US3062136A - Portable printing press - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 6, 1962 J. B. LIEBERMAN ETAL 3,062,136

PORTABLE PRINTING PRESS I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 13, 1960 Nov. 6, 1962 J. B. LIEB ERMAN ETAL 3,062,136

PORTABLE PRINTING PRESS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 13, 1960 is INVENTORS Georyz .Zua wys'on PORTABLE PRINTING PRESS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 15, 1960 INVBV TOR5 Berg/01m lz'e e/wmfl .Lud wy z BY JYTWZNE Y8 United States Patent Office Fatented Nov. 6, 1962 3,662,136 PORTABLE PRINTING PRESS Jay Benjamin Lieberman, White Plains, and George Ludwigson, New York, N.Y., assignors, by mesne assignments, to said Lieberman Filed fully 13, 196%, Ser. No. 42,593 14 Claims. (CL 101--287) The present invention relates to a printing press and more particularly to a portable printing press capable of being readily carried and transported.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing press which is of a unique construction and which is provided with simple yet effective operating means whereby quality printing is achieved.

v Another object of the invention is to provide a compact, lightweight, readily portable printing press which is always ready for printing without requiring further operations.

These objects are accomplished by providing the press with a base for supporting the type and having a pivotal frame mounted on the base and carrying a platen to receive the paper or the like to be printed and move the platen into printing relation with the type with a singledirection, one-hand operation. The press has means for accurately locating the paper or material to be printed in juxtaposed parallel relation with the type and guiding the paper into printing relation with the type under the pressure of a novel toggle means during the printing operation.

A feature of the invention resides in a novel handle construction which functions to move the frame about its pivot from an open to a superposed relation with the type and which thereafter moves the toggle units from a retracted position to a position in which they cooperate with means on the base for pressing the platen against the type to effect the printing and which handle may be locked in the latter position and also serve as a carrying handle for the press when the press is a portable press made of lightweight material.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of means whereby the pressure of the platen against the type can be readily adjusted.

Another feature of the invention resides in the means forming a type guard whereby the movement of the frame toward the base is limited, thereby preventing undue pressure of the platen against the type to damage the type.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification and claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 shows the press in an open position.

FIG. 2 shows the press with the frame being moved to stop position.

FIG. 3 shows the frame in printing position.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the locating means.

:FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the portable press in closed relation.

As shown in the drawings, the press of the present invention comprises a base 10 having side walls 11 terminating in inturned flanges 12. The central portion of the base provides a smooth level chase-supporting surface 13 for supporting a chase 14 adapted to have type 15 held therein. The type can be individual type units, linoty-pe or can be wood blocks or the like plates which may be conveniently locked in the chase in the usual manner (not shown) and all are included in the term type as used herein.

As shown in the drawings, the chase is releasably locked to the base by having clips 15a adjustably secured to the back of the base by screws 16, with the upper end 15a of the clip overlying the edge of the chase as shown in FIG. 1. The front end of the chase is secured with a cam lock or latch 17 having a tongue 18 engaging the chase when the latch is moved into latched position.

The bottom of the base is provided with a plurality of bosses or bridge members 19 in each of which a supporting bushing or fixed stop 20 having a conical recess 20a is inserted for locating the platen as will be explained.

The base has pivotally mounted thereon a platencarrying frame 22. In the illustrated form of the invention the side Walls 11 are provided at the upper rear portions thereof with a bearing block 23 having a bearing or pivot pin 24 fixed therein and projecting inwardly of the side walls and adapted to pivotally mount the platen-carrying frame for movement from an open position, as shown in FIG. 1, to a closed printing position as shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in the drawings, the frame has a center portion provided with a smooth undersurface 25 forming a platen for cooperating with the type during the printing operation. The platen has disposed thereon a compressible inner member 26 having a tympan or draw sheet 27 extending thereover and held in place by having the edges thereof folded around the edge of the platen and held in place by pivoted bail locks 28, 29 at the front and back of the platen. If desired, the back edge of the platen is provided with clips or fingers 30 for locating a sheet of paper or other material 31 to be printed in position on the platen.

