US2745341A

US2745341A - Print roll securing means

Info

Publication number: US2745341A
Application number: US275058A
Authority: US
Inventors: Haseloff Fritz
Original assignee: Licentia Patent Verwaltungs GmbH
Current assignee: Licentia Patent Verwaltungs GmbH
Priority date: 1952-03-06
Filing date: 1952-03-06
Publication date: 1956-05-15
Anticipated expiration: 1973-05-15

Description

May 15, 1956 F. HAsELoFF 2,745,341

PRINT ROLL SECURING MEANS Filed March 6,

eet l Fig. l

May 15, 1956 F. HAsl-:LOFF

PRINT ROLL SECURING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 6, 1952 Fig.5

United States Patent PRINT ROLL SECURING MEANS Fritz Haseloff, Kassel, Germany, assigner ta Licentie Patent-Verwaltungs, G. m. b. H., Hamburg',

Application March 6, 1952, Serial No. 275,058 8 Claims. (Cl.-1(l1212) The present invention relates to a printing apparatus.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a printing apparatus adapted to be removably mounted in a printing machine so as to print tickets, for example. This printing apparatus may be used to print railroad tickets, for example.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus of the above type with a locking means to prevent unauthorized use of the printing apparatus.

The objects of the present invention also include decreasing the cost of known printing apparatus of the above type as well as improving the operation thereof.

With the above objects in view, the present invention mainly consists of a printing apparatus which comprises a casing having a printing roller mounted therein for rotation with respect thereto. A bearing is mounted in the casing and engages the roller to support the same for rotation. A locking means is mounted on the roller and casing to prevent rotation of the former with respect to the latter except when the printing apparatus is mounted in the printing machine, this locking means being made of a plurality of movable locking members having cut away portions adapted to cooperate with a key-shaped end of a drive shaft of the printing machine to be moved to an open position. A spring means is operatively connected to the locking members to urge the same to a locking position Where an end of the locking members is located against the inner surface of the casing and between a pair of projections thereon so as to prevent rotation of the printing roller with respect to the casing, this casing having a plurality of additional projections located on the inner surface thereof to prevent rotation of the printing roller when the locking members are moved against the action of the spring means beyond a predetermined distance.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a schematic elevational view of a printing machine adapted to cooperate with the printing apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic elevational partly sectional view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 as seen from the right, Fig. 2 showing the position of the printing roller in the apparatus and the drive for the printing roller as well as a card being printed;

Fig. 3 is a side sectional view of the printing apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the structure of Fig. 3 taken along the line 4--4 thereof in the direction of the arrows;

2,745,341 Patented May 15, 1956 ICC Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a lock member shown in Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of two additional lock members adapted to cooperate with the lock member of Fig. 5 and shown also in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the lock members shown in Figs. 5 and 6 in cooperative relationship;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of part of the structure shown in Fig. 4, illustrating the spring tensioning of a lock member within the body of the printing apparatus;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along the lines 9-9 of Fig. 4 in the direction of the Varrows and shows a part of the lock apparatus of the invention;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of a detail of the drive shaft of the printing machine;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. l() in the direction of the arrows and shows apart of the drive shaft which forms an unlocking key;

Fig. l2 is a sectional view of a printing roll and is taken along the line 12-12 of Fig. 3 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary vieu7 of a part of the printing machine as viewed in the direction of arrow S of Fig. 3;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line 14-14 of Fig. 13 in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig.' 15 is a sectional view taken along the line 15--15 of Fig. 13 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings, there is diagrammatically 'shown in Figs. l and 2 the housing 1 of a printing machine. Mounted on this housing 1 is a supply chute 2 adapted to contain a plurality of blanks 3 upon which various data is to be printed, these blanks 3 being urged toward the bottom of the chute 2 by the weight 4. The chute 2 is formed adjacent its lower end with a pair of opposite slits 5, 6 so that the lowest blank 3 may be moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, by an elongated pusher member 6 which enters through slit 5 and forces the lowest blank 3 out through opening 6. The printing apparatus of the present invention is designated by numeral 7 in Fig. l and is inserted into the machine through an opening in the front wall of housing 1, this front wall not being shown in Fig. 1.

