US3489081A

US3489081A - Apparatus for printing selected numbers of lines

Info

Publication number: US3489081A
Application number: US801994A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gerhard Ritzerfeld
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-02-29
Filing date: 1969-02-25
Publication date: 1970-01-13
Anticipated expiration: 1987-01-13
Also published as: JPS4813362B1; SE348976B; BE727575A; ES363785A1; GB1213605A; FR2002869A1; AT309478B

Description

Jan. 13, 1970 3. RITZERFELD APPARATUS FOR PRINTING SELECTED NUMBERS OF LINES 4 Sheets5heet 1 Filed Feb.

//1 ya for Jan. 13, 1970 G. RITZERFELD APPARATUS FOR PRINTING SELECTED NUMBERS OF LINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 25, 1969 Q w Q R RN w MQ //2 1 80/01" can/w Emmy J-an.13, 1970 G.RITZERFELDQ 3,489;081

APPARATUS FOR PRINTING SELECTED NUMBERS OF LINES Filed Feb. 25, 1969' 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. J

hn/enfor 6mm 2mm Fez;

.l-an.13,1970 QRlTZERF ELD 3,489,081

APPARATUS FOR PRINTING SELECTED NUMBERS OF LINES Filed Feb. 25, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 30

Inventor 650mm R1723 $9 United States Patent US. Cl. 101-91 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Printing cams control a printing machine and respectively cause the printing of different numbers of lines. The number of lines which are printed is selected by turning a manually operated means which effects the selection of the respective printing cam, and operates control cams operating actuating means by which a stepping mechanism for resetting the printing cams is actuated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Printing machines, particularly rotary duplicating machines, are known which can be operated to print a selected number of lines under the control of printing cams respectively associated with different numbers of printing lines. It is also known to automatically reset the printing cams by a spring biassed stepping mechanism so that the next follOWing group of lines is printed.

The selection of the printing of one, two or several lines is carried out by a complicated mechanism which requires great manual force for the operation, and further two motions in transverse direction, namely an arresting or releasing movement, and a movement by which the selection is effected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of the invention to provide apparatus for setting a printing machine to print different selected numbers of lines which is free of disadvantages of priorart constructions serving the same purpose, which can be easily operated by a small manual force, and which does not require movement of the manually operated means in more than one direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for printing selected numbers of lines which can be set by a manually operated mechanic-a1 linkage to print different numbers of lines.

Another object of the invention is to provide a turnable manually operated member which controls the selection of a printing cam associated with the selected number of lines, and also effects the automatic resetting of the printing cam after the printing operation.

With these objects in view, the present invention relates to an apparatus which can be set to print a single line or a group of lines, and which is automatically reset to print the next following single line, or the next following group of lines of the printing form.

One embodiment comprises printing means such as a printing roller carrying a printing form; operating means for the printing means including cam follower means having an operative position for causing printing of successive lines, preferably by counter pressure roller; a predetermined number of printing cams respectively correlated with different numbers of lines and having operative positions for moving the cam follower means to the operative position for causing the printing means to print different numbers of lines, respectively; drive means for the printing means and for rotating the printing cams in a printing direction; a biassed stepping ice mechanism preferably including pawl means and a ratchet wheel connected with the printing cams for rotation, and having a normal position blocking rotation of the printing cams in the direction opposite to the printing direction, and a released position for turning the printing cams in the opposite direction; a plurality of actuating means respectively associated with different numbers of lines and being movable between inoperative and actuating positions for moving the stepping mechanism to the released position after rotation of the printing cams in the printing direction for causing the printing of the respective number of lines, and for respectively holding the stepping mechanism in the released position while the same resets the printing cams in the opposite direction different numbers of steps corresponding to the respective number of printed lines; control cam means, preferably including a plurality of control cams respectively associated with different numbers of lines, cooperating with the actuating means and being operable for moving the same to the actuated positions, respectively; and manually operated means turnable between a plurality of angularly displaced selecting positions respectively associated with different numbers of lines, and operatively connected with the control cam means for operating the same in said selecting positions to move the respective actuating means to the actuating position thereof.

