US2390587A - Printing machine - Google Patents

Description

,A Dec. 11, 1945. R. HATFIELD 2,390,587

PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1942 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1- I Dec. 11,v 1945. lR. L. HATFIELD zsaos'(l PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1942 7 SheetsfS'heet 2 -2 119 lIl@ 'INVENTOR iff/R052# Mme/4 4 BYf/MM @www ,//f/f n l' v ATTORNEYS.

Dec' l1, 1945. R. L. HATFIELD 2,390,587

' PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. v1e, 1942 7 sheets-sheet 5 Dec. 1l, 1945.I R HATFiELD l 2,390,587

PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1942 v 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 11, 1945. R. l.. HAT'FIELD l 2,390,587

' l PRINTING MACHIN 'Filed Jan. -16, 1942 7 sheets-sheet 5 Dec. `1l, 1945. l R. l.. HATFIELD I 2,390,537

PRINTING MACHINE -Fled Jan. 16, 1942 7 Sheets-.Sheet 6 Dec. 11, 1945. R. L.' HATFIELD 2,390,587

PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16. 1942 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 .quentially fed.

Patented Dec. 11, 1945 PATENT NOrrl-cffl:

PRINTING MACHINE RobertL/Hateld, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, as- ;Signor to ,AddressographMultigraph `.Corpora- 4tion,Wilmington Del., `a `corporation of ADela- Walle Applicationzlanuary 16, 1'942,`SerialNo. 426;'973

invention relates Ito Aprinting machines of thegkind `through which printing devices are se- In Vmachines of the `aforesaid character means, `commonly known as a selector, are freguently provided and such means are operative :to determine Whether or not impressicn or other Aoperautions ,are to be formedon or from each printing device as it passes through-the machine. Vne common use to Whichsuch la selector is put is t cori-trol operations of the impression making means, commonly .known as ,the platen. .that is operative .t0 makefimpressions from eah'lprintine n @trice .itrcached printing positonin the machine- A...s`.c1eQtQr .0f .the aforesaid .character usually comprises detecting .means adapted for .cooperation lwith predetermined tabs, notches, openings `or other `indicia or 'lacuna provided on the printu ingdeviccs at selected positions .to'he representative of a Zparticular class or classes inasystem V of classification, and the selector Aalso includes ,means ,responsive tothe detectingmeans thereof whQh, in the instance ofcontrol Ao f a platen, determine .Whther or not the platen will function Ytornake `an,impression from the printing device l when it `attains `printing position.

Machines of the Aaforesaid character are usually arranged to pass the printing devices through lthe ,machine .in 1a ,step-by-step .manner uand oper- `gatiorisarc usually performed on or fro-m the printing Adevices during `theat rest periods in the course .of the fstep-by-step movement thereof. Moreover, such machines are Iusually arrangedfor cyclic operation and `the printing devices advance `one step in .each step-by-step ,movement thereof .that is usually effected in the course of eachcycle of .operation of the machine. Furthermore, the .machinesare so arranged that each cycle `of operation .usually requires @a predetermined period .of

,time ,and heretofore `Where .a Iselector mechanism .has functioned in such a manner, .for example, .as to render the platen inoperative with respect toa particular printing device when it reaches printing position,.so `that an Aimpression will not be made by ,the Vplaten from s uch printing `device wherebysuch device, at `it is termed in the art, is

skipped, just as much time is devoted to the cycle 4 of ,operation in which such Va printing ,device is Vskipped as when an impression .or other operation is `made on or from the printing device.

AI have `olcserved instances Where, when a series of printing `devices is passing through a printing machine, only a few of the printing devices inthe -series are so classified that the selector functions (Cl. lOl-47) Vto cause 4an operation to be performed 'thereon or therefrom. Yet in such' an instance just Vas much time is required to pass the printing.dev'ices through the machine as'would Vhe 'required if op- -5 erations were performed on or `from .ea-ch printing device.

`In view of the foregoing it is theprimary olg'ject of my invention to so pass printing devices through ajprinting machine or th'eilike that those printing devices which are Ato be skipped, that is, which are not to have an operation performed thereon or therefrom, will pass lthrough the machine much more quickly than will thoselprinting devices thatare to have an operation performed thereon or therefrom, andan object ancillary 'to the foregoing is .to speed up th'e operation. of the machine, or of selected parts thereof, when a printing device .to be skipped as aforesaid, `and thereby ,pass such a device through the machine much more quickly 'than a device which' is selected to have an .operation performed thereon or therefrom.

With respect tothe presentinvention it is tobe understood that the term printing device is used 25 herein in a generic sense with respect to-printing devices of Vthe kind disclosed, for example, in Gollwitzer .Patent No; .2,038,865 or printing and control `devices of the kind disclosed, for example, in Gollwitzer Patent No. 2,132,412. .Moreoven ,the term fprinting devices is used herein generically with respect to -devices which include a so-called frame on which a printing plate bearing embossed type characters is releasably retained and also so-called one-,piece printing de- 35 vices bearing .embossed type characters and like- Wise :stencil printing devices are intended to be included Within the purview of the term fprinting device as are oth'er and related devices,

'Ihe selectors that are included .in `printing machines and .the-like of the kind to which this invention relates sometimes Y include detecting .means that .cooperate with .the printing devices, or identifying means thereon as tabs, lacuna `or the like, immediately prior to th'e passage of these devices into the `position in the machine Whereat operations are performed :thereon or therefrom.

Furthermore, such selectorsalso sometimes inv clude detecting means which cooperate Withthe printing devices, or identifying means thereon, in such a way that one or more cycles of operation of the machine intervene the time at which the detecting means of the selector cooperates with a particular device and the time at which th'e vparticular device reaches the position in the .machine whereat an operation is to be performed thereon or therefrom. In this regard, however, it is another object of the present invention to enable those printing devices which are to be skipped to be quickly passed through the machine irrespective of the time at which the detecing means cooperate with each' particular printing device, or identifying means thereon, to determine whether or not the device is to be skipped.

ther and more specic objects are to enable 'certain parts of a printing machine of the aforesaid character to be selectively operated at either a normal or a relatively high rate of speed; to so arrange the machine that it will normally operate at what may well be called a normal rate of speed, and also so that thefmachine or at least selected parts thereof, may be operated at a higher rate of speed when and as desired; to interpose an arrangement in the path of power transmission in a printing machine that power maybe transmitted from one part to another selectively .at a normal or at a relatively higher rate of speed; and to control the speed of such power transmission. automaticallyv in accordance with identifying means on the printing devices. Other and further objects of the present in-V vention will be apparent from the following description and claims and areV illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments and the principle thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle. Other embodiments ci the invention embodying the same or equivalent princlple may be us'ed and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from theV present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

f In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view of a printing` machine embodying my invention and which is taken substantiallyv on the line I-l of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is another sectional View of the machine substantially on the line 2-2 on Fig. 1;

Fig. .3 is a plan` detail view of a part of the driving mechanism of the machine shown in Figs.

1 and 2;

. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional detail View taken substantially on the line 4--4 on Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional detail view taken l substantially on the line 5--5 on Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially I on the line 'B-B on Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmental vertical sectional view,

' taken along the line 1 1 of Fig. 8, and illustratingthe embodiment of the invention in a printing machine of a different construction;

Fig.` 8 is a fragmental rear elevational view,

"taken partially in section and illustrating the machine shown in Fig. '7; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmental vertical sectional View taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

The printing machines shown in the accompanying drawings are of the character through which printing devices are advanced one by one to an operative position in the machine whereof the machine as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, so as to be adjacent to the front edge IGI of the table top T, and while seated in this working position the Operator may place a sheet or the like over a printing position V (the aforesaid operative position, in the illustrated machine) which is provided beneath the table top T adjacent to the forward edge lill thereof.

