US3215245A

US3215245A - Printing machine with means to compensate for different areas of different characters

Info

Publication number: US3215245A
Application number: US217171A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl G Thiene; Bernard G Bostrom
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-08-15
Filing date: 1962-08-15
Publication date: 1965-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 1982-11-02
Also published as: GB972893A; FR1350196A

Description

N 1965 c. G. THIENE ETAL 3,215,245

PRINTING MACHINE WITH MEANS TO COMPENSATE FOR DIFFERENT AREAS OF DIFFERENT CHARACTERS Filed Aug. 15, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORJ' C484 5. M/E/VE' WM 6 501720 N V- 1965 c. c. THIENE ETAL 3,215,245

PRINTING MACHINE WITH MEANs TO COMPENSATE FOR DIFFERENT AREAS OF DIFFERENT CHARACTERS Filed Aug. 15, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORJ 6424 4 774/5; 55m4e0 6P. 501720/14 Nov. 2, 1965 c. s. THIENE ETAL 3,215,245

PRINTING MACHINE WITH MEANS TO COMPENSATE FOR DIFFERENT AREAS OF DIFFERENT CHARACTERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 15, 1962 INVENTORS 47708/VEV was a;

555i Emma @5555 N 1965 c. G. THIENE ETAL 3,215,245

PRINTING MACHINE WITH MEANS TO COMPENSATE FOR DIFFERENT AREAS OF DIFFERENT CHARACTERS Filed Aug. 15, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR) 648A 6'. 74//E7VE 47r0e/1 Ey Nov. 2, 1965 c. G. THIENE ETAL 3,215,245

PRINTING MACHINE WITH MEANS T0 COMPENSATE FOR DIFFERENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 15, 1962 AREAS OF DIFFERENT CHARACTERS Mimummi INVENTORY 642A 6. TMEA/E 558N480 (7. 50.1720/1/ United States Patent PRINTING MACHINE WITH MEANS T0 COMPEN- SATE FOR DIFFERENT AREAS OF DIFFERENT CHARACTERS Carl G. Thiene, Los Angeles, Calif. (4050 Temple City Blvd., Rosemead, Calif.), and Bernard G. Bostrom, Los Angeles, Calif. (8615 Hanna, Canoga Park, Calif.)

Filed Aug. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 217,171 6 Claims. (Cl. 197-2) This invention relates to an improved printing machine and more particularly to a new and improved printing machine of the type more particularly adapted for printing signs, showcards, visual presentations and the like. In the preferred form of the invention as disclosed herein, it is exemplified in a type of machine having a type carriage assembly having a plurality of type elements each of which is individually operated by a manual actuator.

The herein invention is an improvement in the overall combination, and in particular aspects of the printing machine disclosed in our prior Patent No. 2,873,013 issued February 10, 1959.

In machines of this type, the general assembly ordinarily includes a supporting frame, a platform for the paper being printed on, a movable or adjustable type carriage assembly for the type members, and a manual operating mechanism for actuating the type members. The manual actuating mechanism may be referred to as the operating head. One of the improvements in the combination of this invention is in the automatic indexing of the platform for the paper in predetermined incremental movements, this movement determining the spacing between printed letters which varies depending upon the size of the particular letter or character. The accomplishment of this improvement is one of the primary objects of the invention. In a preferred form of the invention this automatic indexing is accomplished by way of a hydraulically actuated mechanical clutch responsive to movement of the operating handle which forms part of the operating head. A preferred form of hydraulic actuated indexing clutch has been invented, and the details of this particular clutch are disclosed in the copending application of Carl G. Thiene, Serial No. 216,996 filed August 15, 1962. Other types of clutches might be used in the combination of this invention as referred to above.

In operating the type members, considerable pressure is required depending upon the size of the character being printed. Another object is to provide an improved linkage having a desired mechanical advantage associated with the manual operating handle to limit the manual effort required. The type members are spring biased. The type members have a variable stroke depending on the size of the character being printed and the material being printed on. More force is required to make a printed impression in cardboard or the like. the invention is to provide improved means for adjusting the stroke length to facilitate these purposes. In a preferred form of the invention this is accomplished by means of a simplified eccentric stop.

Another object is to provide improvements in the means for controlling and adjusting the magnitude of the incremental indexing movements that -are imparted to the movable platform. In a preferred form of the invention this means takes the form of plates having notches in them of varying depth adjacent to the type members, these notches being cooperable with a plunger which determines the stroke of a hydraulic piston which then determines the magnitude of the incremental indexing movement. Another object of the invention is to provide these particular improved constructional relationships.

