US2645322A - Embossing machine - Google Patents

Description

y 14, 1 53 Q a. c. BRAlN AR D TAL 2,645,322

nunossmc u AcHinE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed SeptLlS, 1949 Inventors George CQB'ra/marc/ John Graver July 14, 1953 G. c. BRAINARD ET AL mossmc MACHINE v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 15 1949 Jfzvznfora:

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Patented July 14,1953

EMBOSSING MACHINE George C. Brainard, Cleveland, and John H. Gruver, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignors to Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application September 13, 1949, Serial No. 115,394

Claims.

This invention relates to embossed printing plates and particularly to the embossing of type characters on printing plates that are made from a plastic material. 7

Printing plates having embossed printing characters thereon have been used in different types of machines, one of which is in the nature of a general purpose printing machine through which individual printing devices, or printing plates embodyihg embossed printing characters are passed one by one into, then out of a printing station at which one or more printed impressions maybe made from the printing device. In another use of printing devices of this general class, a printing device is issued to the customer of a department store or the like and i utilized in making out charge or sales slips when the customer makes a purchase at the store. In such an instance, the charge plate or token is placed in a specialized printing machine so that the name and address, and possibly other data, may be printed from the charge plate onto a sales slip.

' Printing plates adapted for the above described uses have in the past been made primarily from an embossable metal, and it is an object of the present invention to enable such printing plates to be easily and conveniently made from a moldable plastic material. It is recognized that printplates have been made from moldable plastic material, but, as heretofore accomplished, this has been done by means of a relatively complicated character so that the use of plastic moldable material in printing plates has been confined to those businesses or plants Where the complicated operations could be performed. Printing plates of the character hereinabove described must, however, be of such a character that the embossing operations may be performed by apparatus that is relatively simple, and to so arrange a-printing plate as to enable this to be accomplished is another and more specific object of the invention.

Other and further objects of the present invention are to afford a printing plate made from a plastic material in such a way that the printing plate is not only adapted for formation by simple and economic processes of extrusion, but is also adapted for cooperation with character forming dies in such a way that accuracy of formation of the embossed characters is assured. Further and related objects are to enable the displacement of heated plastic material of such printing plates to be readily and easily controlled in the character forming operations, thereby to; avoid the formation vof undesired projections in the prints plane of e p t g p ate, and to enable 2 character forming and blank-forming operations to be readily. and easily performed.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, byway of illustration, show a preferred embodiment and the principles thereof and what we now consider to be the best mode in which we have contemplated applying those principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational view, taken partially in vertical section, of an embossing machine embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the: machine shown in Fig. 1; V

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of a portion of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a face View of a plastic printing plate embodying the features of the invention, the view being at an enlarged scale;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through the portion of the printing plate in which character and blanking impressions have'been made, the view being taken substantially along the line 'l--! of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken vertically through the blanking space along the line 8-8 V of Fig. 5;

Fig 9 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially along the line 9-9 and showing the cross sectional form of one of the printing'characters;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the operative face of one of the character forming die heads;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line Il-H of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the operative face of the blanking die; and

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 13-43 of Fig. 12.

For purposes of disclosure, the invention .is herein illustrated as embodied in an embossing machine 20 and a'plastic printing plate P that is" adapted to be embossed through the use of 7 known commercial construction. This typewriter that has been employed in the production of the present embossing machine is sold commercially under the trade mark Electromatic and is manufactured and sold by International Business Machines Corporation of New York city, This typewriter embodies a keyboard K located at the forward side of a main frame F, and under control of the individual keys of the keyboard K, any selected one of a plurality of type bars 22 may be actuated about the pivotal mounting 23 so as to move the type bar upwardly and rearwardly toward an effective position.

indicated at 22' in Fig. 1 of the drawings. In theltypewriter that has thus been utilized in the production of the present machine, such movement of the type bar is normally effective to bring a conventional type head into cooperation with conventional ribbon mechanism and a paper supporting platen that are mounted on a transverse carriage mechanism of well-known construction, apart of such carriage mechanism, the platen, and the ribbon mechanism having been removed in the present machine and having been replaced by other mechanism, as will hereinafter be described. The conventional type heads carried normally at the ends of the respective type bars 22 have, in the present instance, been replaced byspecial type heads 25 that are in the nature of embossing dies, whereby embossed type characters 26, Figs. 5, 7, 8 and 9, may be formed on the forward face of the plastic printing plate P.