The frame has side flanges 32 which close the space between the platen and the side walls of the base. While the flanges may be made integral, they are herein shown as separate members secured to the platen by screws 3-3. Secured to the side flanges at the back thereof are pivot plates 34 for the frame which are provided with elongate apertures 34a for receiving the pivot pins 24. The elongae apertures permit vertical movement of the frame on the base during the printing operation. A spring 35 mounted on the plate and bearing on the pivot pin normally tends to urge the frame and platen in a direction away from the base.

The material 31 to be printed can be held on the platen in various ways. In the herein illustrated form of the invention it comprises a transverse bar 36 having a pair of material-engaging fingers 37 adjustably mounted thereon by wing bolts 37a to extend across the platen. The ends of the bar are bent at right angles thereto to form mounting portions 38 pivotally connected by pivot 39 to the pivot plates 34. A spring 40 is disposed around the pivot pin 39 and has one end 40a disposed under a lanced-out finger 41 on the pivot plate and the other end 40b located under a lug 42 projecting lateraly from the mounting portion and tends to move the fingers into clamping relation with the platen to hold the material thereto.

As the frame and platen are moved to open position, the lug 42 engages under the flange 12 and stops movement of the mounting portion and fingers. The frame, however, continues until finger 41 engages the end mounting portion 38 and is stopped in open position and from further rearward pivotal movement. It will be noted that this sequence of operation automatically positions the fingers 37 in the position shown in FIG. 1 to readily permit insertion of the material 31 when the frame is moved to open position. After the material has been positioned on the platen, the platen is moved forwardly toward printing position and first engages the fingers and thereafter the spring holds the fingers in clamping relation, thus effectively holding the paper or other material in contact with the platen.

In accordance with the present invention novel means are provided for locating and guiding the platen just prior to and during the printing operation. This means comprises depending brackets 43 secured to the sides of the frame adjacent the corners of the platen by screws 44. The lower ends of the brackets are provided with a lat eral flange or foot 45. Each of the flanges has a sleeve 46 threaded therein provided with a plunger 47 having a pin 48 projecting through a bore in the lower end Wall of the sleeve and urged into projected position by a spring 49. A plug 50 threaded into the other end of the leeve provides for adjustment of the spring pressure. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the sleeves are aligned with bushing 2% on the base with the plunger pin being seated in the conical recess a to accurately stop and locate the platen in superposed, parallel, spaced relation with the type. While separate means may be provided for guiding the platen during the printing operation to prevent slurring, in the illustrated form of the invention, the cooperation of pin 48 with the conical recess 29a serves this purpose.

Novel means are provided for moving the platen from stopped position and pressing the material thereon into engagement with the type during the printing operation. This means comprises a plurality of toggle units 51 connected to the frame and cooperating with means on the base to effect the required movement and pressure of the platen. Preferably, the toggle units are disposed at predetermined locations about the platen to produce uniform pressure of the platen against the type. Each toggle unit, as shown in FIG. 1, comprises a lower link 52 and an upper link 53 having their adjacent ends pivoted together at 51a and connected to a connector 54 on each side of the platen. The lower end of the link 52 is pivoted to the foot 45 of the bracket 43 while the upper end of the link 53 projects upwardly in position to cooperate with an anvil 55 carried by the flange 12 on the side wall of the base. A spring 56 mounted on the bracket has its end positioned in a notch 57 in the end of link 53, as shown in FIG. 5, to tend to rotate the link and cause a stop pin 58 to engage a stop lug 60 on the lower link to maintain the unit with an obtuse angle formed between the two links as shown in FIG. 1. In order to operate the toggle units, a handle 61 is provided in the form of a transversely extending bail 62 forming a handgrip having legs 63 extending through slots S in the flanges 32 and pivotally mounted intermediate their ends by shear pins 63a to one end of links 64 which are pivotally connected at their other ends 64a to the forward end of the frame. The ends 6312 of the legs 63 are pivotally connected to the connectors 54 on each side of the frame which interconnect the toggle units to operate the toggle units. As shown, the legs are so shaped and arranged that the bail in itself forms a toggle actuator for the connectors.