The type characters are on the ends of stems which Another object of 1 3,215,245 Patented Nov. 2, 1965 move through holes of the same shape in the type case. The type characters are easily replaceable. The notched plates are adjacent the stems and are easily replaceable to accommodate type characters requiring difierent strokes. The plates are preferably slotted and removable. They are frictionally held by engagement with slotted transverse plates. Another object of the invention therefore is to provide means to facilitate the changing of type characters.

The invention as a whole provides a greatly simplified and more effective combination in the overall machine, and in the specific aspects referred to above and the realization of these ends constitutes an object of the invention. The machine is simplified and made more effective, not only from the standpoint of operation and maintenance, but also from the standpoint of production, fabrication and assembly.

Further objects and numerous additional advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and annexed drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a detailed view of the stroke adjustment means;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along the lines 7-7 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 88 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 9 is a detailed plan view of the type carriage assembly;

FIGURE 10 is a diagrammatic view showing the indicator light and switch;

FIGURE 11 is a partial detailed view of the underside of the type carriage assembly;

FIGURE 12 is a detailed view of the stroke adjustment for the type members;

FIGURE 13 is a view similar to FIGURE 12 with the adjustment means in another position;

FIGURE 14 is a partly diagrammatic exploded view of the operating mechanism.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, reference will first be had to the general assembly and combination of the machine and then the main components of the assembly will be described in detail individually.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the machine has a rectangular frame 10 which may be supported on legs as shown at 11. Preferably the frame is made as of channel members of suitable material optionally having a cross section as may be seen at 13 in FIGURES 2 and 3. The frame 10 is provided with a flat metal bed or platen 14 on which is mounted an adjustable frame 16 provided with a resilient pad 17 on which the paper or cardboard 18 to be printed may be placed. The frame or platform 16 is movable over the surface of the bed 14 as will be described in more detail presently.

Upstanding from the corners of the frame are uprights as designated at 20, 21 and 22 in FIGURE 1. These uprights support a pair of fore and

aft channel members

25 and 26 which have the cross-sectional shape preferably as may be seen at 23 and 24 in FIGURE 2. These sections have opposite inwardly extending ribs as shown at 27 and 28 which form rails for trolley wheels for the movable carriage. Numeral 30 designates generally the movable type carriage assembly and it is movable on rollers and rails both in a transverse direction and in a fore and aft direction so that it can be adjusted to any position underneath the printing or operating head or assembly designated generally at 32. Numeral 33 designates a rectangular frame assembly made of members having a similar cross section, that is, having a cross section as shown at 36 and 37 in FIGURE 3, the upper ribs having openings therein as shown to allow the rollers or roller Wheels on the type carriage assembly to be placed on the

lower ribs

38 and 39 which form rails. The type carriage assembly 30 has extending axles or arbors, two of which may be seen in FIGURE 3 at 41 and 42 and on these are mounted roller wheels as designated at 43 and 44. Preferably these wheels on one side are flanged as indicated at 43, and are without flanges on the other side as shown at 44. Thus the movement of the carriage assembly 30 is guided in the transverse direction and furthermore, the carriage may be lifted out and turned around so that the flanged wheels 43 ride on the other rail 39. Thus, if there is any wear, it can be compensated for by reversing the position of the carriage.

The carriage 30 and frame 33 are movable in a fore and aft direction. The frame 33 has extending axles or arbors such as shown at 50 and 51, and on these are mounted wheels or rollers as designated at 52 and 53 which are like the wheels or

rollers

43 and 44. The rollers 53 and 52 ride on rails as shown at 28 and 56 formed by the inwardly turned ribs of the sections 23 and 24. The axles 50 and 51 may be secured by nuts as shown at 57 and 58. Numeral 60 designates an operating handle or bracket for adjusting the type carriage as sembly 30.

The operating or printing head 32 is mounted over the frame and over the adjustable positions of the type carriage assembly 30.

Numerals

65 and 66 designate uprights suitably supported from the members and 26 and supported between them is a transverse member or beam 67 on which is mounted the operating or printing head 32. The operating head comprises an enclosing housing 69 and an operating handle 70 extending out of it through a slot 71. Numeral 72 designates an adjusting member as shown more in detail in FIGURE 7 for adjusting the incremental indexing movements as will be described presently. Numerals 73 and 74 designate holding springs mounted to hold printed sheets for drying as indicated in outline.

