combination, a printer, a platen, and means shiftable transversely by the extent of the printing Width of the printing means for preventing the inling of said platen by said printer.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 24 day of January, 1929.

PAUL M. POPE.

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