US2854921A

US2854921A - Machine and method for printing duplicating cards from typed metal plates

Info

Publication number: US2854921A
Application number: US468312A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry R Frankle; Perry T Crane
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-11-12
Filing date: 1954-11-12
Publication date: 1958-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 1975-10-07

Description

Oct. 7, 1958 R. FRANKLE ET AL 2,854,921 MACHINE AND METHOD FOR PRINTING DUPLICATING CARDS FROM TYPED METAL PLATES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 Filed Nov. 12, 1954 M V l T M H V 5 3 r x x z o H a y 2 2 q I 9 o l/ [I l fl o r W /3 i fl/ we 3 M v m a j a x x I. M 7 5 w E F I! l l 4 1 I J CHARLES DES MOINES IQ Oct. 7, 1958 H. R. FRANKLE ETAL 2,854,921

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR PRINTING DUPLICATING CARDS FROM TYPED METAL PLATES Filed Nov. 12, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 'IIIIIIIIII/ HMHMIEMHMHMHMM.

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HARRY R FPANKLE PERRY 7f CRANE Oct. 7, 1958 H. R. FRANKLE ETAL 2,854,921

MACHINE AND- METHOD FOR PRINTING DUPLICATING CARDS FROM TYPED METAL PLATES Filed Nov. 12, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 A20 IZZ INVENTORS. HARRY A. FPANKLE PERRY 7.' CPANE ATTORNEK United States Patent MACHINE AND METHOD FOR PRINTING DUPLI- CATING CARDS FROM TYPED METAL PLATES Harry R. Frankle and Perry T. Crane, Des Moines, Iowa Application November 12, 1954, Serial No. 468,312

7 Claims. (Cl. 101-56) This invention relates generally to printing machines and in particular to a machine and'method for printing duplicating cards from typed metal plates.

In many fields, as for example in the selling of magazines and the like, it is a common practice to compile and then maintain a mailing list. The names and addresses on this list are separately carried on typed metal plates, of a well known type, in which the type on the plate is pressed out in a type setting machine that operates in much the same manner as a typewriting machine. These metal typed plates are then used to imprint carbon impressions on cards, which carbon impressions are transferable to certificates, pamplets, mailing cards and the like for mailing purposes. The impressions are such that the printing of mailing material from the cards can be duplicated many times. Further by the use of these duplicating cards printing of the mailing material is appreciably accelerated.

In the typing of the metal plates the metal is sometimes pierced or formed with sharp projections for some of the type print. As a result, in the use of such plates in printing a carbon impression on a duplicating card, the card may be pierced so that carbon is carried to the unprinted side of the card. This is objectionable in the handling of the cards, but more importantly the transfer of the carbon impression to a mailing card or the like is impaired since no transfer of carbon takes place from the defaced or pierced portions of the duplicating card.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improved machine and method for printing duplicating cards from metal typed plates.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine wherein a typed metal plate has the type thereon treated by being rolled or pressed into a common plane, prior to a card printing operation, so as to eliminate any sharp edges or projections in the type.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a machine in which a typed metal plate, prior to use in a card printing operation, is treated simultaneously with the use of a previously treated plate in a printing operation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a machine in which a carbon ribbon and a duplicating cardforming ribbon, arranged in a superposed relation, are intermittently fed transversely across the path of movement of typed metal plates arranged in an end to end relation. The plates are moved intermittently in unison with the carbon and card-forming ribbons so that their movement is arrested simultaneously with theribbons to provide for the ribbons being in a covering relation with a plate located in a printing position. A reciprocating platen unit, movable when the ribbons and plates are in arrested positions, has a pair of platen members one of which presses the ribbons against the plate in a printing position simultaneously with the movement of the other platen member over and in pressing engagement with a plate to be used in a printing operation. The platen unit, at each end of its stroke, is moved out of an operative posi tion relative to the plates concurrently with the move- Ice Q 2,854,921

Fatented Oct. 7, 1958 plate.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a duplicating card printing machine embodying the method and structure of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged foreshortened transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, showing the arrangement of the typed metal plates and carbon and card-forming ribbons relative to the platen unit;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are illustrated similarly to Fig. 3 and show changed positions of the platen unit;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the power system for the machine of this invention;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a typed metal plate used with the machine of this invention; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged transverse sectional views of a typed metal plate before and after, respectively, treating or pressing of the plate by a platen member in the machine of this invention.

