US2011584A - Method and means for preparing stereotype matrices for multicolor printing - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 20', 1935. A. LENGEL ET AL 2,011,584

METHOD AND MEANS FOR PREPARING STEREOTYPE MATRICES FOR MULTICOLOR PRINTING Filed D90. 24, 1931 2 s t s l [7 INVENTORS I 1 2M. %.M

g- 1935.. A. L. LENGEL AL METHOD AND MEANS FOR PREP NG STE TYPE MATRICES MULTICOLOR PRINTI Fil D96. 24, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Patented Aug. 20, 1935 in time and labor while assuring a more accurate- UNlTE'D STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND MEANS FOR PREPARING s'ranuomn MATRICES FOR MULTI- COLOR PRINTING Albert L. Lengel, Oakland, Calif., and Ernest G. Beveridge, Glen Ridge, N. J., assignors to B. Hoe & 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York; Irving Trust Company, permanent trustee Application December 24, 1931, Serial No. 582,912

8'Claims. (01. 33-1845) This invention in general relates to devices employed in multi-color" printing, having for its object the provision of a device particularly designed and adapted to insure thecorrect trimming of a series of matrices for use in the casting of plates so that the latter can be secured in correct register on the printing cylinder for the printing of the several colors required in corresponding register.

Another object is to provide a novel register rack of comparatively simple design and construction for use in the preparation of plates for multicolor printing that will effect a substantial saving registering of the images and characters in the several colors on the finished plates than possible with conventional methods heretofore employed.

A further object is to provide a device of the kind indicated adapted to suitably mark or out each of a plurality of matrices so that the images inexpensive in construction, as well as convenient,

practical, serviceable and efficient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrange,- ments of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that various changes-in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be.

made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention,

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

'Figure -l is a top plan view of an embodiment of our invention operatively appliedto a matrix;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of theinvention in position to receive or remove a matrix;

figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the device taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line'44ofl='igure 1; I Figure 5 is aview similar to Figure 4 taken on line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 6-5 of Figure 1; andv Figure 7 is a fragmentary elevational view,

partly in section, as viewed in the direction of the arrow 1 of Figure 6.

In the drawings wherein similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts, in the several views of the preferred form of the invention, ll designates a base plate of any suitable material upon which a matrix may be placed. Rockingly secured to an edge of the base plate I l by a hinge I2 is a frame l3 which, as shownin Figure 1, may be of a rectangular configuration. The frame I3 is formed of side or end members M, l5; and back and front members I6, I! respectively, which may be of channel or angle iron construction or other suitable material secured at their ends to form the said frame 13.

Upon the back member 15 and arranged longitudinally thereon, a bar or shaft I8 is rotatably mounted in a plurality of supporting bracket or hearing guides l9 fastened on the back member l6. Upon the shaft I8, a plurality of gears or wheels provided with gear segments are fastened so that when an operating lever 2| fastened to the shaft I8 is manipulated, the said gears 20 will be ing and cutting lower end of each of the shearing punches I II, as it engages and cuts or punches the margin of the matrix hereinafter described,

which as best shown in Flgure'3, is positioned adjacent to or slightly under the edge of the frame member l6 and over socket members 26 secured in countersunk portions 21 of the base plate H in any suitable manner, as by .the screws 28. The

pockets provided by the socket members 25 receive the shearing ends 25 of the punches In as ing the margin of the matrix.

Another of the gears 20 on the shaft 18, mentioned above, is coactingly engaged with a rack segment on 'a reciprocating shearing or marking punch l0 mounted at one end of the side member 14, the tapering or shearing lower end of which (not shown), being similarly received in they descend downwardly while cutting or punchv a socket (not shown) secured to the base plate in the'manner described above.

By further reference to Figure 1 and as shown in detail in Figures 4 and 6, it will be seen that we have provided a pair of wires 29, 30, arranged I in transverse relation, which play an important part in correctly determining the central position of a matrix 3|, which may be assumed to be the key or black plate matrix, superimposed upon the base plate II for a purpose hereinafter described. As clearly shown in detail in Figure 4, the wire 29 is secured at either end to a block 32, which is slidably confined in the channel provided by each of the side or end frame members |4, |5,' these latter being preferably of angle or channel iron construction. Theblocks 32 have threaded apertures therethrough which receive the reduced threaded stems 33 of bolts 34, which are slidable in slots 35 formed in the sides of the frame members l4, l5. The enlarged portion of the stem of each of the bolts 34 is engaged against the exterior surface of thesaid frame members I4 and I5, adjacent the said slot 35. To secure the blocks 32 in fixed position when the wire 29 has been centered or placed at the desired position, as indicated on the scales 36 provided on each of the frame members |4, |5, a set screw 31, the stem of which is threaded in a hole arranged in each of the members |4, I5, is engaged against the top of each block 32 in order to fix the latter and consequently the wire 29 in the position desired.