The printing devices D, as explained above, may be of any suitable character and are connected 'in the drawer K, Figs. 1 and 2, after passage through the machine, the drawer K being removably mounted in the machine. The printing devices D are initially stacked in a magazine M, Fig. 4, located on the table top T and these devices are withdrawn one by one from the bottom of the magazine and are advanced along a printing device guideway seriatim and in a step-bystep manner by suitable feeding lmeans to the Y printing position V, and thereafter these devices pass to the drawer K wherein the printing devices are collected in the same sequence as that in which they were arranged when introducedA into the magazine M. When a printing device D comes to rest at printing position V, a suitable printing orimpression means, such as a platen mechanism l?, fmay be operated to produce the desired printing impression from the printing device at this position onto the sheet or the like on the table top T.

In the use of printing machines of this general character it is customary to pass all of the printing devices in a particular group thereof lthroug'h the machine even though printing impressions are not to be made from some of the devices. The devices that are so passed through the machine bear means by which they are classified. as for example, removable index tabs as disclosed in, for example, Gollwitzer Patent No. 2,049,436. Suitable means in the machine cooperate with means, as the index tabs, and so control operation of the machine that only those devices classied in a predetermined way are selected to have impressions made therefrom. Such selection may be performed visually by the operator in accordance with known practice and the operator may, through proper manipulation of the controls of the machine, cause ithe machine either to print from the printing devices or to skip such devices, as desired. In many instances, however, such selection is accomplished automatically under the governing action of the classifying or identifying means, as the aforesaid index tabs, provided on the printing devices. In the illustrated machine, such automatic selection is accomplished under the control of identifying means in the form of tabs |05 which are selectably mounted in any of a plurality of different identifying positions along the upper edges of the printing devices D. Therefore, when printing devices as D pass through the printing machine herein disclosed the means that. cooperate with lthe tabs automatically function to effect a print or skip operation of the printing means in the machine in accordance with the presence or absence of tabs l E15 at one or more seleoted positions c-n the printing devices. In such instances, it will be evident that there may be skip operations in a large proportion of the op- Y erating cycles of the machine.

In this regard it should be noted that in machines of the aforesaid character, the speed of operation is determined largely by the speed at which the machine may be operated when it is performing a printing operation. In prior machines the construction and arrangement has jti'on to station along saidrprintmg device guideway. In the machine illustrated in Figs. y1 to 6 the-printing'device guideway is relatively lengthy Y -`and includes angularly related paths 'of movement or guideways for the printing devices, but as it relates to the present invention, this forrn and arrangement of the printing device guideway is immaterial. It will be observed, however, that 'the printing device guideway of the machine vshown in Figs. 1 to 6 includes advancing means such as carrier bars |40 illustrated in Fig. 4 of Vthe drawings, such carrier bars |40 being recipjrocable to impart the desired advancing movement to the printing devices. The portion of 'the printing 'device guideway which is shown in Fig, 4vof the drawings is that portion which extends beneath the magazine M, and in the course of a reciprocating movement of the carrier bars |40, the lower printing device D in the magazine M is withdrawn from the magazine and advanced to a station along the guideway which is indicated in Fig. 4 as station II and which constitutes a sensing station whereat detecting r sensing means S are operable to sense the presence or -absence of identifying means such as the talos |05 at selected identifying positions on` the printing devices. The actuation of the various carrier bars |40 during the operative cycle of the feed clutch is attained lby means including a rockshaft |42 which, as shown in Fig. 4'

of the drawings, has a generally radial arm |43 xed thereon. The remote end of the arm |43 is connected by means of a link |44 to the carrier bars |40 so that in a rocking movement of the shaft |42 the desired reciprocating movement4 guideway between the Ysensing station II and the printing position V.

The machinev shown in Figs. 1 to 6 is provided with an automatic selector mechanism |50, Fig. 3, ywhich operates under the control of the sensing means S to produce print or skip operation of the printing machine with respect to each printing ydevice as such printing device reachesV printing position. The sensing means S operates to sense the presence or absence of identifying means as tabs at selected identifying positions on the printing device at the sensing station II, and the sensed indication is in this machine stored in a storage l 4means incorporated in the selector mechanism |50 so that such sensed and stored indication is rendered effective to control the printing means or platen mechanism of the machine when the particular printing device from which the sensed indication has been derived reaches printing position. A wide variety of selector mechanism and sensing means might, of course, rbe employed in accordance with the present invention, but in the `machine illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 I have herein shown the selecting mechanism which is described in detail in the copending application of Carl J.

'Hueben Serial No. 392,151, led May 6, 1941, and 'reference may be had to said copending applica- 'tion for details of constructionl and operation thereof. It will be observed7 however, in Fig. 5 of the drawings that the sensing means S includes a 4sensing head |5| which is mounted by means of `guide rods |52 and |53 for vertical reciproca-tion along a path which is so located with respect to the printing device guideway that sensing pins |54 carried on the sensing head I5! mayvin such reciprocation of the sensingheadll be brought into sensing cooperation with respect to the identifying means carried on the printing device located at sensing station; `The sensing head|5| is moved positively in an upward `or retracting direction to the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, and at the proper point in the cycle of operation of the machine the sensing headis allowed to move downwardly under the influence of yielding means not herein shown, and in the event that identifying means such as a tab |05 is located in such a position as to fall in the path of one of the sensing pins |54, the yieldingly induced downward movement of the sensing member |5| is terminated at a somewhat higher level than would be the case ifa tab |65 were not encountered by a sensing pin |54. i

The arrangement of the machine shown in Figs. 1 to 6 is such that the feed bars |40 Which arc associated with the guideway portion which underlies the magazine M come to rest at the end of a machine cycle in their rearward positions, that is their right-hand positions as shown-in Fig. 4 of thedrawings, and in the first half of the machine cycle, at the time when the platen mechanism P is being operated through its forward or conditioning stroke, the lower printing device in the magazine M is advanced to sensing station. At this same time, in the machine shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the printing device which has been previously located at the printing position V is discharged into the collector K and a new or different printing device is advanced along the printing device guideway into printing position. During .this time thesensing head |5| is maintained in its elevated or inactive position,- and at about the time when a new printing device has come to rest at the sensing station, the sensing head is allowed to move downwardly with a yielding action to sense the identifying means carried on this particular printing device. Asy the sensing head |5| moves downwardly a control cam |55, Figs. 3 and 5, is moved downwardly through a corresponding distance so that the control cam comes to rest at different positions in laccordance with the sensed presence or absence of identifying means at the selected identifying positions on the printing device.