The frame 16 is moved by an operating bar 75 shown more in detail in FIGURE 14. The frame 16 is slidable in a fore and aft direction with respect to the bar 75, and may be locked to it by a pivoted locking member as designated at 77 movable about a pivot 7 8, and having an arm 79 which provides an indicator with respect to graduations 80 on the bar '75. The bar 75 is channel shaped and is connected to an upright 81 extending upwardly from a movable carriage designated at 82 which is actuatable by the indexing mechanism as will be described more in detail presently. This mechanism is within the frame 10 of FIGURE 1 and underneath the bed 14. Numeral 83 designates a manual handle having two positions for activating and inactivating the clutching mechanism which is within the housing 85 as designated in FIGURE 14. This mechanism clutches and declutches the rod or shaft 86 which is connected to the carriage assembly 82 for indexing the bar '75 and the platform 16. This mechanism will be described more in detail presently.

The principal components of the machine will next be described in detail. The printing carriage assembly is best shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 and 9. It comprises a rectangular casing as may be seen in FIG- URE 2 formed of suitable material and having

side walls

90 and 91, a bottom wall 92 and a perforated top wall in it as may be seen in FIGURE 9. The bottom wall 92 or plate 93. The plate 93 has a pattern of perforations has perforations in it as may be seen at 95 aligned with the pattern of larger perforations 96 in the top plate 93. Associated with the aligned apertures are the operating stems as designated at 97 of the type members, for example as shown at 98 on the bottom end of the stem 97, below the casing of the type carriage assembly. The stems 97 are rectangular in cross section and the openings 95 are shaped to receive these stems for reciprocatory movement. FIGURE 11 is a partial view of the arrangement and pattern of the type members such as Shown at 98 underneath the type carriage assembly 30. It will be understood, of course, that these type members are reciprocated to type on to the paper or cardboard that is to be printed.

Carried underneath the frame 33 are a pair of ink pans or

tanks

100 and 101 having mounted in them

ink rollers

102 and 103 in position adjacent the lower faces of the type members such as indicated at 98. When the casing or carriage assembly 30 is moved transversely as seen in FIGURE 2, the type members pass in contact with the inking

rollers

102 and 103 and ink is transferred to their inking surfaces. On the upper end of the stems such as shown at 97, are provided circular collars as shown at 107 having projections which are en-gageable with a reciprocating operating stem or plunger 108. The plunger 108 is operable to move down through the pattern of larger holes or openings in the plate 93. On each of the stems 97 is a biasing spring 109 which resists downward movement of the stern and its printing member.

Within the casing 30 are a plurality of spacer plates 110 having notches 111 in their top edges of varying depths. One of these plates 110 is aligned with each line or row of operating stems for the printing members. These plates have slots in their lower parts which engage with transverse plates 112 within the casing of the type carriage assembly 30. The plates 110 have longitudinal ribs as shown at 113 which frictionally engage in slots in plates 112 so that plates 110 are readily removable and replaceable by plates having notches of different depths to accommodate to different type characters. Adjacent to the plunger 108 is a second smaller plunger 116 which cooperates with the pattern of smaller holes or openings 117 in the plate 93 which are adjacent to the larger holes or openings.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that the platform 16 may be adjusted to any desired position over the bed or platen 14 where the paper or cardboard is to be printed. The printing carriage assembly 30 may then be manually positiond over the paper or cardboard before the actual printing is undertaken.

The actual starting point of the printing may be indicated by an indicator light 120 mounted on the carriage 33 as shown in FIGURE 10, and actuatable by a switch carried on a bracket 121 on the side of carriage 33. This switch has a spring contact member 122 which cooperates with a contact member 123 attached to the frame member 25. The light 120 projects a spot of indicating light with cross wires outlined in it, as shown at 125 designating the position of the first letter as shown at 126.

Next will be described the operating or printing head 32 which is best shown in FIGURES 2, 3, 4, and 14 with the adjustments and details shown in FIGURES 5, 6, 7, 8,12 and 13.

