US2237363A - Method of and apparatus for copying printed matter - Google Patents

Description

April 8, 1941. w. RITZERFELD ETAL 2.237.363

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COPYING PRINTED MATTER Filed Jan. 13, 1939 4' Sheets-Sheet l QQM / A ll'orney w. RITZERFELD ETAL. 2.237.363

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COPYING PRINTED MATTER April 8, 1941.,

Filed Jan. 13, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 3; e: &5 7. mp mum 1,;

2 mw w w .April 8, 1941. w. RITZERF'ELD ETAL 2.237.363

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COPYING PRINTED MATTER Filed Jan. 15, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 fir/m/imew A"? raw/Mfr April I w. RITZERFELD ETAL 237,363

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COPYING PRINTED MATTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 13, 1939 1. mmm

m vemons: Mike/m Xjzz erfejd Heinrich Escher generically hereafter as Patented Apr. 8, 1941 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COPYING PRINTED MATTER Wilhelm Ritzerfeld and HeinrichFischer, Berlin,

Germany; said Fischer assignor to feld said Ritzer- Application January 1:, 1939, Serial No. 250,614 In Germany January 18, 1938 14 Claims. (01.10141) This invention relates to a method of reprint ing to one common sheet of paper or the like (hereinafter termed sheet") texts which in partremain constant and which in part may vary or Y change for each reprinting stage and also to apparatus for carrying into effect such method.

'I'he text or texts may be copied by whole pages,

or more texts which remain constant to be copied in conjunction with one or more texts which may be changed for each copying stage the individual copies being obtained in a single complete working code of the copying, manifolding or other printingapparatus, the texts being taken preferably from several associated originals.

A further feature of the invention consists in copying on to the same sheet in the same working cycle separate and additional text or texts which again may be either the same for a number of copies or different in respect of each copy to be made. Such additional text of the constant kind may be constituted by example by numerals whilst the text which is changed may be constituted by current serial numbers.

It is immaterial in what manner the original texts used for copying are made. Such originals may be for example wax paper stencils, metal foil stencils, stereos or printing blocks and termed originalsl Mainly, however, the copying of so-called mirror script originals is envisaged i, e., paper originals which bear the text to be copied on the back or reverse side in copyable negative script. The copying maybe eflected by a dry or a wet process or a partly dry and partly wet process may be used. Thus it is possible to use dry originals for copying on to .either dry or moistened copying sheets, but it is equally well possible to moisten the originals and to use either dry or wet copying sheets.

The copying of the additional text or texts can also be effected with the aid of any of the known and standard printing means such as for example, by fixed or interchangeable rubber stamps or by type, off-set, sterotype, block or stencil printing processes (stamping-type).

It is already known to produce copies of paragraphs or lines from one and the same mirrorscript original in such a manner that certain, not necessarily 'adjacently disposed portions thereof are copied in two separate working cycles or changed with each copy. Relatively small sheets are usually employed, for the foregoing method and as the sheets had to pass through the copying apparatus twice or sometimes even more often this required a. correspondingly increased labour cost and expenditure of time.

The method according to the present invention has for object to simplify the copying of a text or texts which remain constant for several copies and of a text or texts which is changed with each copy and furthermore to shorten the time taken by producing the copies on the sheets in a single working cycle, that is to say, in one single passage through the copying apparatus.

To this end it is necessary that the various texts to be copied are carried by separate and independent originals. The second important feature of the invention is that the various originals are so arranged or positioned relatively one to another in a copying apparatus, which may be of any known or desired kind, that the texts to be copied at any time are adjacently disposed in the requisite order, e. g. according to the divisions of a proof of form. In this way a text which is to remain constant for a predetermined number of copies and which'text may be composed of several parts each on a different original, may becopied with certain parts several times and other parts many times. Simultaneously with a text which changes with each copy or series of copies to give a new line or paragraph and which is contained on yet another original, the whole of the texts required being copied on the same sheet coherently with each other and on that part of the sheet proportionate to the space required by all the texts, notwithstanding the fact that the sheet need only once pass through the copying apparatus and therefore need only be arranged in position once.