The handle not only serves as an actuator for the toggle units but is the means for moving the frame to and from open position and is so connected to the toggle units as to normally maintain the toggle units in a retracted position shown in FIG. 1. As the frame is moved by the handle about its pivot into the stopping position in which the platen is located adjacent, but in spaced superposed relation with the type, the retracted toggle links move through openings 12b formed in the flanges 12 of the side walls as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. When the frame reaches this stop position, the handle is in the full line position, as shown in FIG. 2, and the toggle units are in the full line position. Continued pressure on the handle will cause the handle to move relative to the frame about its pivotal mounting and cause the connectors 54 to move the toggle units from full line position to the dotted line position of FIG. 2 in which position the ends of the upper links engage abutments 65 carried by the underside of the flange 12 adjacent the anvils 55 and locate the upper end of link 53 in position under the anvil. Continued movement of the handle to the position of FIG. 3 will cause the connector 54 for the toggle unit to move to the left and, because the abutment prevents movement of the upper end of link 53, it will move the pivot to the left and cause the toggle links to straighten out with the end of link 53 engaging the anvil and apply a downward pressure to the platen. This will move the platen against the action of the spring-pressed plunger 47 and into engagement with the type to print therefrom. The vertical movement of the platen with respect to the pivot pin during the printing operation is permitted by the yielding of spring 35 on the pivot plate.

Preferably, the anvils are threaded into position, as shown in FIG. 1, and can be adjusted with respect to the base to control the pressure and movement of the platen during the printing operation.

If desired, the toggle links can move through a straight angle to an obtuse angle in the other direction, as shown in FIG. 3, before a stop 66 on the base engages the link 64 carrying the handle to stop it in this position. When the handle is moved to this position, it will cause the platen to move downwardly with respect to the type and, as the toggle links pass through the straight angle they will apply a maximum printing pressure momentarily to the platen and press it against the type and instantaneously thereafter relieve the maximum pressure as the links move to the other obtuse angular relation.

It will be noted in FIG. 4 that the end of the sleeve will engage the bushing and form a protective stop limiting the downward movement of the frame and preventing the platen from crushing the type during this operation and the sleeve can be adjusted with respect to the foot to accommodate type of different heights.

In operation the handle is gripped in the position of FIG. 3 and moved upwardly relative to the frame to the position of full lines in FIG. 2, at which time the handle engages the end of the slot S in the upper frame. During the movement to this position the handle will cause the connector 54 to move the toggle units into their normally retracted position. Continued movement of the handle thereafter causes the upper frame to pivot about the pivot pin 24 to the open position shown in FIG. 1. As it moves to the open position of FIG. 1, the lug 42 on the paper-holding fingers will first engage under the flange 12 and thereafter the finger 41 on the pivot plate will engage the end of the mounting means 38 for the paper-holding fingers and stop the movement of the frame about the pivot. It will be noted that in the open position the entire frame is moved from over and spaced above the type so that the type can be inked with any suitable inking mechanism (not shown). With the platen in its raised position a sheet of paper 31 or other material to be printed is inserted into position in which it engages the clips 30 at the edge of the platen to locate it in position. The handle is grasped and the frame is moved toward closed position. Initial movement of the frame causes the spring to move the paper-engaging fingers into contact with the paper on the platen to hold it in position thereon. Continued movement of the handle moves the frame to the full line position of FIG. 2 in which the resiliently mounted stops carried by the frame engage the bushings carried by the base and locate the platen and the paper carried thereby in parallel, closely spaced, superposed relation with respect to the type. Continued movement of the handle causes the connector 54 to move the toggle units from retracted position into a position in which they engage the abutment 65 and locate the toggle links under the anvils 55 carried by the base. This occurs when the handle is in the dotted position of FIG. 2. Continued downward movement of the handle to the position shown in FIG. 3 causes the toggle units to straighten and engage the anvil and apply pressure to overcome the resilient locating means on the frame and move the material on the platen into printing relation with the type and thereafter move the toggle links beyond the straight position to the position of FIG. 3 wherein the printing pressure has been released. This completes the printing cycle after which the cycle is repeated and the frame moved to open position and the sequence carried out again.

