US2807207A - Index printing machine - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 24, 1957 H. A. MccLosKY 2,807,207

" INDEX PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY p 195-7 H. A. M cLosKY 2,807,207

INDEX PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27, les 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR Ham/20 4. mama/m ATTORNEY Sept 24, 1957 H. A. MccLosKY 2,807,207

' INDEX PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jam,- 27, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR. Q fiamAo/a ,wazcv/rr ATTORNEY Sept. 24, 1957 H. A. MccLOsKY 2,807,207

I INDEX PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. HOW/R0 A M'cwJ/rr ATTORNEY United States Patent INDEX PRINTING MACHINE Howard A. McClosky, Silver Spring, Md.

Application January 27, 1956, Serial No. 561,957

6 Claims. (Cl. 101-41) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), see. 266) sional Directory or the like, for the purpose of readilylocating the various topics or classes of subject matter therein.

Formerly, the printing of cut-out indexes has been done manually, since the step-up surfaces to be printed do not provide a flat surface which can be accommodated by conventional printing presses. Also, because of the varying number of pages under each alphabetical letter or the various topics, the step-up not being uniform, even the manual process was inherently time consuming an expensive.

It is therefore one of the objects of this invention to eliminate one or more of the disadvantages of presently known index printing.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine for rapidly printing cut-out indexes, regardless of the number of pages to each letter or topic;

Still another object of this invention is to provide a machine for printing cut-out indexes as though said indexes were a flat surface;' i

A further object of this invention is to provide a cut-out index printing mechanism which may readily .be attached to a conventionalprinting press, preferably of the upright four column type.

The foregoing and related objects hereinafter apparent are accomplished by this invention, wherein the means for printing the cut-out indexes comprises a separate type member for each index to be printed, and a drive means for each type member, arranged so that the individual type members are brought into firm and uniform contact with the indexes regardless-0f the number of pages to each index.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a standard upright printing press to which the mechanism embodying the present invention has been attached.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the press shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detailed front elevational view of the mechanism embodying the invention.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of Fig. 3, having the mid portion and certain elements eliminated for clarity; the right hand portion being a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows:

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of Fig. 3, taken along the line 5--5 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the 2,897,207 Patented Sept. 24, 1957 arrows, certain elements having been eliminated for clarity.

Fig. 6 is a front view and a side view of the pusher and plunger, respectively.

The printing machine to which the mechanism embodying the present invention has been applied for illustration purposes only, is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which comprises a base 1 to which is attached four upright columns 2. A stationary head 4 is fixed to the tops of the four columns, and carries the bed 8'to which type or printing plates are attached in the normal use of the machine. A reciprocating table 3 which carries the work supporting platen 7 may be operated by the conventional drive mechanism in the well known manner.

The invention to be described more fully hereinafter, is shown as an attachment 6, which is rigidly fixed to the stationary bed 8.

A detailed showing of the invention is found in Figs. 3, 4and 5, wherein a frame member 13, having projecting portions 16 is adapted to be bolted to the stationary head of the printing press. The projections 16 are slotted, as shown in the cross-sectional detail on the right hand portion of Fig. 3, to form the slot 26. A drive plate 14, having itsends machined to a sliding fit in slot 26, is biased against the cap 17 by means of the spring 25 said spring being set in a tapped hole 27 at the bottom of slot 26.

A base plate 18 is also bolted or otherwise fastened to the frame member 13. A plurality of spacers 20 are placed over'the plate 18, and clamped thereon by set screws 21. A cover plate19 is fastened to the base plate 18, thereby forming an elongated space between the spacers. The plungers 23 to which the type may be attached are fitted in the spaces between the spacers, and are held-in a retracted position by means of the springs 24 which are fastened between the post 35 on the plunger 23 and post 36.0n the cover plate 19.

A plate 15is bolted to the drive plate 14.- A plurality.

of graduatedpushers 22 are mounted on the drive assembly. The slots 34 are provided in plates 14 and 15 to.

allow for horizontal'adjustment of the pushers, so that with the proper choicefof the plate dimensions-the pushers will be directly above the plungers. 'The slots 37 provide forverticaladjustment of the pushers.