Beside the simplification of the manner of car-' rying out the method and the considerable saving in time, the new method also has the advantage of almost unlimited diversity of application and a variety of uses. The process offers industrial, commercial and banking circles the prospect of opening up new fields of application. or new useswhich have hitherto been entirely out side the scope of this art, such as by contracting or closely associating in a small space, texts'contained on originals remotely spaced one from another and in the rapid, and neat copying of such stages for the purpose of juxtaposing or closely associating on the sheet a text which remains the same for several copies and a text which is texts. For example, where the so-called permanentheading of a form or the like has to be copied about 20 times with varying additional matter it has not been possible hitherto to make useless or superfluous.

so far consists in copying a permanent text or texts together with several adjacently disposed.

paragraphs or lines of text or texts plus additional text matter which is changed or changes after each copy, all in one and the same operation.

The foregoing examples do not, however, exhaust the numerous uses to which the new method can be put.

The accompanying diagrammatic drawings both illustrate the new method and show by way of example a number of constructions of apparatus for use in carrying out the method without however limiting the possibilities of other constructions. For example, if apparatus is used in which mirror-script sheets or the like are used as originals the pressure applying device (pulleys, rollers, or the like) and the moisture applying device may be constructed and arranged in any known or desired manner.

In industrial and commercial undertakings, run on modern lines forms are very extens vely used which according to the type of undertaking and according to the particular purpose have to be copied either once or as a whole series and either by pages, line or paragraph. Often part of the text to be copied remains the same for all copies whilst other parts are frequently changed.

The necessity then arises of providing the individual copies of the one series each independently or in small lots with additional text matter. Such additional text has previously had to be stamped in by rubber stamp or written in in handwriting. Not only was this troublesome and time-consuming, but also it was attended by the great drawback that either by inadvertence or inattentiveness errors of sometimes farreaching consequences could occur. Thus .for example, in the frequently adopted method of carrying on the work of a business by the aid of forms or slips of paper errors might have a very detrimental effect du to individual duplicated slips or forms being additionally provided with wrong order numbers or wrong piece numbers so that a number of articles or goods became This has not only meant a loss of time and material but a whole business or manufacturing process might be jeopardised.

The new method and the apparatus for carrying the same into effect enable the drawback outlined to be avoided and in addition considerable time is saved, this latter advantage is obtained particularly by the fact that the attendant need not leave his place at the copying ap- D'EURSIt'llS in order to mount the additional text in position nor is it necessary to employ the services of auxiliary attendants when making a large number of copies such as hitherto has been the case.

Accordingly an import-ant feature of the invention as already indicated consists in combining the n. :thod of copying whole pages, lines or paragraphs of different texts, some remaining constant and some changeable with a printing process (stamping) by which the said additional texts such as a series of numerals, current serial numbers or the like are no longer required to be entered by hand but are introduced mechanically during the same operation in which the copying is effected.

The copying process can be carried out in prac tice with .the aid of any new or known copying methods, e. g., themirror-script or the stenc'il method. The same is true for the printing process which may be carried out for example by type, off-set, stencil or stereotype (block) printing. In the same way as the copying apparatus can be used to reproduce main texts which remain the same or vary per copy or series of copies or main texts which remain the same in part and vary in part this can be done with the printing device for the additional text or texts. The printing on of additional text which varies per copy or series of copies, by means of the printing device associated with the copying device, and preferably operatingor operated dependent thereof and adjustable to suitable requirements may take place at any time in relation to the copying process (during, before or after the copying) of the main text or of parts thereof. The copying of the main text may take place from one and the same original or from several originals whichare so mounted as to be adjustable relatively one to another in the copying apparatus, e. g., on the drum of a rotary duplicating machine in such a manner, for example, that-text portions which are spaced far apart from one another can be copied on to a surface which corresponds to the space they require when associated or to a particular spot on the sheet such asv would 'be required in forms. Individual originals can be changed for copying the main text so that parts of the main text may be copied more often than other parts whereby a great number of changes can be made in the main text. It is of course also possible to copy several adjacently disposed text portions by whole pages as often as is desired. Likewise whole-page originals can be copied in conjunction with lines or paragraphs which may be taken in any desired sequence from other originals as required for i any particular case.