With reference to the drawings there is illustrated in Fig. l a duplicating card printing machine including a frame structure, designated generally at 10, having what might be termed a longitudinally extended table member 11. The typed metal plates 12, from which the duplicating cards are printed, are arranged in a vertically stacked relation in a holder 13 mounted at one end 14 of the table 11. The plates 12 are removed in succession from the lower end of the holder 13 by what might be termed a feed conveyor a portion of which is indicated at 19, supported on the table 11. The plates are moved on the conveyor longitudinally of the table 11, in an end to end relation, from the table end 14 towards the table end 16, namely, from right to left of the table 11 as viewed in Fig. 1. At the table end 16 the plates 12 are removed from the conveyor 19 by a take off mechanism, indicated generally at 17, and dropped into a receiving holder 18.

A reciprocating platen unit 21, extended longitudinally of the path of the movement of the plates 12, is supported in a vertically spaced relation above the plates, from a base member 22 carried on standards or legs 23,

secured to opposite sides of the table 11, and two of ,Which are illustrated in Fig. 1.

As will be later described the platen unit 21 is moved into and out of an operative position relative to the plates 12 and in a timed or synchronous relation with the feed of the plates, so that a plate 12 is at rest or stationary in a printing position, when the platen unit is reciprocated in an operating position, and with movement of the plates 12 longitudinally of the table 11 taking place at the end of each platen reciprocation, when the platen is out of an operating position.

A spool or roll 24 of a carbon ribbon 26 is rotatably mounted as at 27 on the machine frame 10 above and to one side of the table 11. The ribbon 26 travels against an idler roller 28 and then between a pair of

rollers

29 and 31 for travel transversely of the platen unit 21 From such plate 12, the carbon ribbon 26 travels about a feed roller 25 to a rewind spool 32 of a frictional slip type.

A roll or spool 33 of a duplicating cardforming ribbon 34 is rotatably mounted on the machine frame 10 at 36 at a position below the carbon roll 24. The cardforming ribbon 34 travels about an idler roller 37 and then between the rollers 29 and '31, in a superposed relation with the carbon ribbon 26, for travel with the carbon ribbon 26 between the platen 21 and a plate 12 in a printing position. It is seen, therefore, that the carbon ribbon '26 is opposite the platen unit 21, and the card-forming ribbon 34 opposite a plate 12, in a printing position, as the

ribbons

26 and 34 travel between the ,platen unit 21 and a plate 12 in a printing position.

'Oncompletion of a printing operation the carbon ribbon 26 is separated from the card-forming ribbon 34, with the carbon ribbon 26 going to the rewind spool 32 and the separated card-forming ribbon traveling through a cutting device, designated generally at 38, where it is cut into duplicating cards of a size such that each card carries the complete impression thereon from a metal typed plate 12. The cut cards drop into a conveyor 39 for discharge from the machine.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 the platen unit, 21 is illustrated as being comprised of a pair of longitudinally extended

upright side members

41 and 42 arranged in a transversely spaced relation. Adjacent one end 43, of the platen unit 21, and rotatably supported between the

side members

41 and 42 on

shafts

44 and 46 .are a pair of vertically spaced

rollers

47 and 48, respectively. The lower roller 47 constitutes a platen member and the upper roller 48 a cam follower. Similarly supported adjacent the opposite end 49 of the platen unit 21 are a pair of vertically spaced

rollers

51 and 52 which are rotatably supported on

shafts

53 and 54, respectively, with the lower roller 51 constituting a platen member and the upper roller 52 functioning as a cam follower. The rollers or

platen members

47 and 51 are spaced a distance apart equal substantially to twice the length of a typed metal plate 12. Associated with each pair of

rollers

47, 48 and 51, 52 are pairs of oppositely arranged

cams

56 and 57, respectively. The pairs of

cams

56 and 57 project laterally from

corresponding side members

41 and 42, as is best illustrated for the pair of cams 56 in Fig. 2.