Linkage means connect the manually operated means with the printing cams so that in each selecting position of the manually operated means, the printing cam correlated with the respective number of lines is in the operative position cooperating with the cam follower means, while the printing cams associated with different numbers of lines, are placed by the linkage means in an inoperative position spaced from the cam follower means.

Preferably, the linkage means by which the printing cams are shifted between the inoperative and operative positions, are also operatively connected with the control cam means which control the resetting of the printing cams after the printing operation so that the placing of the manually operated means in one Selecting position, the respective printing cam is rendered operative, and the stepping mechanism is actuated to reset the printing cams automatically after the printing of the selected number of lines.

It is also possible to set the apparatus to manual operation only, and to render the stepping mechanism inomrative. This is effected by setting means which are connected with the actuating means for the stepping mechanism, and have a normal position in which the actuating means are operated by the control cam means, and, a displaced position in which the actuating means are spaced from the control cam means and are not operated by the same so that the stepping mechanism does not reset the printing cams.

The stepping mechanism preferably includes pawl means and a ratchet wheel connected to the printing cams for rotation. The actuating means include a supporting arm and a roller on the same engaged by the pawl means during rotation of the stepping mechanism so that the pawl means releases the ratchet wheel permitting the spring of the stepping mechanism to turn the printing cams in the direction opposite to the direction in which the printing of lines was effected. Setting means move the actuating means out of the circular path of movement of the pawl means, when automatically setting of the printing cam by the stepping mechanism is not desired.

The apparatus of the invention permits all operations for printing successive groups of lines on successive copy sheets, and is controlled by manually operated means which are turnable between selecting positions associated with different numbers of lines of each group, and need not be shifted in axial or transverse directions.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended 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 drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, illustrating a printing machine without one side wall;

FIG. 2 is a fragemntary plan view illustrating the printing machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation, partially in vertical section, illustrating on an enlarged scale, parts of the printing machine not visible or omitted in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3a is an axial sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 3a3a in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawing, a printing drum 5 carrying a printing form 46 with text lines extending in axial direction, is mounted on a drive shaft 4, and can be connected with the same by a one-revolution clutch, not shown. A gear 1 is fixed to drive shaft 4 and drives through gear 2 a gear 3 secured to a second drive shaft 6.

A stepping mechanism is mounted on drive shaft 6 and includes a driven member 7 secured to shaft 6 and carrying a locking pawl 8 and a shifting pawl 9 which are respectively biassed by

springs

56 and 55 to engage a ratchet wheel 10 so that the same rotates in clockwise direction with drive member 7 and pawl means 8, 9.

Ratchet wheel 10 is fixed to a flanged bushing 11 which carries a printing cam 12 associated with the printing of a single line, and having a cam lug short in circumferential direction.

Bushing 11 is connected by a key 13 with a shifting flange 14 to which

printing cams

15 and 16 are fixedly secured, and which are respectively correlated with the printing of three and two lines, and have cam lugs of different circumferential length as shown in FIG. 3.

Shafts 4 and 6 rotate printing earns 12, 15 and 16 in clockwise direction.

Printing cams

15 and 16 are movable with shifting member 14 in axial direction between inoperative position spaced from the cam follower roller 17, and operaitve positions engaging the same when rotating with shaft 6 in clockwise direction.

Cam follower roller 17 is mounted on a lever 18 turnable about a pivot 19 and having a stud located in a slot of a lever 20. When one or several of

printing cams

12, 16 and 15 engage follower roller 17 of lever 18, the same turns about a pivot 19 in the direction of the arrow B and shifts the link 22 in the direction of the arrow C while lever 20 is turned about a pivot 21 by a stud on lever 18 located in a slot of lever 20. The movement of link 22 in the direction of the arrow C causes displacement of the articulated toggle levers 23 and 24 since lever 25, to which levers 22 and 24 are pivotally connected, is turned about the eccentric adjustable shaft 26 so that a counterpressure roller 27, mounted on