The drive me'chanismis shown in Fig. 3 and comprises the elements shown at the extreme right hand portion of the drawing. This is duplicated on the left side also. In the drive mechanism, a cam 11 is pivoted intermediate the ends and is driven by the rod 28 which is attached to the reciprocating table 3 through the adjustable sleeve 30 and rod 31 and the bracket 10. The adjustable sleeve 30 is shown as having a threaded recess in the lower end for receiving the end'of rod 31. The upper end of sleeve 30 is tapped at 32 to receive the end of the rod 28. A spring 38 may be inserted beneath the rod 28 to maintain the 28 firmly against cam 11 and to provide a resilient coupling. This coupling provides smooth operation of the cam 11 and prevents excessive wear of the contacting surfaces. The upper end of the rod 28 passes through bracket 29 and is slotted as at 33 in Fig. 2, to receive the end of cam 11. The slot preferably has a small bronze wheel (not shown) mounted therein to provide a minimum of abrasive wear between the slot and cam. Roller 12 is mounted in the other end of the cam 11 to provide a rolling contact with the upper surface of drive plate 14.

When the invention is attached to a standard printing press as illustrated, a separate work support 9, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is provided.

In operation, the operator opens a book, exposing the pre-cut step-up index. The book is placed on the work support 9, with the index directly beneath the type carrying plungers. Then with the press in the closed printing position the plungers 23 and pushers 22 are spaced and adjusted for the particular length of index and number of pages for each index. When the press moves to the open position, the springs 24 return the type carrying plungers 23 back to the normal position. As the printing cycle continues, the ink roller 5 is carried forward and applies ink to the type.

Then, as the table closes, the rod 28 raises the outer end of cam 11, and in the printing position, cam 11 pushes the driver plate down into the slot 26 against the spring 25. The pushers 22 drive the type plungers 23 into contact with the cut-out indexes of the book and print the indicia as desired.

t is therefore apparent that, with the disclosed invention, printing of cut-out indexes may be carried out rapidly and economically. The invention provides a uniform pressure for each index to be printed, and therefore the printing will not be heavy for the index at one end of the book and light at the other end also when used as an attachment for a standard press, as illustrated, it eliminates the need for a separate machine for index printing.

While the invention has been illustrated as an attachment for a standard press, it is readily apparent that the scope of the invention is not so limited. Since many apparently difiering embodiments of this invention Will occur to one skilled in the art, it is obvious that various changes can be made in the specific details shown and described without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A cut-out index printing means comprising a stationary frame member having a pair of spaced slots therein, a drive plate member having end portions slidably fitted in said slots and having resilient means biasing said drive plate member in one end of said slot, a plurality of variable length pusher means adjustably mounted on said drive plate member, a base plate member mounted on said frame member and spaced thereon from said drive plate member, a plurality of type carrying plungers spaced on said base plate member in accordance with the length of the index desired, said plungers slidably engaging said base member, cover plate means attached to said base plate member for holding said plungers in sliding relation therewith, means for depressing said drive plate member in said slot so as to drive said pusher means into engagement with said plungers.

2. A cut-out index printing means as in claim 1, in

mgr which said plungers are resiliently biased in a retracted position.

3. A cut-out index printing means as defined by claim 2, in which said resilient means comprises a spring connected between said cover plate and a projection on said plunger.

4. A machine for cut-out index printing of books comprising a stationary means, a plurality of spaced type members slidably mounted on said stationary means, resilient means restraining each of said type members in a first position, a moving work support means adapted to move into printing position and return, drive means actuated by said support means for moving said type mem bers to a second position which is different for each of said type members, said drive means comprising a plurality of pushers graduated in length and attached to a common drive plate, said plate being cam operated by said work support means. I

5. In combination with an upright printer having a stationary head and a reciprocating work supporting platen, a cut-out step-up index printing means comprising a plurality of type carrying means slidingly attached to said head, drive means for each of said type carrying means and having a length predetermined by each stepup index to be printed, means connected to said work supporting means for actuating said drive means, whereby said type carrying means are driven into contact with said -work in varying amounts in accordance with said predetermined length.

6. A mechanism for printing upon an uneven surface, having fiat segments thereof at difierent levels from adjacent segments, which comprises, a plurality of type members, one for each flat segment of said surface, resilient means restraining said type members in a first position, a plurality of pusher means, onef or each type member and mounted directly above said member, for pushing said type members into a second position, said pusher means having different lengths determined by said different levels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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