Numeral 132 designates the frame assembly at the lower part of the operating head 32. It provides bearings with bushings as shown at 133 and 134 (FIGURE 4) to guide the plunger 108. The operating handle 70 is attached to a transverse shaft (see FIGURES 4 and 14) which is journall-ed in bosses as shown at 141 and 142 in FIGURE 5 which are on

uprights

143 and 144 upstanding from the base of the operating head. The lever 70 actuates the plunger 108 and a linkage is provided so that there is a desirable mechanical advantage to insure that proper force or pressure is available to be applied to the plunger 108. Numeral 150 designates a lever having a shape as shown in FIGURE 4 which is pivotally mounted on a fixed pivot 151. This lever has an end part 152 having in it an opening 153 which engages a pin 154 carried by a yoke 155 at the upper end of plunger 108. The lever 150 has a downwardly extending arm 160 pivoted by a pivot 161 to the ends of a pair of toggle links shown at 162. The links 162 are pivoted by a movable pivot 163 to a pair of second toggle links 164, the other ends of which are mounted on a fixed pivot 165. The

links

162 and 164 form a toggle having a knee in it as shown. Pivoted to the pivot pin 163 is a third toggle link 168 which is pivoted by a pivot 169 to an arm 170 also mounted on the shaft of pin 140 and movable with the operating handle 70. The arm or lever 150 also has a rearwardly extending part 172 which is biased by a coil spring 173 the lower end of which is attached to a screw fitting 174 as shown in FIGURE 4. As may be observed in FIGURES 4 and 14, when the handle 70 is pulled down, the end of arm 170 which is attached to the link 168 exerts a force downwardly upon the knee formed by the

links

162 and 164 tending to straighten out the knee with increasing mechanical advantage as it straightens out. The end of the link 162 shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 14 tends to move the pivot 161 backwardly thus acting on the part 160 of lever 150 to rotate it around its pivot 151 in a direction to move the plunger 108 downwardly. The lever 150 operates against the tension of spring 173.

The lever 70 also operates a hydraulic cylinder which actuates the mechanical clutch previously referred to. This clutch in the preferred form is like that shown in the application referred to above of Carl G. Thiene. It is within the housing 85 and is operated by hydraulic cylinder 180. The cylinder is connected by hydraulic line 181 with cylinder 182 which is within the housing 69 of the operating head. This line may be seen on FIGURE 3 as well. The cylinder 182 has a piston in it connected to a stem 183 on the end of which is a yoke 184. Pivoted to the yoke by a pin 185 is a link 186, the other end of which is pivoted by a pin 187 to a link 188 which is pivotally carried on the shaft 140. On the shaft 140 is an angular arm 193 and pivotally attached to the upper end of this arm is a block 194. The block 194 is slidably mounted on a stem 196, and on the end of this stem is a yoke 197 attached by pivot 198 to an intermediate point of link 186. A coil spring 201 is on the stem 196 and it urges the block 194 in a direction away from the yoke 197. The end of the stem 196 is screw-threaded and it is threaded through a cylindrical housing 203 having a lock nut 204 on the end of it. Within the housing 203 are a group of dished spring washers which may preferably be Belleville washers as designated at 205. The arm 193 may be pivoted on a pin 206 extending from the block 194, with a spacer 207 on it. Stem 196 holds arm 186 and plunger 116 up until plunger 108 enters an opening 96 in the type case.

Adjustably attached to the yoke 184 is a block 210 having a bore through it through which extends the plunger 116. The plunger passes through an adjustment screw 211 whereby the position of the plunger 116 with respect to the block 210 may be adjusted or set by means of the graduated adjusting knob 72 as shown in FIGURE 7. The adjusting screw 211 has a tubular threaded stem 215 which passes through the block 210 as shown, and the screw 211 may be set on the stem 116 by a set screw 216 engageable with a flat 217 on the side of the stem 116. The screw 211 may be set in position by a 'latch member 220 having threads at its inner end as shown in FIGURE 7.

As previously described the end of the stem of plunger 116 cooperates with the notches 111 in the plates 110 that are in the casing of the type carriage assembly. This stem engages with the bottom of the notches and thereby limits the travel imparted to the stem 183 of the piston and cylinder 182. This predetermines the amount of hydraulic fluid that is forced through the line 181 on the upstroke, to the cylinder 180. This, therefore, determines the incremental indexing adjustment of the mechanical clutch within the housing that imparts indexing movement to the shaft 86 and to the carriage 82. The lever 70 and the plunger 108 may continue to move downwardly and apply a pressure to the type members after the plunger 116 has been stopped. This is permitted by reason of the fact that the block 194, being slidable on the stem 196 provides a strain release or lost motion connection allowing the shaft to continue to rotate after movement of the link 186 has been stopped by engagement of the plunger 116 with the bottom of one of the notches. During this operation the block 194 moves away from the housing 203 allowing the washers 205 to expand and to move the head or collar 222 downwardly with respect to the stem 196. The spacing between the printed letters is automatically adjusted and set to a predetermined amount as established by the depth of the notches 111 which controls the operation of clutch 85 and which determines the magnitude of the incremental indexing movements.

