US2132410A - Selective printing machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 11, 1938. w. T. GOLLWITZER SELECTIVE PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed May 8, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

my HEW ATTORNEYS.

0d. 11, 1938. w, GOLLWlTZER 2,132,410

SELECTIVE PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed May 8, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV ENT OR.

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SELECTIVE PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed May 8, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

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IN VENT OR.

ATTORNEYS.

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:Robert Roe. INVENTOR.

Z18 Bliss Ave. Cleveland. Ohio.

ATTORNEY5 Patented Oct. 11, 1938 UNITED STATES SELECTIVE PRINTING MACHINE Walter T. Gollwitzer, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor,

by mesne assignments, to Addressograph-Mul- .tigraph Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application May 8, 1935, Serial No. 20,415 Renewed July 6, 1938 39 Claims.

This invention relates to a series printing mechanism, and especially to one in which data is consecutively printed from a series of printing devices, and other data is selectively printed in of the printing member used being dependent upon or controlled by the individual printing de- V1065. 4

A more specific object is the provision of a m mechanism whereby a comparatively small number of control positions, or selector units, carried by an address or similar printing device, may select any one of a much greater number of supplemental printing members, to cause the impression 25 of such selected printing member to be made in a p1 edetermined registration relative to the impressionmade from the printing device carrying the control member or members.

The invention is adapted for use in printing 30 various aricles and lists, an instance of which is the printing of dividend checks and the like.

In such case's it is desirable that each check be impressed with the payees orstockholders name and the amount of payment in money values. 5 While all, this data might be mounted on one printing device, that would require the frequent change of that portion of the device setting out the value. because the amount of stock held by any individual is liable to change between successive dividend periods and also the dividend rate is liable to change. The present invention is utilizable in printing dividend checks Without the necessity of making any alteration of the printing devices for changes in the dividend rate, while 5 it simplifies the alteration of the printing devices due to a change in the number of shares.

By my invention, the number of shares which .each party owns may be represented by an index removably carried by the printing device and 50 readily changeable from time to time, and the change in amount, due to the alteration of the dividend rate, may be effected by simply chang ing the printing members of the supplemental printing device.

55 As a'change in the dividend rate affects all of the stockholders, while a change in the number of shares applies only'to the comparatively small number of individuals whose holdings have changed 'since the last dividend period, and as a great many stockholders own the same number 5 of shares, it follows that there is a much less total change required by my system, where the only alteration on the printing device is for a change in the number of shares held, and where the only alteration in the supplemental printer isfor a change in amount, due to a change in dividend rate;

By way of example, suppose the total number of stockholders is six thousand. It frequently happens that the different number of shares owned by these stockholders may not exceed sixty. Therefore, it is much simpler by my system, which contemplates changing only the sixty supplemental printing members representing the sixty diiferent numbers of shares owned, than by a system which would require changing each of the six thousand printing devices. The controlling index on the printing device, which corresponds to the number of shares held by that individual, obviously need only be changed when the number of shares held changes, which, by way of example, might be only twenty for six thousand shares.

Accordingly, it may be stated as one of the ob-- jects of my. invention to provide a mechanism which may be selectively controlled by indicia removably carried by the printing devices and operative to print by the use of any of a number of printing members which are arranged in a series in said mechanism and readily changed therein.

Other objects of the present invention will be- 3 come more apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one form of the invention. The essential features of the invention will be summarized in .the claims. 40

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a. mechanism embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the printing mechanism and printing device feed, the plane of the section being indicated by lines 3-3 on Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation illustrating the supplemental printing member unit on an enlarged scale; Fig. 5 is a transverse section indicated-by lines 5-5 on Figs, 1, 2 and 4; Fig. 6 is a horizontal section, as indicated by lines 6-6 on Figs. 4 and 5; Fig. '1 is a fragmentary vertical section as indicated by lines 1-! of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a vertical section, as indicated by lines 8-8 on Figs. 4 and 6; Figs. 55

9 to 14, inclusive, are details of certain permutation members used to control the supplemental printer; Figs. 15 and 16 are sectional details, substantially as indicated by the correspondingly numbered lines on Fig. 3; Fig. 17 is a plan view of a printing device; Fig. 18 is a sectional View of the printing device, as indicated by the lines Ill-l9 on Fig. 18; Fig. 19 isa perspectiveview of a selector member or tab; Fig. 20 is a view illustrating a work sheet printed by the use of my invention; Fig. 21 is an electrical wiring diagram illustrating the various electrical circuits.