levers

23 and 24, is moved toward printing roller 5 for pressing a copy sheet, not shown, against the printing form 46 whereby 1, 2 or 3 lines are printed depending on the circumferential length of the operative printing cam. When the single-line printing cam 12 is the only operative cam, cam follower means 17, 18 are displaced at such a time that the counterpressure roller 27 presses a copy sheet against the printing form while one line of the same passes the counterpressure roller. When cam 16 is in its operative position for engaging cam follower roller 17, two lines of the printing form are printed, and when printing cam 15 is also in the operative position for engaging cam follower roller 17, three lines are printed. The single-line printing cam is not shiftable in axial direction, so that at least one line is always printed. As shown in FIG. 1, a bail 34 is mounted on a shaft 35 for angular movement and has a pair of legs carrying

slide members

39 and 40 which are in sliding contact with shifting member 14 which is secured to printing

cams

15 and 16 so that by angular displacement of bail 34,

printing cams

15 and 16 can be shifted between operative and inoperative positions. The drawing shows the

printing cams

15 and 16 adjacent printing cam 12 in operative positions so that a group of three lines is printed when the lugs of

printing cams

12, 16 and 15 engage and displace cam follower means 17 and 18.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a link 33 is secured by a pair of screws 34a to a lower leg of bail 34, and is pivotally connected by a pivot to a link 32 which is articulated to a lever 29 which has an elongated slot 29a. Lever 29 is mounted on a stationary support 31 for angular movement. A spring 45 connects an arresting lever 42 with support 31 so that arresting lever 32 engages with corresponding arresting recesses, an arresting roller 41. Arresting lever 42 is mounted on a pivot means 43 supported by a bracket on the frame of the machine.

On a bracket 66 supported by the housing of the machine and having a bearing, a manually operated means is mounted for turning movement, and includes a handle or hand wheel 28, and a rod 28a Whose end portion 28b is cranked and located in slot 290. When handle 28 is turned, crank portion 28b, moving in slot 29a, angularly displaces lever 29 and shifts link 32 with arresting roller 41 which successively enters arresting recesses of spring biassed lever 24, and angularly displaces link 33 with bail 34 for shifting printing earns 15 and 16 between the operative and inoperative positions.

In the illustrated position,

printing cams

15 and 16 are in the operative position so that three successive lines of the printing form are printed when cam follower roller 17 is displaced by the printing cams, particularly by print ing cam 15 which is associated with three lines and has the longest lug in circumferential direction.

When the handle 28 of the manually operated means is turned in the direction of the arrow D, linkage means 29, 32, 33, 34, 39, 40 is displaced, and arresting roller 41 enters the next following arresting recess in arresting lever 42.

Printing cams

15 and 16 are moved in the direction of arrow B by shifting member 14 so that the three-line printing cam 15 is axially displaced to an inoperative position in which it cannot engage cam follower roller 17 during rotation of the printing cams.

When the manually operated means are further turned in the direction of the arrow D, the linkage means is again shifted until arresting roller 41 falls into the next following arresting recess of arresting lever 42 so that bail 34- is further turned and shifts shifting member 14 with

printing cams

15 and 16 farther in axial direction so that printing cam 16, which is associated with two printed lines, is also placed in inoperative position, leaving only printing cam 12 for printing a single line in its operative position for engaging cam follower roller 17.

The above-described construction effects setting of the machine to the printing of one, two or three lines by merely turning the manually operated means 28 between a plurality of angularly displaced selecting positions respectively associated with the printing of one, two and three lines.

In selective printing machines of the type with which the present invention is concerned, it is desirable to effect printing of successive single lines of the master sheet on successive copy sheets, or to effect the printing of successive groups of lines of the printing form on successive copy sh ets. Assuming that the printing form 46 has eighteen text lines, it is desirable to print the eighteen lines successively on eighteen copy sheets so that each copy sheet has a single line, or to proceed in the same manner with groups of two or three lines of the printing form. When the printing cam 12 has effected the printing of the first line of the printing form on a copy sheet, the next following copy sheet must receive the imprint of the second line of the printing form. Consequently, it is necessary to reset the printing cam 12 in the direction opposite to its previous printing direction for one step, as indicated by the arrow F. Due to the resetting of the printing cam 12, cam follower means 17, 18 will be later engaged during the next revolution of the printing cams and the printing roller 5, so that the next following second line of the printing form will be located opposite coun terpressure roller 27 when the same is operated to move to its printing position pressing a copy sheet against printing form 46.