The control cam |55 is arranged to govern the yieldingly induced counterclockwise movement of a set-up arm |56, Fig. 3, which is arranged to set up a storage means in accordance with the operation of the sensing head Yuit This storage means, as shown in Fig. 3, comprises a storage drum |51 capable of indexing movement on a horizontal axis provided by a shaft |53. and the storage drum |51 has a plurality of storage` plungers |50 mounted thereon at angularly spaced points thereabout for longitudinal shifting movement parallel to the axis of the drum I5?. The storage drum |51 is actuated through an indexing movement each time the printing device feeding mechanism is operated through a cycle', and this end is attained through a pawl and ratchet mechanism, Figs. 3 and 5, wherein the pawl |6| is carried on the arm |43 and is arranged to operatively engage a ratchet wheel |62 lined on the shaft 58. The set up action is applied to the storage plungers in succession as these Vplunlgers reach a predetermined index or set up position, and the set up relationship of these plungersis utilized successively to effect a controlling action upon the printing mechanism of the printing matrol station. As the indexing movement of the drum |51 shifts the` storage plungers |60 toward the lower' or set-up position of the drum, a cam |63 acts upon pins |64 on the plungers |60 to withdraw the pl'ungers to normal left hand posi.- tions` (Fig. 3) from which they are subsequently .shifted by the set-up armi |56. Such shifting. or

setting up of the plungers |60 takes place at th'e lower or set-up position of the drum- |151. The number of cycles which elapses between the set` up of a particular storage plunger it and the time when it exerts its controlling influence' upon the printing mfechanism of the machine is, of course, dependent upon the number of stations which are interposed along the prin-ting device gnideway between the sensing station. II andi the printing station V and is dependent al's'o to some extent upon the nature of the controlling means which governs the engagement and disengagement of the platen clutchmeans. In the pres ent instance a storage plunger |60, after having beenV set'- up: in. a. particular cycle of the` machine is-y advanced. through: two succeeding stations abouti the axis) of the storage drum |60 without having any'effect upon the printing. means of the machine.. the next or third cycle whichn followslth'e setting up of a particular storage plunger |66, the. storage plunger in the present machine may be operable upon cointrol means togovern the operation; of the printing. means ofA the`- machine,. but` in the` present. machine the the machine.

storage plunger is even` at? this time effective only to produce ai conditioning` control' operation which becomes eiective upon. the. machine" in the` dev-icefis toi be.` passed.throughxthemachine Without the performance of a' printing operation therefrom those parts of the machine which: are to be operated in the particular cycle of themachine Willr be operated at a materially increased speedptliereby to increase the'production capaciityofftheimachin'e asa. whole; Such automatic controloffthe operating speed of' the machine is attainedithrough means which is associated with:

and? controlled bythe sensing means S. In the present instance such control of the speed' of the machine isattained bythe provision of a storage means |11 0 which: is generally similarin form' to the=storage meansf |50 and is indexed' and setup concurrently with the' corresponding: operations performed upon the storage means |50. the guide rod |53 of thesensing head: |5| has aV control cam |15; Figs; 3543.5 and 6,5carried on its lower end, and this cam |15: has acam surface |16;` Eig.. 5, for controlling" the" operation of a setz-dpi leven |115 Ihe'set-upilever` is pivotediai |13. and has. a cam* roller- I TSTthereon` adap'tedito bear.` againstthe'caml surface |161. The cam roll- Thus Fig. 3, about its pivot |118 in: an amount which is dependent upon theY extent of downward menveel ment of the sensing head |51'. In such set-np` movement of the set-up lever |11v` this' lever is opl erative to impart endwi'se movement to oneof av plurality of control plunger's' |f8l Figs.` 4 .and 6, which are mounted about the periphery of a; storage 'drum i532 at angularly space-dl points.- The` storage dimm |82` is fixed on the Shattl |58 so as to" be indeXed by the pawl and ratchet mechanism E: and |62. The shaft |68' asfhlere'- in shown is carried` ini a pair of mounting plates |83 and |041 which` are provided in' the frame of As viewed" in. Fig. 3- of the draw'-V` ingss the set-up' movement of the storage pjlungers |81' is in a right-hand direction; and this' up movement takes place while the plunger is4 located at the lowermost position or set-up` pos'i tioniof the storage druln"` |82 indicatedl as position II in Eig. 4; of the drawings. The storage;` plung-f ers |61 are. set in. normal lett'4 Hand? positions; 3, by means of a cam' |85 which is. engaged by pins |'36" on theY plungers |81 as they approach the lower or set-up position II of th'e storageV drum |82. After a particular plunger. has set up the successive indexing movements of the' storage drum |82? inf a'A clockwiser'directiony Fig.` 4; serve to move this set-up storageor control=-plung= er li through the requisitel number of? inactive intermediate. positions. as positions' III and 15V indicated in Fig.. 4:, and this' particular' plunger isthenl moved to an upper: or controll position, indicated as` position` IV-JI, wherein` the? set-upP control plunger eXerts its controlling actionf a manner which will hereinafter be described in' detail'.

Thel control' ofthe speed of.' operation of the mechanisms of the printing machine is in the present instance attained; through: the provision of two different sources of power operating.` at4 Y different speeds and which are' selectively renfer' 139 slield in engagementllwith the cam" surface l dered effective under the governing control? ofthe' sensing: means S,. and in; those instances wherea= relatively large number `of sta-tions aref provided along. the' printing device gui'deway between sens-f.

Y Thusthe shaft. 20'4 i'sdriven at a constant speed,

andi two= different driving; speeds`- are derived from' the shaft 204.. One drivepath; which may be" termed the low 'speedz driveforroperating the ma;-4 chine when a printing. operation is to` be performed; includes a pulley 208;.. Figs.. 1, 2'! and` 3;v xedf oriA the shaft 204.! Thei pulley 208i is' cone nectedby means o'fa#belt20.*!"150"a1 relatively larger pulley` 2|0-v which is mounted: for` rotative move-l ment on a clutchshaitl211|.'l The clutch shaft 21H is mounted inthe platesV 2055 and'A 2061T parallel to'` hence'-l the? pulleys; 2J ii a'ndl 2M?" are?. constantlyEl that the speed of the pulley 2|4 is considerably greater than the speed of the pulley 2|0. The relationship as herein shown is such as to drive the pulley 2|4 at a speed which is fifty per cent greater than the speed of the pulley 2IU.

The pulleys 2||l and 2|4 are arranged for selective connection to the shaft 2|I through a clutch device 2I5 which is positioned between the two pulleys 2li] and 2|4, and the shaft 2I| has a pair of pulleys 2|6 fixed thereon which are operable through belts 2 I 1 to transmit rotation of the shaft 2|| to the main drive pulley |26 of the printing machine. The clutch means 2 I 5 as herein shown comprises a double faced cone clutch member 2|5' splined on the shaft 2|| and movable in a left-hand direction 'as viewed in Fig. 3 into engagement with a complemental low speed element 2I3 fixed on the pulley 2|l or in a right-hand direction, Fig. 3, into operative engagement with a high speed clutch member 2|6 which is fixed on the constantly driven pulley 2|4. The shiftable clutch member 2 I 5' may be shifted back and forth between these two engaged positions by means such as a clutch fork or lever 220 which depends from a pivot point 22| as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings and has a pin and slot connection' with the clutch member 2|5' for shifting the same back and forth along the shaft 2II between its two engaged positions. Since, as hereinafter will be pointed out, the shifting movement of the lever 220 and of the clutch member 2|5' is accomplished through one of the driven elements of the machine which derives its power through the clutch element 2I5, a relatively heavy fly wheel 222 is provided on one end of the shaft 2|| to cause continued rotation of the shaft 2I| during the periods of shifting movement of the clutch member 2|5.