As will be more fully described below, the printing apparatus 7 comprises an outer casing which, when the apparatus 7 is inserted into the machine, engages a lever 8. The printing apparatus 7 is provided with a handle 9 so that the casing of the printing apparatus may be turned after it is set into the machine, this turning of the casing causing a turning of the lever 8 in a downward direction against the action of spring 10.

This downward movement of lever S causes the pawl member 12 to turn in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, yto the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 This movement of pawl 12 is derived from the bar 13 which is pivotally connected at one end to the lever 8 and at an opposite end to the bell crank lever 14 which is pivotally connected to the bar 15, this bar 15 being connected to the pawl 12 as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The pawl 12 consists of an upper, rearwardly bent portion 16 which engages an extension 17 of lever 19 which is mounted for pivotal movement on the pin 1S, so that when the portion 16 of pawl 12 engages extension 17, as shown in solid lines in Fig. 1, the lever 19 is maintained in the illustrated solid line position against the action of spring 20. Thus, when handle 9 is turned to cause a clockwise turning of pawl 12, as described above, the lever 19 is released to the action of spring 20 which turns this lever in a clockwise direction, about pivot 18 as viewed in Fig. 1, to the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 1.

The pusher member 6' is mounted for reciprocating movement in a bearing 2l and comprises a pair of downwardly extending projections between which the upper end of lever l@ is located. ri`hus, the movement Vof lever 19 under-the action of spring Ztl causes the pusher 6 to move through slit and thereby move the lowest blank 3 out through slit o toward the rollers 22 and 23.

The roller 22 serves to printsuch matter as a date, ytor example, on the blank, and the roller 23 serves as a counter pressure roller to maintain the blank against the roller 22, these rollers 22 and '.23 being diagrammaticaily illustrated in Fig. l slightly apart from each other so as to clearly show other features of vthe printing machine. The roller 23 is formed on its outer periphery with an annular groove in which a ring is located, this ring-2d being rotatable in this groove with respect to the roller 23. The ring 24 is interconnected with the roller by a spring 25 which urges the ring 2d to a predetermined position of rest on the ring 23. The ring 24 is provided with a pair of projections 26 and 27 which are respectively located in dier'ent planes, the projection Z6 being located in the path of movement of the lowermost blank 3 which is moved out of the chute 2 and the projection 27 being located in the plane of the bell crank lever 29.

The lowermost blank card 3 is moved by pusher 6 between the rollers Z2 and 23, and the card 3 thereby engages the projection 26 to turn ring Ziagainst the action of spring 25 and with respect to the roller Z3. rlhis movement of ring 24 causes the projection 27 to move unward- 1y, as viewed in Fig. l, out of engagement with the bell crank lever 29 which is pivotally mounted at 2S, so that this bell crank lever is released to the action of spring 30 connected thereto. electrical contact 31 mounted thereon, and, when lever 29 is turned by spring 3?, thisV electrical contact 3l moves into engagement with the stationary electrical Contact 32 to complete an electrical circuit to the motor 34. The contacts 3l and 32 are located in line 33 of the electrical circuit, this line 33 being joined to the electrical motor at 35. The electrical circuit also includes the line 36 which is joined to the electric motorSM-l at 37. rl`he leads 33 and 36 respectively extend to the electrically conductive The bell crank lever 29 has an

Y projections

38 and 39 which are adapted to cooperate with Y an electric plug interconnected with any suitable source of current, this plug not being shown in the drawings and being adapted to be located in the recess of housing lV where

extensions

38 and 39 are located.I A

Upon closing of contacts of 3l and 32 in the manner described above, the motor 34 commences to rotate and, as shown in Fig. 2, its shaft lil drives, through the medium of wheel dil', an intermediate wheel di which cooperates with the two rollers 23 and 42. These latter rollers drive, through the medium of intermediate gears, the roller 22- and the printing roller of apparatus 7, these latter rollers having the same peripheralgspeed as the rollers 23 and 4t2. Only one of these intermediate gears 86 is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