When a group of two lines, or a group of three lines has been printed, it is necessary to reset the printing cams in the direction of the arrow F for two steps, or three steps, respectively, each step corresponding to a circumferential distance between lines of the printing form. Cains 16 and 15 must be, respectively, reset for two steps and three steps.

For the printing of single lines, the manually operated means 28 is placed in a corresponding position so that linkage means 29, 32, 33, 34 renders

printing cams

15 and 16 inoperative by moving the same axially out of the region of cam follower means 17, 18. When setting bar 47 is in the position shown in the drawing, arrested by the stop means 48, the stud 52 in a slot of actuating lever 51 holds the same in an angular position in which roller 49 is located in the path of pawl 9 and its tooth 54, as best seen in FIG. 1. During rotation of the driven member 7 which carries pawl means 8 and 9, shifting pawl 9 is pressed by the actuating roller 49 into a notch of ratchet wheel 10, while locking pawl 8 is operated to release the ratchet wheel. The spiral spring 53 pulls bushing 11 together with

printing cams

12, 15 and 16, and with ratchet wheel 10, to turn in the counter clockwise direction of the arrow F until a flank of a tooth of ratchet wheel abuts the tooth 54 of shifting pawl 9. When shifting pawl 9 has further moved along a circular path and releases actuating roller 49, springs 55 and 56 pull the pawl means 8 and 9 back to its initial position shown in FIG. 3 so that shifting pawl 9 releases the ratchet wheel 10, and spiral spring 53 pulls ratchet wheel 10 to a position in which the next tooth thereof abuts locking pawl 8 so that printing cam 12 is reset to a position in which during the next revolution of printing roller 5 with master sheet 46, the next following line is printed.

The spiral spring 53 can be tensioned, and the stepping mechanism wound up by a motor driven gear 57 meshing with gear 58 on bushing 11.

In order to obtain automatic printing of groups of two or three lines, two control earns 59 and 60 are mounted on setting means 47 for angular movement about a pivot 61 and 62. Control earns 59 and 60 are connected for simultaneous angular movement by

rivetted pivots

63, 64 and a link 65.

When the manually operated means 28 is turned in the direction of the arrow D to the next following angular position associated with the printing of two lines,

linkage

29, 32, 33, 34 is displaced, and bail 34 shifts shifting member 14 with printing earns and 16 to a position in which printing cam 16, associated with the printing of two lines, is located to engage on cam follower means 17 and 18, while printing cam 15 is axially displaced and cannot engage cam follower means 17 and 18.

The angularly displaced link 33 engages control cam 16 and angularly displaces the same about its pivot 62, and this angular movement is transmitted by link 55 to the control cam 59 which is associated with the printing of groups of three lines. However, due to the shape of control cam 59, the same is not yet effective, while control cam 60, associated with the printing of two lines, engages actuating lever 69, which is mounted in a bearing bracket 67 on a shaft 68 for angular movement, and carries an actuating roller 71 which is normally located outside of the path of movement of shifting pawl 9.

The angularly displaced control cam 60 displaces the actuating means 69, 71 against the action of spring 70 to the position shown in FIG. 2 in which actuating roller 71 is located in the circular path of movement of shifting pawl 9 which rotates about the axis of shaft 6 together with driven member 7. Due to the shape of the second control cam 59, actuating means 72, 73 is still inoperative, and not placed in the path of shifting pawl 9, and it may be noted that FIG. 2 does not show control earns 59 and 60, in the position for the presently described operation of printing two lines, but in an actuated position for the printing of three lines.

Consequently, during the next following revolution of printing roller 5 with master sheet 46 and driven pawl carrying member 7, after a group of two lines has been printed, shifting pawl 9 is engaged by actuating means 69, 71 and the stepping mechanism is operated to turn the

printing cam

12, 15 and 16 two steps back.

When manually operated means 28 is further turned to a third angular position associated with the printing of three lines,

linkage

29, 32, 33, 34

shifts printing cams

15 and 16 to a position in which they engage cam follower 17 and 18 during rotation of printing roller 5 and ratchet wheel 10 so that three lines are printed. The corresponding angular displacement of link 33 further turns control cam 60 to the position shown in FIG. 2 so that control cam 59 is turned to the position shown in FIG. 2 in which actuating means 72, 73 also move to the actuated position located in the path of movement of shifting pawl 9 whereby the same is operated to release ratchet wheel 10, permitting the resetting of

printing cams

12, 15 and 16 in the counter clockwise direction of the arrow F for three steps so that during the next following printing operation, the next group of three lines is automatically printed.

