US3601047A

US3601047A - Reciprocating platen printer with spring biased platen control arms

Info

Publication number: US3601047A
Application number: US831327A
Authority: US
Inventors: Helmut K Waibel
Original assignee: Singer Co
Current assignee: Singer Co
Priority date: 1969-06-09
Filing date: 1969-06-09
Publication date: 1971-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-24
Also published as: GB1267908A

Abstract

An adjustable guide member for maintaining a parallel relationship between the planar surface of a platen and the printing surface of an indicium, or printing, plate. The platen is normally spaced from, and is rockable in a vertical path toward, the printing plate to press mail matter to be printed, such as envelopes, against the printing plate to receive an impression.

Description

United States atent Helmut K. Waibel San Lorenzo, Calii. [21] Appl. No. 831,327

[22] Filed June 9, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 24, 1971 [73] Assignee The Singer Company [72] Inventor s41 RECIPROCATING PLATEN PRINTER WITH SPRING BIASED PLATEN CONTROL ARMS 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 101/316, 101/287, 101/292 [51] Int. Cl B41f1/06, 1341f 1/54 [50] FieldofSearch 101/287, 297, 301, 310, 316, 318, 368, 291, 292, 298; 74/53, 524

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,078,281 11/1913 Hay 101/318X 1,172,897 2/1916 Merrick 101/318 2,344,609 3/1944 Hanson 101/297 3,244,096 4/1966 Riley 101/297 401,455 4/1889 Nelson.... 101/318 701,071 5/1902 Moody 101/287 X 1,111,655 9/1914 Jones 172/500X 1,800,704 4/1931 $13111 101/287 UX 1,942,749 1/1934 Durrant el al 101/298 2,821,135 1/1958 Larrabee 101/287 3,379,129 4/1968 Harrison 101/316 Primary Examiner-William B. Penn Assistant Examiner-4E. M. Coven Au0rneys- Patrick J. Schlesinger and Charles R. Lepchinsky ABSTRACT: An adjustable guide member for maintaining a parallel relationship between the planar surface of a platen and the printing surface of an indicium, or printing, plate. The platen is normally spaced from, and is rockable in a vertical path toward, the printing plate to press mail matter to be printed, such as envelopes, against the printing plate to receive an impression.

Patented Aug. 24, 1971 3,601,047

iNVENTOR.

57 elmur @flQUaibal GM Q ATTORNEY RECIPROCATING PLATEN PRINTER WITH SPRING BIASED PLATEN CONTROL ARMS BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to printing apparatus such as postage meters wherein the indicium plate is horizontally disposed and is supported in a stationary manner within the framework of the apparatus. A piece of mail matter is positioned to receive a postage impression as a pivotally supported platen is rocked upwardly to press the mail matter against the indicium plate.

2. Description of the Prior Art In known devices, a crank arm is rocked through an arc to impart a rocking movement to a control arm at the end of which a platen is pivotally supported. As the arm is rocked, and the platen moves upwardly, the planar surface of the platen must be maintained parallel to the printing surface of the indicum plate. Inasmuch as the greater mass of the platen is above the pivotal support, the platen tends to rock in one direction or the other, relative to the parallel plane. Thereafter, as'the platen moves upwardly, and the envelope, or other mail matter, is compressed against then indicium plate for a postage impression, the applied force causes the planar surface of the platen to return to its parallel relationship with the printing plate. In so doing, the envelope is moved laterally across the surface of the indicium plate, causing a smearing of the impression.

The problem has been corrected to a small degree by providing a pin on a depending portion of the platen, the pin being on a center line perpendicular to the platen surface. In engagement with this pin is one end of a single turn torsion spring, the other end of which is engaged with a pin on the base of the device. The spring serves to bias the platen downwardly in an effort to maintain a parallel relationship of the platen to the indicium plate. However, for the torsion spring to be completely effective to control unalterably the parallel relationship of the two members, it must be quite strong. With the use of a sufficientlystrong spring, an added and undesirable load must be overcome with each crank operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a printing device is provided with a stationary printing plate and a pair of platens normally spaced from the printing plate to enable the placement of an envelope therebetween. An operating means in the form of a crank arm is operable, when rocked, to move the platens toward the printing plate pressing the envelope into contact therewith. In their movement toward the printing plate, the surface of the platens is unalterably maintained in parallel relationship to the printing plate by means of a guide member controlling the path of travel of the platens.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a postage metering machine showing the platen control mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of a portion of a postage metering machine, the view being taken on the plane indicated byline 22 in FIG. I; and

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional elevational view, showing the platens and their guide members.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a coplanar indicium, or printing, die plate is secured in place between each of

frame plates

11 and 12 mounted in spaced parallel relationship on a base 15. The printing plate 10 includes the postal indicium, the postage value printing die members and the town circle and date printing surfaces for the printing of postage impressions upon envelopes and other mail matter.

