US3245367A - Printing machine for printing on different kinds of copy sheets - Google Patents

Description

April 12, 1966 w. RlTzr-:RFELD' ETAL 3,245,367

PRINTING MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON DIFFERENT KINDS OF COPY SHEETS 14 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 22, 1964 April 12, 1966 w. RITZERFELD ET AL 3,245,367

PRINTING MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON DIFFERENT KINDS OF COPYv SHEETS 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 22, 1964 Jn ven/org April 12, 1966 w. R|TZERFELD ETAL 3,245,367

PRINTING MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON DIFFERENT KINDS OF COPY SHEETS Filed April 22, 1964 I4 Sheets-Sheet 5 m Figi .7/7 ven fors April l2, 1966 w. RITZERFELD ET ALl PRINTING MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON DIFFERENT KINDS OF COPY SHEETS 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 22, 19c4 April 12, 1966 w. Rl'rzERFELD ETAL 3,245,367

PRINTING MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON DIFFERENT KINDS OF COPY SHEETS 3,4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 22. 1964 ..70 venan L Jim Mld;

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April 12, 1966 w. RITZERFELD ET Al- 3,245,367

PRINTING MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON DIFFERENT KINDS OF COPY SHEETS Filed April 22, 1964 14 sheets-sheet e Jn Vgn/ors April 12, 1966 W, RITZERFELD ETAL 3,245,367

PRINTING MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON DIFFERENT KINDS OF COPY SHEETS 14 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed April 22, 1964 Jn ven/ars April 12, 1966 W, RlTZERFr-LD l-:TAL` 3,245,367

PRINTING MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON DIFFERENT KINDS OF' COPY SHEETS Filed April 22, 1964 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 Figa Iii 147 135 r lW gy am@ e:

April 12, 1966 l W R|TZERFELD ET AL.. 3,245,367

PRINTING MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON DIFFERENT KINDS OF COPY SHEETS Filed April 22, 1964 l A 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 n n -1 a 'S :n a

J/Ivenfars April l2, 1966 w. RlTzr-:RFELD ET AL 3,245,367

PRINTING MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON DIFFERENT KINDS OF COPY SHEETS Filed April .22l 1964 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 Fig. ff

23 31 f2 16u 33 J4 .7m/en for April l2, 1966 w. RrrzERFELD ET AI- 3,245,367

PRINTING MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON DIFFERENT KINDS OF COPY SHEETS Filed April 22, 1964 14 Sheets-Sheet l1 .7n ven/ar;

April 12, 1966 w. RITZERFELD ET AL 3,245,367

PRINTING MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON DIFFERENT KINDS OF COPY SHEETS 14 Sheets-Sheecl 12 Filed April 22, 1964 .WKK a Jnvemari April 12, 1966 PRINTING MACHINE Filed April 22, 1964 W. RITZERFELD ETAL FoR PRINTING oN DIFFERENT KINDs 0F COPY SHEETS 14 Sheets-Sheet .15

April 12, 1966 W.R1TZERFELD ETAL 3,245,367

PRINTING MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON DIFFERENT KINDS OF COPY SHEETS Filed April 22, 1964 l 14 Sheets-Sheet 14.

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United States Patent-O PRINTING MACHINE "FOR PRINTING O N DIFFER- The present invention relates to a printing machine for printing on different kinds of copy sheets, and more particularly to a printing machine ofthe ,typepermitting the selective printing of lines or sections of a printing form mounted on a printing roller on different copy sheets which may be of different colors or shape.

Particularly in printing machines by which from one printing form, different selected text sections are printed on copy sheets, different kinds of copy sheets aretused so that the color of the copy sheet will indicate the type of information contained on the copy sheet, or the particular office to which such a copy sheet has to be shown. Furthermore, since on some copy sheets the entire text of the printingform, and on other copy sheets only a few selectedlines of the text are printed copy sheets of different size and shape are advantageously used.

4The order and number of each kind of copy sheets used for printing from a single printing form can be determined before the printing operation, but since such order is different for different printing jobs, automatic feeding devices according to the known art cannot be used for thispurpose,`since the same are incapable of handling copy sheets which are different in' thickness and size. For

selective printing operations of ,thiskindtive or six or even more differentgcopy sheet forms are used for making thirty copies. Known feeding apparatus for printing machines cannothandle suchditferent kinds of copy sheet, and even if such feeding apparatus were known, it would have to be provided with a stack of copy sheets which are arranged in the order in whichthe feeding is required, and to obtain such a stack, it would be necessaryt'omanuallyk place the copy sheets inthe desired order in the stack. Consequently, it iswsimplen and less expensive to have thel different copyv sheets supplied by` thefperson loperating the machine to standardV feeding and transportpared with machines in which all prints are made on the v same copy sheet.

On the other hand, copy sheets of different recognizable types associated with particular selections of text sections of the printing form have great advantages since they can be` easily identified, and avoid the use of large copy sheets for very short` texts.

