US2049437A - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

All@ 4, 3936. w. T. GOLLWITZER l 2,049,437

PRINTING DEVICE Filed Deo. 2e, 1933 24i s 40- 2,2 /ja 22 57 50 43 M q 43 HQ. 8 /a 52 bww/vbo@ @Mouw/134 Patented ug. 4, 1936 naar PRINTING YDEVICE Walter T. Gollwitzer, Cleveland, Ohio, assigner to Addressograph Company, Cleveland, Ohio, .a corporation of Delaware Application December 26, 1933, Serial No. 703,899

20 Claims.

This invention relates toa printing plate provided with an improved meansfor retaining an index tab, as well as an index card. Preferably, the printing characters are embossed directly on l the plate. Y

An object of this invention is to provide retaining means for the tab and card, so arranged that, though one surmounts the other, the position of one will not interfere with the operation of the other. Heretofore the tab and the card, if one surmounted the other to save space, have so interfered with each other that they caused a mutual binding and rendered a removal of either one from the plate difficult. Further, the card on being placed in the plate often buckled out of the retaining ledges on coming intofcontact with the tab previously placed therein. My invention provides retaining means for the card which is independent of the retaining means for the tab, so that nobinding may be set up between the two and one may be moved without interference from the other.

A further object of my inventionV is to provide means for retaining a metal-tab member in the Vplate securely, and also to allow its ready removal when desired. This new tab retaining means overcomes the disadvantages of the old ones, which either prevented ready removal of the tab or card, or, in the other extreme, fitted so loosely that the tab was not firmly held.

It is desirable to have as compact and as flat a .plate .as possible, and one of the objects of my invention has been to attain that structure.

Other specific objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following description, which refers to a preferred form of Aholder illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the novel vfeaturesoi which will b-e set forth in the claims.

Referring now to the drawing, Fig. l. is a View of the printing device showing the non-printing face and illustrating the index card as it is being insertedor removed; Fig. 2 is a View of the reverse side; Fig. 3 illustrates one form of tab which may be used in the plate; Fig. 4 is a plan of a portion of the rear face visible in Fig. 2, and shows, in more detail, the tab retaining means and the tab therein; Fig. 5 is a partial transverse section throughthe plate as indicated by 5 5 on Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a similar section, with the index card and tab removed; Fig. 7 is a partial transverse section, as indicated by 'I-'l on Fig. l; Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section through the plate, as indicated by 3-3 0n Fg- 1- VWhile Fig. 1 shows .that face of the device (Cl. 'L29-16.8)

which is usually on the underside during the printing operation and is usually vertical when the devices are stacked in a storage drawer, it is most convenient in vdescribing the construction to assume that the device lies horizontally with 5 the face of Fig. 1 uppermost. In this position the device includes a ilat metal plate lo having a face l l in which the printing characters l2 are embossed downwardly, while there is a depressed region lil of the plate which is formed with re- 10 taining means for the tab and card. The tab I5 is retained in keepers i6 in the depressed region. The index card l1 lies on top of the keepers Il and at one edge under a 4turned-over edge i9 of the plate and at the other edge beneath projections 2E! in theaplane of the plate. This is illustrated in cross-section in Fig. 5.

y The card is intended to furnish a readily visual indication as to what is embossed on the plate. To accomplish this any suitableprinted matter or characters may be placed thereon. The twoV card retaining edges i9 and 2l! exten-d substantially the entire width of the plate, although the edge 2@ is interrupted into a series of projections to provide for downwardly turned strip portions 36 of the plate hereinafter described. At its ends, the metal plate is preferably turned over to provide transverse ribs 22, which not only stiien the platebut areused ask guides when the plate is fed along the printing bed into printing'position. 30

The retaining means for the tabI l5 is placed below the card index, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

In general, this retaining means comprises the raised keeper i6 and two lower portions 2d and 25. The tab l 5 is adapted to lie under the former 35 member and above the two latter members, as shown in. Fig. 5. It is desirable that ,the portions 25 lie at an angle of approximately ve degrees to the face of theplate, for a purpose that will hereinafter be described. It is at once apparent that while the under face of theportion l5 retains the tab, the upper face of the same member acts to support the card index. By the interposition of this member between the tab and the index, it is impossible for the one to interfere with the positioning of the other.

The tab retaining portions of the plate are sho-wn as being spaced uniformly apart along the recess lll. Fig. 'l shows the shape of the plate at the intermediate section between the two retaining portions. Thus, the iiat portion ll drops almost vertically downward, as indicated by 3G, to the slightly :inclined bottom 25. The plate then forms an inverted Vchannel 3l, and again a bottom portion 24, this time horizontal. A section 33 55 then rises abruptly to the overhanging portion I9, terminating at the edge 2 I.