Also secured in the framework of the machine between

frame plates

11 and 12 is an envelope supporting table 16 (FIG. 2) the horizontal top surface of which is spaced below,.

and is parallel with, a coplanar surface of the printing plate 10. Within the horizontally disposed portion of the table 16 is a rectangular opening 17 in registry with the printing plate 10. As an envelope E to be printed is placed upon the table 16, as seen in FIG. 2, means are actuated to be move the envelope into printing contact with the printing plate 10, whereupon the postage impression is caused to be made.

For this purpose, a pair of platens, generally indicated at 18 and 19, are normally disposed in spaced relationship to the printing plate 10 and directly beneath the aperture 17 in the supporting table 16. Generally, each of the

platens

18 and 19 comprises a

flexible pad

20 and 21, respectively, supported in carrier frames 22 and 23 (FIG. 3). The top surfaces of the

pads

20 and 21 are coplanar, with the pad 20 being effective upon movement toward the printing plate 10 to cause an impression of a slogan to be made on an envelope B. At the same time, the pad 21 presses the envelope E into contact with the postal indicium area of the printing plate 10 including the postage value, town circle and date to complete the postage impression.

Although the carrier frames 22 and '23 are basically similar, the pad supporting portion and pad 20 of the carrier 22 is substantially square, while the pad supporting portion and pad 21 of carrier 23 is rectangular in shape as seen in FIG. 1. The lower end of each of the

carrier frames

22 and 23 is bifurcated to receive the end portion of

respective arms

27 and 28. Arm 27, at its outer extremity, serves to pivotally support carrier 22 by means of a pin 29. Similarly, arm 28, at its outer end, pivotally supports carrier frame 23 by means of a pin 30 (FIG. 3). The parallel depending extensions 31 of carrier frame 22 carry a pin 32, spanning the opening therebetween. Likewise, the depending parallel extensions 33 of the carrier frame 23 carry a pin 34 spanning the opening therebetween. The

pins

32 and 34 are axially aligned and serve a purpose to be described hereinafter.

At their one end, the

arms

27 and 28 are maintained in spaced parallel relationship by a suitable spacer pin 38 (FIG. 1), while at their other end, the

arms

27 and 28 are laterally offset inwardly and carry

respective hubs

39 and 40 to rockably support the arms on a shaft 41 secured at its respective ends in

frame members

11 and 12. Adjacent its extremity, the offset end of each of

arms

27 and 28 overlies the respective projected ends of a pin 42 supported in each of identical spaced parallel lever arms 43, intermediate the ends thereof. At its one end, each arm 43 is secured to the respective ends of a sleeve 44 rockably supported on the shaft 41 between the inwardly offset ends of the

arms

27 and 28. The inner surface of the extended offset end of the

arms

27 and 28 is contiguous with the outer surface of the respective lever arms 43. At their other end, the lever arms 43 support a roller 45 therebetween carried by a shaft 53 secured at its ends in the arms 43. Roller 45 is adapted for engagement with a cam arm 46 secured on a drive shaft 50 journaled in

frame members

11 and 12. The roller 45 is normally maintained in engagement with cam arm 46 by a spring 51, supported at its one end in clip 52 carried at one end of the roller shaft 53 and the other end of the spring 51 being supported on a pin 54 secured on frame member 12. At its outer extended end and adjacent frame member 12, drive shaft 50 carries a crank arm 55 secured thereon and adaptable, upon a predetermined angular movement thereof, to rock cam arm 46 moving platens l8 and 19 upwardly toward the indicium printing plate 10.

As cam arm 46 is rocked counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 2, a clockwise motion is imparted to the lever arms 43, which motion serves through a relatively strong compression spring 56 to impart a clockwise angular rocking movement to the

platen support arms

27 and 28. As the lever arms 43 and support

arms

27 and 28 are actuated, the platens l8 and 19 are moved upwardly to move envelope E into printing contact with the indicium plate 10. At its one end, spring 56 engages a pin carried by a T-shaped bar 57 engaged in identical notches 58 in lever arms 43. At its other end, the spring 56 engages a pin projecting outwardly from a flat chordal surface of a shaft 59 disposed between a depending portion or ear of each of

platen control arms

27 and 28, similar to the depending ear 63 of the arm 28, as seen in FIG. 2. Each end portion of shaft 59 is of a reduced diameter and is disposed in suitable notches in the depending ears of the

platen control arms

27 and 28, such as notch 64 within the depending car 63.

Normally, spring 56 is under sufficient compression to maintain the right-hand end of each of the

arms

27 and 28 in engagement with the corresponding ends of the pin 42 carried by lever arms 43, as seen in FIGS, 1 and 2. Thus, as the crank arm 55 is rocked a predetermined angular extent, a similar motion is imparted to the cam arm 46, which becomes effective to rock the lever arms 43 and

platen control arms

27 and 28 concomitantly. Thus, the

platens

18 and 19 are moved upwardly through the aperture 17 in the envelope support 16 to lift the envelope E into contact with the indicium printing plate 10. After the initial contact of the envelope E with the printing die has been made, further rocking movement of the cam arm 46 continues to rock the lever arms 43 slightly, independently of the

platen control arms

27 and 28, whereby the spring 56 is compressed to effect printing pressure of the envelope against the printing plate 10 to produce a clear postage impression. Upon completion of the printing operation and restoration of crank arm 55 to its normally inactive position, spring 51 is effective to return the

platens

18 and 19 to their normally inactive position shown in FIG. 2.