The clutch shifting lever 22|] is arranged for actuation under control of the set positions of the storage plungers |8| of the storage mechanism |10, and to this end a link 225, Figs. 2, 3

and 4, has one of vits ends connected to the lower end of the clutch shifting lever 22|] so that the link 225 extends through the machine longitudinally. thereof to a point relatively close to the storage mechanism |10 but located a considerable distance below and somewhat rearwardly of the storage mechanism |10 as will be seen in Figs- 3 and 4 of the drawings. The other or right-hand end vof the link 225 as Viewed in Fig. 3 of the drawings is connected to an arm 226 lwhich is fixed upon the lower end of a vertically positioned rockshaft 221. The rockshaft 221 is mounted in a vertically extending sleeve 228 which is formed in the lower member 229 of a mounting bracket 230, this mounting bracket 230 being best shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings wherein it will be seen that the mounting bracket is suspended from front and rear mounting bars 23| and 232 which are provided in the machine parallel to the forward edge I I thereof. At its upper end the rockshaft 221 has an arm 233, Figs. 3 and 4, fixed thereto so as to extend to the right as viewed in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and,the requisite power may be applied to the arm 233 at the proper point in each machine cycle to impart the requisite shifting movements to the clutch member 2|5'. In the present instance such power is applied to the lever arm 233 by toggle means which includes toggle links 236 and 231, Figs. 3 and 4, pivoted together at their adjacent ends by a pivot pin 238. At its other end the link 236 is pivotally connected to the end of the lever arm 233 by a swivel block 239. The other end of thelink .positely projecting ends of the pin 246.

231 is mounted on a stationary pivot 240, Fig. 4, which is provided on the mounting bracket 233 at a point which is located somewhat rearwardly of the storage drum |82 and considerably below the storage drum. When the toggle means is in its extended position as shown in full lines in Fig. 4 of the drawings, it will be evident that the arm 233 will be actuated to its most counterclockwise position as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings,-

and as a result the link 225 will be drawn to the right, Fig. 3, so as to engage the shiftable clutch member 2|5 with the high speed clutch member 2|9. When, on the other hand, the toggle means is shifted to its broken relationship shown in dotted outline in Fig. 4 of the drawings the swivel block 239 will, of course, be drawn to the left or forwardly from its position of Fig. 4, thereby to impart clockwise rotation to the rockshaft 221 and aotuate the connecting rod 225 to the left in Fig. 3, thereby to shift the clutch member 2|5 into engagement with the low speed clutch member 2|8.

The power required for imparting such shifting movement to the toggle means and hence to the clutch member 2 I 5 is in the present instance derived from the arm |43 of the printing device feeding means, and such power is applied selectively to extend or to break the toggle means under the control of the set-up positions of the storage plungers of the storage mechanism |10, For this purpose the link 231 of the toggle means is formed as one arm of a bell crank, Fig. 4, and the other arm 245 of the bell crank extends upwardly to a point forwardly of the arm |43. At-

its upper end the arm 245 lhas a transverse pin 246, Figs. 3 and 4, mounted therein so as to project on opposite sides of the arm 245 parallel to the pivot pin 240. The pin 246 is adapted to be engaged by means which is. driven by the arm |43 and this means in one manner of engagement with the pin 246 is operable to rock the arm 245 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot 240 and in another manner of operation or engagement is operable to rock the arm 245 in a clockwise direction about its pivot 246. In the present instance this means comprises a pair of pawls 250 and 25| mounted on a pivot pin 252 provided on the arm |43 so that the clutch pawls 250 and 25| extend forwardly and overlie the op- It will be evident from a consideration of Fig. 4 of the drawings that the clutch pawl 25|) has a forwardly facing shoulder 256 which may be engaged with the rear edge of the pin 246 to imlpart forward movement to the pin 246 and thereby rock the arm 245 in a counterclockwise direction, and it is through the action of the pawl 25|) that the drive means is shifted to its high speed driving relationship. It will also be observed that the clutch pawl 25| has a rearwardly facing shoulder 251 formed thereon which may be engaged with the forward edge of the pin 246 to impart rearward movement to the pin with corresponding clockwise rocking movement of the lever 245, and it is through the action of the pawl 25| that the drive means is shifted to its low speed driving, relationship.

The two clutch pawls 250 and 25| are selectively shifted between operative and inoperative positions with relation to the pin 246 by means under the control of the storage mechanism |10.

4To this end the storage plungers |8| of the storage mechanism |10 are arranged, in accordance with their endwise set positions to selectively actuate suitable linkage means which are operay storagetplunger will, engage a lever 26,0, Figs. 3V

and4,"which is pivoted on an axis 26|. provided on the mounting bracket 230.. In Figl 3 the plunger |8`=|twhicl1 is located directly over the axis of the shafti |68' is shown in its right hand set up position wherein it is alignedwith the lever 260, and. the. arrangement of the present. machine is such` that the plunger |8| is set up in this position; when the operation ofv the sensing means indicates that the related printing device is to be skipped. `A similar lever 262 mounted on `the same axis is disposed to the left of the lever 260 alsviewed in Fig; 3A of the drawings and when the operation of the sensing means indicates that a printing' operation is: to be performed from the sensed printing device, the related storage plunger ||if|I is setto what `may be termed its leftl hand operative position, Fig. 3, wherein its cam lobe |18 l2 is aligned with and will impart upward movementtothe end of the lever 262.

lThe lever 266 imparts its controlling movement to` the` clutch pawl 250 through the medium of a link 264 which extends downwardly from substantially the midpoint of the lever 26|) and is con-v nected at its lower end to one end of a lever 265. A spring 266" acts on the lower end of the link 264 to urge. the link downwardly and maintain the end ,of the associated lever 260 in engagement with the surface of the drum or with the surface of a cam lobe in the event that such cam lobe is` aligned with the lever 260. The lever 265 is pivoted at` 266 intermediate itsends on a pivot point provided on the mounting bracket 230, and at its other 'end the lever has a projecting pin 261 which extends into a vertical slot 268 formed in the lower end of a vertical link 210. The upper end of the link 210 is pivotally connected to the pawl 250. A generally similar link and lever connection is provided between the lever 262 and the pawl It will be evidentV that when the lever 260 is elevated to the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings through the action of a properly aligned `cam lobe |8I.' on the upper storage plunger |8|,

thelpin 26'! will be moveddownwardly, and hence the associated clutch pawl 250 will be allowed to move downwardly by gravity toward its operative engaging relation with respect to the pin 246. When, however, the lever 26|] is allowed to pivot in a. downward direction due to further indexing l movement of the storage drum |82, the lever 265 is so rocked that the pin 261 is elevated and the clutch pawl 250 is shifted in an upward direction to disengage the same from the pin 246. This actionis of a yieldingcharacter since it is attained through the operation of the associated spring 266'. A generally similar raising and lowering,` action takes place with respect to the pawl 25| when the lever 262 is operated by a properly aligned cam lobe |8|'.