The

cams

56 and 57, are operatively associated with cam followers 58, 58A and 58B of a roller type, which are carried in pairs in transversely opposite positions from bearing plates 59 projected downwardly from opposite sides of the base plate 22. The pair of cam followers 58A are located between the pairs of cam followers 58 and 58B, and as best appears in Figs. 4 and the cam followers 58, 58A and 58B, are spaced a distance apart corresponding to the longitudinal spacing of the

earns

56 and 57 on the platen unit 21.

The upper rollers or

cam followers

48 and 52 on the platen unit 21 are operatively associated with a cam member 61 extended longitudinally of and supported from the bottom side of the base plate 22 at a position to project downwardly between the spaced

side members

41 and 42. This elongated cam member 61 is formed on its lower side with inclined

low portions

62, 63 and 64, spaced a distance apart equal substantially to the longitudinal spacing of the cam followers 56 on the platen unit 21 and to the spacing of the rollers 58, 58A and 58B on the base plate 22.

In the operation of the platen unit .21, assume such unit to be at one end of its reciprocal stroke and out of an operating position relative to the typed metal plates 12, as illustrated in Fig. 4. A plate 12 in a printing position is indicated as 12A, a plate just removed from a printing position as 12B and with plates to be successively moved into a printing position being indicated at 12C and 12D, respectively, it being understood that the typed metal plates are moved from right to left as viewed in Fig. 4. Relative to plate 12A the carbon ribbon 26 and the card-forming ribbon 34 are extended transversely thereof, with the card-forming ribbon 34 against the face of the typed metal plate 12A.

In this position the platen unit 21 is supported away from the plates 12 by the engagement of the cam followers 58A and 58B on the base plate 22, with the 1

cams

56 and 57, respectively, on the platen unit 21.

This support of the platen unit 21 is permitted by virtue of the following

rollers

48 and 52 being opposite the recessed

low portions

63 and 64, respectively, of the elongated cam 61.

On movement of the platen unit 21 from its position shown in Fig. 4 to its position shown in Fig. 3, the earns 56 and 57 are moved out of engagement with the cam followers 58A and 58B, respectively, concurrently with the movement of the

rollers

48 and 52 out of the

low portions

63 and 64, respectively, of the elongated cam member 61, and into engagement with the high cam surfaces 67 and 68 of the elongated cam member 61. The cam surface 67 is located between the

low cam portions

63 and 64, and the cam surface 68 is located between the

low cam portions

62 and 63.

With the

roIlers

48 and 52 engaged by the high cam surfaces 67 and 68, the platen unit 21 is moved into an operating position relative to the typed metal plates 12 such that the carbon ribbon 26 and card-forming ribbon 34 are pressed between the platen member or roller 51 and the plate 12A; and the platen member or roller 47 is pressed against the plate 12D.

As a result, on reciprocal movement of the platen unit 21 toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 3, reversed carbon impressions of the plate 12A are transferred to the card-forming ribbon 34 by the action of the roller 51, concurrently with the action of the roller 47 to roll or press away any sharp edges or projections in the type on the plate 12D whereby to treat such plate prior to its use in a printing operation.

As illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, a typed metal plate 12 is initially formed with letters 60 which are of a nonuniform depth .so that some of the letters 60 have sharp projections or edges 65. The forming of the plate 12 with such non-uniform letters 60 cannot be effectively avoided in the preparation of the plate 12. A card printed from such plate 12 is often punctured by the projections 65 and always has the letters of an uneven shading which are difiicult to read. However, after a plate 12 is rolled or treated by the platen roller 47, the projections 65 are pressed down so that the letters 61) are of a uniform depth and without any sharp edges as shown in Fig. 9. Such a plate 12 provides for a sharp clear impression on the card-forming ribbon 34 when subjected to the action of the platen roller 51.