The invention illustrated by the above mentioned drawings will be explained in connection with the printing of stock dividend checks. However, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of various other applications. I prefer to accomplish the invention by utilizing an address printing machine of the type generally known as the Addressograph" machine. In this machine a series of individual printing plates, each bearing a name and address, are fed one at a time from a magazine into printing position and an impression is made from each plate on successive sheets fed to and from printing position by an automatic feeding device. The printing devices are provided with tabs which are adjustably positioned on the device.

My invention contemplates the provision of a series of supplemental printing members, any selected one of which may be used to print, in dollars and cents on the check, the amount to be paid to the stockholder whose name was impressed thereon from the address printing device. I utilize the tabs carried by each address device to indicate the number of shares owned by the shareholder whose name is impressed by such device. Each supplemental printing member may include a series of manually changeable type, while the entire series of such members are preferably carried by a common carrier and arranged .to be selectively brought into printing position under the control of the tab.

The supplemental printing members are positioned under the control of the tab or tabs, carried by the address printing devices, in such a manner that a comparatively small number of tab selection positions may control a comparatively great number of printing members. I find this is advantageously accomplished by using a set of permutation members, each of which are controlled by the use of a tab selector position or area, but any and all of which are independently controlled so that one or a number of permutation members may act at once. Each combination of permutation members being effective to cause one specific supplemental printing member to be brought into printing position.

Suitable printing mechanisms, such as platens, are provided to coact with the printing devices and the printing members to automatically cause an impression to be made from each printing de vice and subsequently to cause an impression to be made from a selected printing member in registration with the impressionv of the printing device which controlled the selection.

The machine shown in the drawings has a suitable frame I0, which supports a flat horimoved along a guideway l3 to printing position beneath the platen l4 which operates to press the sheet upon the printing devices. The guideway [3 for the printing devices extends just beneath the table I] and a suitable opening I5 is provided in the table which exposes the printing devices to the sheet when in printing position. The printing device guideway I3 extends forward to direct the printing device to the discharge chute l6 (Fig. 2).

Any suitable or well-known mechanism may be used for feeding the device to printing position and holding them in printing position while the desired number of impressions are made therefrom and removing them from printing position.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the printing devices are moved from the magazine I2 by chains I'l arranged on opposite sides of the printing device guideway and looped about sprocket members I8, which are rotatably carried by suitable shafts journalled in the frame. The forward one of these sprockets i8 is provided as shown in Fig. 3 with a series of pins I9 which are successively engageable by a pawl 20 pivotally mounted on a rocker 2| drivingly carried by a shaft-22 mounted in the bed of the machine. The shaft 22 is oscillated from a power shaft 30. As shown in Fig. 3, a suitable lever 24 rigidly carried by the shaft isconnected, by a link 25, with a rock arm 26 pivotally mounted as at 21 to an upstanding frame bracket 28. The rock arm 26 is provided with a pair of rollers 3| and 32, arranged to be engaged by respective cams 33 and 34, drivingly carried by the power shaft 30.

The stamper or platen arm 40, which carries the platen I4, is pivotally mounted in the frame as at 4|, and is alternately lowered and raised, into and out of contact with the printing device D, which rests in printing position, by a pair of cams 43 and 44 which engage rollers 42 and 45, respectively, carried by the platen arm 40. The cams 43 and 44 are rigidly mounted on the shaft 30 which is connected by bevelled gears 35 (Fig. 1) to a main drive shaft-36 of the machine. The main shaft carries a pulley 31 which is driven from a suitable source of power, and a suitable clutch 38 is provided for starting and stopping the mechanism.

The sheets S, which are to be printed, are contained in an angularly disposed stack at the righthand side of the machine, Fig. 2. from which they are taken, one at a time, by a feeder bar 45 and inserted between the rolls 46.

The feed rolls 4S feed sheets onto the carriers 41, which travel along the top of the table II. These belts are endless and travel around pulleys 48, 49 and 50. The pulleys 48 and 49 are mounted just beneath the machine table and the pulleys 50 are positioned some distance below the machine table and are mounted on adjustable arms Si, by means of which proper tension may be applied to the belts. The belt pulleys 48 are mounted on a shaft 52 which is driven by a train of gears 53. The gears 53 and the sheet feed rolls are driven in proper timed relation and at the proper speed from the main shaft 36 by means of trains of gears 55 and 56, Figs. 1 and 2. The foregoing arrangement for removing sheets from the stack positioning them on vcarriers orj belts 4'! is described in the patent to Joseph S. Duncan,

1,488,667, issued April 1st, 1924, to my assignee.

