US1949535A - Stencil holding tray - Google Patents

Description

March 1934- H. P. ELLIOTT STENCIL HOLDING TRAY Filed April 1, 1932 jzvverz'i'bi Patented Mar. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE Claims.

This invention relates to a filing tray for holding a collection of stencils or printing plates adapted for use in a stencil printing or addressing machine.

The tray with which this invention is particularly concerned has a channel which extends lengthwise of the tray, below and between stencilsupporting ledges at the sides of the tray, and into which channel a blade of a stencil holder of the stencil printing machine is adapted to be inserted for the purpose of guiding the entire collection of stencils in the tray to enter the holder as a unit. The channel is relatively narrow compared with the width of the tray, and hence the tray, heretofore, has been unstable when resting upon a flat surface, as a table, and could rock and tilt sidewise thereon, thereby tending to spill the stencils.

.It is an object of the present invention tov provide a tray, having the construction above described, with means by which the tray can rest in a stable mannerupon a flat surface and by which the tray is prevented from rocking or tilting sidewise.

Specifically, this object is attained by providing the tray with a front wall that has a straight bottom edge that extends transversely of the tray, on opposite sides of and transversely beyond the channel thereon and is, in effect, substantially coextensive with the width of the tray so that it can provide a long transverse line of support for the tray, and thereby prevent the tray from rocking or tilting sidewise. Such construction constitutes a further object of the invention.

A further object of the invention is generally to improve the construction of trays for the printing devices, or stencils, of printing or addressing machines.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tray embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear View of the tray of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail of the tray, taken along line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective detail taken along line 33 of Fig. 2 and illustrating in particular the manner of connecting the bottom of the front wall to the bottom wall of the tray.

Fig. 5 is a perspective detail illustrating the manner of'connecting the front wall to the side wall of the tray.

The major portion of the tray embodying the present invention is made from a single metal sheet having relatively refiexed portions which provide the bottom wall 10, the upstanding side portions 12 at the opposite sides of the bottom wall, the horizontal shelves or ledges 14 which extend outwardly in opposite directions from the tops of the side portions, and the vertical sides 16 which rise from the outer edges of the ledges, the sheet at the tops of the sides being curled over to provide longitudinal side-stiffening beads 00 18. The front and rear ends of the sides 16 are provided with integral front and rear ears 20 and 22 respectively which are integral with the sides and are reflexed inwardly over the ends of the ledges 14 and have integral tabs 24 which are 05 refiexed against and are secured to the under faces of the ledges. The ends of the ledges are also provided with tabs 26 which are reflexed upwardly against and are secured to the outer faces of the ears whereby, through said ears, rigidly [0 to connect said ledges and sides. Said ears also form end-members which retain in the tray the collection of stencils which are located in upright position inthe tray with their bottom edges resting upon the ledges and overlying and spaced above the bottom wall 10 of the tray. The edges 28 of the bottom wall 10 and side portions 12 are reflexed upon said wall and side portions as indicated especially in Figs. 2 and. 3 to form smooth edges and strengthening ribs at the ends. 30

The longitudinal space or channel 30 above the bottom wall 10 and between the side portions 12 and under the tops of the ledges 14 is adapted to receive the blade of the stencil holder of a stencil printing or addressing machine, so that the entire 5 collection of stencils in the tray can be removed therefrom and located in the holder as a unit. With this necessary feature of the construction, the bottom wall 10 is relativelynarrow, transversely of the tray, in comparison with the width of the tray and hence the tray is relatively free to rock or tilt sidewise when placed upon a fiat support 32 so that under certain conditions there is a tendency for the stencils to spill out of the tray. To prevent the tray from rocking or tilting side- 5 wise I have provided the tray at its front end with a supporting member which extends transversely of the tray on opposite sides beyond the line of said bottom wall 12 and also preferably, although not necessarily, laterally beyond the sides 16 and has provision for engagement with the supporting surface 32 thereat, thus providing a transverse support of an extent considerably greater than the width of the bottom wall and support to hold the tray against rocking or tilting onthe support. I