On a continued movement of the platen unit 21 from its position shown in Fig. 3 to the position therefor shown in Fig. 5, the earns 56 and 57 are moved into engagement with the rollers 58 and 58A, respectively, concurrently with the movement of the

rollers

48 and 52 out of engagement with the

high cam portions

67 and 68 and into engagement with the

low cam portions

63 and 62 respectively. The platen unit 21, therefore, at the end of its reciprocal movement toward the right. and as illustrated in Fig. 5, is again moved out of an operating position relative to the plates 12. While the platen unit 21 is in an inoperative position, the plates 12 are moved from right to left, as viewed in Fig. 5, to position plate in a printing position and plate 12E in the position of plate 12D for action by the platen or roller member 47. Concurrently with this movement of the plates 12 the

ribbons

26 and 34 are moved by an amount greater than the transverse width of a plate 12, to position new or unused portions thereof opposite a plate in a printing position.

With the, movement of the plates 12 and

ribbons

26 and 34 arrested, the platen unit 21 is moved from its position shown in Fig. 5 and through its position shown in Fig. 3 to the position therefor shown in Fig. 4. I The plate 12C is thus printed from in a reversed direction, relative to the printing action on the plate 12A, when the platen unit was moving from left to right as viewed in Fig. 3. Likewise the treating action of a plate, 12E also takes place in a reversed direction relative to the treatment of the plate 12D.

0n movement of the platen unit 21 toward the left, from its position in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4, the

rollers

51 and 47 are moved out of operating positions relative to the typed metal plates by the action of the rollers 58A and 58B on the

cams

56 and 57, respectively. With the platen unit 21 thus retained, the plates 12 and

ribbons

26 and 34 are simultaneously advanced to again position a plate in a printing position, and unused portions of the

ribbons

26 and 34 opposite the plate in a printing position.

It is seen, therefore, that a plate is printed from, in a position for printing, concurrently with the treating of a plate 12 from which printing is to be taken, during each reciprocal movement of the platen unit 21. The platen unit 21 is operated when the

ribbons

26 and 34 and plates 12 are in arrested or stationary positions. In turn, when the movement of the platen unit 21 is arrested at each end of its reciprocating stroke, the

ribbons

26 and 34 and the plates 12 are advanced. The printing operation is thus continuous and with a printing being effected during each reciprocal movement of the platen unit 21.

As shown in Fig. 2, after the

ribbons

26 and 34 have been acted upon by the platen unit 21, the carbon ribbon 26 is directed upwardly about a roller 60 for separation from the card-forming ribbon 34 which continues to move in a substantially horizontal plane into the cutting mechanism 38, wherein a vertically reciprocating knife 71 cooperates with a stationary knife edge 72 to cut from the ribbon 34 a duplicating card, indicated at 73, of a size having thereon a complete carbon impression from a metal plate 12. It is to be understood that the knife 71 functions in its cutting operation, at the time when the ribbon 34 is in an arrested or stationary position, with the movement of the ribbon 34 being effected by the

feed rollers

95 and 96.

The power system for operating the printing machine of this invention is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 6 as comprising an'electric motor 81 having a drive pulley 82 belt connected with a pulley 83 mounted on a counter shaft 84, which in turn is connected through speed reducing gears 86 and 87 with what might be termed a main drive shaft 88. A sprocket gear 89 mounted on the drive shaft 88 is chain connected with a sprocket gear 91 mounted on a shaft 92 which functions as a drive shaft for operating the feed roller 25 for the carbon ribbon 26, the card cutting mechanism 38 and the

feed rollers

95 and 96 for the card-forming ribbon 34.

The cutting blade 71 (Figs. 2 and 6) is carried on a support 97 pivoted at 98 to provide for the movement of the blade 71 into and out of cutting engagement relative to the stationary blade 72. A roller 99 mounted rotatably on the support member 97 is in continuous contact engagement with an eccentric or cam 101 carried on the shaft 92, with the roller 99 being maintained in contact with the cam 101 by the action of a tension spring 102. The blade 71 is thus moved into a cutting position by the action of the cam 101 and out of a cutting position by the action of the spring 102.