A series of stop fingers 51, 58 and 59, Figs. 1 and 2, are positioned above the path of the sheets along the table and are adapted, when projected into the path of a sheet to engage the end of the sheet and hold the sheet stationary while the platen arm operates to print an impression upon the portion of the sheet which is held by the fingers in printing position. The stop fingers ,upon the back of the are carried at the ends of arms 63 which are mounted on a shaft 60, and are swung vertically into and out of the path of movement of the sheets. The shafts 60 are supported by suitable brackets from the frame of the machine.

The stop fingers are operated by a series of cams 6|, which are carried on a, cam shaft 62. The cams are provided with suitable cam surfaces which are engaged by the ends of the stop finger arms 63. The stop fingers are operated in a definite timed relation to the operation of the platen arm and the plate feed, so that after the printing impression is made on the portion of the sheet in printing position, the stop fingers are raised to release the sheet and permit the belts 41 to advance the sheet and bring the next sheet in printing position. The cam shaft 62 is driven by bevelled gears 54 from a shaft 65, this shaft being connected to and driven at the proper rate of speed by the gear trains 55 and 56.

A printing device, for which the mechanism shown in the drawings is especially adapted, is best illustrated in Figs. 17 and 18. The printing device comprises a-holder 10, and is arranged to removably carry a printing plate P having embossed thereon suitable printing characters 1|. The lowermost edge of the holder is bent upwardly and inwardly, forming a lip 12, and a series of lips 13 are struck up from the body of the holder, beneath which lips the printing plate 'may be slid to position it on or remove it from the holder. The printing plate is prevented from endwise movement by suitable depressible abutments 14, which are preferably formed from the body of the holder. The sides of the holder are bent downwardly, forming, holder, spaced ribs 15, which serve to space the holders so that when they are stacked flat, one on top of another,

thebottom of one holder will not contact with the embossed characters of the plate carried by the holder next below. 1

Located adjacent the upper edge of the holder are a series of pockets or keepers 16, adapted to support and retain in position one or more index tabs so that the body of the tab projects outwardly from the edge of the holder. Each index tab T is preferably removably retained in any of'the keepers in the holder. Fig. 19 shows an index tab which is admirably adapted for use in connection with the printing device illustrated. Such tab comprises three main portions, namely, a wide, flat portion 11, a narrower portion 18, adapted to engage the sides of the pockets in the holder, and a tongue 19 to aid in looking the tab inthe pockets. The arrangement of the holder is such that when the tab is inserted in a. holder, the tongue 19 of the tab is depressed, due to an inclined area 80 of the pocket, causing the keeperto abut a surface 8| of a strap 82 formed in the holder.

The mechanism heretofore described utilizes the printing devices D to print the shareholder's name and address on the body of each check or sheet. After the check is so printed, the stop fingers 51 and 58 rise to permit the impressed sheetto advance and to permit the belts 41 to bring a new sheet into printing registration to be impressed with the shareholder's name and address carried by the. next succeeding printing device... The sheets or checks, as they leave the initial printing position, advance towards the left (Figs. 1 and 2) into position beneath a supplemental platen 85, which is arranged to coact with any one of a number of suitable printing members, to impress on'the printed sheet the amount in dollars andcents, together with the quantity of shares owned by the stockholder whose name is on such sheet.

The supplemental printing members are best illustrated in Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive. As'shown, they may comprise type or type bars 90, which are set in line formation in axially extending grooves 9|, formed in the periphery of a cylinder or drum 92, rotatably journalled on a disc 93 carried by a longitudinally extending shaft 94, rotatably mounted in the machine frame beneath the table II, normally constrained against rotation as will be hereinafter described. The arrangement is such that the line of type or printing member 90 which is uppermost in the drum, is just below the top of the table. The table is provided with an opening 95. to permit the supplemental platen 85 to press the printed sheet into contact with such supplemental printing member. Each printing member 90 is supplied with printing characters, representing a definite number of shares and the sum of dollars and cents of the dividend to be paid thereon.

' The supplemental platen 80 is carried by a platen arm 86, which is pivotally mounted as at 81'to a suitable frame bracket member 88. 'The platen arm 86 is provided with a roller-83 arranged to coact and normally held in contact with a cam 84, by a suitable spring 89, interposed between the platen arm and the frame bracket 88. The cam 84 is rigidly mounted on a shaft 91, journalled in the machine frame, and

which is driven through a pair of gears 98 and 99" secured to the shafts 91 and the main platen drive shaft 30, respectively. The arrangement is such that the platen 85 is operated in timed relationship with the operation of the main platen l4, and the paper feed stop fingers 51,

58 and 59.