In the same way the additional text may be varied in that for the production thereof, for example, a number of metal or rubber type wheels each independently adjustable and secunable may be used for adjustable rubber type bands similar to the well-known date stamps or printing pieces may be employed.

A particular mode of carrying out the new method may consist in copying lines or paragraphs of a large whole-page text or of a text composed .of several parts by covering up individual text portions. For this purpose several adjustable stencil sheets or shields may be provided which are arranged so as to leave sufficient space between them as will permit the required text to be reproduced, such as the space of a line or of a paragraph. Alternatively, adjustable stencil sheets or shields having apertures or cut-out portions of the necessary breadth such as the breadth of a line or of a paragraph may be used.

Finally it is expedient to provide metal foils for interposing between several original sheets which when adjusted on the drum or the like overlie one another, the main purpose of the metal foils being to facilitate the displacement of the originals relative to one another-and to prevent them adhering either to the drum or to one another, The drawings illustrate several 2,237,363 constructional examples of apparatus for applying the new method.

Fig. 1 illustrates a top elevational view, somewhat fragmentary, of an original bearing a constant text; I

Fig. 2 depicts a similar view of another origi nal bearing a constant text;

Fig. 3 shows a top elevational view of an original having a plurality of selectively copyable portions;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the originals illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 in superposed coop- Fig. 9 illustrates a perspective view, somewhat dagrammatic in character, of a duplicating machine having two printing drums;

Fig. 10 depicts a top elevational view of a copy produced in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 11 shows a similar view of a copyable original to be copied on the sheet illustrated in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a top elevational view of the copy sheet appearing in Fig. 10 after the additional text shown in Fig. 11 has been copied thereon;

Fig. 13 illustrates a perspective view, somewhat diagrammatic in character, of a rotary duplicating machine having a stamping devic 7 associated therewith;

Fig, 14 depicts a similar view of a rotary duplieating machine having circumferentially arranged stamping means associated therewith;

Fig. 15 shows a perspective view of a rotary duplicating machine having type carriers provided in the circumferential surface thereof;

Fig. 16 isa diagrammatic perspective view of a rotary duplicating machine having thin separating sheets provided between the copyable originals;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged sectional view, having parts in elevation, of the duplicating machine shown in Fig. 16; and v Fig. 18 is an enlarged sectional view, somewhat fragmentary, taken on line 13-3 of Fig. 17.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, Fig.1 shows by way of example one form of an original of which the shaded portion represents a text I, which is to remain the same for all the copies of a series of copies to be made (such text being hereinafter referred to as the "constant text). Adjoining this text I is a blank strip of paper which on positioning two such originals relative to one another serves to cover up such portion of the second original as is not intended to be copied.

Fig. 2 shows a form of another constant text II. The adjoining blank strip in this case merely serveslfor placing underneath the original containing the constant text 11. This arrangement enables the constant text to be altered such as by the text portion 1 being copied ten times and the text II being added for a further ten copies.

Fig. 3 shows an example of the form of an original containing a text which is intended to be changed after eachcopy or a. particular number of copies (hereinafter called the variable text). It is assumed that for a particular copy line 5 with the variable text III is to be copied along with the text I shown in Fig. l.

The association of these two originals is shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 shows a finished copy of the two originals associated and adjusted-relatively to one another as shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows the use of both constant texts I and II in conjunction with the variable text III as shown in Fig. 3. It is obvious that by associating the various originals on the copying device or by adjusting the text portions relatively to one another the most varied combinations of texts are possible.