It will be recalled that when the toggle means 236%-231 is in its broken position as is illustrated in dotted outline in Fig. 4 ofthe drawings, the clutch element 2| 5" is engaged with the low speed clutch member 2| 8. In the present instance this low :speed driving connection constitutes the nor- I:mal drive of the printing machine, and it is this low speed drive which is employed when a printing operationis to be' performed. In4 some instances, asin a case where but: asmall proportion of the printing devices are. to. be skipped, itmay be foundA desirable to employ the normall or low. Speed drive, even in the skip cycles oi the machine,A and inea-ns is. therefore provided whereby the. clutch means may be, maintained constantly inl its low. speed driving relationship, thereby to dis`` able the speed change means. This end is at: tained. in the present instance. through means in-` cludingv a, link 28D, Fig.` 4, which `has a s1ot.28 therein engaged with the central pivot pin 23|! of the` toggle means. When the` link 280 is in thel lower position shown in full lines in lig.Y 4, the( central pin 238. of the toggle means may be shifted back and forth within the slot 28| to` thereby enable the desired clutch shiftingand SpeedQ- change action to be attained,A but when the link, 28D. is shifted in a downward direction as viewed in Fig lathe .pin 238 is engaged by the upper end. of the slot 28|, and the toggle means is moved to and held inz its` broken relationship whereinthe low speed `drive is maintained constantly engaged.` Such shifting of the link 280 is attained through a bell, crank 232 pivoted at its midpoint at 283:

and having ahorizontal arm 284 connected to thef upper end of the link 280. A `doiivnyvardly pro.- jecting arm: 2.65. of the bell crank. 282 hasv an actuating link 286 connected thereto and this; link extends. forwardly through the machine to a control plunger (not shown). located ontheV front panel of the machine.

In some instances, where the speed change mechanism is disabled as. aforesaid, the operator may wish to continue to use` the primary selecting mechanism |5|` of the machine,` and since the useof theselector mechanism |56 entails continued operation of the vertically shiftable sensing head i5 it will be obvious that the storage mech-` anism |76V will in such an instance be set up in each cycle of operation of the machine. The storage mechanism |15 will therefore tend to operate the two clutch pawls 250 and 25|. The. operation of the clutch pawl 25| will not be ob-` jectionable in such an instance, but since the clutch pawl 25u when shifted to its operative or lowerposition tends to shift the toggle means 236.-.-2 3.7 to its extended relation, it is. obvousthat such operation of the clutch pawl 250 would be objectionable. For this reason means is associated with the disabling link 286 to shift. theclutch pawl 250 to an upper or inactive position` when the operation desires to disable the speed change mechanism. In the present instance this end is attained through the medium of a lever 29|) pivoted` at 29| on the lower portion 229 of the. bracket 23B. One end oi the lever 290 underlies the lower end of the link 28, while the other end of the lever 29B is yieldingly connected through the spring 292 to the lower end of a vertically slidable plunger 216.', and when the plunger 216' is raised its upper end engages the lower end. of the link Z'l associated with the pawl 250. It will be observed that the slot 28| in the link 280 Vvhas a substantial upward extension to provide for a substantial lost motion in a downward direction when the link 280` is to be4 rendered operative. As. thisV lost motion is taken up, the clutch pawl 256 is shifted to its upper or inactive positionI4 and the upper endof the slot 280 then engages the pin 238 to shift the toggle means 236--231 to its broken relationship. During such continued movement of the link 286V the spring 292 is ten,- sioned and the pawl 250 is maintained at its upper or released position.

Assuming for purposes of illustration that machine is at rest with the speed change mechanism in its high speed drive relationship and wherein the toggle means is in its extended relation of Fig. 4 and the clutch member 2|5' is engaged with the high speed clutch member 219 as shown in Fig. 3. In such an instance the machine is so conditioned that its next operative cycle will be a non-productive or skip cycle. Assuming further that the sensing means S has, in sensing the printing device which is related to the storage plunger 18| which is now located at position IV of the storage drum has determined that a printing operation is to be performed therefrom and has caused this storage plunger to be set up in a positionu wherein its cam lobe IBI is aligned with the lever 262, it will be evident that in the next indexing movement of the storage drum |82 this particular plunger |8| will be moved to position IV-T and will rock the lever 262 in an upward direction.

' The'arrangement of the present machine is such that the clockwise indexing movement of the storage drum |82 takes place in the rst halfcycle of operation of the machine, during which time the arm |43 of the printing device advancing means rocks in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 4, from its normal rearward position to the position shown in Fig. 4. Hence, when the lever 262 is rocked in an upward direction so as to rock the associated lever 265 and thereby lower the associated pin 261, the pawl 25| merely drops in a downward direction until a lower surface 25|' thereof rests on the top of one end of the pin 246. Thus, the pawl 25| rides freely along the top of the pin 246 for a short distance until the lever |43 has substantially reached its forward position shown in Fig. 4. The pawl 25| then drops downwardly so as to locate the shoulder 251 thereof in an operative relationship with respect to the pin 246. As the motion of the arm|43 is reversed and the arm moves in a, rearward direction, that is, a right-hand direction in Fig. 4, the shoulder 251 of the pawl 25| engages the pin 246 and rocks the lever 245 in a clockwise direction around its pivot 240. As a result the toggle means 236-231 is shifted to its broken relationship as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 4. It will be understood that the toggle means 236-231 is so constructed and arranged'that it normally retains its extended relationship until a positive force is applied thereto in the manner described tending to move the toggle to its broken relationship. As an incident to the breaking of the toggle means 236-2311 the lever 233 is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3 to thereby actuate the link 225 to the left, Fig. 3, and shift the clutch member 2 5 into engagement with the low speed clutch element 2|8, and it will be observed that 'this shifting action takes place during the last half of the machine cycle.

It will be understood, of course, that when the toggle means is to be shifted from one of its positions to the other there will be a period during which both of the pawls 250 and 25| will be located in their elevated positions' so as to be in spaced relationship with respect to the pin 246. In other words, both of the pawls 250 and 25| will be in elevated positions such as that in which the pawl 25| is illustrated in Fig. 4. Hence, when the pawl 25| drops into its engaged or operative relationship with respect to the pin 246, the pawl 250 will be maintained in. itselevated or inactive position and the lever 245 and its pin 244 will be free of the pawl 250, thereby to enable the pawl 25| to accomplish the desired shifting of the lever 245 as above described. The shifting of the clutch means from its high speed to its low speed relationship as just described is accomplished by the pawl 25| in the last part of a machine cycle which is a skip cycle and at the end of such skip cycle the drive mechanism of the machine is conditioned for the performance of the next machiner cycle at low speed, since the next cycle of the machine is to be a printing cycle. It should be observed, however, that since the fly wheel 222 in the first half of the cycle hasbeen operating at this higher rate of speed, the last half of the skip cycle will be completed at high speed. In the first half of the next cycle, which is to. be a printing cycle, the storage drum |82 is again indexed so as to release the elevated control lever 262 for downward movement by its spring 266. Hence, the associated spring 266' acts through the associated lever 265 and link 210 to shift the pawl4 25| to its elevated or inactive position. vAs the indexing movement of the storage drum |82 continues, the next storage plunger |8|, which for illustrative purposes will be assumed to be set for a skip cycle of the machine, engages the lever 260 and elevates the same to substantially the position shown in Fig. 4. Thus the lever 265 Which is associated therewith releases the pawlV 250 for downward movement. Bearing in mind that at this time the lever 245 is displaced in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 4, it Will be evident that a lower surface 256' on the lever 25!) will engage the top of the pin 246 and the pawl 250 will remain in an upper or inactive position with respect to the pin 246 throughout the entire printing cycle of the machine in which it has thus been released for downward movement.