In order to ensure complete surface contact of the envelope E with the surface of the printing plate 10, upon operation of crank arm 55, the

platen pads

20 and 21 must move upwardly in their vertical path of travel with the surface of the pads unalterably parallel with the coplanar surface of the printing plate 10. For this purpose, a substantially U-shaped guide bracket 65 is flexibly supported on a boss 66, cast or otherwise formed on the base 15. The guide bracket 65 is positioned on the boss 66 so that the greater portion of the U-shaped member extends beyond the edge of the boss 66 and is adjustably secured in place by means of a pair of screws 67. The screws 67 are passed through suitable enlarged apertures in an extension of the web portion of the bracket 65 for threaded engagement in the boss 66. An upwardly extended flange 68 of the U-shaped bracket 65 is disposed within the opening in the carrier frame 22 between the depending extensions 31 thereof. Similarly, an upstanding flange 69 of the U-shaped bracket 65 is spaced from, and is parallel with, the flange 68 terline through the center of the shaft 41, they move upwardly in an arc from the at rest position shown in FIG. 2, upon rocking of

arms

27 and 28. Thus, the lower end portion of the slots 70 in each of the

flanges

68 and 69 is angularly formed relative to the vertical center line of the upper portion of the slot so that, as the

platens

18 and 19 move upwardly, they remain substantially parallel to the printing surface of the plate 10. As the

platens

18 and 19 approach the full extent of their movement, the disposition of the upper portion of the slots 70 is such that the platen surfaces are parallel to the coplanar surface of the printing plate 10 and a complete pressure contact of the envelope E with the plate 10 is assured.

What is claimed is:

1. In a printing device having a framework including frame members supported on a base,

a stationary printing die plate having a planar surface mounted on said frame m embers, a platen reciprocative relative to said planar surface of said printing die and normally spaced below said die for receiving a workpiece thereon,

a pair of spaced parallel arms rockable about a fixed horizontal axis and having a pivotal support for said platen to control reciprocative movement of said platen relative to said printing die,

a lever supported for rocking movement about said horizontal axis,

said horizontal axis being common to said arms and said lever,

a roller mounted on said lever,

.a compression spring connecting said arms and said lever adapted for compression therebetween to effect a rocking movement of said arms by said lever,

a cam engaging said roller and rockable a predetermined angular extent to rock said lever thereby moving said platen in a reciprocative path,

a manipulatable member for controlling an angular rotation of said cam, and

means for guiding said platen in said reciprocative path to maintain a parallel relationship between the surfaces of said platen and said die, the combination comprising,

a bracket secured on said base having an arm extended perpendicular to said base, and

a vertically disposed slot in said bracket arm having the upper end open and the lower end portion thereon formed at an angle to the vertical to conform with the arcuate path of the pivotal support for said platen on said parallel arms upon rocking of said parallel arms,

said platen including a horizontally disposed pin for engagement in said vertical slot in said bracket arm to guide said platen in its path of movement upon operation of said manipulable member whereby the surface of said platen is maintained parallel to the surface of said printing die as the workpiece is moved by said platen into printing contact with said printing die.

Claims

1. In a printing device having a framework including frame members supported on a base, a stationary printing die plate having a planar surface mounted on said frame members, a platen reciprocative relative to said planar surface of said printing die and normally spaced below said die for receiving a workpiece thereon, a pair of spaced parallel arms rockable about a fixed horizontal axis and having a pivotal support for said platen to control reciprocative movement of said platen relative to said printing die, a lever supported for rocking movement about said horizontal axis, said horizontal axis being common to said arms and said lever, a roller mounted on said lever, a compression spring connecting said arms and said lever adapted for compression therebetween to effect a rocking movement of said arms by said lever, a cam engaging said roller and rockable a predetermined angular extent to rock said lever thereby moving said platen in a reciprocative path, a manipulatable member for controlling an angular rotation of said cam, and means for guiding said platen in said reciprocative path to maintain a parallel relationship between the surfaces of said platen and said die, the combination comprising, a bracket secured on said base having an arm extended perpendicular to said base, and a vertically disposed slot in said bracket arm having the upper end open and the lower end portion thereon formed at an angle to the vertical to conform with the arcuate path of the pivotal support for said platen on said parallel arms upon rocking of said parallel arms, said platen including a horizontally disposed pin for engagement in said vertical slot in said bracket arm to guide said platen in its path of movement upon operation of said manipulable member whereby the surface of said platen is maintained parallel to the surface of said printing die as the workpiece is moved by said platen into printing contact with said printing die.