By the described form of structure, it is possible to fashion the entire plate of one piece of material. 35 indicates the sides of the keepers I6 where they join with the inverted channel 3|. For the purposes, both of structural necessity and to allow the admission of the tab l5, the portions 30, 3| and 33 do not extend longitudinally completely across the address plate, but have intermittent breaks or openings 36 in their continuity for the purposes of receiving the shank of the tab.

At one end of the depression |4, the bottom surface thereof is completely severed from the top surface II of the plate, as indicated at 40, to provide an opening for the insertion of the index card |1, which is passed into place rst beneath the rib 22, then through the opening 40. then behind the edges 2|! and 2|. At the other end of the depression I make a diagonal severance 31, which allows the plate surface to extend over the corner of the index card and prevent it curling up. The slotted end 31 being at an angle leaves a connected portion 4| between the base of the' depression and the top surface Il, which acts as a stop to limit the movement of the card index. The regions of severance 4i) and 31 are also useful in aiding the stamping of the plate without undue distortion.

Heavy paper or card board is ordinarily used for the index card, and this card must be bent to a certain extent to enter the slot 40 and at the same time pass over the rib bottom 43, which is raised slightly beyond the bottom plane of the plate II, as shown in Fig. 8. When the card is completely within the recess and past the slot 40, it again assumes a fiat shape and locks itself within the recess by abutting the plate-like portion forming one end of the slot. For removal, the end portion of the card is merely manually depressed to free it from such slot end and then Withdrawn.

The index tab I5, as heretofore mentioned, is suitably retained in any of the keepers in the address plate. Not only is it necessary that the tab be retained in the plate, but it is desirable that it be firmly held and at the same time be rendered easily removable. In Fig. 3, I show a preferred form of index tab to be used. The tab comprises three main portions. A wide, flat gripping portion 50, a narrower portion 5| to engage the sides of the pockets and a tongue 52 to aid in locking the tab in the pocket. One or both faces of the portion 55 may be knurled to permit a ready grip on the tab, as desired. Where the portion 50 meets the portion 5|, transverse edges 53 perpendicular thereto, are formed. These edges abut the address plate at the sides of the keeper containing the tab, to limit its movement into the keeper. This is shown in Fig. 4, where a tab is in position.

The tab to be placed on the plate is slid through the aligned openings 36 associated with each keeper until it lies under the keeper I6 and above portions 24 and 25, at which point the tab edges 53 will abut the plate as at 54, Fig. 4. As heretofore mentioned, the plate portion 25 is inclined at an angle of approximately ve degrees to the general plane of the plate in such way that the tab first engages the lower portion of the so-formed incline and is distorted upwardly as it slides along the face thereof. The keeper I6 has a projection V51 extending downwardly therefrom to engage the tab as it is slid in under it. This downwardly facing projection is located in the center with respect to the long dimension of the keeper I6 and near the lower edge with respect to the narrow dimension. 5

When the tab is slid into the pocket, the end of the portion 5| is guided upwardly along the inclined portion 25 and bends the tab. The point of fixture of the tongue to the tab is so located that .as the end of the portion 5| is inclined up- 10 wardly, it tends to force the tongue 52 downwardly. At the same time, the projection 51 bears downwardly on the tongue 52 to force it away from the plane of the keeper. When the tab is entirely within the pocket formed in the 15 address plate, the end of the tongue 52 lies beyond the portion 24 and hence is not restrained by it against movement downwardly. VA tendency toward downward movement results from the downward action of the projection 51, as well 20 as the camming upwardly of the portion 5|.

Thus, under the combined action of the inclined surface 25 and the projection 51, the free end of the tongue comes into abutting relanon with the edge of the 'depressed Zone 24, thus 25 locking the tab against removal until the tongue again is forced out of abutment with the portion 24.

The channel 3| connecting the sides 35 of adjacent keepers IB has its deepest point substan- 30 tially at its center, as indicate-d at 60 in Fig. 4. This formation of the channel allows the operator to insert his thumb nail across the bounding sides 35, and to bear against the tongue 52 to force it up out of abutment with the edge 35 24 and allow the removal of the tab. This channel formation allows braces to the successive keepers.

Compactness is desired in this address plate, which means, among other things, that a plate 40 as flat as practicable is desired. As heretofore described, the tab and card retaining means are made as compact as their requirement will permit. On the opposite sides of the plate there is a slightly raised marginal portion, which is 45 bent over to form the edge 65. This bent-over edge is adapted to lie in the resulting longitudinal recess on the face side of the plate. In the same way the guide rails 22, which are used to position the plate,'are so constructed, by vir- 50 tue of a rear raised margin alongthe ends of the plate, that they attain little vertical height above the face of the plate, and still have sufficient size for effective engagement by the feeding mechanism of the printing machine. As 55 shown in Fig. 8, the marginal portions 43 meet the marginal portion 66 to form a continuous reinforce around the three sides of the address plate not adjacent the tab retaining means.