A first crank arm 103 (Fig. 6), formed on the drive shaft 92, movably supports a riciprocating. rod 104, the free end 106 of which carries a pawl that is operatively associated with a ratchet wheel 108 mounted on the shaft for the feed roller 25 for the carbon ribbon 26. Thus as the rod 104 is reciprocated, in one direction, the pawl Q2 feed roller 25 a distance corresponding to a desired feeding movement of the carbon ribbon 26. On reciprocation of the rod 104 in an opposite direction, the pawl 107 merely rides or slips relative to the ratchet wheel 108 to arrest the movement of the carbon ribbon 26.

Similarly, the card-forming ribbon is intermittently moved by the provision on the drive shaft 92 of a second crank arm 109 which is movably connected with a reciprocating rod 111 which carries a pawl member 112 in operative association with a ratchet wheel 113 mounted on the shaft for the drive roller of the

feed rollers

95 and 96. The rods 104 and 111 are moved in unison so that the card-forming ribbon 34 is simultaneously moved with the carbon ribbon 26.

It is seen, therefore, that the

ribbons

26 and 34 are simultaneously moved on Working engagement of the pawls 107 and 112 with their corresponding ratchets 108 and 113, respectively, and then arrested or stopped on movement of the pawls 107 and 112 out of working engagement with their respective ratchets 108 and 113. Also, when the

ribbons

26 and 34 are in their arrested positions, the cutting knife 71 is operated to cut a card 73 from the ribbon 34.

To reciprocally move the platen unit 21 the main drive shaft 88 is provided with a bevel gear 116 which is in meshing engagement with a bevel gear 117 mounted adjacent one end of a drive shaft 118, the opposite end of which carries an eccentric 119. A sprocket 121, on the drive shaft 118, is connected through a chain 120 with a sprocket 122 mounted on a stub shaft 123.which also carries a gear 124 and a cam 126. The gear 124 is in continuous meshing engagement with the gear 127 mounted on a second sub shaft 128 which also carries a cam 129 corresponding in shape to the cam 126 and oppositely arranged therefrom. Rotatably supported at one end 131 of an arm 132, pivoted intermediate its ends at 133, is a cam follower of roller type 134 which is arranged between the

cams

126 and 127 for simultaneous engagement with such cams to provide for an oscillating or rocking movement of the pivoted arm 132. The opposite end 136 of the arm 132 is pivotally connected with a connecting rod 137 which in turn is pivotally connected at 138 with the platen unit 21. Reciprocal movement of the platen unit 21 thus takes place in response to the rocking movement of the pivoted arm 132.

For intermittently moving the type metal plates 12 the eccentric 119 on the drive shaft 118 is rotatably connected to one end 141 of a drive rod 142, the opposite end of which is pivoted at 143 intermediate the ends of a link member 144. One end 146 of the. link member 144 is mounted on a stationary pivot 147, and its other end 148 is pivotally connected at 149 to one end of a connecting rod 151 the opposite end of which is pivoted at 152 to slide mechanism 153 operatively associated with the conveyor 19. For selective engagement with the conveyor such that the conveyor 19 is engaged with the slide member 153 on movement of the drive rod 142 in one direction, namely, to the left, as viewed in Fig. 6, and is out of engagement with the feed conveyor 19 on movement of the arm 142 in an opposite dnection.

The arrangement of the cams 126 and 129 is such that the platen unit 21 is reciprocally moved when the feed rollers 25 and 95 for the carbon ribbon 26 and cardforming ribbon 34 are stationary and the rod 142 is being moved toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 6, to disengage the slide member 153 from the plate feed conveyor 19. Also, it is to be understood that when the

ribbons

26 and 34 are stationary the cutting knife 71 is in operation.