It is one object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of known copy, Ysheet feeding devices for selective printing machinesand to provide means by which the feeding of different copy sheets is facilitated l or automatically accomplished.

Another object of the invention is to provide avselective printing machine with different copy sheets atl such a speed that the output of themachine corresponds to theoutput of a printing/machine--using the same kind of copy sheets for all printing operations.

Another Aobject-of the invention is to provide indicating Imeans which indicate to the operator after each revolution of the vprinting roller, the kind of copysheet which the operator has to supply to the machine.

3,245,367 Patented Apr. 12, 1966 JCe Another object of the invention is to provide the printing machine with programing means which are set to a to a preselected program in the order of several series of copy sheets ofvdiiferentnkinds and count the revolutions of the printing rollerand the number of fed copy sheets to automatically controlthe yfeeding of the copy sheets in the proper order.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide automatic transporting and feeding means supplying copy sheets of different kinds in a preselected order to a rotary printing machine.

Another object of the invention is to automatically vprint during successive revolutions of a printing roller, a

first ykind ofy copyY sheet with the entire text of the printing form, and other different copy sheets with selected text sections of the printing form, the selected text sections being preferably automatically changed after each revolution of the printing form.

Withthese objects in view, the present invention relates to a printing or duplicating machine for printing selected text sections of a printing form on different kinds of copy sheets. One embodiment Aof the invention comprises printing means including a rotary printing roller; programing means` having a plurality of consecutive series of elements having inactive and active conditions; means actuated by the printing roller during each revolution to place theV elements of the vprograming means successively in the active position; and 4a plurality of selection means respectively correlated withthe different kinds of copy sheets.

The elements of each series of the programing means represent copy sheets of the saine kind, and at least some of the series of elements representdilferent kinds of copy sheets. vEach selection :rneansis controlled by a series of elements representingcopy sheets of the corresponding kind to assume the operative condition when the elements of the controlling series assume the active condition; In the operative condition of the selection means, feeding of a copy sheet ofthe corresponding kind is carried out by the feeding means.

This may be accomplished in dierent ways.

In one embodiment of kthe invention, each selection means includes a series of signal lamps of the same color, different series and different copy sheets being associated with lamps of different colors. When a signallarnp is placed in the operative lighted condition, it indicates by its color. the kind of copylsheet Which is to be ,supplied by the operating person to the feeding means.

Another embodiment of the invention provides transporting means, for example pairs of transporting rollers, for supplying each kind of copy sheet to the feeding means. Each transporting meansis controlled by a series of elements of the programing means to start transport of the respective copy sheet when the machine is about to print a corresponding text section.

The several transporting means are disposed on different levels, and are connected by fan-shaped guide means with the feeding means by which each copy sheet is transported and fed to the printing means, and more particularly to the gap between the printing roller and a counter pressure roller.

In another modification of the transporting means, the several transportingrneans of the different kinds of copy sheets are mounted on a common support Which'is automatically raised or lowered to place the transporting means associated with the required kind of copy sheet at the level of the feeding mea-ns so that the correct copy sheet is fed to the printing means.

According to one arrangement of the present invention, the revolutions of the :printing roller are counted by electric counting means producing countingimpulses which are supplied to a matrix whose outputs are connected to the several transporting means which are associated with different kinds of copy sheets.

The outputs of the matrix are advantageously connected to means by which different text sections are selected for printing during successive revolutions of the printing roller. In this manner, the sequence of selecte-d text sections printed during successive revolutions of the printing roller, is determined between revolutions of the printing roller.

The outputs of the matrix are preferably provided with branch lines for controlling the printing means in such a manner that the time of cooperation between the printing roller and the counterpressure roller is inuenced.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the counting impulses control electromagnetic means which either directly control the cooperation between the printing roller and counterpressure roller, or inuence the same through axially, and preferably also circumferentially adjustable control cams by which the movements of the counterpressure roller to and from a printing position is derived.

The counting impulses of the counter means by which the revolutions of the .printing roller are counted, may be successively supplied to a program storing means which is formed of several, preferably electric counter means, connected in series, which determi-ne, by means of preselecting devices, the transmission of impulses to the next counter means in a selective manner, and which operate the counting devices of the program storing means until the same operate the corresponding transporting means for the copy sheets, until the electric counting means return to the initial position of rest.

For the selection and operation of the specific means for supplying -copy sheets of different kinds, and for 'at the same time controlling the moment, and time of cooperation between printing roller and counterpressure roller, it is preferred to provide two parallel counting devices with associated, independently operating program storing devices.

The transporting means of the several kinds of copy sheets are preferably placed in a transporting condition by electromagnetic coupling means connecting a selected transporting means with continuously operating drive means, and the electromagnetic coupling means being selectively energized by the counting impulses of the counting devices in cooperation with the program storing devices.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, photoelectric sensing means are provided for sensing a selected copy sheet transported by the transporting means, so that the printing machine starts only when a copy sheet is supplied to the main feeding means.