As heretofore mentioned,.I have found that with several thousand shareholders the different number of shares owned by such shareholders may not exceed sixty. Hence, I find itadvan tageous to use sixty-three different printing members. As shown, such printing members 90 are spaced equi-distant from each other about the, periphery of the drum 92, and any one may .be brought into position to register with" the platen 85. The drum 92 which carries the supplemental printing members 90 is normally constantly driven. As shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6, the drum 92 is connected by a friction clutch I00, with a pulley I01, which is rotatably journalled on the shaft 94, heretofore described. The pulley IN is constantly driven by an. endless belt I02, which similar pulley I03 which is rigidly secured to the paper feed shaft 52, heretofore described.

Suitable idler pulleys I04 cooperate with the belt I01 to maintain it taut. As shown, the pulleys I04 are carried by pivoted arms I05, and are is looped around the pulley IN, a

maintained in contact with the belt |0| by suit able springs I06.-

Shortly before the platen 85 is brought intocontact with one of the printing members 90,

, one of a plurality of stop members I01 is brought number of areas.

ing devices, as heretofore described. As shown in Fig. 1 9, the portion 11 of'the tab, which portions extend outwardly from the printing device, may be divided into six equal areas, any one or more of which areas may-be depressed from the plane of the remaining areas. The boundaries of these areas are indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 17.

While I have shown a tab having six areas, obviously I may use six different tabs or any number of tabs which would provide the required In the present instance I have selected one tab having six areas, as such arrangement provides sixty-three different combinations of such areas. For instance, in one tab the area a may be depressed, while in another tab areas a and b may be depressed, or the areas a, b, c, d, e and I may all be depressed. As there are sixty-three different combinations of such areas possible, it is readily seen that I may use a different combination of areas to represent each supplemental printing member, and to indicate the number of shares owned by the stockholder whose name may be carried by the printing de- 7 vice to which the tab is attached.

The stops I01, of which .there are also sixty three, are therefore arranged so as to become active to stop the drum 92, which carries the supplemental printing member, whenever a definite type of tab is present on the printing device which lies in printing position beneath the platen I4. The stops as shown comprise levers I01 which are mounted in slots H0 and III formed in the. periphery of a barrel II2, which is attached to the drum shaft 94 as shown in Fig. 6, the drum shaft, being supported against rotation in the frame I0,

as heretofore mentioned, restrains the stop levers against rotation. The stops I01 are each pivotally mounted on the barrel, as at I09, so that their right-hand ends II4 (Fig. 6) may swing radially outwardly, by suitable springs H5, into the path of the abutment I08 carried by the drum fluence of the springs H5 is normally restrained by a series of permutation members. As shown, each permutation member comprises a permutation ring and a controlling member therefor,

the rings being indicated at I to I25, inclusive. These pemutation rings encircle the stop arms I01 adjacent the right-hand ends thereof and are separated from each other by suitable spacers I26. Each permutation ring has, as shown in Figs. 9 to 14, inclusive, a series of radially extending notches I21 formed in its internal periphery. The arrangement or separation of the notches, in one ring, varies from the arrangement or separation of the notches in the other rings. The arrangement is such that the movement of any ring,

or each ring in any combination of rings, a definite distance will align one notch in each ring with a notch in each other ring, and thereby permit a spring H5 to swing its respective stop arm outwardly into the path of the drum abutment I08. Each combination of positions of the permutation rings, due to the movement of any The movement of the stop arms under the intained in their innermost or inactive positions by the faces of theteeth I I8 between the notches.

The movement of the rings I20 to I 25 is limited by a pin I29 which-engages the walls of a slotted opening formed in the discs. This pin is mounted in a collar I which encircles the stop levers I01 and is secured to an annular boss I3I formed on the barrel. As shown, the'collar I30 is shrunk in place on the drum. Each spacer ring I26 is provided with an opening through which the pin I29 passes, the size of such opening is such as to prevent relative movement between the spacers and the barrel.

I28 is of such size as to permit the permutation ring to move substantially half the thickness of the arms I01. Each permutation ring is normally held with the pin I29 in contact with the right-hand end of the slot I28, as shown in Fig. 5, by a suitable tension spring I32, which is interposed betweenthe permutation ring and a bar I33 carried by the collar I30.