The direction of rotation or" the above described members is shown by the arrows of Fig. 1. forms a counter pressure roller for the printing apparatus 7. The blank 3, which has moved between the rollers The roller 22. and 23 under the action of pusher d', is now moved,

by the motor and drive therefrom, to the right, in the direction of the dotted line i3 of Fig.V 1. After this blank passes between the rollers 22 and 2.3 and has a date, or the like, printed thereon, this blank moves between the printing apparatus 7 and roller -i2. Upon passing through printing apparatus 7 and roller d2, the blank has additional subject matter printed thereon, such as railroad ticket information, for example. After passing through the printing apparatus '7 and roller d2, the printed card 3 is received in a collecting chamber ed which is open on the front side of the housing l and comprises a lower collecting dish 45. The elements 3f, til-tand le? are killustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The entire printing process for a single blank takes place during one revolution of the rollers 22 and 23 as well as the printing apparatus 7 and roller d2. At the termination of this one revolution, theV projection 27 of ring Ent, which, as soon as the card 3 has left the rollers and 23, is returned by spring 25 to its original position, has turned the bell crank lever 2% against the action of spring 3i? so as to move contact 3l away from Contact 32 to open the circuit to motor 34 and stop operation of the latter. At this

time elements

22, 23 and 7, 42 are 'n in their original starting position.

During ti e early part of the rotation of the-motor, the pusher member i Vis moved back to its/orignal position. This is brought about by a cam do mounted on the motor shaft to be rotated thereby. This cam cooperatcs with a follower roller :i7 mounted on a lever 43 which is pivoted at 28. This lever is interconnected with the lever through the medium of bar 4'? so that when the cam turns it moves the lever'll from the dotted line toward the solid line position shown in Fig. 1, so as to thereby move pusher 6' back to its original Vposi'- tion. The cam 46 is so shaped that it moves the lever i9 in a countercloclrwise direction, as viewed `in Fig. 1, through a sutiicient distance for the portion i6 of pawl l2 to move beneath the projection i7 under the action of spring lil.

The above described machine is only representative of one possible embodiment of a construction adapted to be used with the print'mg apparatus of the invention now to be described. This latter printing apparatus may also be used with other types of printing machines.

VThe printing apparatus of the present invention Ais illustrated inFig. 3. rl`his apparatus comprises an outer casing 5l in which a printing roller El? is located. Fixedly connected to the `outer casing 5l at the right-hand part thereof, as viewed in Fig. 3, in a hollow handle 9.- The Vleft-hand end wall of casing 5l is formed with a bore 1tl3,'shown in Fig. 3, and a bore Titia shown in Fig. l5. These bores le? and 194i of the casing Si are adapted to respectively receive pins w3 and loft extending from a portion-of the lever S (Fig. 13). ln Fig. 13 lthere is shown the left endwall of the casing 5l, as viewed in Fig. 3, and an end of the printing roller J3, this end being adapte to be driven by a free end of a drive shaft which is rotated by gear 36 V(Fig. 3). As is shown in Fig. 13, the lever l is partly in the form of a ring member which is mounted for rotation in the machine by a bearing which is not illustrated. The spring l@ urges the lever 8 against the stop 3.92, and the pins M93 and ,104 extend from the ring portion of lever il. in order to properly vguide the casing 5l when it is inserted into the machine, this casing is provided with a projection 65 which engages a groove 2id-'3, formed in a part of the machine,- so that the recesses Z103' and lila will be properly aligned with the pins 03 and lill-fi to receive the same. The groove lilo is formed at its innermost end with a widened portion lil? (Fig. 14) so that when the casing 5l is in operating position on the machine, the handle 9 may turn the casing, and projection M5 in portion itl-7 of groove lilo, to turn lever S against the action of spring lil to start the operation of the machine, as described above.

The printing roller 59 of the present invention (Fig. 3) is rotatably mounted in the casing 51 by means of the bearing 53 mounted on the inner surface of. casing Si.