For example modern business procedure requires the making or filling up of a number of forms or slips or the like e. g., working plans, slips for material issued, time slips, workshop instruction slips, slips for checking important dates in the working plan, workshop visiting cards, and the like. It sometimes happens that parts of the heading of the form,that is of the constant text are reprinted for the whole series whilst other parts of the heading must either be omitted after a certain number of copies have been made or additional matter must be added. Thus, for example, the order or instruction number, the order or instruction date,- the piece number remains the same for all forms or slips of a series whilst for example the designation of the workshop, the particulars about the material the model numbers and so on as may require to be varied or changed for a series. These particulars may be changed for example, as the various stages of a job or the like are completed. It is the very multiiorm character of the demands which modern industrial procedure makes in regard to production and application or letters and the adaptability and changeability of letters, forms, circulars, and so on, that enable the importance of the present invention to be particularly well realized.

Fig. 7 shows a front elevation of a rotary duplicating machine having two holding devices (clamps) for retaining the various originals after adjustment thereof relative to one another for the successive copying operation. Mounted on a drum I is an original 2 which in the present case is provided with 12 different lines of text. This original therefore bears the variable text (111 in Figs. 3 to 6). A second original 3 bears the constant text (I). The original 2 is held in position by a clamping rail 4 or the like which is so mounted on the drum as to be secured against axial displacement. The original 3 is retained by holding device (clamping device)'5 which is axially adjustable by means of a worm spindle or cam groove shaft-:6. The:sheet l to receive the copy rests on the feed-table 8. A counter pressing roller 9 is provided preferably below the drum l and is adapted to be lengthened axially byan extension III in case several lines of the original 2 are to be duplicated in the same operation. In the example illustrated lines I and '2 of the original can be covered by the attached cover strip as shown in Fig. 1. To make this clear line I of the original 2 which is to be copied together ith the constant text of the original 3 is shown shaded. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 7 therefore the constant text of the original 3 and line 5 of the variable text of the original 2 are duplicated on the sheet 1 by a single pass of the latter between the drum I and the roller ll. The reference numeral ll denotes any known or desired driving means for the spindle 6 by the aid of which the original 2 or rather the able text and a plate 24 carries the original 3 bearing several texts, which remain constant for one series in each case. Each of these two plates is associated with a platen 22. The reference numeral |5 again denotes a bed. Both the plates 23 and 24 and the bed l5 are displaceable on bars which may be toothed. A displacement of the parts 23, 24 and I5 may of course be effected inany other desired manner by means of any known or specially devised actuating elements. The operation of this apparatus is as follows: the sheet 1 to be printed remains stationary on the bed l5 at all times and is first of all moved under the table 24 carrying the original 3 by displacement of the bed |5 on its bars. By moving the two parts I4 and 24 one towards the other the associated platen 22 is brought into action. The bed I5 with the sheet I is then moved into position underneath the plate 23, the same operation being repeated there whereby the variable text is produced on the sheet.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a form of duplicating machine comprising two drums 25 and 26 having their axes arranged parallel to one another. The drum 25 serves to carry the original 3 bearing the constant text whilst the original 2 bearing the variable text is mounted on the drum 26. The drum 26 together with the original mounted thereon is axially displaceable relative to the drum 25 on a spindle 21 or the like so that the constant text of the original 3 also in this case can be reproduced together withone or more lines of the original 2. With this construction however those portions of the original 2 which i are not to be copied must be covered up in some suitable manner as for example in the manner already described with reference to some of the previous embodiments. This is facilitated because the lines on the two originals 2 and 3 extend in the direction of rotation of the drums 25 and 26. A base 8 on which the sheet 1 is disposed remains stationary. The drive of the drums 25 and 26 may be for example through a. rack (not shown) which comes into successive engagement with pinions on the axles of the drums 25, 26. 28 is a counter pressing roller for the variable text and 29 a counter pressing roller for the constant text.

In contra-distinction to the construction shown in Fig. 8 copying in the present embodiment is effected not in an interrupted but in an uninterrupted operation as it is not necessary to stop the sheet 1 before it passes under the drum 26.