When the permutation rings are in their normal position, the teeth formed in the slots of the rings effectively restrain each of the stop levers I01 against swinging radially outwardly. However, when the permutation rings are active, certain of the notches in the ring are aligned, thereby permitting a selected one of the stop levers I01 there being one motor for each ring. As shown,

each motor I has connected to its armature shaft I5I a flexible cord I52, which passes around a pulley I53, carrieri by an upstanding frame member I54, and a; second pulley I 55, carried by arms I56 which are integral with the spacer I26 and has its end connected to the respective permutation ring as at I51. Hence, consequent upon the operation of any one of the motors I50, its respective permutation ring will be moved in a counter-clockwise direction, a distance equivalent to half the thickness of a stop lever.

The motors I50 are of such a type that continued application of current thereto will not injure the motor, even though the movement of the armature shaft l 5I 'thereof has been stopped, due to its corresponding permutation disk having reached the limit of its movement.

ring or rings, aligns the notches I21 to permit a The motors I50 are controlled by suitable switch members I45, which are mounted in the guideway I3 beneath the printing device which is in printing position. As shown in Figs. 3, 15 and 16, I have provided a series of switch operating members I40, pivoted as at MI, in a suitable block I42, carried'by the guideway I3. The forward end I43 of the operating members engage respective tines I44 of a comb spring or switch member I45.

When a printing device passes into printing position, and a depressed portion of a tab T engages an abutment I46 of the switch operating lever I40, it swings the lever and the coacting spring tine of the switch member I45 downwardly, bringing such tine into contact with a contact member I41. As shown in the electrical diagram of Fig. 21, electrical energy is supplied to a timing switch I48 and thence-through a conductor I49 to the switch, through such contacts I41, as are closed, due to the action of the tab, to their respective motors 'I5I through conduits I39, thereby energizing whichever motor or motors corresponds to the depressed area of the tab and setting the corresponding permutation ring or rings, permitting a selected one of the stop levers I01 to swing outwardly into position to contact with the abutment I08 of the supplemental printing drum 92, thereby stopping the drum with the printing member uppermost, which corresponds to the number of shares indicated or represented by the tab on the printing device in its uppermost position.

The timing switch I48 is periodically operated by a cam. I60 secured to the cam shaft 91, heretofore mentioned. As shown in Fig. 5, the cam I60 coacts with a roller I6I carried by a lever I62, secured to a vertically extending rock shaft I63, which is rotatably mounted in the frame bracket 88 in any well-known manner. Adjacent its lower end, the rock shaft I63 is provided with a pin I64, arranged to be swung into engagement with the timing switch I48 closing the switch and making a circuit to the comb switch member I45. The timing switch is so arranged that it will energize the motors I50 to set the permutation rings at a predetermined time interval, so as to prevent damage to the permutation ring and to cause the. rotation of the printing drum to bring a different printing member into printing position at a period when the platen is idle.

After an impression has been made from a selected printing member and before the motors I50 act to reset the permutation rings, the stop lever which was rendered active to position such printing member is restored. As shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the shaft I63, which actuates the timing switch I48, is providedwith an arm I65 arranged to engage a plunger I66, which is mounted in an axial recess within the shaft 94. A pin I61 carried by the plunger I66, passes through a slotted opening I66 in the shaft 94 and engages a cam disk or collar I69.

It results, from the mechanism described, that as the plunger I66 is moved inwardly, that is, toward the right, Figs. 4 and 5, it moves the collar I69 in the same direction, causing the cam surface I10 thereof to engage the left-hand ends I1I of the stop levers I01, swinging them about their-pivots against the action of the springs II5, thereby throwing all of the arms into contact with the supporting barrel and out of the notches in the permutation rings, whereupon the rings are free to move under the impulse, either of the motors I50 or springs I32. The cam I60, which actuates the shaft I63, is so arranged that immediately after a period of time has elapsed suflicient for the motors I50 and the springs I32 to set the permutation rings to a new position, the collar of the arm I65 is swung out of contact with the plunger I66, permitting a compression spring I13 to return the plunger and collar to outermost or left-hand position, (Figs. 4 and 5), thereby permitting the stop lever I01 which lies opposite the newly'aligned notches in the permutation rings to be rocked by its spring II5 into such notches and engage the abutment I08 of the units when the former is stopped. As indicated in the drawings, especially Figs. 5 and 6, the shaft 94, which supports such units, is rotatably journailed in the frame I0. Secured to the left-hand end of the shaft 94 (Fig. 5) is a lever I80 carrying an adjusting screw I8I arranged to be maintained in contact with a pin I82 mounted in a frame bracket I83 by a comparatively stifi spring I84. This permits the shaft to give under the impact of the abutment I08.on a stop lever I01 and be quickly returned by the spring I84. It also permits the printing drum to be aligned relative to the opening in the table II through which the impression is made.