- The curved printing stock 54 is lixedly mounted on the printing roller Sti by means of screws 55, one of which is shown in Fig. 3 and another of which is shown in Fig. 12. The printing stock 5d is made up of a base portion 54 upon which the printing portion 54 is located, these two portions being joined to each other by soldering, for example. The printing roller Si? is formed to the left of screw 55, as viewed in Fig. 3, with an opening 56 over which an end of portions 5d and 34% are located, as shown in Fig. 3. Upon rotation of printing roller Sil, the printing stock moves in the opening 57 of the casing 51 D so as to print a card, the roller 42, diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. l, extending into this opening 57 to press a' blank against the printing stock 54. The printing roller 50 and casing 51 may be manufactured from a light metal and may be formed by a die casting'. No bearing means is required in the opening 52 of the left end wall of casing 51, as viewed in Fig. 3, because the end portion of v printing roller 50 extending through Opening 52 is supported, by' drive shaft 59, with clearance in the opening 52, this drive shaft 59 being shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

Mounted on' the right hand open end of casing 51, as viewed lin Fig. 3, is the handle 9 which is' joined to the casing S1 by screws or the like. This handle 9 is hollow, and a counting mechanism is located therein to indicate how many cards or tickets are printed with the apparatus. Parts of this mechanism, which is not per se a part of the present invention, are illustrated in Fig. 3. A pin 60 is provided with a collar located against the printing roller 50 and has the thickest portion 63 thereof extending into a bore 64 formed in the printing roller 50. The screw 55, shown in Fig. 3, extends into this bore 64 to fixedly mount the pin 60 on the printing roller 50.

Between the handle 9 and casing 51 there is ixedly mounted a ring plate 67 which serves to support a framework formed with a front opening 70. The counting mechanism is located on the shaft 65, which is supported by side plates of the framework, and is located behind the gear 61, as viewed in Fig. 3, this counting mechanism being connected to gear 61 by means of pins 71 extending into the gear so as to be operated thereby. Upon rotation of the printing roller 50, during the operation of the printing machine, the pin 60 describes a circle in a central cutout' of plate 67 and, during' each revolution, contacts one Iof the teeth of gear 61 to move the latter through a distance equal to one tooth. In this manner the number of printed cards is registered on the counting mechanism.

The front face of the handle 9 is provided with a transparent sheet over opening 70 so that the counting mechanism is visible through the front face of handle 9, as shown in Fig. 3.

When the printing apparatus of Fig. 3 is located outside of lthe printing machine, the rotation of printing roller 50 with respect to casing 51 is prevented by a locking means. This locking means comprises the locking

members

76, 77 and 78 which are illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the drawings. As is shown in Figs. 4 and 9, the printing roller 50 carries a plurality of springs 79 which respectively bear against shoulders of the lock members 7 6-78 to urge the left-hand ends thereof, as viewed in Fig. 4., toward the left hand inner surface portion of casing 51, as viewed in Fig. 4. A thin partition 109 (Fig. 9) is provided to keep the springs 79 apart from each other. The two

locking members

76 and 77 have a combined width which is equal to the width of the locking member 78, these locking

members

76 and 77 being located in side by side relation and against the locking member 78 as seen in Fig. 4, the locking

members

76 and 77 lie behind the locking member 78.

The three lock members are illustrated in Figs. and 6. They consist of essentially rectangular sheets formed with specially shaped projections and cutouts as clearly seen in Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 7 shows the lock members, in perspective view, in cooperative relationship.

Members

76 and 77 are placed alongside one another in a common plane superposed in Contact with the third lock member 78, the outer configurations of

members

76 and 77 together being the Same as the outer configuration of member 78. These cooperating lock members are placed in a slit 75 in the roller 50, the slit having parallel side Walls and being adapted to receive the lock members at right angles to the roller (see Fig. 3). Fig. 4 is a section through the roller across the slit 75 as viewed in the direction of arrows 4, and shows the locking members in the slit in locking position. The width of the slit is the same as the width of locking member 78, so that the cooperating locking members just tit, in the direction of their greater length, into the slit. The roller is formed, adjacent the slit with cutouts so as to present shoulders b on either side of the' slit, these shoulders being adapted to be located opposite projections a on the locking members, so that whenthe locking members are located within the slit, springs 79 can be placed between shoulders b and projections a (as seen in Fig. 4, and in enlarged view in Fig. 8) to urge the locking members into locking position.