As a result, the plates 12, carbon ribbon 26 and cardforming ribbon 34 are intermittently but continuously moved in unison when the platen unit 21 is at the end of a reciprocal movement therefor, and are arrested in unison, so as to be stationary, when the platen unit 21 is reciprocally moved. The

platen members

47 and 51 are thus in operative positions relative to the plates 12 only when the plates and

ribbons

26 and 34 are stationary, and the plates and ribbons are moved when the

platen members

47 and 51 are out of such operative positions corresponding to a moved position of the platen unit 21 at one or the other ends of its reciprocal movement. It is to be noted that the operating knife 71 is operated simultaneously with a reciprocal movement of the platen unit 21.

The card discharge conveyor 39 (Fig. 6) has the drive roller 161 therefor driven through a chain and sprocket assembly 162 from a shaft 163, which carries a sprocket gear 164 in a continuous meshed engagement with one side of the sprocket chain 120.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a machine for printing duplicating cards from typed metal name plates, a reciprocally movable platen structure having a platen member at each end thereof, said platen structure movement being both in a vertical and horizontal direction wherein an orbital path 'is 'followed, the distance between said platen members being at least as great as the length of a name plate, an intermittently movable plate feeding means including a portion arranged below and in longitudinal alignment with said platen structure, a carbon ribbon, a card-forming ribbon arranged in a back to back relation with said carbon ribbon below said card-forming ribbon, means for intermittently moving said two ribbons between said portion and said platen structure in a direction transversely thereof, wherein said two ribbons overlie a single name plate on said plate portion at an arrested position of said ribbons during said intermittent movement, means for intermittently raising and lowering said platen structure relative to said plate feed portion concurrently with a reciprocal movement of said platen structure, such that when the platen structure is in a lowered position therefor, said carbon and card-forming ribbons are pressed between one of said platen members and said metalplate on said feed portion concurrently with a pressing 'of the other of said platen members directly against another metal plate on said feed portion, and means for 'controlling the reciprocal and vertical movements of said platen structure relative to the intermittent movement of said plate feeding means and said card-forming and carbon ribbons, such that said plates and ribbons are stationary when said platen structure is in a lowered position and moved when such platen structure is in a raised position therefor.

2. In a machine for printing duplicating cards from typed metal name plates, an elongated platen structure reciprocally movable in horizontal and vertical directions, a pair of platen members on opposite ends of said platen structure, means for intermittently moving said plates in an end to end relation below said platen structure and in the direction of horizontal movement thereof, a carbon ribbon and a card-forming ribbon arranged in a superposed relation, means for intermittently moving said ribbons across one plate on said plate moving means at a position below said platen structure, with one of said platen members acting to press said ribbons against said one plate member to print therefrom, and the other of said platen members acting to press directly against another plate on said plate moving means during horizontal movement of said platen structure, said ribbons and plates being stationary when said platen structure is in a lowered position and movable when said platen structure is in a raised position.

3. In a machine for printing duplicating cards from type metal plates wherein a carbon ribbon and a cardforming ribbon are moved in a back to back relation across the path of movement of the plates with the cardforming r'ibbon opposite a plate, means for intermittently moving said carbon ribbon and card-forming ribbons in unison, .means for intermittently moving said plates in an end to end relation in synchronism with said ribbons so that successive plates are positioned opposite an unprinted portion of said card-forming ribbon prior to a printing operation, a platen unit extended transversely of said carbon and card-forming ribbons and opposite said carbon ribbon, means for longitudinally moving said platen unit in alternate directions when said plates and ribbons are stationary, a pair of platen members spaced longitudinally of said platen unit a distance apart equal at least to the length of a plate such that on movement of said platen unit one of said platen members presses said ribbons against a first one of said plates concurrently with a pressing engagement of the other of said platen members with a second one of said plates to be printed from, and means for moving said platen unit in a horizontal and vertical path to simultaneously move said platen members into and out of pressing engagement with said first and second plates, whereby on longitudinal movement of said platen unit in either direction, said first one of said plates is printed from, concurrently with the pressing of the type on said second one of said plates to be subsequently printed from.