The present machine provides for shiftable mounting of the plastic printing plate P so that the embossed type characters can be formed successively in the desired relationship on the surface of the printing plate, and to enable this to be accomplished, a supplemental longitudinally shiftable carriage C is mounted on the frame F in the manner that is specifically described in the'patent to John H. Gruver, No. 2,605,878, and reference may be had to such patent for details of such mounting of the carriage C. For present purposes, it is sufficient to point out that the carriage C is mounted and guided for movement parallel to the path of movement of the usual carriage 32 of the typewriter, and a connection.

is afforded therebetween so that the carriage C is actuated through character spacing movements in a direction opposite to the direction of charaoter'spacing movements of the usual carriage 32. This not only enables reverse-reading embossed type characters to be formed in the proper relation on the printing plate P, but also enables the usual carriage control mechanism of the typewriter to function in its normal manner and relationship.

Theembossing machine 20 has a cross slide 45 mounted for line spacing movement in an upward and rearward direction along guide rods 46 that are afforded on the carriage C, and means are afforded for controlling'line spacing and re- .turn movement of the cross slide 45 in the same manner as in the aforesaid copending Gruver application.

Under and in accordance with the present invention, the embossed type characters 26 are formed on the printing plate P merely through the application of forming pressure due to the upward and rearward blow of the type head 25, and to enable this to be accomplished, the type 4 heads 25 and the printing plate P are heated by means included within the machine; With respect to the heating of the printing plate P, meansare afforded on the cross slide 45, and 7 thus, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the cross slide,

35 has an upwardly and rearwardly extending mounting block 50 fixed thereto, this block 50 preferably being made from aluminum'and affording a forward surface against which a print- 7 ing plate P may rest. The printing plate P is held in such position by spring retaining members 5| that are fixed on the forward face of the block 50 near the end edges thereof, and a suitable stop 518 is afforded on the carriage C at the lower ends of the block 50 for limiting the vertical movement of such a plate P. This locates the printing plate P at a predetermined position on the forward face of the block 50, and when the printing plate is in this position it is subjected to a heating operation so as to maintain the material of the printing plate P at a workable temperature, as will hereinafter be described in detail. To enable this to be accomplished, the block has heating means and heat control means associated therewith, and in the present instance such heating means are afforded by a pair of elongated electrical heating elements that are inserted longitudinally into the block 50 at spaced points, there being suitable bores formed in the block 56 to enable this to be done. The heating action of the electric heaters 55 is governed by a thermostat 55 that is mounted within a longitudinal bore 5'! formed in the block 50 midway between the two heaters 55.

The type heads 25 are arranged to beconstantly heated by affording heating means in association with such type heads 25 in their normally retracted or rest positions. To this end, a block 60 of a metal such as aluminum is formed with an upwardly and rearwardly facing groove Bl'therein to receive the arcuate row of type heads 25, and a plurality of slots 62 are formed transversely with respect to the slot 6] to afford spaces into and through which the type bars or arms 22 may extend. The block 60 is arranged to be heated to a predetermined temperature by means such as a pair of electrical heating elements 65 that are extended into the block 50 at spaced points as shown in Fig. 1, and the heating action of the heaters 65 is controlled by a thermostat 56 thatis extended into a bore Bl formed in the block 50.

In attaining accurate formation of the embossed characters 25, We have found that there is a definite cooperation between the forming surfaces of the type heads 25 and the formation or shape of the forward face of the plastic plate P. Thus, as shown' in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, the plastic plate P is formed as an extrusion which affords an intermediate and relatively thin body portion I0 having a fiat rear face and with relatively thick reinforcing edges II that project from such rear face of the plate P. Along the forward face of the plate P, and in positions that are to be occupied by the lines of type characters embossed on the plate, upstanding parallel ribs 72 are formed in such a way as to define intermediate grooves 13 located between the ribs I2. The upper faces of the ribs 12 are'rounded on a relatively large transverse radius as indicated at 12R in Fig. 6 of "the drawings, and through this formation of the acters 26 in an advantageous manner, as will hereinafter be described.