When the manually operated means 28 is turned in the direction opposite the direction of the arrow D, first actuating means 72, 73, and then actuating means 71, 69 turn under the action of

springs

74 and 70, respectively, to the inoperative position in which rollers 73 and 71 are located outside of the path of shifting pawl 9 so that a single line is automatically printed under the control of actuating means 51, 49 and of printing cam 12.

When the automatic resetting and transport of the printing cams is not desired, and setting means 47 is released from its illustrated position, and shifted in longitudinal direction until the arresting means 48 engages the arresting recess 75 in setting means 47. Since actuating means 69, 71 and 72, 73 are mounted on setting means 47, they are displaced to an inoperative position in which they cannot be engaged by control cams 60 and 59 when the same are displaced by link 33. Actuating lever 51 with actuating roller 49 is also displaced to an inoperative position in which roller 49 is located outside of the path of shifting pawl 9. Therefore, the entire automatic resetting operation by means of the stepping mechanism is eliminated, and the printing of one, ,two or three lines is only controlled by the manually operated means 28 which renders either only printing cam 12, or also printing cam 16, and finally printing cam 15 operative to engage and actuate cam follower means 17, 18 with counterpressure roller 27. In this position of the apparatus, the same group of lines may be printed on a number of successively supplied copy sheets.

It will be understood that each of the elements de scribed above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of a printing machine for printing selected numbers of lines differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in an apparatus for automatically printing successive groups of lines under the control of a single manually turnable means, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for printing selected numbers of lines, comprising printing means; operating means for said printing means including cam follower means having an operative position for causing printing of successive lines; a predetermined number of printing cams respectively correlated with different numbers of lines and having operative positions for moving said cam follower means to said operative position for causing said printing means to print different numbers of lines, respectively, and inoperative positions; drive means for said printing means and for rotating said printing cams in a printing direction; a biassed stepping mechanism connected with said printing cams for rotation and having a normal position blocking rotation of said printing cams in the direction opposite to said printing direction, and a released position for turning said printing cams in said opposite direction; a plurality of actuating means respectively associated with different numbers of lines, each actuating means being movable between an inoperative position and an actuating position for moving said stepping mechanism to said released position after rotation of said printing cams in said printing direction for causing the printing of the respective number of lines, and for respectively holding said stepping mechanism in said released position while the same resets said printing cams in said opposite direction different numbers of steps corresponding to the respective number of printed lines; control cam means associated with different numbers of lines cooperating with said actuating means and being operatble for moving the same to said actuated positions, respectively; and a manually operated means turnable between a plurality of angularly displaced selecting positions respectively associated with different numbers of lines, and operatively connected with said control cam means for operating the same in said selecting positions to move the respective actuating means to said actuating position.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control cam means include a plurality of control cams respectively associated with different numbers of lines; and wherein said manually operated means operate successive control cams in successive angularly displaced selecting positions.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said manually operated means is connected with one of said control cams; and including a linkage connecting said one control cam with another control cam, said control cams having such a shape that in successive selecting positions of said manually operated means, the respective actuating means are successively placed in said actuating posi. tion.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said printing cams are individually movable between inoperative positions spaced from said cam follower means and said operative positions; and comprising linkage means connecting said manually operated means with said printing cams so that in each selecting position of said manually operated means, the printing cam correlated with the respective number of lines is in said operative position cooperating with said cam follower means.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said linkage means is operatively connected with said control cam means for operating the same under the control of said manually operated means.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 comprising a setting means connected with said actuating means and having a normal position in which said actuating means are operated by said control cam means, and a displaced position in which said actuating means are spaced from said control cam means and are not operated by the same so that said stepping mechanism does not turn said printing cams in said opposite direction.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said stepping mechanism includes a rotary driven member driven by said drive means, spring loaded pawl means mounted on said driven member, a ratchet wheel engaged in said normal position by said pawl means and blocked by the same against rotation in said opposite direction, and released by the same in said releasing position, said ratchet wheel being connected with said printing cams for rotation, and spring means connected with said ratchet wheel for biassing the same to turn with said printing cams in said opposite directions when said pawl means release said ratchet wheel; and wherein said actuating means in said actuating position are located in the path of said pawl means during rotation of said driven member so that said spring loaded pawl means is operated by said actuating means to release said ratchet wheel, and then engages the same when said pawl means has passed beyond said actuating means.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a driven member rotated by said stepping mechanism; wherein said printing cams are mounted on said driven member axially movable on the same between inoperative positions spaced from said cam follower means, and said operative positions, said printing cams being connected with said driven member for rotation, and comprising means for moving said printing cams selectively between said inoperative and operative positions.