Means are also provided for variably adjusting the stroke that is imparted to the type actuating members since it is desirable that this be adjustable, the larger letters or characters requiring a longer stroke to make the required printing impression. This adjustment is designated generally by the numeral 230. Numeral 231 designates an upright extending upwardly. from a base 232 within the housing 69. This upright has an extending bushing 234 and journalled in this bushing is the end part 236 of a cylinder or rotor 237 having a knurled part 238. The cylindrical rotor has a bore 240 in it which is eccentric, and extending through this bore is a rotatable shaft or stem 241 having a small crank 242 on its outer end. Extending radially from the shaft 241 is a pin 243 which moves between two fixed stops as may be seen at 244 and 246 in FIGURE 4. The end of the shaft 241 lies in the path of movement of the lever and forms a limit stop for it. Thus, the position of the stop for the lever 150 and its dependent plunger 108 which limits their movement is adjustable by merely rotating the cam rotor 237 by knob 238 which positions the eccentric shaft 241 with it and, therefore, determines the posi tion at which the downward movement of the lever 150 and plunger 108 will be stopped. The end of the shaft 241, as best seen in FIGURES 4, 6, 12 and 13, has a fiat 252 and by turning the crank 242 keyed thereto, this fiat can be positioned so that the lever 150 and its plunger 108 is freed for extended travel to provide additional depth of impression for larger characters, it having a greater surface area requiring additional pressure.

For facile and rapid adjustment for varying the desired extent of printing movement a simple and readily actuatable adjustment means is provided. FIGURES 12 and 13 illustrate the operation of such adjustment means 230, showing the shaft 241 supported within the cam rotor 237 in its two limiting positions, and also showing different positions of the crank 242 illustrating the positioning of the flat 252 on the end of the shaft 241. A flick of the operators finger serves to manipulate the lever 242 to accomplish such desired adjustment.

The actuation of the platform 16 is best illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 14. The shaft 86 is journalled in a bearing in the lower part of the frame structure 10. The clutch itself is shown at 260, being a cylindrical member positioned to clutch and declutch the shaft 86. The clutch operates automatically when moved to clutch and declutch and it is moved through a mechanical linkage connected to the stem of the hydraulic cylinder as shown in detail in a preferred form in the said application of Carl G. Thiene. This cylinder is mounted ona bracket 261 which is supported within the lower part of the frame 10, preferably by being secured to a cross-member as designated at 62 of the same cross sectional shape as the other frame members. The manual control lever 83 carries a bracket 263 which operates the clutch to activate it or inactivate it. As pointed out in the foregoing, clutches of various different construction in detail, may be used though the preferred clutch is that of the above referred to application of Carl G. Thiene. The carriage 82 is guided by means of flanged rollers, which are shown at 266 and 267, and 266' and 277 which are on axles one of which may be seen at 268 in FIGURE 3. These flanged rollers are guided by trackways formed by the inwardly extending projections of a member as shown at 270 having the same cross section as the structural members previously described. The member 270 is positioned in the lower frame structure so that the carriage 82 is guided transversely in the proper direction for the transverse indexing movement which is imparted to the platform 16 through the member 75 described in connection with FIGURE 14. The movement of the carriage in one direction may be limited by limit stop screw 271. The showing in FIGURE 14 is partly diagrammatic for clearness. The carriage 82 is moved in one direction under the influence of springs not shown.

Preferably two of the rollers, 266 and 266 on opposite sides are on spring

biased arms

280 and 280 pivoted on pins as shown at 281. These arms are biased by

springs

282 and 282. Movement of the arms is limited by pins as shown at 283, each of which extends through a slot in its respective arm. The roller assembly prevents the carriage from binding or improperly positioned in its trackway.