The possibility of embossing characters directly on the address plate is of advantage, as it eliminates the necessity for separate embossed address plates fastened thereto. Such characters are embossed in the central ilat portion Il, on either side thereof, as desired. In the present embodiment of my invention it is preferable, however, to have these characters embossed so that they are printed from the side or face exhibited in Fig. 2,-that is, the side opposite the 70 guide rail 22.

From a perusal of the specification and an examination of the drawing, it will be apparent that my address plate incorporates several advantageous features not heretofore used. Means lare provided by which a suitabl-e index tab may be mounted in the address plate, as .well as a' suitable card for indexing purposes, each mounted in such a way as not to interferewith the other, either while in position or while oneV or both are being positioned in the plate. Further, I provide a recesse-d portion which is adapted to include therein a means for retaining both the card index and the metal tab member, preventing the protrusion of the card above the surface of the plate. My invention also includes very eiIective means for locking the index tab rmly in position in any desired pocket of the address plate, such locking preventing its removal except as desired by the user.

As a result of the structure herein described, a relatively flat plate. is obtained, which permits the stacking of a greater number of plates than was heretofore possible, and at the same time entanglement of one plate with another is prevented, due to the few exposed edges.

It should be noted that although the two factors of the inclined surface and the projection associated with each keeper cooperate in the embodiment shown to cause the angular position of the tongue automatically upon the insertion of the tab, and While I regard such conjoint use as preferable, the tongue might be bent from the normal plane of the tab by the employment of the projection alone. An inclined camming surface coacting with the end portion of the tab to bend the tongue is describedv and claimed in my copending application No. 612,957, led May 23, 1932. A division of that application Ser. No. 48,670, led November '7, 1935, for an index tab claims the tab itself, as shown herein.

I claim:

l. A plate having a depression extending along the plate adjacent one edge, a row of raised keepers within the depression, openings in the wallof the depression in registration with the keepers,Y

and means for holding an index card in the depression and over the keepers.

2. In a device of the characterY described the combination of a plate adapted to carry printing characters, said plate being formed with a longitudinal depression parallel with and adjacent to the upper edge, ak row of raised keepers in said depression open at their top Vand bottom edges, and a row of openings through the topwall of the depression registering with the keepers, whereby an index tab may be` inserted from above with its shank extending through one'of said openings and beneath the correspondingkeeper and an index card may occupy the depression and rest on the keepers, the plate being formed with means to overhang the index card at its upper and lower edges.

3. A plate arranged to carry printing characters and having a longitudinal depression adjacent one edge, an opening inY one end of the depression whereby an index card may be slid longitudinally into the depression, an abutment at the other end of he depression to stop the index card, and a diagonal opening at the latter end of the depression enabling a corner of the. index card to pass to the rear of the plate.

4. The combination with a plate having a row of keepers parallel with one edge, each keeper having a projection on its rear face, and an index tab adapted to be inserted in any keeper and having a spring tongue adapted to engage the projection when the tab is inserted, whereby the tongue may be bent lfrom the plane of the tab into position-to engage a shoulder on the plate adjacent the rear side of the tab.

V5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a plate having a longitudinal depression formed therein adjacent one edge, a row of keepers upset from the bottom of thevdepression, there being openings through the offset walls of the depression registering with the keepers, whereby the shank of a tab may be inserted beneath any keeper, the bottom of the depression on that side of the keepers distant from the plate edge being inclined upwardly toward the body of the plate, said inclined surface being adapted to coact with the tab to distort a tongue thereon and bring it into registration with the edge of the depression bottom between the keepers and edge of the plate. i

6. A printing plate having a ilat portion, adapted to have. embossed thereon type characters and a depressed portion adapted to contain an index card and a tab embodying a tongue, a tab retainingmeans including a keeper for the tab interposed between the portion of the depression to receive the tab and the portion to receive the index card and comprising a section of said plate, said. section having on its underside a projection adapted to engage said tongue, said tab retaining means including an .edge and an inclined surface to coop-crate with said projection to top and bottom edges. of the keepers to allow the Y passage of a tab shank, there being` openings through the offset walls of the depression above said Zones and in registration with openings of the keepers, the depressed Zone on thatV side of the keeper distant from the plate edge being inclined upwardly toward the body of the plate and the keeper having on its underside a downward projection adjacent the inclined Zone, said inclined Zone and projection cooperating to distort the tongue of an inserted tab and bring it into registration with the edge of the depressed zone between the keepers and edge of the plate.