The wire 30, which is also adjustable, is secured at either end 'to a small plate 38 having-a slot 39'and arranged over another plate or strip of metal 40, slidably secured to the front frame member I] by screws 4|, riding in slots 42, formed in the plate 40 and threadedly engaged in holes (not shown) in the frame members I6 and H.

The plate 38, asindicated above, is adjustable relatively to the lower plate 48 by means of a screw 4| seated on a washer '43, the said upper plate 38 resting on'the lower plate 40, the screw 4| riding in the slot 39 and being threadedly engaged with the lower plate 48. By the above means, the wire 38 can be tightened or loosened as desired, which is accomplished by first loosening the screw 4| and then moving one or both of the upper plates 38 transversely relatively to the lower plates 48, after which the screw is tightened. In addition, the wire 39 can be centered on and moved relatively to the scales 44 secured on frame members l6, IT, by manipulation of the screws 4|, thus permitting the plates 40, I which carry the wire bearing upper plates 38, to

be moved or slid longitudinally along the front frame member In order to correctly mark or out each of a plurality of similar matrices employed in multi-color printing preparatory to trimming, we have providt ed a plurality of adjustable position-indicating members 45 which are adjustably secured to the side or end frame members I4 and I5. The position-indicating members 45 each consist of a pair of links or arms 46, 47, each provided with a slot 48, 49 respectively, and adjustably joined one to gaged against the upper link 41, the head of the screw 50' being similarly engaged against the lower link 45. Each of. the position-indicating members 45 or ratherthe lower'link 45 thereof, is swingingly mounted on either of the side frame members l4 and by the same means described above for securing both links 46, 41 together; i. e., a screw 58' and adjusting nut 5|f,- it being observed that the position-indicating members 45 are arranged in pairs on each of the side or end members I4, l5. Secured tothe ends of each of I the upper links 41 of the members 45, is a needle or point 52 which may be placed at a predetermined point on the matrix 3|, as clearly shown in Figure 1.

Upon the front frame member l1, means are provided for lifting or swinging the frame I3 and for securing same in fixedposition upon the base plate H, which consists in a handle 53 secured to the said member I! and serving as a convenient means for raising or lowering the same. For locking the frame I3 to the base plate any suitable means may be employed, which in the present instance, consists ofa spring-pressed plunger 54 positioned in a pocket 55 provided in the base plate II, the plunger 54 having a handle or knob 56 for convenient-manipulation thereof. As best shown in Figure 6, the exterior end of the spring-operated plunger 54, where it joins the knob 56, is received in a small pocket 51, provided by an outward flaring 58 of the lower depending end of the angle iron member forming the front frame member I7, and a flange 59 formed on a longitudinally positioned short strip 68 secured to the bottom of the base plate H. end of the plunger 54, mentioned above, it will be seen, is clampingly engaged in the pocket 51, mentioned above, thereby maintaining the frame I3 in locked position to thebase plate H, as shown in Figure 6. When it is desired to raise or angle the frame l3, the manipulating handle or knob 56 of the plunger 54 will be pressed inwardly, the reduced stem 6| of the knob 55 passing through an opening provided between the adjacent flared end 58 of the frame member J1 and the flange 59 of strip 50. The pressing inwardly of the plunger The exterior- 54 will remove the outer end of the large diam- In operation, the key or black plate matrices are first center-lined and thenput in the rack so thatthe center lines on the matrix 'will coincide with the center wires 29, 38 of the frame l3; The registration needles or points 52 are next set to the desired points on the characters of the matrix 3| by manipulation of the adjustable links l-3, 41, after which the operating lever-2| controlling the operatlon of the shearing punches or cutting, blades l8 and -||l' is manipulated to cut or mark the matrix 3| as a guide where it is for the other or color matrices.

in turn in the rack andthe color characters matrix 3| on two sides, as indicated "by the position of the parts in Figure 1-, the two cutson c 65 Each of the color plate mats are ,next'placed -of the images onthe finished plates which are obtained from the matrices.