f This resultfollows for the reason that the forward rocking movement of the lever |43 has located the surface 255 over the pin 246 before the pawl 250 has been released. Hence, the machine continues at low speed through the printing cycle for which it has previously been set, andi ward the position shown in Fig. 4, and hence the toggle 236-231 is moved to its extendedrelationship early in the machine cycle to thereby shift the clutch member 2| 5 into engagement with the high speed driving clutch member 2|9. As a result a high speed drive of the printing device feeding means is instituted during the rst half of the machine cycle, and the fly wheel 222 is brought up to itshigher speed. Hence, the skip cycle is completed at the higher speed as herein'- before explained, even though the sequence in which the selector mechanism |10 hasbeen set up may in some instances cause the mechanism to again shift to low speed drive during the last half of the machine cycle. In such an instance the next storage plunger on the storage drum |82 wouldV be set for a printing operation, and the pawl 25| would be lowered to its effective position so as to cause return of the mechanism to the low speed drive during the last half of the cycle which hasjust been described. However, in the ing a given number of printing event that the next storage plunger were set for another or second successive skip operation of the machine, the pawl 251 would, after a brief period of releasewherein it might move downwardly` to its active position, be returned to its upper or inactive position so that the toggle 236-231 would remain in its extended position. As a resuit the entire machine cycle in such a successive or second skip operation of the machine would take place at high speed in the first half as well `as the second half of the machine cycle. Thus, it will be clear that in every skip cycle of the machine, a substantial portion of the cycle will be performed at a higher speed than is employed in the printing cycles, and where a plurality of skip operations of the machine follow in series, the high speed drive will be` effective during the entire operating time of every skip cycle except the rst, and hence the time required for feeddevices through the machine is materially reduced.

Alternative embodiment-Figs. 7,` 8 and 9 As hereinbefore pointed out, the present invention is capable of'utilization in printing machines of widely varying: constructions, and the number of stations which intervene along the printing device guideway between the sensing station and the printing station is immaterial. Thus the invention is' illustrated in Figs. 7 to 9 as embodied in a printing machine wherein the identifying means carried by the` printing devices are sensed at the station which immediately precedes the printing station as contrasted with the. embodiment shown in Figs. 1 tov 6 wherein several stations intervene along the printing device guideway between the sensing station. and the printing station.

The machine shown in Figs. 7 to 9 of the drawings is of the general character disclosed in the patent to Gollwitzer, No. 2,002,771, patented May 28, 1935, and in the patent to Hartley, No. 2,002,- 737, patented May 28, 1935, and as hereinshown the machine provides a frame 30D having a table top T-I across which sheetsy forms and the like may be fed along a guideway G. The guideway G extends across a printing device guid'eway 332 along which printingdevices D are fed in a stepby-step manner by a conveyor chain 333. The conveyor chain 363 has suitable' lugs formed thereonfor engagement with the rear edges of the printing devices, and the chain is supported by means including a sprocket 334. The printing device guideway intersects. with the sheet guideway G thereby to provide a printing station, and the operation of the conveyor chain 303 is such that each printing device is brought to rest at the printing station thus provided. In this position the printing device is located beneath a platen P-Z which. is of the stamper arm type and is carried on an, arm 305 which is adapted to be rocked about a supporting pivot 305.

The platen P-2 is actuated in a printing stroke by a cam 351' carried on a. sleeve 338 which surrounds a constantlyrotating drive shaft 339.. The drive shaft Y33.9 may be operatively connected tothe sleeve 398, and hence to the cam 301, by operation of a one-revolution clutchv 31BA and when the clutch 310 is engaged the platen P-Z i operated through a printing stroke each time the shaft 309 rotates through a complete revoluion.r

The clutch 3113 includes adisc 311 Xed on the drive shaft 339 and carrying a clutch pawl 312 which is spring biased to the position shown. in

Fig. 7 so asto tend to cause the nose 312' there'- of to engage the adjacent edge surface ofr a lug 313 formed on the sleeve 308. Thus the clutch 310 tends to engage and to remain engaged, and a stop lever 31d is provided which may be shifted Y downwardly from the full line position of Fig. 7

to the dotted line position so as to be located in the path of rotation of the tail portion of the clutch pawl 312. Thus when the tail oi the clutch toward its inactive or full line position by a spring 314 and is normally actuated and controlledby the mechanism which actuates the printing device advancing means, and this relationship will be described fully hereinafter.

The printing device advancing means, including the conveyor chainv 303, isin the present instance operated through actuation of the sprocket 391i, and to this end a feed rocker 3115 is mounted on a shaft 31S beneath the upper run of the conveyor chai-n 303 and at one end of the rocker 315 a spring biased pawl 315 is mounted for operative engagement with a series of circumferentiall'y spaced pins 31llI provided on the sprocket 354. At the end of anv advancing cycle of the printing device advancing means the rocker 3l5 occupies the position illustrated in Fig; 7 of the drawings, and in the course ot opera-tion or rotation of the main drive `shaft 339, the feed rocker 3M? is in normal cycles of operation of the machine operated through. a conditioning cycle in a clockwise direction thereby to withdraw the pawl 315 from the pin 311with which it is then engaged and cause the pawl to engage the next one of the pins 311. Such conditioning or clockwise movement of the feed rocker 315 takes place in what may be termed the first half' of the cycle of operation o-f the machine, and during the last half of the cycle of operation of the machine the movement of the feed rocker 315 is reversed, or in` other Words the rocker moves in a counterclockwise direction and the sprocket 304 is actuated soas to discharge the printing device from printing position and feed a new printing device toy this position. v

As described in detail in theu aforesaid Gollwitzer and Hartley patents, such operation of the rocker 31.5 is obtained through a reciprocable plunger 318 constantly operated from the shaft 3139 by an eccentric drive 318', and this plunger 318 is connected to the rocker 315 by a pawl 313 carried on an arm 315 of the rocker 315 and normally interlocked with the plunger by engagement with a collar 313 provided on the plunger.

During the first half of the machine cycle, or in 'other words during the time when the feed rocker 315 is moving through its conditioning stroke, a sensing head 321B which is operated in timed relation to the operation of the feed rocker 315 is moved yieldingly in a downward direction through a sensing stroke and suitable Sensing means such as pins on the sensing head 32D are arranged to strike anyta-b or tabs which may be mounted in corresponding identifying relation on the printing device D which is then at sensing station. In the event that a tab as 105 is encountered by the sensing means a rocker 321 which is associated'l with the sensing head operates to impart a predetermined downward movement to a link 322, the upper end of the link 322 being connected to one arm 323 of a bell crank. The other arm 324 of the bell crank serve-s as a conditioning control means for selector mechanism which may govern the operative positioning of the stop lever 3|5. Thus the bell crank arm 324 has a head 325 having an outer surface which is concentric with the pivot point of the bell crank and a notch 326 is formed in this concentric surface. A control rocker 330 centrally pivoted as at 33| is arranged to be controlled by the positioning of the bell crank 323 and 324, and to this end a follower 332 is mounted on the control rocker 330 by means of a spring 334 so that the follower bears against the concentric outer surface of the head 325. When the follower 332 is seated in the notch 326, the control rocker 335 is located in the position shown in Fig. '7, while in the event that the bell crank 323-324 is rocked so as to engage 'the concentric surface thereof with the follower 332, the control rocker is actuated yieldingly in a lcounterclockwise direction. In such counterclockwise movement a tooth 335 on the rocker 33|! is urged upwardly toward a position where it may engage an arm 336 which is operatively connected to the stop lever 3M. When lthe arm 336 is thus engaged by the tooth 335 the stop lever 3 4 is held in its lower or active position thereby to maintain the clutch 3|() disengaged. The stop lever 3 I4 is normally actuated by means which is associated with the operating plunger 3BG, this means being such that at an intermediate point in the printing cycle of the platen P-2 the stop lever 3|4 is rocked from its full lineposition to its dotted line position in a positive manner. Ethe machine shown in Fig. 7 is intended for continuous operation, the stop lever 3|4 is then released so as to be biased by its spring 3 I4 toward its inactive or full line position and such retracting movement of the stop lever 3|4 takes place uinl^ss the tooth 335 has been engaged with the arm 336. While the manner of connection of the link 322 to the arm 323 may be Varied as described in the aforesaid Gollwitzer and Hartley patents to effect reversal of the controlling action of the selector mechanism` such Variation is immaterial in so far as the present invention is concerned. it being important only that the control rocker 336 be rendered operative to hold .the stop lever 3|4 in its active position whenever a printing device D is to be skipped.