With this construction it will be seen that a single continuous movement of the handle in one direction operates to close the press, locate the platen in predetermined relation with the type, move the toggles to operative relation and actuate the toggles to apply printing pressure, thus providing a simple yet effective onehand operating means for printing.

The present invention because of its unique shape and relation of parts as shown in the drawings has particular utility in that it can readily operate as a portable printing press. In this connection, the base, frame and operating components are compactly arranged and are made of lightweight material such as aluminum, magnesium or other material capable of withstanding printing pressures, and the operating handle for the press can provide the means for carrying the portable press. This is accomplished by providing the base with a locking clip 67 adapted to extend over the handle in its closed position of FIG. 3 to securely lock it to the base and lock the frame in its closed position of FIG. 3. Since the toggle links are in an actuated position when the handle is so located, the elements of the press will be rigidly held in place so that they cannot be damaged or displaced during the'transportation and movement of the press. If desired flanges 32 can be provided with extensions 32a to project into and close the openings 12a of the flanges 12 when the frame is in closed position to prevent foreign material from entering the press while it is being transported.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a novel press construction which is easy to operate, is of simple construction, provides for pre-locating the paper to be printed just prior to the printing operation and for applying the printing pressure, all in a single one-direction operation of the hand-operated means, and provides means whereby the operating handle can also function as a carrying handle for the press in the event it is desired to use the press as a portable press.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

We claim: 1. A printing press comprising a base having means for supporting type thereon, a frame pivotally mounted on the base, a platen carried by the frame and adapted to be moved into superposed relation with the type-supporting means on the base, means including cooperable yielding means on the base and frame for stopping the platen in a parallel and adjacent position with respect to the type-supporting means, means for guiding the platen during the printing operation, and means including a handoperated member connected to the platen for moving the platen against said yielding means from said stopped position to engage the type and to apply a printing pressure thereto during the printing operation.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for stopping the platen in parallel and adjacent position with respect to the type-supporting means comprises an adjustable sleeve on the frame having a spring pressed plunger cooperating with a fixed support on the base.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for stopping the platen in parallel and adjacent position with respect to the type-supporting means comprises a fixed abutment having a locating recess on the base and a sleeve threaded on the frame for adjustment thereon and having resilient means including a spring pressed plunger slidable therein cooperating with the reces in the fixed abutment.

4. A printing press comprising a base having means for supporting type thereon, a frame pivotally mounted on the base, a platen carried by the frame and adapted to be moved into superposed relation with the type-supporting means on the base, co-operating resilient means ton the base and frame for stopping and locating the platen in a parallel and adjacent position with respect to the typesupporting means, means including a plurality of toggle units carried by the frame adjacent the sides of the platen and cooperating with means on the base for overcoming the resilient means and pressing the platen against the type to print therefrom, and a hand-operated member carried by the frame and connected to the toggle units for moving the platen to said stopped position adjacent the typesupporting means, continued movement of the handoperated member relative to the stopped frame actuating the toggle units to move the platen and apply a printing pressure thereto.

5. A printing press comprising a base having mean for removably supporting a chase having type therein, a frame pivotally mounted on the base and having a platen secured thereto for movement therewith, said frame moving said platen into superposed relation with the chase, cooperating adjustable resilient means on the base and frame for stopping and locating the platen in a predetermined parallel and spaced relation with respect to the chase, means including a plurality of toggle units carried by the frame and spaced around the platen and cooperating with anvil means carried by the base for overcoming the resilient means and pressing the platen against the type to print therefrom, and a hand-operated member pivotally carried by the frame for moving the platen to said predetermined stopped position, said handle being connected to said toggle units and operable upon continued movement relative to the stopped frame to actuate the toggles to move the platen from said stopped position and to apply a printing pressure thereto.