The type heads 25 are in most instances arranged to have die cavities in the forward or operative ends thereof for the formation of various type characters on the plate P; but one'type head that affords a blanking die-25B is provided. as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, for reducing the effective height of the rib 12 at those positions where there is to be a blank space on the printed copy. Such blank space formation is indicated at 2613 in Figs. 5, 7 and 8, and the specific formation of the type head 253, which attains this blanking action on the rib 12, will be described hereinafter. g

As will be evident in Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings, each type head 25 has arelatively flat forward face 15, and in this flat face, a die cavity I 6 is formed that is complemental to the desired form of the type character that is to be produced by the particular type head 25. The type head 25 is also provided with a projecting angular blade TI, disposed along what may be termed the leading edge of the type head 25, that is, the edge that is disposed to the right of the type head 25 as shown in Fig. 10, or the edge that is disposed to the, left of the type character when such type character is viewed in the relationship shown in Fig. 5. This blade 11 is so arranged that it extends in an up and down direction across the ridge 12 of the printing plate, and this blade serves to cut downwardly into the ridge 12 just ahead of the place where the type character 26 is to be embossed. It has been found that this prevents undesired flow or spattering of the material at the edge of the type character where the material of the plate has not previously been worked. The arrangement of the blade 11 on the type head 25 is such that with many characters or letters, the angular surface of the blade 1'! that is adjacent to the die recess 16 extends downwardly into the die recess '16 so as to form the adjacent edge of the die recess, as indicated at "D in Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings.

The blanking die 25B is also provided with a blade 11 along the corresponding leading edge of the type head, as shown in Fig. 12, and this type head also has a forward face 15, as hereinabove described. The blanking die head 25B, however, is formed with a longitudinal central ridge 80 that is relatively sharp, as shown in Fig. 13 of the drawings, and this ridge is so located that when the head 25B strikes the ridge 12 in a blanking operation, the ridge 80 will be parallel to and disposed centrally of the rib 72. This sharp edge afforded at 80 serves to displace the material at the highest point of the rib 12 so as to force the same in opposite directions toward the edge of the rib 12, and such material flows into die cavities BI formed above and below the sharp edge 80, as will be evident in Fig. 13, and it is through such structure that the height of the rib I2 is materially reduced, as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

In attaining proper formation of the embossed type characters, it is essential under the present invention to maintain proper and related temperatures in the dies 25 and the anvil 50, and such temperatures are, of course, related in some respects to the particular type and character of the thermoplastic material that is employed in the printing plates P. While different plastic materials may be utilized, we have found that cellulose acetate is well suited to such use, since 6, it is adapted for formation by processes of extrusion and is readily formed while at the same time possessing adequate compressive strength to resist deformation when used in a printing operation.

When the printing plate P is made from cellulose acetate, it has been found that the platesupporting anvil 50 may behe'ated to a temperature within the range of 380 to 500 F., while the dies or dieheads 25 may be heated to a temperature of from to: F. It is found that this temperature relationship may be reversed or, in other words, the die heads may be heated to a temperature of between 380 to 500 While the anvil'may be maintained at a temperature of from'lOO to 160 F. When temperatures such as the foregoing are afforded, it is found that the type characters may be embossed upon the printing plate P without undesired flow of the material, and the material retains its formed shape after the pressure of the embossing die head has been removed.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the present invention enables embossed type characters to be formed upon plastic printing plates by a succession of forming operations that may be accurately controlled so as to attain properly formed embossed type characters. It will also be apparent that the machine for forming these embossed characters may be operated by anyone who can operate an ordinary typewriter. In addition to the foregoing, it will be evident that the present invention affords a plastic printing plate that is particularly adapted for the formation of embossed type characters thereon, and it will be clear that the ribbed formation of the plate imparts char acteristics of strength to the plate while at the same time cooperating With the forming dies in the production of the desired embossed type characters. 1

Thus, while We have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification, and we therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims. 1

We claim:

1. In an embossing machine for forming embossed type characters one by one on a plastic printing plate, a plurality of type heads having dieoavities formed therein defining the respective type characters that are to be formed, means supporting said type heads for individual movementfrom retracted position-Ste operated positions wherein the type head is disposed in a working position that is the same for each type head, means including carriage and cross slide means for supporting and variantly positioning a plastic printing plate opposite said working position for cooperation with the die cavity of a type head in such working position, a first heating means for heating a plate that is in position on such cross slide, a second heating means arranged to partially surround all of said type heads While such heads are in said retracted positions, and control means for said heating means operable to maintain one of said heating means at a temperature within the range of 100 to 160 F., and the other of said heating means within the range of 380 to 500.F'.