Fig. 10 shows a sheet, 1. e. copy produced by the present invention in which for example the texts a and b each of which consist of several lines and which may be variable or constant have been copied from two originals and a one-line text variable at each reprinting has been simultaneously copied from the third original the texts a, I and c forming together the main texts. A blank space it has been left between the main text portions a, b for the purpose of receiving an additional text.

Fig. 11 shows the original for the additional text e and Fig. 12 shows the sheet according to Fig. 1 after copying thereon the main texts a, b. c and after printing upon the additional text e.

Fig. 13 is a perspective diagrammatic representation of a rotary duplicating machine comprising a drum M, a counter pressing roller 42, and a bed or feed table 44 which is laterally disposable parallel to the axle 43 of the drum 4|. Mounted on the feed table 44 to turn on a pivot 45 is a fork member 46 in which a type wheel 41 is journalled on a bar 48 on which it is adapted to be secured in predetermined positions and to be displaced together with its associated par- ts 44, 45, 46 and 41 parallel to 'axis 43. A bellcrank lever 49 is pivoted on a pin 58 provided in the casing of the machine (not shown). One arm of the lever 49 carries a roller or the like 5| and the other arm engages the bar 48 with a bearing or guide lug 52. Mounted on the drum axle 43 or the end face of the drum 4| is a cam 53 which impresses the roller 5| at each revolution of the drum thereby causing the bell-crank lever 49 to lower the bar 48 and thus to press the type wheel 41 on to a sheet 54 on the feed table 44. The type wheel 41 thereby applies the additional text to the sheet whilst subsequently the main text is reproduced thereon by the drum 4|. In accordance with the arrangement of the originals mounted on the drum 4| the feed table 44 and the counter pressing roller 42 together with the sheet 54 will have to be laterally displaced. The type wheel 41 however always remains under the action of the control members 49, 5|, 52 and 53 so that the controlling viz. the periodical lifting and lowering of the type wheel 41 is in no way interrupted by the varying position of the feed table 44 and the sheet 54 to be printed upon, the printing of the additional text continuing to be efiected at the desired or appropriate moment whilst the sheet 54 passes between the drum 4| and the counter pressing 'roller 42. A spring 55 serves to return the type wheel 41 into its upper inoperative position after each depression. The counter pressing roller 42 may if desired be of the same length as the drum 4| which will have to be the case for example if the relatively adjustable originals intended for joint repreduction wholly or substantially cover the whole length of the drum 4 In the above embodiment the operation and control of the printing device 41 is effected automatically from the drum 4| In the constructional example according to Fig. 14 one or more type carriers 13 are arranged on one side or on the end face of the drum 4| of the duplicating machine near the edge thereof, the type carriers serving to produce the additional text for which purpose they are inked by means of an ink-applying roller 14 or the like.

In the form shown in Fig. 15 type carriers 13 are provided in the circumference of the drum 4| of the duplicating machine and are interchangeably held in position therein, for example by mounting them in a conical recess 15, the type carriers being secured by filling pieces 16 and 11. An inking roller 14 for applying ink to the type carrier 13 is mounted in front of the recess 15.

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a construction on the lines of Fig. 7 in which separate sheets 3|, 92, preferably thin metal foils, are arranged between originals 89 and 90 on a drum 88. These metal foils 9| and 92 are for the purpose of preventing cohesion of the originals 89 and 98 and to facilitate easy displacement of "the originals relative to one another without creasing or crumpling. Fig. 17 is a sectional elevation on an enlarged-scale of the drum 88 shown in Fig, 16. The original 89 which bears the constant text and the metal foils 9! are secured in any known or desired manner in a laterally displaceable retaining device'94 which is displaceable within the drum 88 by means of lateral arms 95 on the drum axle 93. The original 98 bearing the variable text and the metal foils 92 are held by a clamping device 96 which is fixed in position. Fig. 18 is an enlarged sectional elevation on the lines A-B of Fig. 17, showing a stepped portion 9'! in the jacket of the drum 88 which is necessary to compensate for the difference in thickness of the two originals 88 and 90 and the two metal foils 9| and 92.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is:

1. In a duplicating machine printing onto clear sheets by means of copyable mirror-script originals, the combination comprising a plurality of carrier members, each adapted to receive and to hold a copyable mirror-script original, at least one of said originals remaining constant for a number of copies 'and at least one of said originals having a plurality of selectively copyable portions, and means for passing a clear sheet in inals having a plurality of selectively copyable.

portions, means for displacing said originals into such cooperative position that said constant original and a predetermined portion of said selec-- tively copyable original are adjacent to each other, and means for passing a clear sheet in pressure contact with said cooperating originals to provide a copy of such copyable matter on said sheet in a single operation.

3. In a duplicating machine printing onto clear sheets by means of copyable mirror-script originals, the combination comprising a plurality of r carrier members each adapted to hold a copyable mirror-script original, at least one of said originals remaining constant tor a number of copies and at least one of said originalshaving aplurality of selectively copyable portions, means for displacing said originals into such overlapping cooperative position that said constant'original and a predetermined portion of said selectively nals having a plurality of selectively copyable portions, means for displacing said clamping means to bring said originals into such relative position that said constant original is adjacent to the portion of said selectively copyable original to be copied and masks the portions thereof which are not to be copied, and means for passing a clear sheet in simultaneous contact with said originals to print a copy of said constant original and a preselected portion of the selectively copyable original in a single operation.

5. In a duplicating machine printing onto clear sheets by means of copyable mirror-script originals, the combination comprising a rotatable, printing drum, means for rotating said drum, axially displaceable means operatively associated with said drum adapted to clamp at least two copyable mirror-scriptoriginals, one of said originals remaining constant for a number of copies and at least one of said originals having a plurality of selectively copyable portions, means for displacing said clamping means to bring said originals into such relative position that said constant original is adjacent to the portion of said selectively copyable original to be copiedand masks the portion thereof which is not to be copied, meansv for passing a clear sheet in simultaneous contact with said originals to print a copy of said constant original and a preselected portion of the selectively copyable original in a single operation, and sheet-like separating members interposed between said originals to facilitate displacement thereof without creasingJ 6. In a duplicating machine printing onto clear sheets by means of copyable mirror-script originals, the combination comprising a rotatable printing drum, means for rotating said drum,

axially displaceable means operatively associated with said drum adapted to clamp at least two copyable mirror-script originals, one of said originals remaining constant for a number of copies and at least one of said originals having a plurality of selectively copyable portions, means for displacing said clamping means to bring said originals into such relative position that said constant original is adjacent to the portion of said selectively copyable original to be copied and masks the portions thereof which are not to be copied, means for passing a clear sheet in simultaneous contact with said originals to print a. copy of said constant original and a preselect- 'ed portion of the selectively copyable original in a single operation, and means operable by the rotation of said printing drum to move said displacing means by a unitary amount for each rotation of said drum.

copyable original are adjacent to each other, and

means for passing a clear sheet in pressure contact with said cooperating originals to provide a copy of said copyable matter on said sheet in a single operation.

4. In a duplicating machine printing onto clear sheets by means of copyable mirror-script originals, the combination comprising a rotatable printing drum, axially displaceable means operatively associated with said drum adapted to clamp at least two copyable mirror-script originals, one of said originals remaining constant 101' a number of copies the other of said origi- '7. In a duplicating machine printing onto clear sheets by meansof copyable mirror-script originals, the combination comprising. a plurality of carrier members each adapted to hold a copyable mirror-script original, at least one of said originals remaining constant for a number of copies and at least one or said originals having a phirality of selectively copyable portions, means for displacing said originals in such relative position that said constant original and a predetermined portion or said selectively copyable original are adjacent to each other, means for masking'the portions of said selectively copyable original which are not to be copied, and means for passing a clear sheet in pressure contact with said originals to provide a copy of such copyable matter on said sheet in a single operation.