The above-mentioned left-hand ends of the locking members 76-78 are in the form of tongues 80 which are located between projections 81 and 81' on the inner surface of casing 51 when the locking members are in their locking position, so that rotation of printing roller 50 with respect to casing 51 is prevented by engagement of tongues with

projections

81, 81. Each of the locking members 76-78 is formed in a central part thereof with a cut away portion, one possible configuration of these cut away portions being illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the locking members beingy viewed in a direction opposite to that shown in Fig. 4. The locking member 78 is formed with the cut away portion 82', and the locking

members

76 and 77 are formed with the cut away portions 82".

When the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 is set into the printing machine, the free end 59' of drive shaft 59 extends through the axial bore at the left end of printing roller 50, as viewed in Fig. 3, and through the cut outs 82' and S2". This free end 59 of drive shaft 59 is provided with a grooved curved surface 108 (Fig. l0) so that this free end 59 is in the shape of a key adapted to cooperate with the cut away portions 82' and 82" to move the locking members 76-78 to an open position where the printing roller 50 is free to rotate with respect to the casing 51. The key-shaped end 59' of shaft 59 is formed to simultaneously move all of the locking members against the action of springs 79. The tapered free end of 59' of shaft 59 is illustrated in Figs. l() and 1l. The shaft 59 is mounted for rotation about a fixed axis in the printing machine so that when the casing 51 is set into the machine, as is partially illustrated in Fig. 13, the key-shaped end 59 of shaft 59 will move the locking members 76-78 to a central unlocking position. The end 59 of shaft 59, adapted to cooperate with the cutouts 82' and 82 of the locking members, is tapered as shown in Fig. l0 and is formed with two parallel axially extending grooves 110. The cross sectional view in Fig. ll indicates that the end of shaft 59 is so tapered, that ridges 111, 112 and 113 (between the grooves project radially different distances from the axis of the shaft 59. The

cutouts

82 and 82 are so shaped as to mate exactly with the projections and grooves in the end 59 of shaft 59. Thus shoulders Illa, 11251 and 113a of the locking members (see Figs. 5 and 6) engage with the ridges 111 to 113 of shaft end 59 and because of the tapered shape of end 59', when the roller 5t) is engaged with shaft 59, the introduction of end 59 into the locking members forces the latter, against the action of springs 79, to a central unlocking position where tongues 80 are out of engagement with projections S1 and 81. The end portion of roller 50 which extends through opening 52 of casing 51 is formed with a plurality of slots 85, as shown in Figs. 3 and 13, and

key members

83 and 84, fixedly mounted on shaft 59 (Fig. l0), extend into these slots 85 so as to transmit rotation of shaft 59 to the printing roller Si). As is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the shaft 59 has fixedly mounted thereon a driving wheel 86 which is joined to the Motor 34 in the manner described above (Fig. 2).

In order to provide structure, in addition to that described above, for preventing unauthorized use of the printing apparatus 7 when the latter is located out of the machine, even though the locking cooperation of tongues 80 with

projections

81 and 81 should be interrupted, the locking members are provided with further tongues 89 located opposite to tongues 80 (Figs. 5 and 6), and these tongues 89 will be located between projections 90 and 90'-, located on the inner surface of casing 51 opposite to projections 81 and 8l (Fig. 4), if, during unauthorized tampering with locking members '7o-73, the latter are moved beyond their central open position. ln this Way the rotation of printing roller 59 withrespect to casing 51 will also be prevented. In the event that unauthorized tampering with the locking means results in partial rotation of the printing roller 55B with respect to asing 51, additional projections 92 are provided on the inner surface of casing 5l (Fig. 4) to engage tongues di? or S9 so that any rotation of printing roller 5G with respect to casing 51 is impossible unless the locking members are all located in their central open position, which requires a key or" the configuration of end 59 of shaft 59 in the particular example illustrated in the drawings. The cu away portions or" Vthe locking members and end 5% of shaft 59 obviously may have any desired conguration.