4. In a machine for printing duplicating cards from typed metal plates wherein a carbon ribbon and a cardforming ribbon are moved in a superposed relation transversely across a plate, with the card-forming ribbon against the plate, means for intermittently moving said ribbons, means for intermittently moving said plates in unison with said ribbons, a platen unit extended longitudinally of said plates and arranged opposite said carbon ribbon, a pair of platen members spaced longitudinally of said platen unit a distance apart equal substantially to twice the length of a metal plate, means for reciprocally moving said platen unit longitudinally of said plates, means for alternately moving said platen unit to a first moved position against said plates and to a second moved position away from said plates to provide for said ribbons being pressed between one of said plates and one of said platen members simultaneously with the pressing of the other of said platen members against a platelater to be moved opposite said card-forming ribbon, with said platen unit being in said first moved position during each reciprocal movement thereof and in said second moved position at the termination of each reciprocal movement thereof, and with said reciprocating movement taking place when said ribbons and plates are stationary.

5. The method of printing from typed metal plates in which the offset lettering thereon is initially of a nonuniform depth, said method comprising arranging said plates in a line in an end to end evenly spaced relation, intermittently moving said line in a direction lengthwise thereof a distance corresponding to the distance between the longitudinal centers of adjacent ones of said plates, extending a ribbon to be printed upon across said line, intermittently moving said ribbon in a timed relation with said line so'that said ribbon and said line are moved and are stationary at the same times, with said line and said ribbon being moved such that successive ones of said plates are selectively vertically aligned with said ribbon in stationary positions thereof, moving said ribbon into a pressure relation with the one of said plates in vertical alignment therewith for receiving an impression from said one plate, and concurrently pressing the lettering in the next successive following one of said plates so that said lettering is of a uniform depth.

6. In -a machine for printing duplicating cards from typed metal plates, a'frame, intermittently movable plate feeding means on said frame, a carbon ribbon, a cardforming ribbon arranged in aback to back relation with .said carbon ribbon, means operatively associated with said frame for intermittently moving said two ribbons across said plate feeding means in a direction transversely thereof, a cam member having a cam surface on the under side thereof; means rigidly mounting said cam member on said frame at a position directly above said ribbons and said plate feeding means, a platen structure mounted on said frame, means for imparting a reciprocal movement to said platen structure when said ribbons and said plate feeding means are stationary for movement of said structure against said cam surface in longitudinal alignment with said plate feeding means, with said cam surface being of a shape to provide for an up and down movement of said platen structure at the ends of each reciprocal movement thereof, a first platen roller on said stmcture arranged for pressing said ribbons between said first roller and a plate on said feeding means during each reciprocal movement of said platen structure, and a second platen roller on said structure for concurrently pressing directly against another plate on said feeding means to insure a uniform depth of the lettering thereon. 7. In a machine for printing duplicating cards from typed metal plates wherein a carbon ribbon and cards are moved in a superposed relation transversely across a plate in a printing position with the cards opposite said plate, means for intermittently moving said ribbon and cards, means for intermittently moving said plates in an end to end relation in unison with said ribbon and cards, a platen unit, means for reciprocally moving said platen unit over a distance equal at least to the length of a plate, means for moving said platen unit vertically and horizontally into and out of an operating position relative to a plate in a printing position during each reciprocal movement of the platen unit whereby the movement thereof defines an orbital path, said moving means including an elongated cam member contacting said platen unit and having cam surfaces of varied proximity relative to said plate, and having further first roller devices secured thereto, a cam secured to said platen unit and engageable with said first roller devices whereby to move said platen unit away from said plate, and second roller devices secured to said platen unit engageable with said cam surfaces whereby to move said platen unit into an operating position relative to said plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,087,473 Vierengel Feb. 17, 1914 1,179,489 Wright Apr. 18, 1916 1,280,192 Duncan Oct. 1, 1918 1,778,178 Baber Oct. 14, 1930 1,801,592 Dugdale Apr. 21, 1931 1,916,985 Ogsbury July 4, 1933 1,919,954 Kranz July 25, 1933 1,941,667 Eley et al Jan. 2, 1934 2,775,936 Curtis Ian. 1, 1957