6. A printing press comprising a base having means for supporting type thereon, a frame pivotally mounted on the base, a platen carried by the frame and adapted to be moved into superposed relation with the type-supporting means on the base, means including cooperable yielding means on the base and frame for stopping the platen in a parallel and adjacent position with respect to the typesupporting means and for guiding the platen during the printing operation, and means including a hand-operated member connected to toggle units having toggle links normally forming an obtuse angle and connected to the platen, said member moving the toggle links through a straight angle and moving the platen against said yielding means from said stopped position to engage the type and to apply a printing pressure thereto during the printing operation.

7. A printing press comprising a base having upwardly extending side walls and having means for supporting type thereon, a frame pivotally mounted on the base and carrying a platen having means to support a material to be printed, said platen being adapted to be moved into superposed relation with the type supporting means on the base, cooperating resilient means on the base and frame for stopping and locating the platen in juxtaposition with the type-supporting means, a plurality of toggle units carried by the sides of the frame in a normally retracted position, the side Walls of the base having openings through which the retracted toggle units pass as the frame is moved to said superposed relation, and means for thereafter moving said toggle units from retracted position to a position wherein said toggle units cooperate with means on the base for overcoming the resilient means and pressing the platen against the type to print therefrom.

8. A printing press comprising a base having means for supporting type thereon, a frame pivotally mounted on the base, a platen supporting material to be printed carried by the frame, said frame being adapted to be moved from an open position to a position wherein said platen is in superposed relation with the type-supporting means on the base, cooperating resilient means on the base and frame for stopping and locating the frame and platen in juxtaposiaces,

tion with the type-supporting means in said superposed relation, a plurality of toggle units spaced around the platen, said toggle units comprising a pair of upper and lower links having their juxtaposed ends pivoted together and the other end of the lower link connected to the frame, connector means connecting all of the juxtaposed pivoted ends for simultaneous operation, said toggle units being in a retracted position, and a handle mounted on the frame by a pivoted link and having one end connected to the connector means to form a toggle actuator for the toggle units, said handle being operative to move the frame from open position to said superposed stopped relation, continued movement of the handle relative to the stopped frame causing the connector means to move the toggle units from retracted position to a position in which the other ends of the upper links cooperate with means on the base to cause the toggle units to apply pressure to overcome the resilient means and press the material on the platen against the type to print therefrom.

9. A printing press comprising a base having means for supporting type thereon, a frame pivotally mounted on the base, a platen supporting material to be printed carried by the frame, said frame being adapted to be moved from an open position to a position wherein said platen in superposed relation with the type-supporting means on the base, cooperating resilient means on the base and frame for stopping and locating the frame and platen in juxtaposition with the type-supportin means in said superposed relation, a plurality of toggle units spaced around the platen, said toggle units comprising a pair of upper and lower links having their juxtaposed ends pivoted together and the other end of the lower link pivotally connected to the frame, connector means connecting all of the juxtaposed pivoted ends for simultaneous operation, said toggles being maintained in a retracted position with the link forming an obtuse angle, and a handle mounted on the frame by a pivoted link and having one end connected to the connector means, said handle being operative to move the frame from open position to said superposed relation, continued movement of the handle relative to the stopped frame causing the connector means to move the toggle units about their pivotal connection to the frame until the other ends of the upper links engage abutment means on the base and locate said other ends under anvil mean on the base and thereafter cause the toggle units to straighten and apply pressure to the frame to overcome the resilient means and press the material on the platen against the type to print therefrom.

10. A printing press comprising a base having upwardly extending side walls, said base having means for supporting type thereon, a frame pivotally mounted on the base and carrying a platen having means to support a material to be printed, said platen being adapted to be moved into superposed position with the type, cooperating resilient means on the base and frame for stopping and locating the platen in predetermined spaced relation with the type in said superposed position, a plurality of toggle units, each having connected toggle links, carried by the sides of the frame, means normally locating the toggle units in a retracted position with the links of each forming an obtuse angle, the sides of the base having openings through which the retracted toggle units pass as the platen is moved to said superposed relation, and means operable after the platen is in superposed position for moving said toggle units from retracted position to a position wherein said toggle units cooperate with anvil means on the base and the links of each toggle unit form a straight angle and provide pressure for overcoming the resilient means and pressing the platen against the type to print therefrom.