As is apparent from Figs. 3, 4- and l0, when the printing roller Sil is locked in the casing 51, the printing stock 54, which does the actual printing, is angularly displaced from the window 57.

lnFig. 3 there are also illustrated the segments 93 which cooperate with the price calculating mechanism of the printing machine. These segments 9b, which extend only partially about the printing roller 5u so that only the lower ends thereof are shown in section in Fig. 3, are respectively located in annular grooves 99 of the roller 5i) and are held in position by the pin 100. The segments 93 act through the opening lili of casing El to cooperate with the price calculating mechanism, the latter forming no part of the present invention.

it will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also dnd a useful application in other types of printing apparatus differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a printing apparatus particularly suitable for printing railroad tickets andthe like, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modiiications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. Printing apparatus, comprising in combination, a casing yhaving an inner surface and having a side wall portion formed with an opening passing therethrough; a printing roller mounted in said casing opposite saidtopening for rotation with respect thereto, said printing roller carrying a printing stock which extends only part way about the axis of said ro'ler; releasable locking means kmounted on said roller and casing to prevent rotation of the former with respect to the latter and to lock said roller in said casingin a position where said printing stock is angularly displaced from said opening, said locking means comprising at least one pair of projections mounted on said inner surface of said casing, at least one locking member mounted on said roller for movementtoward and away from said inner surface of said casing, and spring means operatively connected to said loosing member for urging the same toward said inner surface of said casing so that an end or" said locking member is located between said pair of projections to prevent rotation of said roller with respect to said casing; and release means located in die apparatus for engaging said locking member and moving the latter against the action of said spring means said inner surface of said casing and said projections to release said roller for rotation in said casing by said opening thereof, whereby an article in said opening may enf-*age said roller to be printed thereby.

2. Printing apparatus, comprising in combination, a casing having an inner surface and having a side wall portion formed with an opening passing therethrough; a printing roller mounted in said casing opposite said openlin said casing in a positionwheresaid printing stock is angularly displaced from said opening except when said locking means is released, said locking means comprising at least one pair of projections'mounted on said inner surface of said casing, at least one locking member mounted on said roller for movement `toward and away from said inner surface of said casing, and spring means operatively connected to said locking member fory urging the same toward said inner surface of said casing so that an end of said locking member is locatedy between said pair of projections to prevent rotation of said roller with respect to said casing, said locking member being formed with a cut away portion adapted to be engaged by a key to move said locking member away from said projections, against the action of said spring means, to permit rotation of said roller with respect to said casing whereby an article in said opening of said casing may engage the rotating roller to be ,tinted thereby. l

3. Printing apparatus, comprising in combination, a casing having an inner surface; a printing roller mounted in said casing for rotation with respect thereto, said printing roller carrying a printing stock which extends only part way about the axis of said roller; locking means mounted on said roller and casing to prevent rotation of the former with respect to the latter and to lock said roller in said casing in a position where` said printing stock is angularly displaced from said opening, said locking means comprising a first pair of projections mounted on said inner surface of saidcasing, at least one locking member mounted on said roller for movement toward and away from said inner surface of said casing, and spring means operatively connected to said locking member for urging the same toward said inner surface of said casing so that an end of said locking member is located between said tirst pair of projections to provent rotation of said roller with respect to said casing, and a second pair of projections :ilounted on said inner surface of said casing opposite to said first pair of projections so that, when said locking member is moved beyond a predetermined distance away from said first projections, an opposite end of said locking member will be located between said second pair of projections to prevent rotation of said roller with respect to said Vcasing;` and release means located in the apparatus for engaging said locking member and moving the latter against the action of said spring means away from said inner surface of said casing through said predetermined distance away from said rst projections to release said roller for rotation in said casing.

4. Printing apparatus, comprising in combination a casing having an inner surface; a printing roller mounted in said casing for rotation with respect thereto, said printing roller-carrying a printing stock which extends only part way about the axis of said roller; locking means mounted on said roller and casing to prevent rotation ofthe former with respect to the latter and to lock said roller in said casing in a position where said printing stock is angularly displaced from said opening, said locking means comprising a first pair of projections mounted on said inner surface of said casing, at least one locking member mounted on said roller for movement toward and away from said inner surface of said casing, and spring means operatively Vconnected to said looting member for urging the same toward said inner surface of said casing so that an end of said locking member is Vlocated between said first pair of projections to prevent rotation of said roller with respect to said casing, and a second pair of projections mounted on said inner surface of said casing opposite to said first pair of projections so that, when said locking member is moved beyond a predetermined distance away from said first projections, an opposite end of said locking member will be located between said second pair of projections to prevent rotation of said roller with respect to said casing, and a plurality of additional projections located on the inner surface of said casing to further prevent rotation of said roller with respect to said casing when said locking member is moved beyond said predetermined distance against the action of said spring means; and release means located in the apparatus for engaging said locking member and moving the latter against the action of said spring means away from said inner surface of said casing through said predetermined distance away from said first projections to release said roller for rotation in said casing.