In accordance with the present invention the selector mechanism of the machine shown in Fig. `7 is utilized to increase the speed of operation of the machine in those cycl es of operation wb ere the printing device is to be skipped, and in attaining this end the cont-olling movements of the control rocker 330 are utilized to institute and govern appropriatel operations cf a speed change mech- -anism which may be similar to the speed change mechanism shown in the machine illustrated in Figs. l to 6. Thus the machine shown in Figs. 7 ato 9 has a drive motor 35i) connected by a belt 35| to an intermediate shaft 352. The intermediate sha-ft has a pair of pulleys 353 and 354 fixed thereon, and the pulley 353 acts through a belt 355 to drive a relatively large pulley 355 which is rotatably mounted on a clutch shaft 351. The other pulley 354 operates through a belt 358 to drive` a somewhat smaller pulley 356 which is rotatably mounted on the clutch shaft 351 in spaced relation to the larger pulley 356. The clutch shaft 351 acts through a double belt ccnnection 36| to drive a cross shaft 35,0. frOm Which Since A drive is 'transmittedto the main shaft 309 of the machine.

The two pulleys 356 and 359 are thus driven at different speeds and are adapted to be selectively connected to the clutch shaft 351 through the medium of a clutch 365. The clutch 365 is of the double cone type having a shifstable clutch mem- 'ber 366 splined on the shaft 351 so as to be shiftable selectively into engaged relation with clutch members 361 and 368. The clutch member 361 is xed on the pulley 356 so that when the clutch members 366 and 361 are engaged the shaft 369 of the printing machine will be driven ait a low or normal speed which is adapted for the performance of the desired printing operations. The clutch member 368 is fixed on the pulley 358 so that when the clutch members 366 and 368 are engaged the shaft 309 of the printing machine will be driven at a somewhat higher speed, thereby to reduce the over-al1 time required for the completion of a machine cycle.

The clutch member 366 is adapted to be actuated by a clutch fork 310 carried on a shaft 31| mounted on a portion of the machine frame. The clutch fork 31|! is located remotely with relation to the rocker 3|5, and the shaft 31| is therefore disposed so that its other end extends to a point substantially in the p-lane of the rocker 3|5, thus enabling ythe rocker 3|5 to be utilized'to supply power for shifting of the clutch member 366. Thus an arm 315 is fixed on the other end of the shaft 31| in a position to be actuated from the rocker 3|5, and such actuation is controlled by the control rocker 330 of the selector mechanism.

The desired actuation of the arm 315 is attained by a pair of pawls 380 and 38| mounted -on the lower end of a mounting arm 382 which is xed on the rocker 3|5. The pawls 386 and 38| are arranged to extend to the left from the mounting arm 382, as viewed in Fig. 7, and their remote ends are positioned on opposite sides of the upper end of the arm 315. A pin 384 projects from oppo-site sides of the arm 315 and the ends of this pin are adapted to be engaged by suitable actuating shoulders on the pawls 385 and 38|. When the clutch 365 is engaged in the manner shown in Fig. 7 the machine is conditioned to be driven at its flow or normal speed, and when the location of the clutch member 366 is to be reversed for the purpose of causing operation of the machine at a high speed, the pawl 383 is lowered so that a sh-oulder 386 formed thereon may engage with the pin 384 duringV the conditioning stroke of the rocker 3|5 to thereby shift the clutch 365 to its high speed position. Since such shifting movement involves a period when the clutch member 366 will b-e disengaged from both of the driven clutch members, a y wheel 381 is provided on the clutch shaft 353 to carry the driven parts of the machine through the intervening portions of the cycle. When the clutch member 366 is engaged with the high speed clutch member 368 the arm 315 is located in the dotted line position of Fig. '1, and when it is desired to return the clutch to its low speed position the pawl 38| is lowered so that a shoulder 339 thereon may engage the pin 384. The shoulder 386 faces "n a direction opposite to the shoulder 386 and hence the shoulder 389 may operate to shift the arm 385 only in the active or counterclockwise movement of the feed rocker 3|5. The clutch 365 is maintained in either of its engaged positions by an over-center spring 315' acting on the arm 315. y'

The desired automatic control of the clutch shifting pawls 380 and 38| is attained through a link 39| which extends downwardly from one endV of the contro-l rocker 330. The lower end of the link 39| is pivoted at 392 to an arm 333. xed on one end of the shaft 394. The shaft 3.3.4 is mountedin frame portions 395 and carries a rocking beam 398 on its other end, the rocking beam 393 being located above and substantially in the plane of movement of the lever arrn 315, One end of the rocking beam 398 has a link 391 connected thereto by a pin and slot joint 398;, the slot of such connection being formed lorrgitudi-` nally in the link 391. The lower end of the link 391 is,l connected at 399 lto the pawl 33|. The other end of the rocking beam 395 is connected to the upper end of a link 489 by a similar pin and slot connection 43| and the lower end of the link 480 is connected at 82 to the pawl 33,8.

The pawls 388 and 38| tend selectively, in` aceV cordance with the position of the rocking beam 393, to assume their lower or active positions, and since occasion will arise when automatic change of the operating speed will be unnecessary, means is provided for disabling the pawls 38|] and 33|. As herein shown this means com-y prises a bell crank 435 centrally pivoted at 436 and `having a pin 431 projecting laterally from one arm thereof beneath the two pawls 338 and 38|. An actuating rod 438 is connected tothe other arm of. the bell crank 435 so that the bell crank 485 may be rocked from its inactive position of Fig. 'l in a clockwise direction; thereby tolelevate the pin 431 and raise the two pawls 3,30` and 38| to inactive positions.

Operation of the machine shown in Figs. 7 to 9 When the machine of Figs. 1 to 9 is at` rest or atthe end of a cycle with its elements in the relationship shown in Fig. 7, the speed change clutchi365 is engaged for low speed drive of the mechanism in the next cycle of operation. `This indicates that when the printing device D, which is nowtat'` printing, position, was at sensing station, the sensing -therecf indicated that a printing operati-on was toV be performed therefrom thereby setting the control rocker 33,9 and the rocking beam 396` in thepo-sitions shown.