In another embodiment of the invention, the transporting means of the several kinds of copy sheets are arranged at different levels on a shiftable support, which is operated to place the transporting means of the required kind of copy sheet at the level of the main feeding means. Counting impulses of the counting means control the shifting of the support to a correct position in which the required kind of copy sheet is supplied to the main feeding means of the machine.

The impulses of the counting device control the number of operations of each copy sheet supplying transporting means before all the copy sheets of the several transporting devices have traveled the distance to the printing roller, which is substantially the same for all transporting means.

In another modification of the invention, the moment, and the time period of cooperation between the printing roller and the counterpressure roller is regulated in accordance with the position of the support of the several transporting means.

The cams by which the selection of text sections of the printing form is controlled, are rendered operative by electromagnetic means in accordance with the program selection. It is possible to control and operate the support of the several transporting means by counting impulses in such a manner that certain transporting means are skipped and the respective copy sheets are not used.

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

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary schematic side View, partially in section, illustrating one embodiment of the invention, a side wall of the frame being omitted for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line II-II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line III--III in FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a printing form, and the different kinds of copy sheets selected in accordance with a program;

FIG. 5 is a side view, partially in section, illustrating another embodiment of the invention, a side wall of the frame being omitted for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side view illustrating on an enlarged scale a portion of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on line VII*VII in FIG. 5

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line VIII-VIII in FIG. 5, and being developed for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the electric circuit and the counting devices of the embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 8;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the electric circuit of sensing means used in the embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 9;

FIG. 11 is a side view, partially in section, illustrating a third embodiment of the invention, one side wall of the frame being omitted for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary side View illustrating on an enlarged scale a detail of the embodiment of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a fragmenatry sectional view taken on line XIII-XIII in FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the electric circuit of the embodiment of FIGS. 10 to 13; and

FIG. 15 is a partial framentary side view illustrating a detail of the embodiment of FIGS. 1l to 14, and partly an electric circuit used in this embodiment.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, a printing roller 3 is connected by a one revolution clutch, not shown, with continuously operating drive means including meshing gears 302, 303 and 304, and a pulley 305 which is dirven from a motor, not shown, in the usual manner. Gear 304 and `a chain sprocket 307 are xed to the drive shaft 306 which is rotated by pulley 305. A chain 308 connects sprockets 307 with another sprocket on a shaft 327 by which an electromagnetic coupling 309 is driven, as best seen on the right side of FIG. 2.

A gear 311 is secured to the shaft 310 of the printing roller 3 and rneshes with :a gear 312 driving a gear 313 on a cam shaft 14. Consequently, cam shaft 314, with cam means 315, 315m 316 rotates in synchronism with the printing roller 3.

FIG. 2 illustrates only one cam 1S which has a cam lug 316, but it will be understood that a number of adjustable cams may be mounted for turning and axial movement on shaft 314 to select head section and other line sections of the printing form, as is known to those asn-sas skilled in the art. The cam selecting arrangement which will be described with reference to FIG. 8, may also be used in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3. Cams on cam shaft 314 cooperate with a follower roller 317 mounted on a lever of a lever system by which the counterpressure roller 13 is moved between a printing position cooperating with a printing form 346 on printing roller 3, `and a retracted inoperative position. Spring means, not shown urge counterpressu-re roller 13 to the retracted position shown in FIG. 1. When cam lug 316 engages follower roller 317, counterpressure roller 13 is moved to the printing position so that a copy sheet supplied by feeding rollers 341, 342 to the gap ybetween the printing roller and the counterpressure roller is imprinted by the corresponding text section of printing form 346. Since the copy sheet is transported by the cooperation between the printing roller and the counterpressure roller, it stops when the counterpressure roller is retracted, so that several selected text sections, or a head section and a text section, are printed in adjacent positions on the copy sheet, as is known to those skilled in the art.

Cam 315 is automatically shifted one step after each revolution of the printing -roller so that successive text lines of the printing form are printed during successive revolutions of the printing roller, if desired. Cam 315, a switch control arm 324, and a gear 325 are secured by bolts to a housing member 323 of a spring-loaded stepping mechanism which includes a ratchet wheel 321, 'a shifting pawl 320, `a locking pawl 319, and a spiral spring 322 which are normally locked by pawl 319, but which will perform a step when pawl 320 is displaced by an actuating member, not shown in FIG. 1, but exvactly corresponding to the actuating members 42a, 42b, 42C shown in FIG. 5. When the stepping mechanism is operated by an actuating member in operative position, which takes place at the end of a revolution of the printing roller, the stepping mechanism is shifted one step, and the cam lug 316 of cam 3-15 is displaced `a corresponding yangular step so that during the following operation, cam follower roller 317 is engaged later during the revolution of the printing roller, so that the counterpressure roller is moved to the printing position when the next following line .section of the printing form passes through the printing plane, as compared with the preceding revolution of the printing roller.