8, In a printing device of the character described, the combination of a plate having a row of keepers adjacent one edge, each keeper comprising an upstanding loop and portions connecting its ends with the plate, there being openings at the top and bottom edges of the keepers to allow the passage of a tab shank, means to divert a tongue on the shank of the tab upon its insertion to bring the end of the tongue on the shank into registration with a shoulder of the plate behind the keeper, adjacent keepers being connected by upwardly bowed portions of the plate which leave on the rear side of the plate longitudinal recesses enabling convenient access for pressing against the tongue of the tab.

9. A plate having longitudinal depression formed in one face thereof adjacent the top edge, with means on the plate overhanging the depression at the upper and lower edges thereof, a row of upstanding keepers in the depression rising to a less height than the under face of said overhanging means, an index tab having its shank mounted in the depressio-n beneath one of the keepers and an index card mounted in the depression above the keepers and below said overhanging means.

10. A plate having a longitudinal depression formed in one face thereof adjacent the top edge, with means on the plate overhanging the depression at the upper and lower edges thereof, a row of upstanding keepers in the depression rising to a less height than the underface of said overhanging means, each keeper having a projection on its under face, an index tab having its shank mounted in the depression beneath one of the keepers and an index card mounted in the depression above the keepers and below said overhanging means, said tab having a tongue automatically bent toward the rear by said projection upon insertion of the tab, so that the tongue stands in registration with the base of the depression between the corresponding keeper and the top edge of the plate.

11. A printing plate having a depressed region' and means for retaining thereon both an index tab and a surmounting index card, said means including a row of keepers raised from the bottom of the depression and located entirely behind the face plane of the plate, together with means acting automatically consequent upon the insertion of the tab to retain said tab in said plate.

12. The combination with a tab having a tongue of a printing device having means to retain such tab thereon comprising a at plate portion, an upstanding keeper integral with said plate portion, and an indentation in the front face of said keeper causing a projection on the rear face, said projection being positioned to forceY thc tongue of said tab when behind the keeper into abutting registration with a shoulder on said device.

13. A plate having a keeper raised above the adjacent portion of the plate, and cut free therefrom at one edge to form an opening, said keeper having a projection on its rear face, combined with a tab passing through the opening into the space behind the keeper and having a tongue normally in the plane of the tab but deflected therefrom by said projection to stand in abutting relation with the shoulder of the plate left by the raising of thekeeper.

14. In a device of the character described, a plate having a row of raised keepers adjacent one edge, combined with an index tab having a shank adapted to lie behind any of said keepers, each keeper having a projection on its under face, and the tab having a tongue which, upon insertion of the tab, may engage the projection and be thereby forced into registration with a shoulder of the plate.

15. The combination of a tab having a tongue and a plate having a tab-receiving keeper raised above the adjacent portion of the plate, with an opening into the space beneath the keeper, the keeper having a projection on its rear face adapted to engage and deflect the tongueon the tab into abutting registration with the shoulder of the plate left by the raising of the keeper.

16. A printing device arranged to carry printing characters and having a depressed zone, means to overhang one edge 0f the depressed zone, a row of raised keepers in the depressed zone, the device having a row of lips overhanging the other edge of the depressed Zone, there being connections between the lips from the body of the device to the base of the depressed zone whereby an index card may be mounted in the depressed Zone over the keepers and retained by the overhanging portions of the device at the upper and lower edges of the card.

17. A printing device, comprising a plate having a depressed zone adjacent one edge, the uppeil edge of the plate being bent over to overhang the depressed zone, a row of raised keepers in the depressed zone, the body of the plate below the depressed zone having a row of lips individually in alignment with the keepers and overhanging the depressed zone, whereby an index card may be mounted in the depressed Zone over the keepers and retained by the overhanging portions of the plate at the upper and lower edges of the card.

18. A plate arranged to carry printing characters and having a depression extending along the plate adjacent one edge, a row of keepers raised from the bottom of the depression to a less height than the face plane of the plate and open at their top edges and openings through the wall of the depression adjacent said edge of vthe plate and in registration with the passages of the keepers, whereby index tabs may be passed through the openings and beneath the keepers, and means for retaining an index over the keepers and beneath said face plane.

19. A plate arranged to carry printing characters and having means to support an index tab having a tongue, said supporting means comprising a keeper upstanding from said plate to leave slots at the upper end and lower end of said keeper whereby a tab may pass therethrough, an abutment on said plate adjacent one slot, and a projection on that face of said keeper which will be adjacent an index tab occupying said slots, 45

said projection being between the slots and extendingrfrom the plane of the keeper and thus adapted to engage said tongue and deflect it to lie against said abutment.

20. In a plate adapted to carry an index tab thereon, a keeper upstanding from said plate and having a passageway beneath it, flat portions of said plate adjacent opposite ends of said passageway, a tab retained beneath said keeper and bearing against said at portions, said tab having a tongue, and means carried by said keeper acting to deflect the tongue of the tab into abutting relation to a portion of the plate to lock said tab therein.

WALTER T. GOLLWITZER.

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