9. Apparatus as claim 8 wherein said means for moving said printing cams include linkage means connected with said manually operated means and displaced by the same in said selecting positions of the same to move the respective printing cam to the operative position thereof so that in each selecting position of said manually operated means, the cam correlated with the respective number of lines is in said operative position cooperating with said cam follower means.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 comprising a shifting member secured to said printing cams for rotation and axial movement, and having an annular guide means; and wherein said linkage means include a bail mounted for turning movement and having slide members secured slidably guided on said guide means so that when said linkage means with said bad is displaced by said manually operated means, said printing cams are axially displaced between said inoperative and operative positions.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said linkage means include a lever having a guide slot; and wherein said manually operated means includes a rod having a cranked end portion located in said guide slot so that turning movement of said manually operated means with said rod displaces said lever and linkage means.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said printing cams are individually movable between inoperative positions spaced from said cam follower means and said operative positions; comprising link-age means connecting said manually operated means with said printing cams so that in each selecting position of said manually operated means, the printing cam correlated with the respective number of lines is in said operative position cooperating with said cam follower means; wherein said linkage means is operatively connected with said control cam means for operating the same under the control of said manually operated means, and comprising an actuating means correlated with a single printed line, and being connected with said linkage means and operated b the same between an inoperative position, and an actuated position for moving said stepping mechanism to said released position; and a printing cam for causing printing of a single line having only one position cooperating with said cam follower means and being driven by said drive means so that only single lines are printed in one selecting position of said manually operated means in which the printing cams of said plurality of printing cams are in said inoperative position.

13. Apparatus for printing selected numbers of lines, comprising printing means; operating means for said printing means including cam follower means having an operative position for causing printing of successive lines; a predetermined number of printing cams respectively correlated with different numbers of lines and having operative positions for moving said cam follower means to said operative position for causing said printing means to print difierent numbers of lines, respectively, and inoperative positions; drive means for said printing means and for rotating said printing cams in a printing direction; a biassed stepping mechanism connected with said printing cams for rotation and having a normal position blocking rotation of said printing cams in the direction opposite to said printing direction, and a released position for turning cams in said opposite direction; a plurality of actuating means respectively associated with different numbers of lines, each actuating means being movable between an inoperative position and an actuating position for moving said stepping mechanism to said released position after rotation of said printing cams in said printing direction for causing the printing of the respective number of lines, and for respectively holding said stepping mechanism in said released position while the same resets said printing cams in said opposite direction different numbers of steps corresponding to the respective number of printed lines; a plurality of mechanical control means respectively associated with different numbers of lines, cooperating with said actuating means and being operable for moving the same to said actuated positions, respectively; and a manually operated means turnable between a plurality of angularly displaced selecting positions respectively associated with different numbers of lines, and including mechanical linkage means operatively connected with said control means for operating the same in said selecting positions to move the respective actuating means to said actuating position, said linkage means being also connected with said printing cams so that in each selecting position of said manually operated means, the printing cam correlated with the respective number of lines is in said operative position cooperating with said cam follower means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,536,276 1/1951 Gretchikhine 101-91 2,980,014 4/1961 Bonsch 101-91 3,220,342 11/1965 Ritzerfeld et a1. 101-91 3,245,367 4/1966 Ritzerfeld et a1, 101-91 3,283,700 11/1966 Tatharn 101-91 3,083,638 4/1963 Ritzerfeld et al. 101-1325 WILLIAM R. PENN, Primary Examiner