Gear 325 meshes with a gear 326 which meshes with :a gear 328 on shaft 327. Shaft 327 is rotated from drive shaft 306 and drive 307, 308, 307a when electromagnetic coupling means 309 isenergized and the two coupling parts 309a and 309b are in the engaged coupling position. When shaft 327 is rotated in this manner, spring 322 is wound up by turning the |housing 323- to which one end of the spring is secured.

As best seen in FIG. 3, shaft 327 is connected by an electromagnetic coupling means 329 including two coupling parts 32951 :and 329b to ya sprocket 330 driving through a chain 331 another sprocket 351 and a contact arm 352 whose resilient contact 343 passes over a series of contacts 344 arranged along a circle on a contact plate 343, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. Contact plate 334 is iixed to the frame of the machine, and carries pawls 336 and 337, .and a control lever 339 which is rockable about a pivot 338.

Contacts 344 of contact plates 334 are respectively connected to signal lamps 335e, 335b, and 335C which have different colors, for example, red, green and White. A series of successive contact elements 344 isk connected to each signal lamp, the number of contact elements 344 of the same series connected to the same lamp being selected in accordance with a program. v

The lamps 335a, 335b, 335e` are respectively correlated with different kinds of copy sheets, so that when, for example, a lamp of a specific color lights up, the operator of the machine will select a kind of copy sheet associated with the :respective color of the signal lamp, and supply it tofthefeeding means 341, 342.

Pawls 337 and 336 are spring-loaded, and cooperate with a ratchet wheel 333 which is securedr to contact arm 332. Normally, pawl 337 engages the ratchet wheel 333 and prevents the same froml turning under the action of a spring 348. When coupling means 3295i, 329b is energized and in coupling condition, the contact arm 332 with ratchet wheel 333 is `rotated against the action of spring 348` so that the same is tensioned to provide a force for turning the ratchet wheel when the coupling means 329 is again deenergized, which is the normal condition Yof coupling means 329.

As is shown in FIG. l, signal lamp 335g is connected to a series of three contact elements 344 which are the iirst to be engaged by contact 343 of contact arm 332l during rotation of printing roller 3 in a direction of the arrow E. `The second signal lampA 335b is connected to only one contact element 344, While the third signal lamp 335e is connected to a series of contact elements 344 which includes all remaining contact elements.- Since each signaly lamp is correlated Wit-h a particular kind of copy sheet which may be different in color or size, `the corresponding series of contact elements 344 is associated with the same kind of copy sheets, but different series of contact elements are associated with diierent kinds of copy sheets. It is evident that more or fewer contact elements may be connected to each signal lamp in accordance with a program, and consequently the respective connectors and contact elements constitute programming means. A contact element 344 not engaged by conta-ct 343 of Contact arm 332 is in lan inactive position,.but when contact 343 engages a contact element 344, it is in an active condition since the corresponding signal lamp is `connected into a circuit, and lights up. The circuit includes a slide ring 335d connected to contact 343, and a slide Contact 335e sliding on the slide ring and being connected to the source of voltage whose other terminal is connected to the signal lamps.

A switch 350 is operated .by control arm 324 on shaft 314, and is connected in series with a manually operated switch 349 and the electromagnetic coupling means 309 and 329, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 1.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 operates as follows:

p The program is selected by connecting each of the signal lamps to a corresponding series of Contact elements 344, the second series consisting of only a single contact element, and the iirst series consisting of four contact elements so that contact 343 engages the first contact element 344, closing the circuit of the red signal lamp 335a so that the same is lighted.

The machine is operated as follows:

Since the red signal lamp 335a is lighted, the operating person places a red copy sheet 345 between the feeding rollers 341, 342, and when rotation of printing roller 3 is started by engaging theV one revolution coupling, not shown, of the drive means, printing roller 3 rotates in the direction of the arrow E out of the initial position shown vin FIG. l.

Since cam shaft 314 rotates in synchronism with the printing roller, being driven by the gear train 311, 312, 313, cam shaft 314 turns in the `direction of the arrow F with the cam 315 thereon. Pawl 319secured to gear 313, is in the position engaging ratchet Wheel 321 and consequently the same is turned together with `cam 315 and switch control arm 324.

Whenthedesired and selected section of the printing form passesA the printing plane G-H, cam lug 316 of cam 315 engages cam kfollower roller 317 so that counterpressure roller 13 is moved to its printing position whereby the respective'text Vsection of printing form 346 is printed on a copy sheet 345 located inthe printing plane G-H between the printing roller and the counterpressure roller.

Shortly before printing roller 3 has completed its rst revolution, a roller 347, see FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, secured to gear 311 engages control lever 339 and turns the same about pivot 338 so that the free end of control lever 339 engages shifting pawl 336 and releases ratchet wheel 333 of the stepping mechanism on shaft 310 to turn one step under the action of spring 348 until ratchet wheel 333 is again stopped by pawl 337 falling into the following notch of the ratchet wheel. Consequently, contact arm 332 with contact 343 is shifted one step to a position in which contact 343 engages the next following contact element 344, rendering the same active so that the red signal lamp 33551 is again lighted, although the rst contact element 344 was rendered inactive by the contact arm. The red signal lamp indicates to the operator that a red copy sheet is again required in accordance with the program, and the operator will supply such a copy sheet to the feeding means 341, 342.