While I have described my permutation members as comprising rings and individual control members or motors therefor, I nevertheless use the term permutation members to designate any type of members so arranged that a small number of index positions may control the same number of members, which in turn will cooperate with each other to control a greater number of stops, so that each one of the stops will be enabled to be selectively operated to print a different line.

Suitablev inking mechanisms may be provided to coact both with the printing devices D and with the printing members 90. I have indicated in Fig. 3 an inked ribbon 200, which may be interposed between the printing device and the paper beneath the platen I4 in the usual manner. I have likewise shown, in Fig. 5, a fabric or felt roller 20 5, arranged in rolling contact with the printing members carried by the drum 92, to supply them with ink.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that I have provided a printing mechanism to greatly facilitate the printing of addresses combined with other data,as,for instance, in dividend checks, and'have arranged the various mechanism in a simple form, whereby the small number of selection areas of one or more index members carried by the printing devices, and may operate to select any one of a much larger number of supplemental printing members to cause such printing members to make an impression upon the same sheet as was impressed by the printing device carrying such index member.

I claim: 7

1. The combination of a plurality of printing devices, a plurality of supplemental printing members, means whereby any one of said members may be brought into printing position regardless of its relation to other printing members under the control of index tabs removably carried by the printing devices, and means whereby an impression may be made on the same article by one of the printing devices and the corresponding selected printing member.

2. A plurality of printing devices, each having a removable index tab, means to make impressions from such devices one at a time, a series of additional printing members, any one of which may be rendered active, according to the position of a series of permutation members, and mechanism actuated by the tabs for controlling the permutation members.

3. A plurality of printing devices, means to make impressions from such devices one at a time, a series of additional printing members, a series of permutation members for controlling the additional printing members, a series of electro-magnets for positioning the permutation members, and different index tabs carried by different printing devices and controlling different electro-magnets.

4. In a selective printing machine, the combination of a series of printing devices, means for feeding them to printing position, a series of additional printers, permutation mechanism for controlling the same, and a series of index tabs having variably positioned'shoulders, said tabs being adapted to be mounted on the printing devices .and by the action of one or more shoulders on the tab actuate the permutation mebhanism.

5. In a printing machine, the combination of a bed, a .series of levers carried thereby side by side, means for feeding a printing device over the levers, mounted on the printing devices and selectively operate the levers according to the character of the tab, and a series of additional printing devices controlled by said levers.

6. In a selective printing machine, the combination of a series of printing devices, a series of tabs adapted to be mounted thereon, different tabs having different portions offset from the plane of the tab, a set of electric contact levers adapted to be differently operated by different tabs, electric circuits controlled by said levers, electro-magnets actuated by said circuits,-

permutation members controlled by the electromagnets, and additional printing devices controlled by the permutation members.

7. In a selective printing machine, the combination with a set of printing members of a set of permutation members, each having notches, a set of individual actuating motors one for each permutation member and being adapted to position the members relative to each other, and stop bars controlling the printing members and adapted to be moved through aligned notches of the permutation members into active position.

8. In a selective printing machine, the combination of a series of internally notched rings, means for simultaneously positioning said rings by rotative movement so that the notches may selectively align, stop bars adapted to occupy aligned notches, a printing drum carrying a set of printing members on its periphery, means for turning said drum, and means for stopping it by one of the stop bars moved through aligned notches of said rings.

9. In a printing mechanism, a plurality of printing devices, means to make impressions from the printing devices one at a time, a plurality of printing members, a series of selector members radially disposed in cylindrical formation, each of said members being supported for radial movement, means whereby the radial movement of each of said selector members operates to position a predetermined printing member in printing position, and means carried by said printing devices to control the operation of said selector members.-

10. A printing mechanism including a plurality of printing devices, means to make individual impressions from said said printing devices one at a time, a rotary drum, a plurality of printing members on said drum, means to frictionally drive said drum, an abutment on said drum, a plurality of stop fingers adapted to selectively engage said abutment to stop the drum with any desired printing member carried thereby in a predetermined printing position, depending upon which stop finger engages the abutment, a plurality of notched rings encircling said fingers and movably mounted to align one notch with 'a corresponding notch in each other ring, means to independently move said rings in a limited disremovable index tabs adapted to be tance to align one notch ineach ring for reception of a stop finger, the notches being so arranged that the movement of predetermined rings align predetermined notches, and means to,

force a stop finger into said aligned notches, whereby it may engage said abutment.