Having the foregoing details of construction and operation in mind, those skilled in the art will readily understand the overall operation of the printing machine and its various components. In undertaking to print a card or the like, the manual lever 83 is moved into its manual position which inactivates the indexing clutch. The platform 16 may then be freely moved to the right or the left, the carriage 82 moving with it. It also may be slid forward and backward with respect to the bar 75 and set by means of the graduations on the bar. The paper or cardboard is placed on the pad 17 and may be clipped thereto by clips provided for that purpose. The frame 16 may be moved by its handle. Next, the carriage 33 is pushed in, that is rearwardly, until the

contacts

122 and 123 engage energizing the indicating light 120 which projects the cross hairs 125 onto the paper in a position directly under the plunger 108. This indicates on the paper, therefore, where the first letter is to be printed and the platform 16 can be manually adjusted to start the printing at any desired position.

Next, the type case or carriage 30 is adjusted transversely and in and out to bring the opening of the desired letter or character underneath the plunger 108. The plate 93 is, of course, engraved with the letters and characters on it adjacent their respective holes or apertures. The manual lever 83 is then shifted to the position in which the automatic indexing clutch is activated for automatic indexing. The lever 70 is then pulled down and the plunger 108 descends into the aperture opposite the stem of the character to be printed and this character is printed on the paper. The stroke is, as described above, as determined by the setting of the rotor 237. The plunger 116 moves down at or about the same time into the appropriate notch 111 adjacent to the letter being printed and its stroke is determined by the depth of the notch as described. Handle 70 is then moved up and when it moves up an outward stroke is imparted to the stem 183 of the piston in cylinder 182 and a proportionate amount of hydraulic fluid is transmitted to the hydraulic cylinder 180. The automatic clutch 260 then operates to index the shaft 86 and the carriage 82 and platform 16 a proportional amount. That is, the spacing between letters is automatically adjusted to be suitable for the size of the adjacent letter or character. In the preferred form of the clutch, as pointed out above, the clutch body 260 is mechanically moved by the piston in hydraulic cylinder 180. The clutch body automatically clutches in one direction and automatically deolutches when moved in the other direction.

The spacing that is automatically produced may also be manually adjusted in magnitude in the manner described above by adjusting the setting knob 72. After the foregoing operations, the type case or type carriage assembly 30 is then readjusted transversely or back and forth, or these motions combined until the opening adjacent the next character to be printed is underneath the plunger 108. The operation is then repeated for that character.

From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will ob serve that the invention meets all of the objects stated in the foregoing and has all of the advantages enumerated as well as many others. A simplified and effective com bination is provided wherein the platform for the card or paper being printed is automatically indexed and this is accomplished in a simplified and convenient way. The spacing provided by the automatic indexing is automatically controlled and governed by the notches provided in the spacer plates in the type case. This spacing is also manually adjustable as is the amount of printing pressure that is applied. By reason of the novel linkage associated with the operating handle, there is desired mechanical advantage so that excessive mechanical strength is not required to produce appropriate printing pressure and/or forces. The indicating light indicates precisely and in a simplified way where the first letter will be printed. The tracks and rollers of the carriages are such as to provide for reversing as described, to compensate for any wear. In addition to the advantages from the standpoint of operation and maintenance, the invention provides a printing machine also having great advantages from the standpoint of production, fabrication and assembly.

The foregoing disclosure is representative of a preferred form of the invention and is to be interpreted in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense, the invention to be accorded the full scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In a printing machine of the type having a movable platform for carrying a paperboard or the like to be printed, a movable type carriage assembly having a plurality of type members mounted over the platform and a manual operating mechanism for actuating said type members, said manual operating mechanism being mounted over said type carriage assembly and said platform, said manual operating mechanism including a manually operable member and a reciprocable member, said printing machine also having means for indexing said platform in increments each time said operating mechanism is operated to actuate a type member, the improvements comprising:

(a) a first plurality of plates mounted in said carriage assembly in spaced, parallel relation; and