In preparing the plates from the matrices, it is of course, necessary that they be cast and finished insuch manner that they can be placdon the printing cylinders against fixed stops with aview to the printing of the several colors in correct register. For this purpcse, it is necessary that the matrix for each' color be trimmed about the four edges with definite relation to certain chosen register points. One of these latter might be the intersection oftwo definite lines in the picture or any prominent spot conveniently located. As mentioned above, the key or black plate matrix is preferably taken first, and then centerlined,

after which certain points are selected as register points, before marking or cutting the margins or edges of the matrix preparatory to trimming in a squaring machine. The color plate matrices are next taken up in turn, and the margins or edges marked or out after the register points are located, which is done conveniently and quickly by manipulating the position-indicating members 45 until the needles or points 52 are over the points previously selected on the key or black plate matrix. i 7

Up to the present time, in multi-color printing,

particularly of the type required in modern newspaper color supplements in which a number of I impressions are made from similar plates, it has been customary to employ dividers with aview to determining thecorrect register points on each of the similar matrices employed so that the,

images in colors on the plates prepared from the matrices will correspondingly register. As speed is an essential requirement of newspaper work, the loss of time incurred by the use of dividers,

etc., in determining the register points on matrices preparatory to the preparation of the plates therefrom has been a source of delay which it was'felt a more improved meansv and method could obviate. In addition to this, an accurate determination of the correct register points by the use of dividers as mentioned above has been I found impractical under the conditions met with in present-day multi-color printing, particularly for newspapers and magazines.

The present methodand construction permits not only a far more convenient and expeditious method of preparing matrices than the comparatively clumsy and inefiicient methods nowcon- -ventional which, among others, make use of dividers, etc., but it also insures greater accuracy of registration so thatthe images on the finished plates prepared therefrom will be in correct regist er. The device is of a rugged, durable construction and its manipulation requires no manual 'dexterity or technical knowledge on the part of the operator over that possessed by the layman.-

pages printed on the opposite side of the sheet a and in securing absolute uniformity of margins throughout book signatures, newspaper products or other printed matter. A number of other useful features of our rack such as its use in the transposition of subjects in matrices, the location of inserts, and, in fact any operations of the general character indicated wherever registration is necessary or desirable, might be mentioned as claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

What we claim is: g

1. A register rack for use in connectionwith multi-color printing, comprising a base, a frame hingedly mounted on the base, said base serving as a mount for a matrix, means for centering said matrix on the base relatively to the frame, a plurality of members adjustably mounted in the frame for determining the position of registration points on the matrix, and other means secured to the frame for uniformly marking said matrix simultaneously on a plurality of adjacent edges with respect to said points for trimming preparatory to casting printing plates therefrom.'

2. A device of the kind described comprising a frame, center-positioning means for a key matrix secured to said frame, a plurality of members mounted on the frame for determining register points on the key matrix, other means operably mounted on the frame for uniformly marking said key matrix simultaneously on a plurality of adjacent edges after being centered and after the register points thereon are determined whereby after said matrix is marked, a .plurality of other matrices may be similarly marked, and printing plates prepared from all of said matrices may be in correct register for multi-color printing.

3. A device of the kind described comprising a base, a frame hingedly secured to said base,- ad- .justable centre-positioning members secured to the frame for correctly aligning therewith center lines on a key matrix, a pliirality of other members movably secured to the frame, said members being adjustable for determining register points on, said key matrix when mounted on said base, a plurality of punches operably mounted on the frame for marking said matrix and other matrices uniformly with respect to said register points, and means to lock the frame to slidably secured to the frame and adjustable relatively to each other, a plurality of arms pivotably secured to the frame, each of said arms having register points thereon movable in at least two directions, and a shaft rockingly mounted on the frame, guides fastened to the frame, and punches reciprocatingly mounted in said guides said shaft having gears engaged with said reciprocating punches.

.5. A device of the character described, comprising in combination, a frame, slidably adjusts able positioning members secured to the frame for determining the position for a key matrix plurality of punches mounted on the frame and actuated by said operating lever for marking the margins of said key matrix and then the margins of each of a plurality of matrices located by said tion of the key matrix.

, register points in correspondence with the posi 6. In a matrix register rack for use in connecrtion with multi-color printing, a base, a frame hingedly mounted on the base having members adjustable to correspond with register points on the matrix, meansr's ecured to the frame for cut- "ting edges of said matrix, said means including punching instrumentalities and guides therefor,

and manually operable means including a gear and a coacting rack for actuating the said punching instrumentalities.

7. A device ofthe character described, comprising in combination, a frame, positioning members secured to the frame for determining the position for a key matrix in the frame, a plurality of elements secured to said frame for determining register points on the key matrix, an operating lever connected to the frame, and a plurality of punches mounted on the frame and actuated by said operating lever for marking the margin of'said key matrix and then the margins of each of a plurality of matrices located by said register points in correspondence with the position of the key matrix.

8. A combination as specified in claim 6 wherein a pair of positioning elements are provided, saidelements being arranged in transverse relation relatively to one another and adjustably mounted on the frame.

' ALBERT. L. LENGEL.

ERNEST G. BEVERIDGE.

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