As the machine enters upon the productive or printcycle for which it is set up in. Fig. 7, the

actuating rocker 3|5 of the printing device advancing means operatesin `the iirst half of the cycle to `move in a clockwise direction through a conditioning stroke, and during this period` the engagement of the` clutch 3H) drives the sleeve 308 and the cam means 331, and causes the platen P-2 to operate through an operativeV printing stroke. During this period the sensing head 323 operates through a sensing stroke and in the event that the printing `device, D at sensing station is intended to be skipped, the operation of the sens-` ing head 329 will cause the rocking` bell crank 323-324 to be rocked in an amount sufficient to move the notch 323 thereof out of engagement with the follower 332. Hence the spring 334i will be tensoned and the top surface of the. rocker 330 will be engaged with the lower end ofthe arm 33B. Hence, when the stop lever 3|!! is rocked downwardly from the full line position of Fig. '1

to its dotted line position, the arm 339 will ride along the top of the control rocker 339 until it is aligned with the notch or recess in the control rocker, whereupon the spring 333 will shift the control rocker 33E] additionally in a counterclockwise direction. AfterV this action has taken place the force which has moved the stop lever 3 4 into its active position is released,` and the spring 3|a4 acts to urge the stop lever toward its released p0.- sition. This action,l however, is limited to but a slight movement by interlocking of the tooth 3,35

With the arm 338, and hence the stop lever 3|4 is retained in its active position wherein it causes disengagement of the platen clutch 3| 9 at the end of the cycle. Since the stop lever 3|4 is main-` tained in this active position until after initiation of the next machine` cycle, the clutch 3H) cannot engage in the next machine cycle, and hence the printing devi-ce which has lbeen sensed to Acause such disengagement of the clutch 3MB is skipped when it reachesV printing position.

After upward movement of the platen P-? has started, the actuating rocker 3|5 reverses its movement and its Apawl 313 engages the next pin 3|1 to thereby impart advancing movement to the conveyor chain 303., and in such movement the printing device D which has been sensed in the rst portion of the cycle is shifted to printing position.` At the same time the printing device from which aprinting impression has just been made is discharged from printing position.

At the time when the control rocker 339 is shifted in a counterclockwise direction as afore-` said, the left hand end thereof, Fig. 7, is lowered from the position shown, thereby to actuate `the rocking beam 398 in a clockwise direction. This serves toV elevate the pawl 38| and to release the pawl 380 for downward movement to its operative position. At the time when the pawl 3851 is thus actuated the rocker 3 l5 will have progressed through its conditioning movement to such an extent that the shoulder 386 will be located to the left of the pin 384, and a lower surface 389. of the pawl 38.0 will engage and slide along the pin 384,. Thus the instant cycle of operation of the machine will continue and will be completed at low` speed, and the pawl 383 may therefore be said to haveibeen merely conditioned for operation. At the end of the cycle of operation the pawl surface 380 will ride oil' of the pin 384 and the shoulder388 will be thereby positioned for engagement with the pin 384 at the beginning of the next cycle.

the next cycle of operation, which is to be a skip cycle, the operation of the machine will start at low speed, since the clutch 365 is enf gaged` with the low speed drive pulley, and

through such low speed drive the rocker 3|'5V will start upon its conditioning or clockwise stroke. In this conditioning stroke the pawl 380 operates to shift the clutch member 336 to its high speed, position wherein it engages the clutch member 338` of the high speed pulley 359, the y wheel 33,1 acting during anintermediate lperiod to,V continue the low speed operation of the various driven elements. Immediately upon` completion of such clutch shifting movement the driven parts are brought up to the desired high speed, thereby completing the skip cycle of the machine in less time than would be required if the. low speed drive were employed throughoutV the cycle...

In the event that the printing device sensed by the sensing head 328 during such skip cycle is another printing device which is to be skipped, the pawl 38| is retained in its upper position and the high speed drive of the machine remains connected throughout the entire skip cycle in which the sensing takes place as well as `during the initial portion of the next cycle.

When, during a skip cycle, the sensing means detects a printing device from which a printing impression is to be made, the control rocker 330 is returned to the position shown in Fig. 7, whereupon the pawl 380 is elevated to its inactive position, and the pawl 38| is freed for downward movement at the time when the pawl 38| is thus released for downward movement, the conditioning movement of the rocker 3I5 has not been completed, and hence a surface 38| on the pawl 38| engages the pin 384 and rides along the pin until the conditioning movement of the rocker SI5 is completed. The pawl 38| then drops' to the position shown in Fig. 7 and the shoulder 389 thereof is conditioned for clutch shifting operation during the return stroke of the rocker. Since the skip cycle of the machine has started at high speed, the fly wheel 381 produces continued operation at this high speed until late in thel cycle when the clutch shifting `movement has been completed, the machine is then conditioned for operation in the next cycle at the desired low speed.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that the present invention enables skip operations in a printing machine to be performed more rapidly than print operations of the machine, thereby to pass printing devices which are to be skipped through the machine at a higher speed and effect a material saving of time. Moreover, this time saving operation of the machine is effected automatically in such a manner that economical and profitable machine operation may be attained even when but a small proportion of the printing devices in a group are to be utilized for making printing impressions.

Thus, While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not Wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a printing machine having advancing means for moving printing devices sequentially there-through and operable in productive cycles with respect to selected of such printing devices and operable through non-productive cycles with respect to other of such printing devices, control means for causing selective operation of the machine through productive and non-productive cycles, a high speed'drive having a clutch through which it may be rendered operative to drive said advancing means, a low speed drive having a clutch through which it may be rendered operative to drive said advancing means, clutch shifting means for said clutches operable to disengage the engaged one of said clutches and then to engage the other of said clutches, selectively operable actuating means for said clutch shifting means operated from the driven element of the engaged one of said clutches and governed by said control means, and inertia means associated with the driven elements of said clutches and operable to substantially maintain the operating speed of said driven members during clutch disengaging and engaging operations.

2. In a printing machine having advancing means for sequentially moving printing devices therethrough, driving means for operating said advancing means at either one of two speeds and including clutch means having a speed determining element shiftable in opposite directions to select the speed at which said advancing means is to be driven, said machine including a pair of pawls driven by said driving means first in one direction and then in the'opposite direction in each machine cycle, means on one of said pawls operatively engageable with said element to shift said element in one direction, means on the other of saidpawls operatively engageable with said element to shift said element in the other div rection, and selector mechanism responsive to predetermined identifying means on such printing devices to operatively engage said paWls with said speed determining element selectively.

3. In a printing machine having a printing device guideway along which a plurality of stations are provided including sensing and printing stations, impression means at said printing station, advancing means for moving printing devices in a step -by-step manner along said guideway to the stations thereof, selector means responsive to identifying means on such printing devices, drive means for said impression means including an operating shaft and an impression clutch controlling operation of said impression means, a driving connection for said operating shaft, sources of low and high speed drive for said operating shaft, and means governed by said selector means and operated by said advancing means to selectively disconnect said impression clutch and drive said operating shaft from said high speed drive or to drive said operating shaft from said 10W speed drive when said impression clutch is connected.

4. In a printing machine having advancing means operable to move printing devices sequentially therethrough and into and then out of a plurality of positions including sensing and printing positions in the machine, impression means adapted to cooperate with a printing device at printing position to produce a printing impression therefrom and including an impression clutch and a control element therefor, sensing means adapted to sense indentifying means carried by the printing devices as they are successively located at sensing position, means operable to drive said advancing means at a low speed or at a high speed, selectively, and including speed change clutch means, clutch control means driven by said advancing means for operating said speed change clutch means to render said drive means operable at low or high speed selectively, and means operable in the cycle in which each printing device is located at the station immediately preceding printing position to condition said control element of said impression clutch and said clutch control means of said speed change means for skipping the printing device when it reaches printing position and for operating said advancing means from said high speed driving means during such skip cycle of the machine.

ROBT. L. HA'IFIELD.

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