Said supporting member comprises a vertical rectangular flat plate 34 which is secured against the front end of the tray and forms the front wall thereof. Said plate preferably is wider than the width of the tray and extends laterally in 11 both directions therebeyond. The bottom edge 36 of the plate is straight and parallel with the bottom wall of the tray and is located generally in the plane of said wall and can rest for its full length upon the support 32. The plate preferably extends above the tray at least as high as the stencils therein. The edges of the plate are curled over the front face thereof to provide smooth edges and reinforcing beads. The plate is secured to the front ears 20 of the tray by rivets 38 passed therethrough. The plate, at the bottom middle portion thereof, is also secured to the tray. For this purpose a lip 40 is struck out of the front portion of the bottom wall 10 of the tray, leaving an aperture 42 therein; and the lip is refiexed over the front edge of the bottom wall and upstands above it in the vertical plane of the front ears 20 and is secured to the plate 34 by a rivet 44.

The front face of the plate 34 has a plate 46 secured thereto that has a bottom section 48 and upstanding opposed side sections 50 that are spaced in part away from the plate 34 to provide a generally U-shaped recess 52 adapted removably to receive a suitable index card. Said plate 46 also has, integral with the bottom section 48, a forwardly-extended downwardly-curved tab 54 that constitutes a handle by which the tray can be pulled forwardly out of a cabinet.

With the construction above described, the plate 34 provides a lateral support of sufficient extent, on opposite sides of the bottom wall 10, that effectively prevents the tray from rocking or tilting sidewise on a support. Many of the other described features of construction are considered novel and advantageous, also.

I claim:

1. A. stencil holding tray comprising a transversely narrow bottom wall, stencil holding shelves located above and on opposite sides of and extended transversely beyond said bottom wall, side walls rising above said shelves at the sides thereof, the space above said bottom wall and under and between said shelves being open at one end of the tray, and means to support the tray against tilting sidewise on said nar ow bottom wall comprising a flat rectangular end wall perpendicular to and overlying one end of said bottom wall and shelves and extended laterally in opposite directions beyond said bottom wall and under said shelves, the lower edge of said wall being generally in the plane of said bottom wall and ears connecting said side walls and shelves at that end thereof confronting said end wall, and means securing said end wall rigidly to said ears.

2. A stencil holding tray comprising a trans versely narrow bottom wall, stenoilholding shelves located above and on opposite sides of and extended transversely beyond said bottom wall, side walls rising above said shelves at the sides thereof, ears integral with said side walls at the ends thereof inwardly directed over the ends of said shelves and secured thereto, and a front wall overlying one end of the tray including the shelves and secured thereto.

3. A stencil holding tray comprising a transversely narrow bottom wall, stencil holding shelves located above and on opposite sides of and extended transversely beyond said bottom wall, side walls rising above said shelves at the side thereof, ears integral with said side walls at the ends thereof inwardly directed over the ends of said shelves and secured thereto, and a front wall overlying one end of the tray including the shelves and secured thereto, said front wall having a lower edge which is located generally in the plane of said bottom wall and extends in opposite directions laterally therebeyond under said shelves.

4. A stencil holding tray comprising a transversely narrow bottom wall, stencil holding shelves located above and on opposite sides of and extended transversely beyond said bottom wall, side walls rising above said shelves at the sides thereof, ears integral with said side walls at the ends thereof inwardly directed over the I ends of said shelves and secured thereto, and a front wall overlying one end of the tray including the shelves and secured thereto, said bottom wall at the front end having a struck-out lip which is reflexed into position behind said i" extended transversely beyond said bottom wall, 2

side walls rising above said shelves at the sides thereof, ears integral with said side walls at the ends thereof inwardly directed over the ends of said shelves and secured thereto, and a front wall overlying one end of the tray and one set of ears and secured thereto, said bottom wall at the front end having a struck-out lip which is reflexed into position behind said front wall and is secured thereto, said front wall having a lower edge which is located generally in the plane of said bottom wall and extends in opposite directions laterally therebeyond under said shelves.

HARMON P. ELLIOTT.

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