In this fashion, the signal lamp acts as a selection means which causes the operator to carry out a corresponding selection of the kind of copy sheet associated with the respective signal lamp.

The same operations are repeated after each revolution of the printing roller, and since four contact elements 344 are connected to signal lamp 335g, four red copy sheets are printed. The actuating means, not shown, by which pawl 320 can be operated, are held, for example, in an inoperative position, so that pawl 319 establishes a coupling connection with ratchet 321, and cam 315 remains in the same position during the printing of the four consecutive red copy sheets whereby the same text appears on the same.

When contact arm 332 moves from the fourth contact to the fifth contact element 344, the green signal lamp 335b is connected into the circuit, and lights up, indicating to the operator that a green copy sheet has to be supplied to feeding means 341 and 342. Before the rotation of the printing roller is started, another cam 315a, not shown in FIG. 4 may be placed in a position for operating cam follower roller 317 and counterpressure roller 13, so that another text section of printing form 346 can be printed. By selecting suitable cams, it is also possible to print the entire text on the rst series of copy sheets, and to print a particular text section by cam 315a on a green copy sheet.

When contact arm 332 moves to a position in which contact 343 engages a contact element 344 connected to the white signal lamp 335C, an actuating means corresponding to the actuating means 42a in FIG. 5 is placed in an operative position engaging shifting pawl 320 so that during each revolution of printing roller 3 and cam shaft 314, ratchet wheel 321 is permitted to make one step under the action of spiral spring 323. Consequently, during successive revolutions of printing roller 3, a `different text section will be printed on consecutive white copy sheets supplied by the operator to the feeding means 341, 342, since during each revolution, the displaced cam lug 316 will engage cam follower roller 317 later in relation to the rotation of printing roller 3 with printing form 346 so that successive text sections pass through the printing plane G-H during each revolution at the moment in which cam lug 316 displaces cam follower 317 and thereby counterpressure roller 13.

As long as signal lamp 335C is lighted, the operator will supply a white copy sheet to the feeding means 341, 342 so that the white copy sheet will be imprinted with single lines, but each copy sheet will receive a different selected single line of the printing form.

Since the length of the printed text is the same for all white copy sheets, they may be made shorter than, for example, red copy sheets receiving the entire text of the printing form.

When several actuating means are provided, as shown in FIG. 5, cam 315, 316 will be displaced two or more angular steps, so that instead of consecutive lines of the text, text sections spaced one or two lines will beprinted on the respective copy sheets.

When all copy sheets are printed in accordance with the preselected program, contact arm 332 moves oiic the last contact element 344 connected to the white signal lamp 335e so that the same becomes inoperative and is extinguished. It is not necessary to connect all remaining contacts 344 to the white signal lamp, since the smaller number of copy sheets than contact elements 344 may be required. In any event, the printing machine is returned to its initial condition by operation of switch 349 which closes a circuit to the electromagnetic coupling means 309 and 329. The drive part of coupling 309 is driven by chain 308 from drive shaft 306, and when the coupling is energized, the driven part 309b is driven by shaft 327 so that gear 328 drives gear 325 through gear 326 whereby gear 325 and control arm 324 are rotated in a direction of the arrow F until control arm 324 engages switch 350 and opens the same so that the electromagnetic coupling 309 and the electromagnetic coupling 329 are deenergized. As long as shaft 327 rotated, and coupling means 329 was energized at the same time as coupling means 309, coupling part 329e is driven by shaft 327 and drives coupling part 32% so that the chain drive 330, 331, 351 rotates contact arm 332 until the same abuts a stop 352 on contact plate 334, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Contact arm 332 is stopped at the same moment in which control arm 324 opens switch 350 and deenergizes the two electromagnetic coupling means 309 and 329. All movable parts of the machine are now in the initial position so that a new printing form may be mounted on the printing roller, and a new program selected by connecting different series of contact elements 344 to the three signal lamps. Evidently, a greater number of different distinguishable signal lamps, or other indicating means, may be provided if the prints are to be made on a greater number of different copy sheets. In any event, each indicating means, such as a signal lamp, correlated with a particular kind of copy sheets, indicates the necessary selection to the operator so that he may supply corresponding copy sheets to the feeding means.

While in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, the selection is indicated to the operator, the embodiments of FIGS. 4 to 10, and FIGS. 11 to 15 are provided with selection means which effect automatic selection of the particular desired kind of copy sheet, and transport of the respective copy sheets to the feeding means.

FIG. 4 shows a printing form whose first seven lines or sections contain a text to be printed. The first two lines are designated Pr. 1 and constitute a program, such as a head section, which will have to be repeated on all copy sheets. The following lines T3 to T7 may be referred to as transported lines since they do not necessarily appear on all copy sheets, selecte-d lines being printed on some copy sheets, and successive lines being printed on successive copy sheets during successive revolutions of the printing roller, as required.