(b) a second plurality of plates mounted in said carriage assembly normal to said first plates, each of said second plates having notches arranged to cooperate with said reciprocable member for predetermining the magnitude of each increment of indexing of said platform, said second plates also having slots in their lower parts which engage said first plates, said second plates also having ribs which frictionally engage said first plates, whereby said second plates are readily removeable and replaceable by plates having notches of different depths to accommodate different type members.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said indexing mechanism comprises:

a platform carriage assembly for supporting said platform;

a platform-carriage arm pivotally mounted intermediate its ends at each end of said platform carriage assembly;

a flanged roller rotatably mounted near each end of said platform-carriage arms, said rollers being guided by trackways mounted in said printing machine below said moveable type carriage assembly;

a spring connected to each platform-carriage arm for biasing said rollers into engagement with said track- Ways, whereby said platform-carriage assembly is maintained in proper alignment with said trackways;

a shaft connected to said platform;

a clutch connectable to said shaft, said clutch being brought into clutching engagement with said shaft by operation of said manual operating mechanism to move said shaft linearly for indexing said platform, said clutch releasing said shaft upon being declutched, whereby said platform may be moved manually without resistance from said indexing means; and

connecting means for connecting said clutch to said manual operating mechanism.

3. A combination, as in claim 2, including manual means for disengaging said clutch.

4. A combination as in claim 2, wherein said connecting means comprises a hydraulic actuator and hydraulic means operated by said manual operating mechanism for actuating said hydraulic means.

5. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said manual operating mechanism further comprises a lever having a fixed pivot at one end, and an end part at its other end pivotally connected to said reciprocable member for operating said type members, a downwardly extending arm at said one end of said lever, a first toggle link having one end pivotally connected to said downwardly extending arm, and second and third toggle links each having an end pivotally connected to a movable pivot formed at the other end of said first link, the other end of said second link being connected to a fixed pivot, the other end of said third link being pivotally connected to said manually operable member.

6. A combination as in claim 5, including adjustment means for providing an adjustable stop for limiting the stroke imparted by movement of said lever, said adjustment means comprising a rotary member having an eccentric part positioned to be engaged by and form a stop for said lever, said rotary member including a separately rotatable eccentric shaft having a flat on one end thereof providing a predetermined stop limiting the movement of said lever.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,356,032 10/20 Angus 74-518 1,724,512 8/29 Pietzoch 74516 1,906,304 5/33 Barrett 197-149 X 2,058,541 10/36 Wilshusen 74516 2,115,692 4/38 Thorn 1972 2,134,343 10/38 Salzberger 197-149 2,670,831 3/54 Barrett et al. 197-2 2,873,013 2/59 Thiene et al. 197-2 ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A PRINTING MACHINE OF THE TYPE HAVING A MOVABLE PLATFORM FOR CARRYING A PAPERBOARD OR THE LIKE TO BE PRINTED, A MOVABLE TYPE CARRIAGE ASSEMBLY HAVING A PLUSRALITY OF TYPE MEMBERS MOUNTED OVER THE PLATFORM AND A MANUAL OPERATING MECHANISM FOR ACTUATING SAID TYPE MEMBERS, SAID MANUAL OPERATING MECHANISM BEING MOUNTED OVER SAID TYPE CARRIAGE ASSEMBLY AND SAID PLATFORM, SAID MANUAL OPERATING MECHANISM INCLUDING A MANUALLY OPERABLE MEMBER AND A RECIPROCABLE MEMBER, SAID PRINTING MACHINE ALSO HAVING MENS FOR INDEXING SAID PLATFORM IN INCREMENTS EACH TIME SAID OPERATING MECHANISM IS OPERATED TO ACTUATE A TYPE MEMBER, THE IMPROVEMENTS COMPRISING: (A) A FIRST PLURALPITY OF PLATES MOUNTED IN SAID CARRIAGE ASSEMBLY IN SPACED, PARALLEL RELATION; AND (B) A SECOND PLURALITY OF PLATES MOUNTED IN SAID CARRIAGE ASSEMBLY NORMAL TO SAID FIRST PLATES, EACH OF SAID SECOND PLATES HAVING NOTCHES ARRANGED TO COOPERATE WITH SAID RECIPROCABLE MEMBER FOR PREDETERMINING THE MAGNITUDE OF EACH INCREMENT OF INDEXING OF SAID PLATFORM, SAID SECOND PLATES ALSO HAVING SLOTS IN THEIR LOWER PARTS WHICH ENGAGE SAID FIRST PLATES, SAID SECOND PLATES ALSO HAVING RIBS WHICH FRICTIONALLY ENGAGE SAID FIRST PLATES, WHEREBY SAID SECOND PLATES ARE READILY MOVEABLE AND REPLACEABLE BY PLATES HAVING NOTCHES OF DIFFERENT DEPTHS TO ACCOMMODATE DIFFERENT TYPE MEMBERS.