8. In a duplicating machine printing onto clear sheets by means of copyable mirror-script originals, the combination comprising a pair of printing drums rotatably mounted in parallel-spaced position, means for rotating said drums, a copyable mirror-script original bearing a constant text on one of said drums, a copyable mirrorscript original bearing a plurality of selectively copyable portions on the other of saiddrums, means for successively passing a clear sheet in pressure contact with said constant original and with a predetermined portion of said selectively copyable original to provide a copy of such copyable matter on said sheet in a single operation, and means for adjusting said drums in the axial direction with respect to each other for selecting various portions of said selectively copyable original.

9. In a duplicating machine printing onto clear sheets by means of copyable mirror-script originals, the combination comprising a rotatable printing drum, means for rotating said drum, a copyable mirror-script, original bearing a constant text mounted on said drum, stamping means having a variable text mounted on said drum, and means for passing a clear sheet in pressure contact with said mirror-script original and with said stamping means to print a copy of said constant and of said variable text on said sheet in a single operation and during the same rotation of said printing drum.

10. The method of printing onto copy sheets by means of copyable mirror-script originals a text having at least one constant portion remaining the same for a predetermined number of copy sheets and at least one variable portion selected from a group of such portions which comprises distributing the text on a plurality of originals at least one of which bears said constant portion and at least another of which bears said group of variable portions, displacing said originals into such relative positions that said constant portion and at least one of said variable portions are adjacent to each other, and passing a copy sheet in pressure contact solely with said selected portions of said cooperating originals to print a copy of such portions on said sheet in a closely adjacent position and in a single printing operation.

11. The method of printing onto'copy sheets by means of copyable mirror-script originals a text having at least one constant portion remaining the same for a predetermined number of copy sheets and at least one variable portion selected from a group of such portions which comprises distributing the text on a plurality of originals at least one of" which bears said constant portion and at least another of which bears said group of variable portions, displacing said originals into such relative positions that said constant portion and a selected one of said variable portions are adjacent to each other, and successively passing a copy sheet in pressure contact solely with said selected portions of said cooperating originals to print a copy of such portions on said sheet in a closely adjacent position and in a single printing operation.

12. The method of printing onto copy sheets by means of copyable mirror-script originals a text having at least one constant portion remaining the same for a predetermined number of copy sheets and at least one variable Portion selected from a group of such portions which comprises distributing the text on a plurality of originals at least one of which bears said constant portion and at least another of which bears said group of variable portions, displacing said originals into such relative positions that said constant portion and a selected one of said variable portions are adjacent to each other, masking the non-selected portions of said variable original, and passing a copy sheet in pressure contact with said originals to print a copy of the constant original and of the selected portion of the variable by means of copyable mirror-script originals a text having at least one constant portion remaining the same for a predetermined number of copy sheets and at least one variable portion selected from a group of such portions which comprises distributing the text on a plurality of cylindrical originals in parallel spaced position at least oneof which bears said constant portion and at least another of which bears said group of variable portions, displacing said cylindrical originals in the axial direction into such relative position that said constant portion and a selected one of said variable portions are adjacent to a line vertical to the axes of said cylindrical originals, and

passing a copy sheet in pressure contact with said selected portions of said originals to print a copy of such portions on said sheet in a closely adjacent position and in a single printing operation.

14. The method of printing on-to copy sheets by means of copyable mirror-script originals, a text having at least one constant portion remain ing the same for a predetermined number of 'copy sheets and at least one variable portion selected from a group of such portions which comprises distributing the text on a plurality of cylindrical originals located in parallel-spaced position at least one of which bears said constant portion and at least another of which bears said group of variable portions, displacing said cylindrical originals in the axial direction into such relative position that said constant portions are adjacent to a line vertical to the axes of said cylindrical originals, masking the non-selected portions of said variable original, and passing a copy sheet in pressure contact with said originals to print a copy of the constant original and of the selected portion of the variable original on said sheet in a closely adjacent position and in a single printing operation.

WILHELM RITZERF'ELD. HEINRICH FISCHER.

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