As schematically indicated by FIG. 4, the printing operations are to be carried out on tive different kinds of copy sheets 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7, which are respectively white, yellow, red, pink and green. Copy sheets of different colors are to receive diterent selections of the full text of the printing form 1. In accordance with the program schematically indicated in FIG. 4, two white copy sheets are to receive imprints of all seven lines, that is of the entire text of the printing form during the first two revolutions of the printing roller. Three prints of the rst three lines are to be made on three yellow copy sheets 4 and on three pink copy sheets 4 in the following six revolutions of the printing roller. Thereupon, lines 1 and 2 and line 4 are to be printed on one yellow copy sheet and on two red copy sheets. By printing the same text on copy sheets of different colors, the respective copy afm-sgat 9` sheets may be easily identified and directed to different oices requiring the same information.

The following printing operations according to the program will result in printing ofthe text line T on two yellow copysheets 4, two lpink copy sheets 6 and one copy sheet 7, then the printing'of the text line T6 on three yellow copy sheets, and finally the printing of the text line T7 on one red copy sheet 5, two pink copy sheets 6, and one green copy sheet 7.

The printing machine which is provided with the apparatus of the invention is of a well known construction, and shown to be a rotary duplicating machine including a printing roller 3 having a holding means 11 for clamping a printing form 1,to its periphery and rotating with a shaft 8 driven by drive means, not shown. A counterpressure yroller 13 cooperates with yprinting roller 3. Copy sheets are transportedand fed by a pair of feeding rollers 48,'49 into ythe gap between the printing roller and the counterpressure roller andare imprinted with selected text section whenv the 'counterpressure roller is moved to a printing position in close proximity to the periphery of printing roller 3.

Counterpressre roller 13 is shifted between an inoperative position and the printingposition by an intermediate lever system including levers 32'mounted o n a shaft means 12, toggle levers 33, 34 loaded by spring 160 and being adjustable by an eccentric member supporting lever 34, a lever 31 engaging a pin means on a lever 23 which is mounted on a shaft 26 in the frame of the machine and has a cam follower roller 28 cooperating with cam means including a cam 15 having a cam lug associated with the head section of the text, cams 16a and 16b by which the head section can be extended two lines. Cam 15 is fixedly connected by a ange member'19 to shaft 14. Another cam 17 is mounted on shaft 14 and has such a cam shape as to permit the printing of the entire text of the printing form. The cam group 16a, 16b, 17 can be shifted inaxial direction along shaft 14 to place cams 16a and 16b in engagement with cam follower roller 28 on a cam follower lever 24, while in the position illustrated in FIG. 8, cam 17 cooperates with a cam follower roller 27 on a cam follower lever 23 which is also secured to shaft 26. A third cam follower lever secured to shaft 26 has a cam follower roller 29 cooperating with cams 19a, 19b and 19C when the same are shifted in axial direction on shaft 14. These cams are associated with text sections and have different length, for example corresponding to one, two or three lines so that depending on the position of the cam group 19a, 19b, 19C, one, or two, or `three lines can be printed. Cams 19a, 19b, 19C are mounted on the housing part of a spring-loaded stepping mechanism including shifting pawls 37, 36, a ratchet wheel 38, and a spiral spring which upon operation of shifting pawl 37 by any of the actuating members 42a, 42]), 42C will permit ratchet wheel 38 to make a single step, or two steps, or three steps together with the cam group 19a, 19b, 19C, and such steps will be made after each revolution of the printing roller since shaft 14 rotates in synchronism with the printing Y roller 3 with which it is connected by a gear train 20, 21, 22.

According to the effective length of the cam projections of the cams in operative positions engaging cam follower rollers, thecam follower levers 23, or 24, or 25 are op-' are provided with rollers which engage shifting lever 37,

-andoper'ated by electromagnetic means 43a,`43b, 43C

10 which are controlled by a matrix 44, which will be de'- scribed hereinafter in greater detail with reference to FIG. 9. i A

The shifting'of cams 19a, 19b, 19C in axial direction to positions cooperating with cam follower means 25, 29 isaccompl'ished by electromagnetic means 134, 135, 136 which are automatically operated under control of the matrix 44, but it is also possible to manually shift the cams by operation of the rod 137 on which the armatures' of electromagnetic means 134, 135,136 act. Rod 137 is biased by spring 147 to move to the left as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 8, and acts on a lever 139 connected by a pivot 140 to another'lever `141 which is connected by a pivot 142 vto the arm ,of a sleeve 143 having a slot 144 of helical shape. Consequently shifting of a rod l137 by the electromagnetic means, or the manual operation, will cause turning movementof sleeve 143,V and due to the helical shape of slot 144, a pin 146 andv secured to a member will move in axialdirection so that the en- 'tirek cam group 19a, 19h, 19C will be shifted with member 145 in axial direction to place ' cams 19C, 19b, 19a successively in a position cooperating with cam follower roller 29. Cams 1 7, 16a, `16b are shifted in a similar manner by a member 158 engaging with apair of forked arms the flange member to which cams 17, 16b, 16a are secured by a bolt 18. A pin 159 on member 158 projects into a helical slot in a sleeve 157 having an arm connected by pivot means 154 to a lever 153 pivotally connected at 152 to another lever 151 which is articulated to `a rod v148 cooperating with three electromagnetic means including electromagnetic means 47 associated with cam 17 by which the entire text cna be printed, and electromagnet means 45 and y46 associated with cams 16a and 16b by whichI the text of the head section can be extended.