11. A printing press comprising a base having means for supporting type thereon, a frame pivotally mounted on the base, a platen supporting material to be printed carried by the frame, said frame being adapted to be moved from an open position to a position wherein said platen is in superposed relation with the type-supporting means on the base, cooperating resilient means on the base and frame for stopping and locating the frame and platen in juxtaposition with the type-supporting means in said superposed relation, a plurality of toggle units spaced around the platen, said toggle units comprising a pair of upper and lower links having their juxtaposed ends pivoted together and the other end of the lower link pivotally connected to the frame, connector means connecting all of the juxtaposed pivoted ends for simultaneous operation, said toggles being maintained in a retracted position with the links forming an obtuse angle, and a handle mounted on the frame by a pivoted link and having one end connected to the connector means, said handle being operative to move the frame from open position to said superposed relation, continued movement of the handle relative to the stopped frame causing the connector means to move the toggle units about their pivotal connection to the frame until the other ends of the upper links engage abutment means on the base and locate said other ends under anvil means on the base and thereafter cause the toggle units to move through a straight angle and apply momentary maximum pressure to press the material on the platen against the type to print therefrom.

12. A portable printing press comprising a lightweight base having means for supporting type thereon, a lightweight frame pivotally mounted on the base and having a platen thereon adapted to be moved into superposed relation with the type-supporting means on the base, cooperating resilient means on the base and frame for stopping and locating the platen in juxtaposition with the type-supporting means, means including a handle connected to a plurality of toggle units carried by the frame and cooperating with means on the base for overcoming the resilient means and pressing the platen against the type to print therefrom, and means for locking the handle to the base to form the carrying means for the press.

13. A portable printing press comprising a base of lightweight material having upwardly extending side walls and having means for supporting type thereon, a frame of lightweight material pivotally mounted on the base between said side walls, said frame carrying a platen having means to support a material to be printed, said platen being adapted to be moved from an open position into closed superposed position with respect to the type on the base with said frame closing the space between said side Walls, cooperating resilient means on the base and frame for stopping the platen in closely spaced relation with the type in said superposed position, a plurality of toggle units carried by the sides of the frame in a normally retracted position, the sides of the base having openings through which the retracted toggle units pass as the frame is moved to said superposed relation, said frame having means to close said openings in said closed position, means including a handle connected to said toggle units for moving the units from retracted position to a position wherein said toggle units cooperate with means on the base for overcoming the resilient means and pressing the platen against the type to print therefrom, and means locking said handle in the last-named position whereby the press can be carried thereby.

14. A portable printing press comprising a base of lightweight material having means for supporting type thereon, a frame of lightweight material pivotally mount-l ed on the base, a platen supporting material to be printed carried by the frame, said frame being adapted to be moved from an open position to a position wherein said platen is in superposed relation with the type-supporting means on the base, cooperating resilient means on the base and frame for stopping and locating the frame and platen in juxtaposition with the type-supporting means in said superposed relation, a plurality of toggle units spaced around the platen, said toggle units comprising a pair of upper and lower links having their juxtaposed ends pivoted together and the other end of the lower 9 link connected to the frame, connector means connecting all of the juxtaposed pivoted ends for simultaneous operation, said toggle units being maintained in a retracted position, a handle comprising a bail having side legs connected by a hand grip mounted on the frame by pivoted link means connected intermediate the side legs and having the ends of said side legs connected to the connector means, said handle being operative to move the frame from open position to said superposed relation, continued movement of the handle relative to the stopped frame causing the connector means to move the toggle units to a position in which the other ends of the upper links cooperate with means on the base to cause the toggle units to apply pressure to overcome the resilient means and press the material on the platen against the type to 15 10 print therefrom, and means locking the handle to the base in the last-named position whereby the portable press can be carried thereby.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 67,475 Woods et al. Aug. 6, 1867 94,368 Willbur Aug. 31, 1869 155,927 Clark Oct. 31, 1874 1,661,808 Messmer Mar. 6, 1928 1,769,028 Johnson July 1, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS 63,350 Netherlands Ian. 15, 1949

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