5. Printing apparatus, comprising in combination, a printing machine having a rotatable shaft formed with a free, key-shaped end; a casing having a side wall portion formed with an opening passing therethrough; a printing roller mounted in said casing opposite said opening thereof for rotation with respect thereto, said printing roller carrying a printing stock which extends only part way about the axis of said roller; support means located on said machine adjacent to said end of said shaft to receive and support said casing; and releasable locking means mounted on said roller and casing to prevent rotation of the former with respect to the latter and to lock said roller in said casing in a position where said printing stock is angularly displaced from said opening when said casing and roller are out of said machine, said locking means mating with said free end of said shaft to be released thereby when said casing and roller are mounted on the machine so as to then permit rotation of said roller with respect to said casing, whereby an article located in said opening thereof may be engaged by said roller to be printed thereby.

6. Printing apparatus, comprising in combination, a printing machine having a rotatable drive shaft formed with a free, key-shaped end; a casing having a side wall portion formed with an opening passing therethrough; a printing roller mounted in said casing opposite said opening thereof for rotation with respect thereto, said printing roller carrying a printing stock which extends only part way about the axis of said roller; support means located on said machine adjacent to said end of said drive shaft to receive and support said casing; releasable locking means mounted on said roller and casing to prevent rotation of the former with respect to the latter and to lock said roller in said casing in a position where said printing stock is angularly displaced from said opening when said casing and roller are out of said machine, said locking means mating with said free end of said drive shaft to be released thereby when said casing and roller are mounted on the machine so as to then permit rotation of said roller with respect t0 said casing; and key means mounted on said drive shaft and engaging said printing roller, when said locking means is released, to transmit rotation of said drive shaft to said roller, whereby an article located in said 10 opening of said casing may be engaged by said roller to be printed thereby.

7. Printing apparatus adapted to be removably mounted in a printing machine, comprising in combination, a substantially cylindrical casing having an open end; a printing roller mounted in said casing for rotation with respect thereto and having an end portion extending at least partially through said open end of said casing, said printing roller being formed with an axial bore extending through said end portion thereof; a key in said machine; a plurality of locking members mounted in said roller for movement toward and away from said casing and extending across said axial bore of said roller, said locking members being formed with cooperating cut away portions adapted to receive said key through said axial bore for moving said locking members to a central open position; and spring means mounted on said roller and being operatively connected to said locking members for urging the same to a locking position where an end of said locking members is in engagement with said casing.

8. Printing apparatus adapted to be removably mounted in a printing machine, comprising in combination, a substantially cylindrical casing having an open end; a printing roller mounted in said casing for rotation with respect thereto and having an end portion extending at least partially through said open end of said casing, said printing roller being formed with an axial bore extending through said end portion thereof; a key in said machine; three locking members mounted in said roller for movement toward and away from said casing and extending across said axial bore of said roller, two of said locking members having a total width approximately equal to the width of the third locking member and being located in side by side relation against the latter and said locking members being formed with cooperating cut away portions adapted to receive said key through said axial bore for moving said locking members to a central open position; and spring means mounted on said roller and being operatively connected to said locking members for urging the same to a locking position where an end of said locking members is in engagement with said casing.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,171,490 Wood Feb. 15, 1916 1,563,487 Herb Dec. l, 1925 1,715,451 Eller June 4, 1929 1,962,729 Andrews June 12, 1934 2,132,403 Davis Oct. 11, 1938 2,168,457 Strother Aug. 8, 1939 2,204,577 Davis June 18, 1940 2,283,130 Sadler May 12, 1942 2,568,624 Hanson Sept. 18, 1951 2,587,766 Rouan Mar. 4, 1952 2,599,278 Osgood June 3, 1952 2,599,279 Osgood June 3, 1952