This arrangement is not an object of the invention and disclosed in our copending application Serial No. 351,668 entitledfCam Controlled Printing Machine, the basic features of the cam arrangement forcontrolling the counterpressure roller being also disclosed in our U.S. Patent 2,868,116.

Electromagnetic means 45, 46 and 47 can be energized by manually operated switches 131, 132, 133, and a corresponding .set of manually operated switches, not shown, is provided for operating electromagnetic means 134, 135, 136. Each of the electromagnetic means has'an armature projecting into a corresponding cutout of the respective rod 148 or 137 so that each electromagnetic means can perform its function independently of the other electromagnetic means.

In the camposition shown in FIG. 8, the entire text of the printing form will be printed, since cam follower roller is lin engagementl with cam 17. Cam follower roller 28 will also be operated bycam 15 associated with the head section.

When the cam group 16a, 16b, 17 is shifted in axial direction, cam 17 will be ,no longer engaged by camv follower 27, while cam 15 will remain effective to print the head section. Such head section can be extended by placing cams 16a or cam 16a and 16b under cam follower roller 28.

If it is desired to print one line of the text in addition to the head, cam 19a must be placedin a position cooperating with cam follower 29and when, for example, the actuating means 42a is shifted to an operative actuating positionengaging the shifting pawl 37, cam 19a will be shifted. one step in circumferential direction after each revolution of the printing roller so thatv successive lines of the text section will be printed in addition to the head section.

For eachof the several different kinds of copy sheets, a table'50, 5,1, 52,53, 54 is provided on which stacks'of lthe respectivecopy sheets are placed. As explained with reference to FIG. 4, the copy sheets are of different color,

11 and as best seen in FIGS. and 6, the copy sheets 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 are of different length, copy sheet 2 being designed to receive an imprint of the entire text, while copy sheets 5, for example, will receive only a single line of the text.

The copy sheets are transported by transporting means including rollers 55, 56, 57, 58 and 59, which are respectively driven by electromagnetic couplings 60a, 60b, 60o, 60d, and 60e when the same are energized, and which are not driven when the couplings are deenergized and disengaged. The couplings are driven from a drive shaft 61 through a chain drive including chain sprockets 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68 and 69. The several support tables for the stacks of copy sheets are located at different horizontal levels, and each support table is correlated with fan-shaped guide means 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, which have outlets for copy sheets located in the region of moistening means 76 and feeding rollers 48 and 49.

Intermediate guide means 76 to 81 and the several transporting rollers 55 to 59, fan-shaped conveyor means are arranged which include the conveyors 70, 71, 72, 73 and 74 each of which includes two conveyor belts guided about conveyor rollers and having adjacent portions between which copy sheets are transported toward the guide means 77 to 81. The conveyor rollers are mounted on shafts 75 which are driven by pulley and belt drive 130, as best seen in FIG. 7. Each transporting means, for example transporting rollers 55 and conveyor belt 70 will transport the corresponding copy sheet toward the guide means, for example 77, when the respective coupling 60a is energized, so that the feeding rollers 48, 49 will transport a thus selected copy sheet to the printing plane between printing roller 3 and counterpressure roller 13.

When a copy sheet arrives in the region of the feeding means 48, 49, its presence is sensed by a photoelectric sensing means 82 including a source of light 83 projecting a beam onto the feeding roller 49, and a photocell S4 which will create an impulse when sensing the leading edge of a selected copy sheet transported by the transporting means into the region of the feeding means.

FIG. illustrates a circuit of the photoelectric sensing means which includes an amplifier 99 and an electromagnetic means 100 responding to impulses produced by the photoelectric sensing means.

FIG. 9 illustrates the circuit of the apparatus. A key 85 controls two switches 86 and 89. Switch 86 connects the electromagnetic means 43a, 43h, 43C through an amplifier 88 with the gate 87 of a matrix 44. Electromagnetic means 43a, 43b `and 43C control the actuating means 42a, 42h, 42e by which the stepping mechanism of cams 19a, 19h, 19e is actuated. Switches, not shown, permit the `selection of one, two or three of the electromagnetic means 43a, 43b and 43e` for energization and control of the corresponding actuating member.