11, In a selective printing machine, the combination of a series of internally notched rings mounted side by side, means for positioning said rings by rotating movement thereof to cause selected notches to align, means adapted to 00-. cupy such aligned notches, a printing device carrying printing lines, and means for positioning said device under the control of the means in the aligned notches.

12. In a selective printing machine, the combination of a plurality of printing devices, each having an index tab arranged and adapted to be changed without changing the structure of the printing device, and a series of additional printing members, any one ofwhich may be selected and rendered active according to the character of the index tab.

13. The combination of a plurality of printing devices, a plurality of supplemental printing members, means whereby any one of said members may be brought into printing position readditional record-making members, any one of which may be selectively rendered active according to the characterof the index tab.

15. In a printing mechanism, a plurality of printing devices, each having an index tab arranged and adapted to be changed without changing the structure of the printing device,

means to feed said devices one at a time to printing position, a rotatable drum carrying a plurality of removable record making members, means to rotate said drum under the control of the tabs on the printing members and means to make .a record on'the same article by one of the printing devices and the corresponding record making member.

16. In a printing mechanism, a plurality of printing devices, each having a removable index tab, means to feed said devices one at a time to printing position, a rotatable drum, a plurality of lines of printing characters carried by said drum, means to rotate said drum, means under control of the tabs for stopping the drum with any selected line of characters in printing position, and means to print from such line while the drum is at rest.

17. A plurality of printing devices, each having a tab changeable without mutilating the printing device, means to make impressions from suchdevices one at a time, a series of additional record making members, any one of which may be rendered active, according to the position of a series of permutation members, said permutation members being controlled by the tabs.

18. A plurality of printing devices, means to make impressions from such devices one at a time, a series of additional record making members, any one of which may be rendered active, according to the position of a series of permutation members, a series of individual actuators,

each for positioning the corresponding permutation member, and removable index tabs carried by the printing devices and controlling the actuators according to the character ofthe tab.

19. In a printing mechanism, a plurality of printing devices, means to feed said devices one at a time to printing position, a set of additional record making members, electromagnetic means for selecting a member of the set, and removable index tabs on the printing devices adapted to variably control the circuits to the electromagnetic means.

20. The combination with a set of address plates,- means to make impressions from such plates successively, a series of record making members, a series of permutation members, a

series of individual actuators, one for each permutation member, for positioning the permutation member, means coacting with a plurality of permutation members for controlling the record making members, and changeable indices associated with the address plates and controlling the different actuators.

21. In a selective printing machine, the combination of a set of record making members, a set of permutation members each having notches, a set of individual actuators, one for each permutation member, stop bars controlling the record making members and adapted to be moved through aligned notches of the permutation members, a second set of record making members, each carrying means to control one or more of said actuators, and means controlled by an active stop bar for selecting the desired record of the first record making member and means to cause a record to be made from one of the second-named set on a work-piece and to cause the record of the other set to be made on the same work-piece.

22. In a selective printing machine, the combination of a series of notched rings mounted side by side, means for positioning said rings by 'rotative movement thereof to cause selected" notches to align, means adapted to occupy such aligned notches, a set of record making members and a second set of. individual record making members, each of said last-named members carrying means for selecting one member of the first-named set of record making members under the control of the means which occupies the aligned notches,

23. Aselective printing machine, the combination of a movable carriage, a plurality of record i making members mounted on said carriage and adapted and arranged to be selectively moved to a printing position, means to move said carriage, means to stop the movement of said carriage with a predetermined record making member in printing position,- said last-named means including a plurality of control members, electric motors operatively connected with respective control members, and means to selectively operate said motors.

24. In aselective printing machine, the combination of a plurality of printing devices, some of which carry indices, means to make impressions from such devices one at a time, a plurality of supplemental record making members adapted and arranged to be selectively moved to a record making position, a plurality of movable controllers adapted to coact to bring a predetermined supplemental member to rest in record making position, a plurality of electric motors operably connected with respective controllers, electric circuits for said motors and means tov energize said circuits, said last-named means being controlled by the indices on the printing devices.