2. In an embossing machine for forming embossed type characters one by one on a plastic printing p1ate,-a plurality of die heads, a plurality of supporting arms on corresponding ends of which the respective die heads are fixed, means supporting said arms for individual movement from retracted positions wherein the die heads are supported side by side in a row to operated positions wherein the die head of an arm in its operated position is disposed in a working position that is the same for each die head, means including carriage and cross slide means for supporting and variantly positioning a plastic printing plate opposite said working position, means for heating a plastic printing plate while it is in position on said cross slide, and a heater block for said die heads having a longitudinal groove in which all of said die heads may be positioned when such die heads are in said retracted positions, said block having transverse slots intersecting with said groove and through which said arms may extend into said groove, said die heads having die cavities formed therein defining the respective type characters that are to be formed on such a plate.

3; In an embossing machine for forming embossed type characters one by one on a plastic printing plate, a plurality of die heads, means supporting said die heads for individual movement from retracted positions to operated positions wherein the die head is disposed in a working position that is the same for each die head, means including carriage and cross slide means for supporting and variantly positioning a plastic printing plate opposite said working position,

means 'for heating a plastic printing plate while it is in position on said cross slide, means for heating said die heads when such die heads are in said retracted positions, said die heads having die cavities formed therein defining the respective type characters that are to be formed on such a plate, and each of said die heads having a blade extended along the leading side edge thereof to form a vertical groove in a plate just ahead of each embossed character that is formed on the plate. 7

4. In an embossing machine for forming embossed type characters one by one on a plastic printing plate, a plurality of die heads, means supporting said die heads for individual movement from retracted positions to operated positions wherein the die head is disposed in a working position that is the same for each die head, means including carriage and cross slide means for supporting and variantly positioning a plastic printing plate opposite said working position, means for heating a plastic printing plate While it is in position on said cross slide, means for heating said die heads when such die heads are in said retracted positions, said die heads having die cavities formed therein defining the respective type characters that are to be formed on such a plate, and each of said die heads having a blade extended along the leading side edge thereof to form a vertical groove in a plate just ahead of each embossed character that is formed on the plate, one of said die heads constituting a blanking die having a longitudinal central ridge operable to force plastic material in a, direction parallel to said blade of such blanking die. 7

5. In an embossing machine for forming embossed type characters one by one on a plastic printing plate, a plurality of die heads, means supporting said die heads for individual movement from retracted positions to operated positions wherein the die head is disposed in a working position that is the same for each die head, means including carriage and cross slide means for supporting and variantly positioning a plastic printing plate opposite said working position, means for heating a plastic printing plate while it is in position on said cross slide, means for heating said die heads when such die heads are in said retracted positions, at least one of said die heads constituting a blanking die and having a die cavity therein comprising a central longitudinal sharp edge and relatively deep die portions on opposite sides of said edge, and the others of said die heads having die cavities formed therein defining the respective type characters that are to be formed on such a plate, and

each of said die heads having a blade extended along the leading side edge thereof to form a vertical groove in a plate just ahead of each embossure that is made on the plate by one of such die heads.

GEORGE C. BRAINARD. JOHN H. GRUVER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 435,344 Cazin Aug. 26, 1890 933,058 Brooks Sept. 7, 1909 940,277 Richards Nov. 16, 1909 7 995,399 Blume June 13, 1911 1,439,753 Phillips Dec. 26, 1922 2,078,535 Hagdorn Apr. 27, 1937 2,142,009 Siebert Dec. 27, 1938 2,180,293 Finkeldey Nov. 14, 1939 2,230,776 Heuck et al Feb. 4, 1941 2,278,291 Swan et al Mar. 31, 1942 2,347,148 Chamberlain Apr. 18, 1944 2,425,322 Hueber Aug.'12, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 380,607 Great Britain Sept. 22, 1932

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