The second switch 89 connects a counter 91 and matrix 44 to a voltage source. At the same time electromagnetic means 45 is energized through an amplifier 90, electromagnetic means 45 being shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 5 to control rod 148 by which cam group 16a, 16b, 17 is shifted in axial direction.

The matrix 44 constitutes a programming means and has a number of outputs connected to switches operated by a manually operated rod 104. Diodes or other valves are provided in lines 8, 11, 16 and 19 which are connected to gate 87 in accordance with the selected program of printing on different kinds of copy sheets.

Referring again to FIG. 6, it will be seen that shaft 8 of the printing roller carries a cam 101 for operating two switches 97 and 102. Switch 102 is connected to the counters 111 and 91, and switch 98, when closed, connects the electromagnetic coupling means 60a, 60b, 60C, 60d and 60e of the transporting means for the copy sheets to one terminal of the source of voltage, or to 12 mass. The electromagnetic coupling means are respectively connected to amplifiers 96, 106, 127, 119 and 123 which are respectively connected to gates 92, 103, 129, 121 and 125, each of which is connected to one output of the matrix 44 by the switch means 104.

Gates 92, 103, 129, 121 and 125 are respectively connected to a storing counter 113 which is connected to counter 111. Preselecting devices 112n, 112b and 112C are operated by switches 93, 94, 95 to set the storing counter 113. Switch 108 which connects counter 111 to the source of voltage, also connects an electromagnetic program means 110 into the circuit.

The apparatus is operated as follows:

Switch 85, 89, 86 is manually closed so that electromagnetic means 43a is energized and actuating means 42a is placed in an actuating position in which it will be engaged by the rotating shifting pawl 37 during a revolution of the printing roller and of cams 19a, 19b, 19C. Electromagnetic means 45 is energized and shifts rod 148, see FIG. 8, so that cam 15 of the head section is operative. At the same time, the matrix 44 is energized and placed in its initial position so that on the first of the twenty-three illustrated output lines of the matrix, a potential is created which acts through gate 92 and amplier 96 to energize electromagnetic means 47, and to connect electromagnetic coupling means 60a to voltage. Electromagnetic means 47 also controls rod 148 so that sleeve '157 is turned, and cam group 17, 16a, 16b shifted in axial direction, as best seen in FIG. 8 resulting in a position in which the entire text will be printed under control of cam 17. Transporting rollers 55 are not yet driven, since electromagnetic coupling means 60a is not energized since the circuit is still interrupted by the cam operated switch 97 and by the manually operated switch 98.

Switch 98 is a start switch by which the printing operation is started. Electromagnetic coupling means 60a is energized and connects transporting rollers 55 to the chain drive explained with reference to FIG. 6, so that a white copy sheet 2 is transported to the conveyor means 70 and transported by the same to a position in which the copy sheet passes over guide means 77 and is moistened by moistening means 76 before being engaged 'by the feeding rollers 48, 49. At the moment in which the leading edge of copy sheet 2 engages the feeding rollers, the amount of light reected into photocell 84 is changed so that an impulse iscreated in the photocell which energizes through amplifier 99 the electromagnetic means 100, see FIG. 10. Electromagnetic means 100 controls the circuit of the one revolution clutch through which the printing roller 3 is driven from continuously rotating drive means, not shown, so that upon sensing of a copy sheet in the region of the feeding means 48, 49, the printing roller is started to perform `a revolution.

Printing roller 3 with printing form 1 starts to rotate while feeding rollers 48, 49 supply the copy sheet to the printing plane A-B between printing roller 3 and counterpressure roller 13. Due to the fact that electromagnetic means 47 is energized, cam 17 is operative and the entire text of the printing form is printed on the first copy sheet 2.

In the meantime, cam 101 operates counter switch 102 so that the counter 91 is shifted one unit.

Shortly before printing roller 3 arrives in its initial position, cam 101 actuates switch 97 so that the circuit of the electromagnetic coupling means 60a is again closed, which was opened upon release of switch 98 by the operator. Consequently, a white copy sheet 2 is automatically transported to the feeding means 48, 49 during the following second revolution of the printing roller. At the output No. 2 of matrix 44, gate 92 is again excited since the first two output lines of the matrix are connected to gate 92, corresponding to the predetermined program according to which two copies of the entire printing form are to be made on two white copy sheets, as ex-

Claims (1)

1. A PRINTING MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON DIFFERENT KINDS OF COPY SHEETS, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, PRINTING MEANS FOR PRINTING A TEXT COMPRISING TEXT SECTIONS; CONTROL MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID PRINTING MEANS TO PRINT SELECTED TEXT SECTIONS; FEEDING MEANS FOR FEEDING DIFFERENT KINDS OF COPY SHEETS TO SAID PRINTING MEANS; PROGRAMMING MEANS HAVING A PLURALITY OF ELEMENTS FOR REPRESENTING A SELECTED SEQUENCE OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF COPY SHEETS, SAID PROGRAMMING MEANS BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID CONTROL MEANS FOR EFFECTING THE PRINTING OF SELECTED

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