' 25. In a printing machine, combination of a plurality of printing and control devices each including printing means and control means and in which the control means are in the form of index tabs removably carried by said printing and control devices, a plurality of supplementalprint- ,ing members, means under the control of said index tabs whereby any one of said supplemental printing members may be brought into printing position regardless of its relation to the others of said supplemental printing members, and

means whereby an impression may be made on.

record making members, means to rotate said drum under the control of the tabs on the printing members, impression-producing means at said printing position for making impressions from said printing devices, other means cooperating with said record making members to produce records therefrom, and means for operating said impression-producing means and said other recordproducing means.

27. In a printing machine, a plurality of printing and control devices each including printing means and control means and in which the control means are in the form of index tabs removably carried by the printing and control devices, means for making impressions from said devices one at a time, permutation means, means for operating said permutation means, a series of printing members under the control of said permutation means, and means actuated by said index tabs for controlling the operation of said permutation means.

28. In a printing machine through which a series of printing and control devices each including printing means and control means is fed, means for making impressions from the printing means of said printing and control device, permutation means, a series of record-making members under the control of said permutation means, and means under the control of the control means on said printing and control devices for actuating said permutation means to selectively render said record-making members operative.

29. In a printing machine as defined in claim 28, means cooperating with said record-making members, whenthe latter are operative, for making records therefrom, and means for operating the impression-making means andthe recordmaking means.

30. Ina printing machine as defined in claim 28, means cooperating with said record-making members, when the latter are operative, for making records therefrom, means for operating the impression-making means and the record-making means, and means for feeding a sheet into cooperative relationship with said impression-making means and said record-making means.

31. In a printing machine through which a series of printing and control devices each including printing means and control means is fed, means for making impressions from the printing means on said printing and control devices, permutation means, a series of record-making members under the control of said permutation means, and electromagnetic means under the control of the control means on said printing and control devices for actuating said permutation means to selectively render said record-making members operative.

32. In a printing machine through which a plurality of printing devices each carrying an index tab are sequentially fed, means cooperating with said printing devices to make impressions therefrom, permutation members, printing members under the control of said permutation members, and means including electromagnets under the control of said index tabs for positioning said permutation members.

33. In a printing machine, the combination of a series of printing devices each carrying an index tab having a shoulder formed thereon, means for feeding said printing devices into printing position in the machine, permutation means under the control of the shoulders on said index tabs, and additional printing members under the control of said permutation means.

34'. In a printing machine, the combination of, a bed, sensing means carried by said bed, means for feeding printing devices into cooperative 'relationshipwith said sensing means, index tabs carried by said printing devices and having identifying characteristics and operable to operate said sensing means in accordance with the identifying characteristic thereof, a carrier on said bed and having a plurality of recordproducing members thereon each related to a particular identifying characteristic, and means under the control of said sensing means and operable on said carrier to selectively dispose said record-producing members in record-producing position in accordance with the particular opera,- tion of said sensing means.

35. In a printing machine, the combination of, a bed, sensing means carried by said bed, means for feeding .printing devices into cooperative relationship with said sensing means, control means carried by each of said printing devices and hav-- ing identifying characteristics and operable to operate said sensing means in accordance with the identifying characteristics thereof, a carrier on said bed and having a plurality of record producing members thereon each related to a particular identifying characteristic, and means under the control of said sensing means and operable on said carrier to selectively dispose said record-producing members in record-producing position inaccordance with the particular operation of said sensing means.

36. In a printing machine, means for feeding a sequence of printing and control devices each bearing printing means and control means through the machine to have sensing and printing operations performed thereon, means cooperating with the printing means on each of said printing and control devices for producing a record upon a. sheet, means for sensing the control means on said printing and control devices when said devices are in printing position, a carrier, a series of printing members carried by said carrier, and means under the control of said sensing means and cooperating with said carrier to dispose a selected one of said printing members in position to print an additional record therefrom upon said sheet.

37. In a printing machine, means for feeding a sequence of printing and control devices each bearing printing means and control means through the machine to have sensing and printing operations performed thereon, means cooperating with the printing means on each of said printing and control devices for producing a record upon a sheet in the machine, means for sensing the control means on said printing and control devices when said devices are in printing position, and means under the control of said sensing means for producing an additionalrecord upon said sheet.

38. In a printing machine, printing devices adapted to be fed through the machine and each carrying an index tab having a portion offset from the plane of the tab, a plurality of electrical contact members under the control of said index tabs, electrical circuits each including an electromagnet under the control of said contact nfembers, permutation means under the control of said electromagnets, and additional printing members under the control of said permutation means.

39. In a printing machine, address plates members.

WALTER.- I'. GOLLWITZER.

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